1. Read the following sentence and identify the style error it
contains.
The flu shots were given to over a hundred people by the nursing
staff in just six hours.
Answers:
• The word "six" should not be spelled out.
• The sentence is in passive voice and should be recast into
active voice.
• The figure "hundred" should be written as
"100".
• The phrase "flu shots" should be changed to
"shots for influenza."
2. Choose the series of verb forms that best completes the
following passage.
A doctor at the Metropolitan Clinic in Chicago claims that if
women ________ and ________, their children _________ less likely to develop
lung diseases.
Answers:
• gave up smoking / ate a healthy diet / would be
• give up smoking / ate a healthy diet / will be
• give up smoking / eat a healthy diet / are
3. Choose the series of adjectives that best completes the
following sentence.
We have no doubt that the senator's meeting of
"goodwill" with our arch rival will be accompanied by _________
clandestine deal for lucrative building contracts and ________ talk of future
collaborations.
Answers:
• some / secret
• any / secretive
• every / secreted
• each / secret
4. 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
win the election, help pass the bills closest to her heart and learn how to
juggle a hectic career and family.
Answers:
• wins the election, helps pass the bills closest to her heart and
learns how to juggle
• has won the election and helped pass the bills closest to her
heart, and had already learned how to juggle
• will win the election and help pass the bills closest to her
heart, and she will learn how to juggle
• will have won the election, helped pass the bills closest to her
heart and learned how to juggle
5. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
The board of directors said that the company could move forward
with the new plan without first seeking the approving of the foreign investors.
Answers:
• without first seeking the assent of the foreign investors
• without first seeking approval from the foreign investors
• without first seeking the approbation of the foreign investors
• whether or not they received the approving from the foreign
investors
6. Read the following sentence and identify the grammar or usage
error it contains.
The forthcoming community celebration in Nashville has many
surprises in store for whomever arrives before 9 a.m. and finds one of the 15
golden tickets hidden in the haystack.
Answers:
• The time should be formatted as "9:00 a.m."
• The verb "has" should be changed to "will have
had."
• The correlative pronoun "whomever" should be
"whoever."
• There should be a comma after "tickets."
7. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct the unnecessary use of passive voice?
Answers:
• The Nobel Peace Prize was received joyously by the president.
• His supporters were so pleased, they began a party in the square
that raged all night.
• The spectacle was watched by the town's entire population.
• When dawn broke, handcuffs were put on several revelers by the
police.
8. Choose the series of verb forms that best completes the
following passage.
If any club member _____________ suggest that he was not against
opening membership to women but only against allowing them early tee times, he
____________ shouted out of the room.
Answers:
• had dared to / will be
• dares to / is being
• dared / would be
• would have dared / would have been
9. Read the following sentence and identify the style error it
contains.
Many people in the United States are awaiting the report from the
U.N. inspectors.
Answers:
• "United States" should be abbreviated.
• "U.N." should be spelled out.
• "awaiting" should be "waiting for."
• There are no style errors in the sentence.
10. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
After an entire day of experimenting with new medications, the
patient was sorry to report that her migraine was as bad today as yesterday.
Answers:
• was as bad today just as it was yesterday
• was as bad today as it was yesterday
• was worse today than it had been yesterday
• is as bad today as yesterday
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
11. Read the following sentence and identify the style error it
contains.
As part of the new incentive program 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.
Answers:
• The word "amount" should be "number."
• The ordinal "second" should be written as "2nd."
• The passage's use of pronouns assumes maleness when both sexes
may be involved.
12. Choose the series of verb forms that best completes the
following passage.
Our voyage would have been a different and much duller experience
_________ for the family of dolphins that _________ the ship from Mallorca to
Malta.
Answers:
• would it not have been / followed
• if it wasn't / had followed
• had it not been / followed
• except / were following
13. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in modifier usage?
Answers:
• Mr. Hoffman or his assistants are ready to help you with the new
editing software.
• Every salesperson, according to the latest report, has
underperformed this quarter.
• Living on the first floor, many strange objects rain down from
the eighty-two floors above.
• The truck closely followed the car, which was towing a boat.
14. Read the following sentence and identify the type of grammar
or usage 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
15. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error it
contains.
