Deck 5: Preparing a Scratch Outline

Question 1

Draw a single line under subjects and a double line under verbs. Cross out prepositional phrases as necessary to find the subjects.
1. With one graceful motion, the shortstop fielded the grounder and threw to first base.
2. Like human mothers, sheep and goat mothers develop close bonds with their babies.
3. Before class, Antonietta and Jorge rushed to the coffee machine in the hall.
4. I shifted uncomfortably on the lumpy mattress before falling into a restless sleep.
5. Waiting in the long ticket line, Matt shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
6. Ancient Egyptians were branding cattle more than four thousand years ago.
7. Dogs and cats crowded the veterinarian's office on Monday morning.
8. The driver abruptly halted her Jeep and backed up toward a narrow parking place.
9. During the American Revolution, some brides rejected white wedding gowns and wore red as a symbol of rebellion.
10. The little girl's frantic family called a psychic to locate the child.

Answer 1

Review Test (390-391)

1.      With one graceful motion , the shortstop fielded the grounder and threw to first base.
2.      Like human mothers, sheep and goat mothers develop close bonds with their babies.
3.      Before class , Antoinetta and Jorge rushed to the coffee machine in the hall.
4.      I shifted uncomfortably on the lumpy mattress before falling into a restless sleep.
5.      Waiting in the long ticket line , Matt shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
6.      Ancient Egyptians were branding cattle more than four thousand years ago.
7.      Dogs and cats crowded the veterinarian's office on Monday morning.
8.      The driver abruptly halted her Jeep and backed up toward a narrow parking place.
9.      During the American Revolution , some brides rejected white wedding gowns and wore red as a symbol of rebellion.
10. The little girl's frantic family called a psychic to locate the child.

Question 2

Insert a semicolon where the break occurs between the two complete thoughts in each of the following sentences.
EXAMPLE
Neither my dad nor my mom attended college;I plan to be the first person in my family to earn a bachelor's degree.
1. Everyone at the fundraising event brought canned goods the organizers hoped to donate several thousand pounds of food to the local food pantry.
2. The council member was censured for his comments he quickly apologized when he realized that others found his remarks offensive.
3. Sarah took her favorite stuffed animal with her to the hospital she hugged Boo Boo when the nurse stuck the IV needle into Sarah's arm.
4. Someone from the credit card company called this afternoon I am several months behind in my payments.
5. The attorney called her witness to the stand the witness, however, was too nervous to answer questions.
6. Ravi asked me out to dinner we plan to eat sushi at the new Japanese restaurant.
7. The job market in our city has slowed down many people are being forced to find employment in neighboring areas.
8. Dave thinks that he owns the remote control he doesn't realize that I removed the batteries from it.
9. Insulin medication was made from beef- and pork-based products until 1982 people with diabetes now use insulin made from genetically altered bacteria.
10. Mari is lactose intolerant she never eats ice cream or drinks milk.

Answer 2

Semicolon (414)
1. goods; the
2. comments; he
3. hospital; she
4. afternoon; I
5. stand; the
6. dinner; we
7. down; many
8. control; he
9. 1982; people
10. intolerant; she

Question 3

Cross out the incorrect verb form in each sentence. In addition, underline the subject or subjects that go with the verb. Then write the correct form of the verb in the space provided.
______ 1. Why is Jonathan and his friends cutting their hair so short
______ 2. Neither of my essays for history or economics are well written.
______ 3. A digital camera, a cellular phone, and an iPod was on my daughter's wish list.
______ 4. The mangoes on the tree looks ripe.
______ 5. Here is the midterm report you requested and the copies of the fi les I duplicated.
______ 6. The annoying barking from the neighbor's dogs prevent me from studying.
______ 7. One of my sports heroes are decathlon winner Bryan Clay, who attributed his success at the Beijing Olympics to discipline and perseverance.
______ 8. Three eggs, grated cheese, and chopped ham makes for a hearty omelet.
______ 9. A person in his or her twenties often think that retirement planning isn't necessary.
______ 10. Each of the contestants on the new game show have a chance of winning the million-dollar grand prize.

Answer 3

Review Test 2 (431-432)

Question 4

Underline the misplaced word or words in each sentence. Then rewrite the sentence, placing related words together and thereby making the meaning clear.
EXAMPLES
Sliced cucumbers were placed on my weary eyes that were chilled in the refrigerator.
Sliced cucumbers that were chilled in the refrigerator were placed on my weary eyes.
Professor Ramirez spoke about the national housing crisis during her lecture.
During her lecture, Professor Ramirez spoke about the national housing crisis.
1. The tortilla soup was prepared by my mother-in-law on the stove.
__________________________________________________________
2. The customer spoke to the branch manager with a service complaint.
__________________________________________________________
3. Victor added a mango to his fruit smoothie, which was grown in his own yard.
__________________________________________________________
4. Emily deposited the money that she would use to pay for her college tuition in the bank.
__________________________________________________________
5. Mari watched the movie on her portable DVD player that her friends recommended.
__________________________________________________________
6. I nearly sent out two dozen job applications this week alone.
__________________________________________________________
7. The motivational speaker talked about his former drug addiction speaking from experience.
__________________________________________________________
8. I knew that I should avoid the traffic accident on the interstate highway listening to the radio.
__________________________________________________________
9. The man asked the pharmacist for cough syrup with a sore throat.
__________________________________________________________
10. I gave a sizable donation to the candidate at the end of the political fundraiser event.
__________________________________________________________

Question 5

Working in pairs with a fellow classmate, rewrite the italicized part of each of the sentences below, using ' s to show possession. Remember that the ' s goes with the owner or possessor.
EXAMPLE
The wing of the bluejay was broken.
The bluejay's wing was broken.
1. The annoying voice of the comedian irritated me, so I changed the TV channel.
___________________________________________________
2. The performance of the quarterback is inconsistent.
___________________________________________________
3. The thin hand belonging to the old woman felt as dry as parchment.
___________________________________________________
4. In the window of the jewelry store is a sign reading "Ears Pierced While You Wait."
___________________________________________________
5. A fly flew into the mouth of the TV weatherperson.
___________________________________________________
6. The new denim shirt belonging to Lamont was as scratchy as sandpaper.
___________________________________________________
7. The hair belonging to Rachel is usually not green-she colored it for Halloween.
___________________________________________________
8. The bowl of cereal belonging to Dennis refused to snap, crackle, or pop.
___________________________________________________
9. The Honda owned by Donna was crammed with boxes and furniture.
___________________________________________________
10. The previous tenant of the apartment had painted all the walls bright green.
___________________________________________________

Question 6

Insert commas where needed. In the space provided below each sentence, summarize briefly the rule that explains the comma or commas used
1. "First impressions" the job recruiter said "are crucial during a job interview."
____________________________________________________
2. Kristy baked cupcakes and decorated them with buttermilk frosting candy sprinkles and chocolate chips.
____________________________________________________
3. While studying for finals Teresa drank several energy drinks to keep her awake.
____________________________________________________
4. I had wanted to buy roses for Jo on Valentine's Day but the florist said that I should have placed an order at least a month ago.
____________________________________________________
5. The motivational speaker ended her presentation by saying "Remember that you can make a difference."
____________________________________________________
6. If you need a doctor's referral Dana you should contact Ask-a-Nurse.
____________________________________________________
7. At the age of forty-three John F. Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected to the office of the United States President.
____________________________________________________
8. The driver who was clearly at fault took his eyes off the road while sending a text message on his BlackBerry.
____________________________________________________
9. After two weeks into the semester I still need to buy textbooks for my chemistry astronomy and history classes.
____________________________________________________
10. Jon and Kate Gosselin unlike most couples are raising twins and sextuplets.
____________________________________________________

Question 7

Certain words are italicized in the following sentences. In the space provided at the left, identify the words as slang (S), a cliché (C), or inflated words (IW). Then replace the words with more effective diction.
_____ 1. Losing weight is easier said than done for someone who loves sweets.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 2. After dinner, we washed the culinary utensils and wrapped the excess food.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 3. Bruce is so stubborn that talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 4. Michelle spent the summer watching the tube and catching rays.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 5. The fans, all fi red up after the game, peeled out of the parking lot and honked their horns.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 6. The stew I made contained everything but the kitchen sink.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 7. That guy isn't really a criminal; he's just gotten a bum rap.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 8. A company cannot implement changes and attain growth without input from its personnel.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 9. I failed the test, and to add insult to injury, I got a low grade on my paper.
________________________________________________________________
_____ 10. I perused several periodicals while I waited for the doctor.
________________________________________________________________

Question 8

Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. My friends (are, they are) like family to me.
2. My apartment is over thirty years old, but (is, it is) a relatively clean, safe building.
3. (Was brandy, There was brandy) added to the chocolate Bundt cake.
4. Nilva (owns, is owning) two dogs: a rottweiler and a German shepherd.
5. The exam will not (be covered, cover) the last four chapters in the textbook.
6. After a year-long deployment in Iraq, Jesse (very homesick, was very homesick).
7. I need (to eat, eating) on a schedule because of my diabetes.
8. Trina (wants to be studying, wants to study) at least three hours a day.
9. Derek's scooter (stalled, it stalled) at the intersection during a rainstorm.
10. If I go to the club with my friends, I will feel like (to smoke, smoking).

