question

when/how to use commas

answer

to separate elements in a series, connect a conjunction, sett off introductory elements, set of parenthetical elements, separate coordinate adjectives, set off quoted elements, express contrast & avoid confusion. Never use a comma to separate subject and its verb.

question

when to use or/nor

answer

nor follows neither or another negative clause (do not..nor) use "or" if the second part of the negative is a noun, adjective, or adverb phrase

question

how to know if there's no error?

answer

Ignore "Long since," "Preposition + Which," and "that" as a subject, if usually tricky things are used correctly, if you can't specifically identify the error in the underlined thing but it sounds wrong

question

gerunds vs infinitives

answer

gerunds are after prepositions and used as the subject or object of a sentence. Use to + infinitive after many adjectives and to show purpose

question

parallel structure

answer

using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance

question

when to use "on" vs "in"

answer

in mainly denotes "rest at", on indicates proximity and position above or outside

question

parallel structure & infinitives

answer

infinitives like "to cut" cannot be the object of a verb like "demand"

question

wordiness

answer

you don't need a preposition (from or in) before the participial phrase (a phrase that's used as an adjective)

question

pronoun number agreement

answer

don't use "their" to describe one person, use "him" or "her"

question

when to use semicolons

answer

used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs (moreover, otherwise, then) or transitional phrases.

question

due to vs. because

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"because" defines causes, whereas "due to" defines results of a debt.

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subject-verb agreement

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it is, they are, etc.

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redundant language

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you don't need to use both "foul" and "obscene"

question

fusion of idioms

answer

connect "less from" and "than from" / "not from" and "but from" -- do not mix the two constructions

question

difference between "former" and "latter"

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former = first in a list of two things, latter = last

question

Lower Manhattan was a seasonal home for the Lenni Lenape [Indians, who granted the Dutch settlers land-use rights to Manhattan, but] did not actually sell it for $24 in trinkets.

answer

Sentence is correct! But means 'on the contrary' and 'with the exception that,' and However means 'by whatever means, condition or state'

question

Although I understand why airlines have to serve frozen foods to their passengers, I do not understand why I was served [a meal by a flight attendant that had been only partially defrosted].

answer

Dangling modifier: was the meal defrosted, or the flight attendant? Correct with "an only partially defrosted meal..."

question

The President [has designated] Senator Frank [as] one of the Congressmen who [are going] to attend the conference [on] nuclear waste disposal.

answer

Sentence is correct! Congressmen matches with the verb "are" and NOT Frank "is" going.

question

The fire officials [attributed] the high casualty rate to the fact that not one of the [more than] two thousand rooms in the hotel [were equipped] with sprinklers [or] smoke detectors.

answer

Change [were equipped] to "was equipped." Error in subject-verb agreement --> "not one...was." More than and over are interchangeable in this context.

question

In American history, we studied [the reasons that] the American colonists [came to] oppose the British, the [formation of] the Continental Congress, [and how they organized the militia].

answer

Error in parallelism - change [and how they organized the militia] to [and the organization of the militia]. "Organization" should be a noun like "formation." Reasons THAT vs. Reasons WHY is too nit-picky here.

question

Oprah Winfrey [has] the [distinction of] having promoted the sales [of more] serious contemporary novels than [any] talk show host.

answer

Error in logical comparison -- change [any] to [any other]. You need to compare Oprah to other talk show hosts.

question

Also in the program [is] a taped [discussion with] the [late] choreographer George Balanchine and a [performance by] Patricia McBride and Edward Villella of the pas de deux fron "Diana and Acteon."

answer

Error in subject-verb agreement - there ARE two things in the program (both the discussion and the performance).

question

Fifty years ago, movies [on] biblical themes, [far from being] the [more] controversial Hollywood offerings, [were among] the least.

answer

Error in comparison - change [more] to [most].

question

In the nineteenth century, photography was a [window on] the world for curious members of the public, [few of whom] [could ever hope] to visit exotic lands [in person].

