Conciseness
The answer keys for homework assignments are listed in the back of the textbook, in the appendix.
Which choice is least redundant in context?
A. No Change
B. case you want to see the end of
C. the event that your complete
D. Delete the underlined portion
The correct answer is D
Her novel is more popular with young adults, most likely because it focuses on teenagers—three friends about to turn fifteen—and looking honestly at the issues today’s generation faces.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No Change
B. but looks
C. and looks
D. and
The correct answer is C
Generally, reading Victorian literature requires several essential skills.
Given that all of the following phrases are accurate, which one provides the most specific information?
A. No Change
B. a good reading voice
C. patience and a large vocabulary
D. a desire to complete this activity.
The correct answer is C
The debate team had prepared extensively for the regional tournament, a competition they had been anticipating for months however they were informed that the event was unexpectedly canceled.
Which choice most effectively improves the punctuation of the sentence?
A. No change
B. months; however, they were informed that the event was unexpectedly canceled.
C. months: however they were informed that the event was unexpectedly canceled.
D. months, however; they were informed that the event was unexpectedly canceled.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Choice B is correct because a semicolon + conjunctive adverb (however) must be used to join two independent clauses:
Independent clause 1: The debate team had prepared extensively for the regional tournament, a competition they had been anticipating for months
Independent clause 2: they were informed that the event was unexpectedly canceled
The semicolon creates the proper separation and avoids a run-on.
[1] His talent caught the eyes of a local college coach, who recruited Francis to attend his school and play for him. [2] Francis began playing football when his town started a youth football league. [3] He soon excelled both on offense and defense, leading his team to many victories. [4] His last year in college, 1997, the coach relied on Francis, then team captain, to lead the team to a national championship. [5] They won.
For the sake of the logic and coherence of this paragraph, Sentence 1 should be placed:
A. where it is now.
B. after Sentence 2.
C. after Sentence 3.
D. after Sentence 4.
The correct answer is C
It is early December, and the amount of snow we have had so far is alarming.
Which choice is least redundant in context?
A. No Change
B. After Thanksgiving it comes to be
C. Due to the fact that it is
D. Because it is
The correct answer is A
At a park near our house, I was riding along a bike path and were considering how I wanted to structure the next chapter of my novel.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No Change
B. were mulling considerations
The correct answer is C
We’re not researching common little bugs but real Titan beetles—creepy, earthy, gross giants found throughout the Amazon.
Given that all the choices are accurate, which one most specifically describes a Titan beetle for readers who have never encountered one?
A. No Change
B. big, natural-looking, dark
C. odorless, textured, interesting
D. brownish-red, huge-jawed, winged
The correct answer is D
The students planned to present their project today however the science fair was postponed due to weather.
Which choice most accurately improves the punctuation of the sentence?
A. No change
B. today: however, the science fair was postponed due to weather.
C. today; however, the science fair was postponed due to weather.
D. today, however the science fair was postponed due to weather.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Choice C is correct because a semicolon is required before a conjunctive adverb such as however when it connects two independent clauses. Both sides of the sentence can stand alone, so “today; however,” is the grammatically correct structure.
[1] “And there’s an old man pulling the swing, see?” [2] She brought me to The Swing, the first painting I would recognize, beginning a lifelong adoration of art. [3] “Sarah, this woman is wearing pink just like you,” Mom said, leaning over me so I could follow each character in the portrait as she pointed them out to me with her finger. [4] Looking at the smiling woman in pink, I nodded as a love for art and painting blossomed from the seed of this Rococo museum piece.
For the sake of logic and coherence of this paragraph, Sentence 1 should be placed:
A. Where it is now.
B. after Sentence 2.
C. after Sentence 3.
D. after Sentence 4.
The correct answer is C
These recent events created an uproar from local businesses, which only had operations in that town and were run by people who lived in the community, who wanted their community to thrive and not be destroyed by large, national corporations.
Which choice is least redundant in context?
A. No Change
B. a lot of people
C. Some people in the town
D. local businesses
While preparing for the presentation, the students were responsible for researching the topic, organizing their slides, and to rehearse their speaking parts.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No change
B. researching the topic, organizing their slides, and rehearsing
C. to research the topic, organizing their slides, and rehearsing
D. to research the topic, organize their slides, and rehearsing
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Choice B is correct because all verbs follow the same -ing parallel structure: researching, organizing, rehearsing.
Even after centuries of investigation, the exact purpose of these clusters of stones that I’ve read about is still mysterious.
Given that all the choices are accurate, which one offers visual information about the stones as they appear in modern times?
A. No Change
B. have significance in many cultures
C. were built long before any of us were alive
D. together roughly form a circle
The correct answer is D
The committee suggested three improvements to the school: adding more tutoring hours, updating the library, and renovating the cafeteria.
Which choice makes the sentence most concise and correct?
A. No change
B. school—adding more tutoring hours, updating the library, and renovating the cafeteria.
C. school; which includes adding more tutoring hours, updating the library, and renovating the cafeteria.
D. school, such as adding more tutoring hours, updating the library, and renovating the cafeteria.
Answer: A
Explanation:
Choice A correctly uses a colon to introduce a clearly defined list.
