Practice Problems Flashcards
Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it [WILL SNAP EASILY, AS THOUGH IT WAS A TWIG].
A. will snap easily, as though it was a twig
B. will snap easily, like a twig does
C. will snap easily, as though it is a twig
D. might snap easily, as though it was a twig
E. will snap easily, as though it were a twig
CAT 1, Q 4. Answer E. The expression “as though” introduces a supposition that is contrary to fact (the pipe is not a twig). Such suppositions must be expressed in the subjunctive mood. For example, in the phrase “I wish I were rich,” the verb “were” is in the subjunctive because the phrase expresses a desire contrary to fact. The appropriate singular form of the verb “to be” in the subjunctive mood is “were.”
[IN THE 1880’S, IMPROVED PEST-CONTROL METHODS SAVED THE REGION’S CITRUS CROP, ALTHOUGH ITS GRAPE, CELERY, AND SUGAR BEET CROPS HAD ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED BY PESTS.]
A. In the 1880’s, improved pest-control methods saved the region’s citrus crop, although its grape, celery, and sugar beet crops had already been destroyed by pests
B. Pests destroyed the region’s grape, celery, and sugar beet crops when, in the 1880’s, improved pest-control methods saved its citrus crop
C. The region’s citrus crop was saved by improved pest-control methods in the 1880’s, its grape, celery, and sugar beet crops already having been destroyed by pests
D. Improved pest-control methods saved the region’s citrus crop in the 1880’s, though they had already destroyed its grape, celery, and sugar beet crops
E. Improved pest-control methods, in the 1880’s, saved the region’s citrus crop, its grape, celery, and sugar beet crops were already destroyed by pests
CAT 1, Q 6. Answer A. This sentence appropriately places “saved” in the simple past and “had… destroyed” in the past perfect. The modifier “In the 1880’s” is placed in a position where there is no ambiguity as to what happened in the 1880’s. Finally, the sentence appropriately uses the transition word “although” to express contrast.
Policy makers [REAMIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF INFLATION, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE FEW SIGNS OF INCREASING ENERGY PRICES DRIVING UP THE COST OF OTHER GOODS SO FAR]
A. remain concerned about the prospect of inflation, although there are few signs of increasing energy prices driving up the cost of other goods so far
B. still remain concerned about the prospects of inflation; there are as yet few signs that increasing energy prices are currently driving up the cost of other goods
C. remain concerned about the prospect for inflation, even though as yet few signs of higher energy prices are driving up the cost of other goods so far
D. still remain concerned about inflation, even though there are currently few signs that increasing energy prices drive up the cost of other goods
E. remain concerned about the prospect of inflation, despite the dearth of signs thus far that increasing energy prices are driving up the cost of other goods
CAT 1, Q 16. Answer E. Policy makers [remain concerned about the prospect of inflation, despite the dearth of signs thus far that increasing energy prices are driving up the cost of other goods]
This choice uses a concise, non-redundant construction (“remain concerned”) to express the analysts’ state of mind. The sentence uses “despite” to express the contrast between that concern and the lack of explicit signs to warrant it. Finally, “thus far” is placed in a location where its meaning is clear – there are few signs thus far – and the clause “that … prices are driving…” is properly used to describe “signs”.
[BECAUSE OF LESS AVAILABILITY AND GREATER DEMAND FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, PLATINUM REMAINS CONSISTENTLY EXPENSIVE, LIKE GOLD]
A. Because of less availability and greater demand for scientific research, platinum remains consistently expensive, like gold.
B. Because of less availability and increased demand for scientific research, platinum remains consistently expensive, like that of gold.
C. Because of decreased availability and increased demand in scientific research, platinum remains expensive, like gold.
D. Because of decreased availability and increased demand for scientific research, platinum remains expensive, like gold.
E. Because of decreased availability and greater demand in scientific research, platinum remains at a consistently high price, like that of gold.
CAT 1, Q 17. Answer C. The original sentence contains several errors. First, “less availability” is incorrect when not used in a direct comparison: it begs the question “Less than what?” “Decreased availability” would be better here. Second, “greater demand” also begs the question “greater than what?” “Increased demand” would be better. Third, “Demand for scientific research” implies that the research is in demand, when in fact it is the platinum. “Demand in scientific research” would be better. Fourth, “remains consistently expensive” is redundant. “Remains expensive” would be enough to convey the idea.
