Sample Questions
Idioms
Redundancy
Grammatical Voice
Context Clues
100
As swing music became increasingly *popular; toe* tapping evolved into a more organized dance. A) NO CHANGE B) popular toe C) popular, toe D) popular. Toe
What is...C
100
Each tiem more wood is added to the fire, smoke swirls *from the chimney into* the night sky. Which is NOT acceptable A) at the chimney in B) up the chimney toward C) through the chimney into D) out the chimney into
What is A AT THE CHIMNEY IN
100
He began to calculate annual tables *of yearly sets* of astronomical data, which became the basis for almanacs published in 1790's. A) NO CHANGE B) covering a year's worth C) about twelve months D) OMIT the underlined portion
What is... D OMIT
100
The sun was setting quickly behind the left field bleachers, and *the infield continued to be muddied by the steady downpour* A) NO CHANGE B) the infield, by the steady downpour, continued to be muddied C) the steady downpour, muddying the infield, continued D) the steady downpour continued to muddy the infield
What is ... D THE STEADY DOWNPOUR CONTINUED TO MUDDY THE INFIELD
100
He was so *impudent* to his mother that I would have punished him if he talked to me that way. A) Disrespectful B) Worried C) Calm D) Clueless
What is... A DISRESPECTFUL
200
*Which it* seems like a strange pastime, right? A) NO CHANGE B) This C) While it D) So it
What is... B
200
The college professor had a method *about* calculating grades. A) NO CHANGE B) with C) by D) for
What is... D
200
Underwater explorer Jacques *Cousteau, exploring under the sea,* predicted that one day humans would be able to work and even live underwater. A) NO CHANGE B) Cousteau - exploring under the sea- C) Cousteau who explored under the sea, J) Cousteau
What is... J COUSTEAU
200
*City fire officials take great pains to give* smoke detectors to all residents whose homes lack them. A) NO CHANGE B) Great pains are taken by city fire officials to give C) By city fire officials, great pains are taken to give J) Taking great pains, city fire officials give
What is... A NO CHANGE
200
Bob decided to be *prudent* and call ahead for reservations, instead of just showing up. A) foolish B) thoughtful C) careless D) responsible
What is... D RESPONSIBLE
300
Whereas most people have a hard time figuring out how to dive into a pool without getting water up their noses, synchronized simmers manage to spin and kick *for the timely duration of* their routine. A) NO CHANGE B) during C) during the times of D) in the time and duration of
What is... B
300
My father did not understand that information is communicated *different from* other cultures. A) NO CHANGE B) different than C) differently in D) differently than
What is... C DIFFERENTLY IN
300
*In due course, after waiting for a while,* my neighbor signaled for the waitress and asked her why he still had not received his calamari. A) NO CHANGE B) While waiting and after a while H) After waiting a while J) After a due course of time while waiting
What is... H AFTER WAITING A WHILE
300
Having little evidence to support her client's statements, *the plea agreement was accepted by the attorney* A) NO CHANGE B) the attorney accepted the plea agreement C) the plea agreement is being accepted by the attorney D) the attorney the plea agreement accepted
What is... B THE ATTORNEY ACCEPTED THE PLEA AGREEMENT
400
As the saying *goes there* is a first time for everything. A) NO CHANGE B) goes tehre, C) goes, there D) goes, there,
What is... H
400
Aaron walked into the stadium with a chip *of* his shoulder; it was obvious that he wanted a rematch. A) NO CHANGE B) over C) off D) on
What is... D
400
Norm Bruce is most widely remembered today for his *invention and creation* of the pitching machine. A) NO CHANGE B) invention C) invention, that is, the creation D) invention, which was the creation
What is... B INVENTION
400
*The hurricane destroyed the municipal pier,* although it caused only minor damage to coastal homes. A) NO CHANGE B) The hurricane was the destroyer of the municipal pier C) The municipal pier was destroyed by the hurricane D) The destruction of the municipal pier was caused by the hurricane.
What is... A NO CHANGE
400
His *lucid* lectures, along with his clearly presented explanations, made him a popular professor. A) nice B) precise C) awful D) confusing
What is... B PRECISE
500
She emphasized that the *Supreme Courts* role was to interpret the law, not create it. A) NO CHANGE B) Supreme Court C) Supreme Court's Supreme Courts' D) Supreme Court's
What is...D
500
*In* the dusk of a late summer evening, we strolled along the beach toward the lighthouse. A) NO CHANGE B) On C) With D) From
What is A
500
Finally, her father acquiesced, *when he thought about it and gave in* allowing her to pursue her dream. A) NO CHANGE B) in that he gave in, C) by finally agreeing, D) OMIT the underlined portion
What is... D OMIT THE UNDERLINED PORTION
500
*Attending school 6 days a week & taking as many as 9 courses each term, most Japanese students are. A) NO CHANGE B) Most Japanese students, attending school 6 days a week and take as many as 9 courses each term. C) Most Japanese students attend school 6 days a week and take as many as 9 courses each term. D) By attending school 6 days a week and taking as many as 9 courses are most Japanese students.
What is.. C
500
After spending three weeks in the hospital, I had a *surfeit* of daytime TV programming. A) love B) excess C) grateful D) excited
What is... B excess
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