Free TEAS 7 English & Language Usage Practice Test 10 — 30 Questions With Full Explanations

Question 1. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The basket of peaches sit in the sun on the back porch. Which option repairs the agreement error?

• A. The basket of peaches sits in the sun on the back porch. (correct)
• B. The basket of peaches sitting in the sun on the back porch.
• C. The baskets of peaches sits in the sun on the back porch.
• D. The basket of peaches are sitting in the sun on the back porch.

Explanation: The simple subject is basket, a singular noun, so the verb must be singular sits, not sit. The phrase of peaches is a prepositional phrase that modifies basket and does not change its number. Option A is the only choice that pairs the singular subject with a singular verb.

Question 2. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The junior class planted a row of tulips near the lincoln memorial on a crisp morning in april. Which sentence is capitalized correctly?

• A. The Junior class planted a row of tulips near the Lincoln memorial on a crisp morning in April.
• B. The junior class planted a row of tulips near the Lincoln Memorial on a crisp morning in April. (correct)
• C. The junior class planted a row of tulips near the Lincoln Memorial on a crisp morning in april.
• D. The junior class planted a row of tulips near the lincoln memorial on a crisp morning in April.

Explanation: Proper nouns such as the Lincoln Memorial and the names of months such as April are always capitalized, while the common nouns junior class and tulips stay lowercase. Option A is the only choice that capitalizes the memorial's full name and the month while leaving the class description in lowercase.

Question 3. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Every firefighter on the engine crew checked their air tank before the drill began. Which revision makes the pronoun agree with its antecedent?

• A. Every firefighter on the engine crew checked his or her air tank before the drill began. (correct)
• B. Every firefighters on the engine crew checked their air tank before the drill began.
• C. Every firefighter on the engine crew checked their air tanks before the drill began.
• D. Every firefighter on the engine crew checking their air tank before the drill began.

Explanation: The indefinite pronoun every is singular, so the later pronoun must also be singular; their does not agree with it in formal writing. Option A uses his or her, which agrees with the singular antecedent firefighter. The other options either change the subject to plural or leave the disagreement in place.

Question 4. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The beekeeper inspects the hives each morning and recorded the queen's activity in a logbook. Which choice fixes the tense shift?

• A. The beekeeper inspected the hives each morning and records the queen's activity in a logbook.
• B. The beekeeper inspects the hives each morning and has recorded the queen's activity in a logbook.
• C. The beekeeper inspects the hives each morning and records the queen's activity in a logbook. (correct)
• D. The beekeeper inspects the hives each morning, records the queen's activity in a logbook.

Explanation: Both actions happen on a regular schedule, so the two verbs must match in tense. Inspects and records are parallel present-tense verbs, but the original shifts to the past-tense recorded. Option A keeps both verbs in the present tense without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Question 5. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The canoe rental shack closed at dusk, the paddlers returned the life jackets. Which revision correctly joins these two related clauses?

• A. The canoe rental shack closed at dusk; the paddlers returned the life jackets. (correct)
• B. Because the canoe rental shack closed at dusk, the paddlers returned the life jackets.
• C. The canoe rental shack closed at dusk the paddlers returned the life jackets.
• D. The canoe rental shack closed at dusk, and the life jackets returned by the paddlers.

Explanation: The original sentence joins two independent clauses with only a comma, which creates a comma splice. Option A separates the two complete clauses with a semicolon, the correct punctuation for related independent clauses that keeps their meaning equal. Option C changes the relationship to cause and effect, and option D is an awkward fragment.

Question 6. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The quilting circle meets every Tuesday the church basement is reserved until spring. Which option correctly splits the run-on sentence?

• A. The quilting circle meets every Tuesday, and the church basement is reserved until spring. (correct)
• B. The quilting circle meets every Tuesday the church basement, is reserved until spring.
• C. The quilting circle, meets every Tuesday the church basement is reserved until spring.
• D. The quilting circle meets every Tuesday; however the church basement is reserved until spring.

Explanation: A run-on sentence joins two independent clauses without any punctuation or conjunction. Option A adds a comma and the coordinating conjunction and, correctly connecting the clause about the quilting circle with the clause about the church basement. Option D still places the punctuation around however incorrectly, and the other options insert commas in the wrong spots.

Question 7. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Whenever the fog rolled in over the tidal pools. Which addition below creates a complete sentence?

• A. Whenever the fog rolled in over the tidal pools, the still herons.
• B. Whenever the fog rolled in over the tidal pools, standing perfectly still.
• C. Whenever the fog rolled in over the tidal pools while the herons stood still.
• D. Whenever the fog rolled in over the tidal pools, the herons stood perfectly still. (correct)

Explanation: The clause whenever the fog rolled in is a dependent clause, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Option A completes the thought by adding an independent clause about the herons, forming a correct complex sentence. The other choices leave the statement incomplete or string together fragments that still lack a main clause.

