Passage 1
Which concluding sentence would be most appropriate to match the current tone of the passage?
A. People should love their family.
B. Family is the best!
C. Dealing with family can be difficult, but they are always worth it.
D. The term family defies a single definition.
D. The term family defies a single definition.
What is the best word choice for the underlined word in this sentence?
(6) “However, sanitation workers can actually work in a variety of places.”
A. Obviously
B. Since
C. Similarly
D. as it is now
D. as it is now
Which is a correct alternative way to write sentence 1, reproduced here:
(12) “The humanities are becoming lost in a world increasingly focused on the ‘real’ subjects of math, science, medicine, and engineering.”
A. The humanities is becoming lost in a world increasingly focused on the “real” subjects of math, science, medicine, and engineering.
B. Focused on the “real” subjects of math, science, medicine, and engineering, the humanities are becoming lost in a world increasingly focused on those things.
C. as it is now
D. In a world increasingly focused on the “real” subjects of math, science, medicine, and engineering, the humanities are becoming lost.
D. In a world increasingly focused on the “real” subjects of math, science, medicine, and engineering, the humanities are becoming lost.
Which is the best sequence of paragraphs?
A. as it is now
B. 1, 5, 4, 3, 2
C. 2, 1, 3, 4, 5
D. 1, 3, 5, 4, 2
A. as it is now
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.
A. High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.
B. High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.
C. Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.
D. Alumnus that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.
C. Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.
What is the best way to write sentence 11, reproduced here:
(11) “Today, the definition of family has grown even more.”
A. Today, the definition of family has growed even more.
B. Today, the definition of family grew even more.
C. as it is now
D. Today, the definition of family has been growing even more.
C. as it is now
Which is the best way to write sentence 2, reproduced here:
“A sanitation workers job is to collect, haul away, and dispose of trash in a sanitary, hygienic, and environmentally responsible way.”
A. A sanitation worker’s job; is to collect, haul away, and dispose of trash in a sanitary, hygienic, and environmentally responsible way.
B. A sanitation workers job are to collect, haul away, and dispose of trash in a sanitary, hygienic, and environmentally responsible way.
C. as it is now
D. A sanitation worker’s job is to collect, haul away, and dispose of trash in a sanitary, hygienic, and environmentally responsible way.
D. A sanitation worker’s job is to collect, haul away, and dispose of trash in a sanitary, hygienic, and environmentally responsible way.
What word could replace the underlined word in sentence 11, reproduced here:
“In fact, it may be argued that studying the humanities helps augment the learning and understanding that comes with those ‘real’ sciences.”
A. undermine
B. enhance
C. diminish
D. No other word is appropriate for use in the sentence.
B. enhance
What is the best way to rewrite sentence 8, reproduced here:
“The periodic table of elements have both columns and rows.”
A. as it is now
B. The periodic table of elements having both columns and rows.
C. The periodic table of elements had both columns and rows.
D. The periodic table of elements has both columns and rows.
D. The periodic table of elements has both columns and rows.
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
Even though I have seen the movie countless times, I still laughed when the sheriff throws his mug.
A. laughed when the sheriff throws his mug.
B. laugh when the sheriff throws his mug.
C. laugh when the sheriff threw his mug.
D. laughed whenever the sheriff throws his mug.
B. laugh when the sheriff throws his mug.
Which sentence should be removed from paragraph 3 to improve the focus?
A. Sentence 15 (“Some people pamper their pets and treat them like children.”)
B. Sentence 12 (“Families come in all sorts of different configurations today.”)
C. Sentence 14 (“People say that they love their best friend ‘like a sister’ or that their mentor is ‘like a second father’.”)
D. Sentence 16 (“Weren’t dogs meant to walk?”)
D. Sentence 16 (“Weren’t dogs meant to walk?”)
In which paragraph would this sentence best fit?
“Sanitation workers employed in a factory might also be responsible for keeping the machinery in working order.”
A. paragraph 1
B. paragraph 3
C. This sentence is not appropriate for use in this passage.
D. paragraph 4
B. paragraph 3
How could sentence 6, reproduced here, best be rewritten to make it more concise and less wordy?
“The term humanities includes art, music, drama, literature, history, philosophy, all of the ‘soft’ sciences, the ‘fluffy stuff’ for which there is no right or wrong answer, no hypothesis that can be scientifically proven, but an exploration of all of the possible ‘what ifs’ of life.”
A. as it is now
B. The term humanities is very different from true science in that it encompasses art, music, literature, philosophy; there are no provable hypotheses with these human endeavors which makes them more difficult to understand and deal with in life.
C. The term humanities does not have clear cut answers.
D. The term humanities refers to “soft” sciences, such as the arts and history for which there are no clear right or wrong answers.
D. The term humanities refers to “soft” sciences, such as the arts and history for which there are no clear right or wrong answers.
What is the best way to rewrite sentence 16, reproduced here:
“An atom makes up elements.”
