Writing Skills: Section 5
Question Number: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39
1.
Choice (A) is correct. It provides the subject, "hearing," and finite verb, "is," needed to produce a grammatically complete main clause ("hearing is enhanced underwater").
Choice (B) produces a sentence fragment. The pronoun "which" introduces a dependent clause ("which is enhanced underwater"), leaving the sentence without a main clause.
Choice (C) involves an illogical comparison. The person addressed as "you" is illogically compared with sight.
Choice (D) results in a sentence fragment. It does not provide the verb ("is") necessary to create a grammatically complete sentence.
Choice (E) produces a sentence fragment. It provides a participle, "being," instead of the finite verb ("is") that is needed to make the sentence's main clause grammatically complete.
2.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by making "John Lennon" the subject of the sentence. The sentence makes it clear that it was John Lennon who paid homage to his mother with the song "Julia."
Choice (A) produces a modification error. The subject of the sentence ("John Lennon's mother") cannot logically be the subject of the infinitive phrase ("To pay homage to her") that begins the sentence and modifies the main clause. The sentence illogically suggests that John Lennon's mother paid homage to herself by being the subject of a song that her son composed.
Choice (C) results in a misplaced modifier. The participial phrase "Paying homage to her" cannot properly modify the subject of the sentence "the subject of the poignant song." The sentence illogically suggests that the subject of the song (rather than the composer of the song) paid homage to John Lennon's mother.
Choice (D) results in a comma splice. Its two independent clauses ("'Julia' is . . . mother" and "he pays homage to her") are improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (E) results in a misplaced modifier. The subject of the sentence, "John Lennon's mother" cannot logically serve as the subject of the modifying infinitive phrase "to pay homage to her." It is illogical to suggest that John Lennon's mother pays homage to herself in a song that her son wrote for her.
3.
Choice (A) is correct. It coordinates two parallel verb phrases ("experienced an extraordinarily dry summer" and "is now suffering a severe drought") that serve as a compound predicate for the subject of the sentence, "The region."
Choice (B) involves ineffective coordination. It awkwardly divides the single clause of the original sentence into two independent clauses ("The region . . . summer" and "now the draught . . . severe"), each with a different subject ("The region" and "the drought"), and thus produces a less clearly focused sentence than the original.
Choice (C) introduces an ambiguous pronoun. It is unclear whether the pronoun "it" refers to "The region" or to "an extraordinarily dry summer." Using the relative pronoun "which" instead of "and it" would clarify reference to "an extraordinarily dry summer."
Choice (D) involves an inappropriate shift in tense. The use of the present-tense phrase "is severe" is inconsistent with the use of the past tense ("experienced," "had") earlier in the sentence.
Choice (E) creates redundancy. The sentence has a compound predicate that comprises two coordinated verbs, "experienced" and "suffered." The noun phrase "The region" is the subject of both verbs. The insertion of the pronoun "it" (referring to "The region") as the subject of the second verb, "suffered," is therefore redundant.
4.
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing the finite verb, "were carved," that the sentence needs in order to be grammatically complete.
Choice (A) creates a sentence fragment. It provides a participial phrase, "being carved" instead of the finite verb, "were carved," that is needed in order to produce a grammatically complete sentence.
Choice (B) produces a sentence fragment. The resulting expression has no finite verb (only the participle "carved") and so does not form a grammatically complete sentence.
Choice (C) results in a sentence fragment. It creates a grammatically complete dependent clause ("that were carved . . . Buddhism") but leaves the sentence without an independent clause.
Choice (D) involves the use of an improper verb form. It provides a verb in the active voice ("were carving") where logic requires a verb in the passive voice ("were carved").
5.
Choice (A) is correct. It provides a participial phrase, "blurring the distinction . . . programs," that logically modifies the sentence's subject, "children's television shows based on commercial products."
Choice (B) produces a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Since the deregulation . . . emerged" and "this blurred . . . programs") are improperly joined by only a comma. In addition, there is an inconsistency in the shift from the present perfect tense ("have emerged") in the first clause to the simple past tense ("blurred") in the second clause.
