SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz: Correcting Capitalization
20 questions · exam conditions
0:00
Correcting CapitalizationQuestion 1 of 20

Select the option that correctly capitalizes all words in the salutation of a formal letter.

dear Senator O'Leary:
Dear Senator O'leary:
Dear Senator O'Leary:
Dear senator o'Leary:
← Back to quizzes

SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz

SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz: Correcting Capitalization

Practice Correcting Capitalization in SHSAT English Language Arts with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Correcting Capitalization, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for SHSAT English Language Arts.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Select the option that correctly capitalizes all words in the salutation of a formal letter.

  1. dear Senator O'Leary:
  2. Dear Senator O'leary:
  3. Dear Senator O'Leary: (correct answer)
  4. Dear senator o'Leary:
Explanation: When you encounter questions about letter formatting, focus on the capitalization rules that apply to formal business correspondence, particularly salutations. In formal letter salutations, you must capitalize the first word of the greeting and all proper nouns (names of specific people, places, or titles when used with a name). Additionally, when someone holds an official title like "Senator," and it's used before their name, the title functions as part of their proper noun and must be capitalized. Option C correctly capitalizes "Dear" as the first word of the salutation, "Senator" as an official title preceding a name, and "O'Leary" as a proper noun surname. The apostrophe in "O'Leary" doesn't affect capitalization rules—the "L" remains capitalized because it's part of the surname. Option A fails because "dear" should be capitalized as the first word of the salutation. Option B incorrectly uses a lowercase "l" in "O'leary"—the letter following an apostrophe in surnames like O'Brien, O'Connor, or O'Leary should remain capitalized since it's still part of the proper noun. Option D makes two errors: "senator" should be capitalized when used as a title before a name, and the "L" in "o'Leary" should be uppercase. Remember this pattern: In formal salutations, capitalize the greeting word (Dear, Hello), any titles used with names (Senator, Dr., Professor), and all parts of proper names, including letters following apostrophes in surnames. This same rule applies to other formal writing contexts you'll encounter.

Question 2

Read this sentence.

My cousin, who lives in the south, plans to visit us in new york city this summer.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. My cousin, who lives in the south, plans to visit us in New York city this Summer.
  2. My cousin, who lives in the South, plans to visit us in New York City this summer. (correct answer)
  3. My Cousin, who lives in the South, plans to visit us in New york City this summer.
  4. My cousin, who lives in the south, plans to visit us in new york City this summer.
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of proper noun capitalization rules. When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on identifying which words represent specific places, people, or things versus general categories. The correct answer is B because it follows standard capitalization rules for geographic locations. "South" should be capitalized when referring to a specific region of the United States (like "the South" meaning the southeastern states), and "New York City" requires capitals for all parts since it's the official name of a specific city. The word "summer" remains lowercase because seasons are not capitalized unless they're part of a proper noun. Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "Summer" - seasons should remain lowercase in general usage. Choice C makes the error of capitalizing "Cousin," which is incorrect since it's not being used as a proper noun or title before a name. It also fails to capitalize the "y" in "york." Choice D keeps "south" lowercase (incorrect when referring to the regional South) and fails to capitalize "new" in "New York City." The key distinction here is between directional words (lowercase: "drive south for two miles") and regional designations (uppercase: "she's from the South"). Similarly, all words in a proper place name like "New York City" must be capitalized. Remember this rule: Capitalize geographic regions when they refer to established areas with cultural or political significance, but use lowercase for simple directions. Always capitalize every significant word in official place names.

Question 3

Read this sentence.

