Sentence Correction Questions

Question 1

The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that.

1. one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity
2. one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, whereas it had previously been costly
3. being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one

Answer 1

Correct - 2

Wrong:

1 - “however costly previously” interrupts the the connection between “affordable” and “commoditiy”. “however” changes the meaning of the sentence. It implie that cotton gin will lower the price of cotton cloths no matter what even though that was not implied in the original sentence

3 - “being” is unnecessary

Question 2

Though it is now universally accepted that William Shakespeare was a real, historical person – which was once considered questionable – some still suspect him not to have written all of the works attributed as his own.

A. Though William Shakespeare is now universally accepted to be a real, historical person – once considered as questionable – some still suspect him not to have written all of the works attributed to be his own.

B. Though it is now universally accepted that William Shakespeare was a real, historical person – a fact that was once considered questionable – he is still suspected, by some, of not having written all of the works attributed to him.

Choose the correct answer and then identify all the wrong idiom forms contained in the wrong answer choice.

Answer 2

Correct - B

A

“accepted to be” -> “accepted as”
considered as X -> considered X

suspect him not to have -> suspect of not having

attributed to be -> attributed as

Question 3

In the wake of several serious cases of mercury poisoning caused by tainted fish, the state government ordered that all lakes and streams should be tested for mercury levels.

1. all lakes and streams should be tested for mercury levels
2. all lakes and streams should have their mercury levels tested
3. the mercury levels be tested for all lakes and streams
4. the mercury levels of all lakes and streams be tested

Answer 3

Correct - 4

“ordered that” –> requires subjunctive mood

Wrong:

1. “should be tested” is not subjunctive; “all lakes and streams should be tested for mercury levels” illogically sounds like one is testing to see if mercury level exists –> one would test the mercury level of the lake and strems instead.
2. lakes and streams cannot perform such a feat as testing their own mercury levels
3. placement of “be tested” sounds like we’re testing mercury levels on behalf of all lakes and streams

Question 4

Neither of my aunts, both of whom visited Venice last spring, want to return.

1. visited Venice last spring, wants
2. have visited Venice last spring, wants

Answer 4

Correct - 1

• neither is always singular

Wrong:

• It is possible in general to say that “two people have visited Venice.” This construction, however, should not be attached to a specific time frame (last spring). Either they visited last spring or they have visited at some unspecified time in the past.

Question 5

The Diary of Anne Frank tells the true story of a young girl and her family that were hidden during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands by a gentile Dutch couple, though they were eventually discovered.

1. whom a gentile Dutch couple hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands but were eventually discovered
2. who were hidden by a gentile Dutch couple during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands but were eventually discovered

Answer 5

Correct - 2

Wrong

1 - whom is for object. Turns “a young girl and her family” into the object of the clause “a gentile Dutch couple hid”, but the former is the subject of the next clause.

Question 6

According to the writings of Thorstein Veblen, the economist, the most reliable signal of a truly wealthy individual is his or her ability and willingness to engage in “conspicuous consumption”—to spend it in a way that is patently absurd or irrational.

What does “it” refer to?

Answer 6

It refers to wealth. That’s why this sentence is wrong because “it” currently refers to “wealthy”, which is an adj.

Question 7

Though viewed from a distance, Saturn’s main rings may appear to be smooth and continuous, they are in fact composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets when viewed up close.

Describe what’s wrong with the original sentence, then choose the correct answer below.

1. Saturn’s main rings, when viewed from a distance, may appear to be smooth and continuous, though when viewed up close they are in fact composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets.
2. When viewed from a distance, Saturn’s main rings may appear smooth and continuous, but closer viewing reveals them to be composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets.
3. Though composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets if viewed up close, the main rings of Saturn may appear smooth and continuous when they are viewed from a distance.

Answer 7

Correct - 2

Wrong:

• “Though” signifies contradtiction, which never materialized. “Though sleepy, the child stayed awake” is OK. “Though sleepy, the child ate soup” is NOT OK.
• “when viewed up close” placement illogically suggests that the rings are composed of icy ringlets only when being viewed up close
• “appear to be”, “to be” is redundant. –> “appear smooth and continuous”

1 - “appear to be” –> “appear smooth..”; placement and usage of “when viewed up close”

3 - placement of “if viewed up close”; notice here that “though” is done correctly.

Question 8

A recent and popular self-help book wryly notes that if adolescence was not so painful, it would have a droll comedic aspect, at least in retrospect

1. was not so painful, it
2. was not so painful, they
3. were not so painful, they
4. were not so painful, it

Answer 8

Correct - 4

If statements require subjunctive mood. “Was” should not be used in an “if” clause indicating a hypothetical condition. “If adolescence were” is correct.