CORRECT: Because of decreased availability and increased demand in scientific research, platinum remains expensive, like gold.
This choice replaces “less availability” with “decreased availability” and “greater demand” with “increased demand.” The word “consistently” is removed, and “demand for” is changed to “demand in.”
[EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, ADOPTED IN 1787, MANDATED THAT ANY U.S. PRESIDENT OR SENATOR MUST BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, BUT THE CONSTITUTION DID NOT CONTAIN A DEFINITION OF CITIZENSHIP ITSELF UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT WAS RATIFIED ON JULY 28, 1868]
A. Even though the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandated that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but the Constitution did not contain a definition of citizenship itself until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.
B. The original text of the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted in 1787, specifies any U.S. president or senator who must be an American citizen, although the Constitution did not actually define citizenship until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.
C. In the original text of the U.S. Constitution that was adopted in 1787, it is specified that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen; an actual definition, however, did not exist until the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on July 28, 1868.
D. When the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787, its original text specified that any U.S. president or senator must be an American citizen, but that citizenship itself would not be defined until the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment on July 28, 1868.
E. Although the original text of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1787, mandates that any U.S. president or senator be an American citizen, citizenship itself was not actually defined in the Constitution until July 28, 1868, when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified.
CAT 1, Q 21. Answer E.
Mandates appears properly in the present tense, as the original text of the Constitution still exists (and still says the same things), and is correctly followed by the command subjunctive (since mandates is a bossy verb). The word although properly indicates the contrast between the two clauses. Finally, the past tense (was not defined, was ratified) is used correctly to describe past actions.
[RECENT STUDIES SUGGEST THAT AN INTAKE OF VITAMIN E IN EXCESS OF THAT FOUND NATURALLY IN A BALANCED DIET MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CERTAIN ILLNESSES], despite the claims of thousands of people who swear by it as a dietary supplement.
A. Recent studies suggest that an intake of vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet may actually increase the risk of developing certain illnesses
B. Recent studies suggest that taking vitamin E in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet actually increases the risk of developing certain illnesses
C. Certain illnesses may be at a higher risk of development if vitamin E is taken in excess of a balanced diet, according to recent studies
D. According to recent studies, the intake of vitamin E, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase developing certain illnesses
E. Vitamin E, recent studies suggest, if in excess of that found naturally in a balanced diet, may actually increase the development risk of certain illnesses
CAT 1, Q 35. Answer A. A. CORRECT B. Meaning (“actually increases”) C. Meaning; Modifier (according to) D. Meaning E. Meaning
Lacking information about energy use, people tend to overestimate the amount of energy used by [EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS LIGHTS, THAT ARE VISIBLE AND MUST BE TURNED ON AND OFF AND UNDERESTIMATE THAT] used by unobtrusive equipment, such as water heaters.
(A) equipment, such as lights, that are visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate that
(B) equipment, such as lights, that are visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
(C) equipment, such as lights, that is visible and must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
(D) visible equipment, such as lights, that must be turned on and off and underestimate that
(E) visible equipment, such as lights, that must be turned on and off and underestimate it when
V2, Lecture # 2, Q 34. A. Subject-verb B. “when”; subject verb C. “when”; parallelism D. CORRECT E. “when”; “parallelism
Takeaways:
- “When” and “where” must refer to time or place
- Subject-verb must agree (equipment…must be turned on)
- Stuff in between commas can be ignored
Excavators at the Indus Valley site of Harappa in eastern Pakistan say the discovery of inscribed shards dating to circa 2800-2600 B.C. [INDICATE THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF A HARAPPAN WRITING SYSTEM, THE USE OF] inscribed seals impressed into the clay for marking ownership, and the standardization of weights for trade or taxation occurred many decades, if not centuries, earlier than was previously believed.
(A) indicate their development of a Harappan writing system, the use of
(B) indicate that the development of a Harappan writing system, using
(C) indicates that their development of a Harappan writing system, using
(D) indicates the development of a Harappan writing system, their use of
(E) indicates that the development of a Harappan writing system, the use of
OG13, HW2, D41.
