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Subject-Verb Agreement Review
Multiple Choice
Select the correct verb for the blank.
1. Paul Krugman, a newspaper columnist and a professor of economics, _______ complex concepts such as the
connection between deregulation and prices.
a. clarifies
b. clarify
2. Most of Stephen Greenblatt’s professional writing _______ with Shakespeare.
a. deals
b. deal
3. One of the contemporary novels that _______ affected me is Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner.
a. has
b. have
4. From a close reading of Shakespearean texts _______ Stephen Greenblatt’s speculation about the
playwright’s life.
a. comes
b. come
5. Each of the candidates _______ claiming victory after the early primaries.
a. was
b. were
6. Neither my mother nor my older brothers _______ willing to stand up to my father.
a. was
b. were
7. The prom committee _______ arguing for months about location, food, and décor.
a. has been
b. have been
8. The only one of the prom dresses that _______ good on me is the beautiful lavender one.
a. looks
b. look
9. The last time I checked, there _______ only a few pieces of pizza left.
a. was
b. were
10. None of the assignments from Professor Blakely _______ that difficult.
a. seems
b. seem
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1.The current population of only two countries, China and India, _______ one billion each.
a. exceeds
b. exceed
2. Osaka, Japan, in addition to Tokyo, _______ home to many people—eleven million, to be exact.
a. is
b. are
3. China’s population in recent years _______ India’s by about 33 percent, but India’s population is projected to
outnumber China’s by 2050.
a. has outnumbered
b. have outnumbered
4. After China and India, the next three most populated countries, in descending order, _______ the United
States, Indonesia, and Brazil.
a. is
b. are
5. The smallest of the twenty most populous countries on a list prepared by the United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs _______ France at just over sixty million.
a. is
b. are
6. Mexico City along with Tokyo _______ the list of largest urban areas.
a. tops
b. top
7. Horrific living conditions in places like Darfur _______ local populations in Africa.
a. has decimated
b. have decimated
8. Which one of the following cities _______ the highest population: Dhaka, Karachi, Delhi, Jakarta, or Osaka?
a. has
b. have
9. The populations of the polar bear and penguin _______ every year while human population increases.
a. decreases
b. decrease
10. Sao Paulo, along with Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, _______ the list of the world’s eighteen largest
urban areas.
a. makes
b. make
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1. Snow and sleet _______ likely tonight.
a. is
b. are
2. My cousin Pedro and my best friend Jane _______ better than to ask me for a loan.
a. knows
b. know
3. Peanut butter and jelly _______ a popular American sandwich filling.
a. is
b. are
4. Since the day I broke my leg, either my sisters or my brother _______ me wherever I go.
a. accompanies
b. accompany
5. My sisters and my brother _______ over who should take me to the dentist.
a. argues
b. argue
6. Driving and talking on a cell phone sometimes _______ to automobile accidents.
a. leads
b. lead
7. A dictionary or thesaurus _______ a long-lasting graduation gift.
a. makes
b. make
8. Hillary Clinton’s husband and staunch supporter _______ former President Bill Clinton.
a. is
b. are
9. Whenever the band practices, neither the drummer nor the saxophonists _______ time to the music.
a. keeps
b. keep
10. At any Italian restaurant, spaghetti and meatballs _______ what my parents order.
a. is
b. are
1. Just below China on the list of the most populous countries _____ India.
a. sits
b. sit
2. Qualifying as the third and fourth most populous countries _____ the United States and Indonesia.
a. is
b. are
3. There _____ far fewer people in Pakistan than in India.
a. is
b. are
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4. According to population experts, there _____ several ways to count a country’s people.
a. is
b. are
5. Where _____ the population projections for 2015?
a. is
b. are
6. Rounding out the top twenty most populous countries _____ France, just below Thailand statistically.
a. is
b. are
7. _____ more people live in Vietnam or the Philippines?
