Revising and Editing Part A
1. Read this paragraph.
( 1) A talented geographer, the professor, who teaches college students, is an expert at locating cities and countries on maps. ( 2) In his lectures, he explains cartography, or map-making, which involves surveying the Earth's surface to represent its physical structures. ( 3) Geographers use maps with different projections that can display the Earth's various features, including mountains, the magnetic poles, and oceans. ( 4) Studying the field of geography provides knowledge about its connections to biology, sociology, and history, among other subjects.
Which sentence should be revised to correct a wordiness issue?
A. sentence 1
B. sentence 2
C. sentence 3
D. sentence 4
1. What is "A" - In sentence 1, the clause “who teaches college students” is redundant because the sentence already uses the word “professor.”
Category: Knowledge of Language
Getting to the Answer: The sentences in (B), (C), and (D) do not contain errors.
6. Which sentence should follow sentence 2 to introduce the main claim of the passage?
E. Altered states of consciousness include falling asleep, daydreaming, and experiencing hallucinations.
F. Today, researchers continue to explore what consciousness is, how we are able to understand it, and what it means to be in a "state of consciousness:'
G. Some psychology research investigates consciousness with the hope of discovering the key to curing, or at least better managing, neurological disorders such as epilepsy.
H. Based on their studies of consciousness, these fathers of psychology founded the field's first two great "schools": voluntarism and functionalism.
6. What is "F" -When identifying the main claim of the passage, use the main ideas of each paragraph as guidance. Paragraph 1 introduces the topic of consciousness, paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 talk about different states of consciousness, and paragraph 5 states that scientists conduct experiments that explore these different states, which is best reflected by (F).
Category: Topic Development
Getting to the Answer: (E) is too specific; an altered state of consciousness is mentioned only in paragraph 2, so it cannot reflect the main claim of the entire passage. (G) is incorrect because although the sentence mentions psychological research that investigates consciousness, the topic of the passage is related to the different states of consciousness rather than neurological disorders. Although sentence 2 mentions Wilhelm Wundt and William James, this sentence references two “schools” of psychology—voluntarism and functionalism—that the passage does not discuss; (H) is incorrect.
37. The first stanza (lines 1-12) conveys a central idea of the poem by
A. showing how the members of the flying gang were chosen.
B. explaining the occupation of the narrator.
C. comparing the work of the flying gang to the jobs performed by other railroad workers.
D. implying that the narrator was required to travel long distances.
37. What is "B" - The first stanza introduces the narrator, who, after long employment with the railroad, is now head of “the flying gang,” and goes on to explain what the flying gang is: a “chosen band . . . kept at hand in case of an urgent need.” In other words, they are a select group of workers who were reserved so they would be available for important repairs.
Category: Global
Getting to the Answer: (A) is Out of Scope because the poem doesn’t explain how the members of the flying gang were chosen. (C) is also Out of Scope because no comparison is made with the work done by other railroad workers. (D) is incorrect because the stanza indicates the flying gang would travel in any direction “south or north” as quickly as it could with “utmost speed,” but there is no indication that the gang is traveling long distances.
45. Which statement best describes the central idea of the passage?
A. The Panama Canal is key to the history of the entire region of Central America in the late 1800s.
B. The Panama Canal represented the failure of the Panamanian revolution as the canal fell under United States control.
C. The Panama Canal had a massive impact on international trade.
D. The Panama Canal faced difficulties in its planning and construction.
45. What is "D" - The passage focuses on the history of the Panama Canal in the period before its construction, lists the obstacles that builders faced, and describes its completion. This outline is summarized in (D), the correct answer.
Category: Global
Getting to the Answer: (A) is Extreme, and not supported by the text. There is no mention of the Panama Canal as the most important historical event of the period. (B) is also Extreme; the text never describes the Canal as a “failure of the Panamanian revolution.” (C) is only mentioned in the last part of paragraph 5 and is therefore too narrow.
52. How does paragraph 9 fit into the overall structure of the excerpt?
E. It establishes that this is a meeting between two satiric adversaries.
F. It illustrates the calmness of Holmes in the face of possible danger.
G. It highlights the somewhat unseasonable weather.
H. It describes the degree of Dr. Roylott's anger.
52. What is "F" - The exchange in paragraph 9 illustrates how Holmes maintains his calm in the face of being verbally threatened by Dr. Roylott; (F) is correct.
