Questions

Question 1

Unlike Northern Canada, where the weather is quite cold, the temperature in Florida rarely goes below freezing.

Answer 1

1. Comparison Marker: Unlike
2. It’s illogical to compare the location (Canada) vs. temperature

Question 2

The retail sector has shrunk by a staggering margin each of the past five years, posting annual losses of at least 5 percent or more compared with the previous year

Answer 2

1. each of the past five years = annual ⇒ Redundant Words
2. At least 5 percent = 5 percent more ⇒ Redundant

Question 3

Many people believe that crime is on the rise but that, despite what is depicted on television, crim is actually at its lowest rate in decades

vs,

Contrary to what many people believe and what is depicted on television, crime is at its lowest rate in decades

Answer 3

1. People can believe in contradicatory theories, however, the right conjuction word to use would be “AND” to connect two ideas
2. Why I thought Contratry might be wrong: Contraty (comparison conjuction): “what many people believe….” is a fact that could be compared with the other factor “Crime is at its lowest rate in decades”

Question 4

The teacher is confident her students mastered the lessons.

Is this correct? Anything Wrong?

Answer 4

“That” is missing, which is incorrect in GMAT because sometimes it caused ambiguity of meaning.

Correct: The teacher is confident that her students mastered the lessons.

Question 5

Which of the following is correct?

1. I listen to Earth, Wind & Fire; Wow, Owls; and Blood, Sweat & Tears
2. I listen to Earth, Wind & Fire, Wow, Owls, and Blood, Sweat & Tears

Answer 5

1 is correct

Question 6

Is this correct? Anything Wrong? How to correct it?

The sports governing body recently revamped the rules about hits to the head, a change intented to increase player safety, ever since then palyers have, somewhat paradoxcally, suffered more concussions.

Answer 6

Error: Connect two independent clauses with a comma only. “Ever since then….Players have…” is an independent claus

Question 7

Is this correct? Anything Wrong? How to correct it?

Although the narrow loss after a long and gruelling campaign was disappointing, Governor Schudter and her family are considering whether to run for Governor again next election.

Answer 7

Governor Schudter is the only one running for election, not her family…Thus “and” is illogical

Something was disappointing….is correct

Question 8

The petroleum distillates were so viscous, the engineers had to heat the pipe by nearly 30 degrees.

Answer 8

Error: Two indepnedent causes are connected with only a comma (Run-ON)

Fix: 1) The petroelum distillates were so viscous THAT the engineers had to heat the pipe by nearly 30 degrees.

2) The petroleum distillates were EXTREMELY viscous; AS A RESULT, the engineers had to heat the pipe by nearly 30 degrees.

3) It’s important to shift SO to EXTREMELY as “so….that…”

Question 9

Which one is wrong and why?

1. Max’s great grandmother, from whom he inherited his curly hair, is supposed Irish ancestor.
2. Max’s great-grandmother, from whom he inherited his curly hair, is his supposedly Irish ancestor

Answer 9

Modifier comparison: Supposed vs. Supposedly

Supposed is an adj. modifying ancestor while supposedly is an adv. modifying adj. Irish

Max’s great-grandmother is his relations, so she is by definition his ancetor. Only the second option has a sensible meaning.

Question 10

Crime has recently decreased in our neighborhood, which has led to a rise in property values.

Is there anything wrong about the sentence? How to correct it?

Answer 10

Thi’s incorrect. “, which” has to modify a very nearby noun (neighborhood). The meaning is not sensible.

Correction: Crime has recently decrease in our neighborhood, leading to a rise in property values. ⇐ comma ing modifies an action

Question 11

Happy abouy his raise, Bill’s celebration included taking his friends to dinner. Anythign wrong? Why?

Answer 11

Possessive nouns (Bill’s) are technically adjuectives, not nouns. And it stands, the sentence technically says that Bill’s celebration is happy about his raise, which is not sensible.

Question 12

We had an arrangement where he cooked and I cleaned.

Anything wrong? How to correct it if it is?

Answer 12

Correct: We had an arrangement in which he cooked and I cleaned.

Question 13

Exhausted from her job, she has red hair.

Anything wrong?

Answer 13

A sentence with the opening modifier (exhausted from her job) doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that she has red hair, is not accepted in GMAT

Both comma -ing and comma -ed modifiers have to make sense (has a logical meaning) with the whole clause that they modify

Question 14

The CEO declared that everyone had to work through the holidays to make the production deadline, but in calling for such an extreme measure, the company’s employees were upset to the point of mutiny.

Anything wrong?

Answer 14

As the modifier “in calling for…” falls after the conjuction (but) connecting the two clauses, the modifier refers to the second part of the sentence - the employees

Question 15

George Carlin, both shocking and entertaining audiences across the nation, who also struggled publicly with drug abuse, influenced and inspired a generation of comedians.

Anything wrong? How to improve it?

Answer 15

“Shocking and entertaining….” adverbial modifier, which modifies “influenced and inspired a generation of comedians”

“who also…” noun modifier, which better be closer to what it modifies: “George Carlin”

Better: George Carlin, who also struggled publicly with drug abuse, infuenced and inspired a generation of comedians, both shocking and entertaining audiences across the nation.

Question 16

Citizens of many countries are expressing concern about the environmental damage - such as flooding and wildfires - caused by the widespread release of greenhouse gases may be impossible to reverse.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it if it’s wrong?

Answer 16

“May be impossible to reverse” is a wrong modifier as the subject is “Citizens of many…expressing concern” rather than environmental damage

“Environmental damage” is a part of a prep phrase (about the environmental damage”. Nouns in prep phrase cannot also be subjects.

Correct: Citizens of many countries are expressing concern that the environmental damage - such as flooding and wildfires - caused by the widespread release of greenhouse gases may be impossible to reverse.

This’s a subject-verb-THAT-subject verb sentence structure:

• The main clause is: “Citizens…expressing concern”
• Sub clause starts with “that” modifies the main clause

Question 17

Citizens of many countries are expressing concern about the environmental damage - such as flooding and wildfires - caused by the widespread release of greenhouse gases, damage that may be impossible to reverse.

Anything wrong? Why?

Answer 17

Correct.

Sub clause: “that may be impossible to reverse” modifies the main clause, which is far away ⇒ Thus, it’s OK to add “, damage” before the sub clause

In addition, there’re too many nouns before the sub clause.

Question 18

We have less than 20 dollars. Anything wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 18

Use less with unit nouns when you really want to indicate something about the underlying quantity.

In general, we can’t use less for countable nouns.

Question 19

Most legislators - including much in the governor’s own party - realize that the governor’s budget would imperil the state’s finances, nontheless, the budget is likely to be approved, because few legislators want to anger voters by cutting spending or raising taxes.

Anything wrong about the sentence above? How to fix it?

Answer 19

Most legislators - including much in the governor’s own party - realize that the governor’s budget would imperil the state’s finances_, nontheless,_ the budget is likely to be approved_, because_ few legislators want to anger voters by cutting spending or raising taxes.

1. many not much as legislators are countable pronouns
2. , nontheless, use smicolon to connect two independent sentences (clauses) as “nontheless” is neither a co-conjuction or sub-conjuction. A way to fix it is “, yet”
3. Because is correct as because is subordinating conjunction, therefore, it can be seperated from a main clause by a comma.

Question 20

The popluation of San Antonio increased more than it did in any other U.S. city in 2016, adding almost 66 people per day.

1. of San Antonio increased more than it did in any other U.S. city in 2016, adding almost
2. increased more in San Antonio than it did in any other city in the United States in 2016, adding almost
3. of San Antonio icnreased more than the population of any other U.S. city in 2016, almost adding

Answer 20

B)

Question 21

The air conditioner broke in the middle of a heat wave, which caused great consternation.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 21

“which caused great consternation’ modifies heat wave, which is not sensible. Instead, the cause is the action “air conditioner broker in the middle of a heat wave” caused the consternation.

Correct: The air conditioner broke in the middle of a heat wave, causing great consternation.

Question 22

The doctor analyzed her patients’ vital signs with a new device that simplified the process and logged the results in each patient’s electronic medical records.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 22

Open Parallelism Marker: And + logged

Element: analyzed or simplifed?

Option 1 root phrase: The doctor analyzed…and the doctor logged the results…

Option 2 root phrase: A device that simplified…and a device that logged the results..

Ambiguous meaning: Did the doctor log patient’s electronic medical records or did the new device log the results in each patient’s electronic medical records?

Question 23

The baker looked at the wedding cake, which stood over four feet high, and beamed proudly.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 23

Two commas + and: Parallelism

Here, commas are used to offset the modifier: “which stood over four feet high”

looked parallel with beamed

Question 24

When the sales manager gets wind of the recent slump, she likely will fire some members of the sales team and blame the marketing team.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 24

Correct. Open parallelism “And”

blame paralle to fire

Question 25

I scored three goals in yesterday’s game, as did Suzanne.

Anything Wrong? Why?

Answer 25

Correct.

As signals Parallelism comparison. “Did” stands for the entire phrase “scored three goals”

Question 26

The clothes looked more appealing inside the store than on the racks outside.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 26

Correct.

Parallelism Comparison: more…than…

This sentence compares how som clothes looked inside the store to how the same clothes looked on the racks outside.

It puts the phrase “inside the store” after the comparison signal more appealing, making the phrase available for a comparison with on the racks outside.

Question 27

The clothes inside the store looked more appealing than on the racks outside.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 27

Correct: The clothes inside the store looked more appealing than did those on the racks outside.

Question 28

1. The company’s DIGITAL WATCH OFFERING is outperforming that of its competitor.
2. The company’s DIGITAL WATCH OFFERING is outperforming those of its competitor.
3. The company’s DIGITAL WATCH OFFERING is outperforming the offerings of its competitor.

Which one is correct? Which one is wrong? And Why?

Answer 28

First one is correct as “that” makes a new copy with a modifier “…of its competitor”

The second is incorrect as the new-copy usage of “those” don’t agree in number with the previous version.

The third one is correct without using pronoun.

This’s an exception to the general rule that a pronoun refers to a noun. It’s possible for a pronoun to to refer a possesive noun (The company’s)

Question 29

The player’s helmets need to be repainted before they’re used in Sunday’s game.

Anything Wrong? Why? What’s tested? How to fix it?

Answer 29

Pronoun: They refers to helmets.

We don’t need to worry about “they” may refer players as there’s a structual pointer that they refers to helmet.

Structual pointer: Helmets and they are the subjects of their respective clauses.

Question 30

Samantha took her laptop and her books with her on the airplane because she thought that she could use them to get some work done.

Anything wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 30

Her laptop and her books are antecedent of them.

Question 31

When tetrapods developed lungs capable of surviving on land, they became the first amphibians.

(a) lungs capable of surviving on land, they became the first amphibians.
(b) lungs capable of surviving on land, tetrapods became the first amphibians

© lungs, they became the first amphibians capable of surviving on land

Answer 31

© Structual Pointer: Pronoun “they” refer to tetrapods. Since tetrapods and they are subjects of their respective clause, it reinforces the idea that they refers to tetrapods not lungs.

(a) & (b) The sentence seems to say that the lungs themselves were capable of surviving on land. However, “capable of surviving on land” is a noun modifier that describes the tetrapods.

Question 32

The bite of the king cobra delivers such strong neurotoxins that they can kill an Asian elephant.

a) bite of the king cobra delivers such strong neurotoxins that they
b) king cobra’s bite delivers such strong neurotoxins that it
c) neurotoxins delivered by a king cobra’s bite are so strong that it

Answer 32

X (delivers) such Y that Z (occurs)

The Z and X elements can be the same thing, but Y and Z cannot be the same thing.

i.e. The bite of the king cobra delivers such strong neurotoxins that they can kill an Asian elephant.