Question 9

Each item that follows lacks basic punctuation. There is no period to mark the end of one sentence and no capital letter to mark the start of the next. Read each item aloud (or in your head) so that you "hear" where each sentence begins and ends. Your voice will tend to drop and pause at the point of each sentence break. Draw a light slash mark (/) at every point where you hear a break. Then go back and read the item a second time. If you are now sure of each place where a split occurs, insert a period and change the first small letter after it to a capital. Minor pauses are often marked in English by commas; these are already inserted. Part of item 1 is done for you as an example.
1. I take my dog for a walk on Saturdays in the big park by the lake. I do this very early in the morning before children come to the park. way I can let my dog run freely. jumps out the minute I open the car door and soon sees the first innocent squirrel. then he is off like a shot and doesn't stop running for at least half an hour.
2. When Vince first started college, he did not know what major to pursue at first, he wanted to become a computer software engineer, but he struggled in his math classes a counselor suggested that he might think about entering a technical program since he is skilled with his hands for instance, last summer he helped his neighbors renovate their kitchen and bathroom he also assisted in the building of a house through Habitat for Humanity now Vince is considering the carpentry technology program.
3. When I sit down to write, my mind is blank all I can think of is my name, which seems to me the most boring name in the world often I get sleepy and tell myself I should take a short nap other times I start daydreaming about things I want to buy sometimes I decide I should make a telephone call to someone I know the piece of paper in front of me is usually still blank when I leave to watch my favorite television show.
4. One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I never told my father I loved him. I resented the fact that he had never been able to say the words "I love you" to his children even during the long period of my father's illness, I remained silent and unforgiving then one morning he was dead, with my words left unspoken a guilt I shall never forget tore a hole in my heart. I determined not to hold in my feelings with my daughters they know they are loved, because I both show and tell them this all people, no matter who they are, want to be told that they are loved.
5. A month ago, Christina decided to become a vegetarian she never really liked meat all that much, except for an occasional hamburger or grilled steak she decided to give up meat because she read about the health benefits that a vegetarian lifestyle could provide also, she knew that eating more fruits, vegetables, and grains would be beneficial some of her friends asked if she opposed the killing of animals, which she had not considered everything was going well for Christina and her new lifestyle she began to try new recipes, shop at the local farmers' market, and even feel more energetic then last Saturday she went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant with her friends without thinking, Christina ordered her favorite item on the menu, Shrimp Scampi after she was halfway through her meal, one of friends said, "Christina, you're eating meat!" she was stunned for she had completely forgotten about being a vegetarian she felt disappointed in herself, especially since there were several vegetarian pasta dishes on the menu one of her friends smiled nonchalantly and said, "Don't worry, Christina, you're a pescatarian-someone who's mostly a vegetarian but occasionally eats fish and seafood." Christina smiled and happily finished her meal.

Question 10

For each sentence, choose a logical transitional word from the box above, and write it in the space provided. Use a semicolon before the connector and a comma after it.
EXAMPLE
I dread going to parties ; however, my husband loves meeting new people.
1. Jackie suffers from migraine headaches _____ her doctor has advised her to avoid caffeine and alcohol.
2. Ray's apartment is always neat and clean _____ the interior of his car looks like the aftermath of a tornado.
3. I try to attend all my math classes _____ I'll get too far behind to pass the weekly quizzes.
4. B. J. was singing Mary J. Blige tunes in the shower _____ his toast was burning in the kitchen.
5. The reporter was tough and experienced _____ even he was stunned by the tragic events.

Question 11

Complete each of the following sentences using is, are, was, were, have , or has. Then underline the subject.
EXAMPLE
For me, popcorn at the movies
1. The magazines under my roommate's bed _______________
2. The car with the purple fenders _______________
3. My boss and her secretary _______________
4. Neither of the football players _______________
5. Here _______________

Question 12

Look at the opening words in each sentence and ask, Who The subject that answers the question should be nearby in the sentence. If it is not, provide the logical subject by using either method of correction just described.
EXAMPLE
While pitching his tent, a snake bit Parker on the ankle.
While Parker was pitching his tent, a snake bit him on the ankle.
Or: While pitching his tent, Parker was bitten on the ankle by a snake.
1. Dancing on their hind legs, the audience cheered wildly as the elephants paraded by.
________________________________________________________________
2. Last seen wearing dark glasses and a blond wig, the police spokesperson said the suspect was still being sought.
________________________________________________________________
3. Pouring out the cereal, a coupon fell into my bowl of milk.
________________________________________________________________
4. Escorted by dozens of police motorcycles, I knew the limousine carried someone important.
________________________________________________________________
5. Tired and exasperated, the fight we had was inevitable.
________________________________________________________________
6. Packed tightly in a tiny can, Joe had difficulty removing the anchovies.
________________________________________________________________
7. Kicked carelessly under the bed, Raquel finally found her sneakers.
________________________________________________________________
8. Working at the copy machine, the morning dragged on.
________________________________________________________________
9. Sitting at a sidewalk café, all sorts of interesting people passed by.
________________________________________________________________
10. Though somewhat warped, Uncle Zeke played his records from the forties.
________________________________________________________________

Question 13

Add ' s to each of the following words to make it the possessor or owner of something.
Then write sentences using the words. The first one is done for you.
1. rock star rock star's ___________________________________
The rock star's limousine pulled up to the curb.
2. Felipe _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. pilot _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. neighbor _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. school _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6. soldier _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Question 14

Insert commas where needed. Mark the one sentence that is correct with a C.
1. Before leaving for the gym Nikki added extra socks and a tube of shampoo to her gym bag.
2. My father said "Golf isn't for me. I can't afford to buy lots of expensive sticks so that I can lose lots of expensive white balls."
3. Clogged with soggy birds' nests the chimney had allowed dangerous gases to accumulate in our house.
4. Oscar took a time-exposure photo of the busy highway so the cars' taillights appeared in the developed print as winding red ribbons.
5. On May 16 2007 my older brother got married and exactly a year later he got divorced.
6. During the summer graduation ceremony students fanned themselves with commencement programs and parents hid in the shade of trees.
7. Leaving eight astronauts dead the space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it returned to Earth on February 1 2003.
8. "When I was little" said Luke "my brother told me it was illegal to kill praying mantises. I still don't know if that's true or not."
9. A huge side of beef its red flesh marbled with streaks of creamy fat hung from a razor-sharp steel hook.
10. A line of dancing numerals on Sesame Street kicked across the screen like a chorus line.

Question 15

EDITING TEST 1
In the spaces at the bottom, write the numbers of the ten word groups that contain fragments or run-ons. Then, in the spaces between the lines and in the margin, edit by making the necessary corrections.
1 I remember my childhood as being generally happy and can recall experiencing some of the most carefree times of my life. 2 But I can also remember, even more vividly, other moments. 3 When I was deeply frightened. 4 As a child, I was truly terrified of the dark and of getting lost. 5 These fears were very real, they caused me some extremely uncomfortable moments.
6 Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my familiar room at night 7 That scared me so much. 8 The streetlight outside or passing car lights would create shadows in my room. 9 As a result, clothes hung over a chair taking on the shape of an unknown beast.
10 Out of the corner of my eye, I saw curtains move when there was no breeze. 11 A tiny creak in the floor would sound a hundred times louder than in daylight, my imagination would take over. 12 Creating burglars and monsters on the prowl. 13 Because darkness always made me feel so helpless. 14 I would lie there motionless so that the "enemy" would not discover me.
15 Another of my childhood fears was that I would get lost. 16 Especially on the way home from school. 17 After school, all the buses lined up along the curb, I was terrified that I'd get on the wrong one. 18 Scanning the bus windows for the faces of my friends. 19 I'd also look to make sure that the bus driver was the same one I had had in the morning.
1. ____________
2. ____________
3. ____________
4. ____________
5. ____________
6. ____________
7. ____________
8. ____________
9. ____________
10. ____________

Question 16

Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. The Johnsons live in a (stone big, big stone) house.
2. Mr. Kim runs a (popular Korean, Korean popular) restaurant.
3. For her party, the little girl asked if her mother would buy her a (beautiful long velvet, beautiful velvet long) dress.
4. When their son didn't come home by bedtime, Mr. and Mrs. Singh became (worried, worrying).
5. In the center of the city is a church with (three enormous colourful stained-glass, three stained-glass colorful enormous) windows.