Choice (C) creates a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Since the deregulation . . . emerged" and "distinctions between . . . result") are improperly linked by only a comma. There is also an inconsistency between the present perfect tense ("have emerged") of the first clause and the present tense ("become") of the second clause.
Choice (D) results in a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Since the deregulation . . . emerged" and "they blur . . . programs") are linked by only a comma.
Choice (E) produces a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Since the deregulation . . . emerged" and "a blurred distinction . . . resulted") are linked by only a comma. There is, moreover, an inconsistency in the shift from the present perfect tense ("have emerged") in the first clause to the simple past tense ("resulted") in the second clause.
6.
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a second finite verb, "abandoned," linked to the first ("was born") by the conjunction "but," to form a well-coordinated compound predicate: "was born . . . but abandoned . . ."
Choice (A) produces a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Christopher Columbus . . . Genoa" and "he abandoned . . . at sea") are improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (B) involves the use of an improper verb form. It provides a participle, "abandoning," instead of the finite verb ("abandoned") needed to complete the compound predicate begun by "was born."
Choice (D) creates a weak passive construction. The absolute clause "his native city . . . sea" makes an awkward and vague use of the passive voice ("being abandoned"), failing to specify by whom the city was abandoned.
Choice (E) introduces a modification error. The use of the adverb "therefore" in the second clause illogically suggests that Columbus's being born in Genoa was the cause of his abandoning that city for Portugal and a career at sea.
7.
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing the preposition "to" that is needed to complement the verb "preferred" and by logically comparing plays with plays rather than comparing plays with playwrights.
Choice (A) involves an idiom error. It provides the adverbial phrase "more than" where the preposition "to" is needed to complement the verb "preferred." It also creates a sentence in which plays are illogically compared with a playwright.
Choice (B) produces an idiom error. It complements the verb "preferred" with the preposition "over" instead of the preposition "to" that idiomatic usage requires.
Choice (D) creates an illogical comparison. A playwright, Anton Chekhov, is illogically compared with plays.
Choice (E) involves faulty subordination. It incorrectly introduces an indirect question ("did they like . . . Ibsen") as if it were a direct question, with subject-verb order reversed ("did they") and without the proper subordinating conjunction, "whether."
8.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a participial phrase, "developing an advanced system of writing," to parallel the two participial phrases ("creating . . . architecture" and "conducting . . . transactions") that precede it.
Choice (A) results in a lack of parallelism. It provides an independent clause ("they developed an advanced system of writing") instead of the participial phrase that is needed to complete the pattern of consecutive participial phrases ("creating . . . conducting . . .") established earlier in the sentence. Also, there is in the sentence no plural noun to which the plural pronoun "they" can logically refer.
Choice (C) produces a lack of parallelism. The independent clause "as well, they . . . writing" breaks the pattern of consecutive participial phrases ("creating . . . conducting . . .") established earlier in the sentence.
Choice (D) involves a parallelism error. The subordinate clause "while an advanced system of writing was developing" breaks the pattern of consecutive participial phrases ("creating . . . conducting . . .") established earlier in the sentence.
Choice (E) produces a parallelism error. The noun phrase "the development of an advanced system of writing" breaks the pattern of consecutive participial phrases ("creating . . . conducting . . .") established earlier in the sentence.
9.
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a finite verb, "trained," for the subject of the sentence, "R. N. Dett," thereby creating a grammatically complete clause and expressing a complete thought.
Choice (A) produces a sentence fragment. The relative pronoun "who" encloses the sentence's only verb ("trained") within a dependent clause and thus leaves the sentence no main verb with which to express a complete thought.
Choice (B) creates a sentence fragment. The semicolon divides the sentence into two parts, neither of which is an independent clause.
Choice (C) results in a sentence fragment. The creation of a coordinate clause, introduced by the conjunction "and" after a comma, leaves the first clause ("R. N. Dett . . . director") without a verb.
Choice (D) produces a sentence fragment. The sentence has no verb and therefore does not express a complete thought.