answer

Sentence is correct! "window on the world" is used as "about the world"

question

[There is simply no way one can avoid conflict; hence], if you must fight, fight to win.

answer

Change to [You cannot avoid conflict; hence]. Don't use consequently -- it's not a lot different than hence, both are used to express "so"

question

Though [barely] [mentioned in] popular histories of World War II, black soldiers fought [beside] whites in the war's final year [for the first time since] the American Revolution.

answer

Sentence is correct! Barely and hardly are practically interchangeable.

question

The differences between Locke's world view and [that of Hobbes] [arise] less from a dispute about the function of government [but from] a dispute about the [nature of] mankind.

answer

Change [but from] to [than from]. "Less than" does not connect to "but from," it would connect to

question

The dearth [of] customers during the [recent] holiday season [have caused] several local restaurants [to go out of] business.

answer

Change [have caused] to [has caused]-- the dearth HAS caused...

question

Everybody [but] him has paid [their] dues; we [must seek] ways to make him understand the [need for] prompt payment.

answer

Error in [their]. "Everybody" is a singular pronoun, so it would be "his" or "her."

question

Gustavo's predicament was [like countless other] Hispanic recording artists: he could [perform only] in Spanish and [limit himself] to Latino audiences, or he could sing in English and risk [being accused] of abandoning his roots.

answer

Error in logical comparison-- [like] THAT OF [other]. Compare his predicaments with predicaments, not his predicaments with other recording artists.

question

Artesian water [comes from] an artesian well, a well [that taps] a water-bearing layer of rack or sand, [in which] the water level [stands above] the top of the aquifer.

answer

No error! "In which" is correct because it is talking about the layer in which the water level stands above.

question

The survival of many species of marine life may depend on both the enforcement of waste disposal regulations and [the education of the public] about the fragility of ocean resources.

answer

This phrase is correct because "the enforcement" matches with "the education." It may sound weird, but everything matches ok.

question

Peter's [seemingly effortless] flights, [achieved through] the use of sophisticated technical equipment, [continues] to delight those [who] see the play Peter Pan.

answer

Change [continues] to [continue] because it has to match "flights." Whom vs. who is too nit-picky.

question

Mediators were standing by, prepared [to intervene in] the labor dispute [even though] both sides [had refused] earlier offers [for] assistance.

answer

Change [for] to [of]. You don't make an offer FOR an apple, you make an offer OF an apple.

question

According to some theorists, [what] [any] particular bird can eat could change [with even] [the slightest] variation in the shape of its beak.

answer

No error! [any] does not need to be changed because it is referring to the beak of ANY bird, not just one particular bird.

question

When you see the words "in context" and then are asked to edit a sentence, you should...

answer

look at the sentence IN CONTEXT and see what the phrasing of other sentences are and match the phrasing.

question

The movie's unlikely happy ending [came to pass as a result of an incredulous series] of lucky accidents. (a) came to pass as the result of an incredulous series (b) came past as the result of an incredulous series (c) came about through an incredulous series (d) resulted from an incredible series

answer

(a) the object "series" can't be incredulous, or surprised about something. (b) same (c) same (d) same (e) correct! you can describe a series as "incredible"

question

[at an early stage in his travels, Henry James, writing] from abroad, described the subtle differences distinguishing Americans from Europeans. (a) no error (b) At an early stage in his travels, Henry James wrote (c) At an early stage in his travels, Henry James was written (d) At an early stage in his travels, Henry James was writing (e) Henry James, whose writing at an early stage in his travels

answer

No error! (a) Connect the WHOLE sentence to the answers. Don't do (b), Henry James wrote...described because it doesn't make sense in context.

