Grammar
As Barbara puts in her contact lenses, the telephone rang.
A) NO CHANGE
B) rings
C) ranged
D) ring
B) rings
Prevalent means...
something widespread or common
venomous snakebite : neglected tropical disease ::
A) venom : snake B) horse : animal C) toxin : protein D) rashes : nausea
B) horse : animal
snakebite is a type of disease
horse is a type of animal
How many commas does this sentence need?
Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface.
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
B) 2
Oil, which is lighter than water, rises to the surface.
Mark worked on a farm for many years to sponsor his wife and kids, who stayed at home.
A) NO CHANGE B) compensate C) fund D) provide for
D) provide for
My family ________ in Australia for a year when I was a child.
A) lives B) lived C) was living D) will live
B) lived
"Acquire" means
to get or gain something through effort or experience
He had acquired a taste for fine wine.
venom : illness ::
A) disease : treatment B) disease : global treatment C) antivenom : treatment D) antivenom : restored health
D) antivenom : restored health
venom leads to illness
antivenom leads to restored health
Madame de Stael was an attractive gracious lady.
Where do I place the comma?
Madame de Stael was an attractive, gracious lady.
The immigration office could not handle the amalgamation of applicants trying to escape tyranny in their home country.
A) NO CHANGE B) diffusion C) prevalence D) influx
D) influx
The contestants waited backstage at the singing contest. Shivering with excitement at their prospects for fame.
A) NO CHANGE B) contest; shivering C) contest and shivering D) contest, shivering
D) contest, shivering
Benevolent means...
kind, generous
Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
See #16 in the handout
A, B, C, or D?
C
How many commas do I need in this sentence?
The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and dirty hats.
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
Didn't he say when he would arrive at Arnie's house?
B) 2
The startup didn't become financially beneficial until it reached a critical mass of customers using the app on a daily basis.
A) NO CHANGE B) profitable C) commercially rewarding D) worthy of great compensation
B) profitable
I was terribly disappointed with my grade because I studied very hard.
A) NO CHANGE
B) will be
C) had been
D) is
A) NO CHANGE
Circumvent means...
to find a way around
They found a loophole to circumvent the rule.
See #28 in the handout.
A, B, C, or D?
C
Because of their opposition to institutions that force creatures to live in captivity some people refuse to go to the zoo.
Where do I place the comma?
... to live in captivity, some people refuse to go to the zoo.
VIBE CHECK QUESTION:
Which answer best matches the tone?
Tired from the 20 mile hike, Yasmine retired to her tent and snoozed.
A) NO CHANGE B) hit the sack. C) slept. D) dozed off.
Thousands of people will see the art exhibit by the time it closes.
A) NO CHANGE
B) will have seen
C) had seen
D) are seeing
B) will have seen
"Compelling" means
captivating or persuasive
The debater gave a compelling argument.
See #31 in the handout.
A, B, C, or D?
A
How many commas does this sentence need?
The contractor testified that the house was completed and that the work had been done properly.
A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 3
A) 0
The employees put forth a plan to cut spending by fifty percent but their boss rejected their audacious scheme.
A) NO CHANGE B) brash industrial action. C) bold proposal. D) spirited counsel.
C) bold proposal.