The history teacher assigned a chapter on the industrial revolution from the textbook, a people's history of progress.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. The History teacher assigned a chapter on the Industrial Revolution from the textbook, A People's History of Progress.
  2. The history teacher assigned a chapter on the Industrial Revolution from the textbook, A People's History of Progress. (correct answer)
  3. The history teacher assigned a chapter on the industrial revolution from the textbook, A people's History of Progress.
  4. The history teacher assigned a Chapter on the Industrial Revolution from the textbook, A People's History of Progress.
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions on the SHSAT, you need to apply specific rules for different types of words and phrases. The key areas to check are job titles, historical events, and book titles. Let's work through the capitalization rules systematically. Job titles like "history teacher" should only be capitalized when they come before a person's name (like "Professor Smith") or when used as a direct address. Since "history teacher" appears as a general description here, it stays lowercase. Historical events and periods like "Industrial Revolution" should be capitalized because they refer to specific named periods in history. Book titles require capitalizing the first word, last word, and all major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) while keeping articles, prepositions, and conjunctions lowercase unless they're the first word. Choice B correctly applies all these rules: "history teacher" remains lowercase, "Industrial Revolution" is properly capitalized as a historical period, and the book title "A People's History of Progress" capitalizes "A" (first word), "People's," "History," and "Progress" (all major words). Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "History" in "History teacher." Choice C fails to capitalize "Industrial Revolution" and makes errors in the book title by not capitalizing "People's." Choice D unnecessarily capitalizes "Chapter," which is just a common noun here, not part of a specific title. Remember this pattern: capitalize specific historical events and periods, but keep general job descriptions lowercase unless they precede names. For titles, focus on major words while keeping small connecting words lowercase.

Question 4

Read this sentence.

"The package will arrive on wednesday," my aunt said, "and then we can prepare for the party."

Which revision corrects the capitalization error in the sentence?

  1. "The package will arrive on Wednesday," my Aunt said, "and then we can prepare for the party."
  2. "The package will arrive on Wednesday," my aunt said, "And then we can prepare for the party."
  3. "the package will arrive on Wednesday," my aunt said, "and then we can prepare for the party."
  4. "The package will arrive on Wednesday," my aunt said, "and then we can prepare for the party." (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of capitalization rules in quoted speech and proper nouns. When you encounter dialogue punctuation questions, focus on three key areas: days of the week, proper nouns versus common nouns, and continuation of quoted speech. The correct answer is D because it properly capitalizes "Wednesday" (days of the week are always capitalized) while keeping "aunt" lowercase (it's used as a common noun, not as a proper name) and maintaining lowercase "and" in the second part of the quote (since it continues the same sentence). Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "Aunt." While you would capitalize "Aunt Sarah" or when addressing someone directly as "Hello, Aunt," here "aunt" functions as a common noun describing the relationship, so it stays lowercase. Choice B incorrectly capitalizes "And" in the second part of the quotation. When a quote is interrupted by a speech tag like "my aunt said" and then continues as part of the same sentence, the word beginning the continuation should remain lowercase unless it's a proper noun. Choice C creates two errors: it fails to capitalize "Wednesday" (days of the week require capitalization) and incorrectly lowercases the first word of the quote. The first word of any quotation must always be capitalized. Remember this pattern: In interrupted quotations, capitalize days/months/proper nouns wherever they appear, but only capitalize the very first word of the entire quote and any words that would normally be capitalized. Don't capitalize words that merely restart the quote mid-sentence.

Question 5

Read this sentence.

Our family's thanksgiving tradition includes watching the macy's parade on tv.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. Our family's thanksgiving tradition includes watching the Macy's Parade on TV.
  2. Our Family's Thanksgiving tradition includes watching the Macy's parade on tv.
  3. Our family's Thanksgiving tradition includes watching the macy's parade on TV.
  4. Our family's Thanksgiving tradition includes watching the Macy's Parade on TV. (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of capitalization rules, specifically when to capitalize proper nouns, holidays, and abbreviations. When you encounter capitalization questions, scan for specific names, holidays, organizations, and acronyms that require capital letters. The correct answer is D because it properly capitalizes all the elements that require capitalization according to standard English rules. "Thanksgiving" must be capitalized as it's a proper noun referring to a specific holiday. "Macy's Parade" requires capitalization because it's the official name of a specific event - the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "TV" should be capitalized as it's an abbreviation for "television." Choice A incorrectly leaves "thanksgiving" lowercase, which violates the rule that holiday names are proper nouns requiring capitalization. Choice B makes the error of capitalizing "Family's," which is unnecessary since it's not a proper noun in this context - it's simply describing whose family it is. Additionally, it fails to capitalize "Parade" and "TV." Choice C correctly capitalizes "Thanksgiving" and "TV" but misses "Macy's" and "Parade," treating the parade as a common noun rather than recognizing it as the proper name of a specific event. Remember this key pattern: holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween) are always capitalized, official names of events and organizations require capitalization, and common abbreviations like TV, DVD, and CEO are typically written in all caps. When proofreading for capitalization, ask yourself whether each word represents a specific, named entity rather than a general concept.