10.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing the sentence with a subject, "Howard and Christine," that is logically modified by the phrase "Determined to locate the famous statue."
Choice (A) produces a misplaced modifier. The participial phrase at the beginning of the sentence, "Determined to locate the famous statue," cannot logically modify the sentence's subject, "the museum's confusing map." It makes no sense to suggest that a map wants to locate a statue.
Choice (C) involves a weak passive construction. The use of the passive voice in the sentence's second clause ("the museum's map was scrutinized by them") unnecessarily shifts the focus away from Howard and Christine.
Choice (D) produces a misplaced modifier. The sentence's subject, "the museum's map," cannot logically be modified by the participial phrase that begins the sentence, "Determined to locate the famous statue." Someone consulting a map can be determined to locate a statue, but the map itself cannot be so determined.
Choice (E) results in a sentence fragment. It provides a participle, "scrutinizing," instead of the finite verb ("scrutinized") that is needed to make the sentence grammatically complete.
11.
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a subordinate clause introduced by "although" to indicate that Robeson acted despite knowledge of the consequences of his action--not despite himself.
Choice (A) produces a pronoun error. The object of the preposition "despite" is the pronoun "him," which refers to Paul Robeson. Thus, the sentence illogically suggests that Paul Robeson condemned bigotry despite himself.
Choice (B) involves a coordination error. The conjunction "but" is improperly used to connect two elements of unequal status: a finite verb phrase ("openly condemned bigotry and oppression") and a participial phrase ("knowing such outspokenness . . . actor").
Choice (C) produces a coordination error. The conjunction "and" is improperly used to connect two elements of unequal status: a finite verb phrase ("openly condemned bigotry and oppression") and a participial phrase ("knowing such outspokenness . . . actor").
Choice (D) involves a confusing sequence of tenses. The use of the modal verb "would" before "know" indicates future action from a past point of view and so is logically inconsistent with the use of the simple past tense ("condemned") earlier in the sentence. The adverbial phrase "in doing so" indicates that both actions took place simultaneously.
12.
Choice (A) is correct. It creates a conditional clause ("even if it needs expensive repairs") in which the pronoun "it" appropriately refers to "your old car" in the sentence's main clause.
Choice (B) involves a pronoun error. The plural demonstrative pronoun "those" is improperly used to refer to a singular noun, "car."
Choice (C) creates a pronoun error. The use of the second-person pronoun "your" instead of "its" illogically suggests that it is the car's owner, not the car, that needs repairs.
Choice (D) results in vagueness. The prepositional phrase "despite your needing to perform expensive repairs" makes no explicit reference to the car that is the focus of the sentence; it is therefore a less effective qualifier than the conditional clause ("even if it needs expensive repairs") produced by choice (A).
Choice (E) produces ineffective subordination. The subordinate clause "although you require expensive repairs" illogically suggests that it is the car's owner, not the car, that is in need of expensive repairs.
13.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by replacing an independent clause with an appositive phrase, "A virtuoso at plot construction," that logically modifies the sentence's subject, "Edgar Allan Poe."
Choice (A) involves a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("Edgar Allan Poe . . . construction" and "he refined . . . perfection") are improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (C) involves ineffective subordination and confusing word order. The main idea of the sentence--that Edgar Allan Poe refined the short story to near perfection--is expressed not in the main clause but in a subordinate clause introduced by "The one who"; it therefore does not receive its proper emphasis. Moreover, the appositive phrase "Edgar Allan Poe" is confusingly placed at the end of the sentence and not immediately before or after the noun phrase it modifies, "The one who . . . perfection."
Choice (D) involves a weak, passive construction. The use of the passive voice ("was refined") in the sentence's first clause ineffectively emphasizes the nearly perfect short story form instead of Edgar Allan Poe, who is the focus of the second clause.
Choice (E) produces a misplaced modifier. The awkward participial phrase "Being the virtuoso at plot construction" cannot logically modify the subject of the sentence, "the short-story form."
14.