[1] Being used to a continuous state of freefall, they now have to spend weeks and sometimes months recovering their strength and balance. [2] When astronauts return to earth from the International Space Station, they struggle to readjust to Earth because their bone density, among other things, decreases during their extended time in space. [3] A small price, many would say, to be part of the privileged few who have left the surface of our world.
Which of the following sequences of sentences will make Paragraph 1 most logical?
A. No Change
B. 1,3,2
C. 2,3,1
D. 2,1,3
The correct answer is D
The next day, on the bus back to school, we celebrated our team’s victory by singing rally songs and the alma mater.
Which choice is least redundant in context?
A. No Change
B. day after that night
C. day after last night
D. day as we drove
The correct answer is A
To succeed in the engineering program, students must be ready to solve complex problems, collaborate with teammates, and demonstrating persistence.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No change
B. collaborate with teammates, and demonstrate persistence
C. collaborating with teammates, and demonstrate persistence
D. to collaborate with teammates, and demonstrate persistence
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Choice B correctly aligns all verbs in the infinitive/verb form: solve, collaborate, demonstrate.
Neighborhood residents could now avoid the sweltering heat by retreating to the air-conditioned community center.
Which choice would most effectively conclude the sentence by indicating clearly how the community center could address the problem described in the first part of the sentence?
A. No Change
B. going to the community center
C. trying something different
D. using a retreat
The correct answer is A
Choice A is correct because the adjective air-conditioned explains how the residents could avoid the sweltering heat.
The scientist emphasized the importance of three factors in the experiment, accuracy, precision, and consistency.
Which choice correctly punctuates the sentence?
A. No change
B. experiment: accuracy, precision, and consistency.
C. experiment; accuracy, precision, and consistency.
D. experiment—accuracy, precision and consistency.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Choice B is correct because a colon should introduce a list that explains or expands on what comes before it.
[1] Last April, I had to travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for my work. [2] Though we had hardly spoken to each other in twenty years, when I called Jarret to propose a get-together, his voice sounded delightfully familiar. [3] Through my parents, who still talked with Jarret’s uncle, I learned that Jarret was currently residing in Omaha.
Which of the following sequences of sentences makes Paragraph 3 most logical?
A. No Change
B. 1,3,2
C. 2,1,3
D. 3,2,1
The correct answer is B
A soft hand gently touched my elbow as I deliberated which sandwich to order from the food truck in the empty parking lot. “You don’t want to order from these guys,” a woman I had never met and so I didn’t know whispered, jerking her head toward the vendor while he chatted with the customers in front of us.
Which choice is least redundant in context?
A. No Change
B. I didn't know
C. to whom no one had introduced me
D. who up until this point had failed
The correct answer is B
The museum’s new outreach initiative aims to engage local schools, provide hands-on workshops for families, and that it strengthens community interest in the arts.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
A. No change
B. engaging local schools, providing hands-on workshops for families, and strengthening
C. engage local schools, providing hands-on workshops for families, and strengthen
D. engage local schools, provide hands-on workshops for families, and strengthen
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Choice D is correct because it uses a consistent series of base-form verbs:
engage
provide
strengthen
Modern technology has provided us with ways to attain the previously unknown. Cures for diseases like malaria and polio were once thought to be out of reach, but decades of research have proven that science can conquer almost any biological obstacle. But some caution that scientists involved in this exponential growth of modern technology should reflect on a certain mythological tale.
In Greek mythology, Daedalus was known throughout the ancient world for his remarkable craftsmanship. He and his son Icarus were imprisoned in a tower to keep the secrets of his famous Labyrinth on Crete from spreading throughout the Mediterranean. In order to escape, Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and his son—birds’ feathers attached to a base with wax and string. He warned Icarus to fly neither too close to the ocean lest the sea foam weigh down the wings nor too close to the sun and melt the waxen wings. Overcome with the desire to soar, Icarus flew up and up toward the blazing sun until, one by one, the feathers fell off of the melting wings, plunging poor Icarus into the sea.
Given that all choices are accurate, which one ends this paragraph with the clearest allusion to the myth of Icarus as described in the following paragraph?
A. No Change
B. remember that every action has a consequence.
C. take care not to succumb to over-ambition and vanity.
D. remind each other to be cautious
The correct answer is C
To prepare for the interview, Janelle gathered the things that were necessary for her to bring: her résumé, portfolio, and letters of recommendation.
Which choice provides the most concise and grammatically correct version of the sentence?
A. No change
B. gathered the items she needed to bring, which were: her résumé, portfolio, and letters of recommendation.
C. gathered the necessary items: her résumé, portfolio, and letters of recommendation.
D. gathered items she needed such as her résumé, portfolio, and letters of recommendation.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Choice C is correct because it eliminates unnecessary wording (“the things that were necessary for her to bring”) and uses a clear, concise phrase (“the necessary items”).
[1] When his older brother showed no interest in using a mitt that his girlfriend had bought for him, Tristan took it to school and played baseball with his classmates. [2] Years later, while studying history at college, he attended open tryouts held by his school’s baseball team. [3] Tristan began playing baseball as a youngster. [4] In 1964, he left college and began playing semi-professional baseball.
For the sake of the logic and coherence of this paragraph, Sentence 3 should be placed:
A. where it is now
B. before Sentence 1.
C. after Sentence 1.
D. after Sentence 4.
The correct answer is B