Who vs. Whom
You'll be shocked when I tell you (who/whom) called me last night.
You'll be shocked when I tell you WHO called me last night.
According to a recent study, the average CEO at a large corporation in the US made 271 times more money than the company's classic American worker. A) No change, B) predictable, C) typical, D) distinctive
Correct: C
This is the best choice. "Typical" is the best way to indicate that we're discussing the average worker at the company.
I _______ to the shop to buy the shirt I ________ the day before.
A) went/had seen
B) had gone/saw
A) went/had seen
Before a jury trial begins, lawyers for each side interview potential jurors closely, [asking him or her] questions intended to reveal any biases. A) No change, B) asking them, C) asking it, D) to ask him or her
Correct: B
This is the best choice. The plural pronoun "them" appropriately agrees with its plural antecedent "jurors".
Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain on Mars, is over two and a half times taller than [that of] Mount Everest. A) No change, B) those of, C) the mountain of, D) DELETE the bracketed portion.
Correct: D
This is the best choice. It results in a logical and direct comparison between "Olympus Mons" and "Mount Everest".
(Who/whom) should I ask to the dance?
WHOM should I ask to the dance?
I don't care about your opinion towards me.
I don't care about your opinion OF me.
When she (had read/read) all of the great American novels, she (had written/wrote) an essay about the best ones.
When she HAD READ all of the great American novels, she WROTE an essay about the best ones.
A Neapolitan pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes are considered more traditional than one made with any other type of tomatoes.
A Neapolitan pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes IS considered more traditional than one made with any other type of tomatoes.
Driving for up to 70 hours in a week, a long haul trucker often works considerably longer [than the hours of a typical office worker.] A) No change, B) than does a typical office worker, C) than those of a typical office worker, D) compared with a typical office worker.
Correct: B
This is the best choice. It results in a logical comparison between the working habits of "a long haul trucker" and those of "a typical office worker".
The doctor (who/whom) you recommended is not available for an entire year.
The doctor WHOM you recommended is not available for an entire year.
Frank William Abagnale, Jr. is an American security consultant who is famous for his former identity as a con-artist, check forger, impostor, and escape artist. He claims to have assumed eight different false identities in his life, successfully impersonating an airline pilot, a doctor, a U.S. Bureau of Prisons agent, and a lawyer. He was the target of a long-running and long-frustrated FBI investigation during his career as an impostor, and he [made a break for it] from police custody twice before he was 21 years old. A) No change, B) took flight, C) escaped, D) flew the coop.
Correct: C
This is the best choice. "Escaped" is clear and direct without being too formal. It appropriately matches the straightforward, informational style of the passage.
Antarctic pearlwort, a low-growing shrub with characteristic yellow flowers, is one of only two native flowering plants which [were occurring] in Antarctica. A) No change, B) occur, C) are occurring, D) will have occurred.
Correct: B
This is the best choice. The simple present tense "occur" is appropriate for describing a general fact (like this sentence does). Also, notice that "occur" matches the simple present tense "is".
Called an embouchure, the shape of a skilled trumpet player's lips [allows] for playing a wide range of notes with clear tone and without muscle strain.
A) NO CHANGE, B) Allowing, C) Allow, D) Have allowed
A
Reforestation efforts, while undeniably valuable, often result in forests with limited biodiversity. [However,] care should be taken to plant a wide variety of native flora in depleted woodlands. A) No change, B) Accordingly, C) Nevertheless, D) Furthermore
Correct: B
"Accordingly" is used to indicate a cause/effect relationship, which applies to this context. Becausereforestation can lead to a lack of biodiversity, a variety of plants should be planted.
He is the man (who/whom) we were discussing last week.
He is the man WHOM we were discussing last week.
The bird's lightweight wings were adapted (for/to) flying.
The bird's lightweight wings were adapted FOR flying.
Before the museum closed permanently, it faced financial challenges that [include] a large deficit and declining ticket sale revenues. A) No change, B) will include, C) would include, D) included.
Correct: D
This is the best choice. The simple past tense verb "included" matches the past tense verb "faced" and corresponds to the time frame indicated by the sentence ("before the museum closed").
Thanks to its long legs, giraffes are very fast, running as quickly as 35 miles per hour in short bursts. A) No change, B) one's, C) their, D) his or her
Correct: their
This is the best choice. The plural pronoun "their" appropriately agrees with the plural noun it refers to, "giraffes".
The "Gordie Howe hat trick", an unofficial feat in which a hockey player scores a goal, records an assist, and gets in a fight all in the same game, is named after hockey great Gordie Howe. [Despite this fact,] Howe only achieved two such games in his professional career, far fewer than many other players. A) No change, B) As such, C) Afterwards, D) As a result
Correct: A
This is the best choice. "Despite this fact" appropriate reflects the fact that the feat is named after Howe even though he only accomplished it twice in his career (and fewer times than others).
(Who/whom) should I say is calling?
WHO; who is the subject of "is calling"
Despite the ease and speed of electronic communication, we should all send a letter through the mail every now and then. A personal letter not only breaks up the monotony of paper bills and ads but also builds a stronger bond between loved ones. It may take a little extra effort and care to handwrite a message, dig up a stamp, and walk a letter to the mailbox, but that effort will not go unappreciated. So next time you want to [reach out] to a loved one, consider snail mail! A) No change, B) correspond with, C) dispatch communication to, D) epistolize
Correct: A
This is the best choice. The phrase "reach out to" matches the casual, everyday phrases used throughout the rest of the passage (like "every now and then", "dig up", etc.).
Before our conversation yesterday, Paul [has never heard] the word "brouhaha." Now he hears it everywhere he goes. A) NO CHANGE, B) had never heard, C) was never heard by, D) was never hearing
B) had never heard
In Shakespeare's classic play, Prince Hamlet is forced to confront his villainous uncle, [which has] murdered by the king and stolen the throne. A) No change, B) what have, C) he, D) who was.
Correct: D
This is the best choice. The personal pronoun “who” is an appropriate choice when referring to a person, like an "uncle".
According to some scholars, T. S. Eliot's later poems are more powerful and incisive than [his early career as a writer.] --- A) NO CHANGE, B) the time he spent previously on his writing, C) those written at the beginning of his career, D) the energy he invested in his early poetry.
C) those written at the beginning of his career