X: bit of the king cobra

Y: strong nuerotoxins

Z: “they” refer to nuerotoxins

Z & Y are the same elements, which are not allowed

Question 33

Television writer Aaron Sorkin is known for writing dialogue that is wittier than that in most real-world interactions.

a) dialogue that is wittier than that in
b) witteir dialogue than
c) dialogue that is wittier than it is in

Answer 33

a) Correct. Television writer Aaron Sorkin is known for writting dialogue that is wittier than the dialogue in most real-world interactions.
b) illogical comparison between dialogue and interactions
c) “it” can only refer the exact same thing. However, dialogue written specifically for a TV script is, by definition, not actual real-world dialogue.

Question 34

She will walk to school in the morning and run home in the afternoon.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to correct it?

Answer 34

Correct.

Parallelism: “Run” is understood will run; will is part of the root phrase and applies to both verbs: walk and run

Question 35

The band U2 was just one of many new groups on the rock music scene in the early 1980s, but less than 10 years later, U2 had fully eclipsed its early rivals in the pantheon of popular music.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to Fix it?

Answer 35

Correct. Even though had eclipsed is not the earlist action in the entire sentence, it’s the earlier of the two actions in its indepndent clause.

“Had eclipsed” occured before the time marker “10 years later”

This complex construction is correct.

Question 36

The child has drawn a square in the sand, but the ocean has erased it.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to fix it?

Answer 36

Incorrect because using the same tense for both actions implies that they took place at the same time.

Question 37

The company will reimburse you when you have submitted your expense report.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested? How to fix it?

Answer 37

Correct. The word “when” can mean either “at the same time” or “after”. The use of perfect present tense eliminates any ambiguity.

Question 38

The scientist announced that the supercollider was ready, that it had not cost too much to build, and that it would provide new insights into the workings of the universe.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to Fix it?

Answer 38

A sentence can make multiple different verb tenses parallel, as long as each verb tense is appropriate for the meaning of that part of the sentence.

NOTE: All of the tenses have to pair appropriately with the starting tense in teh root phrase, i.e. announced

Question 39

Jason has decided next fall not to attend college.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it? Why?

Answer 39

It’s illogical to sy “decided next fall”. He either already decided (in the past) or he will decide next fall (in the future).

Correct: It has been decided by Jason that he will not attend college.

Question 40

The shuttle launch took place flawlessly and was seen on television.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to Fix it?

Answer 40

Correct. You don’t have to make active or passive voice parallel throughout a sentence.

Question 41

Water freezes if it were cooled to zero degrees Celsius.

a) freezes if it were
b) would freeze if it was
c) freezs if

Answer 41

a) The hypothetical were cooled should be followed by the hypothetical would freeze.
b) The past tense “was cooled” is factual, not hypothetical, so the logical outcome is that the water froze or water did freeze in the simple past tense.
c) The simple present tense both imply a general turth - a physical propert of water.

This question also tests: “If…Then”

Question 42

Mozart, who died in 1791, lived in Salzburg for most of his life.

Mozrt, who died in 1791, had lived in Salzburg for most of his life.

Which one is correct? Which one is better? Why?

Answer 42

Both are correct. Simple past tense is better. No need to use perfect past tense as the sequence of past events (Mozart’s life and death) is obvious.

Question 43

The editor of our local newpaper, who has earned much acclaim in her long career, has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize yesterday.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to fix it?

Answer 43

“has been awarded…” is wrong because time marker: yesterday told that the action occured at a specific time in the past.

Yesterday - Simple past tense

Question 44

We are concerned about the forests, also the oceans.

We’re concerned about the forests and also the coeans.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested? How to fix it?

Answer 44

Idiom: concerned about…and…

First one is wrong: We’re concerned about the forests and the oceans.

Second one is suspect

Question 45

As part of the arrangement, he received severance.

As a part of the arrangement, he received severance.

What’s the correct way of using “as”? Can you think of any other usages of as?

Answer 45

As part of not as a part of.

Question 46

While being a child, I delivered newspaper.

Anything Wrong? How to Correct it?

Answer 46

“While being a child” should be replaced by “as a child”

Here, “as a child” means “in the stage of being”

Question 47

As being a child, I delivered newspaper.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it? What’s tested?

Answer 47

As a child = in the stage of being

Question 48

While in childhood, I delivered newspaper

Answer 48

As a child, I delivered newspaper.

as…expresses in the stage of being

Question 49

He winds frequently, as much because he plays so hard as because he cheats.

Answer 49

Correct. Idio of a much…as..

He winds frequently, as much because he plays so hard as because he cheats.

Parts after because parallel

Question 50

We have as many apples as there need to be cooked.

Answer 50

Wrong.

We have as many apples as need to be cooked.

Question 51

Cheese is so great as people say.

Answer 51

Cheese is as great as people say.

Question 52

Cheese is not so great as people say.

Answer 52

Cheese is not as great as people say.

Question 53

We have so many apples as you.

Answer 53

We have as many as apples as you.

Question 54

We have 10 apples, about equivalent to what we picked yesterday.

Answer 54

We have 10 apples, about as many as we picked yesterday.

Question 55

His knowledge springs not from experience as from schooling.

Answer 55

His knowledge springs not so much from experience as from schooling.

Question 56

We have as many or more apples than you.

Answer 56

We have as many apples as you.

We have more apples than you.

Question 57

By shining, the sun makes plants grow.

Answer 57

Correct. By shining here express the meaning of because

Because the sun shines, plants grow.

Plants grow because the sun shines.

Because of the sun, plants grow.

Plants grow, for the sun shines. (Grammatically correct but very formal).

Question 58

Plants grow because of the sun shining.

Answer 58

Correct: Because of the sun, plants grow.

Suspect: Plants grow because of the sun, which shines.

Because of + noun ⇐ sun here is the noun not sun shining

Question 59

Plants are amaing in that they grow in the sun.

Answer 59

Correct but wordy.

Question 60

The growth of plants is explained by the fact that the sun shines.

Answer 60

Correct but wordy.

Question 61

I study hard but take break.

What’s the other way to say it when adding a comma?

Answer 61

I study hard, but I take break.

Question 62

I study hard, but I take break.

What’s a more concise way to say it?

Answer 62

I study hard but take break.

Question 63

Although I take frequent naps, I study effectively.

The other way to say it starts with Despite

Answer 63

Correct: Despite taking frequent naps, I study effectively.

Suspect: Despite that fact that I take frequent naps, I study effectively.

Question 64

The manager has the capability of running the plant.

Answer 64

Wrong

Idiom: Capable of doing sth.

The manager is capable of running the plant.

Question 65

The manager has the ability of running the plant.

Answer 65

UNDERLINED PART WRONG: The manager has the ability of running the plant.

The manager can run the plant.

The manager is capable of running the plant.

The manager has the ability to run the plant.

Question 66

The plant has the possibility of causing damage.

Answer 66

Correct: The plant can cause damage.

Suspect: It is possible for the plant to cause damage

Suspect: The plant possibly causes the damage.

Question 67

I consider illegal the law passed last week by the new regime.

Answer 67

Correct.

Idiom: Consider is tested.

As the subject: the law passed last week by the new regime is long. It can be replaced behind adj. illegal

Question 68

The judge considers the law as illegal.

Answer 68

The judge considers the law illegal.

The judge considers the law as being illegal.

Suspect: The judge considers the law to be illegal.

Question 69

The judget considers the law should be illegal.

Answer 69

The judge considers the law illegal.

The judge considers the law as being illegal.

Question 70

The judge considers the law as if it were illegal.

Answer 70

The judge considers the law illegal.

The judge considers the law as being illegal.

Question 71

There is an expecation the price will fall.

Answer 71

Suspect

Better way: The price is expected to fall.

There is an expectation that the price will fall.

Question 72

She drank coffee for staying awake.

Answer 72

Wrong.

Correct: She drank coffee to stay awake.

Correct: She drank coffee in order to stay awake.

Question 73

Coffee was drunken to stay awake.

Coffe was drunken in order to stay awake.

Answer 73

Wrong. The subject coffee is not trying to stay awake.

Question 74

She drank coffee in oder that she might stay awake.

She drank coffee so that she might stay awake.

Answer 74

Suspect expression.

Correct/Better: She drinks coffee to (in order to) stay awake.

Question 75

She drank coffee so as to stay awake.

Answer 75

Suspect.

Better: She drank coffee to stay awake.

Question 76

Matt drives fast cars like his sister does.

Answer 76

Wrong.

Correct: Like his sister, Matt drives fast cars. ⇐ Both drives fast car.

Matt drives fast cars like his sister’s. ⇐ Both drives similar car.

Correct: Matt drives fast cars as his sister does.

Question 77

A tomato is not a vegetable but rather a fruit.

Answer 77

Correct.

A totmat is not a vegetable but a fruit.

Question 78

We were not only boots but sandals as well.

Answer 78

Suspect

Question 79

We wore boots and also sandals.

Answer 79

Suspect

Question 80

Matt trains in many ways such as by driving on racetracks.

Answer 80

Wrong usage of “such as”

Such as doing….

Question 81

Matt trains in many ways such as to drive on racetracks.

Answer 81

Wrong usage of such as…

Question 82

In order for students to succeed, they must study hard.

Answer 82

Correct.

Although in order to + verb, in order for sb/sth. to verb is also correct

Question 83

Turtles, like other reptitles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fast.

A. fasts, in their ability to survive

B. fasts, having their ability to survive

C. fasts, due to having the ability of surviving

D. fasts becasue they are able to survive

Answer 83

D is correct.

Use of “in” typically would be expected to introduce a situation in which the endurance is possible - for example, in the winter or in captivity.

Question 84

Turtles, like other reptitles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fast.

How to correct the sentence by maintaining “, in” part?

How to correct the sentence by maintaining the word “ability”

Answer 84

Given the comma before in, the intention could be an explication or elaboration of the preceding clause: “Turtles, like other reptitles, can endure long fasts…”

Correct: Turtles, like other reptitles, can endure long fasts, in that they are able (being able) to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings;

Turtles, like other reptitles, can endure long fasts because of their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings;

Question 85

Over the past ten years cultivated sunflowers have become a major commercial crop, second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil.

A. second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil

B. second in importance to soybeans only as a source of vegetable oil

C. being second in importance only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil

D. which, as a source of vegetable oil, is only second to soybeans

E. as a source of vegetable oil only second to soybeans.

Answer 85

A

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Question 86

Dinosaur tracks show them walking with their feet directly under their bodies, like mammals and birds, not extended out to the side in the manner of modern reptiles.

A. Dinosaur tracks show them walking with their feet directly under their bodies, like

B. Dinosaur tracks show tht they walked with their feet directly under their bodies, as do

C. Dinosaurs left tracks that showed them walking with their feet directly under their bodies, like

D. The tracks that dinosaurs left show that they walked with their feet directly under their bodies, as do

E. In the tracks they left, dinosaurs are shown walking with their feet under their bodies, like

Answer 86

Correct Answer: D

“Them” can only refer to “Dinosaur tracks” as there’s no “dinosaurs” ⇒ Don’t make implication that them implies dinosaurs.

Notice the meaning implied by “walking” (present ongoing tense) ⇒ The tracks do not actually show the dinosaurs are walking. Instead, tracks provide evidence that dinosaurs walked in this manner. ⇐ Past tense should be used as the move of walk already happened.