Question 8. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The observatory opens at dusk the telescope schedule varies by season. Which option punctuates the two related clauses correctly?

• A. The observatory opens at dusk, the telescope schedule varies by season.
• B. The observatory opens at dusk; the telescope schedule varies by season. (correct)
• C. The observatory opens at dusk the telescope schedule varies by season.
• D. The observatory opens at dusk the telescope, schedule varies by season.

Explanation: Two closely related independent clauses are correctly joined with a semicolon, as in option A. Option B creates a comma splice, and option C is a run-on with no punctuation between the clauses. Option D inserts a comma inside the second clause, splitting the subject telescope from its predicate schedule.

Question 9. Conventions of Standard English hard

Read the sentence. The swim coach timed Maria and he at the practice meet. Which revision uses the correct pronoun case?

• A. The swim coach timed Maria and his at the practice meet.
• B. The swim coach timed Maria and he at the practice meet.
• C. The swim coach timed Maria and him at the practice meet. (correct)
• D. The swim coach timed she and Maria at the practice meet.

Explanation: After a verb such as timed, an object pronoun is required, so him is correct rather than he. Option A places Maria and him in the object position, matching the pronoun's case to its function in the sentence. The other options use subject or possessive forms where an object pronoun is needed.

Question 10. Conventions of Standard English hard

Read the sentence. The archaeologist shouted watch out for the exposed trench as the students approached. Which option correctly punctuates the shouted warning?

• A. The archaeologist shouted, "Watch out for the exposed trench," as the students approached. (correct)
• B. The archaeologist shouted "Watch out for the exposed trench," as the students approached.
• C. The archaeologist shouted, Watch out for the exposed trench, as the students approached.
• D. The archaeologist shouted "Watch out for the exposed trench" as the students approached.

Explanation: A direct quotation is set off from the speaker tag with a comma, and the quoted sentence ends with a comma before the closing quotation mark when the tag follows. Option A places both commas correctly. Option B omits the comma after shouted, and the last two options fail to mark the quoted words with quotation marks.

Question 11. Conventions of Standard English hard

Read the sentence. She is one of those gardeners who ___ a compost bin in every corner of the yard. Choose the verb form that fits the sentence.

• A. kept
• B. keeps
• C. keeping
• D. keep (correct)

Explanation: In the pattern one of those plural nouns who, the clause who keep modifies the plural noun gardeners, so the plural verb keep is correct. Option A aligns the verb with gardeners rather than with one. The singular keeps would agree with the wrong antecedent, and the other options cannot serve as the main verb of the clause.

Question 12. Knowledge of Language easy

A club president is writing to the city parks office to reserve a field for the county fair pie contest. Which sentence is appropriate for this professional letter?

• A. Hey, hook us up with the east field for the pie contest, thanks.
• B. We wanna grab the east field for our pie contest in August, if that works.
• C. We would like to reserve the east field for the pie contest on the third Saturday of August. (correct)
• D. The east field is gonna be ours for the pie contest, right?

Explanation: A formal letter to a city office should use complete, polite, and grammatically standard sentences. Option A states the request clearly and professionally. The other options use slang such as hook us up, contractions such as wanna and gonna, and casual phrasing that would be inappropriate in an official letter.

Question 13. Knowledge of Language easy

Read these two sentences. The maple syrup season ended early. The sugarhouse closed its doors in mid-March. Which option merges the pair into a single fluent sentence?

• A. Because the maple syrup season ended early, the sugarhouse closed its doors in mid-March. (correct)
• B. The maple syrup season ended early, the sugarhouse closed its doors in mid-March.
• C. The maple syrup season ended early and the sugarhouse closing its doors in mid-March.
• D. Ending early, the sugarhouse closed its doors in mid-March.

Explanation: Option A uses the subordinating conjunction because to show that the early end of the season caused the sugarhouse to close, producing one fluent sentence. Option B is a comma splice, option C joins the clauses with an incomplete verb phrase, and option D makes the sentence sound as though the sugarhouse itself ended early.

Question 14. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. Due to the fact that the well pump shorted out, the irrigation system could not operate for the rest of the week. Which revision tightens the sentence while keeping its full meaning?

• A. Due to the fact that the well pump shorted out, the irrigation system could not operate for the rest of the week.
• B. Because the well pump shorted out, the irrigation system could not operate for the rest of the week. (correct)
• C. The well pump shorted out, and the irrigation system could not operate for the rest of the week because of it.
• D. Owing to the fact that the well pump shorted out, the irrigation system could not operate for the rest of the week.