question

For a politically committed filmmaker like Michael Moore, [being free to denounce society's ills is more important than] gaining commercial success. (a) no error (b) there is greater importance in the freedom to denounce the ills of society than there is in (c) being free to denounce society's illnesses is more important, and then (d) freedom to denounce society's ills has more importance than does (e) the free denunciation of society's ills importantly is more than

answer

(a) sentence is correct, "being" is parallel with "gaining" (b) too wordy (c) illnesses is not an applicable word (d) freedom is not parallel with gaining (e) "importantly is more than" is a horrible phrase

question

to [most] Americans, the notion that free markets and democracy are [essential to] curing the world's ills [is] an [article of] faith.

answer

No error! "essential to" is a fine phrase-- this is essential to getting something done...

question

[Contrary to what] moviegoers have [for so long] regarded as absolute truth, the mutiny of the Bounty's seamen [was] not [provoked from] any unreasonable harshness on the part of Captain Bligh.

answer

it should be [provoked by] not [from]. [was] is correct because the object is "mutiny" not "seamen."

question

Our parents did [their] best to ignore the [ongoing] rivalry between my [brother and I] because they believed we would [only] be encouraged if they attempted to intervene.

answer

error in pronoun case. the pronoun is the object of the preposition "between," so it should be [my brother and me] and not [my brother and I].

question

Horse psychology, a science that investigates [the reasons for] the behavior of horses, [help] trainers both motivate [their charges] [and prevent] problems.

answer

Error in subject-verb agreement, [help] should be "Horse psychology...helps"

question

After the uprising of October 10, 1911, that [has led] to [the establishment of] a Chinese republic, many Chinese Americans decided to return to China [in] hopes of a bright future [there].

answer

"has led" illogically indicates an action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past. In this sentence the time of the action is specified as October 10, 1911, so the verb should be replaced with the simple past-tense verb "led."

question

[Although] familiar to us [from representations] in ancient art, war chariots are rare museum artifacts [because by] the sixth century BC they were [no longer] used in battle.

answer

No error! There is no error at (B). The prepositional phrase "from representations" is an appropriate and idiomatic indication of the source of war chariots' familiarity.

question

Nicknamed the supergrain of the future, quinoa is a complete [protein, one that contains all the necessary amino acids and is] high in fiber.

answer

No error! If avoids the errors of the other options by providing modifying phrases in an appropriate verb tense. Choice (B) results in a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Nicknamed the supergrain of the future, quinoa is a complete protein" and "it contains all the necessary amino acids . . .") are joined by only a comma.

question

In [those cities] [in which] public transportation is adequate, fewer traffic problems occur and pedestrians [are rarely] [involved in] accidents.

answer

No error! The plural pronoun "those" is properly used to indicate some particular cities.

question

Social scientists [agree that] a system [for exchanging] goods and services is [not only] present but also [of necessity] in all societies.

answer

The error in this sentence occurs at [of necessity] where there is a lack of parallelism. The prepositional phrase "of necessity" is not parallel with the earlier adjective "present." It should be two adjectives: "present" and "necessary"

question

[Also supported] by the commission [was] the proposed health clinics and the proposed [center] to distribute information [on job-training] opportunities.

answer

[was] should be [were] to match with the two proposed items.

question

The research study [reveals] startling proof of a [constant] changing seafloor that [comprises] the major [part of] the underwater landscape.

answer

[constant] should be [constantly]. You can't modify a verb with an adjective.

question

It is a myth that mathematicians are [so absorbed with abstractions and thus] have no practical interests. (a) no error (b) absorbed by abstractions and therefore (c) so absorbed in abstractions that they (d) absorbed in so much abstraction that they (e) too abstract, and so they

answer

(a) "thus" makes no sense here (b) improper emphasis.The omission of the adverb "so" before the adjective "absorbed" results in a sentence that does not sufficiently emphasize the degree to which mathematicians are said to be absorbed in abstractions, a degree so great as to exclude any interest in practical matters. (c) correct! The subordinating conjunction "that" properly introduces a dependent adverb clause ("that they have no practical interests") to complete the description begun by the adverb-adjective combination "so absorbed." (d) improperly emphasizes how abstract mathematics is rather than the degree to which mathematicians are absorbed in abstractions. (e) not talking about mathematicians themselves, talking about what they're absorbed in