Although the critic did not like so-called chick flicks, she had
to admit that "The Devil Wears Prada" was far away the best film of
the genre she'd seen.
Answers:
• Illogical comparison
• Incorrect idiom usage
• Incorrect use of quotation marks
• Verb tense shift
16. Read the following sentence and choose the option that shows
the part of the sentence that should be edited to eliminate redundancy.
The board said it would postpone its decision about appointing a
superintendent until later.
Answers:
• The board said
• it would postpone its decision
• about appointing a superintendent
• until later.
• No correction required
17. Choose the series of verb forms that best completes the
following passage.
If Sen. Hannibal ________ control his anger just a touch more, he
________ find that people react to him more positively.
Answers:
• can learn to / ought to
• could learn to / would
• learned to / should
• can learn to / shall
18. Read the following sentence and identify the style error it
contains.
253 students attended the rally on Nov. 23. Of those present, 56
percent belonged to the freshman class, 12 percent to the sophomore class and
two percent to the junior class.
Answers:
• The number "253" should be spelled out because it is
at the beginning of the sentence.
• The month "Nov." should be spelled out instead of
abbreviated.
• The words "freshman," "sophomore" and
"junior" should be capitalized.
• The phrase "two percent" should be written "2
percent."
• a and c
• a and d
19. Choose the series of words or phrases that best completes the
following sentence.
________ agreed that ________ of our precautions would be useless
once the temperature dropped to _________.
Answers:
• Every one / everyone / -30°
• Everyone / every one / minus 30°
• Everyone / everyone / minus 30°
• Everyone / every one / -30°
20. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined
part of the following sentence.
It's easy to see that the coach has still not decided whether to
contest the final score, despite brooding over it for quite some time.
Answers:
• despite he brooded over it for quite some time
• despite having brooded over it for quite some time
• despite that he had been brooding over it for quite some time
• despite that he broods over it all the time
21. Choose the series of words or phrases that best completes the
following passage.
Through the complete failure of all our _________ events, we have
learned that _______ is extremely difficult. Perhaps we should consider hiring
a professional _________ to help us.
Answers:
• fund raising / fundraising / fund raiser
• fund-raising / fund raising / fund-raiser
• fundraising / fundraising / fundraiser
• fund raising / fund-raising / fund-raiser
22. All but one of the following sentences require editing to
correct passive voice, wordiness or redundancy. Consider the underlined
phrases, and then select the sentence that does NOT require editing.
Answers:
• Although we were sure that danger lurked around every corner, in
actual fact, the danger was all in our heads.
• We couldn't understand the surprise that was felt by everyone
when our candidate won the election.
• We heard that Rep. Nordstrom has more than $1 million available
in cash, yet he won't give his children a dollar even when they beg for it.
• Amanda, who just received her master of arts degree, hasn't
started interviewing as of yet.
23. 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.
24. Read the following sentence and identify the style error it
contains.
We went out to buy milk but came home with copies of Jane Austen's
"Sense and Sensibility," a DVD of "Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory," The New York Times and the Bible.
Answers:
• "Bible" should be in quotation marks.
• The titles of the novel and the movie should be in italics
instead of quotation marks.
• The name of the newspaper should not be underlined.
• There are no style errors in the sentence.
25. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct voice, wordiness or redundancy?
Answers:
• The focus of the meeting centered 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 psychologist.
• The expense of upgrading our software every year has adversely
affected our bottom line.
• Because the factory fire started due to negligence, the company
that was responsible had to pay a substantial fine.
26. 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.
27. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in word choice, word usage or spelling?
Answers:
• He told jokes for half an hour before finally homing in on the
point of his lecture.
• The mayor really hit the nail on the head with his idea - it's
the idyllic solution.
• The court's decision impelled the disgraced politician to hand
over all his correspondence.
• Please ask the secretary to disperse some money from petty cash
for the luncheon.
28. Which of the following sentences contains an error in grammar
or usage?
Answers:
• Twenty top hats, 12 of which are covered in sequins, have been
donated to the theater.
• Rhonda, who desperately needs a new car, has started skiing to
work.
• Please compile a list of all the animals that are currently
housed in the shelter.
