ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) Version 7English and Language UsageEasy
A patient is describing their symptoms to a nurse. They state, 'I've been feeling very week lately, with no energy.' Which of the following correctly identifies and corrects the misused word in the patient's statement?
- AIdentifies 'week' as incorrect; corrects to 'weak'.
- BIdentifies 'no' as incorrect; corrects to 'know'.
- CIdentifies 'lately' as incorrect; corrects to 'lately'.
- DIdentifies 'energy' as incorrect; corrects to 'energetic'.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Identifies 'week' as incorrect; corrects to 'weak'.
The patient uses 'week,' which refers to a period of seven days. The context of 'no energy' indicates they mean 'weak,' which describes a lack of physical strength or energy. This is a common homophone error.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'No' is used correctly here to indicate absence or negation.
- C. 'Lately' is used correctly here to mean recently.
- D. 'Energy' is used correctly as a noun referring to vigor or power.
Homophone
Words that sound alike but have different meanings and often different spellings.
- Common source of errors in writing.
- Context is essential to determine the correct homophone.
- Examples include 'to/too/two', 'their/there/they're', 'affect/effect'.
Memory trick: Sound Alike, Spell Different, Mean Different