Category: Global
Getting to the Answer: Although Holmes is using wit to dismiss Dr. Roylott, that approach is not returned. Dr. Roylott shouts at Holmes. So, (E) is incorrect. That Holmes is discussing the weather and its effects on gardening is unimportant. Content aside, he is trying to dismiss Dr. Roylott’s angry threats by treating this as an ordinary, everyday conversation; (G) is incorrect. Dr. Roylott’s anger is not discussed in paragraph 9. The reaction of Holmes to that anger is touched upon, making (H) incorrect.
3. Read this sentence.
The federal government provides low-interest loans that allow students of deferring payment until they graduate and begin to work.
Which edit should be made to correct this sentence?
A. Change provides to provide.
B. Change allow to allowed.
C. Change of deferring to to defer.
D. Change begin to to begin with.
3.What is "C" -The prepositional phrase “of deferring” is not idiomatically correct, so this change should be made. (C) is correct.
Category: Usage
Getting to the Answer: Check each answer choice systematically. Since the subject of the singular verb “provides” is the singular noun “the federal government,” no change is necessary, so (A) is incorrect. There are no context clues to indicate that the past tense is needed, so (B) is incorrect. For the record, the phrase “begin to work” is idiomatically correct as written; thus, (D) is incorrect as well.
7. Which sentence could best follow sentence 11 to support the ideas in the third paragraph (sentences 10-11)?
A. If someone asked you about what you ate, you would be able to transfer that memory from the preconscious level to the conscious level in just a few seconds.
B. If you are not able to come up with an answer, it is likely because the memory is stored at the unconscious level.
C. Many studies have linked eating breakfast to better memory and concentration, lower risks of heart disease, and a healthier body weight.
D. If you were prompted to think about what you had for breakfast, you would think about exactly what you ate, such as cereal and milk or yogurt and fruit.
7. What is "A" describes this transfer perfectly.
Category: Topic Development
Getting to the Answer: Use the information in the sentences indicated in the question to identify the correct answer. Sentence 10 discusses how people can access their memories if they are prompted to do so. Sentence 11 provides an example of a question that would prompt someone to access a memory, which would bring the information from preconscious level to the conscious level; (A) describes this transfer perfectly. (B) is incorrect because it contradicts the information in the paragraph; sentence 10 says that memories are stored on a preconscious level, not an unconscious level. (C) is incorrect because the sentence focuses on the importance of eating breakfast rather than the preconscious level of consciousness. (D) is incorrect because “you would think about what you ate” is too vague to sufficiently support the ideas in the third paragraph.
38. Read lines 5-6 from the first stanza.
'Twas a chosen band that was kept at hand In case of an urgent need,
How do the lines contribute to the development of ideas in the stanza?
E. The lines emphasize the immediacy and importance of the narrator's work.
F. The lines indicate how musicians were an integral part of railroad work.
G. The lines reveal the narrator's intention to persevere in a difficult situation.
H. The lines show how the narrator began his employment at the railroad.
38. What is "E" - The stanza describes the flying gang as a select group of workers who were reserved so they would be available for important repairs, and this is supported by wording such as “chosen” and “urgent need”; (E) is correct.
Category: Function
Getting to the Answer: (F) is incorrect because “band” refers to a group of railroad workers, not musicians. (G) is incorrect because the lines are a factual description, not a statement of the narrator’s intentions. (H) is incorrect because the narrator is head of the flying gang after a long period of employment with the railroad, not at the beginning of his career.
46. The map contributes to the development of the topic of the passage mainly by
E. illustrating that Panama was a more advantageous location than Nicaragua for the building of a canal that would shorten the journey from the East and West coasts of the United States.
F. suggesting that the much shorter ocean voyage between the North American coasts through the Isthmus of Panama was a compelling reason for the building of the Panama Canal.
G. revealing that the route through the Panama Canal is not the only ocean trade route between New York City and San Francisco.