Question 9

The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.

A. The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.

E. In a two-year course designed for undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics.

Answer 9

B.

A - sounds like Feynman is introducing modern physics designed for undergraduate students as a course.

Question 10

Teachers in this country have generally been trained either to approach mathematics like a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and principles without truly understanding how to apply them.

1. to approach mathematics like a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles
2. to approach mathematics as a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles
3. that they should approach mathematics like a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and principles

Answer 10

2.

• “Like” is used to compare two nouns; “As” can be used to compare two claues, but it also serves other functions; “as” is also used to idiomatically express the role/function/manner in which something is done (He works as a chef, he volunteered as my friend)
• This sentence is not comparing math to creative activity, as much as it is suggesting that math be “approaced in the manner” that one would approach a creative activity.

Wrong:

1 - uses like instead of as

3. uses like instead of as; awkwardly begins the parallel elements with the word “that”

Question 11

Spanish guitarist and composer Andres Segovia led the twentieth-century revival of the classical guitar, which was not considered sufficiently prestigious enough to be a concert instrument.

A. Segovia led the twentieth-century revival of the classical guitar, which was not considered sufficiently prestigious enough to be

B. Segovia led the twentieth-century revival of the classical guitar, which had not previously been considered prestigious enough to be

Answer 11

B.

A - “sufficiently prestigious enough” is redundant. Missing past perfect to mark the guitar event.

Question 12

Instead of buying stocks and bonds, which are the conventional approach for someone new to financial planning, real estate has become increasingly the choice of young people as a first investment.

A. buying stocks and bonds, which are the conventional investments for those new to financial planning, young people have increasingly chosen real estate

B. stocks and bonds, which are the conventional approach for those new to financial planning, young people have shown an increasing choice of real estate

Answer 12

Correct - A (Instead of A, (subject) B)

Wrong - B

• illogical comparison of “stocks and bonds” to “approach”
• have shown an increasing choice of is incorrect.

Question 13

According to Italy’s top anti-Mafia prosecutor, the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone, a town famous because of “The Godfather” and near to those he most trusted.

A. the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone, a town famous because of “The Godfather” and near to those he most trusted

B. Corleone, famous because of “The Godfather,” was the town that the ailing mobster came to take refuge in because it was near to those he most trusted

Answer 13

A.

B - “was the town that the ailing mobster came to take refuge in” is much less concise than “the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone” without making the meaning clearer.

Question 14

The health commissioner said that the government had implemented strict measures to eradicate the contaminated food and, despite the recent illnesses, it will try to prevent the outbreak from recurring in the future.

1. it will try
2. that it would try

Answer 14

Correct - 2

• “said” –> past tense. Future from the past requires the conditional “would”.
• the pronoun “it” begins a new clause and requires the repetition of “that” to maintain parallelism

Wrong:

• “will” -> incorrect use of simple future tense
• lack of “that” -> no parallelism
  https: //www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/forums/health-commissioner-t7526.html

Question 15

During the summer of 1778, seeking to find alternative explanations for the process of evolution, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck repeated his initial experiment on mollusks once in every 4 weeks but received exactly the same results 3 times in a row.

Identify the three areas of redundancy

Answer 15

1. seeking to find
2. once in every 4 weeks
3. exactly the same

Question 16

In order to conserve the energy and heat they need to spend the entire winter sitting motionless over incubating eggs, male emperor penguins huddle over the nests in groups, thereby reducing the rate at which they burn energy so that it is 25 percent lower than it would be for isolated birds.

A. thereby reducing the rate at which they burn energy so that it is 25 percent lower than it would be for

B. therey reducing their rate of burning energy until it is 25 percent lower when compared with

Answer 16

Correct - A

Wrong

B - Does not clarify what’s being compared to the rate. What is it 25 percent lower than? Also, it compares a rate for grouped penguins with isolated birds, instead of with the rate for isolated birds.

Question 17

Although beavers can still be found throughout the western United States, their number has declined compared with the eighteenth century, when the abumbdance of beavers lured armies of European trappers into the Rocky Mountain region to slaughter them for their pelts.

1. their number has declined since
2. their numbers have declined since
3. the number of them declined since

Answer 17

Correct - 2

• maintain logical comparison between numbers then and now
• correct and idiomatic use of “numbers” instead of “number”: the singular number is non-idiomatic and does not cpature the reality that at different points between the 18th century and now, different numbers have described the beaver population in western U.S.

Wrong

1 - “number”

2 - incorrect use of simple past tense. The decline begain in the past and continues to the present.

Question 18

Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

1. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting
2. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

Answer 18

Correct - 1

• note that it clearly restates the subject of the dependent clause

Wrong:

• use of passive voice obscures the relationship between the cause of increasing supply and lowering prices as well as the relationship between efficiency and demand.