A. Subject-Verb Agreement (indicate); Pronoun (their); Structure
B. Subject-Verb Agreement (indicate); Meaning / Modifier (using)
C. Pronoun (their); Meaning / Modifier (using)
D. Structure; Pronoun (their)
E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
- Eliminate answer choices (A and C) that fail to provide a noun that matches with the pronoun (their)
- Structure: It is not acceptable to omit the word “that” when the sentence (“discovery indicates THAT the development occurred earlier”) discusses a more complex situation
The first trenches [THAT WERE CUT INTO A 500-ACRE SITE AT TELL HAMOUKAR, SYRIA, HAVE YIELDED STRONG EVIDENCE FOR CENTRALLY ADMINISTERED COMPLEX SOCIETIES IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST THAT WERE ARISING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH BUT] independently of the more celebrated city-states of southern Mesopotamia, in what is now southern Iraq.
(A) that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but
(B) that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East were arising simultaneously with but also
(C) having been cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East were arising simultaneously but
(D) cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong evidence of centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arising simultaneously but also
(E) cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but
OG13, HW2, Q 70. A. Idiom (evidence for) B. Subject-Verb (yields) C. Idiom (simultaneously of) D. Idiom (evidence of); subject-verb agreement (yields); Idiom (simultaneously of) E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
- Idiom: “Evidence for” or “evidence of” a noun; “Evidence that” a more complex result presented in the form of a clause
- Idiom: It is not correct to say “simultaneously of the city-states” or “simultaneously the city-states”; the correct idiom is “simultaneously with the city-states”
Cajuns speak a dialect brought to southern Louisiana by the 4,000 Acadians who migrated there in 1755; their language is basically seventeenth-century French [TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND ITALIAN WORDS].
(A) to which has been added English, Spanish, and Italian words
(B) added to which is English, Spanish, and Italian words
(C) to which English, Spanish, and Italian words have been added
(D) with English, Spanish, and Italian words having been added to it
(E) and, in addition, English, Spanish, and Italian words are added
OG13, HW2, Q 129. A. Subject-Verb Agreement (has) B. Subject-Verb Agreement (is) C. CORRECT D. Meaning E. Verb (are); Meaning
Takeaways:
-“To which” is required to refer to the main noun immediately beforehand (French in this case)
The intricate structure of the compound insect eye, [HAVING HUNDREDS OF MINIATURE EYES CALLED OMMATIDIA, HELP EXPLAIN WHY SCIENTISTS HAVE ASSUMED THAT IT] evolved independently of the vertebrate eye.
(A) having hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, help explain why scientists have assumed that it
(B) having hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that they
(C) with its hundreds of miniature eyes that are called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists’ assuming that they
(D) with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists’ assuming that it
(E) with its hundreds of miniature eyes called ommatidia, helps explain why scientists have assumed that it
OG13, HW 2, Q 7. A. Subject-Verb Agreement (help) B. Pronoun (they) C. Pronoun (they); Structure D. Subject-Verb Agreement (help); Structure E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
-As a general rule, the test writers do not like using a possessive noun (“scientists’”) right before a gerund (“assuming”, an –ing word acting as a noun)
Rock samples taken from the remains of an asteroid about twice the size of the 6-mile-wide asteroid that eradicated the dinosaurs [HAS BEEN DATED TO BE 3.47 BILLION YEARS OLD AND THUS IS] evidence of the earliest known asteroid impact on Earth.
(A) has been dated to be 3.47 billion years old and thus is
(B) has been dated at 3.47 billion years old and thus
(C) have been dated to be 3.47 billion years old and thus are
(D) have been dated as being 3.47 billion years old and thus
(E) have been dated at 3.47 billion years old and thus are
OG13, HW2, Q 140.
A. Subject-Verb Agreement (has; is); Idiom (dated to be)
B. Subject-Verb Agreement (has); Structure
C. Idiom (dated to be)
D. Idiom (dated as being); Structure
E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
-The correct idiom for estimating the age of something is “dated at” a certain age
From the earliest days of the tribe, kinship determined the way in which the Ojibwa society organized its labor, provided access to its resources, [AND DEFINED RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS INVOLVED IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION OF THOSE RESOURCES].