Question 6

(1) The andes mountains run along the Western coast of south america. (2) They are the longest continental mountain range in the world. (3) Many indigenous groups, including the Quechua, have lived there for centuries. (4) Their cultures are rich with history and tradition.

Which sentence in the paragraph contains a capitalization error?

  1. sentence 2
  2. sentence 1 (correct answer)
  3. sentence 3
  4. sentence 4
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of proper noun capitalization rules. When you encounter capitalization questions, scan each sentence for geographic names, which must always be capitalized. Looking at sentence 1, you'll find the error: "The andes mountains run along the Western coast of south america." This sentence contains two capitalization mistakes. "Andes" should be capitalized because it's the proper name of a specific mountain range. Additionally, "south america" should be "South America" since it's the name of a continent. The word "Western" should actually be lowercase ("western") since it's being used as a directional adjective, not part of a proper name. Choice A (sentence 2) is incorrect because "longest continental mountain range" uses proper capitalization—these are common nouns describing a general concept, not proper names. Choice C (sentence 3) is incorrect because "Quechua" is correctly capitalized as the name of a specific indigenous group, which is a proper noun. Choice D (sentence 4) is incorrect because it contains only common nouns like "cultures," "history," and "tradition," which don't require capitalization. Remember this key rule: always capitalize proper nouns including specific geographic locations (countries, continents, mountain ranges, rivers), but keep directional words lowercase unless they're part of an official place name (like "North Dakota" vs. "northern California"). When proofreading for capitalization errors, focus first on geographic terms since they're frequently tested and commonly missed.

Question 7

(1) Every spring, our town holds the Cherry Blossom festival. (2) People come from all over the state to see the beautiful trees. (3) The main event is a parade down central avenue. (4) It's my favorite local tradition.

Which sentence in the paragraph contains a capitalization error?

  1. sentence 3 (correct answer)
  2. sentence 2
  3. sentence 1
  4. sentence 4
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of proper noun capitalization rules. When you encounter capitalization questions, scan each sentence for specific names of people, places, organizations, and other proper nouns that require capital letters. Looking at sentence 3, "central avenue" should be "Central Avenue" because it's the specific name of a street. Street names, like all proper nouns, must be capitalized. The phrase refers to a particular avenue with that exact name, not just any central avenue in general. Now let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice B (sentence 2) is properly capitalized—"state" is correctly lowercase here because it refers to states in general, not a specific state name like "California" or "Texas." Choice C (sentence 1) correctly capitalizes "Cherry Blossom" as the official name of the festival, making it a proper noun. Choice D (sentence 4) has no capitalization errors, as "local tradition" uses common nouns that don't require capital letters. The key difference is between common nouns (which stay lowercase) and proper nouns (which get capitalized). "A central avenue" would be common, but "Central Avenue" as a street name is proper. Study tip: When checking capitalization, ask yourself: "Is this the specific name of something unique?" If yes, capitalize it. Street names, building names, event titles, and geographic locations all follow this rule. Practice identifying the difference between "the river" (common) and "the Mississippi River" (proper).

Question 8

Read this sentence.

As the mayor of our city, she often consulted with governor Smith on state issues.

Which revision corrects the capitalization error in the sentence?

