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Improving Sentences
Identifying Errors
Identifying Errors 2
Idioms / Improving Sentences
100
The book, including all the chapters in the first three sections, (are boring). A. (as is) B. is boring C. being boring D. had been boring E. is bored.
B (noun verb agreement)
100
The title of [salutatorian] goes to [whomever] has the second [highest] [academic average]. No error.
whomever (Pronoun object vs. subject)
100
Scientific advances over the last fifty years (have led) to revolutionary changes (in) health, agriculture(, and) (communicating) with people around the world . No error.
communicating (Parallelism)
100
The blue macaw prefers lush tropical habitats (over) the dry climate found in the southeastern part of Brazil. A: As is. B: to C: more than D: most
B: "Prefer X to Y"
200
I would like to thank whoever it was that wrote that piece of music: it has given me so much pleasure. A. I would like to thank whoever it was that wrote that piece of music: B. I would like to thank whomever it was that has written that piece of music: C. I would like to thank whomever it might be that wrote that piece of music: D. Whoever it was that wrote that piece of music, I would like to thank because E. I would like to thank whoever it was that wrote that piece of music
E (Pronoun subject, object)
200
The union (insisted) on an increase in (their) (members’) starting pay, and threatened to call a strike if the company (refused to) meet the demand. No error.
their (pronoun agreement)
200
(One) must (ensure) (that) you can do the basics before attempting more challenging (problems). No error.
One (pronoun agreement)
200
A: The ban will prohibit those without adequate documentation from purchasing guns. B: The ban will prohibit those without adequate documentation to purchase handguns. C: The ban will prohibit those without adequate documentation purchasing handguns. D: The ban will prohibit those without adequate documentation to purchasing handguns.
A "Prohibit X from Y"
300
Reading the question carefully, it was obvious that there was a grammatical error. A. Reading the question carefully, it was obvious that there was a grammatical error. B. Reading the question carefully, it was clear that there was a grammatical error. C. Reading the question carefully, she spotted the obvious grammatical error. D. It is obvious that there is a grammatical error upon reading the question carefully. E. It can be seen quite obviously that there is a grammatical error when one reads the question carefully.
C (Dangling participle)
300
Employees with (less) personal problems (are) (likely) to be (more) productive. No error.
less (countable vs. noncountable)
300
The unfortunate accident (that) (caused) the oil well explosions (were) thoroughly investigated (by) the safety board. No Error.
were (Noun, verb agreement)
300
The new regulations require prospective employees to be subjected to rigorous screening. A: As is. B: The new regulations as a requirement force prospective employees to be subjected to rigorous screening. C: The new regulations require that prospective employees are subjected to rigorous screening D: The new regulations require that prospective employees be subjected to rigorous screening.
D (Idiom). "Require that X be Y"
400
Students must meet with (his or her counselor) before the end of the semester. A. his or her counselor B. its counselor C. their counselor D. their counselors E. they're counselors
D (pronoun singular/plural agreement)
400
(Shipwrecked) on a desert island, coconuts and (other) fruits (formed) the basis of the (sailor’s) diet. No error.
Shipwrecked (Dangling modifier)
400
His love of politics [led] [him] to volunteer in local campaigns [as well] as [a job] in a government office in the state capital. [No error]
[to take] (parallelism)
400
The fossils are estimated to be more than 65 million years old. A: As is. B: The fossils are estimated as more than 65 million years old. C: The fossils are to be estimated as more than 65 million years old. D: The fossils are estimated to be more than 65 million years old.
D (Idiom) "Estimate to be"
500
Trying to keep her balance on the icy surface, (the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow.) A. the last competitor's ski-tip caught the pole and somersaulted into the soft snow. B. the ski-tip of the last competitor caught the pole and somersaulted in the soft snow. C. the last competitor caught the pole with the tip of her ski, and somersaulted into the soft snow. D. the last competitor caught the pole with her ski-tip, which made her somersault into the soft snow. E. the last competitor somersaulted into the soft snow when the tip of her ski was caught by the pole.
C (participal phrase)
500
The three richest men in America (have) assets worth more (than) the (sixty poorest countries) (of) the world. No error.
Sixty poorest countries (Logical comparison)
500
[In] regards to your application, [I am afraid] [we are] not able to offer [you] admission for next year's class. [No Error]
A (Idiom - with regards to)
500
Most musicologists consider Joseph Haydn to be the father of the sonata. A: As is. B: Most musicologists consider Joseph Haydn as the father of the sonata. C: Most musicologists consider Joseph Haydn the father of the sonata. D: Most musicologists regard Joseph Haydn to be the father of the sonata. E: Most musicologists consider the father of the sonata being Joseph Haydn
C. (Idiom) "Consider (no to be, or as)"