Question 1

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?
A)The artichoke dip was the
B)hit of the party, some people
C)wondered how much butter
D)had been mixed into it.
E)The mediator used some 
F)light humor to try to
G)diffuse the situation,
H)but the tension remained.
I)Tom's stylish friend paid him
J)a great compliment, saying that
K)his new jacket complimented
L)his other clothes perfectly.
M)All the students agreed that
N)the calculus midterm exams
O)were much harder then
P)they had been expecting.
Q)'Its not going to
R)clean up its own mess,"
S)the man said,
T)pointing at his neighbor's dog.

Accepted Answer

Corrected version: hit of the party, but some people
A conjunction should be inserted before some. Without the conjunction, this sentence is an example of a comma splice. A comma splice is a construction in which a comma joins two complete sentences without a conjunction. Comma splices are a form of run-on sentence and thus incorrect.

Question 2

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Many tourists fear terrorism and of being targeted by religious political parties.
A)of being targeted
B)of targets
C)agendas
D)attacks

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "attacks"
"Being targeted" 11edf3da_324c_892f_8ae8_71b78273bd89_PQ032_11 indicates the passive voice. Using the active voice can make a sentence more concise. "Agendas" 11edf3da_324c_8930_8ae8_0dad2782e702_PQ032_11 does not fit within the context of the sentence. "Attacks" 11edf3da_324c_8931_8ae8_89a456b0ebb3_PQ032_11 relates to terrorism and places emphasis on what the tourists fear.

Question 3

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
At the center of the controversy is Jammu and Kashmir (a territory both nations claim).
A)Kashmir (a territory both nations claim).
B)Kashmir, (a territory both nations claim).
C)Kashmir - (a territory both nations claim).
D)Kashmir; (a territory both nations claim).

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Kashmir (a territory both nations claim)."
Parenthesis can be used to surround information that provides an explanation. No punctuation, such as a comma, dash, or semicolon, is necessary before the parenthesis.

Question 4

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Along with gold, silver, and platinum, palladium is a precious metal owned and traded by investors.
A)palladium is a precious metal
B)palladium and they are precious metals.
C)palladium are a precious metal
D)palladium are precious metals

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "palladium is a precious metal"
The opening part of the original sentence is an introductory clause. Palladium is the subject of the sentence. Therefore, "is" is the proper verb for this sentence.

Question 5

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Around 10 percent of the labor force work in agricultural production.
A)work
B)works
C)has works
D)had works

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "works"
The verb should agree with the subject. The singular noun "force" agrees with "works." The perfect tense forms of the verb do not fit within the context of this sentence.

Question 6

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
After agreeing to another ceasefire; they returned to their former claimed areas.
A)ceasefire; they returned
B)ceasefire they returned
C)ceasefire: they returned
D)ceasefire, they returned

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "ceasefire, they returned"
A semicolon can join to independent clauses - clauses that can stand alone as sentences. "After agreeing to another ceasefire" is an introductory phrase; therefore, the comma is necessary to separate it from the independent clause.

Question 7

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
A)Because of the preemptive strike,
B)And the preemptive strike,
C)The preemptive strike
D)The strike was preemptive

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Because of the preemptive strike"
The adverbial clause "Because of the preemptive strike" tells why Japan was able to carry out its plans. The other answer choices do not properly complete the sentence.

Question 8

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
The result of the ballot initiative will reverberate throughout the nation.
A)reverberate
B)demonstrate
C)influence
D)surprise

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "reverberate"
"Demonstrate" can mean to show, which does not fit within the context of the sentence. The meanings of "influence" and "surprise" are also inappropriate. "Reverberate" fits best within the sentence because it implies the decision will have an effect on other states.

Question 9

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
When dining in the Congo hands should be washed before and after eating.
A)When dining in the Congo hands should be
B)When dining in the Congo hand should be
C)When dining in the Congo, hands should be
D)When dining in the Congo; hands should be

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "When dining in the Congo, hands should be"
The comma is required to separate the dependent (introductory) clause from the independent clause. The plural form of "hands" is appropriate. A semicolon is inappropriate in this sentence.

Question 10

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Egypt is located in the Northeast Corner of the African continent.
A)Northeast Corner
B)Northeast corner
C)northeast Corner
D)northeast corner

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "northeast corner"
Capitalize words such as "northern" when they refer to a specific region. In this sentence, "northeast" refers to a general geographic area. Therefore, "northeast corner" reflects the best choice because there are no capitalization issues.

Question 11

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
A)In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
B)In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
C)In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent, of World War II.
D)In her second term she was, an outspoken opponent of World War II.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent of World War II."
A comma is needed to set off the introductory phrase "in her second term" from the main part of the sentence. Commas are unnecessary after "opponent" and "was."

Question 12

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
The first war between India and Pakistan began in 1947 and continued until 1949, when the United Nations stepped in and broker a ceasefire.
A)broker
B)brokers
C)brokering
D)brokered

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "brokered"
The other verbs in this sentence - "began," "continued" and "stepped" are past tense forms of verbs. Therefore, "brokered," the past tense form of "broker," fits within the sentence's structure.

