1. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)After the accident, Justine left her teaching
2)job; she has not able to resume her teaching
3)and possibly never will be able
4)to resume her teaching again.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for adverb clause structure and punctuation.
• Edit line (2) for omission of a completing verb form.
• Edit lines (2), (3) and (4) to eliminate repetition of 'able'
and 'her teaching'.
• Delete 'again' in line (4) to avoid redundancy.
• a, b and d
• b, c and d
2. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)I am unable to forgive my neighbour who
2)fails to return a lawnmower he had taken
3)from my garage without my permission. He is
4)now persona non grata in my home.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for pronoun reference.
• Edit line (2) for verb tense consistency.
• Edit lines (1) and (4) for diction.
• Edit line (3) for punctuation.
• This passage does not need editing.
3. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Delilah's twenty page tale of derring do
2)delighted the dignitaries who stamped their
3)feet in approval. Reading from a dais draped
4)in crepe, she felt like a modern day Scheherazade.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (4) for hyphenation.
• Edit line (2) for missing comma.
• Edit lines (1) and (3) for diction.
• Edit line (4) for comma use and allusion errors.
• a and d
• a and b
• This passage does not need editing.
4. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Even though Sharon spends a good deal of time complaining,
2)bemoaning her fate and wishing that her circumstances
3)are not quite so humble, I'm pretty sure that she
is
4)grateful for everything she has.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (4) for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
• Edit line (2) for verb tense consistency.
• Edit lines (1) and (3) to correct errors in diction and
idiomatic expressions.
• Edit line (3) to correct error in present tense
vs. past subjunctive mood.
• This passage does not need editing.
5. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Catherine Bliss, who was one of the richest women
2)in the city in the 1940s, died at the age of 92 in a dingy
3)London hotel suite where she had lived with 3 cats and five
4)parakeets for more than 20 years. Her downfall was attributed to
5)her husband Barry Bliss's shady dealings in the early 1970s.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for passive voice.
• Edit lines (2) and (5) for apostrophe usage.
• Edit lines (3) and (4) for number style.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
6. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
'Those fake pearls and the upswept hairdo makes her look like a
poor man's Grace Kelly', drawled Inga. 'But please don't tell her I said that'.
Answers:
• Edit the second quoted speech to correct ambiguous pronoun
reference.
• Change 'poor man's' to 'second-rate' to correct error in idiom
usage.
• Edit the main verb in the first quoted speech to correct a
subject-verb agreement error.
• Insert a comma after 'Inga' and lower-case the
capital B in 'But'.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
7. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)I know that Thomas is eager to move
2)operations to the east; however, it might be a
3)first good step for him to assess just how many
4)of his current employees are willing to relocate.
Answers:
• Edit line (2) for use of conjunctive adverbs.
• Edit line (2) for capitalisation.
• Edit line (3) for placement of adjectives.
• Edit line (4) for preposition usage.
• b and c
• This passage does not need editing.
8. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Brooke went with Carrie, Tom's event
2)planner, to pick out flowers for Tom's luncheon,
3)but she couldn't find anything she liked; hence, they
4)went home empty-handed.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for punctuation.
• Edit line (2) for phrasal verb use.
• Edit line (3) for pronoun reference.
• Edit line (3) for conjunctive adverb use.
• Edit line (4) for diction and hyphenation.
• This passage does not need editing.
9. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Greta, who is completely enamoured of her new
2)designer handbag, is even more enamoured of the
3)envious glances she receives from her pals.
4)Made of buttery leather, Greta's fashionista friend just
5)had to run out and get one of her own.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (2) for diction.
• Edit lines (2) and (3) for adjective usage.
• Edit line (4) for dangling modifier.
• Edit line (5) for phrasal verb usage.
• This passage does not need editing.
10. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)'If you cut along the crease here', said Haruko, 'then
2)fold the paper into a triangle thusly and then fold it
3)again to form a base, you will have made yourself a
4)chic—and cheap—yacht'. She sat back, clearly satisfied.
