verbal review Flashcards
Hundreds of species of fish generate and discharge electric currents, in bursts or as steady electric fi elds around their bodies, using their power either to find and attack prey, to defend themselves, or also for communicating and navigating.
(A) either to find and attack prey, to defend themselves, or also for communicating and navigating
(B) either for fi nding and attacking prey, defend themselves, or for communication and navigation
(C) to fi nd and attack prey, for defense, or communication and navigation
(D) for fi nding and attacking prey, to defend themselves, or also for communication and navigation
(E) to fi nd and attack prey, to defend themselves,
or to communicate and navigate
The correct answer is E.
Idiom; Verb form
The sentence explains that fi sh discharge electric currents for several purposes, which are most efficiently and eff ectively described in a parallel structure: to fi nd and attack, to defend, or to communicate and navigate. Th e use of either is inappropriate in this sentence because more than two uses of electric currents are listed; idiomatic usage requires either to be followed by or to
identify alternatives, not by also.
A) Either inappropriately introduces a list of more than two alternatives, and it should not be followed by or also; parallelism requires that for communicating and
navigating be changed to to communicate and navigate.
B) Defend is not parallel with the list of gerunds, leaving the reader to wonder how to make sense of defend themselves.
C) Th e lack of parallelism obscures the relationships among the items in the series; it is especially confusing to list an infi nitive phrase (to find . . .), an object of a preposition (for defense), and nouns with no grammatical connection to the verb phrase
(communication and navigation).
D) This answer choice also violates parallelism by mixing an infi nitive with objects of the preposition for. Or also is an unidiomatic, contradictory expression.
E) Correct. Th e diff erent ways in which the various species of fi sh use their electric power are correctly expressed in a series of parallel infinitives.
Except for a concert performance that the composer himself staged in 1911, Scott Joplin’s ragtime opera Treemonisha was not produced until 1972, sixty-one years after its completion.
(A) Except for a concert performance that the composer himself staged
(B) Except for a concert performance with the composer himself staging it
(C) Besides a concert performance being staged by the composer himself
(D) Excepting a concert performance that the composer himself staged
(E) With the exception of a concert performance with the staging done by the composer himself
The correct answer is A.
Idiom; Rhetorical construction
This sentence requires attention to idiom and to conciseness. Except for is correctly followed by a noun, concert performance; that the composer himself staged is a clause that clearly and concisely
describes the performance.
A) Correct. In this sentence, the correct idiom is used in a clear and concise expression.
B) With . . . it is an awkward and wordy construction, and staging suggests ongoing action rather than action completed in 1911.
C) Being staged suggests ongoing rather than completed action.
D) Excepting usually appears in negative constructions; it is not the correct idiom in this sentence.
E) This sentence is awkward and wordy.
Chinese, the most ancient of living writing systems, consists of tens of thousands of ideographic characters, each character a miniature calligraphic composition inside its own square frame.
(A) each character a miniature calligraphic composition inside its
(B) all the characters a miniature calligraphic composition inside their
(C) all the characters a miniature calligraphic composition inside its
(D) every character a miniature calligraphic composition inside their
(E) each character a miniature calligraphic
composition inside their
The correct answer is A.
Agreement
The underlined part of the original sentence acts as a modifier, or a phrase in apposition, describing Chinese ideographic characters. The modifier correctly uses the singular for all three terms:
character, composition, and its all agree.
A) Correct. In this sentence, the nouns character and composition and the pronoun its agree.
B) Characters and their are plural, but composition is singular.
C) While characters is plural, composition and its are singular.
D) Character and composition are singular, but their is plural.
E) Character and composition are singular, but their is plural.
The Baldrick Manufacturing Company has for several
years followed a policy aimed at decreasing operating
costs and improving the effi ciency of its distribution
system.
(A) aimed at decreasing operating costs and
improving
(B) aimed at the decreasing of operating costs and
to improve
(C) aiming at the decreasing of operating costs and
improving
(D) the aim of which is the decreasing of operating
costs and improving
(E) with the aim to decrease operating costs and to
improve
The correct answer is A.
Parallelism; Rhetorical construction
This correct sentence uses the grammatically parallel elements decreasing and improving to describe the two aims of the company’s policy.
A) Correct. Decreasing and improving are grammatically parallel; aimed at is a correct and concise expression.
B) Th e decreasing and to improve are not parallel.
C) Using the before decreasing creates a gerund, which is not parallel to the participle
improving.
D) The aim of which is awkward and wordy; the decreasing is not parallel to improving.
E) With the aim to is not the correct idiom; the correct idiom is with the aim of followed by an ing verb form such as decreasing.
A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.
(A) had elected early retirement rather than face
(B) had elected early retirement instead of facing
(C) have elected retiring early instead of facing
(D) have elected to retire early rather than facing
(E) have elected to retire early rather than face
The correct answer is E.