  1. As the mayor of our city, she often consulted with Governor Smith on state issues. (correct answer)
  2. As the Mayor of our city, she often consulted with Governor Smith on state issues.
  3. As the Mayor of our city, she often consulted with governor Smith on state issues.
  4. As the mayor of our city, she often consulted with governor smith on State issues.
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions on the SHSAT, focus on the rules for proper nouns versus common nouns. Titles like "mayor" and "governor" follow specific capitalization patterns that many students find tricky. The key rule here is that titles are capitalized only when they directly precede a person's name, forming part of their proper noun identity. In the original sentence, "governor Smith" should be "Governor Smith" because "Governor" comes right before the person's name "Smith," making it part of his official title. However, "mayor" remains lowercase because it's used as a general reference without a specific name following it. Choice A correctly capitalizes "Governor Smith" while keeping "mayor" lowercase, following proper capitalization rules. Choice B incorrectly capitalizes "Mayor" even though no specific name follows it. When a title is used generally or separated from a name, it remains lowercase. Choice C makes the opposite error, correctly capitalizing "Mayor" but failing to capitalize "Governor" before "Smith." This inconsistency shows confusion about when titles should be capitalized. Choice D creates multiple errors: it leaves "governor smith" entirely lowercase (missing both the title capitalization and proper name capitalization) while incorrectly capitalizing "State," which is used as a common noun here, not referring to a specific state name. Remember this pattern: capitalize titles only when they directly precede a person's name (President Lincoln, Senator Jones), but keep them lowercase when used alone (the president, our senator) or separated from the name.

Question 9

(1) The national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) launched the James Webb Space Telescope. (2) This powerful observatory allows scientists to study the early universe. (3) It orbits the Sun about a million miles from Earth. (4) The project was a collaboration with the european space agency.

Which sentence in the paragraph contains a capitalization error?

  1. sentence 1
  2. sentence 2
  3. sentence 4 (correct answer)
  4. sentence 3
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of proper noun capitalization, which is a fundamental grammar rule. You need to identify which sentence incorrectly capitalizes (or fails to capitalize) a proper noun. Let's examine each sentence carefully. Sentence 4 contains the error: "european space agency" should be "European Space Agency." The names of specific organizations, agencies, and institutions are proper nouns that must be capitalized. Since the European Space Agency is the official name of a specific international organization, both "European" and "Space Agency" require capital letters. Now let's check why the other options are incorrect. Choice A (sentence 1) properly capitalizes "NASA" as an acronym, though it incorrectly suggests there's an error with "James Webb Space Telescope," which is correctly capitalized as the proper name of a specific telescope. Choice B (sentence 2) contains no capitalization errors—"observatory," "scientists," and "universe" are all common nouns used generically here. Choice D (sentence 3) also has correct capitalization, with "Sun" and "Earth" properly capitalized when referring to our specific sun and planet. Remember this key rule: always capitalize the official names of organizations, agencies, countries, and institutions, even when they include common words like "space" or "agency." When you see questions about capitalization, scan specifically for proper nouns—names of specific people, places, organizations, or things—and make sure each important word in those names begins with a capital letter.

Question 10

Read this sentence.

After world war II, the united nations was formed to promote international peace.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. After World War II, the United Nations was formed to promote international peace. (correct answer)
  2. After World war II, the United nations was formed to promote international peace.
  3. After world war II, the United Nations was formed to promote International peace.
  4. After World War II, the united nations was formed to promote international peace.
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on proper nouns—specific names of people, places, organizations, and events that require capital letters to distinguish them from common nouns. The correct answer is A because it properly capitalizes all the proper nouns in the sentence. "World War II" is the specific name of a historical event, so both "World" and "War" need capital letters, along with the Roman numeral "II." "United Nations" is the official name of an international organization, so both words must be capitalized. Looking at the wrong answers: B incorrectly leaves "war" lowercase in "World war II" and "nations" lowercase in "United nations"—these are parts of proper nouns and must be capitalized. C makes the same "World war II" error as B, and also incorrectly capitalizes "International" in "international peace," which is just a common noun phrase, not a proper noun. D correctly capitalizes "World War II" but fails to capitalize "united nations," treating it as common nouns rather than recognizing it as the name of a specific organization. Remember this pattern: Historical events (World War II, the Civil War, the Renaissance) and organizations (United Nations, Red Cross, Supreme Court) are proper nouns requiring capitalization of all significant words. However, general concepts like "international peace" or "world peace" remain lowercase unless they're part of an official title. When in doubt, ask yourself: "Is this the specific name of something unique, or just a general description?"