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a dependent clause ("that require . . . soil") that describes the nature of the regulations instead of a coordinate clause that attempts to describe the result of having the regulations.
Choice (A) is wordy and illogical. The adverb "so" means "consequently"; its use before "the result," which refers to a consequence, is therefore redundant. The sentence is also confusing in that it describes what seems to be a requirement of the regulations ("to cover . . . soil") as a result of the regulations.
Choice (B) produces a modification error. The participial phrase "resulting in the coverage . . . soil" cannot logically modify the subject of the sentence, "New Jersey." The state of New Jersey is not an action or process and therefore cannot itself result in anything.
Choice (C) yields an illogical statement. Regulations do not result in a requirement; they are themselves requirements.
Choice (E) involves a pronoun error. The pronoun "they" has no logical antecedent. The sentence illogically suggests that the regulations themselves are required to cover dumped material with clean soil.
15.
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by continuing the established pattern of consecutive passive-voice clauses, adding a third clause, which, like the second, omits the verbal auxiliary "had been" in favor of a plain participle, "destroyed."
Choice (A) involves a parallelism error. With its verb ("destroyed") in the active voice, the clause "Machiavelli destroyed the political order" breaks the pattern of consecutive passive-voice clauses begun earlier in the sentence ("the old geocentric order had been shattered . . . the moral order undermined . . .").
Choice (B) results in a lack of parallelism. The use of the active voice in "Machiavelli had destroyed the political order" breaks the pattern of successive clauses using passive constructions ("the old geocentric order had been shattered . . . the moral order undermined . . .").
Choice (C) produces a parallelism error. It adds a third clause that includes the complete form of the passive verb "had been destroyed" and is therefore inconsistent with the second clause in the series ("the moral order undermined by Montaigne"), which omits "had been" in favor of the plain participle "undermined." In a construction of this type, the verbal auxiliary ("had been") may be omitted in the second and third clauses; if omitted in the second, it must also be omitted in the third.
Choice (E) produces a parallelism error. It adds a third clause whose verb, "was destroyed," is in the simple past tense and therefore inconsistent with the verb of the first clause in the series, "had been shattered," which is in the past perfect tense. With its inclusion of the auxiliary "was," the verb of the third clause is also inconsistent with that of the second clause, which omits the auxiliary "had been" in favor of the plain participle "undermined."
16.
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by incorporating the expression "they use the scientific method" into a subordinate clause introduced by "although" and by allowing the noun phrase "The social sciences" to serve as the subject of the compound verb ("are not defined or limited") in the sentence's main clause.
Choice (A) creates redundancy. The pronoun "they" (immediately before "use") unnecessarily duplicates the reference and grammatical role of "The social sciences," which would suffice as the subject of the verb "use."
Choice (B) produces redundancy. The pronoun "they" is unnecessary. It duplicates the reference and grammatical function of "The social sciences," which would suffice as the subject of the compound verb "are not defined or limited."
Choice (C) produces a connective error. The conjunction "but" is extraneous to the sentence's main clause, coming nonsensically between its subject ("The social sciences") and its verb ("are not defined or limited"). A coordinating conjunction like "but" must link elements of equal grammatical status.
Choice (E) creates redundancy. The pronoun "they" is unnecessary, as it merely duplicates the reference and grammatical function of the sentence's subject, "The social sciences."
17.
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing an adverbial clause, "as is commonly believed," that logically modifies the infinitive phrase "to keep themselves warm."
Choice (A) produces improper subordination. An independent clause, "this is a common belief," is inserted parenthetically into the sentence's main clause without a subordinating conjunction preceding it.
Choice (B) produces a modification error. The adverbial phrase "despite a common belief" cannot logically modify the sentence's main verb, "coat." It is not despite a common belief that swimmers coat their bodies with grease.
Choice (C) introduces a vague pronoun. It is unclear to what the relative pronoun "which" refers; it seems to have no logical antecedent in the sentence.
Choice (D) introduces a vague pronoun. There is no logical antecedent for the pronoun "which," so its reference is unclear.
18.
