Grammar & Usage
Neither of the students ______ ready for the exam.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been
B. Neither is singular; use is.
Choose the correct sentence.
A. I studied, and I passed.
B. I studied and, I passed.
C. I studied, I passed.
D. I studied and I, passed.
A. a comma plus coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses.
Choose the most concise revision: "At this point in time, we are ready."
A. At this current point in time, we are ready.
B. Now, we are ready.
C. At this moment right now, we are ready.
D. In the present time, we are ready.
B. Now replaces a wordy phrase
It was raining heavily. __________, the game as cancelled.
A. However
B. Therefore
C. Similarly
D. For example
B. therefore signals a result
A paragraph explains how exercise improves sleep. Which detail is most relevant?
A. Running shoes come in many colors.
B. Regular physical activity can help people fall asleep faster.
C. My friends enjoys video games.
D. Some gyms sell smoothies.
B. directly supports the claim about sleep.
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Me and Jordan studied.
B. Jordan and me studied.
C. Jordan and I studied.
Jordan and myself studied.
C. I is the subject pronoun
Choose the correct use of a semicolon.
A. The test was difficult; but fair.
B The test was difficult; it was fair.
C. The test; was difficult and fair.
D. The test was; difficult and fair.
B. a semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses
Choose the best revision: "The reason she left was because she felt sick."
A. She left because she felt sick.
B. The reason why she left was due to feeling sick.
C. She left for the reason that she felt sick.
D. NO CHANGE
A. eliminates the redundant reason/because construction
Lena enjoys fiction. __________, her brother prefers nonfiction.
A. In contrast
B. Consequently
C. For instance
D. Likewise
A. in contrast signals a difference
The writer wants to emphasize a serious concern about distracted driving. Which tone works best?
A. silly and playful
B. formal and urgent
C. sarcastic and mocking
D. casual and unrelated
B. a formal, urgent tone fits the purpose and audience
By the time the bell rang, Maya _______ her essay.
A. finishes
B. has finished
C. had finished
D. will finish
C. past perfect marks an action completed before another past action.
Choose the sentence that correctly introduces a list.
A. I packed: pencils, paper, and a calculator.
B. I packed three items: pencils, paper, and a calculator.
C. I packed three: items pencils, paper, and a calculator.
D. I packed three items; pencils, paper, and a calculator.
B. a colon follows a complete independent clause.
Choose the clearest sentence.
A. After talking to Nina, she said the project was late.
B. Nina said the project was late after talking to her.
C. After I spoke with Nina, Nina said the project was late.
D. After talking, she said it was late.
C. explicitly identifies the speaker and removes unclear pronouns
A. Nevertheless
B. In addition
C. Instead
D. On the contrary
B. in addition adds supporting information
Which evidence best supports "Libraries provide valuable community services"?
A. Libraries often have tall bookshelves.
B. Many libraries offer free tutoring, internet access, and job-search assistance.
C. My favorite novel has a blue cover.
D. Some people prefer e-books.
Choose the sentence with correct modifier placement.
A. Running down the hall, the backpack fell open.
B. Running down the hall, Elena dropped her backpack.
C. Elena dropped running down the hall her backpack.
D. The backpack, running down the hall, fell open.
Which sentence punctuates the nonessential phrase correctly?
A. My brother who lives in Mobile is visiting.
B. My brother, who lives in Mobile is visiting.
C. My brother who lives in Mobile, is visiting.
D. My brother, who lives in Mobile, is visiting.
D. a nonessential relative clause is enclosed in commas; assume the speaker has one brother.
Choose the most precise replacement for "got" in: "The scientist got results from the experiment."
A. did
B. obtained
C. made
D. had
B. obtained describes receiving experimental results precisely.
Paragraph order: (1) The garden produced tomatoes in July. (2) First, students prepared the soil in March. (3) Next, they planted seedlings in April. Which order is most logical?
A. 1, 2, 3
B. 2, 3, 1
C. 3, 1, 2
D. 2, 1, 3
B. chronological order follows preparation, planting, harvest
A passage argues for later school start times. Which concluding sentence is strongest?
A. Schools have many different schedules.
B. I once overslept on a Monday.
C. Starting school later could help students arrive more rested and ready to learn.
D. Clocks are important tools.
C. reinforces the argument and its significance
The committee, along with its advisers, ________ a decision today.
A. announce
B. are announcing
C. announces
D. have announced
C. the singular subject committee controls the verb; the intervening phrase does not.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. The rain stopped, however the field remained muddy.
B. The rain stopped; however, the field remained muddy.
C. The rain stopped however; the field remained muddy.
D. The rain stopped, however, the field remained muddy.
B. use a semicolon before a comma after however when it links independent clauses
Choose the best revision: "There are many students who believe that school should start later."
A. Many students believe school should start later.
B. There are many students who are of the belief school should start later.
C. It is believed by many students that school should start later.
D. NO CHANGE
A. uses a direct subject and active verb without losing meaning
Which sentence best opens a paragraph about the benefits of school gardens?
A. My cousin has a garden behind her house.
B. School gardens offer students hands-on lessons in science and nutrition.
C. Tomatoes can be red, yellow, or green.
D. Many schools were built decades ago.
B. it clearly states the paragraph's controlling idea.
A writer adds: "The school mascot is a mustang" to a paragraph explaining how a new tutoring program raised test scores. What should the writer do?
A. Keep it because all facts are useful.
B. Move it to the first sentence.
C. Delete it because it does not support the paragraph's focus.
D. Repeat it in the conclusion.
C. The mascot detail is irrelevant to the paragraph's purpose.