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Example Questions
Example Question #663 : Usage Errors
Many people watch football however (1) some do not. With (2) those who do not watch this sport (3) football is an incomprehensible pastime. Non football (4) fans cannot understand what is so exciting about watching two packs of grown men running away or toward each other, while (5) clinging for dear life to a piece of pigskin. It also makes from little to no sense (6) why those whom (7) play the sport gets (8) paid the exorbitant amounts that they do, even though he is (9) in effect doing the same thing that high school and college students do on a daily bases (10). But as the French would say, "Chacun à son goût" (11) though its (12) highly doubtful that most football fans (or even people who are not fans) would know what that means.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
Non, football
NO CHANGE
"Non" football
Non-football
Non-football
A hyphen is generally used when two adjectives are combined to form a new one, but only before a noun.
Example Question #15 : Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
Ivan and Oscar, two little white mice living in Mrs. Wiggins house (1), were desperate for some cheese, but the only way to get to the kitchen was climbing down (2) the old suit of armor that Mrs. Wiggins brought (3) back from England after her honeymoon. Ivan had went down (4) to the kitchen many times before, but Oscar was new to it all and (5) he was more nervous than he would admit. They came out at the hole in the wall above the suit of armors (6) left shoulder, and Oscar watched as Ivan slipped fast (7) into the joins between the steel plates. He then heard Ivan scuttling down through the shoulder, chest, and the left leg (8) before emerging through the left foot below. "Come on down Oscar (9)" called the courageous mouse. Oscar made his way into the shoulder just as his friend had done, but (10) somehow got mixed up and ended up in the right arm. The twists and turns inside the armor were too complicated for his tiny, mousy (11) mind. Finally he called out, "Help, Ivan! Help! Wont (12) you help me make it through the knight?"
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
tiny; mousy
tiny mousy
tiny, mousy,
tiny mousy
When two adjectives follow each other, a comma should separate them only if they can be read with "and" between them, and in this case, the phrase "his tiny and mousy mind" would sound awkward.
Example Question #16 : Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
The student the hand of whom was up (1) gave the wrong answer. She was asked what was a substantive adjective (2), and she answered that a substantive adjective is one that describe (3) a substance. "No!" (4) the teacher barked. "A substantive adjective takes the place of a noun in a sentence, as when someone talks about the rich and the poor (5). Did you learn nothing in this class?" He then asked what a superlative adjective was, to which she replied (6) that a superlative adjective was one that took the place of a noun in a sentence. "But thats (7) what I just said," the teacher screamed! (8) The student had said (9) that she had heard him, therefore (10) she answered his question. "You answered my question previously, (11)" he bellowed, "not the last one!" "Ah, you mean the latest one," the student replied, the moment at which (12) the teacher turned to the wall and started beating his head against it.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
the hand of who was up
NO CHANGE
whose hand was up
the hand of which was up
whose hand was up
The correct wording of the adjective clause above is "whose hand was up;" the other wordings are either incorrect or too wordy.
Example Question #17 : Other Adjective And Adverb Errors
The student the hand of whom was up (1) gave the wrong answer. She was asked what was a substantive adjective (2), and she answered that a substantive adjective is one that describe (3) a substance. "No!" (4) the teacher barked. "A substantive adjective takes the place of a noun in a sentence, as when someone talks about the rich and the poor (5). Did you learn nothing in this class?" He then asked what a superlative adjective was, to which she replied (6) that a superlative adjective was one that took the place of a noun in a sentence. "But thats (7) what I just said," the teacher screamed! (8) The student had said (9) that she had heard him, therefore (10) she answered his question. "You answered my question previously, (11)" he bellowed, "not the last one!" "Ah, you mean the latest one," the student replied, the moment at which (12) the teacher turned to the wall and started beating his head against it.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
my previously question
my question from previous
my previous question
my previous question
The adjective "previous" should be used here instead of the adverb "previously," and it should precede the noun it modifies ("question").
Example Question #131 : Other Usage Errors
Adapted from The Discourse on Method by René Descartes (1637; 1899, ed. Eliot)
From my childhood, I have been familiar with letters; and as I was given to believe that by their help a clear and certain knowledge of all that is useful in life might be acquired, I was ardently desirously for instruction in them. But as soon as I had finished the entire course of study, at the close of which it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned, I completely changed my opinion. I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors and was convinced that I had not advanced in all my attempts at learning. At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was to be discovered. And yet, I was studying in one of the most celebrated Schools in Europe. I thought there must be learned men in it, at least if such were anywhere to be found. I had been taught all that others learned there. However, not contented with the sciences actually taught us, I had, in addition, read all the books that had fallen into my hands, studying those branches that are judged to be the most curious and rare. I knew the judgment that others had formed of me. I did not find that I was considered inferior to my fellows, although there were among them some whom were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors. And, finally, our era appeared to me as flourishing and fertile with powerful minds as any preceding one. I was thus led to take the liberty of judging of all other men by myself. Furthermore, I concluded that there was no science in existence that was of such a nature as I had previously been given to believe.
Which is the best form of the underlined selection "I was ardently desirously for instruction in them"?
NO CHANGE
I had been ardently desirously for instruction in them
I am ardently desirous for instruction in them
I was ardently desirous for instruction in them
I was ardently desirous for instruction in them
As written, the major issue with the sentence is its lack of a predicate nominative phrase or adjective. By using the verb "to be" (i.e. "was"), the author is describing himself. That is, he is saying, "I was X," where X is some description. The problem is the double use of adverbs directly after the verb. Among the options provided, the best answer is the one that replaces "desirously" with "desirous." Thus, "ardently" is an adverb modifying "desirous," which is a predicate nominative adjective describing "I."
