Free TEAS 7 English & Language Usage Practice Test 9 — 30 Questions With Full Explanations

Question 1. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The soup simmered on the stove the kitchen timer ticked down. Which choice breaks the run-on into two correctly joined clauses?

• A. The soup simmered on the stove; meanwhile, the kitchen timer ticked down. (correct)
• B. The soup simmered on the stove, the kitchen timer ticked down.
• C. The soup simmered on the stove, meanwhile the kitchen timer ticked down.
• D. The soup simmering on the stove the kitchen timer ticked down.

Explanation: Two independent clauses cannot be joined with only a comma or nothing at all. The semicolon version separates the simmering clause from the ticking clause correctly, with meanwhile showing that the events happened at the same time. The other choices either splice the clauses with a comma or fuse them into a single unbroken run-on.

Question 2. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. A stack of invoices sit in the tray for tomorrow's processing. Which revision makes the subject and verb agree?

• A. A stack of invoices sit in the tray for tomorrow's processing.
• B. A stack of invoices sits in the tray for tomorrow's processing. (correct)
• C. A stack of invoices are sitting in the tray for tomorrow's processing.
• D. A stack of invoice sits in the tray for tomorrow's processing.

Explanation: The verb must agree with the head noun of the subject, not with the noun inside the prepositional phrase. Here stack is the true subject and is singular, so it needs the singular verb sits. The other choices keep plural verbs, drop the plural ending on invoice, or repeat the original error, so none of them fix the agreement problem.

Question 3. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Everyone on the audit team brought their own calculator to the meeting. Which revision keeps the pronoun and its antecedent consistent?

• A. All members of the audit team brought their own calculators to the meeting.
• B. Each member of the audit team brought their own calculator to the meeting.
• C. Everyone on the audit team brought their own calculator to the meeting. (correct)
• D. Everyone on the audit team brought their calculators to the meeting.

Explanation: Everyone and each are singular indefinite pronouns, so a singular antecedent calls for a singular pronoun; the singular their in the original does not agree. Rewriting the subject as the plural all members lets the plural their and calculators agree naturally. The remaining choices still pair a singular antecedent with the plural pronoun their.

Question 4. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The cashier counts the drawer, records the deposit, and closed the register for the night. Which choice rewrites the sentence so all three verbs stay in the same tense?

• A. The cashier counts the drawer, records the deposit, and closed the register for the night.
• B. The cashier counted the drawer, records the deposit, and closes the register for the night.
• C. The cashier will counts the drawer, records the deposit, and closes the register for the night.
• D. The cashier counts the drawer, records the deposit, and closes the register for the night. (correct)

Explanation: Verbs that appear together in a series should stay in one time frame. The original mixes present counts and records with past closed, so changing closed to closes keeps all three actions in the present tense. The other choices either keep the mixed tenses, move the first verb to the past, or add an impossible will counts form.

Question 5. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. the ferry from north harbor arrives at south wharf every saturday. Which revision fixes the capitalization errors in the sentence?

• A. The ferry from North Harbor arrives at South Wharf every Saturday. (correct)
• B. The ferry from north harbor arrives at south wharf every Saturday.
• C. The ferry from North Harbor arrives at South Wharf every saturday.
• D. The ferry from North harbor arrives at South wharf every Saturday.

Explanation: Proper nouns, including the names of specific places such as North Harbor and South Wharf, begin with capital letters, and so do days of the week like Saturday. The first option capitalizes all three. The other options leave the place names or the day lowercase, which violates the capitalization rule for proper names and calendar days.

Question 6. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. Whose going to object if we leave early, and who's parking spot is this? Which revision corrects the misuse of who's and whose?

• A. Who's going to object if we leave early, and who's parking spot is this?
• B. Who's going to object if we leave early, and whose parking spot is this? (correct)
• C. Whose going to object if we leave early, and who's parking spot is this?
• D. Whose going to object if we leave early, and whose parking spot is this?

Explanation: Who's is the contraction of who is, while whose shows possession. The correct version uses who's before the verb going and whose before the noun spot. The other choices either use whose where the contraction is needed or use the contraction where the possessive is required, reversing the two words in one or both clauses.

Question 7. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Mind the gap the conductor announced as the doors slid shut. Which option punctuates the announcement correctly?

• A. "Mind the gap." The conductor announced as the doors slid shut.
• B. "Mind the gap the conductor announced as the doors slid shut."
• C. "Mind the gap," the conductor announced as the doors slid shut. (correct)
• D. "Mind the gap", the conductor announced as the doors slid shut.

