MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

In which voice does the subject perform the action of the verb?

1. Active voice

2. Passive voice

3. Reflexive voice

4. Impersonal voice

The correct answer is: Active voice

The active voice is characterized by a structure in which the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. This direct relationship between the subject and the action allows for clearer, more dynamic writing. For instance, in the sentence "The dog chased the cat," the subject "the dog" is actively engaging in the action of chasing. In contrast, the passive voice alters this relationship by making the subject the recipient of the action rather than the doer, as seen in "The cat was chased by the dog." The other options, such as reflexive voice and impersonal voice, refer to more specific structures where the action may involve the subject acting on itself or where the subject is not explicitly stated, respectively. Understanding the characteristics of active voice is essential for developing concise and engaging writing.