Question 13

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
As water resources dwindle, competition for available sources rose.
A)rose
B)rises
C)risen
D)raised

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "rises"
The present tense verb "dwindle" is inconsistent with the past tense verb "rose." Generally, the verbs in the sentence should have the same tense. "Risen" indicates the perfect and subjunctive tenses and "raised" is a past tense form of "raise." "Rises" is a present tense form that is consistent with "dwindle."

Question 14

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Thousand of new visitors come to the country each year.
A)Thousand
B)Many thousand
C)There are thousands
D)Hundreds of thousands

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Hundreds of thousands"
"Thousand" indicates one thousand, which does not fit within the context of the sentence. Using "there are thousands" results in a grammatically incorrect sentence. "Hundreds of thousands" properly reflects the number of visitors traveling to Belize.

Question 15

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
After the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces gained control, it implements plans for a more democratic government. Mohamed Morsi became the first democratically elected and Islamic president in June 2012.
A)gained control, it implements plans
B)gains control, it implements plans
C)gained controls, it implements plans
D)gained control, it implemented plans

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "gained control, it implemented plans"
In the original sentence, the past tense verb "continued" and the present tense verb â€œimplementsâ€ creates faulty parallelism. The verbs in the sentence should have the same tense. Since an event - the election of Mohamed Morsi - occurred after the Supreme Council took control, the verbs in the first sentence should convey something that happened in the past. â€œImplementedâ€ is the past tense form of "implement."

Question 16

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Many factors, including the climate, fishing, the Mayan's ruins, and the world's second longest barrier reef support the growth of tourism.
A)the Mayan's ruins
B)the Mayans's ruins
C)the Mayan ruins
D)the Mayans' ruins

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "the Mayan ruins" 11edf3da_324d_2572_8ae8_19ecd12dfb5a_PQ032_11 
"Mayan" should act as adjective in this sentence because it describes the ruins. An apostrophe, which is used to show possession, is unnecessary to properly complete this sentence.

Question 17

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
The county is divided in six districts and many of the citizens live in the district's main town.
A)in six districts
B)into six districts
C)for six districts
D)by six districts

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "into six districts"
The proper preposition is necessary to complete the sentence. â€œIn,â€ â€œfor,â€ and â€œbyâ€ do not properly show the relationship between "divided" and "six districts." "Into"relates to how the country is divided - six districts.

Question 18

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Unemployment is considered to be a problem even though inflation is considerably low.
A)is considered to be
B)is likely
C)is
D)should be

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "is"
Setting aside excess words in a sentence can enhance sentence clarity. Removing the phrase "considered to be" does not change the intended meaning of the sentence. "Likely" is an unnecessary word and "should be" does not fit within the context of the sentence.

Question 19

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Some people believe that the genetic modification of foods effects safety.
A)effects
B)effect
C)affect
D)affects

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "affects"
"Affect" is a verb meaning "to influence." 11edf3da_324d_2573_8ae8_0531dffb1844_PQ032_11 "Effect" is a noun meaning "result." 11edf3da_324d_2574_8ae8_bd411a0f6a13_PQ032_11 A verb is necessary between â€œfoodsâ€ 11edf3da_324d_2575_8ae8_cb2293919883_PQ032_11 and â€œsafetyâ€ 11edf3da_324d_2576_8ae8_e3e0bc7975d9_PQ032_11 to properly complete the sentence. "Affects" 11edf3da_324d_2577_8ae8_09537219f100_PQ032_11 agrees with the singular subject "modification."

Question 20

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
The war in 1999 garnered international attention both countries tested nuclear weapons successfully.
A)international attention both countries
B)international attention because both countries
C)international attention and both countries
D)international attention but both countries

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "international attention because both countries"
A conjunction can join the two clauses in this sentence. "Because" 11edf3da_324d_4c88_8ae8_73f675e90094_PQ032_11 is the only conjunction that tells readers why the war gained "international attention."

Quiz 7: Comprehensive Examination: English and Language Usage

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Many tourists fear terrorism and of being targeted by religious political parties.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. At the center of the controversy is Jammu and Kashmir (a territory both nations claim) .

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Along with gold, silver, and platinum, palladium is a precious metal owned and traded by investors.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Around 10 percent of the labor force work in agricultural production.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. After agreeing to another ceasefire; they returned to their former claimed areas.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. The result of the ballot initiative will reverberate throughout the nation.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. When dining in the Congo hands should be washed before and after eating.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Egypt is located in the Northeast Corner of the African continent.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. The first war between India and Pakistan began in 1947 and continued until 1949, when the United Nations stepped in and broker a ceasefire.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. As water resources dwindle, competition for available sources rose.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Thousand of new visitors come to the country each year.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Many factors, including the climate, fishing, the Mayan's ruins, and the world's second longest barrier reef support the growth of tourism.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. The county is divided in six districts and many of the citizens live in the district's main town.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Unemployment is considered to be a problem even though inflation is considerably low.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Some people believe that the genetic modification of foods effects safety.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. The war in 1999 garnered international attention both countries tested nuclear weapons successfully.