Explanation: In standard American punctuation, a comma that separates a direct quotation from its speaker tag goes inside the closing quotation mark. The first option places the comma correctly before the tag that names the conductor. Putting the comma outside the quote, ending the quote with a period inside the mark, or leaving no closing mark at all are all incorrect.

Question 8. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Even though the rain stopped before noon. Which choice fixes the fragment by adding an independent clause?

• A. Even though the rain stopped before noon.
• B. Even though the rain stopping before noon.
• C. Even though the rain stopped before noon, the field still wet.
• D. Even though the rain stopped before noon, the picnic went ahead as planned. (correct)

Explanation: A dependent clause that begins with even though cannot stand alone, so it needs an independent clause to complete the thought. The correct option pairs it with the picnic went ahead as planned, which can stand by itself and completes the meaning. The other options stay as fragments or attach another verbless clause that cannot stand alone.

Question 9. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The new hire is skilled at answering phones, filing claims, and he writes clear reports. Which revision makes the list parallel?

• A. The new hire is skilled at answering phones, filing claims, and writing clear reports. (correct)
• B. The new hire is skilled at answering phones, filing claims, and he writes clear reports.
• C. The new hire is skilled at answering phones, to file claims, and writes clear reports.
• D. The new hire is skilled at phone answering, filing claims, and he writes clear reports.

Explanation: Items joined in a list should be shaped the same way. The original shifts from gerunds like answering and filing to a full clause with he writes, so changing that clause to the gerund writing makes all three items parallel. The other options keep the clause form or mix gerunds with infinitive and clause forms.

Question 10. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. Just between you and I, the road trip was a disaster. Which revision uses the correct pronoun form after the preposition between?

• A. Just between yourselves and I, the road trip was a disaster.
• B. Just between you and me, the road trip was a disaster. (correct)
• C. Just between you and I, the road trip was a disaster.
• D. Just between me and I, the road trip was a disaster.

Explanation: The object of a preposition must be in the objective case, so between takes me, not I. The first option supplies the objective form me after the preposition between and keeps you unchanged. The other options keep the subjective I, double the objective forms, or use the reflexive yourselves where it does not belong.

Question 11. Conventions of Standard English hard

Read the sentence. Rushing to catch the bus, the umbrella was left on the seat. Which revision places the actor with the action?

• A. The bus, rushing to catch it, left the umbrella on the seat.
• B. Rushing to catch the bus, the seat held the umbrella.
• C. Rushing to catch the bus, Lena left her umbrella on the seat. (correct)
• D. Rushing to catch the bus, the umbrella was left on the seat.

Explanation: An opening phrase describes the subject of the main clause, so the sentence must name the person doing the rushing. Only the first option places Lena right after the phrase, making her the actor. The others make the umbrella, the bus, or the seat perform or receive the action, which leaves the modifier dangling with no clear actor.

Question 12. Knowledge of Language easy

Read the sentence. The outdoor concert was nearly cancelled; ___, the storm passed and the show went on. Which transition word belongs in the blank?

• A. therefore
• B. meanwhile
• C. in addition
• D. however (correct)

Explanation: The first clause sets up an expected cancellation, and the second clause reports the opposite outcome, so the blank needs a word that signals contrast. However marks that turn perfectly. Therefore would wrongly suggest the storm was caused by the cancellation, while meanwhile and in addition do not express the contrast between the two ideas.

Question 13. Knowledge of Language medium

A clinic receptionist is emailing patients about a new check-in procedure. Which sentence matches the formal tone of the announcement?

• A. Patients gotta check in at the kiosk before their appointment. (correct)
• B. Please check in at the front kiosk at least ten minutes before your scheduled appointment.
• C. Hey, remember to swipe in at the kiosk when you show up.
• D. You're supposed to check in at the kiosk, so don't forget.

Explanation: A formal announcement to patients uses complete sentences, polite phrasing, and standard vocabulary. The please sentence gives the instruction courteously with a full clause and specific timing. The other choices rely on slang like gotta, casual greetings like hey, or spoken contractions and warnings that belong in informal messages.

Question 14. Knowledge of Language medium

Read these two sentences. The gondola cables were being replaced. The summit trail stayed closed for two weeks. Which revision merges the two sentences correctly?

• A. Because the gondola cables were being replaced, so the summit trail stayed closed for two weeks.
• B. The gondola cables were being replaced, so the summit trail stayed closed for two weeks. (correct)
• C. The gondola cables were being replaced, the summit trail stayed closed for two weeks.
• D. The gondola cables were being replaced the summit trail stayed closed for two weeks.

Explanation: Joining the two ideas with the coordinating conjunction so shows the causal link between the cable work and the closure. The first option does this with a comma and so. The second creates a comma splice, the third fuses the clauses with no punctuation, and the last redundantly pairs because with so.