Question 17

Turn each of the following dependent-word groups into a sentence by adding a complete thought. Use a comma after the dependent-word group if a dependent word starts the sentence. Note the examples.
EXAMPLES
Although I felt miserable
Although I felt miserable, I tried to smile for the photographer.
The man who found my wallet
The man who found my wallet returned it the next day.
1. If I don't get a raise soon
_____________________________
2. Because it was raining
_____________________________
3. When I heard the news
_____________________________
4. Because I couldn't find the car keys
_____________________________
5. The restaurant that we tried
_____________________________

Question 18

Correct each run-on with either (1) a period and a capital letter or (2) a comma (if needed) and the joining word and, but, for, or so. Do not use the same method of correction for every sentence.
Some of the run-ons are fused sentences (there is no punctuation between the two complete thoughts), and some are comma splices (there is only a comma between the two complete thoughts). One sentence is correct.
1. Our boss expects us to work four hours without a break, he wanders off to a vending machine at least once an hour.
2. The children in the next car were making faces at other drivers, when I made a face back, they giggled and sank out of sight.
3. Chuck bent over and lifted the heavy tray then he heard an ominous crack in his back.
4. The branches of the tree were bare they made a dark feathery pattern against the orange-pink sunset.
5. In the dark alley, the air smelled like rotten garbage a large rat crept in the shadows.
6. Our class wanted to do something for the hurricane victims, we sent a donation to the Red Cross.
7. My ex-husband hit me just once in our marriage five minutes later I was packed and walking out the door.
8. Aunt Jeanne thought a warm dry climate would improve her health she moved to Arizona.
9. The average American teenager spends thirty-eight hours a week on schoolwork the average Japanese teenager spends about sixty.
10. We stocked our backpacks with energy bars, and we also brought bags of dried apricots and peaches.

Question 19

Write the appropriate pronoun ( their, they, them, it ) in the blank space in each of the following sentences.
EXAMPLE
I bought a used bicycle and gave it a new coat of paint.
1. Melinda and Jo bought tickets for the concert, and __________ also made reservations for dinner at the new Italian restaurant on Sanchez Avenue.
2. The leftover pizza was cold, but I decided to eat __________ for breakfast.
3. The teachers at my college are very committed, for __________ often stay after class to help students.
4. Leon's children are coming over on Friday, and then __________ mother will pick them up on Sunday night.
5. This morning, Sarah forgot to bring the quarterly sales report, so she caught a cab home before the meeting to get __________.

Question 20

Write MM for misplaced modifier or C for correct in the space provided for each sentence.
1. While in Vegas, I almost spent fi ve hundred dollars at one slot machine.
__________
2. While in Vegas, I spent almost fi ve hundred dollars at one slot machine.
__________
3. Roberto patiently waited as the meal he ordered was being prepared in the kitchen.
__________
4. Roberto patiently waited as the meal was being prepared in the kitchen he ordered.
__________
5. Kimberly registered for her two summer classes on Monday.
__________
6. On Monday, Kimberly registered for her two summer classes.
__________
7. Behind the sofa, the dog hid the biscuit that was given to him by his owner.
__________
8. The dog hid the biscuit that was given to him by his owner behind the sofa.
__________
9. I ordered a new hard drive that was refurbished from the Web site.
__________
10. I ordered from the Web site a new hard drive that was refurbished.
__________

Question 21

Insert an apostrophe where needed to show possession in the following sentences. Write plural above words where the s ending simply means more than one thing.
EXAMPLE
Ryans computer has two
1. Leahs boyfriend bought her two pairs of opal earrings from Australia.
2. The currys spicy flavor comes from several spices imported from Goa, India.
3. Jeans apartment in the city is located near two parks and three coffee shops.
4. Before Sergios brother arrives with the drinks, I need to pick up several pizzas from Antonios.
5. The delivery crew damaged Joshuas dining room chairs during the move.
6. At one students request, the professor made her lecture notes available online for everyone.
7. The winners of the talent contest were selected based on one judges decision.
8. The childrens voices filled the classrooms with laughter.
9. The dogs wagging tail knocked the coins and pens from the coffee table.
10. Diane wants the gardeners assistant to pull out the weeds from the flower beds.

Question 22

In the following passage, there are ten missing commas. Add the commas where needed. The types of mistakes to look for are shown in the box preceding the passage.
2 commas missing between items in a series
1 comma missing after introductory material
4 commas missing around interrupting words
2 commas missing between complete thoughts
1 comma missing with a direct quotation
When I was about ten years old I developed several schemes to avoid eating liver, a food I despise. My first scheme involved my little brother. Timmy too young to realize what a horrible food liver is always ate every bit of his portion. On liver nights, I used to sit next to Tim and slide my slab of meat onto his plate when my parents weren't paying attention. This strategy worked until older and wiser Tim decided to reject his liver along with the rest of us. Another liver-disposal method I used was hiding the meat right on the plate. I'd cut the liver into tiny squares half the size of postage stamps and then I would carefully hide the pieces. I'd put them inside the skin of my baked potato beneath some mashed peas, or under a crumpled paper napkin. This strategy worked perfectly only if my mother didn't look too closely as she scraped the dishes. Once she said to me "Do you know you left a lot of liver on your plate " My best liver trick was to hide the disgusting stuff on a three-inch-wide wooden ledge that ran under our dining-room table. I'd put little pieces of liver on the ledge when Mom wasn't looking; I would sneak the dried-up scraps into the garbage early the next day. Our dog would sometimes smell the liver try to get at it, and bang his head noisily against the bottom of the table. These strategies seemed like a lot of work but I never hesitated to take whatever steps I could. Anything was better than eating a piece of meat that tasted like old socks soaked in mud.

Question 23

EDITING TEST 2
Identify the five mistakes in essay format in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letters that describe the five mistakes and write those letters in the spaces provided.
a. Title should not be underlined.
b. Title should not be set off in quotation marks.
c. There should not be a period at the end of a title.
d. All major words in a title should be capitalized.
e. Title should be a phrase, not a complete sentence.
f. First line of a paper should stand independent of the title.
g. One line should be skipped between title and first line of the paper.
h. First line of a paragraph should be indented.
i. Right-hand margin should not be crowded.
j. Hyphenation should occur only between syllables.
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
4. __________
5. __________

Question 24

Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. The candies came in a (little red cardboard, cardboard red little) box.
2. The creek is spanned by (an old wooden, a wooden old) bridge.
3. A gunshot left (a tiny round, a round tiny) hole in the car's rear windshield.
4. Many people find public speaking a (terrifying, terrified) experience.
5. The museum acquired (an ancient marble, a marble ancient) statue from Greece.

Question 25

Underline the dependent-word fragment in each item. Then rewrite the items, correcting each fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes before or the sentence that comes after it-whichever sounds more natural. Use a comma after the dependent word group if it starts the sentence.
1. Whenever I spray deodorant. My cat arches her back. She thinks she is hearing a hissing enemy.
______________________________________________________________
2. My father, a salesman, was on the road all week. We had a great time playing football in the house. Until he came home for the weekend.
______________________________________________________________
3. If Kim takes too long saying good-bye to her boyfriend. Her father will start flicking the porch light. Then he will come out with a flashlight.
______________________________________________________________
4. Scientists are studying mummified remains. That are thousands of years old. Most of the people were killed by parasites.
______________________________________________________________
5. After I got to class. I realized my report was still on the kitchen table. I had been working there the night before.
______________________________________________________________

Question 26

Correct each run-on by using (1) a period and a capital letter, (2) a comma and a joining word, or (3) a semicolon. Do not use one method exclusively.
1. I bring my own lunch to work I'm trying to find ways to save money.
2. Brad prefers to study with the TV on he says that the noise helps him focus.
3. I was bored last night, I watched hours of blooper videos on YouTube.
4. Nalani was surprised to learn that she had won the cash giveaway she couldn't remember when or where she entered the contest.
5. The vending machines on campus sell soda I would prefer if they sold energy drinks.
6. Angela's wedding will be held at the chapel her reception will be held at the Hilton.
7. My parents moved to Arizona, they wanted to escape the harsh winters of Chicago.
8. Photosynthesis depends on sunlight this process also depends on carbon dioxide and water.
9. The rent is due on the 1st this month fortunately, I'll be paid on the 31st.
10. Sharon poured me a glass of Chardonnay, I prefer red wine.

Question 27

Underline the correct pronoun.
1. Neither of the potential buyers had really made up (her, their) mind.
2. Not one of the new cashiers knows what (he, they) should be doing.
3. Each of these computers has (its, their) drawbacks.
4. Anyone trying to reduce (his or her, their) salt intake should avoid canned and processed foods.
5. If anybody calls when I'm out, tell (him, them) I'll return in an hour.

