Multiple Choice Practice

Question 1

What is the best process for handling sentence improvement with confidence?

Answer 1

1. Read the sentence, looking for the error to “pop out” at you?
2. If it does, predict an improvement, and search the answers for it.
3. If no error pops out, check form for run-ons, fragments, and faulty parallelisms.
4. Check context for misplaced modifiers, faulty conjunctions, and wordiness.
5. If you find a problem through checking, predict and search.
6. If not, select“(a)” (unchanged).

Question 2

Read this sentence for the answer to “pop” out.

The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, it failed to meet the challenge of the aggression of the Axis nations.

Answer 2

This sentence has a run-on.

This sentence error is very straightforward and easy to spot, but with five improvements to run-on errors, the next step is more crucial.

Question 3

What would you predict would be the best way to improve this run-on sentence?

The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, it failed to meet the challenge of the aggression of the Axis nations.

Answer 3

For this sentence, predict a conjunction solution using “but” at the comma.

Since the underline doesn’t cover the entire sentence, integrated clauses are not possible.
“Although” could begin the sentence.
The semi-colon is expected as a distractor, since the second clause is not a logical extention of the first.

Question 4

Search for the best predicted improvement, (“but”), for this sentence.

The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, it failed to meet the challenge of the aggression of the Axis nations.

(a) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, it failed

(b) The League of Nations has 58 members by 1934; it failed

(c) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, but it failed

(d) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934; it has failed

(e) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, but it had failed

Answer 4

(c) and (e) contain “but’, which is the predicted improvement.

To break the tie, look for the item that changed something else in the sentence and check for “double error”.

Question 5

Check the sentence tense to decide which of these two improvements is correct?

The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, it failed to meet the challenge of the aggression of the Axis nations.

(c) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, but it failed.
(e) The League of Nations had 58 members by 1934, but it had failed.

Answer 5

(c) is correct.

The past perfect “had failed” in (e) is not correct.

If you can’t see it, review tenses.

Question 6

Daniel Handler, known by his pseudonym, Lemony Snicket, collaborating with Nathaniel Stookey, to produce a work for orchestra and narrator.

(a) Lemony Snicket, collaborating with Nathaniel Stookey, to produce a work for orchestra and narrator.

(b) Lemony Snicket, collaborated with Nathaniel Stookey, producing a work for orchestra and narrator.

(c) Lemony Snicket; collaborating with Nathaniel Stookey, produced a work for orchestra and narrator.

(d) Lemony Snicket, collaborating with Nathaniel Stookey, produced a work for orchestra and narrator.

(e) Lemony Snicket; collaborating with Nathaniel Stookey, are producing a work for orchestra and narrator.

Answer 6

(d) corrects the fragment error.

(b) “producing” would need to change also.

(c) the semi-colon creates a fragment in the beginning of the sentence.

(e) this is also a semi-colon error.

Question 7

Racing through the skies, the clouds obscured the two dueling bi-planes.

(a) Racing through the skies, the clouds obscured the two dueling bi-planes.

(b) Raced through the skies; the two dueling bi-planes were obscured by the clouds.

(c) Racing through the skies, the clouds obscured the dueled bi-planes.

(d) Racing through the skies, while the clouds obscured the two dueling bi-planes.

(e) Racing through the skies, the two dueling bi-planes were obscured by the clouds.

Answer 7

(e) corrects the misplaced modifier.

(b) the semi-colon creates a fragment.

(c) doesn’t correct the problem. Introduces another error.

(d) creates a fragment. Adding “while” makes clause dependent.

Question 8

What made him a good leader was that he knew that most situations do not call for rash words, but cool actions.

(a) that he knew that most situations do not call for rash words, but cool actions.

(b) that he knew that most situations do not call for rash words, but for cool actions.

(c) he knew that most situations call for cool actions.

(d) that he knew that most situations do call for not rash words, but cool actions.

(e) that he knew that most situations don’t call for rash words, but cool actions.