• Robert is one of those people that can't be depended upon to
keep his word.
29. Read the following sentence and identify the type of verb or
tense error it contains.
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:
• Subject-verb agreement error
• Modal verb error
• Incorrect use of past participles
• Unnecessary verb tense shift
30. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct a comparison error?
Answers:
• Ann thinks her sister's peach 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.
31. Read the following passage and select the line that contains
an error in verb tense consistency.
Answers:
• Her photo has been on that piano for more than 20 years. I don't
have the courage
• to remove it because it had always been there — has always belonged
there. And who
• knows? Perhaps it will still be there 20 years from now after I
am long gone.
• No error
32. Identify the type of error contained in the following
sentence.
Because I have an extreme allergy to nuts, I only ate the cake and
not the pecan pie.
Answers:
• Dangling modifier
• Diction or wrong word choice
• Misplaced modifier
• Comparison
33. 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.
34. 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 (3) for verb tense.
• This passage does not need editing.
35. Read the following passage and identify the line that contains
an error in agreement or parallel structure:
That boat has cost us a fortune so far: more than $25,000 to
repair the hull after the hurricane; $10,000 upgrading the interior; and $5,000
to keep it docked for the summer. What do you say we get rid of it and buy a
beach cottage?
Answers:
• That boat has cost us a fortune so far: more than $25,000 to
repair the hull
• after the hurricane; $10,000 upgrading the interior; and $5,000
to keep it docked
• for the summer. What do you say we get rid of it and buy a beach
cottage?
• No error
36. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in parallel structure?
Answers:
• We applauded him not only for admitting his serious offenses 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 with 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 17 gallons
of wine a year.
• "This is a time not for words, but action!" roared the
candidate.
37. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
grammar or usage errors?
Answers:
• I have hundreds of books. Would you please bring me the book
that is on the table?
• Harry's only dog, Snookie, left one bright morning and never
came back.
• Our new lawn ornament, which arrived this morning, is just as
tacky as the garden gnomes.
• He took his daughter Sarah to school and his daughter Margie to
work.
• All of the sentences are correct.
38. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
I was shocked to learn of our congressman's arrest. Correct me if
I'm wrong, but didn't he run on a platform of "family values?"
Answers:
• Place the question mark in the second sentence outside the
quotation marks.
• Put the apostrophe in "congressman's" after the final
"s."
• Delete the comma in the second sentence.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
39. 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 coworkers planned to throw a birthday party for
me while I was standing outside the door.
40. Read the following sentence and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
A recent study by a team of sociologists at Johns Hopkins
University confirmed that the average female moviegoer expects to see at least
three romantic scenes per film, and that they are seldom disappointed.
Answers:
• Change all verbs to the present tense.
• Edit the name of the university for missing apostrophes.
• Edit "and that they are seldom disappointed" to
correct error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
• This sentence is correct; the editor should take no action.
41. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in punctuation?
Answers:
• Oliver, Doris's younger brother, asked me, "Would you come
with me"? I nodded my head; however, I didn't want to go with him.
• Oliver, Doris' younger brother, asked me, "Would you come
with me?" I nodded my head, however; I didn't want to go with him.
• Oliver, Doris's younger brother, asked me, "Would you come
with me?" I nodded my head, however, I didn't want to go with him.
• Oliver, Doris' younger brother, asked me, "Would you come
with me?" I nodded my head; however, I didn't want to go with him.
42. Read the following sentence and choose the option that shows
the part of the sentence that should be edited to eliminate redundancy.
Participants were informed that the rally scheduled for 9 a.m. in
the morning had been canceled.
Answers:
• Participants were informed
• that the rally scheduled
• for 9 a.m. in the morning
• had been canceled
• No correction required
43. Read the following sentence and choose the option that shows
the part of the sentence that should be edited to eliminate redundancy.
Reps. Smith and Brown urged fellow legislators to address the need
for money for school funding.
Answers:
• Reps. Smith and Brown urged
• fellow legislators to address
• the need for money for school funding.
• No correction required
44. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in word choice, word usage or spelling?
Answers:
• Lie the gun on the table and take three steps back.