Question 28

Write DM for dangling modifier or C for correct in the space provided for each sentence.
__________ 1. While riding the bicycle, a vicious-looking German shepherd snapped at Tim's ankles.
__________ 2. While Tim was riding the bicycle, a vicious-looking German shepherd snapped at his ankles.
__________ 3. Afraid to look his father in the eye, Charley kept his head bowed.
__________ 4. Afraid to look his father in the eye, Charley's head remained bowed.
__________ 5. Boring and silly, I turned the YouTube video off.
__________ 6. I turned off the boring and silly YouTube video.
__________ 7. Munching leaves from a tall tree, the giraffe fascinated the children.
__________ 8. Munching leaves from a tall tree, the children were fascinated by the giraffe.
__________ 9. At the age of twelve, several colleges had already accepted the boy genius.
__________ 10. At the age of twelve, the boy genius had already been accepted by several colleges.

Question 29

Add an apostrophe where needed.
1. Several campers tents collapsed during the storm.
2. The Murrays phone bills are often over $400 a month.
3. Many buildings steep steps make it difficult for wheelchair users to gain access.
4. The twins habit of dressing alike was started by their mother when they were children.
5. At the crowded intersection, several young men rushed out to wash the cars windshields.

Question 30

Place colons where needed in the sentences below:
1. Bring these items to registration a ballpoint pen, your student ID card, and a check made out to the college.
2. The road was closed because of an emergency an enormous tree had fallen and blocked both lanes.
3. Willa Cather, the American author, had an insightful comment about plots "There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before."

Question 31

EDITING TEST 3
Identify the ten sentence-skills mistakes at the underlined spots in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letter that describes each mistake and write that letter in the space provided. (The same kind of mistake may appear more than once.) Then, in the spaces between the lines, edit and correct each mistake.
a. fragment
b. run-on
c. inconsistent verb tense
d. dangling modifier
e. missing comma
f. spelling mistake
I had a strange experience last was shopping for Christmas presents when I came to a small clothing shop. I was going to pass it by, the mannequin seemed to wink at me. I was really looked around to see if anyone else was watching. Shaking my stepped closer to the window. Then I really began to question my looked as if the mannequin moved legs. My face must have shown alarm because the mannequin then I sighed with 0
was a human model after all.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 32

Underline the correct preposition in parentheses.
a 1. Can you baby-sit for my children (on, at) Thursday
2. Please come to my office (on, at) 3:00.
3. You will find some paper clips (in, on) the desk drawer.
4. Miguel will begin his new job (in, at) two weeks.
5. A fight broke out between two groups of friends (on, at) the park.

Question 33

Underline the -ing fragment in each of the following items. Then correct the item by using the method described in parentheses.
EXAMPLE
Stepping hard on the accelerator. Armon tried to beat the truck to the intersection. He lost by a hood.
(Add the fragment to the sentence that comes after it.)
Stepping hard on the accelerator, Armon tried to beat the truck to the intersection.
1. Marble-sized hailstones fell from the sky. Flattening the young plants in the cornfield. A year's work was lost in an hour.
(Add the fragment to the preceding sentence.)
_____________________________________
2. A noisy fire truck suddenly raced down the street. Coming to a stop at my house. My home security system had sent a false alarm.
(Correct the fragment by adding the subject it and changing coming to the proper form of the verb, came. )
_____________________________________
3. My phone doesn't ring. Instead, a light on it blinks. The reason for this being that I am partially deaf.
(Correct the fragment by changing being to the proper form of the verb, is.)
_____________________________________

Question 34

Locate and correct the five run-ons in the passage that follows.
My worst experience of the week was going home for lunch, rather than eating at work. My children didn't know I was coming, they had used most of the bread. All I had to make a sandwich with were two thin, crumpled pieces of crust. I sat there eating my tattered sandwich and trying to relax, then the telephone rang. It was for my daughter, who was in the bathroom, she called down to me that I should get the person's name and number. As soon as I sat down again, someone knocked on the door, it was a neatly dressed couple with bright eyes who wanted to talk with me about a higher power in life. I politely got rid of them and went back to finish lunch. I thought I would relax over my coffee I had to break up a fight between my two young sons about which television channel to watch. As a last bit of frustration, my daughter came downstairs and asked me to drive her over to a friend's house before I went back to work.

Question 35

Rewrite each of the following sentences to make clear the vague pronoun reference. Add, change, or omit words as necessary.
EXAMPLE
Amanda's sister picked up her daughter from the babysitter after work.
Amanda's sister picked up Amanda's daughter from the babysitter after work.
1. Lance went down to the shoe store but didn't find one that fit him.
2. To check out books at the library, they will ask you if you have a valid student identification card.
3. Roberto told Calvin that his computer-animated art project was well designed.
4. Jiggling her key into the rusty padlock, Susan knew that she had found the right one.
5. Yumiko visited the counseling center because they could help her decide on a major.

Question 36

Make the changes needed to correct the misplaced modifier in each sentence.
1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote that rainbows are flowers that have died and gone to heaven in a poem.
____________________________________________________________
2. Because of the storm, I almost arrived two hours late for my first day on the job.
____________________________________________________________
3. The apprentice watched the carpenter expertly fit the door with envious eyes.
____________________________________________________________
4. The photographer pointed the camera at the shy deer equipped with a special night-vision scope.
____________________________________________________________
5. The people on the bus stared at the ceiling or read newspapers with tired faces.
____________________________________________________________

Question 37

In each sentence, underline the two words that need apostrophes. Then write the words correctly in the spaces provided.
_________ 1. Darins and Mylas computers need to be upgraded with the latest virus protection software.
_________ 2. I told the student assistant that a students paper was left in the computer labs printer.
_________ 3. Tyler asked one of the stores sales associates where the childrens department was located.
_________ 4. Conveniently, the city buss express route includes a stop near the colleges library.
_________ 5. Tino wont report the accident because he fears that his insurances premium will increase.
_________ 6. The buildings security guard listened to Sonias account of the incident.
_________ 7. Cindys allergic to the dogs fur.
_________ 8. Mackeys mechanic was able to repair the motorcycles engine.
_________ 9. The doctors receptionist said that I didnt have an appointment.
_________ 10. The parks benches and the childrens play equipment need repainting.

Question 38

Working in pairs with a classmate, place semicolons where needed in the sentences below.
1. Strange things happen at very low temperatures a rose will shatter like glass.
2. My sister had a profitable summer: by mowing lawns, she earned $125 by washing cars, $85 and by walking the neighbors' dogs, $110.
3. The children who starred in the play were Kari Rosoff, nine years old Flora Junco, twelve years old and Ezra Johnson, three years old.

Question 39

EDITING TEST 4
Identify the ten sentence-skills mistakes at the underlined spots in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letter that des cribes each mistake and write that letter in the space provided. (The same kind of mistake may appear more than once.) Then, in the spaces between the lines, edit and correct each mistake.
a. run-on
b. mistake in subject-verb agreement
c. faulty parallelism
d. missing quotation marks
e. wordiness
f. slang
g. missing comma that smokers should quit smoking for the sake of those who are around them. Perhaps the most helpless creatures that suffer from being near a smoker unborn study suggests that the risk of having an undersized baby is doubled if pregnant women are exposed to cigarette smoke for about two hours a day. Pregnant women should refrain from smoking and smoke-filled rooms. Spouses of smokers are also They are more likely than spouses of nonsmokers to die of heart disease and the development of fatal cancers. Office workers are a final group that can be harmed by a smoke-filled environment. The U.S. Surgeon General has said "Workers who smoke are a health risk to their coworkers. While it is undoubtedly true that one can argue that smokers have the right to hurt themselves they do not have the right to hurt others. Smokers should abandon their deadly habit for the health of others at home and at work.
1. _____
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____
5. _____
6. _____
7. _____
8. _____
9. _____
10. _____

Question 40

Underline the correct preposition in parentheses.
1. My grandmother always bakes me chocolate chip cookies (on, at) my birthday.
2. The customers (at, in) the showroom still need to be helped.
3. Miki wants to meet (on, at) the movie theater on Friday night.
4. The unemployment office isn't open (in, on) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
5. My parents were divorced (in, at) 1986, the year after my younger brother was born.