Verb form; Parallelism
For action that started in the past and continues into the present, it is correct to use the present perfect tense: have elected. When a choice is presented using the rather than construction—the doctors have chosen x rather than y—the x and the y must be parallel. In this case, the doctors have chosen to retire rather than (to understood) face. To does not need to be repeated in order to maintain parallelism because it is understood.
A) Had elected shows an action completed in the
past; early retirement is not parallel to face.
B) Had elected shows an action completed in the
past; retirement and facing are not parallel.
C) Have elected must be followed by an infinitive (to retire).
D) Facing and to retire early are not parallel.
E) Correct. In this sentence, have elected shows
action continuing into the present; to retire
and (to understood) face are parallel.
Under high pressure and intense heat, graphite, the most stable form of pure carbon, changes into the substance commonly referred to as diamond and remaining this way whether or not the heat and pressure are removed.
(A) remaining this way whether or not
(B) remaining like that even as
(C) remaining as such whether or not
(D) remains in this way although
(E) remains thus even when
The correct answer is E.
Parallelism; Rhetorical construction
This sentence tells of two things that happen to graphite under intense heat and pressure, and these are best presented as parallel predicates— changes and remains. Thus is the most economical way to say this way, like that, as such, or in this way.
A) Remaining should be a main verb, parallel with changes.
B) Remaining should be parallel with the other main verb, changes; even as suggests the meaning of while, which is not the intent of the sentence.
C) Remaining should be parallel with changes; whether or not is unnecessarily wordy.
D) In this way is unnecessarily wordy; although indicates that the heat and pressure are always or defi nitely removed, but this makes little sense in relation to the rest of the sentence.
E) Correct. Th e sentence coherently refers to the possibility of heat and pressure being removed. Th e sentence is clear and concise and properly uses parallel verb forms.
In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that two upstate New York counties owed restitution to three tribes of Oneida Indians for the unlawful seizure of their ancestral lands in the eighteenth century.
(A) that two upstate New York counties owed restitution to three tribes of Oneida Indians for the unlawful seizure of
(B) that two upstate New York counties owed restitution to three tribes of Oneida Indians because of their unlawful seizure of
(C) two upstate New York counties to owe restitution to three tribes of Oneida Indians for their unlawful seizure of
(D) on two upstate New York counties that owed restitution to three tribes of Oneida Indians
because they unlawfully seized
(E) on the restitution that two upstate New York counties owed to three tribes of Oneida Indians for the unlawful seizure of
The correct answer is A.
Idiom; Rhetorical construction
The underlined part of the sentence correctly introduces a subordinate clause with that to
identify the Supreme Court’s ruling. The idiomatic expression owed restitution to x for y is also correctly used.
A) Correct. This sentence properly uses a subordinate clause introduced by that and contains the correct idiom.
B) Owed restitution to x because of y is not the correct idiom, and the pronoun reference their is ambiguous.
C) Th at is omitted, resulting in an awkward construction; the pronoun reference their is ambiguous.
D) Ruled on … that begins an awkward construction, and the pronoun reference they is ambiguous.
E) Ruled on … that begins an awkward and imprecise construction.
Recently discovered fossil remains strongly suggest
that the Australian egg-laying mammals of today are a
branch of the main stem of mammalian evolution
rather than developing independently from a common
ancestor of mammals more than 220 million years ago.
(A) rather than developing independently from
(B) rather than a type that developed independently
from
(C) rather than a type whose development was
independent of
(D) instead of developing independently from
(E) instead of a development that was independent of
The correct answer is B.
Idiom; Parallelism
The original point is that the mammals mentioned are thought to be an off shoot of the main stem of mammalian evolution and not a descendent of a common ancestor of [all] mammals. This sentence makes a contrast using the construction x rather than y or x instead of y; x and y must be parallel in either case. Th e mammals are (x) a branch rather than (y); here y should consist of an article and a noun to match a branch. The second half of the contrast may be rewritten a type that developed independently from to complete the parallel construction. The idiom independently from is diff erent in meaning from the idiom independent of ; the logic of this sentence requires the use of independently from.
A) Developing independently from is not parallel to a branch.
B) Correct. Th is idiomatically correct sentence properly uses a type in parallel to a branch.
C) Th e verb developed is preferable to the awkward and wordy relative clause using the noun development; independent of distorts the original meaning.
D) Developing independently from is not parallel to a branch.
E) While a development may appear to parallel a branch, a development that was independent of . . . expresses a meaning contrary to that expressed in the original sentence. The verb developed is preferable to the noun development.
The energy source on Voyager 2 is not a nuclear reactor, in which atoms are actively broken apart; rather a kind of nuclear battery that uses natural radioactive decay to produce power.
(A) apart; rather
(B) apart, but rather
(C) apart, but rather that of
(D) apart, but that of
(E) apart; it is that of
The correct answer is B.
**Grammatical construction; Logical predication **
The correct version of this sentence focuses on a contrast by using the construction not x, but rather y. A comma, not a semicolon, should separate the two parallel parts of the contrast; using a semicolon results in a sentence fragment unless a subject and verb are provided in the construction that follows the semicolon.