Answer 8

(b) improves the faulty parallel form.

(c) this changes the meaning.

(d) doesn’t fix the parallel.

(e) “do not” did not need changing.

Question 9

Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, Aragorn warns him not to lead them by that path.

(a) Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, because Aragorn warns him not to lead them by that path.

(b) Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, though Aragorn warns him not to lead the companions by that path.

(c) Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, since Aragorn warns him not to lead them by that path.

(d) Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, Aragorn warns him not to lead the company by that path.

(e) Consequently, Gandalf resolves to go into the Mines of Moria, Aragorn warns him not to lead them by that path.

Answer 9

(b) addresses both the run-on and the ambiguous pronoun.

(c) faulty coordination is created.

(d) still a run-on.

(e) still a run-on. “Consequently” is an adverb, not a conjunction.

Question 10

Rebecca couldn’t put up with her husband ignoring her in the way that he habitually did.

(a) Rebecca couldn’t put up with her husband ignoring her like he usually did.

(b) Rebecca couldn’t put up with her husband’s ignoring her like he habitually did.

(c) Rebecca couldn’t have patience for husband ignoring her like he habitually did.

(d) Rebecca couldn’t put up with her husband’s ignoring her in the way that he usually did.

(e) Rebecca couldn’t tolerate her husband’s ignoring her like he habitually did.

Answer 10

(e) more concise and fixes case error.

(a) - (d) are not concise.

Remember when you verify wordiness as the error, check the shortest first.

Question 11

Kim Il-sung remained in power in North Korea, while six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, but twenty-one Japanese prime ministers came and went.

(a) while six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, but twenty-one Japanese prime ministers came and went.

(b) while six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, and twenty-one Japanese prime ministers came and went.

(c) while six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, and twenty-one Japanese prime ministers have come and gone.

(d) while: six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, and twenty-one Japanese prime ministers came and went.

(e) while six South Korean presidents, ten U. S. presidents, but twenty-one Japanese prime ministers had come and gone.

Answer 11

(b) corrects the faulty conjunction here.

(c) “have come and gone” creates a tense error.

(d) Misuse of colon [:] – punctuation error.

(e) “had come and gone” creates a different tense error.

Question 12

In 1973, sending Sacheen Lightfeather in full Apache dress, Marlon Brando boycotted the Oscar ceremony to protest the depiction of Native Americans on film.

(a) to protest the depiction of Native Americans on film.

(b) protesting the way Native Americans were depicted.

(c) to protest Native American’s depictions of film.

(d) protesting the depictions of Native American films.

(e) to protest the films in which Native Americans were depicted negatively.

Answer 12

(a) this sentence is best the way it is.

(b) “protesting” does not improve “to protest” and “on film” is necessary to meaning.

(c) changes meaning significantly.

(d) changes meaning significantly.

(e) is wordy.

Question 13

The Oregon Trail was once thought to have been created by fur trappers and traders, now, archaeologists recognize that the trail was blazed long before by herd animals like bison.

(a) The Oregon Trail was once thought to have begun by fur trappers and traders, now,

(b) The Oregon Trail was once thought to have created by fur trappers and traders; now,

(c) The Oregon Trail was once thought to have been created by fur trappers and traders, currently,

(d) The Oregon Trail was once thought to have been created by fur trappers and traders; now,

(e) The Oregon Trail is once thought to had been created by fur trappers and traders, now,

Answer 13

(d) corrects the run-on with a semi-colon.

(b) “have created” introduces a form error.

(c) “currently” doesn’t address the problem.

(e) “had been created” introduces a tense error.

Question 14

Discovered with a red face hiding the stolen candy under his socks, Peyton’s mother was alarmed at his licentiousness.

(a) socks, Peyton’s mother was alarmed at his licentiousness.

(b) socks; Peyton’s mother was alarmed at his licentiousness.

(c) socks; while Peyton’s mother was alarmed at his licentiousness.

(d) socks, Peyton alarmed his mother at his licentiousness.