a. Does
b. Do
8. How _____ London’s population compare with New York’s?
a. does
b. do
9. Ranking fifth and seventh among the world’s most populous cities _____ New York and Los Angeles,
respectively.
a. is
b. are
10. There _____ smaller urban populations in 1950 than today.
a. was
b. were
1. The jury _______ order their lunches from various take-out restaurants nearby.
a. has to
b. have to
2. Every Tuesday during May, the senior class _______ for the graduation ceremony.
a. practices
b. practice
3. Despite all of the problems with the oldest daughter, the family _______ to get along.
a. has tried
b. have tried
4. Marching in unison through the middle of town, the crowd _______ the warnings of the police.
a. ignores
b. ignore
5. Heading in all directions, a flock of birds _______ toward the evergreens surrounding our house.
a. flies
b. fly
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6. Having limited authority, the university’s parking committee only _______ recommendations to the
administration.
a. makes
b. make
7. As the curtain falls, the audience _______ the actors a standing ovation.
a. gives
b. give
8. The jury _______ the judge for a redefinition of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
a. has asked
b. have asked
9. Tired of arguing over new arrangements, the rock band _______ home.
a. has gone
b. have gone
10. As we reported earlier, the crowd _______ to various neighborhoods.
a. has dispersed
b. have dispersed
1. Each of the students on the committee _______ hard, so most of the teachers only _______ to supervise.
a. works; has
c. work; has
b. works; have
d. work; have
2. Because both of the couples _______ traveling to warm climates, many of their joint trips _______ to the
Caribbean and the South Pacific.
a. enjoys; has been
c. enjoy; has been
b. enjoys; have been
d. enjoy; have been
3. All of the mashed potatoes _______ eaten, but all of the salad _______.
a. was; remains
c. were; remains
b. was; remain
d. were; remain
4. None of Todd’s musical talents _______ me because none of his expertise _______ in classical music.
a. impresses; is
c. impress; is
b. impresses; are
d. impress; are
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5. Enough of the test _______ challenging, yet several of the questions _______ easy.
a. was; was
c. were; was
b. was; were
d. were; were
6. _______ any of the assignments due tomorrow? I know more _______ due next week.
a. Is; is
c. Are; is
b. Is; are
d. Are; are
7. Either of the twins _______ well enough for the role, but neither _______ gracefully enough.
a. sings; dances
c. sing; dances
b. sings; dance
d. sing; dance
8. Everyone _______ to help decorate the cookies, but no one _______ to wash the dishes afterward.
a. wants; offers
c. want; offers
b. wants; offer
d. want; offer
9. _______ someone going to the dance with you? Some of us _______ bringing a date.
a. Is; is
c. Are; is
b. Is; are
d. Are; are
10. Everything on the buffet table _______ delicious; however, few of the guests _______ to be hungry.
a. looks; seems
c. look; seems
b. looks; seem
d. look; seem
1. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings contains an anthology that _______ how writers write.
a. shows
b. show
2. Anyone who _______ a book titled Are You Really Going to Eat That? should expect to be teased by friends
who like to cook.
b. have written
a. has written
3. Stephen L. Carter is one of the authors who _______ a position in The Norton Field Guide to Writing with
Readings.
a. argues
b. argue
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4. Any Tan is best known for The Joy Luck Club, a novel that _______ the relationships of four Chinese
American daughters and their mothers.
a. examines
b. examine
5. Denise Noe’s piece “Parallel Worlds” first appeared in the magazine Humanist, which _______ such topics
as politics, popular culture, science, and religion from a humanist perspective.
a. covers
b. cover
6. Mike Rose has published numerous essays and books that _______ with literacy and education.
a. deals
b. deal
7. Peggy is the only one of my students who _______ research papers ahead of the deadline.
a. turns in
b. turn in
8. The books Cat’s Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale, which _______ by Margaret Atwood, contributed to her
reputation as a gifted novelist.
a. was written
b. were written
9. Our instructor told us to pay attention to the endnotes that _______ Diana George’s essay “Changing the
Face of Poverty.”
a. accompanies
b. accompany
10. Although I like John Updike’s books, he is not one of the novelists who _______ me awake late at night,
devouring page after page.
a. keeps
b. keep
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Verb Tenses
Multiple Choice
Each of the following passages may contain problems with verb tense. Select the answer that uses verb tenses
correctly. If the original passage is correct, select c. No change.