5)'And that's the beauty of origami!'
Answers:
• Edit lines (1), (3) and (4) for punctuation.
• Edit line (2) for adverb usage.
• Edit line (4) for dangling modifier.
• Edit line (5) for end punctuation.
• a, b and d
• This passage does not need editing.
11. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
To maintain a healthy body and mind, one must exercise, eat fruits
and vegetables and refrain from cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Answers:
• refrain from smoking cigarettes and drinks.
• refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
• refrain from smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
• refrain from cigarettes and drinking.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
12. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
'Have you read Zinn's A People's History of the United States?'
asked Jamie.
'Yes', I replied, 'and I must say it's the most eye-opening
history book I've read in some time.'
Answers:
• Replace the comma after 'replied' with a period and capitalise
the following 'and'.
• Change 'People's' from a possessive to a plural noun.
• Underline or italicize the book title.
• a and c
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
13. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
It will require diligence and careful planning to rebuild the
town's infrastructure and create systems of protection for future hurricanes.
Answers:
• create systems of protection about future
hurricanes
• to create systems of protection regarding future hurricanes
• create those systems needed to protect that infrastructure from
any future hurricanes
• create systems of protection against future hurricanes
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
14. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Whether Steve is aware of it or not,
2)today is the anniversary of us packing up the
3)house and hightailing it to Canada. If I were
4)you, I wouldn't remind him of it.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for structure and punctuation.
• Edit line (2) to correct error in possessive
determiner.
• Edit line (3) to correct idiom and verb tense errors.
• Edit line (4) for pronoun reference.
• This passage does not need editing.
15. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)If you are concerned about wrinkles and other telltale signs of
age,
2)you should know that prolonged sun exposure has at least two
damaging effects:
3)not only is the wrinkling of the skin hastened, but it may also
result in
4)lowered immunity against infection.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for redundancy.
• Edit line (2) for passive voice.
• Edit line (3) for unnecessary shift in voice.
• Edit line (4) for faulty phrasing.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
16. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Knowing she had no right for privacy as long
2)as she stayed in the convent, Marta hid her forbidden
3)diary in the secret compartment she'd discovered
4)besides the confessional in the chapel.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (4) for preposition usage.
• Edit lines (2) and (3) for pronoun usage.
• Edit line (2) for modifier placement.
• Edit line (1) for participle use.
• Edit line (3) for verb tense.
• This passage does not need editing.
17. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
A doctor at the City Clinic in Manchester claims that if women
give up smoking and ate a healthy diet, their children would be less likely to
develop lung diseases.
Answers:
• claims that if women gave up smoking and ate a
healthy diet
• claims that if women had given up smoking and eaten a healthy
diet
• claimed that when a woman gives up smoking and eats a healthy
diet
• claims that if women give up smoking and eat a healthy diet
• claimed that when women gave up smoking and ate a healthy diet
18. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
After a whole morning of experimenting with all these new potions
and pills, I'm sorry to say that my migraine is as bad today as yesterday.
Answers:
• is as bad today just as it was yesterday
• is as bad today as it was yesterday
• was worse today than it had been yesterday
• was as bad today as yesterday
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
19. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
An understanding of the manner in which different types of
disciplinary tactics affects student behaviour will help us design better
methods for classroom management.
Answers:
• Understanding how different types of
disciplinary tactics affect student behaviour
• An understanding of the way that disciplinary tactics affects
student behaviour
• Having an understanding of how different types of disciplinary
tactics affect student behaviour
• Different types of disciplinary tactics affect students in
diverse ways, and understanding that
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
20. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)So the guy breaks into our house, steals our stuff and
2)then slips on the ice in the driveway on his way out,
3)breaking his ankles. And guess what? He hit us with a
4)personal injury suite. Isn't that the most ridiculous
5)tragedy of justice you ever heard of?
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (2) for comma usage errors.
• Edit line (3) for idiom usage error.
• Edit line (4) for spelling error.