A. and defined rights and obligations involved in the distribution and consumption of those resources
B. defining rights and obligations involved in their distribution and consumption
C. and defined rights and obligations as they were involved in its distribution and consumption
D. whose rights and obligations were defined in their distribution and consumption
E. the distribution and consumption of them defined by rights and obligations
Verbal2, Lecture # 3, Q 7. A. CORRECT B. Parallelism (defining) C. Pronoun (its) D. Parallelism (whose) E. Parallelism (the distribution)
Takeaways:
-commas signal parallelism
In developing new facilities for the incineration of solid wastes, we must avoid the danger of shifting environmental problems from [LANDFILLS POLLUTING THE WATER TO POLLUTING THE AIR WITH INCINERATORS].
A. landfills polluting the water to polluting the air with incinerators
B. landfills polluting the water to the air being polluted with incinerators
C. the pollution of water by landfills to the pollution of air by incinerators
D. pollution of the water by landfills to incinerators that pollute the air
E. water that is polluted by landfills to incinerators that pollute the air
Verbal2, Lecture #3, Q 49.
A. Parallelism (landfills polluting…polluting the air)
B. Parallelism (landfills polluting…air being polluted)
C. CORRECT
D. Parallelism (pollution of the water…incinerators that pollute)
E. Parallelism (water that is polluted…incinerators that pollute)
Takeaways:
-“from…to” is a marker for parallelism
More and more in recent years, cities are stressing the arts as a means [TO GREATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTING] millions of dollars in cultural activities, despite strained municipal budgets and fading federal support.
A. to greater economic development and investing
B. to greater development economically and investing
C. of greater economic development and invest
D. of greater development economically and invest
E. for greater economic development and the investment of
OG13, HW 3, Q 75.
A. CORRECT
B. Meaning (economically)
C. Meaning (as a means of); Parallelism (X and Y)
D. Meaning (economically); Meaning (as a means of); Parallelism (X and Y)
E. Idiom (as a means for); Parallelism (X and Y)
Takeaways:
- Economically is an adverb and must modify a verb; economic is an adjective and must modify a noun
- “as a means of” and “as a means to” are the correct idioms; “as a means for” is wrong
Emily Dickinson’s letters to Susan Huntington [DICKINSON WERE WRITTEN OVER A PERIOD BEGINNING A FEW YEARS BEFORE SUSAN’S MARRIAGE TO EMILY’S BROTHER AND ENDING SHORTLY BEFORE EMILY’S DEATH IN 1886, OUTNUMBERING] her letters to anyone else.
A. Dickinson were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and ending shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, outnumbering
B. Dickinson were written over a period that begins a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and ended shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, outnumber
C. Dickinson, written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and that ends shortly before Emily’s death in 1886 and outnumbering
D. Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother, ending shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, and outnumbering
E. Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and ending shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, outnumber
OG 13, HW 3, Q 29. A. Meaning / Modifier (outnumbering) B. Verb / Parallelism / Structure C. Verb / Parallelism / Structure D. Verb / Parallelism / Structure E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
-ALWAYS read the entire sentence and look at both the beginning and end of the underlined section
According to scholars, the earliest writing was probably not a direct rendering of speech, but [WAS MORE LIKELY TO BEGIN AS] a separate and distinct symbolic system of communication, and only later merged with spoken language. A. was more likely to begin as B. more than likely began as C. more than likely beginning from D. it was more than likely begun from E. it was more likely that it began
OG13, HW 3, D 39. A. Parallelism (X, Y, and Z) B. CORRECT C. Parallelism (X, Y, and Z) D. Parallelism (X, and Y) E. Verb (was); idiom (as); Parallelism (X, Y, and Z)
While depressed property values can hurt some large investors, [THEY ARE POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING FOR HOMEOWNERS, WHOSE] equity – in many cases representing a life’s savings – can plunge or even disappear.
A. they are potentially devastating for homeowners, whose
B. they can potentially devastate homeowners in that their
C. for homeowners they are potentially devastating, because their
D. for homeowners, it is potentially devastating in that their
E. it can potentially devastate homeowners, whose
Verbal2, Lecture # 4, Q 21. A. CORRECT B. Redundancy (“can potentially”) C. Pronoun (their) D. Pronoun (it) E. Pronoun (it)
Takeaways:
- “Can potentially” is redundant
- “Whose” is a modifier for any noun!