Example Question #2175 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Adapted from The Discourse on Method by René Descartes (1637; 1899, ed. Eliot)
From my childhood, I have been familiar with letters; and as I was given to believe that by their help a clear and certain knowledge of all that is useful in life might be acquired, I was ardently desirously for instruction in them. But as soon as I had finished the entire course of study, at the close of which it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned, I completely changed my opinion. I found myself involved in so many doubts and errors and was convinced that I had not advanced in all my attempts at learning. At every turn, ignorance and unknowing was to be discovered. And yet, I was studying in one of the most celebrated Schools in Europe. I thought there must be learned men in it, at least if such were anywhere to be found. I had been taught all that others learned there. However, not contented with the sciences actually taught us, I had, in addition, read all the books that had fallen into my hands, studying those branches that are judged to be the most curious and rare. I knew the judgment that others had formed of me. I did not find that I was considered inferior to my fellows, although there were among them some whom were already marked out to fill the places of our instructors. And, finally, our era appeared to me as flourishing and fertile with powerful minds as any preceding one. I was thus led to take the liberty of judging of all other men by myself. Furthermore, I concluded that there was no science in existence that was of such a nature as I had previously been given to believe.
Which is the best form of the underlined selection "which it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned"?
which it is customarily having been admitted into the order of the learned
which it is customary to be admitted into the order of the learned
NO CHANGE
whom it is customarily to be admitted into the order of the learned
which it is customary to be admitted into the order of the learned
The problematic word in the sentence is "customarily," which is an adverb. The author intends to say that (at this time of education) it is customary to be admitted into the order of the learned. This requires "customary," which is an adjective, and not the adverb "customarily."
Example Question #667 : Usage Errors
I love to cleaning. It’s a good way to unwind at the end of the day, and, I always function better in a clean environment. I once heard someone say, “You’re home is your temple.” I attempt to lived my life by that. My priorities are getting rid of clutter, sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, and cleaning the counter top in our kitchen. I mop the floor extremely, quickly. I don’t mop all that often, but my roommates appreciate it whenever I do!.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I mop the floor quickly extremely.
I mop the floor extremely quickly.
I mop the floor extremely and quickly.
NO CHANGE
I mop the floor extreme quickly.
I mop the floor extremely quickly.
Adverbs can be used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Here the adverb “extremely” is providing more information about the adverb “quickly.”
How do you mop the floor?
I mop the floor quickly.
How quickly do you mop the floor?
I mop the floor extremely quickly.
The phrase “extremely and quickly” changes the meaning of the sentence, because now “extremely” is modifying the verb “mop” instead of the adverb “quickly.” No comma is needed between only two adverbs.
Example Question #2181 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Travelling can be both fun stressful. If you leaves the country, you should always keep your passport with you. A domestic trip may be more palatable to the xenophobic. However, even a short road trip can be scary than staying at home. People would be wise to simply treat them to a movie.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
A domestic trip may be more palatable to me who are xenophobic.
A domestic trip may be more palatable to be xenophobic.
A domestic trip may be more palatable to not travel xenophobically.
A domestic trip may be more palatable to those who xenophobic.
NO CHANGE
"Xenophobic" is acting as substantive adjective in this sentence, which means it is acting as a noun.
Example Question #2181 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
While the course appeared hard from the outset, when his report card arrived in the mail, Charlie had discovered that all of his studying had paid off. He had successfully passed Chemistry: his father would be proud. His father, a world-renowned chemist was doubtful that Charlie would pass the class but Charlie was sure that he could do it. He had spent all of the fall semester studying the periodic table, memorizing different measurements and learning the parts of an atom.
That terrible semester culminated in the final exam. The day of the big test, his stomach is a tight knot of nerves. He tried to tell his mother that he was feeling ill but she knew that he was lying.1 He shook as he tried to put on his shoes and socks.2 He woke up with his fingers tightly gripping the bedspread.3 Sitting on the bus, he could feel himself sweating through his light sweater.4 When Charlie finally arrived at school, he walked into his Chemistry class just as his teacher was passing out the test. “You may now begin,” she said.
With the report card now clenched in his hands in victory, Charlie knew that he could tackle anything to which he put his mind.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
world-known
world renowning
world renown
NO CHANGE
“World-renowned” is a descriptive adjective which shows that his father is widely known and acclaimed in the world of Chemistry. "World renown" is a noun, while "world-known" and "world-renowning" are not grammatically correct.
Example Question #2182 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
During the final months of 2007, the prices of basic grains nearly doubled in Northern Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia, the high prices caused a global food crisis. The catastrophe sparked and incited an international debate regarding the licensing of new technologies to developing nations. One economist warned that because of the risk of unforeseen price shocks, officials should proceed very cautiously. The construction of private farms pose a serious financial threat to farmers in the United States; nevertheless, of the five most industrialized nations, the United States exports more crops.
How do some countries cope with food crises better than others. It is technology that accounts for the majority of the difference. The rate at which countries adopt innovations depends significantly on environmental factors. These environmental factors include climate, soil and elevation. The variability in environment inhibits new technologies from gaining worldwide popularity that are suited for one particular region over another. For example, the pesticides used in Europe are much more acidic than North America. Without the different levels of acidity, pests would prevent the crops to grow.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
cautious
and cautiously
caution
NO CHANGE
The original text is correct. The adverb phrase "extremely cautiously" correctly modifies the verb "proceed."
Answer choice "cautious" is incorrect because "cautious" is an adjective whereas the modifier of the verb "proceed" must be an adverb.
Similarly, answer choice "caution" is incorrect because it does not contain an adverb to modify the verb "proceed."
Although answer choice "and cautiously" contains the adverb "and cautiously," the insertion of the word "and" leads to the sentence becoming ungrammatical.