• Edit line (5) for diction error.
• b and c
• c and d
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
21. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
If all goes according to plan, three years from now Agatha will
marry, give birth to two children and learn how to juggle a hectic career in
between.
Answers:
• marries, gives birth to two children and learns how to juggle
• has married and given birth to two children and had already
learned how to juggle
• will marry and give birth to two children and she will learn how
to juggle
• will have married, given birth to two children
and learned how to juggle
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
22. Read the following closing paragraph of an Internet-based
business-to-consumer sales letter and select the option that illustrates the
best course of action for an editor to take.
So are you ready to get your head out of the weeds? CLICK HERE to
order your Garden Guru Deluxe package and FREE GardenFriend Tool Belt, and join
more than 100,000 other hard-working people who now spend their weekends
playing instead of pruning! And just to sweeten the pot, I'll take off an
additional 30% if you order before 10th of December. You can't beat that with a
stick!
Weedlessly Yours,
Jay Appleseed
President, Garden Guru Inc.
P.S. I have your deluxe Package and FREE gift ready to send to
you. After you order using your credit card, I'll send you your tracking number
and full instructions. Click here to order.
Answers:
• For the sake of credibility, strongly suggest that the author
back up his claim that '100,000 people' own this product.
• Change instances of ALL CAPS to sentence case or lowercase as
appropriate.
• Recast the entire closing to eliminate humour.
• Delete the unprofessional 'P.S.'
• None of the above actions are necessary. Though it may benefit
from a little tweaking, this closing is acceptable.
23. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
According to the chief of surgery, the risk of death from this
medical procedure is about the same from an airplane crash or from a nuclear
reactor meltdown.
Answers:
• the same as an airplane crash or
• the same as from an airplane crash as well as that from
• the same as from an airplane crash or
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
24. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Like a miniature solar system, the moths orbited the
2)fire, their firefly companions providing intermittent
3)flashes of starlight. We sat in our lawn chairs,
4)as silent as empty space, enthralled by the show.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for illogical comparison.
• Edit line (2) for faulty phrasing.
• Edit line (3) for clarity.
• Edit line (4) for incomplete comparison.
• This passage does not need editing.
25. Read the following passage and identify the type of error it
contains.
Harold simply cannot get over the fact that Maude eats up every
night of the week. If he had his druthers, he'd tie her over until she realized
how wonderful it was to tuck into a nice home-cooked meal.
Answers:
• Error in phrasal verb usage
• Error in modal verb usage
• Incorrect use of idiomatic expressions
• Inconsistency in verb tense
• This passage is correct.
26. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
Herbert works hard all week and has plans every weekend for the
next year and he still finds time to volunteer at the animal shelter.
Answers:
• Herbert works hard all week and he has plans every weekend for
the next year and he
• Working hard all week and having plans every weekend for the
next year, Herbert
• Although Herbert works hard all week and has
plans every weekend for the next year, he
• Despite working hard all week and with plans every weekend for
the next year, Herbert
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
27. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Why, Helen wondered, did I ever show my face in Troy?
2)There's been nothing but infighting, death and destruction
3)—not to mention the cost of launching those thousand
4)ships. My choice is clear: I'm moving to Swindon.
Answers:
• Edit line (1) for inverted commas.
• Edit lines (1) and (2) for overuse of commas.
• Edit line (2) for omission of hyphen.
• Edit line (3) for use of em dash.
• Edit line (4) for capitalisation and use of colon.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
28. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If you can learn to control your anger just a touch more, you
ought to find that people react to you more positively.
Answers:
• Edit both modal verbs to correct usage and tense errors.
• Change all verbs to future tense.
• Change the first modal verb to 'could', but leave the second
modal verb as is.
• Recast the sentence to eliminate all adverbs.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
29. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If we decided to move venues, our production process would not be
likely to suffer much, as long as a system of checks keeps production tasks on
schedule.
Answers:
• Change 'decided' to 'would have decided' to ensure consistency
of conditional mood.