Question 41

Underline the - ing or to fragment in each item. Then rewrite each item, correcting the fragment by using one of the three methods described above.
1. Looking at the worm on the table. Shelby groaned. She knew she wouldn't like what the biology teacher said next.
_____________________________________
2. I put a box of baking soda in the freezer. To get rid of the musty smell. However, my ice cubes still taste like old socks.
_____________________________________
3. Staring at the clock on the far wall. I nervously began my speech. I was afraid to look at any of the people in the room.
_____________________________________
4. Jerome sat quietly at his desk. Fantasizing about the upcoming weekend. He might meet the girl of his dreams at Saturday night's party.
_____________________________________
5. To get to the bus station from here. You have to walk two blocks out of your way. The sidewalk is torn up because of construction work.
_____________________________________

Question 42

Some verbs in the sentences that follow need - s or - es endings. Cross out each nonstandard verb form and write the standard form in the space provided.
________ 1. Keri-Ann usually forget to turn off her cell phone during class.
________ 2. My mom make the best lasagna in the world.
________ 3. Kurt take his son to the babysitter every morning.
________ 4. Marcela plan to major in criminology once she completes her prerequisites.
________ 5. If I don't stretch when I wake up, my body feel stiff throughout the day.

Question 43

Underline the correct word in parentheses.
1. Each of the boys decided to buy one video game for (his, their) own.
2. I inquired at the employment agency how soon (they, potential employers) would contact me for interviews.
3. Sherry told each of her daughters that (her, their) chores included taking care of the dog.
4. I went to the astronomy class, but I didn't really understand (it, the lecture).
5. When a person is lost, (they, he or she) should stop and ask for directions.

Question 44

Make the changes needed to correct the dangling modifier in each sentence.
1. Not knowing what to write, my history paper was disorganized.
____________________________________________________________
2. Waiting over half an hour, the sales associate finally helped the customer.
____________________________________________________________
3. Cooking dinner, the doorbell rang.
____________________________________________________________
4. Blasting the stereo at midnight, the resident manager spoke to my neighbors.
____________________________________________________________
5. Separated for over a year, the divorce came as no surprise to the couple.
____________________________________________________________

Question 45

Complete the following statements, which explain how capital letters, commas, and periods are used in quotations. Refer to the four previous examples as guides.
1. Every quotation begins with a ______ letter.
2. When a quotation is split (as in the sentence about the nutrition expert), the second part does not begin with a capital letter unless it is a _______ sentence.
3. ________ are used to separate the quoted part of a sentence from the rest of the sentence.
4. Commas and periods that come at the end of a quotation go _______ the quotation marks.
The answers are capital, new, Commas, and inside.

Question 46

Place dashes where needed in the following sentences.
1. The women's 5K race held each May in honor of Mother's Day attracts participants of all ages.
2. The stolen car was found abandoned on the freeway minus the car stereo and owner's personal belongings.
3. After months of working on my research paper, I could hope for only one thing an A to reward me for all my hard work.

Question 47

EDITING TEST 5
Identify the ten sentence-skills mistakes at the underlined spots in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letter that describes each mistake and write that letter in the space provided. (The same kind of mistake may appear more than once.) Then, in the spaces between the lines, edit and correct each mistake.
a. fragment
b. run-on
c. mistake in subject-verb agreement
d. misplaced modifier
e. dangling modifier
f. missing comma
g. wordiness
h. slang
The United States will never be a drug-free we could eliminate many of our drug-related problems by legalizing drugs. Drugs would be sold by companies and not criminals The drug trade would then take place like any the police and courts to devote their time to other problems. Lawful drugs would be sold at a fair one would need to steal in order to buy them. organized crime would lose one of its major sources of revenue. would, instead, create important tax revenues for the government. Finally, if drugs sold through legal outlets, we could reduce drug problems among our young people. It would be illegal to sell drugs to people under a certain age. And because the profits on drugs would no longer there would be little incentive for drug pushers to sell to young people. Decriminalizing drugs, in short, could be a solution. 0
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 48

Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. Rebecca was caught in the (rain, rains) without an umbrella during her lunch hour.
2. As the waiter handed me the menu, he said, "(Are, Here are) the daily specials."
3. The ending of the mystery novel was very (disturbed, disturbing).
4. My neighbors are noisy during the day, but at least they are quiet (at, in) night.
5. (The children, Children) at the clinic needed their immunizations.
6. After the storm, the sky was filled with (small black, black small) bugs.
7. My sister and I (are usually disagreeing, usually disagree) with each other.
8. My daughter's birthday falls (in, on) Leap Day, which is February 29.
9. I was asked to (think about to running, think about running) for city council.
10. Whenever I eat Oreos, I need to drink (milk, milks).

Question 49

Underline the fragment in each of the following items. Then make it a sentence by rewriting it, using the method described in parentheses.
EXAMPLE
My mother likes watching daytime television shows. Especially old movies and soap operas. She says that daytime television is less violent.
(Add the fragment to the preceding sentence.)
My mother likes watching daytime television shows, especially old movies and soap operas.
1. Luis works evenings in a movie theater. He enjoys the fringe benefits. For example, seeing the new movies first.
(Correct the fragment by adding the subject and verb he sees.)
_________________________________
2. Bob's fingernails are ragged from years of working as a mechanic. And his fingertips are always black. Like ink pads.
(Attach the fragment to the preceding sentence.)
_________________________________
3. Electronic devices keep getting smaller. Such as video cameras and cell phones. Some are so tiny they look like toys.
(Correct the fragment by inserting it in the preceding sentence.)
_________________________________

Question 50

Some verbs in the sentences that follow need - d or - ed endings. Cross out each nonstandard verb form and write the standard form in the space provided.
________ 1. One of my classmates manage to earn a full scholarship to a four-year university.
________ 2. The police officer interview several witnesses at the scene of the accident.
________ 3. This morning, Susan realize that she had left her backpack in a carrel at the library.
________ 4. I plant rosemary and basil in the garden last spring.
________ 5. The manager ask the customers for their feedback on the new menu items.

Question 51

Cross out the pronoun error in each of the following sentences, and write the correction in the space provided at the left. Then circle the letter that correctly describes the type of error that was made.
EXAMPLES
Anyone without a ticket will lose their place in the line.
Mistake in a. pronoun reference pronoun agreement
When Ella takes her daughter Kim to the park, she enjoys herself.
Mistake in Pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement
1. Could someone volunteer their services to clean up after the party
Mistake in a. pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement
2. The referee watched the basketball game closely to make sure they didn't commit any fouls.
Mistake in a. pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement
3. If job-hunters want to make a good impression at an interview, he should be sure to arrive on time.
Mistake in a. pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement
4. Neither of those girls appreciates their parents' sacrifices.
Mistake in a. pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement
5. There wasn't much to do on Friday nights after they closed the only movie theater in town.
Mistake in a. pronoun reference b. pronoun agreement

Question 52

Complete the following sentences. In each case, a logical subject should follow the opening words.
EXAMPLE
Looking through the door's peephole,
a 1. Noticing the light turn yellow,
2. Being fragile,
3. While washing the car,
4. Although very expensive,
5. Driving past the cemetery,

Question 53

Place quotation marks around the exact words of a speaker or writer in the sentences that follow.
1. Several people have been credited with saying, The more I see of people, the more I like dogs.
2. Beverly asked, Do you give a discount to senior citizens
3. This hamburger is raw! cried Leon.
4. The bumper sticker on the rear of the battered old car read, Don't laugh-it's paid for.
5. I know why Robin Hood robbed only the rich, said the comedian. The poor don't have any money.
6. These CDs, proclaimed the television announcer, are not sold in any store.
7. When chefs go to great lengths, the woman at the diet center said, I go to great widths.
8. If I go with you to the dinner party, my friend said, you must promise not to discuss politics.
9. On a tombstone in a Maryland cemetery are the words Here lies an atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.
10. The columnist advised, Be nice to people on your way up because you'll meet them on your way down.

Question 54

Working with a partner, add parentheses where needed.
1. Though the first Star Trek series originally ran for only three seasons 1965-1968, it gave rise to a number of spinoff shows that remain popular to this day.
2. Whenever Jack has too much to drink even one drink is sometimes too much, he becomes loud and obnoxious.
3. When I opened the textbook, I discovered that many pages mostly in the first chapter were completely blank.

Question 55

EDITING TEST 6
Identify the ten sentence-skills mistakes at the underlined spots in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letter that describes each mistake and write that letter in the space provided. (The same kind of mistake may appear more than once.) Then, in the spaces between the lines, edit and correct each mistake.
a. fragment
b. run-on
c. mistake in subject-verb agreement
d. mistake in verb tense
e. mistake with quotation marks
f. mistake in pronoun point of view
g. spelling error
h. missing comma
One reason that I enjoy the commute to school is that the drive gives me time to myself. The classes and socializing at college great, and so is the time I spend with my family, but sometimes all this togetherness keeps from being able to think. In fact, I look forward to the time I have gives me a chance to plan what I'll accomplish in the day ahead. For example, one Tuesday afternoon my history professor that a rough outline for our semester report was due that Friday. I had already done some I had checked my proposed topic with her the week before. planned the entire history report in my mind. Then all I had to do when I got home was quickly jot it down before I forgot it. She asked me 0
She was amazed when I told her that I owed it all to commuting.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 56

Underline the correct form in parentheses.
1. Volunteers who gave (bloods, blood) were served coffee and cookies afterward.
2. (Were, There were) only two donuts left in the box.
3. The instructions for the new computer were very (confused, confusing).
4. The snow began to fall (in, at) dawn and continued all day.
5. I stopped at a newsstand to buy (the magazine, a magazine) to read on the train.
6. A (large hairy, hairy large) spider crawled across the basement floor.
7. Susan agreed (marrying, to marry) her boyfriend but then changed her mind.
8. In the United States, Halloween is celebrated (on, in) October 31.
9. After we finished dinner, we (decided to go, decided to be going) to the movies.
10. Most (homes, home) in that neighborhood were affected by the blackout.