Question 87

Self-compassion is made up of mindfulness, the ability to manage thoughts and emotions without being carried away or repressing them, common humanity, or empathy with the suffering of others, and self-kindness, a recognition of your own suffering and a commitment to solving the problem.

a) away or repressing them, common humanity, or empathy with the suffering of others,

B. away, or repression of them, and common humanity, or empathy with the suffering of others,

C. away, or repressing them, common humanity, empathy with the suffering of others;

D. away or repressing them; common humanity, an empathy with the suffering of others;

E. away or repress them; common humanity, to empathize with the suffering of others

Answer 87

Correct: D

For clarity, the sentence should be structured in a way that highlights the parallelism among the three elements.

Because of the complexity and length of the description of each element, the sentence would be made clearest by separating the descriptions of the elements with semicolons.

A: Non parallel

B: Non parallel: being carried away, a verbal noun, is nonparallel with repression, which is a noun but not a verbal noun

Question 88

Is delivering sth. parallel with communication?

Answer 88

No

a verbal noun, is nonparallel with repression, which is a noun but not a verbal noun

Question 89

As sources of electrical power, windmills now account for only about 2,500 megawatts nationwide, but production is almost expected that it will double by the end of the year, thus providing enough electricity for 1.3 million households.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 89

“The production is almost expected that it will double by…”

The phrase production is expected that it will…makes no sense

Question 90

Normally a bone becomes fossilized through the action of groundwater, which permeates the bone, washes away its organic components, and replaces them with minerals.

A. which permeates the bone, washes away its organic components, and replaces them

B. which permeates the bone, washes away its organic components, and those are replaced

C. which permeates the bone, washing away its organic components, to be replaced

D. permeating the bone, washing away its organic components, to be replaced

E. permeating the bone, washing away its organic components and replacing them

Answer 90

Correct: A ⇐ Be careful about -ing / clause modifier, what’s the subject they modify

A: which… modifies groundwater. In “replaces them with minerals”, them refer to organic components not groundwater

B: “those are replaced” is non parallel

C: “to be replaced” modifies “which” (a relative pronoun referring to groundwater”. The original sentence indicates that organic components are replaced not goundwater.

D: The participles permeating and washing away should, based on structure, have the subject of the sentence, a bone, as their implicit subject. But this produces nonsense.

It is unclear what the phrase to be replaced modifies: based on the intended meaning, it should be its organic components, but the structure does not indicate this, given that the subject of the sentence is a bone.

E: The three participles permeating, washing away, and replacing have the subject of the sentence (a bone) as their implicit subject. This produces nonsense. Also, any three-element series must have a comma immediately following each of its first two elements.

Question 91

Seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but it ran 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected the Hudson River at Albany to the Great Lakes at Buffalo, providing the port of New York City with a direct water link to the heartland of the North American continent.

A. Seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but it ran 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected

B. Seldom more than 40 feet wide or 12 feet deep but running 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, the Erie Canal connected

C. It was seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and ran 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, but the Erie Canal, connecting

D. The Erie Canal was seldom more than 40 feet wide or 12 feet deep and it ran 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, which connected

E. The Erie Canal, seldom more than 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep, but running 363 miles across the rugged wilderness of upstate New York, connecting

Answer 91

A: The phrase seldom…deep is the first half of a modifier that describes the Erie Canal. However, because a comma incorrectly follows deep, this phrase appears to be the entire modifier, which must agree with the noun or pronoun that immediately follows it.

B: “Running 363 miles…” creates and adjective phrase parallel to the first adjective phrase (seldome…deep)

The paired concepts of width and depth should be joined by and, not or

Question 92

What’s the correct tense/mood to use when the sentence describes concern about a potential problem?

Answer 92

subjunctive mood: coulld be damage

Question 93

What’s “at a time when” used to express?

Answer 93

The idiom “at a time when” is used to explain the current conditions that make the possible future event a reason for concern.

Question 94

The Glass House Mountains in Queensland, Australia, were sighted in 1770 by the English navigator Captain James Cook, by whom they were named supposedly because its sheer wet rocks glistened like glass

A. by whom they were named supposedly because its

B. by whom they were named supposedly and their

C. naming them supposedly since their

D. who so named them supposedly because their

E. who so named it since supposedly their

Answer 94

To avoid a wordy and confusing series of passive clauses, the relative clause explaining what James Cook did should be an active-voice construction (who so named rather than by whom they were named).

Pay attention to causal connection: and***, ***since loose the causal connection

As the object of a preposition and not the subject of the clause, James Cook does not work as the noun that the verbal phrase beginning with naming can describe

Question 95

The Glass House Mountains in Queensland, Australia, were sighted in 1770 by the English navigator Captain James Cook, naming them supposedly since their sheer wet rocks glistened like glass.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 95

As the object of a preposition and not the subject of the clause, James Cook does not work as the noun that the verbal phrase beginning with naming can describe

The preposition since loses the important causal logic of the sentence.

Question 96

Along the major rivers that traverse the deserts of northeast Africa, the Middle East, and northwest India, the combination of a reliable supply of water and good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endure in at least 6,000 years.

A. good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endure in

B. good growing conditions encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, endured for

C. of good growing conditions have encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endured for

D. of good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, endured

E. of good growing conditions encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, been enduring for

Answer 96

Correct: B

The timeline of this sentence, to be captured by the use of verb tenses, is of utmost importance. A combination of factors (in the past) encouraged farming traditions that are still with us today. The conditions for the use of the present perfect tense have endured are in place.

The preposition of should not be repeated in front of good growing conditions. It seems to indicate that there is both a combination of a reliable supply of water and a combination of good growing conditions.

The word both repeats the meaning of combination and is thus redundant.

Question 97

Because an oversupply of computer chips has sent prices plunging, the manufacturer has announced that it will cut production by closing its factories for two days a month.

A. Because an oversupply of computer chips has sent prices plunging,

B. Because of plunging prices for computer chips, which is due to an oversupply,

C. Because computer chip prices have been sent plunging, which resulted from an oversupply,

D. Due to plunging computer chip prices from an oversupply,

E. Due to an oversupply, with the result that computer chip prices have been sent plunging,

Answer 97

Correct: A

B: which refers to plural prices, it should be followed by are, not is. ⇒ comma which modifies the noun it follows (prices)

C: The violation of chronological order is confusing; reference of which is ambiguous. ⇒ Different from which in choice B, here comma which follows a clause “Because computer chip price…plunging” thus the refrence is ambiguous.

D: This backward description of the events behind the announcement of factory closings is confusing and awkward.

E: Due to followed by with the result is redundant and unnecessarily wordy.

Question 98

The normative model of strategic decision-making suggests that executives examine a firm’s external environment and internal conditions, and in using the set of objective criteria they derive from these analyses, can decide on a strategy.

A. conditions, and in using the set of objective criteria they derive from these analyses, can decide

B. conditions, and they use the set of objective criteria derived from these analyses in deciding

C. conditions and, in using the set of objective criteria derived from these analyses, deciding

D. conditions and, using the set of objective criteria derived from these analyses, decide

E. conditions and, in their use of the set of objective criteria they derive from these analyses, they decide

Answer 98

Correct: D

The noun clause introduced by that has one subject (executives) and two main verbs (examine and decide). These verbs need to be in parallel form.

The information about using objective criteria describes the executives and is therefore most efficiently presented as a participial phrase (using. . .) rather than a prepositional phrase (in using . . .).

Choice B：This version is unnecessarily wordy because it creates a compound sentence by repeating the subject, using the pronoun they to refer to executives.

Choice C: By using the coordinating conjunction and this version of the sentence creates the need for a second subject and main verb; this second subject is absent. The participle deciding cannot function as a main verb.

Question 99

Construction of the Roman Colosseum, which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, was completed a decade later, during the reign of Titus, who opened the Colosseum with a one-hundred-day cycle of religious pageants, gladiatorial games, and spectacles.

A. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian,

B. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and

C. which was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, began in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and

D. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater and begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian it

E. officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, which was begun in A.D. 69, during the reign of Vespasian, and

Answer 99

The main subject of the sentence is Construction, and it has two main verbs: began and was completed. These two verbs should be connected by the conjunction*** ***and*** ***to preserve their equal grammatical status.

Question 100

Many kitchens today are equipped with high-speed electrical gadgets, such as blenders and food processors, which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those caused by an industrial wood-planing machine.

A. which are able to inflict as serious injuries as those

B. which can inflict serious injuries such as those

C. inflicting injuries as serious as that having been

D. capable to inflict injuries as serious as that

E. capable of inflicting injuries as serious as those

Answer 100

Correct: E

Choice A: “able to” suggests agency**, which kitchen gadgets do not have. **as serious unjuries as: non-idiomatic, apparently comparing injuries rather than the degree of seriousness of injuries.

Choice B: The comparative phrase such as nonsensically suggests that injuries caused by a shop machine are examples of those caused by kitchen gadgets.

Choice C: The singular relative pronoun that either incorrectly refers to a plural noun, injuries, or implausibly indicates that industrial wood-planing machines have only ever caused a single injury

Question 101

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.

What’s the subject of this sentence? Anything Wrong?

Answer 101

The pubject of this sentence is Rock Samples, plural noun, which requires plural verb phrase: have been dated and are

The idiomatic way of expressing estimation of age is with the phrase _dated at_.

Question 102

The tourism commission has conducted surveys of hotels in the most popular resorts, in an ultimate attempt to reduce the number of guests that ends up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the hotels’ service.

Anything Wrong? Why?

Answer 102

educe the number of guests that ends up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the hotels’ service.

end up…modifies guests not the number of guests

End up is superfluous and misleading. End up expressing suggests that the expression comes as the culmination of a process whose outcome has been uncertain, perhaps as the result of the guests deliberating and changing their minds. Most likely, the goal is to reduce the number of guests who express dissatisfaction, not merely the number of those who end up doing so.

Question 103

To Josephine Baker, Paris was her home long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate, and she remained in France during the Second World War as a performer and an intelligence agent for the Resistance.

A. To Josephine Baker, Paris was her home long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate

B. For Josephine Baker, long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate, Paris was her home,

C. Josephine Baker made Paris her home long before to be an expatriate was fashionable,

D. Long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate, Josephine Baker made Paris her home,

E. Long before it was fashionable being an expatriate, Paris was home to Josephine Baker,

Answer 103

Correct: D

This compound sentence (consisting of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction and) would be most clearly expressed in parallel structure: i.e. if Josephine Baker were the subject of the first clause since she is the subject of the second clause:

Question 104

When viewed from the window of a speeding train, the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of more distant objects.

What’s wrong with the sentence? How to fix it?

Answer 104

The subject of the main clause should be nearby objects and not the speed with which nearby objects move, given the participle in the when-clause.

The participle viewed seems to apply to the subject of the main clause ⇒ Objects can be the subject and “viewed from the window” not “speed”

Question 105

If the sentence intendeds to say that the administration is planning to order all federal facilities in California to do two things—to keep thermostats at 78 degrees Fahrenheit and to shut down escalators.

To convey this clearly and grammatically, what are the correct verb forms to use?

Answer 105

The verb forms should be the same: to keep and to shut down or

to keep . . . and shut down . . . where to applies to both verbs.

Question 106

Food high in fiber should pair with what singular or prorual verb?

Answer 106

Singular: Food high in fiber is…

Question 107

What does “, and” suggest?

Answer 107

It suggests an independent clause would follow “and”

Question 108

What does “were to be verb-ed (past tense) mean?

i.e. were to be occupied

Answer 108

The verb form were to be occupied is used to indicate that occupation would take place at a time in the future from the time of the melting.

In principle, were to be occupied could mean, illogically, that someone had prescribed that the new areas should be occupied—analogously to “These boxes were to be removed yesterday, but they are still here.”

Question 109

Turtles, like other reptiles, can endure long fasts, in their ability to survive on weekly or even monthly feedings; however, when food is readily available, they may eat frequently and grow very fat.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 109

Wrong: in their ability to ⇐ Typically, one would expect in to introduce a situation in which the endurance is possible—for example, in captivity or in the winter.