Question 11

Read this sentence.

I read in the new york times that the bronx zoo acquired a new snow leopard.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. I read in the New York Times that the Bronx Zoo acquired a new snow leopard. (correct answer)
  2. I read in the New york times that the Bronx Zoo acquired a new snow leopard.
  3. I read in the New York Times that the bronx zoo acquired a new Snow Leopard.
  4. I read in the new york times that the Bronx zoo acquired a new Snow Leopard.
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of proper noun capitalization rules. When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on identifying which words represent specific names of people, places, organizations, or publications versus common nouns that describe general categories. Answer choice A correctly capitalizes all proper nouns in the sentence. "New York Times" is the specific name of a newspaper, so both "New" and "York" must be capitalized, along with "Times." Similarly, "Bronx Zoo" is the official name of a specific zoo, requiring both words to be capitalized. However, "snow leopard" remains lowercase because it's a common noun referring to a type of animal, not the name of a specific leopard. Answer choice B fails to capitalize "york" in "New york times," which is incorrect since this is part of the newspaper's proper name. Answer choice C makes the opposite error by incorrectly capitalizing "Snow Leopard." While "snow leopard" is a species name, it follows the standard rule that animal names are not capitalized unless they include a proper noun (like "Siberian tiger"). Answer choice D combines both errors: it leaves "new york times" completely lowercase and unnecessarily capitalizes "Snow Leopard." Remember this key distinction: capitalize the specific names of publications, places, and organizations, but keep common nouns lowercase even when they refer to impressive or important things. If you can replace the word with "a" or "the" and it still makes sense as a general category, it's likely a common noun that shouldn't be capitalized.

Question 12

Read this sentence.

Many christians celebrate christmas on december 25, a holiday that falls in the Winter.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. Many Christians celebrate Christmas on december 25, a holiday that falls in the winter.
  2. Many Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, a holiday that falls in the winter. (correct answer)
  3. Many christians celebrate christmas on December 25, a holiday that falls in the winter.
  4. Many Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, a Holiday that falls in the Winter.
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of capitalization rules, which are essential for clear, correct writing. You need to identify which words require capital letters and which should be lowercase. The correct answer is B because it follows all standard capitalization rules. "Christians" is capitalized as a proper noun referring to people of a specific religion. "Christmas" is capitalized as the name of a specific holiday. "December" is capitalized as the name of a specific month. Finally, "winter" is lowercase because seasons are not capitalized unless they're part of a proper noun or title. Choice A incorrectly leaves "december" in lowercase. Month names are always proper nouns and must be capitalized. Choice C makes multiple errors by keeping both "christians" and "christmas" in lowercase. Religious groups and specific holiday names are proper nouns requiring capitalization. Choice D overcapitalizes by making "Holiday" and "Winter" uppercase. Neither common nouns like "holiday" nor season names like "winter" should be capitalized in this context. The key capitalization categories to remember are: proper nouns (specific people, places, religions, holidays, months, days), the first word of sentences, and the pronoun "I." Common nouns, including seasons and general terms like "holiday," stay lowercase unless they begin a sentence. When tackling capitalization questions on the SHSAT, systematically check each word type: Is it a specific name, religion, holiday, or month? If yes, capitalize it. If it's a general term or season, keep it lowercase.

Question 13

Read this sentence.