• Change 'keeps' to 'kept' to correct the unnecessary shift in
verb tense.
• Edit to correct error in use of past perfect tense.
• a and c
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
30. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Happiness has always and will always be an elusive element in my
life, yet I don't let that fact bother me too much.
Answers:
• Delete the comma before the second independent clause.
• Insert a completing verb form for 'has' to correct the parallel
structure of the first clause.
• Enclose 'Happiness' in inverted commas to show its status as a
concept.
• Change 'elusive' to 'illusive' to correct diction error.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
31. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answers:
• Every single one of the scouts is responsible for his own
camping equipment and should come prepared for a strenuous hike.
• The walls of the old villa have been newly plastered with white
stucco, which robs them of their charm.
• In your case, I'd say that a deepened sense of self-awareness
and a lessened propensity to fly off the handle have made you much more
pleasant to be around.
• The receptionists and clerks each hope for a substantial bonus
this year.
32. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Daphne's latest exhibition was roundly panned by the critics,
whereas her earlier works had received a lukewarm reception.
Answers:
• Replace the incorrect adverb 'roundly' with the more appropriate
'thoroughly'.
• Recast the second clause to correct the illogical use of
'whereas'.
• Edit subjects in both clauses to correct parallel structure.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
33. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Henrik, who was desperate to impress Sophie—who happened to be
sitting next to him on the divan and pretending not to notice anything untoward—was
beside himself with shame and anger because his goat, which he'd had since it
was a wee kid, had just entered the living room with the remains of Sophie's
cashmere coat dangling from its mouth.
Answers:
• Recast the sentence to correct all pronoun usage and reference
errors.
• Delete parenthetical elements to eliminate wordiness.
• Delete the comma after 'goat'.
• Edit the main independent clause to correct pronoun-antecedent
errors.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
34. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?
Answers:
• Each of the volunteers contributes a good deal to the cause in
his or her own way.
• A number of ants are marching into their anthill outside the
kitchen door.
• Somebody left their marbles on the bench; shall we find out
whose they are?
• Although its members may have disagreed among themselves, the
jury eventually handed its unanimous verdict to the judge.
• All of the above require editing.
35. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Don't flatter yourself—Susannah had no intention of crying for you
regardless of whether you had a banjo on your knee, came from Alabama or were
headed to Louisiana.
Answers:
• Edit the introductory phrase to correct reflexive pronoun usage.
• Query the author about the validity of the implication that
banjos can be balanced upon knees.
• Change 'regardless of whether' to 'regardless of whether or
not'.
• Change verbs to present tense.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
36. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If any club member dared to suggest that he was not against
opening membership to women but only against allowing them early tee times, he
would be shouted out of the room.
Answers:
• Change 'dared to suggest' to 'dares suggest' to avoid
unnecessary verb tense shift.
• Change all gerunds to infinitives to correct parallel structure.
• Change 'dared to suggest' to 'dared suggest' to correct
auxiliary verb usage error.
• Change 'would be' to 'would have been' to correct error in
conditional mood.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
37. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Outsourcing our accounting and collections tasks has really laid
credence to our company. Our customers now perceive us to be bigger than we are
and are certainly put hard to ignore their outstanding invoices.
Answers:
• Edit the first sentence to correct the error in diction.
• Edit the second sentence to correct the idiomatic error.
• Recast the second sentence for logic and parallel structure.
• a and b
• a and c
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
38. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct a
modifier usage error?
Answers:
• Your opinion will greatly influence the outcome of today's vote.
• Wendy barely threw the ball two feet, thereby losing the game
for the team.
• Having sung his heart out, Billy took a bow and exited stage
left.
• 'This cake tastes wonderful', said Frederick, 'but I'd prefer
fewer raisins next time'.
39. Read the following passage from a play script and select the
option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
HORATIO, preparing to blow his horn. Aw, dang! The pistons are all
gummy. Now what?