Correct: can endure long fasts, in that they are able

can endure long fasts because they are able__. . . .

can endure long fasts because of their ability to…

Question 110

The cactus is now heavily plundered in deserts in the southwestern United States, so much that enforcement agencies in five states have created special squads for its protection.

What’s the way to correct the sentence, if the purpose of “so much….protection” is constructed as a reiteration and intensification of the idea that the cactus has been heavily plundered ⇐ set off by comma

Answer 110

1. The cactus is now heavily plundered in deserts in the southwestern United States, so much so that enforcement agencies in five states have created special squads for its protection.
2. The cactus is now heavily plundered in deserts in the southwestern United States, so heavily that enforcement agencies in five states have created special squads for its protection.

Question 111

What’s the correct way to express ability to think critically? And what’s the wrong way often tested in GMAT?

Answer 111

Critical thinking ability

Wrong: ability of critical thinking

ability for

Question 112

What’s the difference between: backed away from her planning vs. backed away from her plan

Answer 112

1. Backed away from a/her plan implies dropping part or all of her plan
2. Backed away from planning means something like disengaging herself from the activity of planning

Question 113

Because many of Australia’s marsupials, such as the koala, are cute and cuddly, as well as being biologically different than North American marsupials, they have attracted a lot of attention after their discovery in the 1700s.

What’s tested here? Anything Wrong about the sentence? Why? How to fix it?
⇒

Answer 113

as well as requires a parallel structure between “cute and cuddly” ⇐ adjectival

being biologically different impaired the parallel structure ⇒ should be biologically different (adjectival)

The verb form have attracted suggests a process continuing from some point in the past, but the word after is most naturally read as indicating the time of a single event relative to an earlier point in time.

Question 114

The Commerce Department reported that the nation’s economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, uunsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply.

Anythign Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 114

Parallel Structure: were expanding…were piling up

with the as-clause, the verbslowedindicates a process simultaneous with another process (and, implicitly, contributing to it).

In the original sentence, while-clause indicates that the piling-up occurred simultaneously with that expansion.

Question 115

By 1999, astronomers had discovered 17 nearby stars that are orbited by planets about the size of Jupiter.

A. had discovered 17 nearby stars that are orbited by planets

B. had discovered 17 nearby stars with planets orbiting them that were

C. had discovered that there were 17 nearby stars that were orbited by planets

D. have discovered 17 nearby stars with planets orbiting them that are

E. have discovered that 17 nearby stars are orbited by planets

Answer 115

Correct: A

Opening with a past date (1999) describing the end point of a period of discovery, this sentence calls for a past perfect main verb

Question 116

According to scientists who monitored its path, a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, recently triggered by an expanding cloud of energized particles, brightened the Northern Lights and it possibly knocked out a communications satellite.

Anything Wrong? Why? How to fix it?

Answer 116

“brightened the Northern Lights and it possibly knocked out” The second conjoined main verb, knocked, needs no pronoun subject it because its subject is a large storm

Question 117

Employing many different techniques throughout his career, Michelangelo produced a great variety of art works, including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, for example, the statue of David.

A. including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, for example,

B. including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, like

C. including paintings, such as those in the Sistine Chapel, and sculpture, as

D. ranging from paintings, such as those in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, such as

E. ranging from paintings, such as in the Sistine Chapel, and sculpture, such as

Examine each choice and point out why it’s correct or wrong

Answer 117

Correct: D

A. Double “for example” followed by two commas makes the sentence choppy and awakward.

Preposition to sculpture needs to preceed by from…to…

B. in the Sistine Chapel is not parallel with like the statue of David

The preposition to is unidiomatic and awkwardly used here.

C. such as** those in the Sistine Chapel not parallel with **as…

E. Unparallel Structure: such as _in the Sistine Chape_l…such as the statue of David

Question 118

A mutual fund having billions of dollars in assets will typically invest that money in hundreds of companies, rarely holding more than one percent of the shares of any particular corporation.

A. companies, rarely holding more than one percent

B. companies, and it is rare to hold at least one percent or more

C. companies and rarely do they hold more than one percent

D. companies, so that they rarely hold more than one percent

E. companies; rarely do they hold one percent or more

Answer 118

Correct: A

B. “It is rare” is misleading comapred to “rarely”, given the pronoun “it”

C. The use of and between the clauses makes them both main clauses. Thus, the cause-and-effect relationship between investing and holding is lost.

Question 119

Although the rise in the Producer Price Index was greater than expected, most analysts agreed that the index was unlikely to continue to go up, with inflation to remain essentially under control.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 119

“with inflation to remain essentially under control” doesn’t clearly convey any information and leaves us geussing what it is intended to mean.

If the intended meaning is that it was agreed that inflation’s remaining under control would impede the continuation of the increase in the index, a better way is

if inflation remained

Although the rise in the Producer Price Index was greater than expected, most analysts agreed that the index was unlikely to continue to go up if inflation remained under control.

Question 120

What’s the difference between unlikely/likley+clause vs. likelihood/unlikelihood of something?

i.e. Although the rise in the Producer Price Index was greater than expected, most analysts agreed that the index was unlikely to continue going up and that inflation remained essentially under control.

vs.

Although the rise in the Producer Price Index was greater than expected, most analysts agreed on the unlikelihood that the index would continue going up and that inflation would remain essentially under control.

Answer 120

The use of unlikelihood is unclear whether it is meant to say that analysts agreed that the index was unlikely to continue to go up or that they agreed on whether the index was likely or whether it was unlikely to go up.

Question 121

When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equivalent importance to grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 121

In “When they work with overseas clients”, the pronoun they should refer forward to a plural noun or pronoun

Question 122

For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as grasping the pivotal business issues.

What’s tested? Anything Wrong?

Answer 122

Parallesim is tested.

“An understanding of…” is not parallel with “grasping the…”

Question 123

Heating oil and natural gas futures rose sharply yesterday, as long-term forecasts for much colder temperatures in key heating regions raised fears of insufficient supplies that are unable to meet the demand this winter.

What’s wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 123

The present tense used in “insufficient supplies that are unable to meet the demand this winter”

Question 124

As with other early Mississippi Delta blues singers, Robert Johnson made music that arose from an oral tradition beginning as a mixture of chants, fiddle tunes, and religious music and only gradually evolved into the blues.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 124

The sentence aims to compare themusic of early Mississippi Delta blues singers with the music of Robert Johnson.

As with is incorrect. The correct version should be As did other…

beginning as….and only gradually evolved into the blues are not parallel

Question 125

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

Answer 125

Correct: E

1. The main subject of the sentence is “the first trenches”, which requires plural form of the verb: have yielded
2. The first trenches that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded ⇐ Tell Hamoukar, Syria and everything before modifies the subject: trenches
3. The first trenches cut into a 500-arce. ⇐ past tense of cut is a modifier, which modifies the trenches
4. Idiom: arise with

Question 126

Once made exclusively from the wool of sheep that roam the Isle of Lewis and Harris off the coast of Scotland, Harris tweed is now made only with wools that are imported, and come sometimes from the mainland or sometimes—as a result of a 1996 amendment to the Harris Tweed Act—from outside Scotland.

What’s wrong with the underlined part?

Answer 126

The fact that and come is set off by a comma suggests that come*** ***is not intended to be directly parallel with*** ***are imported and that its subject may be Harris tweed.

If and come is not set off by comma, it has to be parallel with are imported in such a way: _are importe_d and are originated

Question 127

Not trusting themselves to choose wisely among the wide array of investment opportunities on the market, many people are turning to stockbrokers for help to buy stocks that easily could have been bought directly.

vs.

Not trusting themselves to choose wisely among the wide array of investment opportunities on the market, many people are turning to stockbrokers for help in buying stocks that could easily be bought directly.

help to or help in

Answer 127

In this context, help in buying*** is better than help ***to buy

Question 128

Next month, state wildlife officials are scheduled to take over the job of increasing the wolf population in the federally designated recovery area, the number of which will however ultimately be dictated by the number of prey in the area.

A. area, the number of which will however

B. area; the size of the population, however, will

Question 129

What does sustain damage mean?

Answer 129

sustain damage/injuries/losses formal

to be injured/damaged, etc.: She later died in hospital of the injuries sustained in the accident.

Question 130

Scientists have recently found evidence that black holes—regions of space in which matter is so concentrated and the pull of gravity so powerful that nothing, not even light, can emerge from them—probably exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to its host galaxy.

A. exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to

B. exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of

C. exist at the core of nearly all galaxies, and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to

D. exists at the core of nearly all galaxies, and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of

E. exists at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of

Answer 130

This sentence focuses attention on two hypotheses about black holes—one about their location and the other about their mass. These hypotheses appear as parallel relative clauses _that_ black holes . . . exist at . . . and _that_ the mass . . . is proportional.  

Choice C: The comma appears to signal that the final part of the sentence is intended as an independent clause expressing a separate claim rather than describing part of the scientists’ discovery. But if it were intended in that way, it should be set off as a separate sentence, not conjoined with the preceding clause.

Question 131

1. According to recent studies comparing the nutritional value of meat from wild animals and meat from domesticated animals, wild animals have less total fat than do livestock fed on grain and more of a kind of fat they think is good for cardiac health.

vs.

2, According to recent studies comparing the nutritional value of meat from wild animals and meat from domesticated animals, wild animals have less total fat than livestock fed on grain and more of a kind of fat thought to be good for cardiac health.

3. According to recent studies comparing the nutritional value of meat from wild animals and meat from domesticated animals, total fat is less in wild animals than that of livestock fed on grain and more of their fat is of a kind they think is good for cardiac health.

Compare these two sentences, which one is correct? What’s wrong with each sentence?

Answer 131

1. “They think is good”: The pronoun they fails to refer correctly.
2. Phrases “less total fat than livestock” and “less total fat than do livestock” are both correct.
3. Parallelism is required in “total fat is less in wild animals than…” which should be less in** wild animals **than in livestock. The referent of the possessive pronoun their is ambiguous, as is the referent of the pronoun they.

Question 132

In 1923, the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia as unconstitutional, and ruling that it was a form of price-fixing and, as such, an abridgment of the right of contract.

A. the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia as unconstitutional, and

B. the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia, and

C. the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia,

D. a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,

E. when the Supreme Court declared a minimum wage for women and children in the District of Columbia as unconstitutional,

Answer 132

Idiom tested: delcare X unconstitutional

The inverted form should be used here because of the long phrases involved: the court declares unconstitutional x.

Wrong: declared….as unconstitutional

“ruling that it was…” is a modifier describing the action of the main clause; because the modifier is subordinate to the main clause, the conjunction and must be omitted.

And is used to join two independent clauses, not a clause and its modifier.

Question 133

Although they already were full from the roasted corn, sweet potatoes, and green beans, the children grobbled up the apple crips, their enjoyment was obvious

Anything Wrong? How to Correct it?

Answer 133

We cannot join the two independent clauses “the children grobbled up the apple crisp” and “their enjoyment was obvious” with only a comma.

One way to correct it is to use semicolon: “;”

Absolute phrase: Although they already were full from the roasted corn, sweet potatoes, and green beans, the children grobbled up the apple crips, their enjoyment obvious

Question 134

Its bustling factories shuttered and its grand old mansions crumbling and condemned, the recession made Josh’s hometown look like a different universe, and the dwindling of the local workforce meant that any economic recovery would be slow.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 134

The opening modifier: “Its bustling factories shuttered…and condemned” doesn’t modifiy “the recession” as subject but Josh’s hometown instead. Opening modifier should modify the subject, which follows immediately.