question

The city is populated by many people who, although their common language is English, [the languages at home range from Armenian to Zapotec]. (a) no error (b) speaking at home is in languages ranging from Armenian to Zapotec (c) the languages range from Armenian to Zapotec at home (d) speak languages at home that range from Armenian to Zapotec (e) they are speaking languages at home ranging from Armenian to Zapotec

answer

(a) ridiculous (b) ridiculous (c) doesn't have a verb for "many people" (d) correct! "speak languages" connects to "who..." (e) "who...they are" doesn't make sense in context

question

Lions and tigers [may be] identical in size, [but] the tiger is [the fiercer] animal an the lion [the strongest].

answer

Error in [the strongest]. Two animals, the tiger and the lion, are being compared, so the comparative form, "the stronger," is needed.

question

The number of awards given [this year] to biochemists [accentuate] the [significant gains] being [made in] the study of the chemistry of living organisms.

answer

Error in [accentuate]. The plural verb "accentuate" does not agree with the singular subject, "The number."

question

One of the first people to recognize the talent of Langston Hughes, [Jessie Fauset, was an editor at Crisis magazine, publishing] Hughes's poetry in 1921. (a) no error (b) Jessie Fauset who edited at Crisis magazine and published (c) Jessie Fauset edited Crisis magazine who published (d) Jessie Fauset, an editor at Crisis magazine, published (e) the editor, Jessie Fauset, published at Crisis magazine

answer

Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by using an active construction to emphasize what Jessie Fauset did. Choice (B) creates a sentence fragment. The subordinating word "who" makes everything that comes after it a dependent clause. The entire sentence has no main verb. Also, a comma is needed after "Jessie Fauset."

question

Affect vs. Effect

answer

"Affect" is a verb; you "affect something." "Effect" is a noun; things "have an effect" on other things.

question

Compliment vs. Complement

answer

To compliment someone, with an "i", is to say something nice about them. Two things complement each other, with an "e", when they go well together.

question

Prospective vs. Perspective

answer

Something is prospective if it is a "prospect," or something that could potentially happen. Your perspective is your way of looking at things or your point of view.

question

Liable to vs. Likely to

answer

You must remember that "liable to" is NOT synonymous with "likely to." You are likely to do something when the probability is high that you'll do it. You're liable FOR something when you're responsible for negative consequences.

question

Toward vs. Towards

answer

Which one of these words is right? There's no difference between these words! You can use them interchangeably and they'll always work. So don't sweat it.

question

Among vs. Amongst

answer

There's actually no difference between among vs. amongst other than the regions in which they're typically used. Don't worry about the difference, as there won't be any appreciable difference between the two on the SAT.

question

Among vs. Between

answer

If you're describing more than two people or things, you must use "among" or "amongst." If you're only describing or comparing two things, you HAVE TO use "between" and CANNOT use "among" or "amongst."

question

Eluded vs. Alluded

answer

To elude someone is to escape or avoid them. To allude to something is "to make a veiled reference to that thing."

question

Allusion vs. Illusion

answer

You already know what an allusion is. An illusion is a trick, like an optical illusion.

question

Farther vs. Further

answer

Farther refers to actual, physical difference. Further refers to everything but actual, physical difference.

question

Healthful vs. Healthy

answer

Healthful seems really wordy, but it's actually fine. You can use them interchangeably.

question

For All Intents and Purposes

answer

The actual expression is, "for all intents and purposes." This might not actually be tested by the SAT, but it's so insanely common of an error that I almost felt I had to include it!

question

Indeterminate vs. Indecisive vs. Indefinite

answer

Indeterminate: not able to be determined, or not yet having been determined. "For an indeterminate number of people, life is getting harder and harder - it's tough to put an exact figure on a spreadsheet, but we do know that things are getting worse." Indecisive: unable to make a decision. "John is so indecisive: he takes 50 minutes just to figure out what he's ordering at restaurants." Indefinite: without any set end time or quantitative limit. "There's no deadline for finishing a novel - often, the timeline for writing a truly perfect novel is indefinite.

question

According to

answer

...

