Language Standards: Using Verb Voice and Mood Effectively (CCSS.L.8.3)
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Common Core 8th Grade ELA › Language Standards: Using Verb Voice and Mood Effectively (CCSS.L.8.3)
In a science lab report, you need to describe how data were collected without extra words.
Which sentence is most concise?
The students took measurements of the temperature every minute.
The temperature was recorded every minute.
Measurements of temperature were taken by the students once every single minute of the experiment.
Every minute, the temperature ended up being recorded by us students.
Explanation
Option B is the shortest clear sentence and fits a lab report's objective tone, focusing on the procedure rather than the people.
You are creating a slide for a community weather briefing.
Which sentence is most concise?
Due to the fact that the storm caused flooding, the game ended up being postponed until a later date.
Because the storm caused flooding, the game was postponed to a later time.
Owing to the storm's flooding, the game was in fact postponed.
Because the storm caused flooding, the game was postponed.
Explanation
Option D clearly states cause and effect without extra words, which suits a slide where concise language is important.
Context: You are emailing the principal to recommend a change to school equipment. Complete the sentence in a formal style using the most appropriate mood for a recommendation. Sentence: I respectfully recommend that the damaged microscopes ____ replaced before the next unit.
Which word choice best maintains the formal style?
be
are
get
should be
Explanation
In formal recommendations, the subjunctive ("be replaced") is preferred. "Are" is indicative, "get" is casual, and "should be" is less direct than the subjunctive.
Context: You are revising a formal research summary for clarity and brevity.
Which sentence is most concise?
Data were collected by the survey that we conducted from a total of 120 students in the school.
The survey collected data from 120 students.
In total, there were 120 students from whom we collected data in the survey that we did.
We, as researchers, collected data from 120 students using a survey that we ourselves designed.
Explanation
Option B is direct and uses active voice. The other options are wordy, repetitive, or include unnecessary qualifiers.
Context: You are writing a notice to families about a canceled field trip. You want to emphasize the action and keep a neutral, formal tone.
Which sentence is most concise?
We canceled the field trip because the weather was bad.
Due to the occurrence of inclement meteorological conditions, the field trip cancellation was effectuated.
The field trip got canceled 'cause of the weather.
Due to weather, the field trip has been canceled.
Explanation
Option D is concise, formal, and uses passive voice to emphasize the action rather than the actor. The others are either casual, wordy, or assign blame.
Context: You are writing a scholarship application and want to express a hypothetical situation in a formal tone.
Which word choice best maintains the formal style?
If I was chosen for the program, I will work hard.
If I am chosen for the program, I would work hard.
If I were chosen for the program, I would work hard.
If I get chosen for the program, I'll work super hard.
Explanation
The subjunctive "were" with "would" correctly expresses a hypothetical in formal writing. The other options mix tenses, are informal, or use casual wording.
Context: You are emailing the principal about using the auditorium for a charity event. Choose the word that best completes the sentence in a formal tone. "I would like to ____ permission to use the auditorium this Friday."
Which word choice best maintains the formal style?
ask for
hit you up for
request
kinda see about
Explanation
Request is precise and formal. Ask for is less formal, hit you up for is slang, and kinda see about is vague and informal. The conditional would like to supports a polite, formal tone.
Context: You are writing a science lab report to describe a procedure.
Which sentence is most concise?
The solution was heated to 80 degrees for ten minutes.
We heated up the solution to a temperature of 80 degrees for a time period of ten minutes.
The solution was heated and warmed to 80 degrees and kept for ten minutes.
We went ahead and heated the solution to about 80 degrees for like ten minutes.
Explanation
Option A is clear and concise, and the passive voice suits a formal lab report by focusing on the action. B is wordy, C is repetitive, and D is too casual and imprecise.
Context: A formal assembly announcement wants to focus on the policy rather than who is enforcing it.
Which sentence is most appropriate for emphasizing the action?
We're going to take your phones at the door.
Staff will collect students' phones at the door.
Phones are gonna get taken at the door by us.
Phones will be collected at the door.
Explanation
Option D uses passive voice to emphasize the action (collection of phones) and maintains a formal tone. A and C are too casual, and B centers the actor (staff) rather than the action.
Context: You are giving a formal presentation to the city council about a proposal. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. "If I ____ given the opportunity, I would expand weekend bus service."
Which word choice best maintains the formal style?
was
were
would be
gonna be
Explanation
Were correctly uses the subjunctive mood for a hypothetical situation and fits a formal context. Was is nonstandard here, would be is awkward and less idiomatic, and gonna be is slangy.