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

Correct Answer: Inflammation

The suffix -itis means inflammation. Words like arthritis, dermatitis, hepatitis, and appendicitis all describe inflammation of a specific body part identified by the root preceding the suffix -itis. Option b is incorrect because surgical removal is the meaning of -ectomy, as in appendectomy or tonsillectomy. The suffix -itis describes a condition rather than a surgical procedure performed on a patient. Option c is incorrect because tumor or growth is the meaning of -oma, as in carcinoma or lipoma. The suffix -itis specifically refers to inflammation, not abnormal tissue formation or growth in tissue. Option d is incorrect because study of is the meaning of -ology, as in biology or cardiology. The suffix -itis indicates a medical condition involving inflammation, not an academic discipline or area of study.

Correct Answer: However

The two sentences express contrasting ideas: a benefit and a drawback. However signals contrast between the positive effect on pain and the negative side effect of drowsiness experienced by some patients. Option a is incorrect because therefore signals cause and effect, not contrast. The drowsiness side effect is not a result of the medication being effective at reducing pain in this particular sentence pair. Option b is incorrect because for example introduces an illustration of the previous sentence. Drowsiness is not an example of pain reduction; it contrasts with the benefit just described in the first sentence. Option d is incorrect because in addition signals more of the same idea. The second sentence introduces a downside, which contrasts with the first rather than continuing the same positive theme.

Correct Answer: After the nurse explained the procedure, the patient signed the form.

Replacing the ambiguous pronoun she with the patient eliminates the unclear reference. The original sentence does not specify whether the nurse or patient signed the form, creating confusion for readers of the sentence. Option a is incorrect because the pronoun she remains ambiguous. Adding quickly does nothing to clarify whether the nurse or the patient signed the form, leaving the original problem unresolved by the revision. Option c is incorrect because the pronoun she still has no clear antecedent. Removing the patient from the introductory phrase does not fix the vague reference in the main clause that follows. Option d is incorrect because the pronoun she remains unclear. The reordered sentence still leaves readers wondering whether the nurse or the patient performed each separate action mentioned in the sentence.

Correct Answer: The procedure was performed on March 5, 2024, at the hospital.

When a complete date appears mid-sentence, commas separate the day from the year and the year from the rest of the sentence. Both commas are required by standard punctuation rules in American English. Option a is incorrect because no commas appear with the date. A complete date written in month-day-year format requires a comma between the day and year and after the year inside the sentence. Option b is incorrect because the comma after 2024 is missing. When a date appears in the middle of a sentence, the year must be followed by a comma to separate it from the rest. Option c is incorrect because an unnecessary comma follows performed. No comma is needed between the verb and its prepositional phrase, only between the parts of the date itself in the sentence.

Correct Answer: Under or below

The prefix sub- means under or below. In subcutaneous it combines with cutan meaning skin to describe something located beneath the skin, such as a layer of tissue or an injection site. Option b is incorrect because above is the meaning of super-, supra-, or epi-, as in supervisor, supraorbital, or epidermis. The prefix sub- describes the opposite spatial position relative to a reference. Option c is incorrect because around is the meaning of peri- or circum-, as in pericardium or circumference. These prefixes indicate a position surrounding something, not a position located beneath it physically. Option d is incorrect because across is the meaning of trans-, as in transport or transfusion. The prefix sub- specifically describes vertical position below something, not movement from one side to another side.

Correct Answer: She enjoys walking, swimming, and reading.

All three items in the list use the same grammatical form, the -ing gerund. Parallel structure requires items in a series to share the same form, producing balanced and clear writing in standard English. Option a is incorrect because the third item shifts from gerunds to an infinitive. Walking and swimming are -ing forms, but to read is an infinitive, breaking the parallel pattern of the list overall. Option b is incorrect because the first item is an infinitive while the others are gerunds. Mixing to walk with swimming and reading creates inconsistent grammatical forms within the same series of items. Option d is incorrect because all three items use different forms: gerund, infinitive, and bare verb. Parallel structure requires the items to share one consistent form throughout the entire list of items.

Correct Answer: The patient is having shortness of breath.

