Practice Problems Flashcards
Before Jimmy had ate a bite of his dinner, the door bell rang again.
Before Jimmy had EATEN a bite of his dinner, the door bell rang again.
I like to read the comics section of the newspaper first, my brother starts with the sports.
I like to read the comic section of the newspaper first, BUT my brother starts with the sports. (or a period or semicolon after “first” could work also)
On weekends, more visitors arrive at the museum from the subways than the parking lots.
On weekends, more visitors arrive at the museum from the subways than FROM THE PARKING LOTS.
Matt will be in the math competition, for his grades in this have been excellent.
Matt will be in the math competition, for his grades in THIS SUBJECT (or MATH) have been excellent.
*Ambiguity: The pronoun “this” is intended to refer to math, but that noun doesn’t appear in the sentence; only the noun “math competition” appears.
Our team beat Highgrove High’s team last year, even so, we did not win again until today.
Our team beat Highgrove High’s team last year, BUT we did not win again until today.
*This is a run-on sentence; the logical connection is “BUT” not “even so”.
John would like to go to Europe, but the airfare is unable to be afforded by him.
John would like to go to Europe, BUT CAN’T AFFORD THE AIRFARE.
*too wordy and unnecessary passive tense
The broken bike was stationary/stationery.
*Choose the correct word
The broken bike was stationary.
*Stationary means immobile
Stationery means paper used for writing letters
That shirt is the perfect compliment/complement to your blue eyes.
That shirt is the perfect COMPLEMENT to your blue eyes.
*complement means “goes well together”
compliment is “an encouraging remark”
After dinner, the family preceded/proceeded to watch a movie.
After dinner, the family PROCEEDED to watch a movie.
*proceeded - to begin or continue a course of action
*preceded - to come before something in time or position
Mr. Thompson sent three students to the principle’s/principal’s office after a fight broke out in the cafeteria.
Mr. Thompson sent three students to the PRINCIPAL’S office after a fight broke out in the cafeteria.
*principal - head of school
principle - primary
We thought we studied everything we needed for the test, accept/except we forgot the vocabulary.
We thought we studied everything we needed for the test, EXCEPT we forgot the vocabulary.
*except means “not including”
accept means “to receive”
Kara wondered what effect/affect her injury would have in making the team.
Kara wondered what EFFECT her injury would have in making the team.
*Effect is a noun means a result or consequence
Affect is used as a verb meaning to have a result or consequence.
The teacher illustrated his point with an interesting anecdote/antidote.
The teacher illustrated his point with an interesting ANECDOTE.
*anecdote is a personal story
antidote is a remedy given to counteract an illness/poison
The white walls and simple furniture attested to the aesthetic/ascetic principles of the people who lived there.
The white walls and simple furniture attested to the ASCETIC principles of the people who lived there.
*Ascetic means austere or characterizing the practice of severe self-discipline and avoiding all forms of indulgence
Aesthetic means “concerned with beauty”
Renee was contemptuous/contemptible of anyone who other students.
Renee was CONTEMPTUOUS of anyone who bullied other students.
*contemptuous means to feel disdainful of or scornful of something
contemptible means “dishonorable”
Chris was credulous/credible to believe that story his so-called friend told.
Chris was CREDULOUS to believe that story his so-called friend told.
*credulous means “gullible” or “willing to believe”
credible means “capable of being believable”, plausible and believable referring to both people and things
Long ago, it was not considered decorous/decorated for women to show their ankles.
Long ago, it was not considered DECOROUS for women to show their ankles.
*decorous means “proper”
decorated means “ornamented”
Although the questions seemed difficult, Jake was able to deride/derive the answer quickly.
Although the questions seemed difficult, Jake was able to DERIVE the answer quickly.
*derive means “to obtain” or to get
deride means to make fun of
The teacher knew that Tommy was intelligent, so he felt that his poor grades indicated she was disinterested/uninterested.
The teacher knew that Tommy was intelligent, so he felt that his poor grades indicated she was UNINTERESTED.