Question 57

Underline the added-detail fragment in each item. Then rewrite to correct the fragment. Use one of the three methods described on the previous page.
1. Left-handed students face problems. For example, right-handed desks. Spiral notebooks can also be uncomfortable to use.
_________________________________________
2. Mrs. Fields always wears her lucky clothes to bingo. Such as a sweater printed with four-leaf clovers. She also carries a rhinestone horseshoe.
_________________________________________
3. Hundreds of moths were swarming around the stadium lights. Like large flecks of snow. However, I knew they couldn't be snow-it was eighty degrees outside.
_________________________________________
4. Trevor buys and sells paper collectors' items. For instance, comic books and movie posters. He sets up a display at local flea markets and carnivals.
_________________________________________
5. I wonder now why I had to learn certain subjects. Such as geometry. No one has ever asked me about the hypotenuse of a triangle.
_________________________________________

Question 58

Cross out the incorrect verb form in each of the following sentences. Then write the correct form of the verb in the space provided.
EXAMPLE
flown After it had flew into the picture window, the dazed bird huddled on the ground.
________ 1. As graduation neared, Michelle worried about the practicality of the major she'd chose.
________ 2. Before we could find seats, the theater darkened and the opening credits begun to roll.
________ 3. To be polite, I drunk the slightly sour wine that my grandfather poured from his carefully hoarded supply.
________ 4. With a thunderous crack, the telephone pole breaked in half from the impact of the speeding car.
________ 5. The inexperienced nurse shrunk from touching the patient's raw, burned skin.
________ 6. After a day on the noisy construction site, Sam's ears rung for hours with a steady hum.
________ 7. Sheila had forgot to write her social security number on the test form, so the computer rejected her answer sheet.
________ 8. If I had went to work ten minutes earlier, I would have avoided being caught in the gigantic traffic jam.
________ 9. After the bicycle hit a patch of soft sand, the rider was throwed into the thorny bushes along the roadside.
________ 10. Prehistoric people blowed paint over their outstretched hands to stencil their handprints on cave walls.

Question 59

Underline the correct subject or object pronoun in each of the following sentences. Then show whether your answer is a subject or object pronoun by circling the S or O in the margin. The first one is done for you as an example.
1. S O
The sweaters Mom knitted for Victor and (I, me) are too small.
2. S O
The umpire and (he, him) started to argue.
3. S O
No one has a quicker temper than (she, her).
4. S O
Your grades prove that you worked harder than (they, them).
5. S O
(We, Us) runners train indoors when the weather turns cold.
6. S O
(She, Her) and Sienna never put the cap back on the toothpaste.
7. S O
Chris and (he, him) are the most energetic kids in the first grade.
8. S O
Arguing over clothes is a favorite pastime for my sister and (I, me).
9. S O
The rest of (they, them) will be arriving in about ten minutes.
10. S O
The head of the ticket committee asked Maggie and (I, me) to help with sales.

Question 60

Use the checklist to locate the seven mistakes in format in the following lines from a student paper. Explain the mistakes in the spaces provided. One mistake is described for you as an example.
1. Hyphenate only between syllables (predict-ably, not predi-ctably).
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________

Question 61

Rewrite the following sentences, changing words as necessary to convert the sentences into direct quotations. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1. Leona asked me if I wanted to study at the library after class.
Leona asked me, "Do you want to study at the library after class "
_______________________________________________________
2. My supervisor said that I should apply for the opening in Seattle.
_______________________________________________________
3. Heidi asked if she could order the Catch of the Day without the béarnaise sauce.
_______________________________________________________
4. The witness testified in court that she saw the suspect flee the convenience store with a gun.
_______________________________________________________
5. Professor Quigley said that he grades on a curve.
_______________________________________________________

Question 62

Place hyphens where needed.
1. The apartment complex was no longer a laughter filled place once the neighborhood children had grown and moved out.
2. Samantha, who is usually a high strung person, decided to start yoga and Zen meditation.
3. My last minute efforts produced a poorly written paper, which I was embarrassed to submit to my professor.

Question 63

EDITING TEST 7
Identify the ten sentence-skills mistakes at the underlined spots in the student paper that follows. From the box below, choose the letter that describes each mistake and write that letter in the space provided. (The same kind of mistake may appear more than once.) Then, in the spaces between the lines, edit and correct each mistake.
a. fragment
b. run-on
c. mistake in subject-verb agreement
d. missing comma
e. missing capital letter
f. dangling modifier
g. homonym mistake
h. missing apostrophe
i. cliché
Cars can destroy your ego. First the kind of car you drive can make you feel like a second-class citizen. new, expensive car and are forced to drive an old clunker. You'll be the object of pitying stares and nasty sneers. Drivers of newer-model cars just appreciate it when an '83 with terminal body rust lurches into the next parking slot. You may even find that drivers go out of way not to park near you. Breakdowns, too, can damage your self-respect. You may be an assistant bank manager or a job still feel when sitting on the side of the road. As the other cars whiz past, you'll stare helplessly at your open hood or steaming radiator. In cases like this, you may even be turned into that lowest of creatures, the pedestrian. 0
your car has delivered another staggering blow to your self-esteem.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 64

Decide which of the following items are fragments or run-ons and which are correct. Place your answers in the spaces at the bottom by writing F for fragment, RO for run-on, and C for correct. Then correct the incorrect items by rewriting them in the margins or between the lines.
1. The heart is a muscle. 2. That pumps blood throughout the body. 3. The human heart is about the size of one's closed fist, it is shaped like a pear. 4. Located in the chest. 5. It can be found slightly to the left of the breastbone. 6. The human heart has two compartments. 7. Which are divided into two other chambers. 8. The upper sections are called the atria, the lower ones are called the ventricles. 9. The heart also contains valves. 10. Which control the flow of blood.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 65

Underline the missing-subject fragment in each item. Then rewrite that part of the item needed to correct the fragment. Use one of the two methods of correction described above.
1. Every other day, Kara runs two miles. Then does fifty sit-ups. She hasn't lost weight, but she looks trimmer and more muscular.
____________________________________________
2. I like all kinds of fresh pizza. But refuse to eat frozen pizza. The sauce is always dried out, and the crust tastes like leather.
____________________________________________
3. Many people are allergic to seafood. They break out in hives when they eat it. And can even have trouble breathing.
____________________________________________
4. To distract me, the dentist tugged at a corner of my mouth. Then jabbed a needle into my gums and injected a painkiller. I hardly felt it.
____________________________________________
5. Last semester, I took six courses. And worked part-time in a discount drugstore. Now that the term is all over, I don't know how I did it.
____________________________________________

Question 66

Cross out the nonstandard verb form in each sentence. Then write the standard form of be, have, or do in the space provided.
________ 1. My cat, Tugger, be the toughest animal I know.
________ 2. He have survived many close calls.
________ 3. Three years ago, he were caught inside a car's engine.
________ 4. He have one ear torn off and lost his sight in one eye.
________ 5. We was surprised that he lived through the accident.
________ 6. Within weeks, though, he were back to normal.
________ 7. Then, last year, we was worried that we would lose Tugger.
________ 8. Lumps that was growing on his back turned out to be cancer.
________ 9. But the vet done an operation that saved Tugger's life.
________ 10. By now, we know that Tugger really do have nine lives.