JOE. Chill out. (He takes off his shoe.) Here, hit 'em with this.
Answers:
• Enclose 'preparing to blow his horn' in brackets.
• Change 'Aw, dang!' to 'Oh, dear!' to eliminate colloquial
speech.
• Eliminate inappropriate slang by changing 'Chill out' to a
phrase like 'Never fear'.
• Italicize the stage direction in the second line.
• Insert inverted commas around all dialogue.
• d and e
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
40. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The award was received joyously by Mr. Pocklock for his volunteer
service. So pleased was he, he began to dance a jig and didn't stop until dawn.
Answers:
• Rewrite the second sentence to eliminate stilted phrasing.
• Change the first 'he' in the second sentence to 'Mr. Pocklock'
to avoid awkward phrasing.
• Recast the whole passage into one sentence instead of two.
• Recast the first sentence to eliminate unnecessary use of
passive voice.
41. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in parallel structure?
Answers:
• We applauded him not only for admitting his serious offences and
helping the police, but also for expressing his sincere regret for the pain he
had caused.
• The merger led to restructuring the internal systems, redefining
the roles of each department and realigning the company's goals to those of its
parent company.
• According to a recent survey, the average French woman speaks
two languages, marries and divorces twice in her lifetime and drinks seventeen
gallons of wine a year.
• 'This is a time not for words, but action'! roared the
candidate, backed up by the deafening cheers of the crowd.
42. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
At this point in the play, we see that Hamlet has still not
decided whether to kill Claudius, despite brooding over it for quite some time.
Answers:
• Change 'whether' to 'whether or not' to clarify Hamlet's
intentions.
• Change the present participle 'brooding' to the perfect
participle 'having brooded'.
• Change the present participle 'brooding' to the past participle
'brooded'.
• Change all present tense verbs to past tense.
• a and b
43. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
I was truly shocked—could anyone have suspected such a thing?—to
hear the news of his arrest. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he run on a
platform of 'family values?' I guess it just goes to show the hypocrisy of our
elected officials and how they take us for...well, perhaps it's better if I
just leave it at that.
Answers:
• Place the question mark in the second sentence outside the
inverted commas.
• Replace the em dashes with brackets.
• Recast the last sentence to avoid the use of ellipsis points.
• Insert a comma after 'officials' in the last sentence.
• a and d
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
44. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The forthcoming community celebration in Tuscaloosa has many surprises
in store for whomever arrives before nine in the morning and manages to find
one of the fifteen special golden tickets hidden in the haystack at the
entrance.
Answers:
• Change 'forthcoming' to 'imminent' to clarify the intent of the
sentence.
• Change 'has' to 'will have had'.
• Change the correlative pronoun to 'whoever'.
• Place a comma after 'tickets'.
• c and d
45. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answers:
• He drank a fifth of whiskey after two-fifths of his vineyard was
destroyed in the flood.
• The study on drug abuse showed that the number of teenage
victims are increasing every year.
• Neither of my brothers, who are more artistic by nature, are
particularly interested in sports.
• The assistants, but not the manager, has decided not to come in
over the weekend.
46. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The news of the avalanche shocked the citizens in our little town,
where everyone knew everyone else. Fortunately, however, Sven was the only one
of the skiers who were injured in the incident.
Answers:
• Correct the preposition error in the first sentence.
• Delete the comma after 'Fortunately'.
• Delete 'Sven was' and insert 'was Sven' after 'incident'.
• Edit the auxiliary verb in the second sentence to correct an
error in subject-verb agreement.
• a and d
• This passage does not need editing.
47. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
errors in diction or spelling?
Answers:
• Please lie the snake on the table and back away slowly.
• The reason I'm late is because my car got stuck in a snow bank.
• The crowd held its breath, hoping that the matador gorged by the
bull would be all right.
• Helga must try and finish her credits by May if she wants to
graduate with the class.
• All of the above sentences require editing.
48. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Our voyage would have been a different and much more boring
experience would it not have been for the family of dolphins that followed the
ship from Mallorca to Malta.