- IGNORE ambiguous pronouns except as a last resort
[HEAVY COMMITMENT BY AN EXECUTIVE TO A COURSE OF ACTION, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS WORKED WELL IN THE PAST, MAKES IT LIKELY TO MISS SIGNS OF INCIPIENT TROUBLE OR MISINTERPRET THEM WHEN THEY DO APPEAR].
A. Heavy commitment by an executive to a course of action, especially if it has worked well in the past, makes it likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear
B. An executive who is heavily committed to a course of action, especially one that worked well in the past, makes missing signs of incipient trouble or misinterpreting ones likely when they do appear
C. An executive who is heavily committed to a course of action is likely to miss or misinterpret signs of incipient trouble when they do appear, especially if it has worked well in the past.
D. Executives’ being heavily committed to a course of action, especially if it has worked well in the past, makes them likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpreting them when they do appear
E. Being heavily committed to a course of action, especially one that has worked well in the past, is likely to make an executive miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear
OG13, HW 4, Q 100. A. Pronoun (it) B. Pronoun (ones) C. Pronoun (it) D. Pronoun (them); Parallelism (X or Y) E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
- If the logical antecedent of a pronoun is buried, then it is ambiguous
- DO NOT cross off an answer simply because it contains the word “being”!
Starfish, with anywhere from five to eight arms, have a strong regenerative ability, and if [ONE ARM IS LOST IT QUICKLY REPLACES IT, SOMETIMES BY THE ANIMAL OVERCOMPENSATING AND] growing an extra one or two.
A. one arm is lost it quickly replaces it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating and
B. one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating and
C. they lose one arm they quickly replace it, sometimes by the animal overcompensating and
D. they lose one arm they are quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating,
E. they lose one arm it is quickly replaced, sometimes with the animal overcompensating,
OG 13, HW 4, Q 114.
A. Pronoun (it); Parallelism (If X, then Y); Meaning
B. CORRECT
C. Meaning (preposition “by” means that the starfish replaces the arm by overcompensating)
D. Pronoun (they); Parallelism (If X, then Y)
E. Parallelism (If X, then Y)
Takeaways:
- If one sentence uses the same pronoun to refer to two different things, the sentence is considered ambiguous – and therefore wrong (double pronoun error; eliminate A and D)
- If X, (then) Y (note that “then” is optional); when X and Y are in the form of clauses, the entire clauses
Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients’ misconduct stemmed from reaction to something ingested, but [in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy], the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.
A. in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy
B. if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food
C. in attributing behavior that is criminal or delinquent to an allergy to some food
D. if some food allergy is attributed as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior
E. in attributing a food allergy as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior
OG13, HW 6, Q 82. A. Meaning / Modifier (in attributing) B. CORRECT C. Meaning / Modifier (in attributing) D. Idiom (attribute X as Y) E. Meaning / Modifier (in attributing; Idiom (attribute X as Y)
Takeaway:
-Correct idiom is “attribute X to Y”
State lawmakers are considering a law [ALLOWING CHILDREN OF DIVORCED PARENTS AS YOUNG AS SEVEN TO CHOOSE THE PARENT WITH WHOM THEY WILL LIVE, WHICH WILL LIKELY DISSUADE THOSE PARENTS] from disciplining or punishing their children.
A. allowing children of divorced parents as young as seven to choose the parent with whom they will live, which will likely dissuade those parents
B. that would allow children as young as seven whose parents are divorced to choose the parent with whom they will live, a policy that would likely dissuade those parents
C. that would allow children of divorced parents as young as seven to choose the parent that they will live with, a policy that will likely dissuade their parents
D. allowing children as young as seven whose parents are divorced to choose the parent who they will live with, likely dissuading those parents
E. that will allow children as young as seven with divorced parents to choose which parent with whom to live, a policy likely dissuading their parents
CAT 2, Q 4. Topics: Modifiers, Verbs, Meaning
A. Verb (allowing); Structure (as young as seven); Modifier (which)
B. CORRECT
C. Structure (as young as seven); Pronoun (that); Pronoun (their)
D. Verb (allowing); Modifier (who)
E. Verb (will allow); Modifier (which, with whom); Pronoun (their)
Although [THEY ARE CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT, A PERSON’S TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY FACTORS THAT DETERMINE IF THEIR WEIGHT WILL INCREASE OR DECREASE].