Question 67

Cross out the incorrect pronoun form in each of the sentences below. Write the correct form in the space at the left.
EXAMPLE
hers Those Nintendo games are hers'.
1. I didn't know that the blender I bought at the garage sale had lost its' blade.
_______
2. Several strangers at the park asked the couple if the unleashed dog was theirs'.
_______
3. Kimi's chemistry professor wondered if the correct answers were indeed hers'.
_______
4. The boxes of donated items for the annual food drive are ours'.
_______
5. You should tell everyone that the idea was entirely yours'.
_______

Question 68

Underline the words that need capitals in the following sentences. Then write the capitalized form of each word in the space provided. The number of spaces tells you how many corrections to make in each case.
EXAMPLE
In our biology class, each student must do a report on an article in the magazine scientific american. Scientific American
1. Meghan's collection of beatles souvenirs includes a pair of tickets from their last concert in candlestick park in San Francisco.
___________ __________ ______________
2. Yumi read in natural health magazine that abraham lincoln suffered from severe depression.
___________ __________ ______________
3. When i have a cold, I use vicks ointment and chew halls lozenges.
___________ __________ ______________
4. Since no man volunteered for the job, the boy scouts in springfield, illinois, have a woman troop leader.
___________ __________ ______________
5. A nature trail for the blind in cape cod, massachusetts, has signs written in Braille that encourage visitors to smell and touch the plants.
___________ __________ ______________
6. Some of the most popular items at a restaurant called big river are chilean sea bass and atlantic clam chowder.
___________ __________ ______________
7. My father is a confirmed Dallas cowboys fan, though he lives in boston.
___________ __________ ______________
8. Isabella bought a diet pepsi to wash down her hostess twinkie.
___________ __________ ______________
9. Vince listened to songs by U2 and Coldplay on his iPod while Donna read an article in glamour titled "What Do men Really want "
___________ __________ ______________
10. After having her baby, joan received a card from one of her friends that read, "congratulations, we all knew you had it in you."
___________ __________ ______________

Question 69

Use quotation marks or italics underline as needed. Once you have completed the activity, go over your answers with a partner.
1. My personal trainer told me to read the article Five Ways to Trick Yourself into Eating Less, which appeared in Newsweek.
2. The title of Maya Angelou's autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings comes from Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem Sympathy.
3. I was so inspired to read the chapter It's About How to Live Your Life in Randy Pausch's book The Last Lecture.
4. Everyone in the class was inspired after reading Beth Johnson's article The Professor Is a Dropout about Guadalupe Quintanilla.
5. The movie The Fellowship of the Ring, which starred Viggo Mortensen as Aragon, was originally cast with Stuart Townsend in that role.
6. The movie Alien has many spin-offs, including an entire film series, novels, comic books, and video games.
7. The history test will cover the chapters The First World War and The Second World War.
8. The American Broadcasting Company's ABC's Wide World of Sports was the longest running sports show on television.
9. Michael Jackson holds the record for the highest selling album, entitled Thriller, with such songs as Beat It and Billie Jean.
10. I am reading the essay Of Our Spiritual Strivings, which was first published in W.E.B. DuBois's The Souls of Black Folk.

Question 70

At the appropriate spot, place the punctuation mark shown in the margin.
1. -
A bad case of flu, a burglary, the death of an uncle it was not what you would call a pleasant week.
2. ()
My grandfather who will be ninety in May says that hard work and a glass of wine every day are the secrets of a long life.
3. :
Mark Twain offered this advice to writers "The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."
4. -
The passengers in the glass bottomed boat stared at the colorful fish in the water below.
5. ()
Ellen's birthday December 27 falls so close to Christmas that she gets only one set of presents.
6. ;
The dog-show winners included Freckles, a springer spaniel King Leo, a German shepherd and Big Guy, a miniature schnauzer.
7. -
I feel I have two chances of winning the lottery slim and none.
8. -
Cold hearted stepmothers are a fixture in many famous fairy tales.
9. ;
Some people need absolute quiet in order to study they can't concentrate with the soft sounds of a radio, air conditioner, or television in the background.
10. :
A critic reviewing a bad play wrote, "I saw the play under the worst possible circumstances the curtain was up."

Question 71

EDITING TEST 8
Each numbered box in the application below contains a sentence-skills mistake. Identify each of the ten mistakes. As you find each, write the type of mistake you found in the space provided. Then correct it next to your answer. The first one has been done for you.
1. missing comma: August 15, 2009
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______

Question 72

In the margins or between the lines, rewrite the following paragraphs to correct problems in subject-verb agreement, verb forms, and pronoun agreement and pronoun reference.
Nature's fury was catched by a video camera crew that were following the tornado. The storm blowed across open water, then teared into a small seaside village that stood in its path. Everyone in town were asked to evacuate, but at least one resident boarded up their home and chose to rode out the storm. The last hurricane leaved a great mass of destruction in their wake, but this time the estimates of the damage was far worse. Several large stores and factories in our area has been damaged, and many of these still remains closed. A few schools were so badly affected that they had to be torn down and now need to be completely rebuild. They say that money for rebuilding will be available from the government soon. However, even though the state and the county have promised relief funds for these projects, neither have yet delivered any financial assistance.
Actually, we did not fared badly when compared with others. In fact, some nearby communities was completely destroyed, and one of my friends lost their home, but we were luckier than him. Yes, our garage, which sit among a stand of pine trees, had some of its roof shingles torn off by the wind, but my father and I will fix it. In fact, we has already purchased the shingles and other supplies we need.

Question 73

Each word group in the following student paragraph is numbered. In the space provided, write C if a word group is a complete sentence; write F if it is a fragment. You will find eight fragments in the paragraph.
________ 1. 1 I'm starting to think that there is no safe place left. 2 To ride
________ 2. a bicycle. 3 When I try to ride on the highway, in order to
________ 3. go to school. 4 I feel like a rabbit being pursued by predators.
________ 4. 5 Drivers whip past me at high speeds. 6 And try to see how
________ 5. close they can get to my bike without actually killing me.
________ 6. 7 When they pull onto the shoulder of the road or make a
________ 7. right turn. 8 Drivers completely ignore my vehicle. 9 On city
________ 8. streets, I feel more like a cockroach than a rabbit. 10 Drivers
________ 9. in the city despise bicycles. 11 Regardless of an approaching
________ 10. bike rider. 12 Street-side car doors will unexpectedly open.
________ 11. 13 Frustrated drivers who are stuck in traffic will make nasty
________ 12. comments. 14 Or shout out obscene propositions. 15 Even
________ 13. pedestrians in the city show their disregard for me. 16 While
________ 14. jaywalking across the street. 17 The pedestrian will treat
________ 15. me, a law-abiding bicyclist, to a withering look of disdain.
________ 16. 18 Pedestrians may even cross my path deliberately. 19 As if to
________ 17. prove their higher position in the pecking order of the city
________ 18. streets. 20 Today, bicycling can be hazardous to the rider's
________ 19. health.
________ 20.
Now (on separate paper) correct the fragments you have found. Attach the fragments to sentences that come before or after them or make whatever other change is needed to turn each fragment into a sentence.

Question 74

Cross out the incorrect verb form in each sentence. Then write the correct form in the space provided.
________ 1. The pharmacy technician patiently answer the customer's questions about the pills.
________ 2. Caitlyn would have take my old futon bed if she had more room in her apartment.
________ 3. The children sing campfi re songs and roasted marshmallows.
________ 4. Last Easter, Debbie hide an egg in the exhaust pipe of Grandpa's Ford sedan.
________ 5. I am the only person in my calculus class who doesn't has a graphing calculator.
________ 6. The classifi ed ads in today's newspaper doesn't list any studio apartments for rent.
________ 7. Fortunately, most guests at last night's Halloween party known each other from school.
________ 8. Last month, Sherry save over fi fty dollars by downloading online coupons.
________ 9. Literacy advocates fear that books has been replaced by video games.
________ 10. After the accident, Pat swimmed every day to regain strength in her left knee.

Question 75

Cross out the incorrect pronoun form of the demonstrative pronoun, and write the correct form in the space provided.
EXAMPLE
Those Them pizza boxes are empty.
1. This here iPod is outdated.
______
2. Bring them files to the meeting on Monday.
______
3. The salesperson politely asked them customers if they needed help.
______
4. I baked that there apple pie with Splenda.
______
5. What do them Japanese kanji characters on your tattoo mean
______

Question 76

Underline the words that need capitals in the following sentences. Then write the capitalized forms of the words in the spaces provided. The number of spaces tells you how many corrections to make in each case.
1. The wall street Crash of 1929, also known as Black Tuesday, marked the start of the great depression.
__________ __________ __________
2. Joyce plans to travel to indonesia first, and then she will visit malaysia, singapore, and the philippines.
__________ __________ __________
3. When aunt Kate arrived in town, she immediately went to eat fresh catfish at the Side street inn.
__________ __________ __________
4. Professor Estrada of the humanities department will teach an online course called asian american women's literature.
__________ __________ __________
5. A new dance spot featuring house music recently opened on the east side of town near fusion's.
__________

Question 77

Insert quotation marks where needed in the sentences that follow.
1. The psychology class read a short story called Silent Snow, Secret Snow, about a young boy who creates his own fantasy world.
2. While filming the movie Vertigo, the actress Kim Novak was agonizing over how to play a particular scene until the director, Alfred Hitchcock, reminded her, Kim, it's only a movie!
3. I'm against grade school students using pocket calculators, said Andy. I spent three years learning long division, and so should they.
4. The composer George Gershwin wrote many hundreds of hit songs, including classics like Summertime and Somebody Loves Me.
5. When I gagged while taking a foul-tasting medicine, my wife said, Put an ice cube on your tongue first, and then you won't taste it.
6. I looked twice at the newspaper headline that read, Man in River Had Drinking Problem.
7. To learn more about the stock market for his business class, Jared began reading the column by Pablo Galarza in Money magazine called MarketRap.
8. When a guest at the wedding was asked what he was giving the couple, he replied, About six months.
9. Theodore Roosevelt, a pioneer in conservation, once said, When I hear of the destruction of a species, I feel as if all the works of some great writer had perished.
10. If you're ever in trouble, said the police officer, you'll have a better chance of attracting aid if you shout Fire instead of Help.