Question 15. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The store manager asked the staff to collaborate together on the holiday display. Which option cuts the repetition without changing the meaning?

• A. The store manager asked the staff to work together collaboratively on the holiday display.
• B. The store manager asked the staff to collaborate in a collective manner together on the holiday display.
• C. The store manager asked the staff to collaborate on the holiday display. (correct)
• D. The store manager asked the staff to collaborate together on the holiday display.

Explanation: Collaborate already means to work together, so the word together adds nothing and should be cut. The first option removes the redundant word and keeps the full meaning. The other options keep together, add collaboratively on top of together, or pile up collective manner with together, all of which repeat the same idea.

Question 16. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The vaccine doses were stored in the fridge behind the pharmacy counter. Which revision places the pharmacy staff as the subject performing the action?

• A. The vaccine doses were stored in the fridge behind the pharmacy counter.
• B. In the fridge behind the pharmacy counter, the vaccine doses were stored.
• C. The vaccine doses got stored in the fridge behind the pharmacy counter.
• D. The pharmacy staff stored the vaccine doses in the fridge behind the counter. (correct)

Explanation: In an active sentence the person doing the action is the subject and performs the verb. The first option makes the pharmacy staff the subject that stored the doses. The other three keep the doses as the subject receiving the action, so they remain passive even when the wording is rearranged or got replaces were.

Question 17. Knowledge of Language easy

Read the sentence. When the bus driver waved at the cyclist, he nearly swerved into the curb. Which revision removes the unclear pronoun?

• A. When the bus driver waved at the cyclist, the cyclist nearly swerved into the curb. (correct)
• B. When the bus driver waved at the cyclist, he nearly swerved into the curb.
• C. When he waved at the cyclist, the bus driver nearly swerved into the curb.
• D. When the bus driver waved at him, he nearly swerved into the curb.

Explanation: The pronoun he has two possible antecedents, the bus driver and the cyclist, so the reader cannot tell who swerved. Naming the cyclist again in the main clause removes the ambiguity. The other choices keep he, move the pronoun before its antecedent, or still leave two candidates for the pronoun to point to.

Question 18. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the paragraph. The town installed solar panels on the library roof in January. The building's electric bill dropped by a third that spring. The reading room stayed open an extra hour each evening once the savings appeared. Which sentence states the paragraph's main idea?

• A. The library's roof was chosen for the panels.
• B. Installing the panels lowered the library's electricity costs. (correct)
• C. The solar panels were installed in January.
• D. The reading room stayed open an extra hour each evening.

Explanation: The paragraph ties the panel installation to the smaller electric bill and the longer evening hours, so the controlling idea is that the panels cut the library's costs. The correct sentence captures that central claim. The other choices describe single details, such as the January date or the extended hours, or state something the paragraph never says about the roof.

Question 19. Knowledge of Language medium

A gym manager posts a notice for members: Everyone's gonna have to wipe down the machines after each set. Which revision sounds the most professional?

• A. Everyone has got to wipe down the machines after each set.
• B. Members will have to be the ones wiping down the machines after each set.
• C. Members must wipe down the machines after each set. (correct)
• D. Everyone's gonna have to wipe down the machines after each set.

Explanation: A posted notice should use standard English without slang or sloppy phrasing. The must version states the rule directly in clean, professional wording. The original relies on the informal gonna, the third choice stays casual with has got to, and the last option is wordy and awkward with the ones wiping down.

Question 20. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the sentence. It is important to note that the reason the flight was delayed was on account of the fact that the luggage belt had broken down. Which revision condenses the sentence most effectively?

• A. It is important to note that the flight was delayed due to the luggage belt breaking down.
• B. The flight was delayed on account of the fact that the luggage belt had broken down.
• C. The flight was delayed, and the luggage belt had broken down.
• D. The flight was delayed because the luggage belt had broken down. (correct)

Explanation: The original buries a simple cause in filler phrases like it is important to note that and on account of the fact that. The first revision states the cause in eight words without changing the meaning. The other choices keep the filler, or use a conjunction that merely lists two facts instead of showing that the belt caused the delay.

Question 21. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the notice. To file a claim, attach your receipt, and then the form needs to be signed, and you must also mail the packet to the office. Which revision presents the steps clearly?

• A. To file a claim, attach your receipt, sign the form, and mail the packet to the office. (correct)
• B. To file a claim, attach your receipt, and then the form needs to be signed, and you must also mail the packet to the office.
• C. Attach your receipt, and then the form needs to be signed, and mail the packet to the office.
• D. To file a claim: attach your receipt, sign the form, and the packet should be mailed to the office.