H. showing that the environmental, logistical, and political obstacles standing in the way of building the Panama Canal can eventually be overcome.
46. What is "F" - The map compares the distance of two trade routes between New York City and San Francisco, with the one through the Panama Canal significantly shorter than the one around South America. The main idea of the passage is the history of building the Panama Canal, with Paragraph 1 indicating that the reason behind building the canal was to shorten the voyage between the coasts of the Americas. Predict that the infographic shows how much shorter the voyage is through the Panama Canal rather than around South America; the best match is (F).
Category: Infographic
Getting to the Answer: Because the map does not address Nicaragua at all, (E) is Out of Scope. Though not developed by “revealing” this fact. (H) is a Distortion because the Panama Canal was built despite the obstacles; it is not a plan for the future as indicated in this choice.
53. With which statement would the author of this excerpt most likely agree?
A. Dr. Roylott's stepdaughter speaking with Holmes influences Dr. Roylott to threaten Holmes in order to find out what his stepdaughter has said.
B. Dr. Roylott's stepdaughter speaking with Holmes influences Dr. Roylott to burst into the room and physically assault both Holmes and Dr. Watson.
C. Dr. Roylott's stepdaughter speaking with Holmes influences Dr. Roylott to furiously deny the accusations that his stepdaughter has made.
D. Dr. Roylott's stepdaughter speaking with Holmes influences Dr. Roylott to threaten his stepdaughter's life if Holmes doesn't stop investigating.
53. What is "A" - In response to learning that his stepdaughter has met with a famous detective, Dr. Roylott attempts to intimidate Holmes and then briefly tries to learn what his stepdaughter said to him; (A) is correct.
Category: Inference
Getting to the Answer: While Dr. Roylott does burst into the room, he merely threatens Holmes and Dr. Watson. He does not physically attack them; (B) is incorrect. While Dr. Roylott attempts to learn what his stepdaughter has said to Holmes, Roylott does not deny anything; (C) is incorrect. Although he threatens Holmes if the detective does not stop his investigation, Dr. Roylott does not threaten his stepdaughter’s life; (D) is incorrect.
2. Read this paragraph.
( 1) After graduating from college, the next five years of a software engineer's life are spent working toward a graduate degree in computer science. ( 2) The coursework revolves around programming, which is the preparation of instructions that tell the computer which operations it needs to perform. ( 3) Students learn formulas as well as programs that translate complex computer languages. ( 4) With new advancements every day, the computer science field requires professionals to constantly learn about applying the latest technology.
Which sentence contains an error in its construction and should be revised?
E. sentence 1
F. sentence 2
G. sentence 3
H. sentence 4
2. What is "E" - Modifying phrases must be placed directly next to the thing they are intended to modify. In sentence 1, the modifying phrase “after graduating from college” is placed next to “the next five years of a software engineer’s life.” This makes it sound like the “next five years” graduated from college, which is illogical. (E) is correct.
Category: Sentence Structure
Getting to the Answer: The sentences in (F), (G), and (H) do not contain structural errors.
8. Which sentence presents ideas irrelevant to the topic of paragraph 4 and should be deleted?
E. Sentence 14
F. Sentence 15
G. Sentence 16
H. Sentence 17
8. What is "E." Every sentence in a paragraph should be connected to the paragraph’s main topic. Paragraph 4 is about two types of subconscious processing: priming and the mere-exposure effect. Sentence 14 is not about either process, so it should be removed; (E) is correct.
Category: Topic Development
Getting to the Answer: Sentence 15 introduces the two types of subconscious processing, so (F) is incorrect. Sentences 16 and 17 are about priming, so they are on topic; eliminate (G) and (H).
39. Which line from the poem best supports the idea that the flying gang was used for the largest, most important repairs the railroad needed?
A. "I served my time, in the days gone by, In the railway's clash and clang;' (lines 1-2)
B. ''.And I worked my way to the end, and I Was the head of the 'Flying Gang:" (lines 3-4)
C. "If word reached town that a bridge was down, The imperious summons rang-" (lines 9-10)
D. "'Come out with the pilot engine sharp, And away with the flying gang:" (lines 11-12)
39. What is "C" - The first stanza describes the flying gang as a special team of railroad repair experts. Lines 9–10 describe the type of job they would be called for—a broken bridge, a major repair that would prevent any trains from running—and how they would respond with utmost speed. This matches (C).
