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Sentence Improvement

Diction, Verb Tenses, Articles and Modals

20 Questions Published
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Questions

Question 1 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

The optimist contended that since men cannot foresee the future, worry about the future is futile, and that every thing, is inevitably for the best.

  1. The optimist contended that since men
  2. The optimists contend that since men
  3. The optimist contends that, as men
  4. The optimist contends that since men
  5. The optimist contends that, since men
Question 2 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Irritated by the contumacy of the chancellor, the Diet had sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.

  1. had sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.
  2. has sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.
  3. sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.
  4. sent a command to recognize the authority of the emperor.
Question 3 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

When he had known what he wanted to know he has gone home.

  1. When he had known what he wanted to know he has gone home.
  2. When he had known what he wanted to know he had gone home.
  3. When he knew what he wanted to know he went home.
  4. When he had known what he wanted to know he went home.
  5. After he had known what he wanted to know he has gone home.
Question 4 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Having received no reply to his call, the teacher took the students to task for their lackadaisical approach to studies.

  1. Having received no reply to his call,
  2. Having received no reply to his question,
  3. Not having received any reply to his call,
  4. Not having received reply to his call,
  5. Having received no answer to his call,
Question 5 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Dinosaurs are traditionally classified as cold-blooded reptiles, but recent evidence based on their eating habits, posture, and skeletal structure suggested some may have been warm-blooded.

  1. eating habits, posture, and skeletal structure suggested some may have been warm-blooded.
  2. eating habits, postures, and skeletal structures suggested some may have been warm-blooded.
  3. eating habit, posture, and skeletal structure suggested some may have been warm-blooded.
  4. eating habits, posture, and skeletal structure suggested some might have been warm-blooded.
  5. eating habits, posture, and skeletal structure has suggested some may have been warm-blooded.
Question 6 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Henry found himself behind the scenes of a theatre, and instantly begins to experience all the complex emotions which come to the layman in that situation.

  1. instantly begins to experience
  2. instantly had begun to experience
  3. instantly would begin to experience
  4. instantly began to experience
  5. instantly could begin to experience
Question 7 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Can I join you and contribute my mite for timely completion of the much delayed project?

  1. Can I join you and contribute my mite for
  2. May I join you and contribute my mite for
  3. Could I join you and contribute my mite for
  4. Can I join you and contribute my might for
  5. Whether I can join you and contribute my mite for
Question 8 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

The criminals fled before the police reached the spot of crime.

  1. The criminals fled before the police reached the spot of crime.
  2. The criminals fled when the police reached the spot of crime.
  3. The criminals fled had when the police had reached the spot of crime.
  4. The criminals had fled before the police reached the spot of crime.
  5. The criminals had fled before the police had reached the spot of crime.
Question 9 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Had he realized how near he was to qualifying, he would appear in the examination.

  1. he would appear in the examination.
  2. he would have appeared in the examination.
  3. he must appear in the examination.
  4. he could have appeared in the examination.
  5. he might have had appeared in the examination.
Question 10 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

In many of the Scandinavian countries, the growth of population has been nothing during the last two decades.

  1. growth of population has been nothing during the last two decades
  2. growth of population has been almost nothing during the last two decades
  3. growth of population has been nil during the last two decades
  4. growth of population has been none during the last two decades
  5. growth of population has been little during the last two decades
Question 11 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

Poecilotheria Nallamalar is a shy but lethal, palm sized ambush predator that preyed on lizards, insects and small snakes injecting them with deadly venom before sucking out their body fluids.

  1. that preyed on lizards, insects and small snakes injecting
  2. which preyed on lizards, insects and small snakes and injected
  3. which preys on lizards, insects and small snakes, injects
  4. that preys on lizards insects and small snakes to inject
  5. that preys on lizards, insects and small snakes injecting
Question 12 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

The duty of virtue is essentially distinguished from the duty of justice in that we are morally bound to the later, whereas the former rests on free self-restraint only.

  1. the duty of justice in that we are morally bound to the later
  2. the duty of justice in that we are morally bound to the latter
  3. the duty of justice in which we are morally bound to the later
  4. the duty of justice in which we are morally bounded to the later
  5. the duty of justice in that we are morally bounded to the latter
Question 13 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

This necessitated their regular keep-up and maintenance resulting in the emergence of the whole crop of crafts and mechanics.

  1. This necessitated their regular keep-up and maintenance
  2. This made necessary their regular keep-up and maintenance
  3. This necessitated their regular up-keep and maintenance
  4. This necessitated their regular keeping and maintenance
  5. This necessitated their regular keeping-up and maintenance
Question 14 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

The knee is likely to be damaged more than most other joints in the body because it cannot twist without injury.

  1. The knee is likely to be damaged more than most other joints in the body
  2. The knee is more likely to be damaged than most other joints in the body
  3. The knee is more likely to damage than most other joints in the body
  4. The knee is more than likely to be damaged than most other joints in the body
  5. The knee is liable to be damaged more than most other joints in the body
Question 15 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

The fact that the terrorists left no clue has laid credence to the apprehension in certain quarters that it may have been arranged to discredit the army.

  1. has laid credence to the apprehension
  2. has laid credence in the apprehension
  3. has laid credence for the apprehension
  4. has lent credence for the apprehension
  5. has lent credence to the apprehension
Question 16 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. If not, select one of the other choices.

I would hesitate to tell her exactly what did I think of her.

  1. what did I think of her.
  2. what had I thought of her.
  3. what did I think about her.
  4. what I thought of her.
  5. what I think about her.
Question 17 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. If not, select one of the other choices.

When Jack Wilton first had come to Marois Bay, none of us dreamed that he was a man with a hidden sorrow in his life.

  1. first had come to
  2. had been coming to
  3. would first come to
  4. first came to
  5. was first come to
Question 18 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. If not, select one of the other choices.

It is not easy to be sure today how accurate an observer he had been, but if we make some allowance for misprints, we find a certain consistency in his work.

  1. how accurate an observer he had been
  2. how accurate an observer had he been
  3. how accurate an observer he was
  4. how accurate an observer was he
  5. how accurate an observer he is
Question 19 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. If not, select one of the other choices.

Not until Edward Jenner developed the first anti-smallpox serum in 1796 there was protection against this terrible disease.

  1. there was protection against this terrible disease.
  2. protection was given against this terrible disease.
  3. there had been protection against this terrible disease.
  4. was there protection against this terrible disease.
  5. was protection given available against this terrible disease.
Question 20 Multiple Choice (Single Answer)

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. If not, select one of the other choices.

He warned the government that attempts to curbing terrorism should not mean the loss of civil liberties.

  1. that attempts to curbing terrorism should
  2. that attempts at curbing terrorism should
  3. that attempt curbing terrorism should
  4. that attempts to curb terrorism should
  5. that attempts for curbing terrorism should
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