Question 19

A member of the generally toxic nightshade family, including belladonna, the tomato was once considered poisonous even though it is harmless and now eaten in large quantities around the world.

What’s wrong?

Answer 19

“including belladonna” is left dangling and does not properly modify anything.

Should be “which includes belladonna” instead.

Question 20

Sleeping pills had been showing up with regularity as a factor in traffic arrests, sometimes involving drivers who later claim that they have no memory of getting behind the wheel after ingesting the pills.

1. have been showing up with regularity as a factor in traffic arrests
2. have been showing up with regularity as factors in traffic arrests

Answer 20

Correct - 1

Wrong

• sleeping pills consist of one factor.

Question 21

Congress has enacted legislation forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years.

A. that forbids state and local governments for the next three years from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

B. that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

Identify correct answer and talk about what’s wrong.

Answer 21

Correct - B

Wrong - A:

• idiom: forbid X from -> forbid X to
• “for the next three years” modifies “forbid,” but is instead placed next to “links.”

Question 22

A recent poll of elected officials suggests that candidates, when in the midst of a tough campaign, often make statements about an opponent that they may not think is true.

1. are
2. to be

Answer 22

correct - 1

wrong:

• too colloquial.

Question 23

At age four, Mozart’s father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, in order to demonstrate his musical talents.

A. Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his own musical talents

B. Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of Europe’s capitals, to demonstrate his musical talents

Answer 23

A

B - pronoun “his” is ambiguous. In choice A “his own” makes it clear that we’re talking about Mozart.

Question 24

Many employees in the energy sector must choose between jobs that offer substantially higher pay, but requiring long hours, physically taxing labor, or relocation to remote, sparsely populated areas, or less physically intense though lower-paying jobs in larger metropolitan areas.

A. that offer substantially higher pay, but that require long hours, physically taxing labor, relocation to remote or sparsely populated areas, or less physically intense and lower-paying jobs

B. that pay substantially higher but requiring long hours, physically taxing labor, relocating to remote or sparsely populated areas, and lower-paying jobs that are less physically intense

C. offering substantially higher pay, but requiring long hours, physically taxing labor, or relocation to remote, sparsely populated areas, and less physically intense, but lower-paying, jobs

Answer 24

Correct - C

• correct idiom BETWEEN X AND Y
• proper parallelism (long hours, physically taxing labor, or relocation)

Wrong

A - unidiomatic: list of three –> list of four

B - The construction jobs that X (pay) but Y (requiring) should be parallel, but pay is not parallel to requiring; list of three –> four (long hours, physically taxing labor, relocating to remote, or sparsely populated area); “in larger metro area” now incorrectly modifies “less physically intense” (jobs are less intense in large metro areas??)

Question 25

Though margarine was introduced as a supposedly healthful alternative to butter, recent studies suggest it is as harmful or worse than butter.

A. that it is as harmful as or worse than butter

B. that it is as harmful if not worse than butter

Answer 25

Correct - A

Wrong - B

• incomplete strucutre “as harmful…”, missing the second as.

Question 26

Despite an expensive publicity campaign, ticket sales for the new play were poor enough that it closed only after two weeks.

A. so poor that it closed only after two weeks

B. so poor that it was closed after only two weeks

Choose right answer, describe what’s wrong with the wrong answer and original underlined portion

Answer 26

Correct - B

underlined - idiom “[Adjective] enough that [Clause]” is incorrect. The correct idiom is “so [Adjective] that [Clause]”

A - “only” should be placed immediately before the word that it modifies (two weeks). Thus, “only after two weeks” is incorrect, and it should be “after only two weeks”.

Question 27

Many daring vacationers who participate in guided boat tours on the Tarcoles River encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peeking out from the surface of the murky water.

A. encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, with eyes and noses peeking out

B. encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, with eyes and noses that are peeking out

Answer 27

A

B - this phrasing is unnecessarily wordy. The more concise “with eyes and noses peeking out” is preferred.

Question 28

Studies of test scores show that watching television has a markedly positive effect on children whose parents speak English as a second language, as compared to those whose native language is English.

1. to children whose parents do not
2. with children whose parents are native English speakers

Answer 28

Correct - 2

NOTE

• those (underlined) logically refers to children. There is no ambiguity due to parallelism.

Incorrect - 1

• Do the parents in this second group speak English as a native language, then? Or do they not speak English at all? The meaning is ambiguous in this choice

Question 30

Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it will snap easily, as though it was a twig.

1. will snap easily, as though it was a twig
2. will snap easily, as though it were a twig

Answer 30

Correct - 2

Requires subjunctive mood