(e) socks, Peyton alarmed his mother with his licentiousness.

Answer 14

(e) improves the misplaced modifier and corrects idiom error, “alarmed…by”.

(b) Semi-colon creates fragment.

(c) Semi-colon is for two independent clauses.

(d) “alarmed…at” is an idiom error. Should be “alarmed…with”.

Question 15

With all Gregory’s commitments to his ensembles and theater companies; Linda worried about him getting his studies done.

(a) companies; Linda worried about him getting his studies done.

(b) companies, Linda worried about getting his studies done.

(c) companies, Linda worried about him getting his studies done.

(d) companies, Linda worried about his getting his studies done.

(e) companies; Linda worried about getting his studies done.

Answer 15

(d) improves the fragment, and fixes the pronoun case error.

(b) means Linda will do the homework.

(c) doesn’t fix the pronoun.

(e) doesn’t fix the fragment, and Linda is doing the work, again.

Question 16

Whenever he dropped back, the rookie quarterback either suffered a sack, or was throwing the ball up for grabs.

(a) Whenever he dropped back, the rookie quarterback either suffered a sack,

(b) Whenever he dropped back, the rookie quarterback either was suffering a sack,

(c) Whenever he dropped back, the rookie quarterback either were suffering a sack,

(d) Whenever he dropped back; the rookie quarterback either suffered a sack,

(e) Whenever he dropped back; the rookie quarterback either was suffered to be sacked,

Answer 16

(b) makes the phrases parallel by correcting the tense.

(c) creates subject verb agreement error.

(d) semi-colon creates a fragment.

(e) creates fragment.

Question 17

Despite environmental safeguards, the operation of the chemical plant had a negative overall impact on five species of indigenous fish.

(a) Despite environmental safeguards, the operation of the chemical plant had a negative overall impact on

(b) Despite having environmental safeguards, the operation of the chemical plant had a negative overall impact on

(c) Despite having had environmental safeguards; the operation of the chemical plant had a negative overall impact on

(d) Despite environmental safeguards; the operation of the chemical plant had deleterious impact on

(e) Despite environmental safeguards, the operation of the chemical plant had a detrimental impact on

Answer 17

(e) “detrimental” makes the sentence more concise.

(b) creates modifier problem.

(c) introduces tense error and creates fragment.

(d) creates fragment.

Question 18

Agnes wanted Hugo, performing on piano for the first time in front of a large audience, to turn pages for her.

(a) Agnes wanted Hugo, performing on piano for the first time in front of a large audience, to turn pages for her

(b) Agnes wanted Hugo; to perform on piano for the first time in front of a large audience, to turn pages for her.

(c) Performing on piano for the first time before a large audience, Agnes wanted Hugo to turn pages for her.

(d) Performing on piano in front of a large audience, Anges wanted Hugo to turn pages for her.

(e) Performing on piano for the first time in front of a large audience, Agnes wanted Hugo to turn pages for her.

Answer 18

(c) improves misplaced modifier and wordiness.

(b) creates fragment.

(d) loses meaning from original.

(e) remains wordy.

Question 19

The little flower girl was so upset, she spattered chocolate on her special wedding dress.

(a) The little flower girl was so upset, she spattered chocolate on her party dress.

(b) The little flower girl was so upset that she spattered chocolate on her party dress.

(c) Since the little girl was so upset, she spattered chocolate on her party dress.

(d) The little flower girl was so upset, for she had spattered chocolate on her party dress.

(e) The little flower girl was so upset, and she spattered chocolate on her party dress.

Answer 19

(d) The little girl was so upset, for she had spattered chocolate on her special part dress.

It corrects the run-on and changes the tense to clarify the order of the event.

(b) creates an ambiguous connection to the clauses.

(c) changes the meaning of the orginal sentence.

(e) creates faulty coordination.

(This is a super hard question. (b) is a very inviting distractor.)

Question 20

The Nazi war machine failed in Stalingrad not only because of the expected Russian winter, but also for the tactics being unexpected.