Category: Detail
Getting to the Answer: (A) and (B) are Misused Details because these lines describe the narrator’s experience, not the type of work done by the flying gang. (D) is incorrect because it describes how the flying gang responds to the call, not the nature of the job they are called to do.
47. The hardships that de Lesseps experienced in building his canal are best illustrated through the
A. hurdles necessary to gain Panama's political independence from Columbia.
B. financial problems he faced in securing funding for its construction.
C. Colombian government's stance against allowing the United States to build and operate a canal in Panama.
D. logistical and environmental challenges he faced while operating in the isthmus of Panama.
47. What is "D" - Paragraph 1 claims that de Lesseps faced environmental and logistical problems in building the canal, so the correct answer is (D).
Category: Detail
Getting to the Answer: No political problems are discussed in connection with de Lesseps, which eliminates (A), and no mention is made of financial problems inhibiting the construction of de Lesseps’s canal, which eliminates (B). The Colombian government’s resistance was a factor the United States, not de Lesseps, had to overcome; (C) is also incorrect.
54. The words "scoundrel" and "meddler" in paragraph 10 contribute to the meaning of the paragraph by
E. conveying that Dr. Roylott is a violent, unhinged person who does not care whom he attacks.
F. underlining that Dr. Roylott knows enough about Holmes to view him as a threat.
G. emphasizing that Dr. Roylott is taking care not to come across as potentially guilty.
H. revealing that Dr. Roylott knows exactly who Holmes is and what he does for a living.
54. What is "F" - In paragraph 10, words like “scoundrel” and “meddler” underline that Dr. Roylott knows that Holmes could unearth the wrongs he has committed toward his stepdaughter. Thus, (F) is correct.
Category: Function
Getting to the Answer: While Dr. Roylott is violent, he is not totally unhinged. He does not physically attack Holmes or Dr. Watson, he merely threatens to do so; (E) is incorrect. Although Dr. Roylott is not taking care to come across as an innocent party, that is not how words like “scoundrel” and “meddler” contribute to the meaning of the excerpt. Instead, they reveal to the reader that Dr. Roylott has knowledge of Holmes’s professional background; (G) is incorrect. (H) is Extreme; it is not clear that Dr. Roylott knows exactly who Holmes is.
4. Read this sentence.
The helicopter, which offers the advantages of flight without requiring large amounts of space for takeoff and landing, allowing relatively easy access to places as remote as islands, mountain villages, and snow-bound communities.
Which edit should be made to correct the sentence?
E. Change which offers to offering.
F. Change large amounts of space to space in large amounts.
G. Change takeoff and landing to the takeoff as well as the landing.
H. Change allowing to allows.
4. What is "H" - supplies a predicate verb without introducing other structural errors.
Category: Sentence Structure
Getting to the Answer: As written, this sentence lacks a predicate verb and is thus a fragment. Eliminate (F) and (G) immediately, since they do not address the issue. (E) may look tempting since it removes “which” and changes a verb. However, “offering” is not a predicate verb, so (E) is incorrect.
9. Which concluding sentence should follow sentence 20 to best support the information presented in the passage?
A. Scientists create and facilitate experiments that investigate different states of consciousness to better comprehend how people sift through and internalize information.
B. Psychological experiments focus on the intricacies of multiple levels of consciousness, which range from active, normal consciousness to completely unconscious states.
C. The goal of investigating consciousness is to learn more about the awareness of one's self and environment, the ways consciousness can be altered, and the various levels and states of consciousness.
D. Hypnosis involves a change in the way a person senses, thinks, feels, perceives, or behaves while following the suggestions of a hypnotist; a state of altered consciousness appears to take over while normal conscious control is seemingly suspended.
9. What is "C" - A concluding sentence should reflect the passage’s general topic and main ideas while not introducing new information. The passage is about consciousness and researchers’ interest in studying the different states of consciousness. (C) fits well with the passage’s topic and ties the concluding paragraph back to paragraph 1 where studying consciousness is first mentioned.
