oDesk U.S. English AP Style Editing Skills (For Writing Professionals) Test Answers 2015
·
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.
