Practice Test for Civil Service Exam from the post of Ms. Taj Martin
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY-MOCK EXAM
SET 1-GRAMMAR AND CORRECT USAGE
1. On March 15, 2006, the Maywood Recreation Department requested a grant from the state to rebuild the community center that ______ in the recent fire.
a. destroys
b. will be destroyed
c. had been destroyed
d is being destroyed
2. Matthew Morris and Jessica Glassman hosted a holiday party that The River Bank Café_____.
a. caters
b. will cater
c. is catering
d. catered
3. Megan is trying to read all three books in the series before summer ____________.
a. ended
b. will have ended
c. will end
d. ends
4.We have _________________more sweets since that wonderful bakery opened down the block.
a. ate
b. been eating
c. been eat
d. eat
5. While attempting to _____________ his broken bicycle, Leo Donner realized that he didn’t have the proper tools.
a. be repairing
b. have repaired
c. repair
d. repaired
6. ___________ the police immediately.
a. Call
b. Called
c. Been calling
d. To call
7. The biggest problem with Martha’s garden__________ too many weeds.
a. will have been
b. were
c. will have
d. was
8. Last week, Tracy and Shane were honored at a luncheon for their part in rescuing a child who ____________________ into an icy pond.
a. falls
b. would fall
c. had fallen
d. has fallen
9. The woman who confronted the owner of the unleashed dog ____________ angry.
a. were
b. was
c. are
d. have been
10. The boy ______________ the bat and ran to first base as fast as he could.
a. swings
b. swinged
c. swung
d. swing
11. There ___________ four excellent restaurants in the center of town.
a. is
b. are
c. was
d. being
12. The noise from the lawn mowers______________ louder as the morning progresses.
a. gets
b. get
c. have gotten
d. are getting
SET 2 – CORRECT USAGE
Replace the italicized words with the phrase that best completes the sentence. If the sentence is correct as is, choose a.
13. The words Equal Justice Under Law is carved above the main entrance to the Supreme Court.
a. is carved
b. carved
c. has been carved
d. are carved
e. been carved
14. In classical economic theory, the relationship between supply and demand determines the price of a commodity.
a. between supply and demand determines
b. among supply and demand determines
c. among supply and demand determine
d. between supply and demand determine
e. with supply and demand determine
15. A corporation created by the federal government during the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is responsible for flood control, must generate electric power, and soil conservation.
a. flood control, must generate electric power, and soil conservation.
b. flood control, generating electric power, and for soil conservation.
c. controlling floods, generating electric power, and soil conservation.
d. flood control, the generation of electric power, and soil conservation.
e. flood control, for the generation of electric power, and conserving the soil.
16. According to traditional Chinese medicine, people with healthy livers are said to be calm and that they possess unerring judgment.
a. are said to be calm and that they possess
b. are said to be calm and to possess
c. said to be calm and possessing
d. have said to be calm and to possess
e. are said to be calm and possessive of
17. When the phone is ringing, Jacoby had been writing in his journal.
a. is ringing, Jacoby had been writing
b. rings, Jacoby was writing
c. rang, Jacoby was writing
d. had rung, Jacoby was writing
e. rang, Jacoby will be writing
18. To determine the speed of automobiles, radar is often used by the state police.
a. To determine the speed of automobiles, radar is often used by the state police.
b. To determine the speed of automobiles, it is often necessary for the state police to use radar.
c. In determining the speed of automobiles, the use of radar by state police is often employed.
d. To determine the speed of automobiles, the state police often use radar.
e. Radar by state police in determining the speed of automobiles is often used.
19. Everyone signed the petition before submitting to the city council.
a. submitting
b. one submits it
c. you submit it
d. we will submit it
e. we submitted it
20. I have a cross-training exercise program: I swim laps, play tennis, the weight machines, and bicycle riding.
a. I swim laps, play tennis, the weight machines, and bicycle riding.
b. I swim laps, play tennis, lift weights, and ride a bicycle.
c. I swim laps, play tennis, I lift weights, and bicycle riding is a change.
d. swimming laps, tennis, lifting weights, and the bicycle.
e. swim laps, play tennis, lifting weights, and riding a bicycle.
