TEAS Test of Essential Academic Skills - Set 2 - Part 1

Correct Answer: accommodate

Accommodate is spelled with two c's and two m's. This is one of the most commonly misspelled words in English and shows up frequently on standardized exams like the TEAS. Option a is incorrect because accomodate uses only one m. The correct spelling requires doubled consonants for both c and m, producing the standard form accommodate used in formal writing. Option b is incorrect because acommodate drops one c. The correct word doubles both consonants, with two c's followed by two m's, producing the proper spelling accommodate in standard English. Option d is incorrect because accomadate substitutes an a for the second o. The correct vowel pattern is o-o-a-e, producing accommodate as the standard correctly spelled form in formal usage.

Correct Answer: Surgical removal

The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal. An appendectomy removes the appendix, a tonsillectomy removes the tonsils, and a hysterectomy removes the uterus, all surgical procedures involving excision. Option a is incorrect because inflammation is the meaning of -itis, as in appendicitis or arthritis. The -ectomy suffix specifically refers to a surgical procedure removing tissue, not a disease state. Option b is incorrect because pain is the meaning of -algia, as in neuralgia or myalgia. The -ectomy suffix names a surgical procedure rather than describing a symptom experienced by patients in clinical settings. Option c is incorrect because study of is the meaning of -ology, as in cardiology or biology. The -ectomy suffix indicates a surgical procedure, not an academic field of study.

Correct Answer: Although the medication was effective.

Although the medication was effective is a dependent clause standing alone. The subordinating conjunction although signals that the clause needs an independent clause to complete the thought it begins. Option b is incorrect because the doctor reviewed the chart carefully is a complete simple sentence with subject, verb, and object. It expresses a complete thought without needing additional clauses to function. Option c is incorrect because the patient is resting in room 207 is a complete simple sentence with a subject, verb, and prepositional phrase. It expresses a complete idea independently and clearly. Option d is incorrect because after the surgery, the patient slept contains an introductory phrase plus an independent clause with subject and verb. The structure forms a complete sentence overall.

Correct Answer: Heart

The root cardio- comes from Greek and means heart. It appears in many medical terms including cardiology, cardiovascular, and electrocardiogram, all referring to the heart or its electrical functions. Option a is incorrect because lung corresponds to the roots pulm- or pneum-, as in pulmonary or pneumonia. These describe the respiratory system rather than the cardiac structures and functions. Option b is incorrect because stomach corresponds to the root gastro-, as in gastritis or gastroenterology. The cardio- root is reserved for words referring specifically to the heart and its workings. Option d is incorrect because kidney corresponds to the root nephro- or renal, as in nephrology or nephrectomy. These roots describe the urinary system, not cardiac anatomy or function.

Correct Answer: They're going to the conference next week.

They're is the contraction of they are, which fits the meaning of the sentence. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a in are, producing the standard contracted form used in writing. Option a is incorrect because their is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to them. The sentence requires the contraction they are, not the possessive form their followed by a verb. Option b is incorrect because there refers to a place or serves as an expletive. The sentence needs the contraction they are, which is properly spelled they're with an apostrophe inserted. Option c is incorrect because theyre lacks the required apostrophe. Standard English requires an apostrophe in contractions to replace missing letters, producing the correctly spelled they're in formal writing.

Correct Answer: Fixing a comma splice in a sentence.

Editing focuses on surface errors including punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Fixing a comma splice corrects a punctuation problem and is exactly the kind of correction made during the editing stage. Option a is incorrect because brainstorming new ideas is a prewriting activity. It happens before drafting begins, when the writer is still planning content rather than polishing finished sentences for publication. Option c is incorrect because reorganizing structure is a revising activity. Structural changes belong to the content level of revision, not the surface level of editing focused on mechanics and grammar. Option d is incorrect because identifying the audience occurs during prewriting. Writers determine audience before drafting so that voice and content can be shaped to fit the intended readers from the start.

Correct Answer: separate

Separate is spelled with an a between the p and the r, not an e. This word is among the most frequently misspelled in English and must be memorized rather than sounded out phonetically. Option b is incorrect because seperate uses an e where an a is required. Many writers spell it phonetically with an e, but the correct standard spelling places an a after the p in the middle. Option c is incorrect because seprate omits the second a entirely. The correct word contains four vowels in the pattern e-a-a-e, producing the standard spelling separate used in academic writing. Option d is incorrect because separete substitutes an e for the second a. The proper spelling ends with -ate, not -ete, producing separate as the correct standard form in formal English.