Choice (A) is correct. It idiomatically provides a subordinate clause ("that babies learn . . . around them") as the postponed subject of the verb "was . . . assumed."
Choice (B) involves an idiom error. It provides an infinitive phrase, "for babies to learn," instead of the subordinate clause ("that babies learn") that is required as the postponed subject of the verb "was . . . assumed."
Choice (C) produces a tense error. The present-tense verb "is" is improperly used to describe an assumption that was made in the past, before the Chomskyan revolution in linguistics.
Choice (D) produces an idiom error. It improperly uses a prepositional phrase ("of babies learning . . . around them") instead of a subordinate clause ("that babies learn . . . around them") to specify the content of an assumption.
Choice (E) creates a tense error. It improperly uses a present-tense verb, "are," where a past-tense verb is needed to describe an assumption that was made in the past, before the Chomskyan revolution in linguistics.
19.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by substituting the noun phrase "that in the works of other novelists" for "other novelists." The demonstrative pronoun "that" refers to "clarity of language," so the clarity of language in one author's writings is logically compared with the clarity of language found elsewhere.
Choice (A) involves an illogical comparison. It illogically compares fundamentally different things, clarity of language and novelists.
Choice (C) produces an idiom error. It improperly uses the conjunction "than" (instead of the preposition "to") to introduce an object of comparison after the adjective "superior."
Choice (D) creates an idiom error and an illogical comparison. It improperly uses the conjunction "than" (instead of the preposition "to") after the adjective "superior," and it illogically compares clarity of language with novelists.
Choice (E) produces an idiom error. It improperly uses the conjunction "than" (followed by a confusing participle and preposition, "compared with") rather than the preposition "to" that idiomatic usage requires after the adjective "superior."
20.
Choice (A) is correct. It logically compares the capabilities of the Wright brothers' airplane with the capabilities of any one of a specified group of other airplanes.
Choice (B) creates an illogical comparison. It inappropriately compares the Wright brothers' airplane with French aviators.
Choice (C) produces an illogical comparison. It illogically compares an airplane with those who fly airplanes.
Choice (D) creates an idiom error. It improperly uses the preposition "unlike" (instead of the conjunction "than") to introduce an object of comparison after the comparative adverbials "more often" and "for longer periods of time."
Choice (E) introduces a vague pronoun. There is nothing in the sentence to which the plural pronoun "those" can logically refer.
21.
Corrected sentence: The theory of quantum mechanics requires that an electron in an atom be regarded not only as an orbiting particle but also as a wave.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where an inappropriate connective is used. The conjunction "and" is used instead of "but also," which is needed as a correlative to the earlier "not only."
There is no error at (A). The verb "requires" agrees with its singular subject, "theory," and the conjunction "that" is properly used to introduce the dependent clause ("an electron . . . wave") that is the verb's object.
There is no error at (B). The subjunctive passive verb "be regarded" is properly used in a clause introduced by "that" after the verb "requires."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "as" is properly used to introduce a complement of the verb "be regarded," and the indefinite article "an" is properly used before the noun phrase "orbiting particle" to indicate an unspecified member of the class of orbiting particles.
22.
Corrected sentence: A member of the Navajo tribal council is hoping that the recent increase in interest in Native American art will provide a bridge to greater understanding of Navajo life and culture.
The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where there is subject-verb disagreement. The plural verb "are hoping" disagrees with its singular subject, "A member."
There is no error at (B). The preposition "in" idiomatically complements the noun "increase."
There is no error at (C). The future-tense verb "will provide" is logical in a clause describing something that is hoped for.
There is no error at (D). The comparative adjective "greater" is appropriately placed immediately before the noun it modifies, "understanding."
23.
Corrected sentence: Many educators argue that mathematics, science, and a modern foreign language are essential subjects for college-bound students to study.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there is logical disagreement. The use of the singular noun phrase "an essential subject" after the linking verb "are" illogically suggests that mathematics, science, and a modern foreign language are, collectively, a single subject. Mathematics, science, and a modern foreign language actually constitute three distinct subjects, not just one.