(a) not only because of the expected Russian winter, but also for the tactics being unexpected.

(b) not only because of the expected Russian winter, but also for the unexpected Russian tactics.

(c) not only because of the expected Russian winter, but also because of the unexpected tactics.

(d) not only because of the expected Russian winter, but because the tactics were unexpected.

(e) not only because of the expected Russian winter, but also the unexpected tactics were there.

Answer 20

(c) corrects faulty parallel.

(b) “for” keeps it a faulty parallel.

(d) keeps faulty parallel. “Not only” needs to be answered by “but also” within the sentence.

(e) keeps faulty parallel and is wordy.

Question 21

That Arnold could do something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing wasn’t, of course, a great surprise to his wife.

(a) That Arnold could do something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing wasn’t, of course,

(b) Arnold could do something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing that wasn’t, of course,

(c) That Arnold did something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing wasn’t, of course,

(d) Arnold should do something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing that wasn’t, of course,

(e) That Arnold was about to something so inconsiderate and publically embarassing wasn’t, of course, a great surprise to his wife.

Answer 21

(a) is fine how it is.

This is a fairly common construction on the SAT. Starting with “That” stimulates your intuition, but if you match up the subjects and predicates, you’ll see there’s no sentence error.

Question 22

Rembrandt Harmenrszoon van Rijn, one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his series of self-portraits.

(a) Rijn, one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his series of self-portraits.

(b) Rijn, is one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his series of self-portraits.

(c) Rijn is, one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his series of self-portraits.

(d) Rijn, one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, is known for his series of self-portraits.

(e) Rijn, one of the most celebrated painters of the Dutch Golden Age, had been known for his series of self-portraits.

Answer 22

(d) corrects the fragment.

(b) creates a second fragment.

(c) creates a misplaced modifier.

(e) creates a tense error.

Question 23

Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie’s songs presented the concerns of working class people.

(a) Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie’s songs presented the concerns of working class people.

(b) Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie’s songs presented concerns of working class people.

(c) Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie’s songs had presented the concerns of working class people.

(d) Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie presented the concerns of working class people by his songs.

(e) Traveling around the United States, Woody Guthrie presented the concerns of working class people in his songs.

Answer 23

(e) improves misplaced modifier.

(b) leaves misplaced modifier.

(c) leaves misplaced modifier.

(d) creates idiom error.

Question 24

Although Earl Scruggs created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass, he deserves his seat among the innovators of gospel, blues, and jazz.

(a) Although Earl Scruggs created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass,

(b) Although Earl Scruggs had created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass,

(c) Although Earl Scruggs has created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass;

(d) Because Earl Scruggs created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass;

(e) Because Earl Scruggs created and popularized a virtuoso style of American music called bluegrass;

Answer 24

(e) improves faulty subordination.

(b) creates tense error, while subordination is still faulty.

(c) creates a different tense error and makes a fragment while subordination is still faulty.

(d) creates fragment.

Question 25

What is the best process for doing sentence correction items?

Answer 25

1. Read for “flags” or the error to “pop out” at you?
2. If it pops, identify the error by name.
3. If you see a flag, check for the error type associated with it.
4. If neither happens, check each underlined word. Skip verbs.
5. Eliminate by identifying parts of speech and common errors that go with each.
6. Check verbs and pronouns carefully.
7. If you get to 2 choices and can’t eliminate anymore, then guess.

Question 26

What error pops out at you in this sentence?

(a) G__etting their candidate on the ballot in all 50 states wasn’t overly challenging to the campaign staff; supporters (b) just needed (c) to gather signatures (d) quick. (e) no error

Answer 26

(d) “quick” should be an adverb here “quickly”.

Hope it popped.

Question 27

What pops in the following item?

(a) Until early this morning, Julien (b) had suffered greatly from continuous (c) illusions that both frightened him and provoked him to act in a (d) threatening manner to the staff. (e) no error

Answer 27

Lots of things should “pop”, but probably not the error.