Correct Answer: Against

The prefix anti- means against. In antibiotic it combines with bio meaning life to indicate something working against living microorganisms, particularly bacteria responsible for causing infection in the body. Option a is incorrect because self is the meaning of auto-, as in autobiography or autograph. The anti- prefix expresses opposition or counteraction, not reflexivity directed back at the actor performing the action. Option b is incorrect because within is the meaning of intra- or endo-, as in intravenous or endoscopy. These prefixes describe interior location, while anti- communicates opposition or counteraction toward something else. Option c is incorrect because around is the meaning of peri- or circum-, as in perimeter or pericardium. The anti- prefix indicates opposition rather than spatial position surrounding a structure or area.

Correct Answer: After the surgery, the patient slept for twelve hours.

A comma should follow an introductory phrase such as after the surgery. This signals to the reader where the introductory element ends and the main clause begins, improving overall sentence clarity. Option a is incorrect because no comma follows the introductory phrase after the surgery. Standard punctuation requires a comma after introductory elements to separate them from the main clause that follows. Option b is incorrect because the comma is misplaced after after rather than after surgery. The comma should mark the boundary between the complete introductory phrase and the main clause that follows. Option d is incorrect because a semicolon cannot separate an introductory phrase from a main clause. Semicolons join two independent clauses, not phrases attached to a single independent clause structure.

Correct Answer: Brainstorming ideas about the topic.

Brainstorming is a classic prewriting strategy in which the writer generates ideas freely without filtering them. It happens before any actual sentences are drafted, helping the writer plan content and structure. Option a is incorrect because correcting commas is part of editing, the final stage focused on surface errors. It happens after drafting and revising, not during prewriting when ideas are first being generated. Option c is incorrect because reading the final draft to the audience occurs during the publishing stage. Publishing happens after the writing is complete, not before drafting begins in the planning phase. Option d is incorrect because submitting the essay is part of publishing. Publishing is the final stage in which the writer shares the finished piece with its intended audience for review or grading.

Correct Answer: Above or excessive

The prefix hyper- means above or excessive. In hypertension it indicates abnormally elevated blood pressure, just as in hyperglycemia it indicates excess sugar circulating in the blood of patients. Option b is incorrect because below or deficient is the meaning of hypo-, the opposite prefix. Hypoglycemia and hypothermia both use hypo- to signal deficiency or lower than normal levels. Option c is incorrect because around or surrounding is the meaning of peri- or circum-, as in perimeter or circumference. These prefixes convey position around something, not excessive amount or degree. Option d is incorrect because within or inside is the meaning of intra- or endo-, as in intravenous or endoscopy. These prefixes describe location, not excessive degree of a condition.

Correct Answer: The nurses' lounge is on the third floor.

The lounge belongs to multiple nurses, so the plural possessive is required. Plural nouns ending in s take only an apostrophe after the s, producing nurses' lounge as the correct form. Option a is incorrect because nurses without an apostrophe is simply plural, not possessive. The sentence requires possession to show the lounge belongs to the nurses, so an apostrophe is needed somewhere. Option b is incorrect because nurse's is singular possessive, indicating one nurse owns the lounge. A staff lounge typically belongs to multiple nurses, requiring the plural possessive form nurses' instead. Option d is incorrect because nurses's adds an unnecessary s after the apostrophe. Plural nouns already ending in s take only an apostrophe to form the possessive, never an additional letter.

Correct Answer: The bag of medications is on the counter.

The subject is bag, which is singular, so the verb must be singular. The phrase of medications is a prepositional phrase between subject and verb that does not change agreement requirements. Option a is incorrect because are is plural, but the actual subject is bag, a singular noun. The plural noun medications appears in a prepositional phrase and does not control verb agreement here. Option b is incorrect because were is plural past tense, but the singular subject bag requires a singular verb. The intervening prepositional phrase of medications cannot determine the verb form chosen. Option c is incorrect because have is plural, but the subject bag is singular. Verbs agree with the grammatical subject, not with nearby plural nouns located inside intervening prepositional phrases.

Correct Answer: After the nurse checked the IV, the doctor reviewed the chart.