There is no error at (A). The plural verb "argue" agrees with its plural subject, "educators," and the conjunction "that" is correctly used to introduce the dependent clause that serves as the direct object of "argue."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "for" properly introduces a noun phrase ("college-bound students") to serve as the subject of an infinitive ("to study").
There is no error at (D). The infinitive "to study" idiomatically complements the adjective "essential."
24.
Corrected sentence: Barbara Smith, known professionally as B. Smith, began her career as a model but went on to become a restaurateur, author, and television show host.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where an inappropriate tense is used. The present perfect verb "has begun" is used where the simple past verb ("began") is needed to describe an action completed before other actions that took place in the past ("went on to become . . . host").
There is no error at (A). The participle "known" is correctly placed after the noun phrase it modifies, "Barbara Smith."
There is no error at (C). The prepositional phrase "as a model" functions properly as a complement of the subject, "Barbara Smith."
There is no error at (D). The infinitive "to become" is used idiomatically with the phrasal verb "went on."
25.
Corrected sentence: In some of his most effective comic scenes, Charlie Chaplin merely stares wistfully at a bowl of soup, a dollar bill, or a warm bed.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is faulty modification. The adjective "wistful" is improperly used where an adverb ("wistfully") is needed to modify the verb "stares."
There is no error at (A). The indefinite pronoun "some" properly serves as the object of the preposition "In" and is itself appropriately modified by a phrase beginning with the preposition "of."
There is no error at (B). The adverb "most" appropriately modifies the adjective "effective" to produce the superlative "most effective," which in turn modifies the noun phrase "comic scenes."
There is no error at (C). The adverb "merely" is appropriately placed just before the verb ("stares") that it modifies.
26.
Corrected sentence: Although some children today dream of becoming Olympic champions, many still want to be astronauts.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is logical disagreement. The use of the singular noun phrase "an astronaut" after the linking verb phrase "want to be" illogically suggests that many children can, collectively, become a single astronaut.
There is no error at (A). The conjunction "Although" is used appropriately to subordinate a clause ("some children today dream of becoming Olympic champions") and to signal a contrast with the idea expressed in the main clause that follows.
There is no error at (B). The plural verb "dream" agrees with its plural subject, "children."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "of" and the gerund "becoming" combine to form a phrase that idiomatically complements the verb "dream."
27.
Correct sentence: Some volcanoes shoot into the stratosphere huge volumes of dust and gas that cause far-reaching climatic changes by forming a barrier between the Sun and Earth.
Choice (E) is correct. The sentence contains no error.
There is no error at (A). The plural verb "shoot" agrees with its plural subject, "volcanoes."
There is no error at (B). The plural verb "cause" agrees with its plural subject, "volumes."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "by" and the gerund "forming" properly begin an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "cause."
There is no error at (D). The preposition "between" is used with two objects ("Sun" and "Earth") joined by the conjunction "and."
28.
Corrected sentence: According to one study, half of the adults in the country can neither read such basic material as newspapers nor fill out job applications.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is faulty correlation. The conjunction "or" is improperly used instead of the conjunction "nor" to introduce the second element of a series whose first element is introduced by "neither."
There is no error at (A). The words "According" and "to" are properly combined to form a phrasal preposition, "According to," whose object is "one study."
There is no error at (B). The prepositional phrase "in the country" is appropriately placed after the noun it modifies, "adults."
There is no error at (C). The conjunction "as" is appropriately used after the adjective "such" to correlate the noun "newspapers" with the noun phrase "basic material," indicating that newspapers are a particular kind of basic material.
29.
Corrected sentence: Despite the historical society's lengthy deliberations about the restoration of the old museum, there remain several unresolved questions about the soundness of the building.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is subject-verb disagreement. The singular verb "remains" does not agree with its plural subject, "questions."
There is no error at (A). The preposition "Despite" properly introduces a phrase indicating a contrast with the idea expressed in the sentence's main clause.
There is no error at (B). The adjective "lengthy" is appropriately placed immediately before the noun it modifies, "deliberations."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "about" idiomatically modifies the noun "deliberations."