Absolute phrase” its bustling factories….and condemned”

Question 135

Troubled overseas markets and contentious trade relations with China stifling their recovery, so prices of commodities such as copper, oil, and gas have yet to bounce back fully from last month’s downturn, though traders are, for the moment, no longer in a selling frenzy.

Anything Wrong? What’s tested?

Answer 135

The conjunction “SO” should connect two clauses, not a clause with an absolute phrase “troubled overseas markets and contentious trade”

Question 136

The children’s eyes were wide with curiosity and excitment, running to where the meteorite had crashed to the ground.

Anything Wrong? What’s Tested? How to fix it?

Answer 136

Because the participial pharase that closes the sentence, “running to where…”, is seperated from the clause that precedes the pharase by a comma, the phrase takes the subject of the clause as the agent of the participle “running”.

Thus, this version conveys the nonsensical meanting that the children’s eyes were running to where the meteorite had crashed to the ground.

Question 137

What does “With their eyes that were wide with curioisty and excitement, the children ran to where the meteorite had crashed to the ground” convey?

Answer 137

Children were running with their eyes.

Nonsensitical

Question 138

Intends to vs. Be intended to

We should pay attention to what when we encoutnered “intend”

Answer 138

i.e. The design of the buildings is intended to….

WRONG: The design of the building intends to…

Illogical meaning: Design itself can’t plan to do something

Question 139

Intends to vs. Be intended to

We should pay attention to what when we encoutnered “intend”

Answer 139

i.e. The design of the buildings is intended to….

WRONG: The design of the building intends to…

Illogical meaning: Design itself can’t plan to do something

Question 140

While foraging for plant-based foods such as berries and kelp is not the primary means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods, which, though not calorie rich, contain key nutrients, is beneficial to the bears’ health.

A. While foraging for plant-based foods such as berries and kelp is not the primary means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods, which, though not calorie rich, contain key nutrients, is beneficial to the bears’ health.

B. While foraging for plant-based foods such as berries and kelp is not being primarily a means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods, though not calorie rich, containining key nutrients

C. Although foraging for plant-based foods such as berries and kelp are not the primary means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods, which, though not calorie rich, contain key nutrients

D. Even though foraging for plant-based foods such as berries and kelp is not primarily the means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods, though not calroie rich, contains key nutrients that are

E. Though foraging for plant based-foods such as berries and kelp are not a primary means by which polar bears feed themselves, consuming these foods. which, though not calorie rich, provide key nutrients, are

Answer 140

1. Meaning difference: Primary means vs. is/being primarily

Primary as an adj. modifies means not the major means for…but still is a mean for…

vs.

primarily as an adv. means not primarily a means for polar bears to feed themselves, but, primarily something else.

2) consuming these foods, which, though not calorie rich, contain key nutirents

vs.

consuming these foods, though not calorie rich, contains key nutrietns that…

With “, which,” it’s a relative cause, so that contain as a verb follow “these foods”

Whithou “wich”, consuming these foods is the subject to determine the “contain or coantins”

Correct: A

Question 141

What’s the pronoun used to modify a character role, i.e. Don Alfonso?

Answer 141

Since a role is a thing, not a person, it doesn’t really make sense to use “who” to refer to the role.

Question 142

Sea and air travel are much safer now than they were in the past due to the use of computers that accurately make predictions based in part on detailed information on the formation of storms by weather forecasters.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it? What’s tested?

Answer 142

Here “due to” incorrectly begins a pharase that cmodifies a verb, “are”

The adverb “accurately” is misused. As an adverb, accurately suggests that the act of making is accurate, which is illogical. The act of making cannot be accurate or inaccurate. Instead, predictions as a noun can be modified by accurate (adj.)

Since the prepositional pharase “by weather forecasters” directly follows “the formation of storms,” this version seems to convey that storms are formed by weather forecasters.

Question 143

Although some had accused Smith, the firm’s network manager, of negligence when the crucial data went missing, the CEO defused a situation that was quite tense with her public statement that the debacle was not Smith’s fault.

A. a situation that was quite tense with her public statement that the debacle was not Smith’s fault

B. a situation that was quite tense, by publicly stating that the debacle was not Smith’s fault

C. a situation, which was quite tense, by stating publicly that Smith was not responsible for the debacle

Answer 143

Correct: B

A & D: The phrase with her public statement that the debacle was not Smith’s fault could be read as modifying** **tense** or **tense situation

C: By setting which was quite tense apart with commas, the tenseness of the situation appears to be inessential

Question 144

Upon their first encountering leaf-cutting ants in South America, the insects seemed to some Europeans to be carrying bits of greenery to shade themselves from the tropical sun—hence the sobriquet “parasol ants.”

A. Upon their first encountering leaf-cutting ants in South America, the insects seemed to some Europeans to be

B. Upon their first encountering leaf-cutting ants in South America, some Europeans thought they were

C. On first encountering leaf-cutting ants in South America, it seemed to some Europeans that the insects were

D. On first encountering leaf-cutting ants in South America, some Europeans thought the insects were

E. On their first encounter with leaf-cutting ants in South America, some Europeans thought it was because the insects were

Answer 144

A. The referent of their in the opening clause is clearly intended to be some Europeans, but because the insects immediately follows the opening clause, the insects appears to be the referent of their

B. The referent of they should be leaf-cutting ants, but because of the prior use of their to refer to _some European_s, the expectation is created that the referent of they would also be some Europeans.

Question 145

Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence, the Neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path, but their relatively sudden disappearance during the Paleolithic era indicates that an inability to adapt to some environmental change led to their extinction.

A. appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

B. appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

C. appear as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,

D. appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,

E. appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,

Answer 145

Correct D

Verb Tense: Because Neanderthals “disappeared,” the verb describing their apparent abilities cannot be present tense

“as equipped” indicates that Neanderthals still appear this way and must be changed to have been equipped

Present tense appear is needed to parallel present-tense indicates and to reinforce that this is current evidence about Neanderthals in the past

“Equipped” should be followed by an infinitive form instead of a prepositional phrase

Equipped “for facing” is an incorrect substitution of a prepositional phrase for an infinitive

Question 146

The 19-year-old pianist and composer performed his most recent work all over Europe, Asia, and North America last year, winning prestigious awards in both London as well as Tokyo for his achievement at so young an age, and he is hoping to continue composing now that he has returned to Chicago.

A. winning prestigious awards in both London as well as Tokyo for his achievement at so young an age, and he is hoping

B. winning prestigious awards both in London and Tokyo for his achievement at such a young age, and hoping

C. having won prestigious awards both in London and Tokyo for his achievement at so young an age, hoping

D. winning prestigious awards in both London and Tokyo for his achievement at such a young age, and he hopes

E. having won prestigious awards both in London as well as Tokyo for his achievement at so young an age, and he hopes

Answer 146

B. Because hoping is parallel with winning, it suggests that the hoping and winning are contemporaneous, whereas in fact the musician won his awards last year but is now, in the present, upon his return, hoping to continue composing.

C. The present-perfect participial phrase having won suggests that his winning took place before his performance tour.

Furthermore, the use of hoping in this version of the sentence suggests that hoping is something the pianist did while on his performance tour last year

E. Furthermore, both in London as well as Tokyo is unidiomatic, as explained above in answer choice A, and unparallel (in should either precede both, or else in should be added before Tokyo).

Question 147

What’s a better way to convey “are unable to”?

Answer 147

cannot

Question 148

A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as artifacts, such as glass oil-lamp fragments, found at the site.

A. A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as

B. A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, once probably being a church, was indicated by its eastward orientation, overall plan, and

C. Indicating that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church were its eastward orientation and overall plan, but also the

D. A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicates its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as the

E. That a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the

Answer 148

Correct: E

A. The sentence violates the parallelism required in the list by failing to supply the preposition in the final item following as well as.

B. The subject of this version of the sentence, structure, is completed by the verb was indicated, creating the illogical assertion that the structure itself, rather than its probable identity, was indicated by its orientation, plan, and attendant artifacts.

D. The only plausible subject for the singular verb indicates is the plural orientation . . . plan, as well as the artifacts. Very little about this sentence makes sense.

E. The abstract subject (the probability that a certain hypothesis is true) is explained abstractly in a relative clause (That a ruined structure was probably . . .) followed by a passive verb (is indicated), followed by the prepositional phrase (by . . .), which is completed by a parallel listing of forms of evidence, all presented as noun phrases in the expression, (by) (its) A + B, as well as (by) C.

Question 149

Last week local shrimpers held a news conference to take some credit for the resurgence of the rare Kemp’s ridley turtle, saying that their compliance with laws requiring that turtle-excluder devices be on shrimp nets protect adult sea turtles.

A. requiring turtle-excluder devices on shrimp nets is protecting

B. to require turtle-excluder devices on shrimp nets is protecting

Answer 149

Correct: A

The subject of the clause introduced by saying that is the singular noun compliance.

The clearest, most economical way to describe the laws in question is to follow the word laws with a present participle requiring.

To use an infinitive,* *to require**, seems to indicate that requiring these devices is the objective of the laws, when in fact the objective is to protect the sea turtles.

Question 150

Having been named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter, the asteroid named Ida, in the middle of the belt of asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, was discovered in 1884.

What’s wrong?

Answer 150

Opening with a past perfect passive verb, Having been named, this version of the sentence illogically suggests that being named for a mythological nymph preceded the discovery of Ida.

Question 151

The asteroid Ida, named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter and discovered in 1884, is in the middle of the belt of asteroids to orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Anything Wrong?

Answer 151

1. The sequence of events is obscured by the placement of named before discovered in the compound participial phrases.
2. The infinitive form to orbit is ungrammatical in place of the relative clause.

Question 152

As a result of record low temperatures, the water pipes on the third floor froze, which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, which released torrents of water into offices on the second floor.

A. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, which released torrents of water

B. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst and which released torrents of water

C. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, torrents of water were then released

D. causing the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, then releasing torrents of water

E. causing the heads of the sprinkler system to burst and release torrents of water

Answer 152

Correct: E: The double infinitives to burst and (to) release underscores the simultaneity of these events.

Choice B & D are similar in making the water pipes the subject of both caused…and released…

⇑

Thus, it seems to indicate, somewhat implausibly, that the freezing of the pipes directly released torrents of water independently of its causing the sprinkler heads to burst.

C. The introduction of a new independent clause: “torrents of water were then released….” without a conjunction is ungrammatical and makes this version a run-on sentence.

Question 153

In some types of pine tree, a thick layer of needles protects the buds from which new growth proceeds; consequently they are able to withstand forest fires relatively well.

A. a thick layer of needles protects the buds from which new growth proceeds; consequently they are able to withstand forest fires relatively well

B. a thick needle layer protects buds from where new growth proceeds, so that they can withstand forest fires relatively well

C. a thick layer of needles protect the buds from which new growth proceeds; thus, they are able to withstand relatively well any forest fires

D. since the buds from which new growth proceeds are protected by a thick needle layer, consequently they can therefore withstand forest fires relatively well

E. because the buds where new growth happens are protected by a thick layer of needles, they are able to withstand forest fires relatively easily as a result

What are the redundant expressions in five answers? What’s wrong with each choice?

Answer 153

B. from where is not the correct form, because it’s redundant in using tw words that express the idea of location (from and where) instead of one

C. The short direct object any forest fires is separated from its verb withstand by an adverb phrase; this word order is awkward, and is acceptable only with very long direct objects and in some cases where there is no other reasonable way to eliminate ambiguity.

D. This version is unnecessarily redundant in expressing causation, using all of since, consequently, and therefore. As in answer choice B, layer of needles would be more precise than needle layer.