21. We all arrived at the theater on time, but before we bought our tickets, Candace says that she’s changed her mind and doesn’t want to see the movie after all.
a. says that she’s changed her mind and doesn’t
b. said that she had changed her mind and didn’t
c. is saying that she’d changed her mind and doesn’t
d. told us that she is changing her mind and didn’t
e. tells us that she had changed her mind and doesn’t
22. State Senator Partridge wished to insure the people that their tax dollars would be spent wisely.
a. to insure the people that their tax dollars would be spent wisely.
b. that the people would be insured of tax dollars wisely spent.
c. in assuring the people, that their tax dollars would be wisely spent.
d. to assure the people that he would spend their tax dollars wisely.
e. to assure and promise the people of his intentions to spend their tax dollars wisely.
23. Because he was given a local anesthetic, Josh was conscience throughout the operation.
a. Josh was conscience throughout the operation.
b. Josh had a conscience during the operation.
c. the operation was completed with Josh consciousness.
d. the operation was done while Josh held consciousness.
e. Josh remained conscious throughout the operation.
SET 3- IDENTIFYING ERROR
Find the sentence that has a mistake in grammar or usage. If you find no mistakes, mark choice d.
24.
a. No, it’s not true.
b. The closed, and the people curtain will applaud.
c. My sister is a nurse practitioner.
d. No mistakes.
25.
a. They talked through the entire movie.
b. The plants in this garden does not require much water.
c. She always brings turkey sandwiches for lunch.
d. No mistakes.
26.
a. Where are Gianna’s art supplies?
b. Darren should of been given a chance to audition.
c. It’s going to take all day.
d. No mistakes.
27.
a. Olivia took her older sister out for lunch.
b. Nicholas is learning to speak German.
c. Franklin drunk three bottles of water after the game.
d. No mistakes.
28.
a. She showed us five different shades of blue paint.
b. The liveliest one of the three puppies are not adopted yet.
c. This is the best birthday party I have ever had.
d. No mistakes.
29.
a. When I go the museum, I wore comfortable shoes.
b. She was approached, but she declined the offer.
c. There are seven floors in this building.
d. No mistakes.
30.
a. David and Mickey danced in the street.
b. Here is the photographs I wanted to show you.
c. My grandfather owns a 1967 Mustang.
d. No mistakes.
31.
a. It has not rained since last April.
b. The jurors walked solemnly into the room.
c. Had we known, we would not have come.
d. No mistakes.
32.
a. The dog’s barking woke us.
b. Ursula has broke one of your plates.
c. The sun rose from behind the mountain.
d. No mistakes.
33.
a. After we sat down to eat dinner, the phone rung.
b. “Keep a positive attitude,” he always says.
c. Sign here.
d. No mistakes.
34.
a. The children’s books are over there.
b. She missed the bus and arrives late.
c. There is hardly enough food for a mouse.
d. No mistakes.
35.
a. The winners were announced yesterday.
b. Liam is the only one of the boys who were chosen.
c. Although Nick was not selected, he was happy for the others.
d. No mistakes.
36.
a. He shook the crumbs from the tablecloth.
b. We will strive to do our best.
c. I see that Fred has wore his old shoes.
d. No mistakes.
37.
a. When I heard the alarm, I jump out of bed.
b. Mr. Fox is the president of his own company.
c. At night, I listened to jazz on the radio.
d. No mistakes.
SET 4 – BEST CONSTRUCTION
Choose the sentence that is the most clearly written and has the best construction.
38.
a. All the children got out their rugs and took a nap.
b. All the children have gotten out their rugs and took a nap.
c. All the children got out their rugs and have taken a nap.
d. All the children gotten out their rugs and taken a nap.
39..
a. At first I was liking the sound of the wind, but later it got on my nerves.
b. At first I liked the sound of the wind, but later it has gotten on my nerves.
c. At first I like the sound of the wind, but later it got on my nerves.
d. At first I liked the sound of the wind, but later it got on my nerves.
40.
a. I became ill from eating too many fried clams.
b. I became ill from eaten too many fried clams.
c. I ate too many fried clams and becoming ill.
d. I ate too many fried clams and become ill.