30.
Corrected sentence: Although discoveries of precious gems have brought considerable attention to the country of Sri Lanka, its economy is still based on farming rather than mining.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there is noun-pronoun disagreement. The plural pronoun "their" is improperly used to refer to the singular noun phrase "the country of Sri Lanka."
There is no error at (A). The plural verb "have brought" agrees with its plural subject, "discoveries."
There is no error at (B). The noun "attention" is idiomatically used as the direct object of the verb "brought," and the preposition "to" is idiomatically used to introduce the indirect object of the same verb.
There is no error at (D). The preposition "on" idiomatically complements the verb "is . . . based."
31.
Corrected sentence: The committee members regained a sense of unity and purpose only when the mayor issued a mandate that clearly established the task before them.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is noun-pronoun disagreement. The singular pronoun "it" does not agree with its plural antecedent, "committee members."
There is no error at (A). The preposition "of" idiomatically complements the noun "sense," and the indefinite article "a" appropriately indicates that the sense of unity and purpose regained by committee members was one among many such senses.
There is no error at (B). The adverb "only" is correctly placed immediately before the adverbial phrase ("when the mayor . . .") that it modifies.
There is no error at (C). The adverb "clearly" is appropriately used to modify the verb "established," which is consistent with the other past-tense verbs in the sentence.
32.
Corrected sentence: The enormous sums bid on Mary Cassatt's impressionist painting demonstrate the wealth of the bidders, not necessarily their appreciation of art.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there is subject-verb disagreement. The singular verb "demonstrates" disagrees with its plural subject, "sums."
There is no error at (A). The past participle "bid" is appropriately placed after the noun it modifies, "sums," and idiomatically complemented by the preposition "on."
There is no error at (C). The adverbial phrase "not necessarily" properly modifies the sentence's verb and is correctly placed before the second of the verb's two objects, "their appreciation of art."
There is no error at (D). The plural possessive pronoun "their" agrees with its plural antecedent, "bidders."
33.
Corrected sentence: Widowed in 1859, novelist Margaret Oliphant succeeded in providing for her own and her brother's children with the profits from her books, which numbered well over 100 volumes.
The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where an improper idiom is used. In the sense in which it is used in the sentence, the verb "succeeded" requires as its complement the preposition "in" followed by a gerund ("in providing") rather than an infinitive ("to provide").
There is no error at (B). The adjective "own" is correctly placed after the possessive pronoun "her" to form the first of two coordinated modifiers of the noun "children."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "from" is idiomatically used to begin a phrase modifying the noun "profits."
There is no error at (D). The adverb "well" idiomatically modifies a prepositional phrase introduced by "over."
34.
Corrected sentence: Unlike producers of commercial broadcasting, producers working for public television are not primarily interested in reaching the widest possible audience.
The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where there is an illogical comparison. Producers of public television are illogically compared with commercial broadcasting rather than with producers of commercial broadcasting.
There is no error at (B). The participle "working" is properly placed after the noun it modifies ("producers") and is itself properly modified by a phrase that begins with the preposition "for."
There is no error at (C). The preposition "in" with a gerund ("reaching") as its object idiomatically modifies the adjective "interested."
There is no error at (D). The superlative adjective "widest" appropriately modifies the noun phrase "possible audience."
35.
Choice (D) is correct. It creates a participial phrase ("camped on the edge of a small muddy river") that logically modifies the subject of the sentence, "I."
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because of faulty modification. The appositive phrase "a camp on the edge of a small muddy river" cannot logically modify the noun phrase that immediately precedes it, "a field expedition." A field expedition is an activity, not a place.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it creates a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("I was in Ethiopia on a field expedition" and "my camp was . . . Addis Ababa") are improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it produces a comma splice. Two independent clauses ("I was in Ethiopia on a field expedition" and "I was camped on . . . Addis Ababa") are improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because of ineffective subordination. The use of the conjunction "while" to introduce the subordinate clause "I was camped on the edge . . . Addis Ababa" illogically suggests that the field expedition and the writer's encampment near the river were of the same duration.