(a) “Until early this morning” pops as a definite time indicator.

(b) “Had suffered” pops as a tense error.

(c) “Illusions” is on the wrong word list.

(d) “Threatening” is a [verb]-ing pop.

Question 28

How do you eliminate possible errors on this sentence?

(a) Until early this morning, Julien (b) had suffered greatly from continuous (c) illusions (c) that both frightened him and provoked him to act in a (d) threatening manner toward the staff. (e)no error

Answer 28

(a) Eliminate, because although you could suggest that “Before early this morning” sounds better to you, that doesn’t make this form wrong.

(b) You should skip until last. When you check, the time indicator makes past perfect tense correct.

(c) matches with allusions - illusions on the wrong word list, but allusions is not the right meaning.

(d) “threatening” is an adjective describing “manner”, so it’s cool.

Question 29

If you don’t know, what would be a good guess here?

Until early this morning, Julien had suffered greatly from continuous illusions (c) that both frightened him and provoked him to act in a threatening manner toward the staff. (e) no error

Answer 29

(c) would be a good guess.

Unless you remembered that “illusion” is also mistaken for “hallucination”, then it’s not a guess, at all.

Whenever you guess, circle the question number in the booklet. If you finish the section early enough to recheck answers, this will guide you to check these first.

Sometimes, a second look makes the error pop.

Question 30

Which possible selection on sentence correction produces the most errors on the SAT?

Answer 30

(e) “no error”, is almost always rated “very difficult”.

Don’t be afraid to pick it, but don’t rush to it either.

Remember a wrong answer costs you one quarter point per error.

Question 31

Because Bernard (a) is so shy, (b) asking Mary to the prom for him (c) would be (d) to do him a big favor. (e) no error

Answer 31

(d) infinitive - gerund, try replacing with “doing”; it’s correct.

(a) “is so” is checked against “would be”.

(b) “asking” could be “to ask”, but the gerund is fine too.

(c) “would be” could be “would have been” but the present perfect isn’t necessary.

Question 32

When one (a) tries to change jobs in a tough economy, (b) you always have to (c) assess whether the (d) prospective company is stable enough to risk joining. (e) no error

Answer 32

(b) pronoun shift. (one)

(a) “tries” matches with “have” later in the sentence. “tries to” is the correct idiom.

(c) “assess” could be wrong word here with “access”; since the needed meaning is “evaluate”, it’s correct as is.

(d) “prospective/perspective” is a wrong word pair. Since the meaning is “thing under consideration,” it’s correct here.

Question 33

I (a) prefer the photographs of Richard van Hoesel, because, in my opinion, they are sharper and (b) more vividly (c) colorful than (d) Pete Turner. (e) no error

Answer 33

(d) comparison error, “the photographs of” compared to “Pete Turner.”

(a) “prefer” matches with present tense “are” later in the sentence.

(b) “more” is being used to compare two, not three photographers.

(c) “colorful” is an adjective and cannot be “adverb”.

Question 34

Lily couldn’t (a) abide the way her sour grandpa (b) complained (c) of everything, (d) even though the service at the inn was impeccable. (e) no error

Answer 34

(c) “complained about” is the correct idiom

(a) “abide” is an idiom candidate, but it’s being used to mean “tolerate” here.

(b) “complained” matches with “could” and “was” in the sentence

(d) “even though” is an acceptable connector of the two clauses.

Question 35

Charles Foster Kane’s abandoned library of assorted, conventional, and even, (a) exotic books (b) stand (c) ready for the use of (d) anyone. (e) no error

Answer 35

(b) subject verb agreement - “library…stands”

(a) “exotic” is not a wrong word.

(c) “ready for” is a correct idiom.

(d) “anyone” is correct.

Question 36

(a) When doctors (b) proscribe medicine, their patients trust that (c) their decision is (d) based on science and not marketing. (e) no error

Answer 36

(b) wrong word prescribe - proscribe.

