Sentence Exam

Select the instruction for editing the following sentence. With the entire fraternity ridiculed after the incident, each member has his own motives for avoiding any further publicity. Leave as is. Change his own motives to their own motives Change his own motives to his or her own motives.

Leave as is.

What are the subject and the verb of the independent clause in the following sentence? Ignorance of the issues, even if reliable information is unavailable, fails as a good reason for people not to vote. ignorance; fails information; is people; vote

ignorance; fails

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the following sentence. One of the best new security systems, already in use in many airports, _____ also easier on passengers' frazzled nerves. is are were

is

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the following sentence. The passengers are finally strapped into their first-class seats, and their baggage with designer labels _____ safely stowed in the plane's cargo bays. are is

is

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the following sentence. In fact, Connie is the only one of the players who _____ to join with the others in presenting the petition to the principal. refuses refuse

refuses

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the following sentence. What should an airport security screener do if she _______ to encounter a passenger with a hunting knife? is was were

were

In the following passage, are the words in italics an independent clause, a subordinate clause, or a fragment? Each candidate will have exactly the same rights to formulate his or her policy proposals. *But not to compel the media to pay attention.* independent clause subordinate clause fragment

fragment

In the following sentence, the words in italics are what kind of phrase? So, if reporters are allowed to do their work—*conscientiously reporting the whole truth about where the candidates stand*—the public will be able to vote rationally. prepositional phrase participial phrase gerund phrase

gerund phrase

What is the correct verb form to fill in the blank in the following sentence? The vast majority of the security contracts had ______ to firms with suspicious ties to political operatives. go went gone

gone

In the following sentence, are the words in italics an independent clause, a subordinate clause, or a fragment? *Although that particular source may not appear reasonable and accurate*, it is. independent clause subordinate clause fragment

subordinate clause

Which is the best revision of the following sentence? After September 11, 2001, airline passengers were subjected to ever-increasing inconvenience, actual security may not have been improved. After September 11, 2001, airline passengers were subjected to ever-increasing inconvenience, although actual security may not have been improved. After September 11, 2001, airline passengers were subjected to ever-increasing inconvenience actual security may not have been improved. After September 11, 2001, airline passengers were subjected to ever-increasing inconvenience. Not improving actual security.

After September 11, 2001, airline passengers were subjected to ever-increasing inconvenience, although actual security may not have been improved.

Which of the following sentences has no problems with verb tense? Before the passengers went through security screening, they will have left their baggage at the airline counter. Before the passengers went through security screening, they had left their baggage at the airline counter. Before the passengers went through security screening, they are leaving their baggage at the airline counter.

Before the passengers went through security screening, they had left their baggage at the airline counter.

Select the choice that most clearly combines the information in these two sentences: "Flowering perennials are easily cultivated" and "Roses and orchids are flowering perennials." Roses and orchids, in addition to being flowering perennials, are easily cultivated. Despite the ease of cultivation, flowering perennials include roses and orchids. Flowering perennials, such as roses and orchids, are easily cultivated.

Flowering perennials, such as roses and orchids, are easily cultivated.

The following sentence is in the passive voice. What are the subject and the verb of this sentence? Before the passengers boarded a plane that day, they were extensively—some would say carefully; others, intrusively—screened by security officials. passengers; board they; were screened officials; screened

they; were screened

Select the correct pronoun to fill in the blank in the following sentence. _____ do you think should take over the dean's duties, now that she is obviously incapable of fulfilling them herself? who whom

who

Select the sentence that contains no shifts in either verb tense or point of view. Every time a girl tries out for the school chess club, you have to overcome the prejudice that "girls don't play chess." Every time a girl tries out for the school chess club, she had to overcome the prejudice that "girls don't play chess." Every time a girl tries out for the school chess club, she has to overcome the prejudice that "girls don't play chess."

Every time a girl tries out for the school chess club, she has to overcome the prejudice that "girls don't play chess."

Which of the following sentences is neither a comma splice nor a fused sentence? A festive atmosphere prevailed at the winner's campaign headquarters, a mournful pall fell over the hotel ballroom that the loser had rented in hopes of a victory celebration. The election results were said to be tainted the voting machines in several precincts had malfunctioned. In spite of the predictions of pollsters and pundits, the voters were unswayed by the well-financed challenger's personal attacks on the popular incumbent.

In spite of the predictions of pollsters and pundits, the voters were unswayed by the well-financed challenger's personal attacks on the popular incumbent.

Choose the sentence that is clearer. Roscoe explained that he fed the pets more than his wife. Roscoe explained that he fed the pets more than his wife did.

Roscoe explained that he fed the pets more than his wife did.

Select the passage that shows the best use of pronouns. The traditions of the college demand that the students who perpetrated the outrage be held accountable for their actions. They have no place in an institution of higher learning. The traditions of the college demand that the students who perpetrated the outrage be held accountable for their actions. That must be uppermost in everyone's mind. The traditions of the college demand that the students who perpetrated the outrage be held accountable for their actions, which have no place in an institution of higher learning.

The traditions of the college demand that the students who perpetrated the outrage be held accountable for their actions, which have no place in an institution of higher learning.

Select the choice that contains no shifts in either verb tense or point of view. The marigolds were blossoming just as a sudden hailstorm had been destroying all of my annual flowers. No sooner had the marigolds blossomed than a sudden hailstorm destroyed all of my annual flowers. A sudden hailstorm was destroying my annual flowers when the marigolds blossomed.

No sooner had the marigolds blossomed than a sudden hailstorm destroyed all of my annual flowers.

Select the sentence that shows correct parallel structure. Plants throughout the garden should be watered regularly and have been getting plenty of sunshine. Plants throughout the garden should be watered regularly and getting plenty of sunshine. Plants throughout the garden should receive water regularly and get plenty of sunshine.

Plants throughout the garden should receive water regularly and get plenty of sunshine.

Which is the best revision of the following passage? Many voters were dismayed when each candidate turned more and more to attacking the motives and methods of the other candidate. Not to matters of policy. And not to the substantive issues voters cared about most. Many voters were dismayed when each candidate turned more and more to attacking the motives and methods of the other candidate. Rather than to matters of policy. Or to the substantive issues voters cared about most. Many voters were dismayed when each candidate turned more and more to attacking the motives and methods of the other candidate—not to matters of policy nor to the substantive issues voters cared about most. Many voters were dismayed when each candidate turned more and more to attacking the motives and methods of the other candidate not to matters of policy or the substantive issues voters cared about most.

Many voters were dismayed when each candidate turned more and more to attacking the motives and methods of the other candidate—not to matters of policy nor to the substantive issues voters cared about most.

Choose the correct word or words to fill in the blank in the following sentence. _____ far too many reasons not to be wary of the motivations behind his reluctance to testify under oath. There's There are

There are

Choose the correct words to fill in the blanks in the following sentence. Each of the teammates _____ that the coach was unfairly singled out for the loss, and most of them _____ signed the petition declaring their continuing support. feels; has feels; have feel; have

feels; has

Choose the correct word to fill in the blank in the following sentence. Either the president or his advisors _____ to appear before the investigating committee if we are to avoid a political crisis. has have

have