• The reason the witness was late is because his lawyer gave him
the wrong room number.
• Angela was pleased to discover that profit-sharing was part of
her compensation package.
• Union troops ravished Atlanta, leaving nothing but burning
embers in their wake.
45. 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 of our little town.
Fortunately, however, Sven was the only one of the skiers who were injured in
the incident.
Answers:
• Correct the spelling error in the first sentence.
• Delete the comma after "Fortunately."
• Delete "Sven was" and insert "was Sven"
after "incident."
• Change "were" to "was" in the second
sentence to correct an error in subject-verb agreement.
46. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
errors in verb tense?
Answers:
• Had they asked you sooner, would you have joined them on the
campaign trail?
• You never would have believed them if they had asked you to join
them on their travels along the campaign trail.
• I don't think you could have resisted the temptation if they had
asked you to join them on the campaign trail.
• If they had forced you to go with them on the campaign trail, do
you think you would have fun?
• When they asked you to join them on the campaign trail, did you
hesitate or accept the invitation right away?
47. Which of the following sentences contains an error in grammar
or usage?
Answers:
• Had I known about the prize, I might have bought a raffle
ticket.
• Perhaps you should of thought of the consequences before picking
a fight with that bully.
• Congressional leaders and White House staff plan to discuss a
compromise.
• If I were you, I'd think twice about joining those protesters.
48. The moment had arrived for the intern to begin his first solo
operation and he couldn't barely contain his excitement. Having been
anesthetized, the new surgeon made his first incision into the patient.
Answers:
• Edit the first sentence to correct the double negative.
• Delete the comma after "anesthetized" in the second
sentence.
• Insert a comma after "operation" in the first
sentence.
• Recast the last sentence to correct the dangling modifier.
• c and d
• a and d
49. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
grammar or usage errors?
Answers:
• Who are they speaking about so glowingly?
• The position will be given to whomever the commissioner deems
worthy.
• Whoever baked these cookies deserves a medal.
• Who do you think will actually arrive by 6 a.m.?
50. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct grammar or usage errors?
Answers:
• By the end of the week, each of the employees had voiced their
opinion on the change.
• I knew it was Bob that let his car alarm blare all night.
• After the accident, Justine has been unable to resume her
teaching again.
• It will require careful planning to create systems of protection
against future hurricanes.
51. 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.
Answers:
• Set off the phrase "and will always" with commas.
• Change "has always" to "has always been" to
correct the parallel structure of the first clause.
• Enclose "Happiness" in quotation marks to show its
status as a concept.
• Change "elusive" to "illusive" to correct
diction error.
52. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to
correct errors in word choice, word usage or spelling?
Answers:
• We racked our brains to come up with a solution to the problem.
• For all intensive purposes the case is closed.
• The mysterious letter inferred that my wife was having an affair
with the butler.
• The police chief kept his eye on the growing amount of
protesters outside the mayor's office.
• The room could barely acommodate the throng of happy revelers.
53. Read the following passage and identify the punctuation error
it contains.
I asked Jamie if she had read Zinn's A People's History of the
United States.
"Yes," she replied, "and I must say it's the most
eye-opening history book I've read in some time."
Answers:
• There should be a period after "replied," and the
following "and" should be capitalized.
• The apostrophe in "People's" should be eliminated.
• The book title should be written in italics.
• The period in the second sentence should go outside the
quotations marks.
54. 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 (4) for spelling error.
• Edit line (5) for word choice error.
• b and c
55. 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 Cleveland.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and (2) for overuse of commas.
• Edit line (2) for spelling.
• Edit line (3) for use of em dash.
• Edit line (4) for capitalization and use of colon.
• This passage is correct; the editor should take no action.
56. The following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the
given editing options turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
The question is Mr. Wellington said Arthur whether you intend to
pay your creditors
Answers:
• Arthur said, "The question is Mr. Wellington, whether you
intend to pay your creditors."
• "The question is, Mr. Wellington," said Arthur,
"whether you intend to pay your creditors."
• "Mr. Wellington," said Arthur: "The question is
whether you intend to pay your creditors."
• "The question, Mr. Wellington, is whether you intend to pay
your creditors," said Arthur.