A. Elements are making up atoms.
B. Elements are made up of atoms.
C. An atom is made up of an element.
D. as it is now
B. Elements are made up of atoms.
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
Concerns about global warming have grown into actual efforts sanctioned by non-governmental organizations and governments that not only work to understand global warming and also to prevent it.
A. understand global warming and also to prevent it.
B. understand global warming but also to prevent it.
C. understand global warming yet also to prevent it.
D. understand global warming but also to prevent its growth.
D. understand global warming but also to prevent its growth.
What is the best way to fix sentence 6, reproduced here:
“In the old days family meant the people that you were related to people who shared a bloodline and a common history.”
A. In the old days, family meant the people that you were related to: people who shared a bloodline and a common history.
B. In the old days, family meant the people that you were related to; people who shared a bloodline and a common history.
C. as it is now
D. In the old days, family meant the people that you were related to people who shared a bloodline and a common history.
A. In the old days, family meant the people that you were related to: people who shared a bloodline and a common history.
What is the correct way to write the underlined portion of sentence 7, reproduced here:
“You may find sanitation workers working in the following places: city parks, food or beverage plants, restaurants, water treatment plants, office buildings, factories, warehouses, and industrial plants.”
A. You may find sanitation workers working in the following places—city parks, food or beverage plants, restaurants, water treatment plants, office buildings, factories, warehouses, and industrial plants.
B. You may find sanitation workers working in the following places city parks, food or beverage plants, restaurants, water treatment plants, office buildings, factories, warehouses, and industrial plants.
C. as it is now
D. You may find sanitation workers working in the following places; city parks, food or beverage plants, restaurants, water treatment plants, office buildings, factories, warehouses, and industrial plants.
C. as it is now
Which of these statements could be added to the last paragraph of the passage without changing its tone?
A. none
B. Maybe scholars should give the humanities a little more credit.
C. We must ensure that future generations have access to the humanities and that they do not become, literally, a lost art.
D. Humanities is an interesting field of study.
C. We must ensure that future generations have access to the humanities and that they do not become, literally, a lost art.
Which of the following would be the best topic sentence to come before sentence 6?
A. The periodic table of elements is colorful but confusing with its columns and rows.
B. The periodic table of elements is arranged by color and organized into columns and rows.
C. The periodic table of elements can be difficult to read.
D. as it is now
B. The periodic table of elements is arranged by color and organized into columns and rows.
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
Inside the glove compartment were legal documents, pictures, and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.
A. and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.
B. and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but not any gloves.
C. and napkins from the coffee shop, no gloves were there.
D. and napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.
D. and napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.
Which of these would be the strongest transition from paragraph 1 to paragraph 2?
A. as it is now
B. But family is so much more than that.
C. Family has a lot of definitions.
D. Some people claim they don’t have any family at all.
B. But family is so much more than that.
To improve the organization of the passage, sentence 10, “They must be physically fit,” would make the most sense if moved to which location?
A. after sentence 2
B. after sentence 6
C. after sentence 14
D. as it is now
C. after sentence 14
Sentence 9, reproduced here, would best be rewritten as “____”.
(9) “Exploring the humanities encourages creative thought, the questioning of authority, think for yourself, question reality, and wonder about the purpose of life.”
A. as it is now
B. Exploring the humanities encourages creative thinking, the questioning of authority, thinking for yourself, questioning reality, and wondering about the purpose of life.
C. To explore the humanities one must creatively think, question authority, think for yourself, question reality, in order to wonder about reality.
D. Exploring the humanities encourages creative thought, to question authority, think for yourself, question reality, and wonder about the purpose of life.
B. Exploring the humanities encourages creative thinking, the questioning of authority, thinking for yourself, questioning reality, and wondering about the purpose of life.
What is the best way to combine the paragraph in paragraph 1?
A. Elements are the building blocks of matter and are the simplest form of matter and cannot be further broken down using any chemical means. They make up everything we see; they come in solids, liquids, and gases. They are arranged on the periodic table of elements.
B. as it is now
C. Elements are the building blocks of matter. They are the simplest form of matter and cannot be further broken down using any chemical means and make up everything we see. They come in solids, liquids, and gases, to be arranged on the periodic table of elements.
D. Elements are the building blocks of matter. They are the simplest form of matter and cannot be further broken down using any chemical means. Elements make up everything we see. They come in solids, liquids, and gases and are arranged on the periodic table of elements.
D. Elements are the building blocks of matter. They are the simplest form of matter and cannot be further broken down using any chemical means. Elements make up everything we see. They come in solids, liquids, and gases and are arranged on the periodic table of elements.
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
For homes in typically colder geographic regions, it is particularly important to have effective and efficient heating systems.
A. For homes in typically colder geographic regions
B. For people in homes in typically colder geographic regions
C. For homes in typically cold geographic regions
D. People in typically colder geographic regions
C. For homes in typically cold geographic regions