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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 best, choose the first option as your answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The religious conflict of the 16th and the 17th centuries leap up to the growth of national religion in our period.

  1. the 16th and the 17th centuries leap up to
  2. the 16th and 17th centuries leap up to
  3. the 16th and the 17th century leap into
  4. the 16th and the 17th centuries leap on to
  5. the 16th century and the 17th century leap up to
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 one of the others.

When he returned to the office the visitors left and the peon was sitting idle.

  1. When he returned to the office the visitors left and the peon was sitting idle.
  2. When he returned to the office the visitors had left and the peon had been sitting idle.
  3. When he returned to office he found that the visitors had left and the peon had been sitting idle.
  4. When he returned to the office he found the peon sitting idle, while the visitors had left.
  5. When he returned to the office the visitors had left and the peon was sitting idle.
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Luck served him so well that what shots were wildly aimed at him, as he dashed by, went wide of striking him.

  1. Luck served him so well that what shots were wildly aimed at him
  2. Luck served him so well that whatever shots were wildly aimed at him
  3. Luck served him so well that what shots were aimed wildly at him
  4. Luck served him well enough that what shots were wildly aimed at him
  5. Luck served him so well that what shots were aimed at him wildly
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

He told his boss to pardon him for what he said.

  1. He told his boss to pardon him for what he said.
  2. He asked his boss to pardon him for what he said.
  3. He asked his boss to pardon him for what he had said.
  4. He told his boss to pardon him for what he had said.
  5. He requested his boss to pardon him for what he said.
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Believing in his client and in the justice of the claim, he pressed the matter in court and was about to obtain a judgment when he had accidentally discovered, among his client's papers, a receipt which the plaintiff had signed for the very claim under consideration.

  1. when he had accidentally discovered, among his client's papers
  2. when he discovered accidentally, amongst his client's papers
  3. when he had accidentally discovered, amongst his client's papers
  4. when he accidentally discovered, among his client's papers
  5. when he had accidentally discovered, among his clients papers
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 one of the others.

Were the politicians to assess themselves honestly, they would find that they have lost their credibility.

  1. they have lost their credibility.
  2. they had lost their credibility.
  3. they were lost their credibility.
  4. they lost their credibility.
  5. their credibility was lost.
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

With the onset of summer, the hot air began to blow we had been soon forced to remain indoors most of the time.

  1. the hot air began to blow, we had been soon forced to remain indoors
  2. the hot air began to blow, we had soon be forced to remain indoors
  3. the hot air had begun to blow; we had been soon forced to remain indoors
  4. the hot air began to blow; we were soon forced to remain indoors
  5. None of these
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

I cannot forgive a man who fails to return a book he had taken from me.

  1. to return a book he had taken from me.
  2. returning a book he had taken from me.
  3. to return a book he had taken out from me.
  4. to return a book he has taken from me.
  5. to return a book he took from me.
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The badge of honor is to be conferred upon all who, by genius, self-denial, and toil, had won renown.

  1. The badge of honor is to be conferred upon all
  2. The badge of honor is to be conferred on all
  3. The badge of honor was to be conferred upon all
  4. The badge of honor is conferred on all
  5. The badge of honor was conferred on all
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.

The country could have become a superpower if its economy reached great heights.

  1. if its economy reached great heights
  2. if its economy were to reach great heights
  3. its economy could have reached great heights
  4. if its economy would have reached great heights
  5. had its economy reached great heights
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.

If she will fall back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she will just go back to her change plan.

  1. If she will fall back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she will just go back to her change plan.
  2. If she falls back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she will just go back to her change plan.
  3. If she will fall back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she just goes back to her change plan.
  4. If she falls back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she just goes back to her change plan.
  5. If she fell back into the bad habit or out of the good habit now and again, she will just go back to her change plan.
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.

When scientists say that, on average, the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking about a very large increase and a tremendous amount of heat produced.