A. they are crucially important, a person’s total calorie intake is only one of the many factors that determine if their weight will increase or decrease
B. it is crucially important, a person’s total calorie intake is only one of the many factors that determine whether his or her weight will increase or decrease
C. it is a crucially important factor, a person’s total calorie intake is the only one of many that determines whether his or her weight will increase or decrease
D. crucially important, a person’s total calorie intake is only one of the many factors that determines the increase or decrease in their weight
E. it is crucially important, a person’s total calorie intake is the only one of many factors that determines the increase or decrease in his or her weight
CAT 2, Q 9. Topics: Modifiers, Pronouns, Meaning
A. Pronoun (they, their); Verb (X will happen if Y happens)
B. CORRECT
C. Meaning (the only one of many)
D. Verb (determines); Pronoun (their); Meaning
E. Meaning (the only one of many)
Florida’s Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, a mixed-use recreation trail paved over an old rail bed, is a curious paradox: it [IS NOT ONLY COMPLETELY MAN-MADE BUT ALSO DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR HUMAN USE, YET IS] classified as a state park.
A. is not only completely man-made but also designed exclusively for human use, yet is
B. not only is completely man-made but also exclusively designed for human use, yet it is
C. is completely man-made but also exclusively designed for human use, yet
D. is completely man-made but also has been designed exclusively for human use, yet is
E. is not only completely man-made but also is exclusively designed for human use, yet
CAT 2, Q 10. Topics: Parallelism, Idioms.
A. CORRECT.
B. Parallelism (it designed for human use)
C. Idiom (but also); Parallelism (yet without a verb)
D. Idiom (but also)
E. Parallelism (missing verb)
Takeaway:
-“But also” by itself, without the accompanying “not only,” suggests the two joining clauses contrast each other
[THOUGH IT IS NOW UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED THAT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WAS A REAL, HISTORICAL PERSON – WHICH WAS ONCE CONSIDERED QUESTIONABLE – SOME STILL SUSPECT HIM NOT TO HAVE WRITTEN ALL OF THE WORKS ATTRIBUTED AS HIS OWN].
A. Though it is now universally accepted that William Shakespeare was a real, historical person – which was once considered questionable – some still suspect him not to have written all of the works attributed as his own.
B. Though William Shakespeare is now universally accepted to be a real, historical person – once considered as questionable – some still suspect him not to have written all of the works attributed to be his own.
C. William Shakespeare – now universally accepted as a real, historical person, though even this fact was once considered questionable – who is still suspected, by some, not to have written all of the works attributed to him.
D. Though it is now universally accepted that William Shakespeare was a real, historical person – a fact that was once considered questionable – he is still suspected, by some, of not having written all of the works attributed to him.
E. Some still suspect that William Shakespeare did not write all of the works attributed as his own, although it is now universally accepted that he was a real, historical person – a fact that was once considered questionable.
CAT 2, Q 12. Topics: Idioms, Modifiers
A. Modifier (which); Idiom (attributed as); Idiom (suspect not to)
B. Idiom (attributed as); Idiom (considered as); Idiom (suspect not to have)
C. Verb (missing); Idiom (suspect not to have)
D. CORRECT
E. Idiom (attributed as); Modifier
Takeaway:
- Cannot refer to a person with the pronoun which
- Correct idiom: “X is attributed to Y”
- Correct idiom: “suspect that” or “suspect X of verb-ing”
Many online retailers charge “restocking fees” on returns [IF THE PURCHASE PRICE IS REFUNDED BACK TO THE CUSTOMER’S CREDIT CARD, BUT CHARGE NO SUCH FEES IF GIVEN AS] store credit.