During the middle ages, a knight's code of conduct was known as Chivalry.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. During the Middle Ages, a Knight's code of conduct was known as chivalry.
  2. During the Middle ages, a Knight's code of conduct was known as Chivalry.
  3. During the middle ages, a knight's code of conduct was known as chivalry.
  4. During the Middle Ages, a knight's code of conduct was known as chivalry. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions on the SHSAT, you need to apply the standard rules for proper nouns, common nouns, and historical periods. The correct answer is D because it properly capitalizes "Middle Ages" as a specific historical period while keeping "knight's" and "chivalry" lowercase as common nouns. Historical periods like the Middle Ages, Renaissance, or Industrial Revolution are considered proper nouns and require capitalization of both words. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A capitalizes "Knight's," but "knight" is a common noun referring to a general profession or social class, not a specific person's name or title. Choice B makes two errors: it fails to capitalize "ages" in "Middle Ages" and incorrectly capitalizes "Knight's." Choice C keeps everything lowercase, missing the fact that "Middle Ages" is a proper noun referring to a specific historical era. The word "chivalry" should remain lowercase in all cases because it refers to a general concept or system of values, not a specific title or proper noun. Think of it like other abstract concepts such as "democracy" or "capitalism" – these aren't capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Remember this pattern: capitalize specific historical periods (Victorian Era, Stone Age, Cold War) but keep general nouns lowercase unless they're part of someone's official title when directly preceding their name. When in doubt about capitalization, ask yourself whether the word refers to something specific and unique or something general.

Question 14

Read this sentence.

My english bulldog, winston, loves to chase squirrels in central park.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. My english bulldog, Winston, loves to chase squirrels in Central Park.
  2. My English bulldog, Winston, loves to chase Squirrels in Central park.
  3. My English bulldog, Winston, loves to chase squirrels in Central Park. (correct answer)
  4. My English Bulldog, Winston, loves to chase squirrels in Central Park.
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of capitalization rules, specifically when to capitalize proper nouns versus common nouns. When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on identifying which words name specific people, places, or things (proper nouns) versus general categories (common nouns). The correct answer is C because it follows standard capitalization rules precisely. "English" should be capitalized because it refers to a specific nationality or language. "Winston" is capitalized as a proper noun—the specific name of the dog. "Central Park" requires capitalization because it's the official name of a particular place in New York City. Meanwhile, "bulldog" and "squirrels" remain lowercase because they're common nouns referring to general types of animals, not specific individuals. Looking at the incorrect options: Choice A fails to capitalize "english," which should always be capitalized when referring to the language or nationality. Choice B incorrectly capitalizes "Squirrels" (a common noun) and writes "Central park" with a lowercase "park," even though "Park" is part of the proper name. Choice D capitalizes "Bulldog," treating it as part of a proper noun, but "English bulldog" describes a breed (common noun) rather than a specific name. Remember this key distinction: capitalize specific names of people, places, languages, and nationalities, but keep general categories lowercase. When you see compound proper nouns like "Central Park," both words typically need capitalization. Practice identifying whether a noun refers to something specific and unique versus something general.

Question 15

Read this sentence.

Next semester, I'm taking spanish, biology 101, and european history.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. Next semester, I'm taking Spanish, Biology 101, and European history. (correct answer)
  2. Next semester, I'm taking Spanish, Biology 101, and European History.
  3. Next semester, I'm taking spanish, biology 101, and European history.
  4. Next semester, I'm taking Spanish, biology 101, and european history.
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions on the SHSAT, you need to apply specific rules about when to capitalize course names and subjects. The key distinction is between general subject areas and specific course titles. For language names like "Spanish," you always capitalize them because they refer to specific nationalities or countries. Similarly, "European" must be capitalized because it's an adjective derived from a proper noun (Europe). However, general academic subjects like "history" and "biology" are typically lowercase unless they're part of a specific course title or are followed by a course number. The correct answer is A because it properly capitalizes "Spanish" (a language/nationality), keeps "Biology 101" capitalized (the course number makes this a specific course title), and capitalizes "European" while keeping "history" lowercase (since this refers to the general subject area, not a specific course title). Let's examine why the other options fail: B incorrectly capitalizes "History" - without a course number or clear indication this is a specific course title, "history" should remain lowercase. C fails to capitalize any of the terms that require capitalization, missing both "Spanish" and "European." D makes multiple errors by leaving "european" lowercase while incorrectly keeping "spanish" lowercase. Remember this pattern: Always capitalize languages, nationalities, and adjectives derived from proper nouns. For academic subjects, capitalize only when they're part of specific course titles (often indicated by numbers) or when they appear in official course catalogs.

Question 16

Read this sentence.