A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. After the nurse checked the IV is dependent, and the doctor reviewed the chart is independent, forming a complex sentence. Option a is incorrect because the nurse checked the IV is a simple sentence containing one independent clause with no dependent clause attached. It does not meet the structural requirement for sentence complexity. Option b is incorrect because two independent clauses joined by and form a compound sentence, not a complex one. Complex sentences require at least one dependent clause to qualify under the standard definition. Option d is incorrect because two independent clauses joined by a semicolon form a compound sentence. There is no dependent clause present, so the structure does not qualify as complex grammatically.

Correct Answer: Clustering

Clustering, also called mapping, places a central topic in the middle of a page and branches related ideas outward visually. It helps writers see relationships among ideas before drafting begins on paper. Option a is incorrect because outlining organizes ideas into a hierarchical list with main points and subpoints, typically using indentation or numerals rather than a visual diagram with branches and connections. Option c is incorrect because freewriting involves writing continuously for a set period without stopping or filtering. It produces text on the page rather than a branching visual map of related ideas. Option d is incorrect because drafting is the stage of writing a complete first version of a piece. It comes after prewriting strategies like clustering, not as a planning activity itself in writing.

Correct Answer: The medication is effective; it has few side effects.

A semicolon properly joins two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Both halves are complete sentences, so the semicolon binds them effectively while preserving their close conceptual connection. Option a is incorrect because a comma alone between two independent clauses creates a comma splice. This is itself a punctuation error rather than a fix for the original run-on construction in the sentence. Option b is incorrect because a comma between the subject and verb is not allowed and the run-on remains. Subjects should not be separated from their verbs, and the clauses are still fused. Option c is incorrect because the comma is misplaced after and rather than before it. With a coordinating conjunction joining clauses, the comma comes before the conjunction, not after it instead.

Correct Answer: Revising

Revising involves changes to content and structure, including reorganizing paragraphs and rewriting sections. Moving paragraphs and rewriting the introduction are classic revising activities focused on overall composition rather than surface mechanics. Option b is incorrect because prewriting happens before any draft exists. The writer already has a complete draft, so she is past planning and into evaluating and improving the existing content materially. Option c is incorrect because drafting produces the first version of the piece. The writer already has a draft and is now reorganizing and rewriting, which is a separate later stage of the process. Option d is incorrect because editing addresses surface errors like spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Moving paragraphs and rewriting the introduction are content and structural changes belonging to the revising stage instead.

Correct Answer: The patient takes three medications: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a multivitamin.

A colon introduces a list when it follows a complete sentence. The patient takes three medications is independent, so a colon properly precedes the items being listed in the series afterward. Option a is incorrect because a comma cannot introduce a list of three items in this position. After a complete sentence introducing a list, the proper punctuation is a colon, not a comma instead. Option b is incorrect because semicolons separate independent clauses or items in complex lists with internal commas. They do not introduce simple lists following a complete introductory sentence in standard usage. Option d is incorrect because the hyphen used here is too short for the role of an em dash. Standard punctuation for introducing a list after a complete sentence is the colon mark.

Correct Answer: Each of the patients has a chart.

Each is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb. The phrase of the patients is a prepositional phrase that does not change the singular nature of the subject each. Option a is incorrect because have is plural, but each is a singular indefinite pronoun requiring a singular verb. The plural noun patients in the prepositional phrase does not control verb agreement choice. Option c is incorrect because the singular form patient is wrong after of the. The phrase requires the plural patients, and the verb must still be singular has to agree with the subject each. Option d is incorrect because are bringing is plural, but each requires a singular verb form. Singular indefinite pronouns like each, every, anyone, and someone always take singular verbs in standard grammar.

Correct Answer: Patient appeared lethargic during examination.

A clinical chart note requires formal, concise, professional language. The phrase patient appeared lethargic during examination uses precise clinical vocabulary appropriate for medical documentation read by other healthcare providers reviewing the case. Option a is incorrect because kind of out of it is vague colloquial language. Clinical documentation must be precise; lethargic conveys a specific clinical observation while out of it is imprecise and informal. Option b is incorrect because dude and super spaced out are slang inappropriate for clinical documentation. Chart notes require formal professional language that other clinicians can interpret precisely without ambiguity in the record. Option c is incorrect because the use of like as a filler word and totally as informal emphasis violates the formal register required in medical charting. This phrasing belongs to casual spoken speech only.