• b and d
57. Read the following passage and identify the style error it
contains.
Of the two control groups, a significant number of those in Group
A scored 74%, which was higher than the median score of 66% of those in group
B. Both groups had similar standard deviations of 8.3% and 7.9%, respectively.
Answers:
• All "%" signs should be spelled out as
"percent."
• The passage contains an inconsistency in capitalization.
• Statistics should be placed in a table.
• a and b
• a and c
58. 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.
59. 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 word choice.
• Edit the second sentence to correct the idiomatic error.
• Recast the second sentence for parallel structure.
• a and b
• a and c
60. Which of the following sentences contains an error in grammar
or word usage?
Answers:
• The media are apparently united in their efforts to slander the
candidate.
• We were inundated with memoranda from the managing director.
• Petra, an alumna of Harvard, engaged in some good-natured
rivalry with her brothers, alumni of Yale.
• The department chair spent three weeks sifting through the
various curricula submitted by the faculty members.
61. Read the following passage (options) and select the line that
contains an error in grammar or usage.
Answers:
• We expect only three things from our camp
• counselors: Loyalty, enthusiasm and the desire to help
• people in need. If those simple things are not in your
repertoire,
• please don't apply to our program.
62. Read the following passage and select the line that contains a
grammar or usage error.
Answers:
• Whether Steve is aware of it or not,
• today is the anniversary of us packing up the
• house and hightailing it to Canada. If I were
• you, I wouldn't remind him of it.
63. Read the following passage and identify the punctuation error
it contains.
Delilah's 20-page tale of derring do delighted the dignitaries who
stamped their feet in approval. Reading from a dais draped in crepe, she felt
like a modern day Scheherazade.
Answers:
• The phrases "derring do" and "modern day"
should be hyphenated.
• A comma must be inserted after "dignitaries."
• The phrase "20-page" should not be hyphenated.
• Delete the comma after "crepe."
• a and d
• a and b
64. 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 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.
65. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Even though Alison spends a lot of time complaining,
2)bemoaning her fate and wishing that her circumstances
3)are not quite so reduced, we are 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.
66. 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 enamored of her new
2)designer handbag, is even more enamored 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.
67. Read the following sentence and identify the type of verb or
tense error contained in the underlined portion.
Local citizens protested the controversial evangelist's tour and
threatened to riot outside any venue that dared to host his event.
Answers:
• Subject-verb agreement error
• Incorrect use of past participles
• Unnecessary verb tense shift
• This sentence is correct.
68. Read the following passage and identify the type of grammar or
usage error it contains.
The baby giraffe just loved to play with the 10 puma cubs. Their
games came inevitably — and painfully — to an end, however, after the first six
times the giraffe smashed its face against the low tree limbs under which the
little pumas lithely slipped.
Answers:
• Comma splice
• Pronoun reference
• Inconsistent number usage
• Parallelism
• No error
69. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct
an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answers:
• Every 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 rob them of their charm.
• Not only the horses but also the goat has been rounded up and
locked in the barn.
• The receptionists and clerks each hope for a substantial bonus
this year.
70. 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.
71. Which course of action would an editor need to take to correct
the modifier/comparison error in the following passage?
"Your brother has been behaving strangely lately," Theo
remarked. "I mean, I know he's never been the sharpest marble in the
drawer, but I think he's really lost it now."
Answers:
• Delete "I mean" to eliminate wordiness.
• Keep quoted speech together by moving "Theo remarked"
to the end of the passage.
• Edit the second sentence to correct the mixed metaphors.
• Change "strangely" to "strange."
72. Read the following passage and select the option that
illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Regina Glass, who was one of the wealthiest women
2)in the city in the 1940s, died at the age of 89 in a dingy
3)Chicago hotel suite where she had lived with 3 cats and five
4)parrots for more than twenty years. Her fall from grace was
attributed to
5)her husband Larry Glass' 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.
73. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a grammar or
usage error?
Answers:
• Please give Amy or myself your phone number and we'll contact
you soon.
• Do all the players plan on wearing their uniform to the cocktail
party?
• For you and I to move forward, we'll need to put our differences
behind us.
• The kids put their heads together and came up with this
wonderful little play.
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