41.
a. As the old saying goes, a cat may look at a king.
b. A cat looking at a king, according to the old saying.
c. The old saying being, a cat may look at a king.
d. A cat looking at a king, in the old saying.
42.
a. A longer happier life, caused by one’s owning a pet.
b. Owning a pet, for one to live a longer, happier life.
c. To live a longer, happier life by one’s owning a pet.
d. Owning a pet can help one live a longer, happier life.
43.
a. One of the first modern detectives literature were created by Edgar Allan Poe.
b. One of the first modern detectives in literature was created by Edgar Allan Poe.
c. Edgar Allan Poe having created one of the first modern detectives in literature.
d. In literature, one of the first modern detectives, created by Edgar Allan Poe.
44.
a. My brother and I going to see the ball game.
b. My brother and I are going to see the ball game.
c. My brother and I seeing the ball game.
d. My brother and I to the ball game.
45.
a. I don’t like fish as well as my sister does.
b. I don’t like fish as well as my sister.
c. Fish isn’t liked by me as well as my sister.
d. My sister likes it, but I don’t like fish as well.
46.
a. After renting him the room, Alvin discovered Mr. Morris owned a cat.
b. After renting him the room, a cat was discovered to belong to Mr. Morris.
c. A cat belonging to Mr. Morris was discovered by Alvin after renting him a room.
d. After renting him a room, Mr. Morris was discovered by Alvin to own a cat.
47.
a. We ate the popcorn and watch the movie.
b. While watching the movie, the popcorn was eaten.
c. Popcorn, while watching the movie, was eaten.
d. We ate the popcorn while we watched the movie.
SET 5- GRAMMAR AND CORRECT USAGE
Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun.
48. That fine circus elephant now belongs to my sister and ________.
a. I
b. me
c. mine
d. myself
49. The person ________ made these delicious candied figs has my vote.
a. that
b. whom
c. who
d. whose
50. If you don’t stop playing ________ video games, you will miss the bus.
a. that
b. those
c. them
d. this
51. George and Michael left ________ backpacks at school.
a. his
b. their
c. there
d. its
52. If you steal ________ artichoke from Petra’s garden, you’ll be sorry.
a. them
b. those
c. that
d. these
53. We arranged the flowers and placed ________in the center of the table.
a. it
b. this
c. them
d. that
54. ________ met more than ten years ago at a mutual friend’s birthday party.
a. Her and I
b. Her and me
c. She and me
d. She and I
55. My parents approved of ________ taking guitar lessons.
a. my
b. me
c. I
d. mine
SET 6- IDENTIFYING ERROR
Find the sentence that has a mistake in grammar or usage. If you find no mistakes, mark choice d.
56.
a. Of the four of us, I am the tallest.
b. Wilson’s brother is a chemical engineer.
c. That fine circus elephant now belongs to my sister and I.
d. No mistakes.
57.
a. Help is on the way.
b. The firemen used a ladder to reach the kitten.
c. Don’t slip on the icy sidewalk.
d. No mistakes.
58.
a. His family has lived in this town for thirty-five years.
b. You’re the only one who can remember that song.
c. That’s the quickest way to get to Sylvia’s house.
d. No mistakes.
59.
a. “Meet me at six o’clock,” she said.
b. Tired of running, she slowed her pace to a fast walk.
c. Gabriel and me will attend the geography bee.
d. No mistakes.
60.
a. Sheila’s sister wanted to accompany us to the party.
b. Who’s scarf is this?
c. “Be sure to wear something comfortable,” she said.
d. No mistakes.
61.
a. The main problem Jim had was too many
parking tickets.
b. As the bears ran toward us, it was growling.
c. Try using less butter next time.
d. No mistakes.
62.
a. Kamala was the most intelligent person in the group.
b. The Eiffel Tower is in Paris, France.
c. Nick Carraway is a character in The Great Gatsby.
d. No mistakes.
63.
a. They weren’t the only ones who didn’t like the movie.
b. “Please come back another time,” Aunt Julie begged.
c. “Threes a crowd,” he always says.
d. No mistakes.
64.
a.The first house on the street is there’s.
b. I love the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
c. My grandparents live in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
d. No mistakes.
65.
a.Either Cassie nor I heard the door open.
b. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
c. Draw up a plan before you make your decision.
d. No mistakes.
