Question

which underlined phrase is a prepositional phrase?
test - takers were asked not to use their notes, books, or calculators.
before passing out the test, the teacher asked students to close their books.
neither of the tests this week had questions about the pythagorean theorem.
the teacher and the students thought that the test took longer than expected.

Explanation:

To identify a prepositional phrase, we look for a phrase that begins with a preposition and includes its object (and any modifiers). Let's analyze each option:

• Option 1: "their notes, books, or calculators" is a noun phrase, not prepositional (no preposition).
• Option 2: "Before passing out the test" is a prepositional phrase? No, "before" here is a subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause (the -ing form is a verb phrase). Wait, no—wait, "Before" is a preposition? Wait, no, "before" can be a preposition or a conjunction. In "Before passing out the test", "passing out the test" is a gerund phrase, so "before" here is a preposition? Wait, no, maybe I'm confused. Let's check the third option: "of the tests" – "of" is a preposition, so "Neither of the tests" – the prepositional phrase is "of the tests". Let's confirm:
• Option 3: "of the tests" starts with preposition "of", object "the tests" (with modifier "the"). So that's a prepositional phrase.
• Option 4: "than expected" – "than" is a conjunction or preposition? "longer than expected" is a comparative phrase, not prepositional. So the correct option is the one with "of the tests", which is option C (the third option: "Neither of the tests this week had questions about the Pythagorean theorem.").

Answer:

C. Neither of the tests this week had questions about the Pythagorean theorem.