A) Using a semicolon results in a sentence fragment.
B) Correct. Th is sentence is grammatical and logically coherent. Th e contrast is clearly drawn in the construction not a nuclear reactor . . . , but rather a kind of nuclear battery.
C) Th at of has no referent and results in an illogical construction.
D) That of has no referent.
E) No word is used to indicate contrast; that of has no referent.
Parliament did not accord full refugee benefi ts to twelve of the recent immigrants because it believed that to do it rewards them for entering the country illegally.
(A) to do it rewards
(B) doing it rewards
(C) to do this would reward
(D) doing so would reward
(E) to do it would reward
The correct answer is D.
Diction; Verb form
The problem in the underlined section is how to refer back to the verb accord. The clearest and most standard way is to use the adverb so, rather than a pronoun such as it or this. The verb rewards is incorrectly in the indicative mood, the mood used to state a fact; in the context of a hypothetical action, the conditional would reward is more appropriate.
A) The pronoun it does not have a clear antecedent; the adverb so is preferable. Rewards should be would reward.
B) The pronoun it does not have a clear antecedent; the adverb so is preferable. Rewards should be would reward.
C) Th e pronoun this does not have a clear antecedent; the adverb so is preferable.
D) Correct. The adverb so is correctly used to refer back to the verb accord; the conditional would reward is appropriate in referring to something contrary to fact.
E) The pronoun it does not have a clear antecedent; the adverb so is preferable.
State officials report that soaring rates of liability insurance have risen to force cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities.
(A) rates of liability insurance have risen to force
(B) rates of liability insurance are a force for
(C) rates for liability insurance are forcing
(D) rises in liability insurance rates are forcing
(E) liability insurance rates have risen to force
The correct answer is C.
Rhetorical construction; Verb form; Idiom
This sentence does not clearly present its main point. It should be revised to eliminate redundancy, clarify cause-and-eff ect relationships, and use the word rates correctly. The idea expressed in the verb have risen is already fully contained in the adjective soaring, so that verb should be omitted. Replacing it with are forcing shows clearly what the soaring rates are doing. When rate means a price charged, it is followed by the preposition for.
A) For should be used following rates; of is misleading. Have risen is redundant.
B) For should be used following rates; of is misleading. The wordy construction are a force for is not nearly as clear as the more concise are forcing.
C) Correct. Th e sentence is concise and uses the appropriate preposition following rates, and the present progressive verb tense makes it clear that this is an ongoing situation.
D) Rises is used unidiomatically and adds nothing to the idea already expressed in the adjective soaring.
E) Have risen adds nothing to the idea expressed in the adjective soaring.
While some academicians believe that business ethics should be integrated into every business course, others say that students will take ethics seriously only if it would be taught as a separately required course.
(A) only if it would be taught as a separately required course
(B) only if it is taught as a separate, required course
(C) if it is taught only as a course required separately
(D) if it was taught only as a separate and required course
(E) if it would only be taught as a required course, separately
The correct answer is B.
Rhetorical construction; Verb form; Diction
Conditional constructions require specific verb tenses. For a present condition, like this debate between academicians, the subordinate clause introduced by if uses the present indicative, and the main clause uses the future tense: y will happen (main clause) only if x happens (subordinate clause). Logically, the course is to be both separate and required, so the two adjectives should equally modify the noun and thus be separated by a comma: separate, required course.
A) The verb tense in the if clause is incorrect. The adverb separately should be the adjective separate.
B) Correct. Th is sentence has the correct verb tense, and the two adjectives equally modify the noun.
C) The placement of only distorts the meaning; it should precede if. A course required separately is unclear.
D) The verb tense in the if clause is incorrect. Th e placement of only distorts the meaning.
E) The verb tense in the if clause is incorrect. Th e placement of only distorts the meaning. The adjective separate should be used instead of the adverb separately and should precede the noun.
Any medical test will sometimes fail to detect a
condition when it is present and indicate that there is
one when it is not.
(A) a condition when it is present and indicate that there is one
(B) when a condition is present and indicate that there is one
(C) a condition when it is present and indicate that it is present
(D) when a condition is present and indicate its presence
(E) the presence of a condition when it is there and indicate its presence
The correct answer is C.
Grammatical construction; Logical predication
In this sentence the pronoun it does not always refer to condition, but, for the sake of clarity and correctness, it should. Detect a condition when it is present is correct and should be followed by a corresponding construction: indicate that it is present when it is not. Th e construction of there is one leaves it without a referent.
A) Th ere is one leaves it in the fi nal clause without a referent.
B) Detect a condition is more precise because it emphasizes the condition itself; there is one leaves it without a referent.
C) Correct. Th e three uses of the pronoun it refer clearly to condition, and the two parts of the sentence correspond.
D) When a condition is present emphasizes the time of the detection rather than the condition itself. Th e fi nal it has no referent.
E) Presence illogically repeats the same idea as when it is there. The fi nal it has no referent.