Explanation: The wordy phrase due to the fact that can be replaced with the single word because without losing any meaning. Option A keeps all the essential information while tightening the sentence. Option C stays wordy with because of it, and option D merely swaps one inflated phrase for another.

Question 15. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The storm drains were cleared by the volunteer crew before the heavy rain arrived. Which revision puts the sentence in the active voice?

• A. The storm drains, cleared by the volunteer crew, before the heavy rain arrived.
• B. The storm drains were cleared by the volunteer crew before the heavy rain arrived.
• C. The volunteer crew cleared the storm drains before the heavy rain arrived. (correct)
• D. Before the heavy rain arrived, the storm drains were cleared.

Explanation: In the active voice, the subject performs the action: the volunteer crew cleared the drains. Option A puts the crew in the subject position and the action in an active verb. The other options keep the passive construction, in which the drains receive the action, or produce a sentence fragment.

Question 16. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The birdwatchers reached the ridge early; ___, thick clouds rolled in within the hour. Which connecting word completes the sentence best?

• A. finally
• B. meanwhile
• C. similarly
• D. however (correct)

Explanation: The second clause describes an outcome that contrasts with the birdwatchers' early arrival, so the contrasting connector however fits the blank. Option A signals a shift from a good start to an unexpected turn. Meanwhile and similarly point to matching events, and finally suggests a sequence, none of which matches the contrast in meaning.

Question 17. Knowledge of Language medium

Read these two sentences. The wildflower meadow came into bloom. The barn dance pavilion opened its doors a week later. Which choice joins the pair into a single correct sentence?

• A. The wildflower meadow came into bloom, and the barn dance pavilion opened its doors a week later. (correct)
• B. The wildflower meadow came into bloom, the barn dance pavilion opened its doors a week later.
• C. The wildflower meadow came into bloom the barn dance pavilion opened its doors a week later.
• D. Coming into bloom, the barn dance pavilion opened its doors a week later in the wildflower meadow.

Explanation: Option A joins the two independent clauses with a comma and the conjunction and, creating a correct compound sentence. Option B repeats the original comma splice, option C is a run-on with no punctuation between the clauses, and option D uses a dangling modifier that attaches the blooming to the pavilion.

Question 18. Knowledge of Language medium

A nutritionist's handout for patients reads: You gotta cut back on the sugary drinks if you wanna see the numbers drop. Which option rewrites the advice in a suitable professional tone?

• A. You gotta cut back on the sugary drinks if you wanna see the numbers drop.
• B. Patients should reduce their intake of sugary drinks to improve their test results. (correct)
• C. Patients gotta cut back on sugary drinks to see the numbers drop.
• D. You should reduce your intake of sugary drinks, and the numbers will drop for sure.

Explanation: Professional patient handouts should use formal wording and complete sentences. Option A replaces the slang phrases gotta and wanna with standard verbs and addresses readers as patients rather than as you. The other choices keep contractions and casual idioms that undermine a clinical tone, or add an unprofessional promise.

Question 19. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the sentence. When the auctioneer handed the bidder the paddle, he checked the reserve price. Which revision makes it clear that the bidder, not the auctioneer, checked the reserve price?

• A. Checking the reserve price, the auctioneer handed the bidder the paddle.
• B. When the auctioneer handed the bidder the paddle, he checked the reserve price.
• C. When the auctioneer handed the bidder the paddle, the bidder checked the reserve price. (correct)
• D. The paddle, when the auctioneer handed the bidder it, he checked the reserve price.

Explanation: The original sentence is ambiguous because he could refer to either the auctioneer or the bidder. Option A removes the uncertainty by naming the bidder as the person who checked the reserve price. The remaining options either preserve the ambiguity or change the meaning of the auction interaction.

Question 20. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the sentence. The reason the delivery van fell behind schedule is because the cargo crane broke down. Which option states the idea most efficiently?

• A. Because the cargo crane broke down is the reason the delivery van fell behind schedule.
• B. The reason the delivery van fell behind schedule is because the cargo crane broke down.
• C. The delivery van fell behind schedule, the reason being the cargo crane broke down.
• D. The delivery van fell behind schedule because the cargo crane broke down. (correct)

Explanation: The original sentence is cluttered because the reason and is because repeat the same idea. Option A states the cause and effect directly with a single because clause. Option C remains wordy, and option D uses the awkward construction because is the reason, none of which states the idea as efficiently.

Question 21. Knowledge of Language easy

Read these two sentences. The thunderstorm knocked out the power. The aquarium's backup generator hummed to life seconds later. Which option best joins the ideas, showing that the generator started despite the outage?