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Along with

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...

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In aid of

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...

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On behalf of

answer

...

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Due to

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...

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Except for

answer

...

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Apart from

answer

...

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Because of

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...

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Contrary to

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...

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Instead of

answer

...

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Prior to

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...

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In front of

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...

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In accordance with

answer

...

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In line with

answer

...

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With reference to

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...

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By means of

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...

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With respect to

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...

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In relation to

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...

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Ahead of

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...

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As for

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...

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But for

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...

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In light of

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...

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In spite of

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...

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In place of

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...

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In view of

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...

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Near to

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...

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Out of

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...

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Outside of

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...

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Subsequent to

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...

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Owing to

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...

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Thanks to

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...

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Together with

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...

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Up to

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...

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Such as

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...

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On top of

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...

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In charge of

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...

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In case of

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...

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In addition to

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...

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Evolved from

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...

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In exchange for

answer

...

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In the process of

answer

...

question

The exchange between the teacher and the student [promotes] learning [far different] from that which results [as] the student listens [but does not] participate.

answer

The error in this sentence occurs at [as], where an improper connective is used. The conjunction "as" is used to indicate duration where the subordinate conjunction "when" is more idiomatic.

question

Available through the school's guidance office [is] a job directory and a list of job referral centers [that provide] [information that] students [in need of] employment.

answer

The error in this sentence occurs at [is] where there is subject-verb disagreement. The singular verb "is" does not agree with the plural subject, "directory...and...list."

question

In the first paragraph, (sentences 1-5) the author is primarily (a) informing the reader about the behavior of skunks (b) providing examples to argue a point (c) ridiculing those who dislike skunks (d) relating a story about personal experiences (e) casting doubt on a common misconception

answer

(a) mentions only one unidentified animal, not all skunks (b) relates chronological events rather than arguing a point (c) does not mention those who dislike skunks or use any language that ridicules (d) correct! tells of experiencing a "familiar odor," investigating its source, and seeing a black-and-white "creature." (e) makes no mention of any misconception

question

The primary effect of the final paragraph (sentences 12 and 13) is to (a) continue the essay's tone of playful humor (b) summarize the ideas introduced in the preceding paragraph (c) give an example to prove the point of the first paragraph (d) use persuasion to change the reader's opinion (e) explain contradictions within the essay

answer

(a) correct! The final paragraph is the writer's tongue-in-cheek reaction to the prospect of confronting a skunk outlined in the previous paragraphs (b) the ideas in the final paragraph are distinct from the ideas in the previous paragraph (c) contains no examples (d) only confirms the reader's opinion that the writer is apprehensive about a skunk (e) no contradictions are explained in these two sentences

question

Sentence Improvement

answer

→Sweep through, read all the answers CONNECTED TO THE NON-UNDERLINED PORTION, and kill the total crap. You will trigger your automatic grammar mechanism best when you see the proposed answers in light of the entire sentence, and not in isolation. → Kill remaining answers by comparison of differences. Isolating differences by comparing answers to each other is the easiest way to notice and eliminate errors. Kill the most wrong choice

question

Error ID

answer

If you see something you really don't like, ask yourself: "Can I IMMEDIATELY think of a replacement?" → Yes: the answer is wrong. → No: the answer is not wrong. You may not like it, but it's not wrong. Look for something else. Look at each answer choice, A-D, and ask "what COULD be wrong with it?" For example, if you see an underlined verb, ask "is it the right tense? Is it singular if it should be plural?"