Category: Topic Development
Getting to the Answer: (A) and (B) are incorrect because they do not provide any additional support for the passage; they are restatements of sentences 19 and 20, respectively. (D) is incorrect because hypnosis is not mentioned in the passage.
40. The poet develops the speaker's point of view in the second stanza (lines 13-24) by
E. describing the beautiful, desolate countryside through which the flying gang travels.
F. showing how the train thrills the city dwellers as it moves through the town.
G. illustrating all the preparations necessary before the flying gang can leave.
H. contrasting the children's cheerful excitement with the adults' recognition of the job ahead.
40. What is "H" - Throughout the poem, the narrator is conveying the urgent, difficult work of the flying gang. The second stanza describes the flying gang responding to a call for an urgent repair. The vivid description in the first part of the stanza reflects the excitement the fast- moving train creates; the children are happily clapping their hands as they see the train go by, but their “elders,” the adults, know the flying gang is on its way to serious, urgent work. This matches (H).
Category: Global
Getting to the Answer: (E) is incorrect because the beauty of the countryside is not the theme of the poem. (F) is incorrect because, while the train is exciting, that excitement is not the focus of the poem. (G) is Out of Scope because the preparations of the flying gang are not mentioned in the poem.
48. Which evidence from the passage best supports the claim in paragraph 3 that "the Americans would decide on the Nicaraguan canal"?
E. the assertion that it would be cheaper to build a canal at the Nicaraguan site
F. the recommendation of the experts that a canal be built at the Nicaraguan site
G. the revelation that the Nicaraguans had nearly completed their canal already
H. the description of the Nicaraguan site as the shortest span of distance between the Atlantic and Pacific
48. What is "E" - The question asks about American involvement; in paragraph 3, the United States is deciding between the sites in Nicaragua and Panama. The second sentence says the United States was considering Nicaragua, but experts believed Panama was the better choice. The fourth sentence states that the Nicaraguan site was less expensive. The correct answer will reflect one of these ideas, and (E) is correct.
Category: Detail
Getting to the Answer: (F) is Opposite; experts recommended Panama, not Nicaragua. (G) is Out of Scope; the passage never reveals that a Nicaraguan canal was nearly completed. (H) is incorrect because paragraph 1 identifies Panama as the location of the shortest span of distance between the two oceans.
55. How does the author's use of various insults in paragraphs 10-14 contribute to the development of ideas in the passage?
A. They reveal that Dr. Roylott will insult every man that he meets.
B. They illustrate that Holmes is calm until his profession is called into question.
C. They demonstrate that Dr. Roylott is trying and failing to make Holmes afraid of him.
D. They highlight the ever-increasing outrage that Holmes feels.
55. What is "C" - The various insults show that Dr. Roylott is trying and failing to make Holmes afraid of him. Despite Dr. Roylott’s repeated hounding, Holmes projects a calm face. Thus, (C) is correct.
Category: Function
Getting to the Answer: There is no evidence that Dr. Roylott insults every man that he meets. Indeed, his argument with Holmes is rooted in the fact that his stepdaughter has been speaking with Holmes; (A) is incorrect. Holmes keeps his calm regardless of what Dr. Roylott says or does; (B) and (D) are incorrect.
5. What is the best way to combine the sentences?
(1) New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.
(2) One of New York's rivers is the Hudson River.
(3) The Hudson River is home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants.
A. The Hudson River, one of New York's rivers, is home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants, and New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.
B. New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, and one of them is the Hudson River, which is home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants.
C. The Hudson River, home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants, is one of New York State's rivers, and New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.
D. New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, including the Hudson River, which is home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants.
5. What is "D" -Read through each answer, looking for a complex sentence that presents ideas clearly and precisely while logically connecting the ideas in the three sentences. (D) is correct because it starts broadly with the statement that New York state has extensive rivers and streams, then narrows the focus specifically to the Hudson River. The dependent clause “which is home to dozens of rare birds and more than a hundred rare plants” immediately follows the phrase “the Hudson River” to provide additional information about the river.