• A. The thunderstorm knocked out the power, the aquarium's backup generator hummed to life seconds later.
• B. Although the thunderstorm knocked out the power, the aquarium's backup generator hummed to life seconds later. (correct)
• C. The thunderstorm knocked out the power and the aquarium's backup generator hummed to life seconds later.
• D. The thunderstorm knocked out the power; the aquarium's backup generator hummed to life seconds later.

Explanation: Option A uses although to show that the generator started despite the power failure, preserving the contrast between the two events. Option B is a comma splice, option C merely lists the events without showing the contrast, and option D uses a semicolon that fails to signal the unexpected outcome.

Question 22. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The farmhand winced as she lifted the crate, her shoulder still tender from the fall. Which meaning of tender fits this sentence?

• A. painful when touched (correct)
• B. soft and easy to cut
• C. gentle and caring
• D. generous and kind

Explanation: The sentence says the farmhand winced as she lifted the crate and that her shoulder was still tender from the fall, so tenderness here means painful when touched. Option A matches that physical meaning. The other choices describe texture, personality, or generosity, none of which fits the context of an injury.

Question 23. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

The suffix -ful means full of. Which word below means full of doubt?

• A. doubting
• B. doubtful (correct)
• C. doubtless
• D. undoubted

Explanation: The suffix -ful means full of, so doubtful means full of doubt, or uncertain. Option A is the only word whose meaning combines doubt with the -ful suffix. Doubting describes an ongoing action, doubtless means without doubt, and undoubted carries the opposite sense of being certain.

Question 24. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

The Latin root vid- means see. Which word's meaning depends most directly on that root?

• A. solid
• B. valid
• C. evident (correct)
• D. rapid

Explanation: The Latin root vid- means see, and evident means able to be seen or plainly obvious. Option A is the only choice built on that root. Valid, solid, and rapid come from other Latin roots and do not carry the meaning of seeing that the question asks about.

Question 25. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The new intern was zealous, arriving early, taking notes, and volunteering for every task. Which word is closest in meaning to zealous in this sentence?

• A. exhausted
• B. apprehensive
• C. indifferent
• D. enthusiastic (correct)

Explanation: The details that follow the word list energetic behaviors, arriving early, taking notes, and volunteering for every task, so zealous means intensely enthusiastic. Option A captures that meaning. Apprehensive means worried, indifferent means uninterested, and exhausted describes tiredness, none of which matches the intern's eager actions.

Question 26. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

The prefix il-, a form of in-, can mean not. Which word below means not able to be read?

• A. illegible (correct)
• B. eligible
• C. negligible
• D. intelligible

Explanation: The prefix il-, a variant of in-, means not, so illegible means not able to be read. Option A is the only word with that meaning. Eligible means qualified, negligible means too small to matter, and intelligible means understandable, which is nearly the opposite of illegible.

Question 27. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The panel sought to mitigate the effects of the flood by raising the levee and relocating the pump station. Which phrase best defines mitigate?

• A. to predict exactly
• B. to make less severe (correct)
• C. to document fully
• D. to reverse completely

Explanation: The sentence explains that the panel raised the levee and moved the pump station, actions that reduce the harm a flood can cause. Mitigate therefore means to make less severe. Option A matches that goal. The other options describe predicting, documenting, or reversing, which the actions in the sentence do not support.

Question 28. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

The suffix -ance often names a state or quality. Which word formed with -ance names the quality of being independent?

• A. independently
• B. dependency
• C. dependent
• D. independence (correct)

Explanation: The suffix -ance forms nouns that name a state or quality, so independence names the state of being independent. Option A is the only noun that matches the meaning described in the question. Dependency names a state of relying on others, and the other options are different parts of speech.

Question 29. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Read the sentence. The coach rejected the team's proposal, calling it a recipe for disaster on game day. Which word best completes this version of the idea? The coach ___ the proposal, calling it a recipe for disaster on game day.

• A. welcomed
• B. endorsed
• C. rejected (correct)
• D. celebrated

Explanation: The phrase calling it a recipe for disaster shows that the coach had a negative view of the proposal, so rejected fits the blank with the right negative meaning. Option A matches that disapproval. Endorsed, welcomed, and celebrated all express approval, which contradicts the coach's warning about game day.

Question 30. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The jar lid was stubborn, refusing every grip until hot water loosened its seal. Which word is the best synonym of stubborn as used in the sentence?

• A. agile
• B. resistant (correct)
• C. cautious
• D. ornate

Explanation: The lid refused every grip until hot water loosened its seal, so stubborn here means resistant to being moved or opened. Option A captures that meaning. Agile means quick and nimble, cautious means careful, and ornate means highly decorated, none of which describes a stuck lid.