*uninterested means not interested
disinterested means “unbiased”
George did not like the epilogue/epitaph of the book, because the main character was not punished for his actions.
George did not like the EPILOGUE of the book, because the main character was not punished for his actions.
*epilogue means a chapter at the end of a book that sometimes reveal the fate of its characters
epitaph is a memorializing inscription on a tombstone
Andrew was very empathetic/emphatic in explaining why he should be allowed to go out with his friends, and after much consideration, his parents agreed.
Andrew was very EMPHATIC in explaining why he should be allowed to go out with his friends, and after much consideration, his parents agreed.
*emphatic means forceful
empathetic means compassionate
We learned in our agriculture course that most fruit is eradicated/irradiated to slow the ripening process.
We learned in our agriculture course that most fruit is IRRADIATED to slow the ripening process.
*irradiated means exposed to heat radiation e.g. the sun
eradicated means “gotten rid of”
Keith alluded/eluded to the fact that he struggled with controlling his anger before, but did not go into the details.
Keith ALLUDED to the fact that he struggled with controlling his anger before, but did not go into the details.
*alluded means “made reference to, suggested”
eluded means “got away with, escaped”
The hiring manager made a mental note not to hire the candidate after listening to his grandiose/grand plans for advancement.
The hiring manager made a mental note not to hire the candidate after listening to his GRANDIOSE plans for advancement.
*grandiose means ostentatious or excessively grand (negative connotation)
grand means impressive
After spending all day standing, Julie wanted to lay/lie down for a few minutes.
After spending all day standing, Julie wanted to LIE down for a few minutes.
*lie means to recline
lay means “to put or place” (something you do to something else)
After an exciting summer break, students were loath/loathe to go back to school.
After an exciting summer break, students were LOATH to go back to school.
*loath is an ADJECTIVE that means unwilling or reluctant
loathe is the verb that means to hate
It would be correct to use “loathe” if you said students loathe to go back to school. (remove the “were”)
Alex did not approve of the way Matthew malingered/maligned his other friend.
Alex did not approve of the way Matthew MALIGNED his other friend.
*malign means to slander
malinger means to feign or pretend illness
Bruce Lee was a very poliferate/prolific martial artist.
Bruce Lee was a very PROLIFIC martial artist.
*prolific means productive
proliferate means to reproduce
This is the book in which/where the boy escapes to the mountains.
This is the book IN WHICH the boy escapes to the mountains.
*where should only be used to refer to physical locations. In which is the correct answer.
In an emergency, a reactive/reactionary measure is sometimes the best solution.
In an emergency, a REACTIVE measure is sometimes the best solution.
*reactive means “reacting to events at they happen”
reactionary means “opposed to political change”
She was absent from/in class three times last week.
She was absent FROM class three times last week.
*this is an idiom (proper way to say something); it is correct to say “absent from” not absent in
His parents were aware about/of those problems.
His parents were aware OF those problems.
*correct idiom is aware of
The internet initally came in/into use in the early 1990s.
The internet initally came INTO use in the early 1990s.
*the correct idiom is “came into use”
Tony was concerned about/on how the traffic would affect his commute.
Tony was concerned ABOUT how the traffic would affect his commute.
*the correct idiom is concerned about
The wheels are connected to/with one another by the axle.
The wheels are connected TO one another by the axle.
*correct idiom is connected to
There is no difference among/between the two brands of ice cream.
There is no difference BETWEEN the two brands of ice cream.
*correct idiom is difference between (when there are 2 items); if there are more than 2 items or a group, use among
The growth in/of your improvement is encouraging.
The growth OF your improvement is encouraging.
*the correct idiom is growth of
She was hinting for/at wanting a dog for her birthday.
She was hinting AT wanting a dog for her birthday.
*correct idiom is hinting at; we “ask for” but “hint at” what we want
I first heard the gymnast’s name in connection to/with the World Championships.
I first heard the gymnast’s name in connection WITH the World Championships.
*the correct idiom is “in connection with” (the key word is “in” before the word “connection”)
Carlos was instrumental for/in helping his team win the championship.
Carlos was instrumental IN helping his team win the championship.