question

Passage Improvement

answer

Do NOT read the passage first. Only read the passage if you have to. Use the EXACT same elimination and comparison process that you used for the sentence improvement questions to answer these questions. Go through and kill all the crap. You can kill based on both GRAMMAR and CONTEXT-- more excuse to eliminate.

question

Errors in basic tense

answer

"I will be president when I was five"

question

Singular vs. plural disagreement

answer

"I are going..." "we is happy"

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Adverb vs. adjective disagreement

answer

"I am running quick"

question

Pronoun mismatching

answer

"When you go to the story, one becomes angry"

question

Crappy word order / ludicrously excessive wording

answer

"I am, after some thought, for the time being, going to the store which is over there because it is the reason why I am buying the items at the store in the store." → On the Sentence Improvement section, the shortest answer is almost always the best answer.

question

Misplaced Modifiers

answer

ex. "After years of sitting at his desk, the job seemed boring and tiresome to Martin" changes to: "After years of sitting at his desk, Martin found his job boring and tiresome" → Whenever you have a description followed by a comma, THE THING OR PERSON BEING DESCRIBED MUST COME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMMA!

question

Error in Comparison

answer

ex. "My science project was better than every other student in my class" changes to: "My science project was better than every other students' project" →Compare APPLES to APPLES! Just because you "know what a sentence means" does NOT make it grammatically correct!

question

The Flock of Seagulls Trick

answer

ex. "The flock of seagulls landed on the water and they all started eating the fish" changes to: "The flock of seagulls landed on the water and started to eat all the fish" → Nouns and noun clauses which represent groups of things must be treated as SINGULAR, even though they represent a large number of things! Don't refer to an "it" as a "they."

question

Comma splices

answer

A comma splice is when you connect two complete sentences with a comma. You're not allowed to do that. (I love watching the rain, I think I'll go outside for a minute.) Use CONJUNCTIONS to fit those clauses together! (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

question

Pronoun Rules

answer

***Golden Rule: ANY time you see a difference in pronoun usage (on Sentence Improvement questions) or a single underlined pronoun (in Error ID questions) you should automatically be VERY suspicious.

question

Parallelism

answer

When you list two or more things, they must be in EXACTLY the same grammatical format.

question

"Where" and "When"

answer

On the SAT, the word "when" must refer to an exact period of time, and the word "where" must refer to an exact physical location.

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"Each" and "Everyone" makes...

answer

makes everything singular

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"And" makes...

answer

makes everything plural.

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"Is why"

answer

always wrong! use "because"

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"being"

answer

is always wrong!

question

who vs. whom

answer

The most simple way to think about the words "who" and "whom" are in terms of subject and object. The word who is always the subject of a sentence, and the word whom is always the object of a sentence. → is this person having something happen to them directly? If so, then replace the person with whom. If not, replace the person with who.

question

Though [best known] as a jazz vocalist, he [also enjoyed] gospel music, [whereby] he told his manager that he wanted to make a [recording of] his favorite gospel songs.

answer

An incorrect subordinating conjunction, [whereby] is used instead of the coordinating conjunction [so] that is needed.

question

The dolls in the collection, [all] [more than] two hundred years old, had been [carefully] carved for children [long since] gone.

answer

No error! There is no error at (D). The words "long" and "since" form an appropriate idiom that functions as an adverb modifying the adjective "gone."

question

The information age has ushered children into a global society, [this situation causing educators to lament] a lack of texts that explain the diversity of cultures. (a) same (b) which is the cause of educators lamenting (c) this causing educators lament over (d) a situation causing educators to lament (e) and with it educators lament

answer

(a) error in pronoun use. There is nothing in the sentence to which the pronoun "they" can logically refer. (b) correct! It avoids the error of the original by using appropriate pronouns. (c) pronoun error. The pronoun "them" does not refer to anything else in the sentence. (d) improper pronoun. There is nothing in the sentence to which "their" can refer. (e) subject-verb disagreement. The plural verb "are" does not agree with its singular subject "One result."