Answers:
• Edit the predicate to correct parallel structure.
• Change all verbs to simple past tense.
• Edit to correct error in use of conditional and/or subjunctive
mood.
• Query the author about the factual validity of the claim that
dolphins were present between Mallorca and Malta.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
49. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in the use of conjunctions?
Answers:
• Alfred latched onto Amy as though he'd been waiting for her all
his life.
• Everyone in the acting troupe expressed doubt that Samantha
would star in the production.
• Clarissa trumped Claude not only in talent but also in
popularity.
• No improvement in our conditions will be possible unless the
naysayers are weeded out.
50. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error it
contains.
We have no doubt that the minister's lofty speech will be
accompanied by any clandestine deal for lucrative building contracts and secret
talk of future collaborations.
Answers:
• Error in determiner usage
• Error in adverb usage
• Error in conjunction usage
• Error in preposition usage
• This sentence is correct.
51. Read the following sentence from a journal article and select
the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Of the two control groups, a significant number (85) of those in
Group A scored higher (74%) than those in group B (66 percent), while both had
similar standard deviations (8.3% and 7.9% respectively).
Answers:
• Change '66 percent' to '66%'.
• Edit passage to ensure consistency in capitalisation.
• Remove statistics from the sentence and place them in a table.
• Suggest the use of inferential statistics rather than
descriptive statistics.
• All of the above may be necessary. Before editing, refer to the
publication's in-house style sheet for guidance on capitalisation, use of
tables and preferred style for writing statistics.
52. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in punctuation?
Answers:
• Dahlia, Doris's younger sister, asked me, 'Could I please join
you' I nodded in affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris' younger sister, asked me, 'Could I please join
you'? I nodded in affirmation, however; I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris' younger sister, asked me, 'Could I please join
you'? I nodded in affirmation, however, I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris's younger sister, asked me, 'Could I please join
you?' I nodded in affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
53. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error it
contains.
The differences in the two committees had finally reached an
insurmountable level; each wanted to delve in the problem more deeply, but
neither wanted to cooperate among the other.
Answers:
• Errors in pronoun usage and agreement
• Incorrect placement of adjectives and adverbs
• Incorrect use of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
• Errors in preposition usage
• This sentence is correct.
54. The following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the
given editing options turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
The point is Mr. Rosenwell said Andrew whether or not you intend
to pay off your debts
Answers:
• Andrew said, 'The point is Mr. Rosenwell, whether or not you
intend to pay off your debts'.
• 'The point is, Mr. Rosenwell', said Andrew, 'whether or not you
intend to pay off your debts'.
• 'Mr. Rosenwell', said Andrew: 'The point is whether or not you
intend to pay off your debts'.
• 'The point, Mr. Rosenwell, is whether or not you intend to pay
off your debts', said Andrew.
• b and d
55. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
The Board of Directors on Monday said that the company could
undertake the additional activities without first seeking the consent of the
foreign investors.
Answers:
• without the assent of the foreign investors
• without first seeking approval from the foreign investors
• without first seeking the approval of the foreign investors
• whether or not they receive the consent of the foreign investors
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
56. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
errors in punctuation?
Answers:
• You've been my best friend for years; however, seeing as you
cannot afford to lend me any more money, I think it's time to end our
relationship.
• As I listened to the scraping of the shovel on the asphalt, I
was suddenly reminded of my cousin Bob's and my father's singing voices.
• The two faced each other in silence, each one thinking the other
a two-faced coward.
• I just adore this carnivorous plant, which by the way was a gift
from your mother.
57. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Try and imagine a mental picture of someone struggling with the
activity of trying to learn what the fingerings and techniques are for how to
play the flute.
Answers:
• Delete the phrase 'with the activity of trying' to eliminate
wordiness.
• Change 'Try and' to 'Try to' to correct faulty phrasing.
• Recast the entire sentence to fix multiple style and usage
errors.