*the correct idiom is instrumental in
The answer lay by/in the shortest and simplest response.
The answer lay IN the shortest and simplest response.
*the correct idium is “lay in”. The past tense of “lie” (lie down or reside in” is lay.
The money obtained from/at the business was used to pay down the loan.
The money obtained FROM the business was used to pay down the loan
*the correct idiom is obtained from
He was not proclaimed as/for a viable candidate until much later in his life.
He was not proclaimed as/for a viable candidate until much later in his life.
*correct idiom is proclaimed as
The recent poll results are closely related to/with the change in deomographics.
The recent poll results are closely related TO the change in deomographics.
*the correct idiom is related to
Ellen made sure that everyone was satisfied by/with the song choice.
Ellen made sure that everyone was satisfied WITH the song choice.
*the correct idiom is satisfied with
I started to exercise to stop me from/of gaining weight.
I started to exercise to stop me FROM gaining weight.
*the correct idiom is stop from
Every spring Johnny suffers from/with allergies.
Every spring Johnny suffers FROM allergies.
*the correct idiom is suffers from
His mom got tired with/of chasing after the loose dog.
His mom got tired OF chasing after the loose dog.
*the correct idiom is tired of
Henry’s dad was upset about/with him for coming home late.
Henry’s dad was upset WITH him for coming home late.
*the correct idiom is upset with
With the help by/of his coach, he was able to master the skill.
With the help OF his coach, he was able to master the skill.
*the correct idiom is “with the help of”
Jordan was too proud to admit having/to having cried at the movies.
Jordan was too proud to admit TO HAVING cried at the movies.
*the correct idiom is “admit to having”
The coach attempted talking/to talk some sense into him, but she quit anyway.
The coach attempted TO TALK some sense into him, but she quit anyway.
*the correct idiom is “attempted to talk”
Alex claims being/to be able to read my mind.
Alex claims being/to be able to read my mind.
*the correct idiom is “claims to be”
Lou preferred organizing/to organize his schedule with the harder classes at the beginning of the day.
Lou preferred TO ORGANIZE his schedule with the harder classes at the beginning of the day.
*the correct idiom is preferred to organize
Sharon apologized about/for the mistake in the score.
Sharon apologized FOR the mistake in the score.
*the correct idiom is apologized for
The errors in the exam arise by/from carelessness.
The errors in the exam arise FROM carelessness.
*the correct idiom is arise from
Green is composed with/of yellow and blue.
Green is composed OF yellow and blue.
*correct idiom is composed of
Danny no longer seemed confused about/over the questions.
Danny no longer seemed confused ABOUT the questions.
*the correct idiom is confused about
Marty did not seem aware about/of his offensive language.
Marty did not seem aware OF his offensive language.
*the correct idiom is conscious of
The man was not guilty from/of hurting anyone intentionally.
The man was not guilty OF hurting anyone intentionally.
*the correct idiom is guilty of
I got a B, but I had really hoped of/for a better grade.
I got a B, but I had really hoped FOR a better grade.
*the correct idiom is hoped for
His son showed an indifference for/to his parents’ concern for his safety.
His son showed an indifference TO his parents’ concern for his safety.
*the correct idiom is indifference to
The picky vegetable choices of the kids were limited between/to corn and carrots.
The picky vegetable choices of the kids were limited TO corn and carrots.
*the correct idiom is limited to
Jenny was opposed at/to taking another summer school course.
Jenny was opposed TO taking another summer school course.
*the correct idiom is opposed to
Jimmy was pleased of/with his results of the medical exam.
Jimmy was pleased WITH his results of the medical exam.
*the correct idiom is pleased with
All the students are responsible of/for doing their homework.
All the students are responsible FOR doing their homework.
*the correct idiom is responsible for
After the explosion, the scene from/of the site was off limits.
After the explosion, the scene OF the site was off limits.
*the correct idiom is scene of
When he lost his son to cancer, everyone sympathized for/with Victor.
When he lost his son to cancer, everyone sympathized WITH Victor.
*the correct idiom is sympathized with