For a general audience, plain language replaces clinical jargon. Shortness of breath is the everyday term for dyspnea, making the sentence accessible to non-medical readers without specialized training in healthcare or anatomy. Option a is incorrect because dyspnea is medical jargon. While appropriate among clinicians, the term is unfamiliar to most non-medical readers and should be replaced with plain language for general audiences instead. Option b is incorrect because dyspneic symptomatology stacks two pieces of clinical jargon. This phrasing is even more inaccessible than dyspnea alone for readers outside the medical field reading patient materials. Option c is incorrect because respiratory insufficiency is technical language unfamiliar to general audiences. Plain wording such as shortness of breath is more appropriate when writing for non-specialists who lack clinical training.

Correct Answer: The doctor reviewed the chart.

In active voice the subject performs the action. The doctor is the subject and reviewed is the action being performed on the object the chart, producing a direct and concise active voice construction. Option b is incorrect because the chart, the receiver of the action, appears as the subject. The doer, the doctor, follows by, which signals passive voice rather than active voice in this construction. Option c is incorrect because the chart, the receiver of the action, is the subject. The participial phrase having been reviewed is passive, and was placed is also passive voice in the main clause. Option d is incorrect because both clauses use passive voice. The chart was reviewed and it was filed both place the receiver of the action in the subject position rather than the doer of the action.

Correct Answer: The patient was tired, she rested.

A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. The patient was tired and she rested are both complete sentences, so a comma alone is insufficient to connect them properly. Option a is incorrect because so is a coordinating conjunction. A comma plus coordinating conjunction is the proper way to join two independent clauses, producing a correctly punctuated compound sentence in standard form. Option c is incorrect because a semicolon properly joins two related independent clauses. This is one of the four standard ways to combine such clauses, not an error in punctuation in this construction. Option d is incorrect because a period correctly separates two independent clauses into two distinct sentences. This is the simplest way to avoid run-ons or comma splices in standard writing.

Correct Answer: Skin

The root derm- comes from Greek and means skin. It appears in dermatology, the study of skin diseases, and dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin caused by various factors and conditions. Option a is incorrect because bone corresponds to the roots oste- or oss-, as in osteoporosis or osseous. The root derm- specifically refers to the skin and its associated tissues only. Option b is incorrect because heart corresponds to the root cardio-, as in cardiology or cardiovascular. These roots describe the cardiac system, while derm- describes the integumentary system covering the body. Option d is incorrect because blood corresponds to the roots hem- or hemato-, as in hemoglobin or hematology. The root derm- relates to the body's outer covering, not circulating blood vessels or cells.

Correct Answer: Because the patient had nausea, the doctor discontinued the medication.

This revision replaces the wordy phrase due to the fact that with because, simplifies was experiencing to had, and converts passive voice to active voice. The result is shorter and clearer overall. Option a is incorrect because it retains due to the fact that, the wordy phrase that should be replaced with because. Concise writing eliminates such redundant phrasing whenever a single shorter word will work effectively. Option b is incorrect because it retains both was experiencing and the passive construction was discontinued by the doctor. Active voice is more concise and direct than passive in this context for clarity. Option c is incorrect because it retains the passive voice was discontinued by the doctor. Active voice is shorter and clearer when the doer of the action is known and meaningful in context.

Correct Answer: Dangling modifier

The introductory phrase after reviewing the chart implies a person doing the reviewing, but the main clause subject is the diagnosis, which cannot review a chart. This creates a dangling modifier error. Option b is incorrect because the verb was correctly agrees with the singular subject diagnosis. There is no agreement problem in the sentence, only a problem with the introductory modifier and its missing subject. Option c is incorrect because the sentence does not contain two independent clauses joined by a comma. A comma splice requires two complete sentences improperly fused with only a comma between them. Option d is incorrect because the sentence contains no pronouns. Pronoun reference errors require an unclear pronoun, which this sentence does not include in its construction or wording.

Correct Answer: Self

The prefix auto- means self. An autobiography is a self-written account of one's own life, while a biography is written by someone else about another person's life and experiences. Option a is incorrect because many is the meaning of poly- or multi-, as in polygon or multinational. The auto- prefix expresses self-reference, not quantity or multiplicity in any context or word. Option c is incorrect because against is the meaning of anti- or contra-, as in antibiotic or contradict. The auto- prefix describes action directed at oneself, not opposition to something else outside. Option d is incorrect because new is the meaning of neo-, as in neonatal or neologism. The auto- prefix specifically refers to oneself or self-direction rather than novelty or newness in any form.

Correct Answer: The patient walked to the desk and asked for water.