Question 78

Homonyms
Some words are commonly confused because they have the same sounds but different meanings and spellings; such words are known as homonyms.
Following are a number of homonyms. Complete the activity for each set of words, and check off and study the words that give you trouble.
all ready completely prepared
already previously; before
I was all ready for the test when I learned that my teacher had cancelled class.
It was already May by the time I thought about applying for college.
Fill in the blanks: Sasha was _____ for bed by nine o'clock, and she had ______ laid out her clothes for the next day.
brake stop
break come apart
The mechanic advised me to add brake fluid to my car.
During a commercial break, Marie lay on the floor and did fifty sit-ups.
Fill in the blanks: Tim, a poor driver, would always ______ at the last minute and would usually ______ the speed limit as well.
course part of a meal; a school subject; direction; progression of time
coarse rough
During the course of the evening, I had to endure my date,s coarse behavior.
Fill in the blanks: When the waitress brought the main ______, I was surprised that the cornmeal used for the hush puppies was so ______.
hear perceive with the ear
here in this place
I can hear the performers so well from here that I don't want to change my seat.
Fill in the blanks: The chairperson explained that the meeting was being held ______ in the auditorium to enable everyone to ______ the debate.
hole an empty spot
whole entire
A hole in the crumbling brick mortar made a convenient home for a small bird and its whole family.
Fill in the blanks: The ______ in Dave's argument wouldn't exist if he put his ______ concentration into his thinking.
its belonging to it
it's shortened form of "it is" or "it has"
It's unfortunate that your college is unable to finance all its students' tuition.
Fill in the blanks: I withdrew my application because too ______ difficult to start a new job at the end of the semester, even though the job and ______ fringe benefits were tempting.
knew past form of know
new not old
No one knew our new phone number, but the obscene calls continued.
Fill in the blanks: Even people who ______ Charlie well didn't recognize him with his ______ beard.
know to understand
no a negative
By the time students complete that course, they know two computer languages and have no trouble writing their own programs.
Fill in the blanks: Dogs and cats usually ______ by the tone of the speaker's voice when they are being told "______."
passed went by; succeeded in; handed to
past a time before the present; by, as in "I drove past the house"
Travis passed up the offer to play basketball with his friends because he remembered his past mistakes, which included neglecting his homework.
Fill in the blanks: This ______ year, LeMarcus was determined to move up in the company, and thus he was not ______ over for the promotion.
peace calm
piece a part
The best piece of advice she ever received was to maintain her own inner peace.
Fill in the blanks: Upon hearing that ______ of music, my angry mood was gradually replaced by one of ______.
plain simple
plane aircraft
The plain box contained a very expensive model plane kit.
Fill in the blanks: After unsuccessfully trying to overcome her fear, Selena finally admitted the ______ truth: she was terrified of flying in a ______.
principal main; a person in charge of a school
principle a law or standard
If the principal ingredient in this stew is octopus, I'll abandon my principle of trying everything at least once.
Fill in the blanks: Our ______ insists that all students adhere to every school ______ regarding dress, tardiness, and smoking.
right correct; opposite of "left"
write to put words on paper
Our professor was right when she said that it's difficult to write a research paper without plagiarizing, even unintentionally.
Fill in the blanks: I tried to ______ down the directions correctly, but I obviously didn't record the ______ street address because I am lost now.
than (th n) used in comparisons
then (th n) at that time
I made more money then, but I've never been happier than I am now.
Fill in the blanks: When I was in high school, I wanted a racy two-seater convertible more ______ anything else; but ______ my friends pointed out that only one person would be able to ride with me.
their belonging to them
there at that place; a neutral word used with verbs like is, are, was, were, have, and had
they're shortened form of "they are"
The tenants there are complaining because they're being cheated by their landlord.
Fill in the blanks: The tomatoes I planted ______ in the back of the garden are finally ripening, but ______ bright red color will attract hungry raccoons, and I fear ______ going to be eaten.
threw past form of throw
through from one side to the other; finished
When my daughter was a toddler, she often threw a tantrum when she was through eating.
Fill in the blanks: As the children moved ______ the museum, one of them ______ a candy wrapper into the display area.
to verb part, as in to smile ; toward, as in "I'm going to heaven"
too overly, as in "The pizza was too hot"; also, as in "The coffee was hot, too."
two the number 2
I ran to the car to roll up the windows. (The first to means "toward"; the second to is a verb part that goes with roll.)
That amusement park is too far away; I hear that it's expensive, too. (The first too means "overly"; the second too means "also.")
The two players (2 players) jumped up to tap the basketball away.
Fill in the blanks: The ______ of them have been dating for a year, but lately they seem ______ be arguing ______ often to pretend nothing is wrong.
wear to have on
where in what place
Where I will wear a purple feather boa is not the point; I just want to buy it.
Fill in the blanks: ______ were we going the night I refused to a tie
weather atmospheric conditions
whether if it happens that; in case; if
Although meteorologists are weather specialists, even they can't predict whether a hurricane will change course.
Fill in the blanks: The gloomy ______ report in the paper this morning ended all discussion ______ of to pack a picnic lunch for later.
whose belonging to whom
who's shortened form of "who is" and "who has"
Tell me who's the person whose dirty dishes are left in the workroom sink
Fill in the blanks: The emcee asked the guests, ______ " the person ______ birthday is closest to the guest of honor's "
your belonging to you
you're shortened form of "you are"
You're confident that your grades are high enough to earn you a scholarship next year.
Fill in the blanks: If ______ sure that you can pay the rent, you and ______ family should move into a larger apartment.

Question 79

EDITING TEST 9
Each underlined area in the cover letter below contains a sentence-skills mistake. Identify the mistake and write its item number in the appropriate space in the box below. Then correct the mistake in the space above each error.
Missing colon:
Missing apostrophe: ______
Dropped verb ending: ______
Missing word: ______
Missing comma: ______
Homonym mistake: ______,
Dangling modifier: ______
Fragment: ______
Run-on: ______
Karen Sanchez
Personnel Officer
Bay Adventures
Tampa, FL 33619
1 Dear Ms. Sanchez
2 I am replying to your ad in last Sundays newspaper that indicated an opening in Bay Adventures for a recreational activities coordinator. 3 Athletic and outgoing , the position seems ideal for me.
4,5 I spend the past two years working at an after-school program wear I developed fun activities for children in grades K-6. My job required me to think of creative yet safe ways to promote physical fitness. 6 And encourage teamwork and cooperation among the kids.
7 Also, I took several physical education classes at University of Tampa. 8 I learned about sports psychology, I even took a class on exercise techniques. Right now, I hope to apply what I have learned, which is why I am very interested in your job.
Please feel free to call me for an interview. 9 Thank you for you're consideration.
10 Sincerely
Mark Rankins

Question 80

Rewrite the following e-mail to correct problems with adjectives and adverbs, with misplaced or dangling modifiers, and with pronoun agreement and reference.
From: [e-mail]
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:03 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: your recovery
Dad,
Mom called me on my cell phone late last night, to tell me that you have not been feeling good over the past few days because your medications are making you dizzy and weak. However, the doctor said that by taking your medicines regularly, your condition should improve within weeks. I know that you'll feel a lot more better then. Remember that following the doctor's orders close is the only way to recovery. Sticking with the plan, your heath sure will return and you can face the future more confident than ever.
You are lucky that your lungs suffered only minor damage. Smoking cigarettes for that long, serious illnesses could have been contracted. Of course we all pray that you never smoke again. Going back to cigarettes, your current struggle to get healthy will have been for nothing. Remember that a full recovery never comes quick. However, each day your condition will improve, slow but sure. You will actually feel yourself getting more and more stronger as the months without cigarettes pass. Your sense of smell will return, and foods will taste more better than ever. Your clothes will stop stinking so bad, too. Finally, your urge to have a smoke will become less stronger, and you will wonder what made you start smoking in the first place.
_______________________________________________________________