A. if the purchase price is refunded back to the customer’s credit card, but charge no such fees if given as
B. for purchases that are refunded to the customer’s credit card, but not when those purchases are refunded as
C. when the purchase is refunded back to the customer’s credit card, but not given in the form of
D. if the purchase price is refunded to the customer’s credit card, but not if the refund is given as
E. whose purchase prices are refunded to the customer’s credit card, and charge no such fees if refunded
CAT 2, Q 21. Topics: Meaning, Modifiers, Parallelism
A. Modifier (if given); Redundancy (refund, back)
B. Parallelism; Meaning
C. Meaning (illogical parallelism); Redundancy (refund, back)
D. CORRECT
E. Modifier (if given); Parallelism (and does not indicate contrast)
The health commissioner said that the government had implemented strict measures to eradicate the contaminated food and, despite the recent illnesses, [IT WILL TRY] to prevent the outbreak from recurring in the future. A. it will try B. that it tried C. it had tried D. it would have tried E. that it would try
CAT 2, Q 30. Topics: Verbs, Pronouns, Parallelism
A. Verb (will try); parallelism (that)
B. Verb (tried)
C. Verb (had tried); Parallelism (that)
D. Verb (would have tried); Parallelism (that)
E. CORRECT
Takeaways:
-When the future is indicated from the point of view of the past, use the conditional rather than the simple future (e.g. “The man said that he would buy a new car” is preferable to “The man said that he will buy a new car.”)
The bowerbirds of Australia derive their name from [THE FACT THAT THE MALES BUILD ELABORATE BOWERS OF STICKS AND TWIGS TO ATTRACT FEMALES, DECORATING THEM WITH FLOWERS AND OTHER VEGETATION] in a display of courtship.
A. the fact that the males build elaborate bowers of sticks and twigs to attract females, decorating them with flowers and other vegetation
B. the elaborate bowers of sticks and twigs that the males build and decorate with flowers and other vegetation in order to attract females
C. the elaborate bowers of sticks and twigs, decorated with flowers and other vegetation that the males use to attract females
D. the fact that the males build elaborate bowers of sticks and twigs, having decorated them with flowers and other vegetation, to attract females
E. the elaborate bowers of sticks and twigs that are built by the males and decorated with flowers and other vegetation to attract females
CAT 2, Q 33. Topics: Meaning, Pronouns
A. Pronoun (them); Meaning (derive their name from…the fact)
B. CORRECT
C. Meaning
D. Meaning (derive their name from…the fact)
E. Verb (active voice preferable); Meaning
According to the writings of [THORSTEIN VEBLEN, THE ECONOMIST, THE MOST RELIABLE SIGNAL OF A TRULY WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL IS HIS OR HER ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS] to engage in “conspicuous consumption”—to spend it in a way that is patently absurd or irrational.
A. Thorstein Veblen, the economist, the most reliable signal of a truly wealthy individual is his or her ability and willingness
B. Thorstein Veblen, the economist, the most reliable signal that one is truly wealthy is whether one is capable and willing
C. economist Thorstein Veblen, the most reliable signal of one’s true wealth is whether an individual is capable and willing
D. the economist Thorstein Veblen, an individual’s true wealth is most reliably signaled by their ability and willingness
E. the economist Thorstein Veblen, the most reliable signal of true wealth is an individual’s ability and willingness
CAT 2, Q 40. Topics: Pronouns, Idioms, Parallelism
A. Pronoun (it)
B. Pronoun (it)
C. Idiom (capable to); Parallelism (capable, willing); Pronoun (whether)
D. Pronoun (their)
E. CORRECT
Takeaway:
- Shifting from “one’s” to “individual” is unacceptable because it illogically suggests that two different people are involved
- Correct idiom: “willing to + verb” and “capable of + verb-ing”
A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors [HAD ELECTED EARLY RETIREMENT RATHER THAN FACE] the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.
A. had elected early retirement rather than face
B. had elected early retirement instead of facing
C. have elected retiring early instead of facing
D. have elected to retire early rather than facing
E. have elected to retire early rather than face
Verbal 2, Lecture # 7, Q 39. Topics: Verbs A. Verb (had elected) B. Verb (had elected) C. Idiom (elected retiring) D. Parallelism (to retire…facing) E. CORRECT
Takeaway:
- Use present perfect when an action or effect from a past moment are still relevant today (now)
- Correct idiom: “elect to + verb”
[IT IS CALLED A SEA, BUT THE LANDLOCKED CASPIAN IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST LAKE ON EARTH, WHICH COVERS] more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America’s Lake Superior.
A. It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers
B. Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth, which covers
C. Though called a sea, the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, covering
D. Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian covers
E. Despite being called a sea, the largest lake on Earth is actually the landlocked Caspian, covering
OG13, HW 6, Q 48. Topics: Modifier A. Modifier (which) B. Modifier (which; actually) C. CORRECT D. Structure E. Meaning (despite being called a sea, the largest lake…is actually the Caspian)
