Common Mistakes in Writing: Mastery Test

C

Read this sentence: Ruby was worried about her impending exams, she then started setting aside some time to study. Which option corrects this comma splice error? A. Ruby was worried about her impending exams she then started setting aside some time to study. B. Ruby was worried about her impending exams and she then started setting aside some time to study. C. Ruby was worried about her impending exams; she then started setting aside some time to study.

Not C

Read this sentence: Students gave apples to their teachers in the old days. This was a sign of appreciation. How can this sentence be rewritten so it is clearer? A. As a sign of appreciation, students gave apples to their teachers in the old days. B. Because students gave apples to their teachers in the old days, it was a sign of appreciation. C. Students gave apples to their teachers in the old days, and this was a sign of appreciation.

A

Read this sentence: When in high school, my guidance counselor talked to me about career options. What kind of error does this sentence have? A. dangling modifier B. misplaced modifier C. squinting modifier

C

Which is a sentence fragment? A. Panting after the run, Judy struggled to catch her breath. B. Unhappy about the decision, Janine relented anyway. C. Having stormed out in the middle of an argument with Josh.

B

Which sentence exhibits parallel structure? A. On my day off, I want to go see a movie, go to the park, and visit my grandmother. B. On my day off, I want to go see a movie, go to the park, and go visit my grandmother. C. On my day off, I want to go see a movie, to the park, and visit my grandmother.

Not A

Which sentence has a misplaced modifier? A. They nearly took part in the altercation. B. They almost worked all day on the assignment. C. They always take their dogs out for a walk together.

A

Which sentence has a pronoun-antecedent disagreement error? A. Each journalist has to decide what beat they want to cover. B. It was so crowded that one of the girls lost her doll. C. Every student should hand in his or her assignment. D. Every boy scout has to sell his own cookies.

A

Which sentence is written correctly with subject-verb agreement? A. Neither the public prosecutor nor the defense lawyer was happy with the case's outcome. B. Not one out of twenty mathematicians were able to solve the problem set before them. C. One of the new students in my class are educated at a school in switzerland.