E. This version is unnecessarily redundant in expressing causation, using both because and as a result.

Question 154

Unlike leaf cutters and most other ants in having nests_,_ situated underground or in pieces of wood, raider ants make a portable nest by entwining their long legs to form “curtains” of ants that hang from logs or boulders, providing protection for the queen and the colony larvae and pupae.

What’s tested? What’s wrong?

Answer 154

Contrast / Comparison of subjects are tested.

This sentence correctly compares leaf cutters and other ants with raider ants, but the prepositional phrase in having nests suggests that it is raider ants, not leaf cutters and most other ants, that have nests situated underground or in pieces of wood; however, the rest of the sentence indicates that in fact raider ants’ nests are not situated in such locations.

Question 155

The United Parcel Service plans to convert its more than 2,000 trucks in the Los Angeles area that are powered by gasoline to run on cleaner-burning natural gas.

Anything Wrong?

Answer 155

The introduction of the relative clause that are powered by gasoline is unnecessarily awkward, especially because the relative pronoun that is not adjacent to its antecedent trucks.

Question 156

Rather than ignore a company that seems about to fail, investment analysts should recognize that its reorganization and recent uptick in revenue, combined with its dynamic new leadership, indicate that the firm’s prospects must be taken seriously.

Anything Wrong?

Answer 156

Rather than does not function as a preposition here. Its function is to coordinate two verbs, in parallel form, that indicate actions compared in the sentence (some have called rather than in this function a “quasi-conjunction”).

Question 157

Because it regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, the city council voted that they are denied permission for participating in the parade.

A. that they are denied permission for participating

B. that they be denied permission for participating

C. denying them permission for participation

D. the denial of permission that they participate

E. to deny them permission to participate

Answer 157

Usage of Vote: When we vote for something, what we vote for is something that perhaps should happen, rather than a fact or a description of an actual state of affairs.

A: The statement they are denied permission would, if used properly, simply describe an actual state of affairs. It is therefore something that would not be voted for.

B: The noun permission as used in this statement describes an official act of allowing someone or something* *to* *do something.

In this statement, it would be better if permission were followed by an infinitive form of a verb (beginning with the word “to”). For example, _permission to_ participate would be correct.

C: Between voted and whatever form of the verb “deny” we may choose, we need a term, such as an infinitive (e.g., to) or a preposition (e.g., for or on) to introduce the statement describing the vote.

In this way, to deny*, *for denying*, and *on denying could be correct, but lacks such an introducing term.

D: This version is a noun phrase, which, when preceded by the verb “voted,” needs a preposition such as*** ***for*** ***or*** ***on*** ***to precede it.

For example, voted for the denial of permission might be correct.

The use of that they participate is also incorrect. This flaw could be fixed if, as discussed in connection with answer choice B, we used to participate instead.

Question 158

By developing the Secure Digital Music Initiative, the recording industry associations of North America, Japan, and Europe hope to create a standardized way of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet that will protect copyright holders and foil the many audio pirates who copy and distribute digital music illegally.

A. of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet that will protect copyright holders and foil the many audio pirates who copy and distribute

B. of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet and to protect copyright holders and foiling the many audio pirates copying and distributing

C. for distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet while it protects copyright holders and foils the many audio pirates who copy and distribute

D. to distribute songs and full-length recordings on the Internet while they will protect copyright holders and foil the many audio pirates copying and distributing

E. to distribute songs and full-length recordings on the Internet and it will protect copyright holders and foiling the many audio pirates who copy and distribute

Answer 158

Correct A:

In answer B, C, D, and E; the use of “to protect” and “while it…” all suggesting that proetction comes in addition to the standardized way

Other issues: parallelism of verb

Question 159

Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

A. as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are

B. as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

Answer 159

Correct: A

as*** x ***as y

Question 160

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,

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,

Answer 160

Correct: B

Underlined portion requires a conditional sentence: if X, (then) Y, where “,” can be eliminated

⇑

The rhetorical flow is enhanced by the two clauses sharing the same structure. If one clause is passive, the other should be passive; if one clause is active, the other should be active, too.

A: The pronoun it should be plural since it refers to starfish. We know that starfish*** ***is plural*** in this sentence because it agrees with ***have in the main clause.

Question 161

Technically, “quicksand” is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid’s character.

A. that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid’s character

B. that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

C. that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

D. saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

E. saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

Answer 161

Correct: B

The matter of degree is introduced with the word so, which is used to indicate that the relevant degree of saturation will be specified with a clause that states a condition—a statement that includes both a subject and a verb—that implies a certain degree of saturation.

C. The word (adjective) enough, which qualifies the word water is misplaced. In English (with, exceptions), qualifiers of nouns are generally placed before the noun. In this case, it should be enough water.

D. Better way: “quicksand” is the term for sand saturated enough to acquire the character of a liquid.

E. Better way: saturated with water so much*** ***that it acquires a liquid character

Question 162

Scientists claim that the discovery of the first authenticated mammal bones in amber could provide important clues of determining, in addition to how, when mammals colonized the islands of the West Indies.

Question 163

The 32 species that make up the dolphin family are closely related to whales and in fact include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is famous for its aggressive hunting pods.

A. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is

B. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing as big as 30 feet long and

C. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing up to 30 feet long and being

D. includes the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow as big as 30 feet long and is

E. includes the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and it is

Answer 163

Correct: A

A. the relative pronoun which indicates clearly that the animal known as the killer whale is the subject of the verbs in the dependent clause

can grow* and *is famous are two parallel verbs

B. The participal “growing” makes the 32 pieces as the subject of the sentence, which introduces ambiguity

C. The participial growing might refer to the 32 species; the introduction of being _is unnecessarily wordy and adds nothing in terms of meanin_g.

D. as big as is an idiomatically incorrect expression of the comparison; the plural verb form include is needed to match the plural subject the 32 species.

E. It simply restates the subject of the previous phrase, introducing more words but no additional meaning; the singular verb form includes should be the plural form include.

Question 164

Researchers studying the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is emotion, not logic or analytical reasoning.

A. the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is

B. the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas and found the basis to make tough moral decisions to be

C. the brain scans of volunteers pondering ethical dilemmas and found that the basis for making tough moral decisions is

D. volunteers’ brain scans while pondering ethical dilemmas have found the basis to make tough moral judgments to be

E. volunteers’ brain scans while they pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is

Answer 164

Correct: A

B. “who pondered…and found…” parallel form** of pondered and found, connected with conjunction “**and” made the volunteers as both the subject of pondered and found

C. The conjunction and leaves the verb found without a subject, and this changes the original sentence into a sequence of incoherently connected phrases rather than a complete sentence.

D. The phrase the basis to make is unidiomatic. The placement of the modifier while pondering appears in a form parallel to** **studying and means that the researchers, not the volunteers, were pondering ethical dilemmas.

E. Because the word volunteers’ is a possessive form, and functions adjectivally as a modifier of brain scans, they must refer back to researchers rather than to volunteers’.

This is not incorrect in itself, but, as with answer choice D, the resulting sentence fails to capture the intended meaning of the original sentence.

Answer 165

Correct: A

B. “who pondered…and found…” parallel form** of pondered and found, connected with conjunction “**and” made the volunteers as both the subject of pondered and found

C. The conjunction and leaves the verb found without a subject, and this changes the original sentence into a sequence of incoherently connected phrases rather than a complete sentence.

D. The phrase the basis to make is unidiomatic. The placement of the modifier while pondering appears in a form parallel to** **studying and means that the researchers, not the volunteers, were pondering ethical dilemmas.

E. Because the word volunteers’ is a possessive form, and functions adjectivally as a modifier of brain scans, they must refer back to researchers rather than to volunteers’.

This is not incorrect in itself, but, as with answer choice D, the resulting sentence fails to capture the intended meaning of the original sentence.

Question 166

As an actress and, more importantly, as a teacher of acting, Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, who trained several generations of actors including Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.

A. Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, who trained several generations of actors including

B. Stella Adler, one of the most influential artists in the American theater, trained several generations of actors who include

C. Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, training several generations of actors whose ranks included

D. one of the most influential artists in the American theater was Stella Adler, who trained several generations of actors including

E. one of the most influential artists in the American theater, Stella Adler, trained several generations of actors whose ranks included

Answer 166

Correct: C

A. The clause who trained… describes Stella Adler, yet a relative clause such as this one must be placed immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies, and this clause follows theater rather than Adler.

Replacing who trained with training corrects the error because the phrase training… modifies the whole preceding clause rather than the single preceding noun.

Several generations of actors including shows the same error in reverse; i_ncluding_ modifies the whole phrase, but the two actors named are not generations of actors.

B. This construction, in which the subject is both preceded and followed by modifiers, is awkward

D. Introductory modifier must be immediately followed by Stella Adler, not one…; including refers to generations of actors rather than to actors only.

E. Introductory modifier must be immediately followed by Stella Adler, not one.

Question 167

The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitats.

A. a phenomenon most scientists agree to be caused by human beings in burning fossil fuels

B. a phenomenon most scientists agree that is caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings,

C. a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings’ burning of fossil fuels,

D. which most scientists agree on as a phenomenon caused by human beings who burn fossil fuels,

E. which most scientists agree to be a phenomenon caused by fossil fuels burned by human beings

Answer 167

Correct: C

A. To be caused and in burning are wordy, awkward, and indirect.

B. That is should immediately follow phenomenon, notagree.

D. The phrasing is wordy and indirect.

E. The phrasing is wordy and the meaning is imprecise; it is not fossil fuels that cause global warming—it is the burning of fossil fuels by humans.

Question 168

Heating-oil prices are expected to rise higher this year over last, because refiners pay about $5 a barrel for crude oil more than they did last year.

Anything Wrong? How to correct it?

Answer 168

The comparative term more should immediately follow $5 a barrel.

For example, …reginers are paying about $5 a barrel more or $5 more per barrel

Question 169

It is expected that heating-oil prices will rise higher this year than last year’s, because refiners pay about $5 a barrel for crude oil more than they did last year.

Anything Wrong? How to correct it?

Answer 169

The possessive year’s is not parallel with the adverbial phrase this year.

In the second clause, the comparative term more should immediately follow $5 a barrel. An alternate effective way to reposition more would be to say $5 more per barrel.

A minor consideration is that some readers would find It is expected that heating-oil prices will . . . unnecessarily wordy and indirect and would expect a simpler construction such as heating-oil prices _are expected to_. . . .

Question 170

Even with the proposed budget cuts and new taxes and fees, the city’s projected deficit for the next budget year is getting worse: administration officials announced that they believe the gap will be $3.7 billion, a billion dollars more than it was predicted just two months ago.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 170

No sum of money is clearly designated here as the second element of the comparison.

If we take it as referring back to the gap, we still have an inadequate expression of the second element of the comparison.

Either the gap will be more than it was predicted to be*** or ***the gap will be more than was predicted would make sense

Question 171

Because property values sometimes fluctuate in response to economic conditions beyond the purchaser’s control, an investment in a home may underperform when compared to that of other widely available classes of investments.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 171

• The sentence uses the form X when compared to Y. However, it is somewhat odd to say that an investment underperforms when compared (that is, at the time it is compared) to another investment. The point most likely intended would be better conveyed by the form X compared with Y.
• Another issue concerns the use of the locution that of. In such a phrase, the pronoun*** ***that*** ***logically should refer to a preceding noun or noun phrase, e.g., an investment.

Question 172

The giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum, having stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, it may have been the largest hunting mammal ever to walk the Earth.

What’s wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 172

The present-perfect tense of the first participial phrase in the series (having stood) is not parallel with the (timeless) present tense of the other two participials (weighing nine thousand ponds* & *wielding seven-inch claws).

Question 173

Child development specialists believe that, in confining babies much of the time to strollers, high chairs, playpens, and walkers, muscle development can be inhibited.