1. Samantha phoned her brother. She explains that she needs to postpone her trip to visit him, and she asks if
she can arrive later in the month.
a. Samantha phoned her brother. She explained that she needed to postpone her trip to visit him, and she asked
if she could arrive later in the month.
b. Samantha phoned her brother. She is explaining that she needs to postpone her trip to visit him, and she is
asking if she can arrive later in the month.
c. No change
2. In the first chapter of the novel Forgetfulness by Ward Just, a Frenchwoman takes a walk in the mountains
outside a French village. After she tripped and hurt her foot, she implored four foreigners who crossed her path
to carry her home. They complied for a while, but then they murdered her.
a. In the first chapter of the novel Forgetfulness by Ward Just, a Frenchwoman had taken a walk in the
mountains outside a French village. After she has tripped and hurt her foot, she implores four foreigners who
cross her path to carry her home. They complied for a while, but then they murdered her.
b. In the first chapter of the novel Forgetfulness by Ward Just, a Frenchwoman takes a walk in the mountains
outside a French village. After she trips and hurts her foot, she implores four foreigners who have crossed her
path to carry her home. They comply for a while, but then they murder her.
c. No change
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3. By the end of tomorrow’s race, Annie has run more than forty miles.
a. By the end of tomorrow’s race, Annie will run more than forty miles.
b. By the end of tomorrow’s race, Annie will have run more than forty miles.
c. No change
4. Our friends were calling to announce their engagement and to say they have picked May 19 as their wedding
date.
a. Our friends are calling to announce their engagement and to say they pick May 19 as their wedding date.
b. Our friends were calling to announce their engagement and to say they will have picked May 19 as their
wedding date.
c. No change
5. The story “Araby” by James Joyce has made use of religious symbolism.
a. The story “Araby” by James Joyce makes use of religious symbolism.
b. The story “Araby” by James Joyce made use of religious symbolism.
c. No change
6. Derek was thinking about whether he will go to graduate school next year or whether he is getting a job.
a. Derek is thinking about whether he will go to graduate school next year or whether he has gotten a job.
b. Derek is thinking about whether he will go to graduate school next year or whether he will get a job.
c. No change
7. Before the civil rights movement of the 1960s ended, Martin Luther King Jr. and John and Robert Kennedy
are murdered.
a. Before the civil rights movement of the 1960s ended, Martin Luther King Jr. and John and Robert Kennedy
had been murdered.
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b. Before the civil rights movement of the 1960s ends, Martin Luther King Jr. and John and Robert Kennedy
were murdered.
c. No change
8. Ted Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1962, and he has been serving in Congress ever since.
a. Ted Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1962, and he served in Congress ever since.
b. Ted Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1962, and he was serving in Congress ever since.
c. No change
9. In James Joyce’s “Araby,” the narrator promises to buy a gift at the fair for Mangan’s sister, but he arrived at
the fair too late.
a. In James Joyce’s “Araby,” the narrator has promised to buy a gift at the fair for Mangan’s sister, but he
arrived at the fair too late.
b. In James Joyce’s “Araby,” the narrator promises to buy a gift at the fair for Mangan’s sister, but he arrives at
the fair too late.
c. No change
10. Donna told her teenage son, “From now until the end of the school year, there were consequences for your
disrespectful behavior.”
a. Donna told her teenage son, “From now until the end of the school year, there will be consequences for your
disrespectful behavior.”
b. Donna told her teenage son, “From now until the end of the school year, I was giving you consequences for
your disrespectful behavior.”
c. No change
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Verb Forms
Multiple Choice
Select the verb form that belongs in the blank.