(a) “When” is the right conjunction here.

(c) “their” replaces “doctors” and modifies “decision”.

(d) “based on” is the correct idiom.

Question 37

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville (a) met for the last time in Liverpool at the American consulate; (b) his melancholy mood (c) could not keep the interaction long from being sociable and (d) confident. (e) no error

Answer 37

(b) pronoun ambiguous. Does “his” refer to Hawthorne or Melville?

(a) “met” is correct in tense with “could not keep”; “for” doesn’t create a bad idiom.

(c) “could” matches as the de facto past tense of “can”. “Keep” is in the unmarked infinitive form.

(d) “confident/confidant” is a wrong word pair, and although the meaning here is “willing to confide”, the word is correct.

Question 38

King Pepin the Short and, particularly, (a) his son, Charlemagne (b) succored the papacy (c) by removing the Lombards (d) from control in Italy. (e) no error

Answer 38

(e) no error

(a) “his” refers to King Pepin, properly.

(b) “succored” could be wrong word for “secured”, but either “brought aid” or “brought greater safety” is correct.

(c) “by” is a correct preposition with the gerund.

(d) “from” pairs with “removing” and is a correct idiom.

Question 39

(a) Though the vistas were (b) incomparable, the donkey ride through the Grand Canyon trails was (c) wicked hard, and left (d) many a visitor saddle sore. (e) no error

Answer 39

(c) adjective - adverb error, “wickedly”.

(a) “Though” properly connects the two clauses.

(b) “incomparable” is linked to “vistas” and needs to stay an adjective.

(d) “many a visitor” is a common idiom and is properly used here. Though there are other ways to say it, it’s not wrong this way.

Question 40

Through the loaded dumpsters (a) forage the runaway teen, (b) looking for some discarded, but still (c) edible food, while her parents can not help but worry (d) about her. (e) no error

Answer 40

(a) subject verb agreement “runaway…forages”.

(b) “looking for” is a correct participle idiom.

(c) “edible” is correct as an adjective.

(d) “worry about” is the correct idiom.

Question 41

Students (a) were told to bring their (b) laptop to class to (c) facilitate notetaking, but that (d) distractions of any kind would not be tolerated. (e) no error

Answer 41

(b) number agreement - laptops

(a) “were told” is a proper passive voice, and tense matches “would be tolerated”.

(c) “facilitate” is a proper infinitive here.

(d) “distractions” is cool here.

Question 42

I think it (a) would be a good idea for both of us as well as the whole family, if we (b) were (c) to keep this a secret between (d) just you and I. (e) no error

Answer 42

(d) pronoun case error - you and me

(a) “would be” matches tense with “were”.

(b) “were” matches tense with “would be”.

(c) “to keep” is a correct infinitive; “keeping” would create a past continuous tense and is wrong here.

Question 43

The witness swore that she never (a) saw the suspect (b) before, but the detective (c) was convinced that she must have been threatened to keep her (d) from testifying. (e) no error

Answer 43

(a) wrong tense - “had seen”, because of the time indicator.

(b) “before” is an adverb here, so it’s fine.

(c) “was convinced” is a good use of the passive voice.

(d) “from testifying” is both a good idiom (keep from) and gerund (testifying).

Question 44

Rebecca was like that; she (a) would jump (b) right into a new project, (c) taking on enormous responsibility, without (d) scarcely any experience. (e) no error

Answer 44

(d) double negative - “scarcely”

(a) “would jump” matches tense with “was”.

(b) “right into” is a good idiom.

(c) “taking on” is a correct special idiom, meaning “accepting [a challenge]”.

Question 45

Charlie Chaplain, (a) one of the great screen legends, (b) bring to mind the image (c) of the little tramp (d) in the baggy pants. (e) no error

Answer 45

(b) subject verb agreement – ‘brings to”

(a) “one of” is fine here, normally it hides a pronoun shift.

(c) “image of” is the correct idiom.

(d) “in” is not paired with a verb, so it’s fine.

