Improving Sentences

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Questions 1 - 10
1

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

If you want to go far in life, one must be willing to seize each and every opportune moment.

you must be willing to seize each and every opportune moment.

one must be willing to seize each and every opportune moment.

some must be willing to seize each and every opportune moment.

one must are willing to seize each and every opportune moment.

one must be willing to seizes each and every opportune moment.

Explanation

The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is not underlined is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is: "you must be willing to seize each and every opportune moment."

2

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors, lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasant.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors, but lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasant.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors, lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasant.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors; and lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasant.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasant.

I really enjoy spending time outdoors, but lately the weather has been incredibly hot and not altogether pleasantly.

Explanation

Comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction. Since the sentence above expresses a contradiction, the best way to connect the two independent clauses is to add the coordinating conjunction "but" after the comma.

3

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

When Harold went to the dentist, he was given two instructions; to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages.

When Harold went to the dentist, he was given two instructions: to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages.

When Harold went to the dentist; he was given two instructions, to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages.

When Harold went to the dentist, he was given two instructions; to brush his teeth twice daily; and to avoid acidic beverages.

When Harold went to the dentist: he was given two instructions to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages.

When Harold went to the dentist, he was given two instructions; to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages.

Explanation

A semicolon is used to combine two independent clauses. Because the phrase "to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages" is a list and a dependent clause, the appropriate punctuation is a colon. This makes the correct answer "When Harold went to the dentist, he was given two instructions: to brush his teeth twice daily and to avoid acidic beverages."

4

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Paul and me always have a good time together, but lately he's been a little forlorn about his dead dog.

Paul and I always have a good time together,

Paul and me always have a good time together,

Paul or me always have a good time together,

Paul and me always have a good time together:

Paul and me always have a good time together;

Explanation

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "me" in the first part of the sentence should be "I" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is: "Paul and I always have a good time together,"

5

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student.

An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student.

The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the Professor's teachings and research.

The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings.

Explanation

"An account of the professor's research and teachings, which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student." - As it is presented in the question stem, the sentence is incomplete. It contains only a subject and is missing a predicate; "which are described at length in the autobiography of his former student" is a participial phrase describing "an account of the professor's research and teachings." The "account" doesn't do anything in this sentence or have anything done to it.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings being lengthy described in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence contains two errors. One error is its use of the adjective "lengthy." "Lengthy" is used like an adverb to modify "described," but adjectives can't modify verbs, so this sentence is incorrect. The sentence's other error is in its use of the word "being," which does not make sense. To be read as a present progressive verb, "being" would need to be preceded by "is." Even if "being" were read as beginning a participial phrase, the sentence would remain incomplete.

"The professor's student, in his autobiography, lengthy describes an account of the professor's teachings and research. " - This sentence reproduces the "lengthy" error discussed in the previous answer choice, and it also contains an ambiguous pronoun. "His" could refer to either the professor or the professor's student.

"The professor's student, whose autobiography describes at length an account of the professor's research and teachings." - This sentence is also an incomplete sentence; it consists of a subject and lacks a predicate. The participial phrase "whose autobiography describes at length an account of the Professor's research and teachings" describes "The professor's student," but the sentence lacks a verb to tell us what "the professor's student" does in the sentence.

"An account of the professor's research and teachings is described in great detail in the autobiography of his former student." - This sentence has no errors.

6

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

My family and me always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and I always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and me always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

Me and my family always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

I and my family always have a grand old time at the State Fair.

My family and me always have a great old time at the State Fair.

Explanation

The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "me" in the first part of the sentence should be "I" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "My family and I always have a grand old time at the State Fair."

7

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants, it is often cheaper to cook at home.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants, but it is often cheaper to cook at home.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants, it is often cheaper to cook at home.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants: but it is often cheaper to cook at home.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants; but it is often cheaper to cook at home.

I think it's enjoyable to eat in restaurants but it is often cheaper to cook at home.

Explanation

A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a single comma. One option is to simply make the two independent clauses into separate sentences. If you wish to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence, you may either use a comma followed by an appropriate coordinating conjunction or you may use a semicolon without a conjunction. In this case, the best option is to add the coordinating conjunction "but" after the comma.

8

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.

the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.

the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.

Explanation

The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."

All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.

9

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The truth of the matter is, as always, rather simple you must do what I ask, or you will fail.

The truth of the matter is, as always, rather simple:

The truth of the matter is as always, rather simple:

The truth of the matter is as always rather simple:

The truth of the matter is, as always, rather simple

The truth of the matter is as always rather simple,

Explanation

Colons serve primarily two purposes. The first is to precede a list of three or more things in a sentence, and the second is to join two clauses of a sentence. For the second purpose, however, you may only use a colon where a period might otherwise be used, after an independent clause, and for this use of the colon the second clause should explain or define the main clause. In this case, the dependent clause directly explains the main clause, so the best way to correct the underlined portion above is, "The truth of the matter is, as always, rather simple"

10

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Thor was not as popular a god as Odin, according to recent archaeological data.

as popular a god as

and popular a god as

as popular a god and

as popular a god or

as popular as if

Explanation

Whenever you see the conjunction "as," and it is being used for a direct comparison between two things and followed by another conjunction, it must always be followed by the correlative conjunction "as." As such, the sentence above is correct as it is written.

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