JumpStart – Language & Critical Thinking Skills Check

1. Question

Please choose the best rewrite for the following sentence to make it more clear.

We could watch the stars sitting on the balcony.

Sitting on the balcony, we could watch the stars.
No change. It is correct as it is.
Watching on the balcony, the stars sitting.
The stars we could watch sitting on the balcony.

2. Question

If you _____ to my advice in the first place, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.

had listened
listen
will listen
have listened

3. Question

Please choose the correct sentence below.

Since it was our anniversary, we ordered lobster.
Since it was our anniversary; we ordered lobster.
Since it was our anniversary we ordered lobster.
Since it was our anniversary, and we ordered lobster.

4. Question

Please rewrite the following sentence with the best choice.

After the hikers were at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered a ghost town.

After the hikers were…

at the bottom of the canyon, they discovered a ghost town.
at the bottom of the canyon, and they discovered a ghost town.
at the bottom of the canyon they discovered a ghost town
at the bottom of the canyon when they discovered a ghost town.

5. Question

What is the correct use of the word “their” within the following four options?

Used as a possessive pronoun for multiple people or things
Used to indicate a location
Used to describe a person's characteristics
Used to show a comparison between two things

6. Question

Which word is not a synonym for superfluous?

Surprising
Exorbitant
Overflowing
Excess

7. Question

We _____ the match if we’d had a few more minutes.

might have won
won
had won
will win

8. Question

Choose the most correct sentence to use.

Are David and Carlos coming here?
Are David and Carlos comming here?
Is David and Carlos coming here?
Are David & Carlos coming here?

9. Question

Please replace the italicized text with the best choice.
Mr. Wilson planning to teach our course in cybersecurity next term.

plans
planning
are planning
with a plan

10. Question

A company’s profits increased significantly after it implemented a new advertising campaign. Therefore, the advertising campaign caused the increase in profits. Is this a valid conclusion?

No, correlation does not imply causation, and there may have been other factors contributing to the increase in profits.
Yes, the profits increased after the new advertising campaign, so it must have been the cause.
Yes, because the company likely would not have spent money on the advertising campaign if it didn't believe it would increase profits.
No, because it is impossible to definitively determine the cause of an increase in profits.

11. Question

Choose the most correct sentence.

Our homes, shuttered, are well protected from strong winds.
Our homes, shuttered, is well protected from high winds.
Our homes, with shutters on it, are well protected from high winds.
Our home, shuttered, are well protected from fast winds.

12. Question

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

They're going to the store.
Their going to the store.
There going to the store.
Theres going to the store.

13. Question

Which of the following statements does NOT describe the GUI interface?

Making a fault or offense less serious
Something not known or previously understood
Able to be lengthened or spread out
Something that is extensive or continuous

14. Question

Which of the following words means “constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task”?

Assiduous
Taciturn
Myopic
Admonish

15. Question

Please choose the best rewrite for the following sentence.

If a person wants to succeed in school, then they have to study.

If a person wants to succeed in school, they have to study.
No change. It is correct as it is.
If a person wants to succeed in school, and they have to study.
A person has to study, if they want to succeed in school.

16. Question

“I write you in your capacity as the school board chairperson.” The word “capacity” as used here most nearly means:

Position
Maximum
Volume
Blame

17. Question

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

My friend and I are going to the movies.
Me and my friend are going to the movies.
I and my friend are going to the movies.
My friend and me are going to the movies.

18. Question

If I can learn German, I _____ next year studying in Berlin.

will spend
would spend
would have spent
had spent

19. Question

Passage:

Jane had been looking forward to the museum exhibit for weeks. She had read about the artist and the collection extensively and couldn’t wait to see it in person. As she walked through the exhibit, she was struck by the beauty and complexity of the paintings. Each one seemed to tell a story and convey a different emotion. By the time she left the museum, she felt inspired and uplifted.

Question:

How did Jane feel about the museum exhibit?

She thought it was boring and unimpressive.
She was disappointed by the lack of diversity in the paintings.
She was struck by the beauty and complexity of the paintings.
She left feeling angry and frustrated.

20. Question

Read the following excerpt and answer the question(s) below

Excerpt from NIST Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

“Privacy and cybersecurity have a strong connection. An organization’s cybersecurity activities also can create risks to privacy and civil liberties when personal information is used, collected, processed, maintained, or disclosed. Some examples include: cybersecurity activities that result in the over-collection or over-retention of personal information; disclosure or use of personal information unrelated to cybersecurity activities; and cybersecurity mitigation activities that result in denial of service or other similar potentially adverse impacts, including some types of incident detection or monitoring that may inhibit freedom of expression or association.

The government and its agents have a responsibility to protect civil liberties arising from cybersecurity activities. As referenced in the methodology below, government or its agents that own or operate critical infrastructure should have a process in place to support compliance of cybersecurity activities with applicable privacy laws, regulations, and Constitutional requirements.”

According to the author, who has a responsibility to protect civil liberties arising from cybersecurity activities?

The government and its agents
NIST
Cybersecurity professionals
Threat actors