• Query the author about flute-playing techniques.
• Delete 'a mental picture' to eliminate redundancy.
58. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
general errors in grammar, usage or style?
Answers:
• While Paris smashed all records for tourism revenue this year,
it still lags well behind other European cities in exports.
• Do you know the blonde woman in the red car that is going round
the corner at this very moment?
• Senator Clark would go to any lengths to deter his constituents
going to support his rival.
• The marketing department's performance has been decidedly
lacklustre this quarter; its efforts haven't brought in any revenue whatsoever.
59. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error
contained in the underlined portion.
Alistair protested against the rock singer's tour and threatened to
burn down any theatre that dared to host his concert.
Answers:
• Subject-verb agreement error
• Modal verb error
• Incorrect use of past participles
• Unnecessary verb tense shift
• This sentence is correct.
60. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct voice, wordiness or redundancy?
Answers:
• The focus of the meeting centred around the issue of the adult
video store, which had been built in close proximity to an elementary school.
• At the time that Ronald wrote his dissertation, he had no idea
that he would one day become a world-renowned mathematician.
• It is expensive to upgrade the software every year; this has had
a detrimental effect on our bottom line.
• Because the factory fire started due to negligence, the company
that was responsible had to pay a substantial fine.
• Although talking would help to resolve the problem, I'm sure
Manuel would prefer to knock all of them upside the head.
• All of the above sentences require editing for voice, wordiness
or redundancy.
61. Read the following sentence from a formal study and select the
option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
A recent study by a team of UCLA sociologists confirmed that the
average female moviegoer expects to see at least three romantic scenes per
film, and that they are seldom disappointed!
Answers:
• Edit final punctuation to eliminate inappropriate use of the
exclamation point.
• Change 'confirmed' to the present tense.
• Change 'expects' to the past tense.
• Edit final clause to correct error in pronoun-antecedent
agreement.
• a, b and c
• a and d
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
62. Read the following passage from the manuscript of a novel and
select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to
take.
Along the dusty roadway lay intermittent reminders of the war: a
mud-filled crater here, a bullet-riddled tree there—and all around, the silence
of expectation, of the calm before the storm.
Answers:
• Expand on the author's idea by inserting one or two additional
reminders of the war.
• Tactfully suggest that the author rethink the cliched expression
'the calm before the storm'
• Query the author about the logic of the phrase 'the silence of
expectation'.
• Change 'roadway' to 'road' to eliminate wordiness.
63. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error it
contains.
Although I'm not a big fan of so-called chick flicks, I have to
admit that The Devil Wears Prada is far and away the best film of the genre
I've seen.
Answers:
• Illogical comparison
• Incorrect idiom usage
• Omission of inverted commas
• Verb tense shift
• This sentence is correct.
64. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Nothing is more disgusting to Ruth but seeing toads squashed on
the side of the road.
Answers:
• Change the main verb to 'were' to correct subject-verb
agreement.
• Change 'seeing' to 'to see'.
• Change 'but' to 'than' and place 'squashed' before 'toads'.
• Delete 'more' and insert 'most'.
• b and c
65. Read the following stanza from a contemporary poem and select
the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
She ran daintily among the tame, silky hills
disappeared and reappeared, galloping on the wind
whirlingly penetrated the universe and the nothing.
She smiled at me. I liked her. I latched onto her joy.
Crumbs of history under the Chair of time.
Answers:
• Delete the non-word 'whirlingly'.
• Edit the ambiguous image in the last line for logic and clarity.
• Rework the stanza to follow an abab rhyme scheme.
• Suggest the use of more similes and other literary devices.
• Work closely with the author throughout the revision process to
understand his or her editing needs and expectations, and make tactful
suggestions accordingly.
• Revise the punctuation in the first three lines so that it
conforms to standard usage.
• An editor should take no action, as poetry should not be edited
by anyone other than the author.
66. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error
contained in the underlined part.
Although Ralph didn't like the name-calling and teasing he endured
from the cool kids, he found their pointed silence equally as upsetting.
