TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
Question 1. Which sentence best states the main idea of a persuasive essay?
A) A summary of background details
B) A clear thesis or claim
C) A list of supporting examples
D) A restatement of the conclusion
Answer: B
Explanation: The thesis or claim presents the central argument or position of a persuasive essay, making
it the main idea.
Question 2. Where should the topic sentence usually appear in a body paragraph?
A) At the beginning
B) In the middle
C) At the end
D) In the introduction
Answer: A
Explanation: The topic sentence typically appears at the beginning of a paragraph, introducing the
paragraph’s main point.
Question 3. Which transition word best shows contrast between two ideas?
A) Furthermore
B) Therefore
C) However
D) For example
Answer: C
Explanation: “However” signals a contrast or difference between two ideas.
Question 4. What is the purpose of a concluding paragraph?
A) To introduce new evidence
B) To restate the thesis and summarize key points
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
C) To present unrelated information
D) To add more examples
Answer: B
Explanation: The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the essay’s main arguments.
Question 5. Which of the following sentences is a fragment?
A) After the concert ended.
B) The band played three encores.
C) Music filled the night air.
D) Fans cheered loudly.
Answer: A
Explanation: “After the concert ended.” is a dependent clause and does not form a complete sentence.
Question 6. Which of the following sentences uses correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The dogs runs in the park.
B) The group of students are excited.
C) Each of the books is interesting.
D) The team want to win.
Answer: C
Explanation: “Each” requires a singular verb, so “Each of the books is interesting” is correct.
Question 7. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
A) I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight.
B) I have a big test tomorrow, I can’t go out tonight.
C) I have a big test; tomorrow, I can’t go out tonight.
D) I have a big test; and I can’t go out tonight.
Answer: A
Explanation: A semicolon connects two related independent clauses without a conjunction.
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
Question 8. Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
A) She likes to read, she also enjoys writing.
B) She likes to read. She also enjoys writing.
C) She likes to read and also enjoys writing.
D) She likes to read; she also enjoys writing.
Answer: A
Explanation: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma create a run-on sentence.
Question 9. Which is a correct use of a possessive apostrophe?
A) The dogs collar is red.
B) The dog’s collar is red.
C) The dogs’ collar is red.
D) The dogs collar’s is red.
Answer: B
Explanation: “Dog’s” shows the collar belongs to one dog.
Question 10. Which word best completes this sentence: “She ran ___ than her brother.”
A) fast
B) faster
C) fastest
D) more fast
Answer: B
Explanation: “Faster” is the correct comparative form of “fast.”
Question 11. Which sentence uses parallel structure?
A) She likes reading, to swim, and biking.
B) She likes to read, to swim, and to bike.
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
C) She likes to read, swimming, and to bike.
D) She likes to read, swim, and biking.
Answer: B
Explanation: All verbs follow “to” + verb form, creating parallelism.
Question 12. What is the antecedent in this sentence: “The team won its game”?
A) won
B) its
C) team
D) game
Answer: C
Explanation: “Team” is the noun to which “its” refers.
Question 13. Which of the following sentences uses correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A) Either Jane or Sarah will bring their books.
B) Each student must bring their pencil.
C) Neither boy brought his jacket.
D) The committee made their decision.
Answer: C
Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so the correct pronoun is “his.”
Question 14. Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
A) Covered in chocolate, the child ate the ice cream cone.
B) The child ate the ice cream cone covered in chocolate.
C) The ice cream cone covered in chocolate was eaten by the child.
D) The child, covered in chocolate, ate the ice cream cone.
Answer: A
Explanation: The phrase “Covered in chocolate” should modify “ice cream cone,” not “the child.”
Test Exam
Question 1. Which sentence best states the main idea of a persuasive essay?
A) A summary of background details
B) A clear thesis or claim
C) A list of supporting examples
D) A restatement of the conclusion
Answer: B
Explanation: The thesis or claim presents the central argument or position of a persuasive essay, making
it the main idea.
Question 2. Where should the topic sentence usually appear in a body paragraph?
A) At the beginning
B) In the middle
C) At the end
D) In the introduction
Answer: A
Explanation: The topic sentence typically appears at the beginning of a paragraph, introducing the
paragraph’s main point.
Question 3. Which transition word best shows contrast between two ideas?
A) Furthermore
B) Therefore
C) However
D) For example
Answer: C
Explanation: “However” signals a contrast or difference between two ideas.
Question 4. What is the purpose of a concluding paragraph?
A) To introduce new evidence
B) To restate the thesis and summarize key points
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
C) To present unrelated information
D) To add more examples
Answer: B
Explanation: The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the essay’s main arguments.
Question 5. Which of the following sentences is a fragment?
A) After the concert ended.
B) The band played three encores.
C) Music filled the night air.
D) Fans cheered loudly.
Answer: A
Explanation: “After the concert ended.” is a dependent clause and does not form a complete sentence.
Question 6. Which of the following sentences uses correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The dogs runs in the park.
B) The group of students are excited.
C) Each of the books is interesting.
D) The team want to win.
Answer: C
Explanation: “Each” requires a singular verb, so “Each of the books is interesting” is correct.
Question 7. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
A) I have a big test tomorrow; I can’t go out tonight.
B) I have a big test tomorrow, I can’t go out tonight.
C) I have a big test; tomorrow, I can’t go out tonight.
D) I have a big test; and I can’t go out tonight.
Answer: A
Explanation: A semicolon connects two related independent clauses without a conjunction.
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
Question 8. Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
A) She likes to read, she also enjoys writing.
B) She likes to read. She also enjoys writing.
C) She likes to read and also enjoys writing.
D) She likes to read; she also enjoys writing.
Answer: A
Explanation: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma create a run-on sentence.
Question 9. Which is a correct use of a possessive apostrophe?
A) The dogs collar is red.
B) The dog’s collar is red.
C) The dogs’ collar is red.
D) The dogs collar’s is red.
Answer: B
Explanation: “Dog’s” shows the collar belongs to one dog.
Question 10. Which word best completes this sentence: “She ran ___ than her brother.”
A) fast
B) faster
C) fastest
D) more fast
Answer: B
Explanation: “Faster” is the correct comparative form of “fast.”
Question 11. Which sentence uses parallel structure?
A) She likes reading, to swim, and biking.
B) She likes to read, to swim, and to bike.
, TCAR Maine HiSET Language Arts Writing Computer Based
Test Exam
C) She likes to read, swimming, and to bike.
D) She likes to read, swim, and biking.
Answer: B
Explanation: All verbs follow “to” + verb form, creating parallelism.
Question 12. What is the antecedent in this sentence: “The team won its game”?
A) won
B) its
C) team
D) game
Answer: C
Explanation: “Team” is the noun to which “its” refers.
Question 13. Which of the following sentences uses correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A) Either Jane or Sarah will bring their books.
B) Each student must bring their pencil.
C) Neither boy brought his jacket.
D) The committee made their decision.
Answer: C
Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so the correct pronoun is “his.”
Question 14. Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
A) Covered in chocolate, the child ate the ice cream cone.
B) The child ate the ice cream cone covered in chocolate.
C) The ice cream cone covered in chocolate was eaten by the child.
D) The child, covered in chocolate, ate the ice cream cone.
Answer: A
Explanation: The phrase “Covered in chocolate” should modify “ice cream cone,” not “the child.”