  1. the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking
  2. the global temperature has increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking
  3. the global temperatures have increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking
  4. the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they were talking
  5. the global temperature has increased by a few degree centigrade, they talk
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.

When British Empire partitioned the Bengal into its two administrative units for the purpose of greater efficiency, it overlooked the language and religious groupings within the area.

  1. When British Empire partitioned the Bengal into its two administrative units
  2. When British Empire partitioned the Bengal area into two administrative units
  3. When the British Empire partitioned the Bengal into two administrative units
  4. When British Empire partitioned Bengal into two administrative units
  5. When the British Empire partitioned Bengal into two administrative units
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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

If the creator of evil, call him by whatever name you like, had brought evil into this world, he must have created it simultaneously with God; otherwise it would be impossible for God to create good, which can exist only in relation to evil.

  1. it would be impossible for God to create good, which can exist only in relation to evil.
  2. it would be impossible for God to create good, which can exist only in relation with evil.
  3. it would have been impossible for God to create good, that exists only in relation with evil.
  4. it could be impossible for God to create good, which can only exist in relation to evil.
  5. it would have been impossible for God to create good, which can exist only in relation to evil.
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.

Although nothing that could be called a spelling reform “movement” existed until the 19th century, there was earlier period when this subject was much in the air and a number of people were writing about it.

  1. there was earlier period when this subject was much in the air and a number of people were
  2. however, there was earlier period, when this subject was much in the air and a number of people was
  3. yet were there earlier periods when these subjects were much in the air and a number of people was
  4. yet there was an earlier period when this subject was much in the air and a number of people were
  5. yet there was an earlier period when it was much in air and a number of people were
Question 16 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.

Not only speech enables man to handle and pass on more complicated ideas, it also enables him to accumulate them.

  1. Not only speech enables man to handle and pass on
  2. Not only does speech enable man to handle and pass on
  3. Not only is speech enabling man to handle and pass on
  4. Not only speech enables man to handle and pass off
  5. Not only speech enables a man to handle and pass on
Question 17 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.

He called the resulting system Thought Field Therapy and began training the therapists in using an algorithms and diagnosing the underlying problems before the treatment might begin.

  1. began training the therapists in using an algorithms and diagnosing the underlying problems before the treatment might begin
  2. began to train the therapists to use algorithms and diagnosing the underlying problems before the treatment would begin
  3. began training the therapists in using algorithms and diagnosing underlying problems before the treatment could begin
  4. began training the therapists in how to use algorithms and diagnose underlying problems before the treatment can begin
  5. began training the therapists in using algorithms and diagnosing underlying problems till the treatment should begin
Question 18 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 immigration of the family from the mother country occurred at an early day when the settlements in New England were infrequent and weak.

  1. The immigration of the family from the mother country occurred at an early day when the settlements in New England were infrequent and weak.
  2. The immigration of the family from the mother–country occurred at an early stage when the settlements in New England were in frequent and weak.
  3. The emigration of the family from the mother country occurred at an early stage when settlements in New England were infrequent and weak.
  4. The emigration of the family occurred at an early date from their mother land when the settlements in New England were not frequent and weak.
  5. The emigration of the family to the motherland occurred from New England when the settlements were infrequent and were weak.
Question 19 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 White Cat, that we called it, lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all over.

  1. that we called it, lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all over.
  2. what we called it, lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all over.
  3. as we called it, lived at the back of a shelf in the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all of the time.
  4. as we called it, lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all over.
  5. That is what we called it, lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which is nearly dark all over the time.
Question 20 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 best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Such a consensus denotes a remarkable change of attitude as this very measure had run into trouble in the earlier stages.

  1. a remarkable change of attitude for this very measure had run into trouble
  2. a remarkable change of attitude for this very measure had ran into trouble
  3. a remarkable change of attitude because this very measure had run into trouble
  4. a remarkable change in attitude because this measure was run into very trouble
  5. a remarkable change of attitude as this measure was run of trouble

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