Subject-Verb
The collection of rare manuscripts ___ stored in a temperature-controlled room.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have been
Answer: C, is
Why: The subject is collection, not manuscripts.
The committee released ___ final recommendation after months of debate.
A. their
B. its
C. they’re
D. it’s
Answer: B, its
During the nineteenth century, the city ___ rapidly as factories attracted thousands of workers.
A. grows
B. grew
C. has grown
D. growing
Answer: B, grew
Covered in fresh snow, the hikers admired the mountain.
What is wrong?
The hikers admired the mountain, which was covered in fresh snow.
The two scientist___ findings were published together.
A. scientist’s
B. scientists
C. scientists’
D. scientist
Answer: C, scientists’
Among the most difficult challenges facing the research team ___ the shortage of reliable historical records.
A. are
B. is
C. have been
D. were
Answer: B, is
Why: The true subject is the shortage, which is singular. The inverted word order makes this harder.
Each of the machines was tested before ___ was shipped to the laboratory.
A. they
B. them
C. it
D. their
Answer: C, it
Why: The antecedent is each, singular.
For decades, scientists ___ evidence that the species migrates farther than previously believed.
A. gather
B. gathered
C. have gathered
D. gathering
Answer: C, have gathered
After studying the data for several weeks, the unexpected pattern became clear to the researchers.
What is the error?
After studying the data for several weeks, the researchers recognized an unexpected pattern.
Several of the company___ offices were renovated last year.
A. company’s
B. companies
C. companies’
D. companys’
Answer depends on meaning.
If one company owns several offices: A, company’s
Neither the paintings in the east gallery nor the sculpture near the entrance ___ included in the original exhibition.
A. were
B. have been
C. was
D. are
Answer: C, was
The researchers studied two populations of wolves and compared ___ hunting patterns.
A. its
B. his or her
C. their
D. it’s
Answer: C, their
The mineral, commonly ___ in volcanic rock, is valued for its unusual durability.
A. finds
B. found
C. finding
D. has found
Answer: B, found
Which sentence is best?
A. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, engineers tested the material repeatedly.
B. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, the material was tested repeatedly by engineers.
C. Engineers, designed to withstand extreme temperatures, tested the material repeatedly.
D. The material, engineers designed to withstand extreme temperatures, was tested repeatedly.
Answer: B
The childrens___ books were arranged by reading level.
A. childrens
B. childrens’
C. children’s
D. childrens’s
Answer: C, children’s
The discovery of several previously unknown species, along with evidence of dramatic climate shifts, ___ scientists to reconsider the region’s ecological history.
A. have led
B. lead
C. has led
D. were leading
Answer: C, has led
The ancient manuscript was copied repeatedly over several centuries, during which scribes occasionally introduced changes into ___ text.
A. their
B. its
C. it’s
D. them
Answer: B, its
By the time the expedition reached the valley, earlier explorers ___ the surrounding mountains but had never entered the valley itself.
A. mapped
B. map
C. had mapped
D. have mapped
Answer: C, had mapped
Having spent years documenting the region’s wildlife, the environmental changes were especially alarming to the biologist.
What should immediately follow the comma?
Answer: The biologist
Having spent years documenting the region’s wildlife, the biologist found the environmental changes especially alarming.
The three laboratories shared equipment, but each laboratory maintained ___ own records.
A. it’s
B. its
C. their
D. theirs’
Answer: B, its
Located beneath layers of volcanic rock ___ a network of tunnels that archaeologists believe dates back more than a thousand years.
A. is
B. are
C. has been
D. were
Answer: A, is
The survival of several endangered bird species depends partly on preserving the wetlands in which ___ build their nests.
A. it
B. its
C. they
D. them
Answer: C, they
The newly discovered fossil, which researchers believe ___ more than 100 million years old, provides evidence about the species’ evolution.
A. being
B. is
C. was being
D. to be
Answer: B, is
Choose the best revision:
Built in the early eighteenth century, tourists still visit the castle today.
A. Built in the early eighteenth century, tourists still visit the castle today.
B. Tourists still visit the castle, built in the early eighteenth century, today.
C. Built in the early eighteenth century, the castle still attracts tourists today.
D. The castle still attracts tourists today, built in the early eighteenth century.
Answer: C
The two companies announced changes to their employee___ benefit plans.
A. employee’s
B. employees
C. employees’
D. employee
Answer: C, employees’