comm160 exam
______________________ the teacher asked.
"What is the answer?"
The thick heavy book costs a lot of money.
Coordinate adjectives take commas, not hyphens. See Pages 348-349 in Working with Words.
The racer drove the car _______________.
Dangerously We need an adverb because we are discussing how the car was driven.
By ending grudges, _________________
I saw my blood pressure fall.
___________________________ workers fix things that are broken in the building.
Maintenance
My garden looks _________________ than my neighbor's.
More beautiful This is correct. Looks takes a predicate adjective because it is a linking verb. We need the comparative form because we are comparing two items. See Page 219 in Working with Words.
______________ is something I do each morning.
Running seven kilometers
This is _________ historical event.
a A is used because historical does not begin with a vowel sound. See Page 222 in Working with Words.
To make a cake, __________________.
a baker needs various ingredients.
a) "The problem with your plan," Mom said, "is its lack of clarity." b) "The problem with your plan," Mom said, "Is its lack of clarity." c) "The problem with your plan," Mom said "is its lack of clarity." d) "The problem with your plan" Mom said, "is its lack of clarity."
a) "The problem with your plan," Mom said, "is its lack of clarity."
a) Before McCoy discovered the joys of journalism, she was a chemistry major. b) Before McCoy discovered the joys of journalism she was a chemistry major.
a) Before McCoy discovered the joys of journalism, she was a chemistry major.
Which is correct? a) Everything they do turns out well. b) Everything they do turn out well.
a) Everything they do turns out well. Everything takes a singular verb. See Page 209 in Working with Words.
a) I was only a few days late. b) I only was a few days late.
a) I was only a few days late. Only must be closer to days because only is modifying days. See Page 231 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) Katie jogged a 5-K and climbed a mountain. She also does yoga. b) Kathy jogged a 5-K, climbed a mountain and does yoga.
a) Katie jogged a 5-K and climbed a mountain. She also does yoga. "Katie jogged a 5-K and climbed a mountain. She also does yoga" is correct because since we are switching tenses (from past to present), we should make separate sentences. See Pages 212-213 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) Neither pro football players nor George Halas would do his part. b) Neither pro football players nor George Halas would do their part.
a) Neither pro football players nor George Halas would do his part. The noun after nor dictates the the number of the pronoun. See Page 211 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) Not only has Joan watched the show, but also so has her sister. b) Not only have Joan watched the show but also so has her sister. c) Not only has Joan watched the show but also so have her sister. d) Not only have Joan watched the show but also so have her sister.
a) Not only has Joan watched the show, but also so has her sister. This is correct. From Pages 205-206 in Working with Words: "... if 'not only ... but also' connect a dependent and an independent clause, the verb following 'but also' should agree with the subject of the independent clause." Joan is singular; therefore, we need a singular verb.
a) Providing a safe way to the moon, NASA developed the space shuttle in the 1980s. b) First used in the 1980s, NASA provided a safe way to the moon via the space shuttle.
a) Providing a safe way to the moon, NASA developed the space shuttle in the 1980s. NASA was not "first used in the 1980s."
Which is correct? a) Rachel, as well as her colleagues, is buying items. b) Rachel, as well as her colleagues, are buying items.
a) Rachel, as well as her colleagues, is buying items. See Pages 205-206 in Working with Words: "The number of the subject is not affected by parenthetical words, phrases or clauses that are set off by commas -- such as those starting with along with, as well as, in addition to, including, such as or together with."
Which is correct? a) Ricky is the only one of those artists who is famous. b) Ricky is the only one of those artists who are famous.
a) Ricky is the only one of those artists who is famous. Only one changes the verb to "is." See Page 210 in Working with Words.
a) The American flag is red, white and blue; the Canadian flag is red and white; and the German flag is red, gold and black. b) The American flag is red, white and blue, the Canadian flag is red and white, and the German flag is red, gold and black.
a) The American flag is red, white and blue; the Canadian flag is red and white; and the German flag is red, gold and black.
a) We ask, therefore, that you keep this matter confidential. b) We ask; therefore, that you keep this matter confidential.
a) We ask, therefore, that you keep this matter confidential.