Anything Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 173

“in confining…and walkers” make muscle development the subject of the sentence

The sentence appears to be saying that muscle development confines babies much of the time

Furthermore, the passive construction can be inhibited could even be seen as illogically suggesting that inhibiting development is the purpose of confinement.

Question 174

Industry analysts said that the recent rise in fuel prices may be an early signal of the possibility of gasoline and heating oil prices staying higher than usually through the end of the year.

A. of the possibility of gasoline and heating oil prices staying higher than usually through

B. of the possibility that gasoline and heating oil prices could stay higher than usual throughout

C. of prices of gasoline and heating oil possibly staying higher than usually through

D. that prices of gasoline and heating oil could stay higher than they usually are throughout

E. that prices of gasoline and heating oil will stay higher than usual through

Answer 174

“May be” is redundant with “possibility of”

The correct idiom to contrast prices with the norm is higher than usual—not usually, as written.

The correct idiom to indicate the span of time from the present to the end of the year is through the end of the year.

Question 175

Over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz, monkeys and marmosets have a hearing sensitivity remarkably similar to humans, above which the sensitivity begins to differ.

A. Over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz, monkeys and marmosets have a hearing sensitivity remarkably similar to humans

B. Compared to humans, the hearing sensitivity of monkeys and marmosets are remarkably similar over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz

C. Compared to humans over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz, the hearing sensitivity of monkeys and marmosets is remarkably similar

D. The hearing sensitivity of monkeys and marmosets, when compared to humans over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz, is remarkably similar

E. The hearing sensitivity of monkeys, marmosets, and humans is remarkably similar over a range of frequencies from 100 to 5,000 hertz

Answer 175

Correct: E

A. Above which should be immediately preceded by the antecedent of which, that is, the 100–5,000 Hz range

B. The singular subject in this version, the hearing sensitivity…, is not accompanied by the correct singular verb form (is).

C. Above which is incorrectly preceded by similar, rather than by the expression of the frequency range.

The sentence appears, illogically, to compare humans over a range of frequencies with monkeys’ and marmosets’ hearing sensitivity.

D. Above which is incorrectly preceded by similar, rather than by the expression of the frequency range.

The sentence appears, illogically, to compare humans over a range of frequencies with monkeys’ and marmosets’ hearing sensitivity.

E. Above which is correctly preceded by a range of frequencies…, and the verb is is in its proper singular form.

Question 176

Ms. Chambers is among the forecasters who predict that the rate of addition to arable lands will drop while those of loss rise.

A. those of loss rise

B. it rises for loss

C. those of losses rise

D. he rate of loss rises

E. there are rises for the rate of loss

Answer 176

Correct: D

The forecaster is making predictions about two different rates.

Comparison requires parallel

A. There is no referent for those.

B. It refers to the rate of addition, creating a nonsensical statement.

C. There is no referent for those. Of losses* *should be singular to _parallel_ _of addition_.

Question 177

In 1776 Adam Smith wrote that it is young people who have “the contempt of risk and the presumptuous hope of success” needed to found new businesses.

A. who have

B. with

C. having

D. who are those with

E. who are the ones to have

Answer 177

Correct: A

This sentence identifies which people have the attitudes needed to be successful entrepreneurs, according to the economist Adam Smith.

A. The use of the idiomatic construction it is…who is a way of placing primary emphasis on the question that Smith addressed with the quoted words

B. This clause introduced by “with” appears to modify young people restrictively.

Thus, the sentence simply identifies a subcategory of young people (those with the contempt of risk…) and does not clearly explain which*** ***people have the attitudes that Smith identifies.

C. incomplete sentence as a clause followed “that”

Question 178

With respect to most species of animals, they are evenly divided in right- or left-handedness, unlike humans.

A. With respect to most species of animals, they are evenly divided in right- or left-handedness, unlike humans.

B. With respect to right- or left-handedness, most species of animals are evenly divided, unlike in humans.

C. Unlike humans, most species of animals are evenly divided with respect to right- or left-handedness.

D. Unlike in humans, most species of animals with respect to right- or left-handedness are evenly divided.

E. Unlike humans, with respect to right- or left-handedness, in most species of animals it is evenly divided.

Answer 178

Correct: C

A. This is wordy because the phrase beginning with respect to is redundant, given the pronoun they, which refers to most species of animals.

B. The in preceding humans makes the sentence incorrect. Because the intended contrast is between humans and most species of animals, the reference to humans would be better placed closer to the phrase*** ***most species of animals.

C. The start of the sentence immediately highlights the contrast between humans and most animal species. The adverbial phrase with respect to right- or left-handedness is placed adjacent to the verbal phrase that it modifies (are evenly divided).

D. The in preceding humans makes the sentence incorrect. Placing the adverbial phrase with respect to right- or left-handedness immediately following animals is confusing; it would be better placed immediately following the verbal phrase that it modifies (are evenly divided).

E. To make the intended contrast clear, the reference to humans should be _adjacent to_ (and _parallel to_) the reference to most species of animals. But the use of in in one case but not in the other makes the references nonparallel. For clarity, the adverbial phrase with respect to right- or left-handedness should follow the verbal phrase that it modifies (are evenly divided).

Question 179

Global warming is said to be responsible for extreme weather changes, which, like the heavy rains that caused more than $2 billion in damages and led to flooding throughout the state of California, and the heat wave in the northeastern and midwestern United States, which was also the cause of a great amount of damage and destruction.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 179

The relative pronoun, which, is without a verb.

The phrase _which, like_ the heavy rains incorrectly suggests that the extreme weather is something different from the heavy rains and the heat wave, and that each of these three phenomena separately caused damage and destruction.

Question 180

Sixty-five million years ago, according to some scientists, an asteroid bigger than Mount Everest slammed into North America, which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks the end of the geologic era known as the Cretaceous Period.

A. which, causing plant and animal extinctions, marks

B. which caused the plant and animal extinctions and marks

C. and causing plant and animal extinctions that mark

an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, which marks.

D. an event that caused plant and animal extinctions, which marks

E. an event that caused the plant and animal extinctions that mark

Answer 180

Correct: E

A. The antecedent for the relative pronoun which is ambiguous; it is therefore unclear what marks the end of the Cretaceous Period.

B. The antecedent of which is unclear; the compound verbs caused and marks fail to indicate that the extinctions, not the asteroid strike, are significant markers of geological time.

C. Following the conjunction and with a participial rather than a main verb is grammatically incorrect because it violates parallelism (slammed into…) and produces a fragment at the end of the sentence.

D. Which, referring to extinctions, should be followed by a plural verb.

Question 181

The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings’ burning of fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by harming their habitats as a result of altering the environment.

Anything wrong? What’s wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 181

Wrong: “…by harming their habitats as….altering the environment”

• The sentence as written does not specify who or what is altering the environment.
• The elements are listed in an order that does not correspond to the order of causation (“global warming” is followed by “harming the habitats,” which is followed by “altering the environment”).

Question 182

Despite a growing population, in 1998 the United States used 38 billion fewer gallons of water a day than were used almost 20 years earlier, which had been the all-time high consumption.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong?

Answer 182

Because the relative clause beginning with which immediately follows almost 20 years earlier, it seems that the time period is being described as having been the all-time high consumption.

What followed by “which” seems to modify what’s before “,” : 20 years earlier

Question 183

Despite a growing population, in 1998 the United States used 38 billion fewer gallons of water a day, compared to almost 20 years earlier, that having been the all-time high consumption.

Anything Wong? What’s Wrong?

Answer 183

Fewer than is preferable to fewer…compared to

Because the phrase beginning with that immediately follows almost 20 years earlier, it seems that the time period is being described as having been the all-time high consumption.

“that having been…high consumption” seems to modify “20 years earlier”

Question 184

Scientists are getting their best look yet at the magnetosphere, the region of space under the invisible influence of Earth’s magnetic field, from a new satellite sweeping over the poles at altitudes of up to 32,000 miles called POLAR.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wong?

Answer 184

The modifier called POLAR is awkwardly placed too far away from the word satellite, which it is intended to modify; in its current incorrect position, it appears to modify altitudes.

Question 185

Government statistics on the size of foreign investment in real estate are inconclusive because neither the federal nor state laws requires disclosure of foreign ownership, and the Commerce Department, in its public tallies, does not categorize the owners.

Anything Wong? What’s Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 185

The sentence uses the idiomatic form neither X nor Y, but lacks parallelism in that it matches the federal and state; it should either match federal with state or the federal with the state.

Also, because l_aws_ is plural, the verb should be require, notrequires.

Question 186

As a result of record low temperatures, the water pipes on the third floor froze, which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, which released torrents of water into offices on the second floor.

A. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, which released torrents of water

B. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst and which released torrents of water

C. which caused the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, torrents of water were then released

D. causing the heads of the sprinkler system to burst, then releasing torrents of water

E. causing the heads of the sprinkler system to burst and release torrents of water

Answer 186

This sentence describes a causal sequence of events leading to flooded second-floor offices.

One of the steps, sprinkler heads bursting, was presumably simultaneous with the release of torrents of water, so it is best to present these events as actions attached to the same subject (heads of the sprinkler system).

Correct E

A. The reference of the second which is obscure, and the sentence implausibly separates bursting heads and releasing of torrents into two temporally separate events.

B. Joining the relative pronouns with the conjunction and makes the freezing of the water pipes the subject of both caused . . . and released . . .

Thus, it seems to indicate, somewhat implausibly, that the freezing of the pipes directly released torrents of water independently of its causing the sprinkler heads to burst.

C. The passive verb were . . . released obscures the causal sequence behind the releasing of torrents of water.

The introduction of a new independent clause without a conjunction is ungrammatical and makes this version a run-on sentence.

D. As in (B), the structure of this version makes the freezing of the pipes the subject of both*** ***causing*** ***. . . and*** ***releasing. . . .

The introduction of the sequential marker then divides the bursting of heads and releasing of torrents of water into two separate events in the sequence.

It indicates, implausibly, that the pipes’ freezing directly released torrents of water after it had also caused the sprinkler heads to burst.

E. The elimination of the relative pronouns (which, who..) clarifies the causal sequence of events,

and the double infinitives*** ***to burst*** ***and (to)*** ***release*** ***underscores the simultaneity of these events.

Question 187

Kudzu, an Asian vine growing rampantly in the southern United States, since it was introduced in the 1920s to thwart soil erosion, has overrun many houses and countless acres of roadside.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong? How to fix it?

Answer 187

The adverbial clause since it was introduced in the 1920s should not be set off from has grown rampantly, which it modifies.

Question 188

To Josephine Baker, Paris was her home long before it was fashionable to be an expatriate, and she remained in France during the Second World War as a performer and an intelligence agent for the Resistance.

What could be infered from the sentence structure provided above? What’re the points tested here?

Answer 188

This compound sentence (consisting of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction and) would be most clearly expressed if Josephine Baker were the subject of the first clause since she is the subject of the second clause

Josephine Baker made Paris her home would clearly parallel she remained in France.

The adverb clause long … expatriate is best placed before the main first clause.

Question 189

The computer company has announced that it will purchase the color-printing division of a rival company for $950 million, which is part of a deal that will make it the largest manufacturer in the office color-printing market.

A. million, which is part of a deal that will make

B. million, a part of a deal that makes

C. million, a part of a deal making

D. million as a part of a deal to make

E. million as part of a deal that will make

Answer 189

Correct: E

A. There is no antecedent for the relative pronoun which.

B. Like a relative pronoun, the appositive phrase (a part…) must have a noun or noun phrase as a clear antecedent; the verb makes should be future tense.

C. The appositive phrase requires a clear antecedent; making does not indicate future tense.

D. This sentence is a little awkward (the article a in a part is unnecessary) and says something rather different;

as a part of a deal to make suggests that the deal itself includes making the company the largest manufacturer rather than its being the outcome of the deal.