66.
a.It’s not my fault that you and him got caught.
b. “Do you brush twice a day?” Dr. Evans asked.
c. What’s the weather report?
d. No mistakes.
67.
a.Couldn’t you arrive fashionably late?
b. You’re assumption is correct.
c. I know that Bowser will be well treated.
d. No mistakes.
68.
a.We invited Mayor Chen to speak at our school.
b. The alarm sounded, and the firefighters jumped into the truck.
c. The committee members should work as hard as one can.
d. No mistakes.
69.
a. He wore two different shoes to class.
b. Rhonda’s sister bought a new Pontiac.
c. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes.
d. No mistakes.
70.
a. She and I have been friends for more than ten years.
b. Is that one of the O’Farrell children?
c. They took too much time to answer.
d. No mistakes.
SET 7-CORRECT USAGE
Fill in the blank with the correct adjective or adverb.
71. In many popular movies today, the heroes are________ armed than the villains.
a. more heavily
b. more heavy
c. heavier
d. more heavier
72. The cake I made last week tasted ________ than the one I made today.
a. best
b. more better
c. better
d. more good
73. After winning the yo-yo contest, Lydia skipped ________ down the street.
a. happy
b. happiest
c. more happily
d. happily
74. Of the three brothers, Andre is the ________.
a. taller
b. tallest
c. more tall
d. most tallest
75. Riding the Tornado at the amusement park was ________ than I thought it would be.
a. more terrifying
b. more terrifyingly
c. terrifying
d. most terrifying
76. This year our company sold ________ magazine subscriptions than ever before.
a. less
b. lesser
c. few
d. fewer
SET 8
Replace the italicized words with the word or phrase that is grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct as is, choose answer a.
77. The book had a frighteningly and unhappy ending.
a. a frighteningly and unhappy ending.
b. a frighteningly and unhappily ending.
c. an ending that was frightening and unhappily.
d. a frightening and unhappy ending.
e. an ending that was frightening and it was also an unhappy one.
78. Since her graduation from business school last spring, Adela has become known as the more important member of her graduating class.
a. as the more important
b. as the most important
c. as the most importantly
d. as the more importantly
e. like the most important
79. Surprisingly, my younger sister dresses more conservatively than I do.
a. more conservatively than I do.
b. more conservative than I do.
c. more conservative than me.
d. more conservatively than me.
e. the most conservative in opposition to me.
80. There wasn’t nothing that could have been easier.
a. There wasn’t nothing that could have been easier.
b. There was nothing that could have been more easier.
c. Nothing could have been more easier.
d. Nothing couldn’t have been more easy.
e. Nothing could have been easier.
81. I was clearly the happiest person in the crowd.
a. I was clearly the happiest person in the crowd.
b. It was clear that I was the happier person in the crowd.
c. Of all the people in the crowd, I was clearly the happier.
d. In the crowd, clearly, I was the happier person.
e. Of all the people in the crowd, clearly, I being the happiest.
82. Our team scored less baskets today than we did last Tuesday.
a. less baskets today than we did
b. today less baskets than were scored
c. fewer baskets today then on
d. fewer baskets today than we did
e. a lesser number of baskets today then we did
83. Strip mining, the cheaper method of mining, is controversial because it jeopardizes the environment.
a. cheaper
b. more cheap
c. most cheapest
d. cheapest
e. more cheaply
SET 9 - IDENTIFYING ERROR
Find the sentence that has a mistake in grammar or usage. If you find no mistakes, mark choice d.
84.
a. The steam rose up from the hot pavement.
b. She put the kitten down carefully beside its mom.
c. Neither of us is going to the party.
d. No mistakes.
85.
a. The lost dog wandered sad through the streets.
b. Frustrated, Boris threw his pencil across the room.
c. We’ll stop at their house first.
d. No mistakes.
86.
a. I don’t want to participate no longer.
b. If you’re not sure, look in the dictionary.
c. “I will try to do better,” Lauren promised.
d. No mistakes.
87.
a. Have you ever read the book Little House on the Prairie?
b. She urged me not to go.
c. Stop, look, and listen
d. No mistakes.