36.
Choice (A) is correct. It corrects a confusing sequence of tenses by changing the present-tense verb, "lingers," to the past-tense "lingered," so that the verb is consistent with the past-tense verbs found in the preceding paragraph and later in the sentence ("shot").
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it fails to correct the tense error in the original sentence. Moreover, inserting "also" after "I linger in my tent" would misleadingly suggest that the writer had lingered elsewhere.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it compounds the tense error. It unhelpfully adds another present-tense verb ("look") to a sentence that must be put into the past tense in order to suit its context.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it fails to correct the tense error in the original sentence. Moreover, the substitution of a semicolon for "but" would isolate an expression ("quickly turning . . . east") that lacks the verb necessary to form an independent clause. Two expressions separated by a semicolon must both be independent clauses, each expressing a complete thought.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because it fails to correct the tense error in the original sentence. The complex preposition "on the other side of" is a wordy alternative to "beyond" that does nothing to improve the sentence.
37.
Choice (B) is correct. It replaces the vague pronoun "this" with the noun phrase "this part of the day," which appropriately serves to introduce the comparison of morning and evening that will be explored in the course of the paragraph.
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because it produces a sentence that is inconsistent with its context. The paragraph's central concern is to compare not different kinds of weather but different times of day, namely sunrise and sunset.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it produces a sentence that is inconsistent with its context. A sentence comparing one place with other places makes a poor introduction to a paragraph whose primary purpose is to compare one time of day with another.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it produces a sentence that is inconsistent with its context. The suggestion that the Americans in camp preferred to sleep at sunrise is inconsistent with the suggestion in sentence 9 that the Americans could at that hour be found standing next to rocks and boulders.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because it produces a sentence that is inconsistent with its context. The last paragraph does not even mention birds, much less develop the idea that the camp was a good place in which to view them.
38.
Choice (C) is correct. Sentences 8 and 9 explain why the writer's companions prefer the early hours of the day. Placing the sentence "But mornings are not my favorite time" after sentence 9 provides a smooth transition to the contrasting discussion in sentences 10–13 of the writer's own preference for the evening hours.
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because it produces an illogical transition between sentences. The use of the adversative conjunction "But" at the beginning of "But mornings are not my favorite time" requires that the sentence be placed after sentences expressing a contrasting view, i.e., conveying a favorable impression of mornings. Sentences 1-4 convey no such impression.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it produces an illogical sequence of sentences. Sentences 5 and 6 logically develop an objective description of the sun's behavior at daybreak. To insert between them a sentence expressing a subjective opinion about mornings would interrupt that logical development.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it creates an illogical sequence of sentences. Sentence 12 supports with an example the opinion expressed in sentence 11 that sundown is the writer's favorite time of day. To insert after sentence 11 the observation that morning is not the writer's favorite time of day would disrupt the logical flow of ideas.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because it produces an illogical sequence of sentences. Sentences 12 and 13 form a continuous description of what the writer likes to do at sundown. To insert between those sentences an opinion about mornings would destroy the continuity of the narrative.
39.
Choice (A) is correct. It corrects the original comma splice by subordinating the first of two independent clauses with the conjunction "Because," which logically indicates a relation of cause and effect between the two clauses.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it results in a grammatically incomplete sentence. With the substitution of "and that" for "had" the first of the two original independent clauses (The rocks . . . night") becomes a mere noun phrase that has no grammatical role in any clause.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it produces an illogical transition. The relation between the two independent clauses is one of natural consequence, not one of contrast, so the contrasting conjunction "but" cannot logically link them.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it does not correct the comma splice of the original. When "felt" is replaced by "seemed" the two independent clauses remain improperly linked by only a comma.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because it creates a tense error and does not correct the comma splice of the original. The use of the present tense ("stand") in a subordinate clause introduced by "when" is inconsistent with the use of the past tense ("felt") earlier in the sentence. Moreover, the revision leaves the two independent clauses improperly joined by only a comma.