E. he future tense is used throughout and the sentence structure is clear.

Question 190

Floating in the waters of the equatorial Pacific, an array of buoys collects and transmits data on long-term interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere, interactions that affect global climate.

A. atmosphere, interactions that affect

B. atmosphere, with interactions affecting

C. atmosphere that affects

D. atmosphere that is affecting

E. atmosphere as affects

Answer 190

A. The underlined portion of the sentence is an appositive, a terminal noun phrase restating the kind of data being collected and providing additional information about it. This is a clear and economical way to provide the extra information.

B. The prepositional phrase with…has no clear noun or noun phrase to attach to and is therefore ungrammatical.

C. Using the restrictive that after atmosphere illogically suggests that there are many atmospheres to differentiate from and the one in question in this sentence is the one affecting global climate.

D. The restrictive that also follows atmosphere as in answer choice C.

E. The phrase as affects global climate functions as an adverb, but there is no verb for it to modify.

Question 191

Together with Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the United States, provide 165 square nautical miles of marine life for underwater explorers, which includes more than 500 species of fish and 55 varieties of coral.

A. provide 165 square nautical miles of marine life for underwater explorers, which includes

B. provide for underwater explorers 165 square nautical miles of marine life, which include

C. provide 165 square nautical miles of marine life for underwater explorers and includes

D. provides 165 square nautical miles of marine life for underwater explorers and including

E. provides underwater explorers with 165 square nautical miles of marine life, including

Answer 191

Correct: E

A. The sentence mentions two marine sites, but the grammatical subject of the sentence refers to only one of them, so the use of the plural verb provide is incorrect.

The antecedent of which is unclear; for example, it cannot be explorers, since the singular verb includes indicates that its subject which must also be singular.

Thus, the antecedent must be the singular noun phrase marine life. However, the sentence would be clearer and less awkward if this antecedent were placed closer to _which_.

B. The plural provide is incorrect. The plural verb include indicates that one of the preceding noun phrases, e.g., 165 square nautical miles, or underwater explorers, should be the antecedent, but neither of these readings would convey a coherent meaning.

C. The plural provide is incorrect, as the subject is singular (Key Largo Marine Sanctuary is not part of the subject).

Stating that the park (as opposed to the marine life) “includes” 500 species does not seem to capture the intended meaning.

D. The portion that precedes and here is correct; however, and including creates a grammatically incorrect sentence fragment.

Question 192

The computer company’s present troubles are a result of technological stagnation, marketing missteps, and managerial blunders in that….

What should follow “in that” to complete the sentence?

Answer 192

It should be followed by an indication of how the company’s troubles result from the three problems listed in the first part of the sentence.

Question 193

The Anasazi settlements at Chaco Canyon were built on a spectacular scale, with more than 75 carefully engineered structures, of up to 600 rooms each, were connected by a complex regional system of roads.

A. scale, with more than 75 carefully engineered structures, of up to 600 rooms each, were

B. scale, with more than 75 carefully engineered structures, of up to 600 rooms each,

C. scale of more than 75 carefully engineered structures of up to 600 rooms, each that had been

D. scale of more than 75 carefully engineered structures of up to 600 rooms and with each

E. scale of more than 75 carefully engineered structures of up to 600 rooms, each had been

Answer 193

Correct: B

A. The verb were connected has no subject, since structures is the object of the preposition with.

C. The comma preceding* *each makes each a subject, but it has no verb, since t_hat_ is the subject of had been connected.

D. This sentence suggests that the scale or size of the settlements is made up of structures, rather than uses the structures as an example of the settlements’ grand scale; it also nonsensically indicates that each room is connected by a complex system of roads.

E. This run-on sentence suffers from a comma splice, as the phrase following the comma is a main clause; the referent of the pronoun each is ambiguous.

Question 194

Tropical bats play an important role in the rain forest ecosystem, aiding in the dispersal of cashew, date, and fig seeds; pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help the producing of tequila by pollinating agave plants.

A. pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help the producing of

B. pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly helping to produce

C. pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and they indirectly help to produce

D. they pollinate banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help producing

E. they pollinate banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; indirectly helping the producing of

Answer 194

The sentence indicates three ways in which tropical bats play an important role in the rainforest ecosystem, which requires a parallel grammatical construction.

The first two ways mentioned—aiding in the dispersal of cashew, date, and fig seeds and pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees—are expressed using participial phrases (which function as adjectives)

Correct: B

A. The phrases beginning with aiding, pollinating, and help are not appropriately parallel grammatical constructions. Also the producing of is awkward and would be better worded as to produce or with the production of.

C. The construction of the sentence is not appropriately parallel.

D. The construction of the sentence is not appropriately parallel and producing is a questionable choice of words (to produce would be better).

E. The construction of the sentence is not appropriately parallel and the producing of is a questionable choice of words (to produce or perhaps with the production of would be better).

Question 195

Around 1900, fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay area landed more than seventeen million pounds of shad in a single year, but by 1920, overfishing and the proliferation of milldams and culverts that have blocked shad migrations up their spawning streams had reduced landings to less than four million pounds.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong” How to correct it?

Answer 195

The present-perfect participial phrase, having blocked…streams, should be set off in commas; as it stands, it does not make sense.

The past-perfect form had reduced would make the temporal relationships somewhat clearer than does the past tense reduced.

Question 196

Desertification, a process in which the biological productivity of the land is sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena, helped cause the famines that have killed hundreds of thousands in recent years.

A. a process in which the biological productivity of the land is sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena

B. a process of the biological productivity of the land being sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena

C. a process of human abuse and natural phenomena that sharply degrade the biological productivity of the land

D. which is the process of human abuse and natural phenomena sharply degrading the land’s biological productivity

E. which is the process of human abuse and natural phenomena that sharply degrade the land’s biological productivity

Answer 196

Correct: A

B. By saying that desertification is a process of the biological productivity of the land … , this version is potentially ambiguous because it is unclear which noun (process, productivity, land) the participial phrase being … phenomena modifies.

C. As is the case in answer choice B, this does not clearly indicate that desertification simply is a process that consists in the sharp degradation of the biological productivity of the land by human abuse and natural phenomena.

Furthermore, because natural phenomena is plural, there is an ambiguity: it is unclear whether the subject of the verb degrade is both human abuse and natural phenomena, or simplynatural phenomena.

Also, process at least arguably should be the antecedent of the relative pronoun that, in which case the verb should be degrades.

D. It is unclear whether degrading modifies both human abuse and natural phenomena or only natural phenomena.

E. Because natural phenomena is plural, there is an ambiguity: it is unclear whether the subject that of the verb degrade has human abuse and natural phenomena as antecedent, or simply natural phenomena.

Also, process arguably should be the antecedent, in which case the verb should be degrades.

Question 196

Desertification, a process in which the biological productivity of the land is sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena, helped cause the famines that have killed hundreds of thousands in recent years.

A. a process in which the biological productivity of the land is sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena

B. a process of the biological productivity of the land being sharply degraded by human abuse and natural phenomena

C. a process of human abuse and natural phenomena that sharply degrade the biological productivity of the land

D. which is the process of human abuse and natural phenomena sharply degrading the land’s biological productivity

E. which is the process of human abuse and natural phenomena that sharply degrade the land’s biological productivity

Answer 196

Correct: A

B. By saying that desertification is a process of the biological productivity of the land … , this version is potentially ambiguous because it is unclear which noun (process, productivity, land) the participial phrase being … phenomena modifies.

C. As is the case in answer choice B, this does not clearly indicate that desertification simply is a process that consists in the sharp degradation of the biological productivity of the land by human abuse and natural phenomena.

Furthermore, because natural phenomena is plural, there is an ambiguity: it is unclear whether the subject of the verb degrade is both human abuse and natural phenomena, or simplynatural phenomena.

Also, process at least arguably should be the antecedent of the relative pronoun that, in which case the verb should be degrades.

D. It is unclear whether degrading modifies both human abuse and natural phenomena or only natural phenomena.

E. Because natural phenomena is plural, there is an ambiguity: it is unclear whether the subject that of the verb degrade has human abuse and natural phenomena as antecedent, or simply natural phenomena.

Also, process arguably should be the antecedent, in which case the verb should be degrades.

Question 197

Unable to build nests or care for their young, female cowbirds use the nests of other birds to lay up to 40 eggs a year, including those of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and thrushes.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong? How to correct it?

Answer 197

including those of incorrectly modifes eggs, illogically indicating that cowbirds lay the eggs of other birds

Correct: Unable to build nests or care for their young, female cowbirds use the nests of other birds to lay up to 40 eggs a year, including warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and thrushes.

“Including….and thrushes” correctly modifies other birds

Question 198

She turned away from literary realism and wrote romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and novelist Selma Lagerlöf in 1909 became the first woman as well as the first Swedish writer that won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Anything Wrong? What’s Wrong?

Answer 198

“That” cannot be used to refer to human beings.

This answer choice incorrectly refers to the nouns “woman” and “writer” with the pronoun “that”

Question 199

Turning away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, in 1909 Selma Lagerlöf was the novelist who became the first woman and was also the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

A. Turning away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, in 1909 Selma Lagerlöf was the novelist who became the first woman and was also the first Swedish writer to win

B.
She turned away from literary realism and wrote romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and novelist Selma Lagerlöf in 1909 became the first woman as well as the first Swedish writer that won

C. Selma Lagerlöf was a novelist who turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and in 1909 she became the first woman in addition to the first Swedish writer winning

D. A novelist who turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, Selma Lagerlöf became in 1909 the first woman and also the first Swedish writer to win

E. As a novelist, Selma Lagerlöf turned away from literary realism and wrote romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, in 1909 becoming the first woman and also the first Swedish writer that won

Answer 199

Correct: D

The intended meaning is that Selma Lagerlöf was a novelist who turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and as a separate action, in 1909, she became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

A. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrases “Turning away from literary realism…northern Sweden” and “was the novelist who became the first woman”; the construction of these phrases illogically implies that Selma Lagerlöf was the first women in existence because she turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden.

B. This answer choice incorrectly refers to the nouns “woman” and “writer” with the pronoun “that”

“That” cannot be used to refer to human beings.

Further, it alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “and wrote romantic stories…Sweden”; the use of “and” incorrectly implies that turning away from literary realism and writing romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden were two separate actions taken by Selma Lagerlöf;

The intended meaning is that Selma Lagerlöf turned away from literary realism in order to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden.

C. This answer choice uses the present participle (“verb+ing” - “winning” in this sentence) to refer to the intent of the action “became the first woman in addition to the first Swedish writer”;

The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”) for referring to the purpose/intent of action.

Further, the use of “in addition to” is awkward and redundant.

E. This answer choice incorrectly refers to the nouns “woman” and “writer” with the pronoun “that”;

“That” cannot be used to refer to human beings.

Further, it alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “and wrote romantic stories…Sweden”;

The use of “and“ incorrectly implies that turning away from literary realism and writing romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden were two separate actions taken by Selma Lagerlöf; the intended meaning is that Selma Lagerlöf turned away from literary realism in order to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden.

Moreover, Option E further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “in 1909 becoming”;

The use of the “comma + present participle*** (“verb+ing” - “becoming” in this sentence)” construction incorrectly implies that Selma Lagerlöf was a novelist who turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and ***as a result, in 1909, she became the first woman and also the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature;

The intended meaning is that Selma Lagerlöf was a novelist who turned away from literary realism to write romantic stories about the peasant life and landscape of northern Sweden, and as a separate action in 1909, she became the first woman and also the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

The introduction of the present participle (“verb+ing”- “becoming” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.