88.
a. Anne will head out first, and Nick will follow her.
b. Maya Angelou, a famous poet, has recently directed a movie.
c. The clerk asked for my address and phone number.
d. No mistakes.
89.
a. We sold less cookies this year than we did last year.
b. That parrot doesn’t talk.
c. Don’t spend too much money.
d. No mistakes.
90.
a. She spread the frosting too thickly.
b. “What is your answer?” she asked.
c. We waited while he stopped to make a phone call.
d. No mistakes.
91.
a. Between the three of us, we should find the answer.
b. Alberto laughed loudly when he saw us.
c. They’re looking for another apartment.
d. No mistakes.
92.
a. The Adirondacks are mountains in New York.
b. President Carter gave the Panama Canal back to Panama.
c. That river is terribly polluted.
d. No mistakes.
93.
a. Trading Spaces is probably the most daring show on television.
b. Which color do you like better, the teal or the flamigo pink?
c. Mango-peach berry juice is the most awfulest drink.
d. No mistakes.
SET 10- CORRECT USAGE
Fill in the blank with the word that creates the most logical sentence. (Hint: Use a dictionary to determine which words best complete the sentence’s meaning.)
94. ___________ he waited for the doctor to call him in, Sam sat in the waiting room and read the newspaper.
a. So that
b. While
c. Even if
d. Besides when
95. Ruby loves blueberry pie _________ it is made with freshly picked blueberries.
a. whether
b. because
c. when
d. as if
96. Mitchell loves listening to jazz and rhythm and blues. Greg, ____________, will only listen to country.
a. however
b. then
c. too
d. therefore
97. __________ our low annual fee, you will receive a 20% discount if you sign up this week.
a. Because
b. While
c. In spite of
d. In addition to
98. The ticket said the show would start at 8:00, but the curtains didn’t go up _________ 8:30.
a. less than
b. until
c. about
d. since
99. My neighbor is deathly afraid of dogs;___________, I never let my Golden Retriever, Sandy, outside without a leash.
a. moreover
b. yet
c. mainly
d. consequently
100. The wedding quilt was designed as a sentimental way to make use of fabric taken ______________ blankets and bedding that belonged to older couples in her family.
a. from
b. with
c. in
d. at
********************************************
ANSWER KEY
SET 1
1. c. The sentence requires a verb in the past tense.
2. d. The sentence requires a verb in the past tense.
3. d. The appropriate tense for this verb is the present tense.
4. b. The verbal form been eating fits with the verb have.
5. c. The infinitive form of the verb repair, goes with to in the sentence.
6. a. This is a command; the subject of the sentence is understood (You call).
7. d. The verb was agrees with its subject, problem, and is in the past tense.
8. c. Since the action takes place in the past, the only correct choice is the past perfect had fallen.
9. b. This is the only choice that is in agreement with the singular subject woman.
10. c. The correct verb form is the past tense swung.
11. b. The verb are agrees with the plural noun restaurants.
12. a. The singular verb gets agrees with the singular noun noise.
SET 2
13. d. A plural subject takes a plural verb; since the subject words is plural, the verb to be carved must also be plural.
14. a. Correct as is. There are two possible errors in this sentence: One is subject/verb agreement and the other is the use of the words between and among. Between is used to compare two things; among is used to compare more than two things. Since the subject relationship is singular, the verb to determine must also be singular. Only choice a makes the comparison between two things and uses the singular verb determines.
15. d. The three underlined elements make a coordinated series; to clearly express their relationship to each other, they need to abide by one consistent grammatical construction. In choice a, the verb must generate breaks the parallelism. In choice b, the word for breaks the parallelism. In choice c, the series changes construction, adopting a different type of parallel construction; however, the third element, soil conservation, does not use a present participle verb before it. It breaks the parallelism. In choice e, none of the three elements are parallel.
16. b. The two underlined elements make a coordinated pair; they need to abide by one grammatical construction. Only in choice bare both verbs in their infinitive form.
17. c. In choice c, the tense of to ring and to write agree; there is no shift in tense.
18. d. Choice d is best because it is written in the active voice.
19. e. Choice a is ambiguous: Is everyone submitting to the council? Choices b, c, and d make an illogical shift in verb tense.