The document signed on july 4, 1776, the declaration of independence, is a cornerstone of american history.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. The Document signed on july 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, is a cornerstone of American History.
  2. The document signed on July 4, 1776, the Declaration Of Independence, is a cornerstone of american history.
  3. The document signed on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, is a cornerstone of American history. (correct answer)
  4. The document signed on July 4, 1776, the declaration of independence, is a cornerstone of American history.
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of capitalization rules, which are essential for formal writing. You need to identify which words should be capitalized based on standard English conventions. The correct answer is C because it follows proper capitalization rules consistently. "July" should be capitalized as it's a month name. "Declaration of Independence" should be capitalized because it's the proper name of a specific historical document - all major words in proper nouns get capitalized, but small words like "of" typically remain lowercase unless they're the first word. "American" should be capitalized because it's a proper adjective derived from the proper noun "America." Let's examine why the other choices are incorrect. Choice A capitalizes "Document" unnecessarily - this is just a common noun here, not part of the document's official title. It also incorrectly capitalizes "History," which is just a common noun in this context. Choice B capitalizes "Of" in "Declaration Of Independence," but prepositions in titles typically stay lowercase unless they begin the title. Choice D fails to capitalize "July," the proper name of the document, and "American" - all of which are required by standard capitalization rules. When tackling capitalization questions on the SHSAT, remember this key pattern: capitalize proper nouns (specific names of people, places, documents, months) and proper adjectives (like "American"), but keep common nouns lowercase unless they start a sentence. In titles, capitalize major words but leave small connecting words like "of," "and," and "the" lowercase.

Question 17

Read this sentence.

The mississippi river flows south from Minnesota to the gulf of Mexico.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. The Mississippi River flows South from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
  2. The Mississippi river flows south from Minnesota to the Gulf Of Mexico.
  3. The Mississippi River flows south from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. (correct answer)
  4. The mississippi River flows south from Minnesota to the gulf of mexico.
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of proper noun capitalization rules. When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on identifying which words are proper nouns (specific names of people, places, or things) versus common nouns (general categories). The correct answer is C because it follows standard capitalization rules for proper nouns. "Mississippi River" should be capitalized because it's the specific name of a particular river. "Minnesota" is correctly capitalized as a state name. "Gulf of Mexico" should be capitalized because it's the name of a specific body of water. The directional word "south" remains lowercase because it's being used as a general direction, not as part of a proper noun or region name. Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "South." While you would capitalize "South" when referring to a specific region (like "the American South"), here it simply indicates direction and should remain lowercase. Choice B leaves "river" lowercase in "Mississippi river," but since "Mississippi River" is the complete proper name, both words need capitalization. It also incorrectly capitalizes "Of" in "Gulf Of Mexico" - only the main words in proper nouns are capitalized, not small words like prepositions. Choice D fails to capitalize "Mississippi" and "Mexico" while leaving other proper nouns incorrectly lowercase. Remember this key rule: capitalize the complete names of specific geographic features (rivers, mountains, lakes, gulfs), but keep directional words lowercase unless they refer to specific regions. When in doubt, ask yourself whether the word names something specific and unique.

Question 18

Read this sentence.

Last fall, president Biden appointed a new ambassador to the french republic.

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. Last Fall, President Biden appointed a new ambassador to the French Republic.
  2. Last fall, president biden appointed a new ambassador to the French republic.
  3. Last fall, President Biden appointed a new ambassador to the French Republic. (correct answer)
  4. Last fall, President Biden appointed a new Ambassador to the French Republic.
Explanation: When you encounter capitalization questions on the SHSAT, you need to apply specific rules about which words require capital letters. The key areas to focus on are proper nouns (specific names of people, places, and things) versus common nouns (general categories). Looking at this sentence, you need to identify what should and shouldn't be capitalized. "President" should be capitalized when it refers to a specific person's title (President Biden), making it a proper noun. "Biden" is always capitalized as it's a person's name. "French Republic" requires capitalization because it's the official name of a specific country, making both words proper nouns in this context. However, "fall" should remain lowercase because it's a common noun referring to a season, and "ambassador" should be lowercase because it's used as a general job description, not as a formal title directly before someone's name. Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "Fall" - seasons are common nouns and should be lowercase. Choice B fails to capitalize "President," "Biden," "French," and "Republic," treating proper nouns as if they were common nouns. Choice D incorrectly capitalizes "Ambassador" when it's being used generically rather than as a formal title. Choice C correctly capitalizes only the proper nouns: "President Biden" and "French Republic." For capitalization questions, remember this strategy: capitalize specific names of people, places, and things, but keep general categories lowercase. When in doubt, ask yourself whether the word refers to something specific and unique.