Both verbs walked and asked are in the simple past tense, maintaining consistent tense throughout the sentence. Tense consistency keeps writing clear and helps readers track the timing of related actions accurately. Option a is incorrect because walked is past tense and asks is present tense. Mixing tenses without reason creates confusion about when the actions happened relative to each other in time. Option b is incorrect because walks is present tense and asked is past tense. The shift between tenses within a single sentence is inconsistent and disrupts the timeline for readers. Option d is incorrect because walked is simple past and is asking is present progressive. The shift between tenses creates inconsistency without any meaningful change in time being expressed in the sentence.

Correct Answer: The patient was given a prescription by the doctor with severe side effects.

The phrase with severe side effects sits next to the doctor, suggesting the doctor has the side effects. The phrase should describe the prescription, but its placement creates an unintentionally absurd reading of the sentence. Option a is incorrect because the modifier with severe side effects clearly describes the prescription, which sits closer to it. The placement gives the intended meaning without confusion or absurd interpretation by readers. Option c is incorrect because the modifier with severe side effects appears next to medication, which is the word it logically describes. The structure produces the intended meaning correctly without any ambiguity. Option d is incorrect because the sentence contains no introductory or trailing modifier phrase that could be misplaced. Severe side effects is part of the simple subject-verb-object structure in the sentence.

Correct Answer: The medication had a positive effect on her recovery.

Effect is a noun meaning a result, which fits the sentence. Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. Here the medication produced a result on her recovery, so effect is the correct choice. Option a is incorrect because affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. The sentence requires a noun naming the result of the medication, which is the noun effect spelled with an e. Option b is incorrect because efect is misspelled. The correct spelling of the noun meaning result has two f's, producing effect, the standard form used in formal writing across English. Option c is incorrect because affekt is not a standard English spelling. Even if the meaning intended were influence, the verb would be spelled affect, never affekt with a k inside.

Correct Answer: Blood

The root hemat- means blood. Hematology is the study of blood, hematuria is blood in the urine, and hemoglobin is the blood protein that carries oxygen throughout the body to tissues. Option b is incorrect because bone corresponds to the roots oste- or oss-, as in osteoporosis or osseous. The root hemat- specifically refers to blood and the circulatory system rather than skeletal tissue. Option c is incorrect because skin corresponds to the root derm-, as in dermatology or dermatitis. The root hemat- describes the blood, not the body's outer covering or surface tissues. Option d is incorrect because lung corresponds to the roots pulm- or pneum-, as in pulmonary or pneumonia. The root hemat- describes blood, while pulm- and pneum- relate to respiration and breathing.

Correct Answer: The team performed the procedure quickly.

Performed is a precise verb that specifies what the team actually did. Vague verbs such as did, got, made, and had can almost always be replaced with more accurate alternatives in formal writing for clarity. Option a is incorrect because got the procedure done is even less precise than the original did. Got is among the vaguest verbs in English and is generally avoided in formal writing for that reason. Option b is incorrect because made does not accurately describe what is done with a procedure. People perform, complete, or carry out procedures rather than making them, so made is imprecise in this context. Option d is incorrect because had the procedure done is wordy and shifts the doer. The team becomes a passive bystander rather than the active performer of the procedure being described in the sentence.

Correct Answer: She is not only a skilled clinician but also a research team leader.

With paired conjunctions like not only/but also, the elements on each side must match grammatically. Both a skilled clinician and a research team leader are noun phrases, producing balanced parallel structure in the sentence. Option a is incorrect because the elements following not only and but also do not match. A skilled clinician is a noun phrase while leads the research team is a verb phrase, breaking parallelism in the construction. Option b is incorrect because the structure following not only and but also is unbalanced. Is skilled is a verb phrase while a leader of research is a noun phrase, producing inconsistency between the items. Option c is incorrect because clinical is an adjective and leading research teams is a verb phrase. The mismatch in form following not only and but also breaks parallel structure throughout the sentence.

Correct Answer: Therefore

The two sentences are linked by cause and effect. The chest pain prompted the team to order the EKG, so therefore correctly signals that the second action results from the situation described first in the first sentence. Option a is incorrect because however signals contrast. There is no contrast between the patient's chest pain and the team's response of ordering an EKG, which is a logical follow-up clinical action. Option c is incorrect because for example introduces an illustration. Ordering an EKG is not an example of chest pain; it is a clinical response prompted by the chest pain just described in the first sentence. Option d is incorrect because meanwhile signals simultaneous events. The EKG was ordered because of the chest pain, not at the same time as something else happening independently and unrelated.