Choose the correct spelling: aberration or abberation
aberration
The soldier accidently drank water that had not been chlorinated properly to kill bacteria.
accidentally
The team was doing ___________.
all right
a) "You must do your chores before you are allowed to go to the store." Dad said. b) "You must do your chores before you are allowed to go to the store," Dad said.
b) "You must do your chores before you are allowed to go to the store," Dad said.
Which is correct? a) A couple was walking side by side down the sidewalk. b) A couple were walking side by side down the sidewalk.
b) A couple were walking side by side down the sidewalk. Two people were acting as individuals, "walking side by side." Therefore, we need a plural verb. See Pages 205-206 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) A married couple receive discounts on car insurance. b) A married couple receives discounts on car insurance.
b) A married couple receives discounts on car insurance. Couple in this instance is one entity. See Pages 205-206 in Working with Words.
a) Jumping to conclusions, bad decisions can be made. b) Bad decisions can be made by jumping to conclusions
b) Bad decisions can be made by jumping to conclusions Bad decisions cannot jump to conclusions.
Which is correct? a) Barry won the award and then was taken home by his parents. b) Barry won the award and then left.
b) Barry won the award and then left. We should not switch between passive and active voices in a sentence. See Page 216 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) News travel quickly. b) News travels quickly.
b) News travels quickly. News is an uncountable noun that takes a singular verb. See Pages 206-207 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) One-fourth of the children at the preschool has chicken pox. b) One-fourth of the children at the preschool have chicken pox.
b) One-fourth of the children at the preschool have chicken pox. We need a plural verb because we are describing children, a plural noun. See Pages 206-207 in Working with Words.
Which is correct? a) Pizza and hamburgers is great to eat. b) Pizza and hamburgers are great to eat.
b) Pizza and hamburgers are great to eat. Pizza and hamburgers are distinct entities. A plural verb is needed. See Pages 205-206 in Working with Words.
a) Running down the street, the rain began to fall during my jog. b) Running down the street, I felt the rain fall during my jog.
b) Running down the street, I felt the rain fall during my jog. I, not the rain, was running down the street. See Pages 229-230 in Working with Words.
a) She said her favorite movie was "Das Boot" ("The Boat.") b) She said her favorite movie was "Das Boot" ("The Boat").
b) She said her favorite movie was "Das Boot" ("The Boat").
Which is correct? a) Take the test, and after that you should have plenty of free time. b) Take the test. After that, you should have plenty of free time.
b) Take the test. After that, you should have plenty of free time. Because we are switching moods (imperative to conditional), we need two sentences. See Page 216 in Working with Words.
a) Stumbling down the road, the car almost ran the man down. b) The car almost ran down the man who was stumbling down the road.
b) The car almost ran down the man who was stumbling down the road.
a) The child brought home a report card of three As and three Bs. b) The child brought home a report card of three A's and three B's.
b) The child brought home a report card of three A's and three B's.
a) The politician began the speech by saying, "Abraham Lincoln once said, "Fore score and seven years ago."" b) The politician began the speech by saying, "Abraham Lincoln once said, 'Fore score and seven years ago.'"
b) The politician began the speech by saying, "Abraham Lincoln once said, 'Fore score and seven years ago.'"
a) The tall-thin individual is a suspect. b) The tall, thin individual is a suspect. c) The tall thin individual is a suspect.
b) The tall, thin individual is a suspect.
a) The teacher will try to quickly make her point. b) The teacher will try to make her point quickly.
b) The teacher will try to make her point quickly.
Which is correct? a) The total amount of money spent is astronomical. b) The total amount of money spent are astronomical.
b) The total amount of money spent are astronomical. "The total" takes a singular verb. See Page 208 in Working with Words.
a) While flying a kite, the weather turned nasty to me. b) While flying a kite, I believe the weather turned nasty.
b) While flying a kite, I believe the weather turned nasty.
Shelia is __________________________ to her four siblings. a) less tall compared b) the least tall compared
b) the least tall compared We need least tall because we are talking about four siblings. See Pages 219-220 in Working with Words.