question

[if we compare the number of alligators with the Gila monster over time, we see that the alligator is] in decline (a) same (b) comparing the number of alligators and the Gila monsters, we see that alligators are (c) in comparison with Gila monsters, the number of alligators are (d) to compare the alligator with Gila monsters is to show that it is (e) A comparison over time of the numbers of alligators and Gila monsters shows that alligators are

answer

(a) illogical comparison. It is not logical to compare "the number of alligators" with "the Gila monsters." (b) illogical comparison. One could compare "the alligator" with "the Gila monster," but one cannot logically compare "the number" of alligators to "the Gila monster." (c) illogical comparison. For the comparison to be logical, the number of alligators must be compared with the number of Gila monsters, not just with "Gila monsters." (d) illogical comparison. It doesn't make sense to compare "the alligator" with "Gila monsters." It is the number of each that should be compared. (e) correct! avoids the error of the original by comparing like entities ("alligators" and "Gila monsters").

question

For most young people in America who are approaching voting age, choosing a president is very much [like the process by which you choose a homecoming queen]. (a) (as it is now) (b) the process of choosing a homecoming queen (c) that of choosing a homecoming queen (d) the way you choose a homecoming queen (e) choosing a homecoming queen

answer

*E* The comparison requires a parallel form: "choosing...is like choosing."

question

Which of the following is the best way to combine sentences 2 and 3? They simply select the candidate by picking the one whose personality they like the most. They don't realize that choosing a leader is a much more serious task than that. (a) They don't realize that choosing a leader is more serious than that, selecting the one whose personality they like the most. (b) selecting the one that has personality they like most, they don't realize that it's more serious than that. (c) not realizing how serious a task it is to choose a leader, they simply select the candidate whose personality they like most. (d) because of not realizing how serious it is choosing a leader, they simply select the candidate whose personality they like most. (e) because they simply select the candidate with the personality they like the most, they don't realize that choosing a leader is more serious than that.

answer

*C* Choice C coordinates with the ideas most logically without the use of any unclear pronoun antecedents.

question

Also, very few young adults really think about [what kinds of qualifications and skills the candidates might or might not have, they] just pick the one whom their parents or their friends like. (a) (as it is now) (b) the qualifications and skills of the candidates, but instead (c) what kinds of qualifications and skills the candidates might have, they instead (d) the qualifications and skills of the candidates, they (e) what are the qualifications and skills of the candidates, they instead

answer

*B* The original phrasing is needlessly wordy and awkward. Choice B is preferable to D because D creates a run-on sentence.

question

They should be asking whether [this candidate is able to solve problems that are important to me because he or she is qualified to solve them?] (a) the candidate us qualified to solve the problems that are important to them. (b) the candidate is qualified to solve the problems that are important to me? (c) is this candidate able to be qualified to solve the problems that are important to me? (d) the candidate is qualified to solve the problems that are important to him or her (e) the candidate is or is not qualified to solve the problems that are important to him or her

answer

*A* Choice A is best because it is concise and avoids the pronoun shift of the others. (Asking whether it is important to THEM--> the youth)

question

Many literary historians [regard] the novels of Zora Neale Hurston, with their [rich characterizations], as being among the [most significant] works of [the late Harlem Renaissance].

answer

Sentence is correct! [rich characterizations] is correct b/c it is the way historians describe Hurston

question

Western culture has thrived because it values the open inquiry of science [more than the closed dogma] of state religion. (a) more than the closed dogma (b) to the closed dogma (c) over the closed nature of the dogma of (d) more than that of the closed dogma (e) more than it values things like the closed dogma

answer

The original phrasing is best. If you can't figure out what exactly is wrong, it's probably fine.

question

The many women who [took up] cycling during the bicycle craze of the 1890s [were bravely defying] Victorian social norms that discouraged women [to engage] in [any] athletic activity whatsoever.

answer

The error is in [to engage]. An error was introduced with the use of the preposition to instead of the preposition from. Idiomatically, people are discouraged from doing something; they are encouraged to do something.

