Border Patrol Practice Exam

What type of house is described as "the blue house that he built on a hill"?

1. Restrictive

2. Nonrestrictive

3. Descriptive

4. Comparative

The correct answer is: Restrictive

The phrase "the blue house that he built on a hill" includes a specific description of the house, which helps to provide more information about what is being referred to. This is an example of a restrictive clause because the phrase "that he built on a hill" is essential to identify which house is being talked about. Without this clause, the listener may not know which "blue house" the speaker is referring to, as there could be multiple blue houses. Restrictive clauses help clarify and restrict the meaning by providing necessary details. In contrast, a nonrestrictive clause would provide additional information but could be removed without changing the fundamental meaning of the sentence. Descriptive clauses often focus on adjectives that provide detail but do not necessarily restrict meaning, while comparative clauses involve comparisons between two or more items, which is not applicable in this case.