Question 46

The layout of the town’s (a) principle buildings was (b) as exact as the set designers could (c) estimate them from the photographs of the town that (d) were preserved from that period. (e) no error

Answer 46

(c) pronoun error - “estimate it” refers to the “layout”.

(a) “principle” / principal; no wrong word here.

(b) “as exact as” is correct.

(d) “were preserved” is in proper tense and correct in passive voice.

Question 47

Throughout that long, (a) grueling, vocal competition, I thought Sandy (b) sung her heart (c) out on everything (d) but the Strauss. (e) no error

Answer 47

(b) past participle used as a past tense form – “sang”

(a) Stacked adjectives can be separated by a comma.

(c) “sing your heart out” is an idiom.

(d) “but” properly separates the piece by Strauss.

Question 48

Since Peter (a) fell asleep and (b) was awakened by the teacher twice during the exam, he hardly (c) had no reason to (d) complain about its length. (e) no error

Answer 48

(c) double negative - “hardly no”

(a) “fell asleep” is correct in tense.

(b) “awakened” matches “fell” and “had” is a proper use of passive voice.

(d) “complain about” is a correct idiom pair.

Question 49

Benny and his cousin, Hershel, (a) compete at almost everything they can, (b) except height; Hershel is (c) undoubtedly the (d) tallest. (e) no error

Answer 49

(d) adjective error - taller

(a) “compete at” is the right idiom pair.

(b) “except” / accept wrong word, but it’s correct.

(c) “undoubtedly” is correct as an adverb.

Question 50

Logan sought the patience to deal with the (a) incorrigible habits of her brother, but now, among her high society friends, she (b) was perturbed to distraction (c) by him sucking soup audibly (d) through his teeth. (e) no error

Answer 50

(c) pronoun case error – “by his” modifies the gerund “sucking soup”

(a) “incorrigible” is a correct word.

(b) “was perturbed” matches the tense of “sought” and is proper use of passive voice.

(d) “through” his teeth is the correct word and correct match with the verb.

Question 51

Try (a) as she might to slug her way back into the match again (b) as she did in the second set, Ms. Rostopov (c) couldn’t recover (d) about the service errors that cost her two early breaks. (e) no error

Answer 51

(d) verb preposition idiom error - “recover from”

(a) “as she might” vs “as she may” - this form is correct because “may” implies permission, “might” means chance or choice.

(b) “as she” is correct.

(c) “couldn’t recover” matches tense with “did”.

Question 52

In Georg Hegel’s philosophy, mind or spirit (a) i__s presented as a set of contradictions and oppositions that (b) reach a state of unified (c) integration without (d) subsuming or lessening one into the other. (e) no error

Answer 52

(e) no error

(a) “was presented” could be made active, but isn’t wrong as a passive here.

(b) “reach” agrees with “that” - meaning “contradicitons and oppositions” and is correct in present tense.

(c) “integration” is not a wrong word.

(d) “subsuming” is not a wrong word.

Question 53

At the end of the college fair, Annabel (a) had taken (b) multifarious booklets (c) pertaining to financial aid, (d) admissions and academic requirements, which she spent the following five weeks ignoring. (e) no error

Answer 53

(a) tense error - “took”

(b) “multifarious” could be switched with a different word, but is still correct.

(c) “pertaining to” is a correct idiom.

(d) “admissions” is always plural in this sense.

Question 54

Hal’s tendency to make an (a) aberrant (b) throw at a crucial moment in the game surfaced again in the 5-4 loss, and the coach (c) decided (d) then and there to find a new shortstop. (e) no error

Answer 54

(a) wrong word - errant means “in error”, while “aberrant” means “out of the ordinary” which is against his “tendency”

(b) “throw at” is not an idiom pair, but it’s not wrong.

(c) “decided” matches tense with “surfaced”.

(d) “then and there” is an idiom. It’s fine.

