Allied Health Sciences Entry Test English Syllabus

What are the four sentence types classified by function?

Declarative (statement), interrogative (question), imperative (command/request), and exclamatory (strong feeling).

What are the four sentence types classified by structure?

Simple (one independent clause), compound (two or more independent clauses), complex (one independent + one or more dependent clauses), and compound-complex (multiple independent + at least one dependent clause).

What is a clause, and how do independent and dependent clauses differ?

A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone; a dependent (subordinate) clause cannot stand alone.

What is a run-on sentence, and how can it be corrected?

A run-on joins two independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunction. Correct it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

What is a comma splice?

A comma splice is the error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma (I was tired, I went home). It is fixed with a semicolon, a period, or a conjunction.

What is the grammatical error in 'Everyone should bring their book' according to formal grammar?

Pronoun-antecedent disagreement: 'everyone' is singular, so it traditionally requires 'his or her', not the plural 'their'.

What is a dangling modifier? Give an example.

A dangling modifier is a descriptive phrase that does not clearly attach to the word it modifies, e.g., 'Walking to school, the rain started' (the rain was not walking).

When do you use a semicolon (;)?

To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, and to separate list items that already contain commas.

What is the function of a colon (:)?

A colon introduces a list, an explanation, a quotation, or an example after a complete sentence (e.g., She bought three things: pens, paper, and ink).

What is the difference between the use of a comma and a full stop (period)?

A comma marks a brief pause or separates elements within a sentence; a full stop (period) marks the end of a complete declarative or imperative sentence.

How is the apostrophe used to show possession for singular and plural nouns?

Singular: add 's (the boy's bag). Plural ending in s: add only an apostrophe (the boys' bags). Irregular plural: add 's (the children's toys).

In a sentence-completion question, what should you check after choosing a word to fill the blank?

That the word fits the sentence's grammar (tense, number, part of speech) and matches the logical meaning/tone signaled by context clues such as 'but', 'because', or 'although'.

What is a synonym? Give a synonym for 'happy'.

A synonym is a word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. A synonym for 'happy' is 'joyful' (or glad, cheerful, content).

What is a synonym for the word 'abundant'?

Plentiful (also: ample, copious, profuse). It means existing in large quantity.

What is an antonym? Give an antonym for 'expand'.

An antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another. An antonym for 'expand' is 'contract' (or shrink, reduce).

What is an antonym for the word 'transparent'?

Opaque. 'Transparent' means see-through; 'opaque' means not allowing light through.

What is a verbal analogy, and how should it be solved?

An analogy tests the relationship between a pair of words. Identify the relationship in the first pair (e.g., synonym, part-to-whole, cause-effect) and apply the same relationship to complete the second pair.

In the analogy 'Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?', what is the answer and the relationship?

School. The relationship is person to their typical place of work.

What is the relationship type in the analogy 'Hot : Cold :: Big : Small'?

Antonyms (opposites). Each pair consists of words with opposite meanings.

What does it mean to find a word's meaning 'in context'?

It means determining the meaning of a word from the surrounding sentence or passage, using clues such as definitions, examples, contrasts, or the overall sense, rather than its dictionary meaning alone.

In the sentence 'The arid desert had no water for miles,' what does 'arid' mean from context?

Dry. The context 'no water for miles' signals that 'arid' means extremely dry.

What is the correctly spelled form: 'recieve' or 'receive'?

'Receive' is correct. It follows the rule 'i before e except after c'.

What is the correct spelling: 'definately', 'definatly', or 'definitely'?

'Definitely' is correct (root word: finite).

What is the correct spelling: 'seperate' or 'separate'?

'Separate' is correct (note 'par' in the middle: se-par-ate).

What is the first step in answering a reading-comprehension passage question?

Read the passage carefully (often skim then read) to grasp the overall topic, then read the question and locate the relevant part of the text before choosing the answer based on evidence in the passage.

What is the difference between an explicit (stated) detail and an inference in reading comprehension?

An explicit detail is information directly written in the passage; an inference is a logical conclusion drawn from clues in the passage that is not stated outright.

What is the 'main idea' of a passage, and where is it often found?

The main idea is the central point or message the author wants to convey. It is often stated in the topic sentence, frequently at the beginning or end of a paragraph/passage.

What is an inference question asking you to do?

To draw a conclusion or read between the lines based on evidence in the passage, identifying what is implied or suggested rather than directly stated.

What is an idiom? Give an example with its meaning.

An idiom is an expression whose meaning differs from the literal meaning of its words. Example: 'piece of cake' means something very easy.

What is a phrasal verb? Give two examples with meanings.

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb that creates a new meaning. Examples: 'give up' (to quit) and 'look after' (to take care of).