1. Although Gina had _______ Dino for years, she was just starting to like him.
a. knew
b. known
2. Once Norah is out of college, she wants _______ to Spain and Portugal.
a. to travel
b. traveling
3. Do you know why Ahmed did not _______ soccer practice yesterday?
a. attend
b. attended
4. The coach said that every player who works hard will be _______ at the end of the season.
a. rewarded
b. rewarding
5. Maria reread all of her letters from Frank, who had _______ to her every week since he had gone to
Afghanistan.
a. wrote
b. written
6. My nephew _______ about transferring to an engineering firm in Lucerne, Switzerland.
a. think
b. is thinking
7. The fifth-grade teacher made an announcement to her class: “Once all of you have _______, you may play
basketball in the gym for twenty minutes.”
a. eaten
b. ate
8. I took the dog for a short walk, but it is too hot and humid outside for _______.
a. jogging
b. to jog
9. Because Lou was sick for two weeks, Molly had _______ him her notes so he could study for the test.
a. gave
b. given
10. Whom have the sportswriters _______ most recently for the Baseball Hall of Fame?
a. chose
b. chosen
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Shifts in Tense and Point of View
Multiple Choice
Select the answer that has no unnecessary shifts in tense or point of view.
1.
a. Following the Holocaust, Jews and others call for a Jewish state in the Middle East. United States foreign
policy supported the call, and the State of Israel came into being in May 1948. Charges that Jews forced
Palestinians from the land led to a war between Israel and Arab states.
b. Following the Holocaust, Jews and others call for a Jewish state in the Middle East. United States foreign
policy supports the call, and the State of Israel came into being in May 1948. Charges that Jews forced
Palestinians from the land led to a war between Israel and Arab states.
c. Following the Holocaust, Jews and others called for a Jewish state in the Middle East. United States foreign
policy supported the call, and the State of Israel came into being in May 1948. Charges that Jews forced
Palestinians from the land led to a war between Israel and Arab states.
2.
a. To understand the Korean War, which started in 1950, you have to know that the Soviet Union backed the
northern occupation zone.
b. For one to understand the Korean War, which started in 1950, you have to know that the Soviet Union
backed the northern occupation zone.
c. To understand the Korean War, which started in 1950, you have to know that the Soviet Union is backing
the northern occupation zone.
3.
a. Americans waited anxiously in 1962 when Russia pointed missiles in Cuba at the United States. One
wondered how the Russians would respond to the American demand for removal of the missiles.
b. Americans waited anxiously in 1962 when Russia pointed missiles in Cuba at the United States. They
wondered how the Russians would respond to the American demand for removal of the missiles.
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c. Americans had waited anxiously in 1962 when Russia pointed missiles in Cuba at the United States. They
wondered how the Russians would respond to the American demand for removal of the missiles.
4.
a. The North Vietnamese and the Vietcong staged the Tet offensive in 1968. American and South Vietnamese
troops won the battle but lost in the arena of public opinion.
b. The North Vietnamese and the Vietcong were staging the Tet offensive in 1968. American and South
Vietnamese troops won the battle but lost in the arena of public opinion.
c. The North Vietnamese and the Vietcong staged the Tet offensive in 1968. American and South Vietnamese
troops win the battle but lose in the arena of public opinion.
5.
a. The antiwar movement, spawned by the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement made the 1960s a
decade of rebellion by young Americans. We called for social change.
b. The antiwar movement, spawned by the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement made the 1960s a
decade of rebellion by young Americans who called for social change.
c. The antiwar movement, spawned by the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement made the 1960s a
decade of rebellion by young Americans who have called for social change.