Explanation: Instructions are clearest when every step uses the same command form, so the reader sees one consistent list of actions. The first revision gives each step as a direct command: attach, sign, and mail. The other choices switch from commands to passive or indirect phrasing, such as the form needs to be signed or the packet should be mailed.

Question 22. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The overnight guests were ravenous, and the host's huge stew vanished within minutes. In this sentence, ravenous most nearly means ___.

• A. very picky
• B. very hungry (correct)
• C. very tired
• D. very angry

Explanation: The second clause gives the clue: the guests emptied a huge stew within minutes, which is what extremely hungry people do. Ravenous is built from the idea of ravening, or eating greedily, and the context of a large meal disappearing quickly confirms that meaning. Tired, angry, and picky are not supported by the sentence.

Question 23. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

The prefix bi- means two. Based on that meaning, which sentence best describes a biennial plant?

• A. It requires two gardeners to thrive.
• B. It lives for two hundred years.
• C. It completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. (correct)
• D. It produces flowers twice in a single day.

Explanation: The prefix bi- contributes the idea of two, and the base ann- relates to years, so biennial describes a two-year cycle. A biennial plant sprouts and grows in its first season, blooms and seeds in its second, and then dies, which matches the first option. The other choices treat the two as twice daily, two caretakers, or two hundred years.

Question 24. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The rescue crew was tenacious, digging through the rubble for nineteen straight hours. Which choice is a synonym for tenacious in this sentence?

• A. exhausted
• B. cautious
• C. cheerful
• D. determined (correct)

Explanation: The crew's refusal to stop for nineteen straight hours points to a stubborn grip on the task, which is exactly what determined means. Tenacious literally suggests holding firmly, and the long uninterrupted digging supports that reading. Exhausted, cautious, and cheerful are not suggested by the details of continuous effort.

Question 25. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The committee praised the plan for being pragmatic, workable in every district and cheap to launch. Which word means the opposite of pragmatic in this context?

• A. impractical (correct)
• B. honest
• C. costly
• D. vague

Explanation: The sentence equates pragmatic with being workable, so the opposite is a plan that is not workable. Impractical reverses the idea of practical and fits perfectly. Costly only contradicts the detail about cheap cost, honest and vague address character and clarity, and none of them oppose the core meaning of workable.

Question 26. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The vendor was able to procure the rare parts within a week, so the repair crew never lost a day. Which answer best defines procure as it is used in the sentence?

• A. to sell
• B. to obtain (correct)
• C. to return
• D. to inspect

Explanation: The vendor supplied the parts that the crew needed, and the outcome was that no work time was lost, so procure means to get or obtain. The context of getting rare parts into the shop points to acquisition rather than returning, inspecting, or selling them. Those other actions do not fit the result described by the sentence.

Question 27. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

The suffix -ive often means tending to. Which word best completes the sentence? The design team is ___, proposing three new layouts every week.

• A. creator
• B. creating
• C. creative (correct)
• D. creation

Explanation: The blank needs an adjective that describes the team's habit of generating new ideas, and creative means tending to create. The suffix -ive turns the verb create into that adjective, matching the meaning tending to. Creation and creator are nouns, and creating is a verb form, so none of them can describe the team in this slot.

Question 28. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The clinic will allocate three exam rooms to the vaccination drive each morning. Which choice best restates the meaning of allocate?

• A. to close off permanently
• B. to advertise publicly
• C. to equip with supplies
• D. to set aside for a purpose (correct)

Explanation: The clinic is assigning a portion of its rooms to the vaccination drive, so allocate means to set aside for a stated purpose. Setting aside exactly three rooms matches the numbers in the sentence. Closing, advertising, and equipping describe different actions and do not fit the idea of assigning rooms to the drive.

Question 29. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

The Latin root spec- means look or see. Which person's role depends most directly on that root?

• A. A spectator watches the game from the stands. (correct)
• B. A courier delivers packages across town.
• C. A chef plans the evening menu.
• D. A clerk files records by date.

Explanation: Spectator is built from the root spec-, which means to look or see, and a spectator is exactly someone who watches. The word visibly carries the root in its spelling. The courier, chef, and clerk roles are based on delivering, cooking, and filing, none of which reflect the meaning of looking or seeing.

Question 30. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The audit found no evidence of fraud, so the board cleared the treasurer of any wrongdoing. What is an audit, based on the sentence?

• A. A training session for new staff
• B. A formal review of the records (correct)
• C. A public celebration of a milestone
• D. A written promise to repay a loan

Explanation: The sentence says the audit examined the financial records closely enough to find out whether fraud had occurred, so an audit is a formal review of the records. The finding about fraud and the clearing of the treasurer both depend on that examination. Celebrations, loan promises, and training sessions would not produce such findings.