Category: Sentence Structure
Getting to the Answer: (A) and (C) are incorrect because they place “New York state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams” at the end of the sentence rather than at the beginning, disrupting the logical organization, which in this case is general-to-specific. (B) is incorrect because it unnecessarily uses the wordier phrase “and one of them is the Hudson River” instead of the clearer, shorter phrase “including the Hudson River.”
10. Which transition should be added to the beginning of sentence 2?
E. However
F. Indeed
G. As a result
H. Even so
10. What is "F" - When you are asked to add a transition, think about the relationship between the sentences in the paragraph. Sentence 1 describes how weaving has a long history. Sentence 2 continues this train of thought by showing how it also features in two early civilizations. The continuation transition word “indeed” is appropriate here, so (F) is correct.
Category: Organization
Getting to the Answer: (E) and (H) are incorrect because they express contrast, not a continuation. (G) is incorrect because weaving’s ancient past did not cause it to be a part of Chinese or Egyptian culture.
44. How does the form of the poem contribute to its meaning?
E. The use of an equal number of lines in each stanza emphasizes that each stage of the journey is equally important.
F. The regular rhyme scheme and meter reflect the repetitive sound and motion of the train.
G. The different stanzas are used to illustrate different aspects of the flying gang and its work.
H. The first-person narrator is used to emphasize the dangerous conditions faced by the flying gang.
44. What is "F" - The rhyme and meter make the poem sound like a train, contributing to the theme of the urgency and importance of the work of the flying gang, so (F) is correct.
Category: Function
Getting to the Answer: (E) and (G) are Out of Scope; the poem is not describing different stages of the journey in different stanzas, and the stanzas are not describing different aspects of the work of the flying gang. (H) is a Misused Detail because, although the poem opens with a first-person narrator, the narrator does not emphasize the dangers faced by the flying gang.
49. How does the graph support the development of ideas in paragraph 1?
A. It provides evidence that the voyage time from the U.S. Gulf coast to many other countries through the Panama Canal is shorter on average than via other routes.
B. It proves that the time it takes to travel from the U.S. Gulf coast to other countries using the Suez canal rather than the Panama Canal is shorter in most cases.
C. It illustrates the surprising fact that it takes approximately the same amount of time for a ship to reach Indonesia from the U.S. Gulf coast no matter which route is taken.
D. It shows that leaders in the United States were inspired by Ferdinand de Lesseps to complete building the canal in Panama rather than in Nicaragua.
49. What is "A" - Paragraph 1 describes why and how de Lesseps tried to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama and failed. The infographic compares voyage times from the U.S. Gulf coast to other countries using the Panama canal versus other routes; the Panama Canal takes less or equal time on average in most cases, which supports the idea in the paragraph that the reason behind building a canal would be to cut travel time. (A) is correct.
Category: Infographic
Getting to the Answer: (B) is Opposite of the data in the graph and is incorrect. (C) is a Misused Detail; though it is true according to the data in the graph, it does not support the idea that the Panama Canal cuts down on travel time. Because there is no support in either the passage or the graphic that the leaders of the United States were inspired by de Lesseps, (D) is Out of Scope.
56. How does paragraph 17 fit into the overall structure of the excerpt?
E. It introduces a shift from the perspective of Dr. Roylott to that of Dr. Watson.
F. It emphasizes that neither Dr. Roylott nor his stepdaughter can intimidate Holmes.
G. It offers a practical explanation for why Holmes is not afraid of Dr. Roylott.
H. It indicates that the conversation between Holmes and Dr. Roylott is now over.
56. What is "H" - In terms of the excerpt’s structure, paragraph 17 serves to indicate that the conversation between Holmes and Dr. Roylott has ended; (H) is correct.
Category: Global
Getting to the Answer: The passage is told entirely from the perspective of Dr. Watson; (E) is incorrect. There is nothing to suggest that Dr. Roylott and his stepdaughter are working together; (F) is incorrect. Although paragraph 17 has Dr. Roylott twist the fireplace poker, this section itself does not provide the practical explanation for why Holmes is not afraid of Dr. Roylott; (G) is incorrect. That comes in the next paragraph, when Holmes picks up the solid metal poker and straightens it out.