question

In context, what revision to sentence 7 (reproduced below) would provide the best transition between the first and second paragraphs? *Researchers believe that play may have evolved at least in part to enhance the ability of animals to adapt to novel situations.* (a) Insert "However," at the beginning of the sentence. (b) Change "Researchers" to "Indeed, researchers now". (c) Change "play" to "this behavior". (d) Delete "at least" from the sentence. (e) Change "novel" to "unforeseen".

answer

(a) Wrong. "However" would mean that there is a contradiction, which there is none-- just further exploration of a question. (b) Correct! Improves the transition between paragraphs b/c previous paragraph presents a question that puzzled researchers. (c) Wrong, unnecessary change that doesn't have to do with the transition between (d) Wrong, doesn't improve transition. (e) Wrong, doesn't improve transition.

question

Bridget worried that she might not be able to bring back many souvenirs [were she to take] only one suitcase on vacation. (a) were she to take (b) if she would have taken (c) was she to have taken (d) had she took (e) by having taken

answer

(a) Correct as is! The past form of the subjunctive tense is needed. To see this rewrite the sentence as: "Were she to take ..., Bridget worried ..." That the main idea is hypothetical is clear because of the use of "might". The sentence could also be cast as "If she were to take ..." and perhaps it's clearer that way. In any case the "if" is implicit.

question

When I learned that both events were scheduled for the same evening, I found it difficult to choose between going to the basketball game [or attend] the rock concert. (a) or attend (b) or to attend (c) or attending (d) and attending (e) and to attending

answer

Correct is (d). Corrects the parallelism issue present in the original sentence ("going" and "attend" are not parallel). Second, the correct construction is "between ... and ..."

question

Watkins believes that the decline [of] the essay [in] the united states today is [largely due] to the decreasing number of [inquiring readers].

answer

No error! There is no error at D, the participle "inquiring" properly modifies the plural noun "readers."

question

[The Basque language, possibly one of Europe's oldest, whose origins are hotly debated]. (a) (no change) (b) The Basque language, possibly one of Europe's oldest, its origins are hotly debated. (c) Possibly one of Europe's oldest languages, the origins of the Basque are hotly debated. (d) The origins of the Basque language, possibly one of Europe's oldest, are hotly debated. (e) Basque is hotly debated as a language whose origins are possibly Europe's oldest.

answer

(a) creates a sentence fragment (b) displays improper subordination. The two introductory noun phrases ("The Basque language" and "possibly one of Europe's oldest") have no grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence. (c) misplaces a noun phrase. The introductory noun phrase "Possibly one of Europe's oldest languages" does not have the same reference as the noun phrase that it introduces: "the origins of Basque." (d) Correct! It avoids the error of the original by using the verb "are" in an independent clause to state a complete thought and by making it clear that "the Basque language" is "one of Europe's oldest languages." (e) illogical in its arrangement of ideas. The origins of Basque (not the language itself) are hotly debated, and the language (not its origins) is possibly Europe's oldest.

question

Many changes occurred while she was president of the [college, and they increased its educational quality as well as effectiveness]. (a) (no change) (b) college, they both increased the educational quality and effectiveness of the college (c) college, which both increased its educational quality as well as increased its effectiveness (d) college; these changes increased its educational quality and effectiveness (e) college; these changes increased both the educational quality and effectiveness of the college

answer

(a) lack of parallelism (b) results in improper coordination. Two complete thoughts are linked by only a comma. (c) involves the use of an improper idiom. The phrase "as well as" is used in combination with the word "both" where it would be more idiomatic to use the words "both... and." (d) involves the use of a vague pronoun. The meaning of the sentence would be clearer if the pronoun "its" were replaced by a possessive noun, "the college's." (e) Correct! It avoids the error of the original by providing a noun phrase ("these changes") instead of the vague pronoun "they" and clarifying the phrase introduced by the verb "increased."

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