Cut the Clutter
At this point in time, the team is currently practicing for the tournament.
A) The team is practicing for the tournament.
B) At this time, the team is currently practicing for the tournament.
C) The team is currently practicing.
D) At this point in time, the team is practicing.
A) The team is practicing for the tournament.
On Friday afternoon, the mayor announced that a new park will be built near the river.
A) The mayor announced a new park.
B) On Friday, the mayor announced a park will be built near the river.
C) The mayor announced a new river park.
D) A new park will be built.
B) On Friday, the mayor announced a park will be built near the river.
The scientist, who was a woman working in the laboratory, discovered a new chemical element.
A) The scientist discovered a new chemical element.
B) The woman scientist in the lab discovered a new element.
C) The female scientist discovered a new chemical element in the lab.
D) The scientist, who was female, made a discovery of a new element.
C) The female scientist discovered a new chemical element in the lab.
Sentence: The committee decided on Wednesday to postpone the vote until next month.
Which choice leaves out key details?
A) On Wednesday, the committee postponed the vote until next month.
B) The committee decided to postpone the vote until next month.
C) The committee postponed the vote.
D) The committee postponed the vote on Wednesday until next month.
C) The committee postponed the vote. ✅
CUT TWO WORDS: Before taking the stand, the eyewitnesses pledge they would provide an honest and truthful account of the incident.
Before taking the stand, the eyewitnesses pledge they would provide an honest and truthful account of the incident.
The reason why the meeting was canceled was because the presenter was sick.
A) The meeting was canceled.
B) The meeting was canceled due to the presenter’s illness.
C) The reason the meeting was canceled was because of sickness.
D) Due to illness, the meeting was canceled because the presenter was sick.
B) The meeting was canceled due to the presenter’s illness.
During the summer of 2023, Olivia completed an internship at a hospital where she worked with pediatric patients.
A) Olivia completed an internship at a hospital.
B) Olivia completed a hospital internship.
C) During summer 2023, Olivia interned at a hospital with pediatric patients.
D) In 2023, Olivia completed an internship.
C) During summer 2023, Olivia interned at a hospital with pediatric patients.
The novel, first published in 1985, tells the story of a young girl who must survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
A) The novel tells the story of a girl in a post-apocalyptic world.
B) The novel, first published in 1985, tells the story of a girl.
C) The 1985 novel tells the story of a young girl surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
D) The novel tells the story of survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
C) The 1985 novel tells the story of a young girl surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
Sentence: The soccer team won the championship game in overtime on Saturday night.
Which option DOES NOT leave out a key detail?
A) The soccer team won the championship game.
B) On Saturday night, the soccer team won the championship game in overtime.
C) The soccer team won in overtime.
D) The soccer team won Saturday night’s championship.
B) On Saturday night, the soccer team won the championship game in overtime.
CUT THREE WORDS
The newest addition to our family was born at 5:38PM in the evening and weighed eight pounds, six ounces.
The newest addition to our family was born at 5:38PM in the evening and weighed eight pounds, six ounces.
She hurried quickly across the room in order to get to the door.
A) She hurried across the room to the door.
B) She moved quickly across the room to the door.
C) In order to get to the door, she hurried.
D) She hurried across the room rapidly.
A) She hurried across the room to the door.
Because the roads were icy on Monday morning, the school district delayed the start of classes by two hours.
A) On Monday morning, the school district delayed the start of classes by two hours because of icy roads.
B) The school delayed classes because the roads were icy.
C) Classes were delayed by two hours.
D) On Monday morning, classes were delayed.
B) On Monday morning, the school district delayed the start of classes by two hours because of icy roads. ✅
After training for months, Sarah ran the Boston Marathon in April of 2022.
A) Sarah ran the Boston Marathon.
B) After training for months, Sarah ran the Boston Marathon in April 2022.
C) Sarah trained for months before running.
D) Sarah ran a marathon in April.
B) After training for months, Sarah ran the Boston Marathon in April 2022.
Sentence: The restaurant opened in 1995 and has served Italian food ever since.
Which sentence leaves out a key detail?
A) The Italian restaurant opened in 1995 and has served Italian cuisine since then.
B) The restaurant has served Italian cuisine since its opening.
C) Serving Italian food since 1995, the restaurant is loved by patrons.
D) Since 1995, the restaurant has served Italian food.
B) The restaurant has served Italian cuisine since its opening.
When Hellen Keller was twenty-two years old and still a student at Radcliffe College, she began writing an autobiography about her life.
When Hellen Keller was twenty-two years old and still a student at Radcliffe College, she began writing an autobiography about her life.
At the present time, we are currently considering new options for the project.
A) We are currently considering new options.
B) We are considering new options for the project.
C) At this time, we are considering options.
D) At the present time, we are currently considering.
B) We are considering new options for the project.
After practicing for six months, the school choir performed at the state competition in Chicago.
A) The school choir performed in Chicago.
B) The school choir performed at the state competition.
C) The choir, after practicing for six months, performed in Chicago.
D) After six months of practice, the choir performed at the state competition in Chicago.
D) After six months of practice, the choir performed at the state competition in Chicago. ✅
Because he forgot his keys at home, James could not enter the office until someone opened the door.
A) James couldn’t get into the office.
B) Because he forgot his keys, James couldn’t enter the office.
C) James forgot his keys, so he could not enter the office until someone opened the door.
D) James forgot his keys.
C) James forgot his keys, so he could not enter the office until someone opened the door.
Sentence: After winning three gold medals, the swimmer retired from international competition in 2012.
Which sentence DOES NOT leave out key details?
A) The swimmer retired from competition.
B)The swimmer, a 3-time gold medal winner, retired from global competitions in 2012.
C) The swimmer retired in 2012.
D) The swimmer won three gold medals.
B)The swimmer, a 3-time gold medal winner, retired from global competitions in 2012
Albino Kingsnakes are an invasive species in the Canary Islands. Many years ago, they arrived in the islands as pets and either escaped or were released and set free by their owners.
Albino Kingsnakes are an invasive species in the Canary Islands. Many years ago, they arrived in the islands as pets and either escaped or were released and set free by their owners.
In the event that it should rain tomorrow, the picnic will be moved indoors.
A) If it rains, the picnic will be canceled.
B) The picnic will be moved indoors in the event of rain.
C) Tomorrow, if there is rain, the picnic will be moved.
D) If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be moved indoors.
D) If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be moved indoors.
In 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in the Bahamas.
A) Columbus sailed across the ocean.
B) In 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic and landed in the Bahamas.
C) Columbus landed in the Bahamas.
D) In 1492, Columbus sailed across the ocean and landed.
B) In 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic and landed in the Bahamas.
In 1969, Neil Armstrong, an American astronaut, became the first person to walk on the moon.
A) Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon.
B) Neil Armstrong, an astronaut, walked on the moon in 1969.
C) In 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
D) Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
C) In 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
Sentence: In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
Which sentence LEAVES OUT key details?
A) In the year 1776 in Philadelphia, Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
B) The Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 in Philadelphia, PA, by the Continental Congress.
C) In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia.
D) The Congress adopted the Declaration in 1776 in Philadelphia.
C) In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia.
CUT ONE WORD
Though the explorer Ferdinand Magellan is famous for circumnavigating around the world, he died before finishing his expedition. Navigator Juan Elcano took over after Magellan's death and completed the voyage.
Though the explorer Ferdinand Magellan is famous for circumnavigating around the world, he died before finishing his expedition. Navigator Juan Elcano took over after Magellan's death and completed the voyage.