Answers:
• Unnecessary shift in voice
• Faulty phrasing
• Inappropriate use of passive voice
• Redundancy
• This sentence is correct.
67. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct general errors in grammar, usage or style?
Answers:
• Driving in northern Italy may be very dangerous because the fog
often extends from Milan to Turin and lasts for many hours in the morning.
• After spending many long years to work in Australia, Darby
finally returned to her homeland.
• The fact that Odysseus is a man 'skilled in all ways of
contending' is a fact proven many times in The Odyssey.
• Among that group of trees just over the little knoll—where we
used to play as children, remember?—stands a marble monument to our ancestors.
68. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct a comparison error?
Answers:
• Annabel thinks her sister's apple pies are better than the
bakery.
• Did I ever tell you that you complain more than anyone I know?
• We specialize in producing Belgian chocolates that contain 50%
less fat.
• The symptoms of typhoid quite often resemble those of fever.
69. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If you have a copy of your résumé, and if you have the completed
application form, you may go in to see the interviewer now.
Answers:
• Delete the accent marks on the word 'résumé'
• Change the second clause to 'and if the application form has
been completed'.
• Delete the comma after resume and compress the coordinate
clauses to eliminate wordiness.
• a and c
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
70. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The intern glanced nervously around the operating room. The moment
had arrived—his first solo operation—and he couldn't hardly contain his
excitement. He took a deep breath and looked down at the patient. Then, having
been completely anesthetized, the new surgeon made his first incision.
Answers:
• Edit the second sentence to correct the double negative.
• Place 'nervously' before 'glanced'.
• Combine the first two sentences to break up the series of short
sentences and create variety.
• Recast the last sentence to correct the dangling modifier.
• c and d
• a and d
71. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in diction or spelling?
Answers:
• He told jokes for half an hour before finally homing in on the
point of his lecture.
• You really hit the nail on the head with your idea-it's really
the idyllic solution.
• The court's decision impelled the disgraced politician to hand
over all his correspondence.
• Would you go ask the secretary to disperse some money from petty
cash for the luncheon?
72. Read the following passage from a company report and select
the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
As part of the new incentive programme instituted in the second
quarter, each sales employee was asked to forecast his own contribution to each
period's total profit and, based on that amount, to assign himself a year-end
bonus. If the employee reaches his goal, he will receive the stated bonus.
Answers:
• Query the pronoun use (are all sales employees male?) and, if
necessary, make suggestions for gender-neutral alternatives.
• Recast the passage to eliminate use of jargon.
• Rewrite the entire passage to eliminate sexist language.
• Edit the last sentence to correct unnecessary verb tense shift.
• This passage is correct; the author should take no action.
73. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in diction or spelling?
Answers:
• George's dog seems completely disinterested in the leftovers we
brought him from the steakhouse.
• His little caprices and idiosyncrasies ceased to charm me ages
ago.
• The paramedic, unable to staunch the bleeding by himself, called
for backup.
• It seems that Gertie was arrested again for indecent exposure
and public drunkeness.
74. The following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the
given editing options turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
At last I met Dr. Sneeth the evil scientist who had caused such
trouble for the city
Answers:
• At last I met the evil scientist, Dr. Sneeth, who had caused
such trouble for the city.
• At last I met Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist who had caused such
trouble for the city.
• At last I met Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist, who had caused
such trouble for the city.
• I met Dr. Sneeth—at last!—the evil scientist who had caused such
trouble for the city.
• All of the above are acceptable; the final choice would depend
on the author's intention.
• b and c
75. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct a modifier usage error?
Answers:
• Claire accidentally dropped the crate on Chad's foot with her
barbells in it.
• Swinging wildly through the trees, the spectators were delighted
by the monkeys.
• Petra wanted only one raspberry parfait, but Pedro insisted on
giving her three.
• I heard that my co-workers planned to throw a birthday party for
me while I was standing outside the loo.
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