A begger doesn't always ask for a lot of money.
beggar
Which is correct? a) Timmy buys shirts, purchases cars and houses. b) Timmy buys shirts, purchased cars and houses. c) Timmy buys shirts, purchases cars and procures houses.
c) Timmy buys shirts, purchases cars and procures houses. This is correct. The verb tenses and the construction must be parallel. See Page 216 in Working with Words.
Do you think I _____ win the race tomorrow?
can
However Joey wanted to sing the song.
comma
Mary can you drive the car?
comma
The tall muscular athlete won first place.
comma
Copy editing requires that words have _______________ spellings.
consistent
Blossoming nicely, the plant was admired by the farm.
correct
For a person to PROCEED on a driving trip, the person must refuel the vehicle when it runs out of gas.
correct
Individuals FORGO food when they fast.
correct
Scrubbing hard, the janitor removed the stain on the wood floor.
correct
The candidate won the election with a PLURALITY of votes, 45 percent to be exact.
correct
The city council adopted a new ORDINANCE.
correct
The football team lost in a ROUT, 49-0.
correct
"It's too bad that more women don't have the procedure ---
done," she said. "Mammography can save your life."
You can ______________ success by studying before the exam.
ensure
The coach _____________________ journalists by always leaving from the back door.
evaded
The _____ example showed them what not to do.
foregoing
The Olympian runs ______________.
gracefully We need gracefully because we are describing how the Olympian runs. See Page 220 in Working with Words.
Choose the correct spelling: grammar or grammer
grammar
The police charged the suspect with __________________.
homicide
runnerup
hyphenated
A relative accused the suspect of MURDERING the gangster.
incorrect
EVERYONE of those books needs to be picked up.
incorrect
Having been caught speeding, the traffic cop gave the student a ticket.
incorrect
Taking our seats, the meeting began.
incorrect
The SURFS toiled in the fields.
incorrect
The fraudster DILUTED shareholders by acting as if the company was in great shape.
incorrect
The two companies' MUTUAL goal to assist the poor is shared as each business gives an equal amount of money to charity.
incorrect
Working fiercely, anything can be accomplished.
incorrect
Water ______________ a method of dousing fires.
is only
The driver was sent to ______________________ on the misdemeanor crime of not paying parking tickets.
jail
Choose the correct spelling: knowledgable or knowledgeable
knowledgeable
He said it was a privilege to receive a driver's licence in his adopted homeland.
license
A ham and turkey sandwich often contains just a touch of mayonaise.
mayonnaise
The __________________________ aspect of these three factors is honesty.
most important We need most because we are comparing three aspects. See Page 216 in Working with Words.
The beautifully orchestrated piece brought the audience to its feet.
no If an adverb ends in "ly," then don't use the hyphen. See Page 220 in Working with Words.
The crooked yellow ladder does not look sturdy.
no No punctuation when one adjective is referring to color, unless the one adjective is describing the color. See Pages 348-349 in Working with Words.
It was a cloud free day in the city.
no comma
Choose the correct spelling: nusance or nuisance
nuisance
Sue is the ______________ of the two sisters.
older Since we are comparing two sisters, we need older, not oldest. See Page 219 in Working with Words.
To become successful, _______________________.
one must work hard.
congressman
one word
tailspin
one word
tattletale
one word
This animal breed grows _______.
quick We need quick because grow is a linking verb. We need a predicate adjective. See Page 220 in Working with Words.
The trash began to _______________ after a few days next to the heater.
reek
The note was written on company __________________________.
stationery
The batter swings ________________.
strongly We are describing how the batter swings.
Shopping for presents, ___________________.
the parents felt fatigued.
The boss has a nervous ______________; the person's face muscles shake during times of stress.
tic
jumpshot
two words
Choose the correct spelling: virtuly or virtually
virtually
Phil completed the tasks __________________ than Larry.
worse We need worse because we are comparing two people. This is an irregular construction: bad, worse and worst.
She is a part time worker.
yes Part-time is an adjective that describes worker. See Pages 220-221 in Working with Words.
The surly mannered dog barked at the children.
yes Surly is an adjective; therefore, we need to hyphenate. See Page 221 in Working with Words.
The object is saucer shaped.
yes We hyphenate because the compound is a predicate adjective. The key word is the helping/being verb "is." See Pages 220-221 in Working with Words.