Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts : Language

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

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All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 49 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Use Simple, Compound, Complex, And Compound Complex Sentences: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.B

What is a sentence fragment?

Possible Answers:

A sentence that is missing adjectives.

A sentence that is missing correct punctuation.

A sentence that is fused together.

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

Correct answer:

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

Explanation:

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both. Dependent clauses are also fragments because they cannot stand on their own.

Example Question #1 : Use Simple, Compound, Complex, And Compound Complex Sentences: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.B

What is a run-on sentence?

Possible Answers:

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

A sentence that is fused together.

A sentence that is missing correct punctuation.

A sentence that is missing adjectives.

Correct answer:

A sentence that is fused together.

Explanation:

A run-on is created when you put two complete sentences (a subject and its predicate and another subject and its predicate) together in one sentence without separating them properly.

Example Question #2 : Use Simple, Compound, Complex, And Compound Complex Sentences: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.B

Select the answer choice that correctly classifies the sentence below:

My favorite flavor of potato chips is sour cream and onion they are very delicious.

Possible Answers:

Sentence fragment

Complex sentence

Run-on sentence

Compound sentence

Correct answer:

Run-on sentence

Explanation:

This is a run-on sentence. There are two sentences that are fused together missing punctuation or a contraction in order to correct it. To correct this error the sentence could be written as two separate sentences or something like, “My favorite flavor of potato chips is sour cream and onion because they are delicious.” By adding the conjunction  “because” between the two clauses it separates them correctly.

Example Question #21 : Language

Select the answer choice that correctly classifies the sentence below:

If you want to go with me to the store tomorrow.

Possible Answers:

A compound-complex sentence

Sentence fragment

A complex sentence

Run-on sentence

Correct answer:

Sentence fragment

Explanation:

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both. Dependent clauses are also fragments because they cannot stand on their own. This sentence is missing the ending and leaves readers hanging. More information needs to be added to the sentence to correct it. An example would be, “If you want to go with me to the store tomorrow then be ready at noon.”

Example Question #22 : Language

What is a compound-complex sentence?

Possible Answers:

A sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

A sentence made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause.

A sentence made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.

A sentence made up of a single independent clause.

Correct answer:

A sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Explanation:

A sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses is a compound-complex sentence. A simple sentence only has one independent clause, a compound sentence has two independent clauses joined together with a coordinating conjunction, and a complex sentence has an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Example Question #23 : Language

Select the answer choice that correctly classifies the sentence below:

Susan doesn’t like going to the movies because it is loud, so she waits for the movie to come out on a streaming platform.

Possible Answers:

Sentence fragment

Run-on sentence

A complex sentence

A compound-complex sentence

Correct answer:

A compound-complex sentence

Explanation:

A compound-complex sentence has two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. The portion of the sentence before the comma (Susan doesn’t like going to the movies because it is loud) is an independent clause and the portion after the comma is a dependent clause (so she waits for the movie to come out on a streaming platform).

Example Question #1 : Use Phrases And Clauses In Sentences, Correcting Misplaced And Dangling Modifiers: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.C

Select the sentence the correctly uses a modifier

Possible Answers:

At the age of thirteen, Molly created an all natural laundry detergent that could be used for washing clothes. 

Molly created an all natural laundry detergent that could be used for washing clothes at the age of thirteen. 

Correct answer:

At the age of thirteen, Molly created an all natural laundry detergent that could be used for washing clothes. 

Explanation:
A modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or describes, another word or phrase.
A misplaced modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because it is too far from the word or phrase that it should modify.

"Molly created an all natural laundry detergent that could be used for washing clothes at the age of thirteen." has a misplaced modifier. Because the modifier at the age of thirteen is adjacent to washing clothes, this sentence wrongly suggests that the washing clothes should only be done at the age of thriteen.

Example Question #2 : Use Phrases And Clauses In Sentences, Correcting Misplaced And Dangling Modifiers: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.C

Select the sentence the correctly uses a modifier

Possible Answers:

Gorillas are able to learn and understand sign language like people.

Like people, gorillas are able to learn and understand sign language. 

Correct answer:

Like people, gorillas are able to learn and understand sign language. 

Explanation:
A modifier is a word or phrase that modifies, or describes, another word or phrase.
A misplaced modifier is a modifier that appears to modify the wrong word or phrase because it is too far from the word or phrase that it should modify.
 
"Gorillas are able to learn and understand sign language like people." has a misplaced modifier because the modifier like people is adjacent to sign language, this sentence wrongly suggests that the sign language is like people.

Example Question #24 : Language

Select the sentence that does not have a misplaced or dangling modifier

Possible Answers:

Before doing plumbing work, the water should be turned off.

On vacation in Florida, Sarah saw palm trees and lizards. 

Sarah saw palm trees and lizards on vacation in Florida. 

Trying to fall asleep, the bed felt uncomfortably lumpy.

Correct answer:

On vacation in Florida, Sarah saw palm trees and lizards. 

Explanation:

"Sarah saw palm trees and lizards on vacation in Florida." This sentence has a misplaced modifier. It wrongly suggests that the palm trees and lizards were on vacation.

"On vacation in Florida, Sarah saw palm trees and lizards. " This sentence does not have a misplaced modifier. This sentence correctly suggests that Sarah is on vacation in Florida. 

"Trying to fall asleep, the bed felt uncomfortably lumpy." This sentence has a dangling modifier. It wrongly suggests that the bed was trying to fall asleep.

"Before doing pluming work, the water should be turned off." This sentence has a misplaced modifier. It wrongly suggests that the pluming is doing pluming work.

Example Question #4 : Use Phrases And Clauses In Sentences, Correcting Misplaced And Dangling Modifiers: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.1.C

Choose which answer choice best expresses the underlined portion of the following sentence. If the original sentence is the best choice, select “NO CHANGE.”

A talented musician, John’s family proudly attended all of his concerts and performances.

Possible Answers:

A talented musician, John was proud to have his family attend

NO CHANGE

Talented musicians, John was proud to have his family attend

They were talented musicians, John’s family proudly attended

Correct answer:

A talented musician, John was proud to have his family attend

Explanation:

When a sentence begins with a noun phrase + comma + another noun, there’s a good chance that it’s beginning with an appositive (noun used as a description) modifier. That is the case here: “a talented musician” is a description of the noun that comes after the comma, and the noun after the comma is the noun that performs the action in the verb (“John’s family proudly attended…”).  

Whenever you’re using a modifier, it must logically describe the noun that comes next to it. Here “a talented musician” is singular, describing one musician. But John’s family is more than one person, so the modifier doesn’t work. But “a talented musician, John” does work since John could logically be one talented musician. That answer corrects the singular-vs-plural logical errors in two answer choices and is therefore correct.

Note that “they were talented musicians, John’s family…” is not a modifier, since “they were talented musicians” has both a noun (they) and a verb (were). That answer choice has its own grammatical error, then, in that, you cannot simply split two clauses with only a comma.

All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 49 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
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