PrepLion

CLEP College Composition Practice Test

10 free sample questions with answers and explanations. See how you'd score on the real CLEP exam.

Question 1Unit 1: Essay Organization and Strategies

How can the underlined sentence be revised to improve the paragraph's unity and coherence?

A
A) Remove the sentence, as it is unrelated to the topic
B
B) Revise the sentence to provide evidence for the claim about climate change
C
C) Keep the sentence, as it provides a transition to the next paragraph
D
D) Replace the sentence with a sentence that summarizes the main point of the essay
E
E) Move the sentence to the conclusion, as it provides a final thought on the topic

Explanation

The underlined sentence can be revised to provide evidence for the claim about climate change, which would improve the paragraph's unity and coherence. This revision would help to support the main argument and make the paragraph more persuasive. The other options are incorrect because removing the sentence would eliminate potential evidence, keeping the sentence as is would not improve the paragraph's unity, replacing the sentence with a summary would not provide additional evidence, and moving the sentence to the conclusion would not provide a logical flow of ideas. The correct revision requires applying the principle of using evidence to support claims, which is a key aspect of effective essay writing.

Question 2Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

In a research paper, which of the following is the most effective way to avoid plagiarism when referencing an author's idea that has been paraphrased?

A
A) Introduce the paraphrased idea with a signal phrase that includes the author's name, followed by a brief parenthetical citation
B
B) Place quotation marks around the paraphrased idea to distinguish it from the author's original words
C
C) Include a footnote at the bottom of the page with the author's name and the title of the work
D
D) Use a block quote to set off the paraphrased idea from the rest of the text
E
E) Omit any reference to the author or the original work, as the idea is now considered common knowledge

Explanation

This option is correct because introducing the paraphrased idea with a signal phrase that includes the author's name, followed by a brief parenthetical citation, effectively attributes the idea to its original source and avoids plagiarism.

Question 3Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

In an essay discussing the impact of social media on relationships, which of the following sentences integrates a quotation and paraphrase most smoothly?

A
A) According to psychologist Jean Twenge, "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness"; this idea is echoed in the work of other researchers who have found that excessive online interaction can lead to social isolation.
B
B) Jean Twenge says "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness", and other people also think this is true.
C
C) The idea that social media is bad for relationships is supported by Jean Twenge, who says "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness", but this is not the only factor.
D
D) Heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness, asJean Twenge says, "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness"; this is a widely accepted fact.
E
E) Jean Twenge's statement, "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness", is one perspective on the issue, but it is unclear how this relates to other research on social media and relationships.

Explanation

Option "According to psychologist Jean Twenge, "heavy social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness"; this idea is echoed in the work of other researchers who have found that excessive online interaction can lead to social isolation." is correct because it smoothly integrates the quotation from Jean Twenge with a paraphrase of the idea, using transitional language to connect the two and create a cohesive sentence.

Question 4Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

To research the historical context of a novel, which of the following sources would be the most appropriate to consult?

A
A) A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed literary journal
B
B) A social media post from a popular book club
C
C) A plot summary from a Wikipedia entry
D
D) A review from a commercial book website
E
E) A personal blog from an unknown author

Explanation

A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed literary journal would provide the most reliable and in-depth information about the historical context of a novel, as it is written by an expert and vetted through an academic review process.

Question 5Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

What type of reference material would be most suitable for a researcher looking to understand the historical context and development of a literary movement?

A
A) A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed journal
B
B) A social media post from a popular author
C
C) A blog entry from a book review website
D
D) A personal letter from a reader
E
E) A tweet from a literary critic

Explanation

A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed journal would provide in-depth, well-researched, and authoritative information on the historical context and development of a literary movement, making it the most suitable reference material for a researcher.

Question 6Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

Which of the following is the correct MLA works-cited entry for a book with one author?

A
A) Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
B
B) Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
C
C) Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. Year. Publisher.
D
D) Firstname, Lastname. Title of Book. City, Publisher: Year.
E
E) Title of Book. Firstname Lastname. City: Publisher, Year.

Explanation

In MLA format, the works-cited entry for a book with one author should list the author's last name first, followed by a comma, then the first name, then a period, the title of the book in title case, a period, the city of publication, a colon, the publisher, a comma, and the year of publication.

Question 7Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

According to Source A, which states that 'a nationwide ban on single-use plastics is necessary to mitigate environmental pollution,' and Source B, which claims that 'recycling programs are ineffective due to contamination and lack of infrastructure,' a writer argues that implementing a nationwide ban on single-use plastics is the most effective way to reduce plastic waste. Which of the following sentences best synthesizes the two sources to support the writer's position?

A
A) While Source A highlights the need for a nationwide ban on single-use plastics, Source B underscores the futility of relying solely on recycling programs, thereby strengthening the case for such a ban.
B
B) Source A and Source B both emphasize the importance of recycling programs in reducing plastic waste, which contradicts the writer's argument for a ban on single-use plastics.
C
C) The writer's argument for a nationwide ban on single-use plastics is weakened by Source A's failure to consider the economic impact of such a ban and Source B's admission that recycling can be effective in some cases.
D
D) Source A's call for a nationwide ban on single-use plastics and Source B's criticism of recycling programs are unrelated and do not support the writer's position.
E
E) Implementing a nationwide ban on single-use plastics, as suggested by Source A, would actually increase plastic waste by undermining the recycling efforts described in Source B.

Explanation

This option correctly synthesizes the two sources by highlighting how Source B's criticism of recycling programs supports Source A's argument for a nationwide ban on single-use plastics, thereby strengthening the writer's position.

Question 8Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

In a research paper, the author quotes a critic who states that 'the themes of loneliness and isolation are prevalent in the works of Ernest Hemingway' (Smith 24). Which of the following in-text citations would be correct to cite a subsequent quote from the same source?

A
A) (Smith 24)
B
B) (Smith)
C
C) (Smith 25)
D
D) (Smith et al. 24)
E
E) (24)

Explanation

Since the same source is being cited again and the page number is the same, the correct in-text citation would be (Smith 24), as MLA style requires the author's last name and page number for in-text citations when quoting directly from a source.

Question 9Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

In MLA format, which of the following is the correct works-cited entry for a book with two authors?

A
A) Lastname, Firstname, and Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
B
B) Firstname Lastname and Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
C
C) Lastname, Firstname, Firstname Lastname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
D
D) Firstname Lastname, Firstname Lastname. Title of Book, City: Publisher, Year.
E
E) Lastname, Firstname. Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.

Explanation

In MLA format, the correct works-cited entry for a book with two authors is listed with the authors' names in the format 'Lastname, Firstname, and Firstname Lastname', followed by the title of the book, the city of publication, the publisher, and the year of publication.

Question 10Unit 3: Research Skills and Documentation

In a research paper, which of the following is the correct way to attribute an idea that is not your own, according to MLA style?

A
A) By using quotation marks around the idea and including the author's last name and page number in parentheses
B
B) By changing a few words of the original text and not including any citation
C
C) By including the author's first and last name in the text, but not including a page number
D
D) By using a footnote to acknowledge the source, but not including any other citation information
E
E) By not citing the source at all, since the idea is commonly known

Explanation

This option is correct because MLA style requires the use of quotation marks around direct quotes, and the inclusion of the author's last name and page number in parentheses to acknowledge the source.

Want your full diagnostic with pass probability?

Get a personalized breakdown of every unit, estimated study time, and an AI study plan — free.