GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #222 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Ubuntu, a South African English word that translates as "kindness," is also the name of a popular program.

Possible Answers:

Ubuntu a South African English word that translates as "kindness" is also

Ubuntu, a South African English word that translates as "kindness," is also

Ubuntu a South African English word that translates as "kindness," is also

Ubuntu, a South African English word that translates as "kindness" is also

Ubuntu, a South African English word, that translates as "kindness," is also

Correct answer:

Ubuntu, a South African English word that translates as "kindness," is also

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "a South African English word that translates as 'kindness' " is a parenthetical expression: a phrase that explains more about a particular word or phrase in the sentence, but is not introduced by a relative pronoun. These phrases must be introduced and completed with a comma in order to separate them from the main clause of the sentence. The correct choice is, "Ubuntu, a South African English word that translates as "kindness," is also."

Example Question #223 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not figure out how to make it work.

Possible Answers:

Though he obtained a boomerang; he could not figure out how to make it work.

Though he obtained a boomerang he could not figure out how to make it work.

Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not figure out how to make it work.

Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not, for the life of him, figure out how to make it work.

Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not figure out: how to make it work.

Correct answer:

Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not figure out how to make it work.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "Though he obtained a boomerang" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct choice is, "Though he obtained a boomerang, he could not figure out how to make it work."

Example Question #224 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as "The Music Man" by his friends.

Possible Answers:

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as "The Music Man" by his friends.

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as: "The Music Man" by his friends.

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as The Music Man by his friends.

He was the star of so many musicals, that he became known as "The Music Man" by his friends.

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known: as "The Music Man" by his friends.

Correct answer:

He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as "The Music Man" by his friends.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. Note that "that" should not be separated by a comma, even though it begins a new clause. Additionally, the words "The Music Man" should be in quotations because it denotes a special name. A colon could be appropriate in this sentence after the word "as" if the words "by his friends" were omitted. The correct choice is, "He was the star of so many musicals that he became known as "The Music Man" by his friends."

Example Question #225 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

As a part of his journaling process, he took a picture of himself each week and posted it in his book.

Possible Answers:

his journaling process he took a picture of: himself each week and posted

his journaling process, he took a picture of himself each week, and posted

his journaling process he took a picture of himself each week and posted

his journaling process, he took a picture of: himself each week and posted

his journaling process, he took a picture of himself each week and posted

Correct answer:

his journaling process, he took a picture of himself each week and posted

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "As a part of his journaling process" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. Additionally, there should not be a comma before the word "and" because "posted it in his book" is not an independent clause. Commas are only used before coordinating conjunctions when they join two independent clauses. No additional punctuation is necessary. The correct choice is, "his journaling process, he took a picture of himself each week and posted."

Example Question #1791 : Sentence Correction

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Franco had been singing for years; he even was part of many well known choirs. 

Possible Answers:

singing for years: he even was part of many well known choirs. 

singing for years/ he even was part of many well known choirs. 

singing for years; he even was part of many well known choirs. 

singing for years - he even was part of many well known choirs. 

singing for years, he even was part of many well known choirs. 

Correct answer:

singing for years; he even was part of many well known choirs. 

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The sentence contains two independent clauses that are not joined with a conjunction, so the appropriate punctuation here is a semicolon. The correct choice is "singing for years; he even was part of many well known choirs."

Example Question #227 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage; to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Possible Answers:

Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage; to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Every other week, he would spend day cleaning the entire house, even garage; to him, it was form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage, to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Every other week, he spending the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage; to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage, to him it was a form of meditation, as well as basic housekeeping.

Correct answer:

Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage; to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrases "Every other week" and "to him" are examples of introductory phrases, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence.

"Even the garage" is a parenthetical expression: a phrase that explains more about a particular word or phrase in the sentence, but is not introduced by a relative pronoun. These phrases should also be introduced and completed with a comma in order to separate them from the main clause of the sentence.

Furthermore, the sentence combined two related independent clauses together without the use of a coordinate conjunction. When this is the case, a semicolon should appear between them, as it does after the word "garage" in this sentence. 

The correct choice is "Every other week, he would spend the day cleaning the entire house, even the garage; to him, it was a form of meditation as well as basic housekeeping."

Example Question #228 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

The book stated: "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."

Possible Answers:

The book stated 'Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.'

The book stated, " 'Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues and this is mine I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.' "

The book stated: Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.

The book stated: "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."

The book stated - "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."

Correct answer:

The book stated: "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The colon after "stated" is appropriate because the following clause, the quote, explains what the book stated. Double quotations should be used because this is a direct quote/saying from the book. Within the quote itself, the phrase "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" also explains the clause preceding it, so the colon before the word "I" is also appropriate. No changes are necessary. The correct choice is " The book stated that: "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known." "

Example Question #229 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code, the entire program did not work.

Possible Answers:

The entire program did not work, because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code.

Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code: the entire program did not work.

Because, the programmer forgot to add a word into his code, the entire program did not work.

Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code; the entire program did not work.

Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code, the entire program did not work.

Correct answer:

Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code, the entire program did not work.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. It is perfectly acceptable for the word "because" to start the sentence, as long as the sentence is punctuated correctly. Note, however, that "The entire program did not work, because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code" is incorrect because a comma should not appear before the word because in the midst of a sentence. The correct choice is, "Because the programmer forgot to add a word into his code, the entire program did not work."

Example Question #1792 : Sentence Correction

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

She surfed every weekend as a way to unwind from a stressful week.

Possible Answers:

every weekend, as a way to unwind, from a stressful week.

every weekend: as a way to unwind from a stressful week.

every weekend as a way to unwind from a stressful week.

every weekend as a way to unwind, from a stressful week.

every weekend, as a way to unwind from a stressful week.

Correct answer:

every weekend as a way to unwind from a stressful week.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. No additional punctuation, such as commas, are unnecessary because there is not a separate clause in this sentence. The word "as" here acts as a preposition (as well as "from"), and prepositional phrases are not separate clauses. The correct choice is, "every weekend as a way to unwind from a stressful week."

Example Question #231 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Possible Answers:

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills, as well as many bills much larger than the $100 dollar bill.

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills; as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Unbeknownst to many people the United States used to print two dollar bills as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print $2 bills, as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Correct answer:

Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill.

Explanation:

This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "Unbeknownst to many people" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence.

Additionally, the word "as" acts as a preposition in this sentence, so a comma preceeding the word is unncessary. Lastly, while it is common to spell numbers less than 10, it is best that the "two" and "one hundred" are both spelled out for the sake of consistency (not to mention, in one choice, "$100 dollar" is redundant).

The correct choice is, "Unbeknownst to many people, the United States used to print two dollar bills as well as many bills much larger than the one hundred dollar bill."

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