Question 55

Trees with (a) a large limb overhanging powerlines allow heavy snow and freezing rain (b) to cause poweroutages, (c) which sometimes do have lasting (d) economic impacts. (e) no error

Answer 55

(a) number agreement - large limbs

(b) “cause” agrees with “snow” and “rain” and matches tense with “make”.

(c) “which” gives extra information, so “that” isn’t preffered here.

(d) “economic” is a proper use of the adjective.

Question 56

(a) With the illness lasting into the third week, Joshua, once such a (b) remarkably healthy young man, (c) laid in bed listlessly and has (d) weakened visibly. (e) no error

Answer 56

(c) tense error - “has laid”

(a) “with” is correctly starting a sentence with a prepositional phrase.

(b) “remarkably” is an adverb; it modifies the adjective “healthy”.

(d) “weakened” is correct with “has”.

Question 57

The Chinese Cabinet Ministers are (a) roughly (b) equivalent in status to the American Cabinet Secretaries (c) who report to the President; however, there are a lot more of (d) them. (e) no error

Answer 57

(d) pronoun ambiguous - “them” could refer to either “Ministers” or “Secretaries”

(a) “roughly” modifies “equivalent” properly.

(b) “equivalent” is preferred to “equal” in this case.

(c) “who” refers to “Secretaries”.

Question 58

(a) Taken (b) at his word (c) that his scheme was (d) legitimate, Bernie made off with several billion dollars in investment money. (e) no error

Answer 58

(e) no error

(a) “taken” is a past participle starting a phrase modifying the subject. It’s cool.

(b) “at his” is a correct idiom with “taken”, and “his” refers to Bernie.

(c) “that” is preferred to “which” here.

(d) “legitimate” is the correct word here.

Question 59

The consultant reminded the manager that security doesn’t (a) necessarily mean high-tech cameras (b) but could be something (c) as simple as (d) to train his employees to lock the door. (e) no error

Answer 59

(d) infinitive/gerund - “training”

(a) “necessarily” modifies the verb properly.

(b) “but” is a correct connection.

(c) “as simple as” is a correct idiom.

Question 60

The (a) sports analyst said that the passing attack of theTexans didn’t (b) compare to (c) the Bengals, so he expected (d) an upset on Sunday. (e) no error

Answer 60

(b) faulty comparison - “passing attack of” the “[team]”

(a) “sports” is an acceptable form here.

(c) “compare to” is the correct idiom pair.

(d) “an upset” is the correct noun.

Question 61

(a) Up to this moment, (b) considered Ed to be my (c) closest and most trusted friend, and I hope (d) that he continues to hold me in his heart. (e) no error

Answer 61

(b) wrong tense - present perfect needed - “have considered”

(a) “up to” is correct; there is no “upto” form.

(c) “closest” matches with “most trusted”.

(d) “that” is the object of the verb “hope”, and it is correct here.

Question 62

Certainly, the world (a) will miss such a (b) serious (c) benevolent man who so (d) tirelessly devoted himself to others. (e) no error

Answer 62

(b) adjective - adverb, “seriously”

(a) “will miss” is proper future.

(c) “benevolent” is correct as an adjective.

(d) “tirelessly” modifies the verb correctly.

Question 63

Bill, the manager, and Victor, the stock guy, both very (a) obliging, (b) looked for my favorite flavor of ice cream, (c) which (d) he found in the back freezer. (e) no error

Answer 63

(d) pronoun ambiguous - you can’t be sure who “he”is?

(a) “obliging” describes the two employees.

(b) “looked for” is the correct idiom.

(c) “which” is preferred to “that” because where the ice cream was found isn’t necessary to understanding the other part of the sentence.

Question 64

It (a) is important for (b) one to remember, that (c) it is you and only you who (d) brings success to your life. (e) no error

Answer 64

(b) pronoun shift, – have to change “one” to “you

(a) “is” is in agreement with “it” and matches the tense of the later verb.

(c) “it is” is fine; it agrees and matches.

(d) “bring” agrees with who, and matches tense with the other verbs.