20. b. The second clause of this sentence requires a parallel construction. Choice b is the only one in which all four elements use the same grammatical construction, a verb in the present tense followed by a noun.
21. b. This is the best answer because there are no shifts in verb tense. For the sentence to be logical, all the verbs should remain in the past tense.
22. d. To ensure means to make certain; to assure means to cause a feeling of certainty. The Senator wants his constituents to feel secure; he is not actually securing the money by putting it in a vault. Choice e is redundant; the verbs to assure and to promise mean the same thing.
23. e. Conscience is a moral awareness; conscious is a physical awareness. Josh was awake and physically aware of his environment. Choices a and b use the wrong word to describe Josh’s condition. In choice d, it seems the operation was given a local anesthetic, not Josh.
SET 3
24. b. The correct verb form is applauded.
25. b. There is no subject-verb agreement. The verb should be plural because the subject, plants, is plural.
26. b. The verb is used incorrectly. The correct usage is should have been.
27. c. The verb in this sentence has been incorrectly formed; it should be drank, not drunk.
28. b. There is no subject-verb agreement. The verb should be singular because the subject, the liveliest one, is singular.
29. a. The sentence makes an illogical shift in tense from the present to the past tense.
30. b. There is no subject-verb agreement. The plural verb should be plural because the subjects, photographs, is plural
31. d. There are no errors.
32. b. The correct verb form is has broken.
33. a. The correct verb form is rang.
34. b. The sentence makes an illogical shift in tense—from the past to the present tense.
35. b. There is no subject-verb agreement. The verb should be singular because the subject, one (not boys), is singular.
36. c. The correct verb form is has worn.
37. a. This sentence makes an illogical shift in tense—from the past to the present tense.
SET 4
38. a. The verbs got and took agree in tense.
39. d. The verbs liked and got agree in tense.
40. a. Became and eating are the correct forms of the verbs.
41. a. This is a complete sentence; the others are fragments.
42. d. This is a complete sentence; the others are fragments.
43. b. This is a complete sentence; c and dare fragments; in choice a the verb does not agree in number with its subject, one.
44. b. This is a complete sentence; the others are fragments.
45. a. The comparison between the speaker’s and his or her sister’s taste for fish is clearest in this sentence. In choice b, the speaker likes/her sister better than fish. Choice c does his not make sense. Choice d has an ambiguous pronoun: It probably refers to fish, but who can tell?
46. a. In choice b, the cat seems to be renting the room. In choice c, it’s unclear whether he refers to the cat or to Mr. Morris; choice d implies that Mr. Morris rented himself a room.
47.d. In this sentence, the verb tense between the independent clause and the subordinating clause agree. In choice a, the lack of agreement in tense makes the sentence unclear as to time; choice b doesn’t make it clear who ate the popcorn; choice c implies that the popcorn watched the movie.
SET 5
48. b. The correct form of the pronoun is me (objective case).
49. c. The correct pronoun is who, because it refers to a person, and it is the subject form of who (not the object form, whom), because who is doing something, making candied figs.
50. b. The pronoun agrees in number with the noun to which it refers.
51. b. The antecedent, George and Michael, is plural, so the plural pronoun their is the correct choice.
52. c. The pronoun that agrees in number with the noun to which it refers, artichoke.
53. c. The pronoun them agrees with the plural noun flowers.
54. d. She and I is the subject of the sentence, so the subjective case is needed.
55. a. The possessive case is used before the word taking, because it functions like a noun in this sentence.
SET 6
56. c. The word I should be replaced with the word me, because the pronoun is the object, not the subject.
57. d. There are no errors.
58. d. There are no errors.
59. c. The correct pronoun is I, not me.
60. b. The contraction who’s is incorrect. The correct usage is the possessive whose.
61. b. This sentence contains a shift in number. Bears is a plural noun, so the clause should read: they were growling.
62. d. There are no errors.
63. c. The contraction Three’s, which means Three is, is the correct usage.
64. a. The correct usage is the possessive theirs, not there’s.
65. a. Either is incorrect. Use either with or and neither with nor.
66. a. The pronoun him is incorrect. He should be used because you and he are the subjects of the dependent clause.
67. b. The contraction You’re should be replaced with the possessive Your.
68. c. This sentence makes a shift in person. It should read: The committee members should work as hard as they can.