Question 19

Read this sentence.

"Turn left at the next intersection," dad said, "and we'll be at the empire state building."

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. "Turn left at the next intersection," Dad said, "and we'll be at the Empire State Building." (correct answer)
  2. "turn left at the next intersection," Dad said, "and we'll be at the Empire state building."
  3. "Turn left at the next intersection," Dad said, "And we'll be at the Empire State Building."
  4. "Turn left at the next intersection," dad said, "and we'll be at the Empire State building."
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of capitalization rules, specifically for proper nouns and family titles in dialogue. When you encounter capitalization questions, focus on identifying proper nouns (specific names of people, places, things) and understanding when family titles function as proper nouns versus common nouns. The correct answer is A because it properly capitalizes all the necessary elements. "Dad" should be capitalized here because it's being used as a proper noun—essentially as the person's name in direct address. "Empire State Building" must be capitalized as it's the specific name of a famous landmark, making it a proper noun. The word "and" at the beginning of the second part of the quoted speech stays lowercase because it continues the same sentence within the quotation. Looking at the wrong answers: B incorrectly leaves "turn" lowercase at the start of the quotation (the first word of quoted speech should always be capitalized) and fails to capitalize "State" in the building name. C incorrectly capitalizes "And" in the middle of the continuing quotation—this word should remain lowercase since it's continuing the same quoted sentence. D keeps "dad" lowercase (incorrect when used as a name) and fails to capitalize "State" in the proper noun. Remember this key distinction: family titles like "dad," "mom," or "uncle" are capitalized when they replace the person's actual name (like in direct address), but they're lowercase when preceded by possessive words like "my" or "his."

Question 20

Read this sentence.

My mother asked, "did you remember to buy a box of Kleenex for your grandmother?"

Which revision corrects the capitalization errors in the sentence?

  1. My Mother asked, "Did you remember to buy a box of Kleenex for your Grandmother?"
  2. My mother asked, "Did you remember to buy a box of Kleenex for your grandmother?" (correct answer)
  3. My mother asked, "Did you remember to buy a box of kleenex for your grandmother?"
  4. My mother asked, "did you remember to buy a box of kleenex for your Grandmother?"
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of capitalization rules, particularly within quoted dialogue and with proper nouns versus common nouns. The correct answer is B because it follows three key capitalization rules: First, the word "did" should be capitalized because it begins the quoted dialogue, and the first word of any quoted sentence must be capitalized. Second, "mother" and "grandmother" should remain lowercase because they're being used as common nouns here, not as proper names or direct address. Third, "Kleenex" stays capitalized because it's a brand name (proper noun). Choice A incorrectly capitalizes "Mother" and "Grandmother." While these family terms are capitalized when used as names or in direct address (like "Hi, Mom!"), here they're preceded by possessive pronouns ("my" and "your"), making them common nouns that should be lowercase. Choice C makes the opposite error with "kleenex," changing the brand name to lowercase. Brand names like Kleenex, Xerox, or Band-Aid are always proper nouns requiring capitalization, even when people use them generically. Choice D combines multiple errors: it fails to capitalize "did" at the start of the dialogue, incorrectly lowercases the brand name "kleenex," and wrongly capitalizes "Grandmother" despite the possessive pronoun. Remember this pattern: capitalize the first word of quoted dialogue, keep family terms lowercase when they follow possessive pronouns, and always capitalize brand names. These capitalization rules appear frequently on the SHSAT, so practice identifying when words function as proper versus common nouns.