69. d. There are no errors.
70. d. There are no errors.
SET 7
71. a. The missing phrase modifies the verb are armed and creates a comparison between two types of people, heroes and villains. Therefore, you need a comparative form of the adverb heavily.
72. c. The comparison is between two things, a cake made last week and a cake made this week; choices a and d can be ruled out. Choice b, more better, is redundant. Choice c, better, is the best choice to make the comparison.
73. d. The missing phrase modifies the verb; therefore the sentence requires an adverb. Choices a and b are adjectives and can be ruled out. Choice c makes an unnecessary comparison.
74. b. The comparison is being made among three brothers; therefore, this sentence requires a superlative. Choices a and c only compare two things, and choice d is redundant.
75. a. The missing phrase modifies a noun and makes a comparison between two things, what he thought and what it was; therefore the sentence requires a comparative adjective. Choice bis an adverb. Choice c does not make a comparison, and choice d is a superlative, a comparison of three or more things. Choice a, more terrifying, is the best choice.
76. d. Use fewer with nouns that can be counted.
SET 8
77. d. Adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify verbs. In choice d, the adjectives frightening and unhappy correctly modify the noun ending. In choices a and b, the adverb frighteningly incorrectly attempts to modify a noun. In choice c, the adverb— unhappily—incorrectly attempts to modify a noun. Choice e is unnecessarily wordy.
78. b. The sentence makes a comparison between Adela and all other members of the graduating class; therefore, the superlative form most should be used. Choices a and d are wrong because they use the comparative more. Choice c is wrong because the word importantly is an adverb and cannot modify the noun member. Choice e is wrong because it uses the word like incorrectly.
79. a. The word than is a conjunction used to indicate a comparison, and used as a conjunction, it is followed by the pronoun I. The word conservatively is an adverb modifying the verb dresses. Choice a is the only one that correctly makes the comparison and uses the adverb correctly.
80. e. This is the correct choice because the sentence does not contain a double negative. The other choices either use two negative words within a single sentence or use an incorrect comparative form of easy.
81. a. The sentence compares an individual and an entire crowd of individuals; therefore, it requires a superlative. Only choice a coherently uses the superlative happiest to make the comparison among all the many people in the crowd.
82. d. When a comparison is made, the word fewer is used with nouns that can be counted; the word less is used with quantities that cannot be counted.
83. d. This sentence makes a comparison between strip mining and all other types of mining; therefore, it requires a superlative. Choices a and b compare only two things while choice e inappropriately uses an adverb. Choice c uses a double superlative and is redundant.
SET 9
84. d. There are no errors.
85. a. The adjective sad should be replaced with the adverb sadly, which correctly modifies the verb wandered.
86. a. This sentence contains a double negative.
87. d. There are no errors.
88. d. There are no errors.
89. a. This sentence has a usage error: fewer cookies, not less cookies.
90. d. There are no errors.
91. a. Between is only used to refer to two things. Among is the correct word to use in this sentence.
92. d. There are no errors.
93. c. Most awfulest is a double superlative, and therefore redundant.
SET 10
94. b. While suggests that two things are happening simultaneously; it is the only logical choice. Choice a implies that Sam could control when the doctor called him in. Choices c and d are unclear.
95. c. The sentence requires a condition—Ruby likes blueberry pie on one condition: freshly picked blueberries. Choice b can be ruled out because blueberry pie is not always made with freshly picked blueberries. Choices a and d result in unclear sentences.
96. a. However indicates an impending contradiction; it is the best choice because the two clauses compare musical tastes. In this case, the comparison contrasts Mitchell’s preference to Greg’s.
97. d. If you rearrange the sentence, it would read: If you sign up this week, you will receive a low annual fee and a 20%
discount. In addition means and; it is the best choice. Choices a, b, and c result in an awkward construction.
98. b. The two clauses make a reference to time— more specifically, to two different times. Choice b is the only logical response.
99. d. The golden retriever is never outside without a leash because the neighbor is afraid of dogs; one is the effect of the other. Consequently means following as an effect or as a result. This is the best choice.
100. a. This sentence speculates that quilts were made from fabrics taken from somewhere. Only from completes this idea.
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