6.
a. Western observers were horrified to see that Mao Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward in China led to
the starvation and death of more than twenty million people during the famine of 1958-1961. Later, the
observers were shocked at the effects of Mao’s Cultural Revolution of 1966-1968.
b. Western observers were horrified to see that Mao Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward in China led to
the starvation and death of more than twenty million people during the famine of 1958-1961. Later, one was
shocked at the effects of Mao’s Cultural Revolution of 1966-1968.
c. Western observers were horrified to see that Mao Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward in China led to
the starvation and death of more than twenty million people during the famine of 1958-1961. Later, the
observers become shocked at the effects of Mao’s Cultural Revolution of 1966-1968.
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7.
a. The lecturer explained to the audience how greenhouse gasses come about, and you soon wondered what
you could do to forestall disaster.
b. The lecturer explained to us how greenhouse gasses come about, and we soon wondered what we could do
to forestall disaster.
c. The lecturer is explaining to us how greenhouse gasses came about, and we soon will wonder what we could
do to forestall disaster.
8.
a. What led us to personal computers in the late 1970s? Inventions and developments such as the transistor,
integrated circuitry, the memory chip, and the floppy disk (now almost forgotten) contribute to the digital
revolution one experienced back then.
b. What led us to personal computers in the late 1970s? Inventions and developments such as the transistor,
integrated circuitry, the memory chip, and the floppy disk (now almost forgotten) contributed to the digital
revolution one experienced back then.
c. What led to personal computers in the late 1970s? Inventions and developments such as the transistor,
integrated circuitry, the memory chip, and the floppy disk (now almost forgotten) contributed to the digital
revolution back then.
9.
a. Globalization has lowered costs for some products but demoralizes parts of the worldwide work force. We
who lose jobs to lower-paid labor cannot purchase products even at lower prices.
b. Globalization has lowered costs for some products but has demoralized parts of the worldwide work force.
Workers who have lost jobs to lower-paid labor cannot purchase products even at lower prices.
c. Globalization has lowered costs for some products but demoralizes parts of the worldwide work force,
including some of us here in the United States. Workers who lose jobs to lower-paid labor cannot purchase
products even at lower prices.
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10.
a. In the 1980s, countries in eastern Europe overthrew their Soviet governments. The most symbolic move of
the period was the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It means, once and for all, the end of the cold war,
which started in the late 1940s.
b. In the 1980s, countries in eastern Europe overthrew their Soviet governments. The most symbolic move of
the period was the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It meant, once and for all, the end of the cold war, which
had started in the late 1940s.
c. In the 1980s, countries in eastern Europe overthrow their Soviet governments. The most symbolic move of
the period was the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It meant, once and for all, the end of the cold war, which
started in the late 1940s.
Parallelism
Multiple Choice
For each of the following items, select the answer that demonstrates parallelism. If the original sentence uses
parallel structure correctly, select c. No change.
1. A text can be presented in paragraphs—or in the form of lists, tables, charts, as graphs, and so on.
a. A text can be presented in paragraphs—or in the form of lists, or on a table, charts, as graphs, and so on.
b. A text can be presented in paragraphs—or in the form of lists, tables, charts, graphs, and so on.
c. No change
2. To do well on final exams, students should not only study every day but also be getting enough sleep.
a. To do well on final exams, students should not only have studied every day but also sleep enough.
b. To do well on final exams, students should not only study every day but also get enough sleep.
c. No change
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3. Growing tomatoes in my yard requires three things: a sunny location, some soil that has been well
cultivated, and keeping deer out with a wire fence.
a. Growing tomatoes in my yard requires three things: a sunny location, some well-cultivated soil, and a wire
fence to keep out the deer.
b. Growing tomatoes in my yard requires three things: plenty of sun, cultivating the soil well, and a wire fence
for keeping the deer away.
c. No change
4. Tips for using presentation software:

Lists rather than paragraphs.

Amount of information on a slide.

Be sure the type is large enough for the audience to read.
a. Tips for using presentation software:

Use lists rather than paragraphs.

Don’t put too much information on a slide.

Be sure the type is large enough for the audience to read.
b. Tips for using presentation software:

Why lists are better than paragraphs.

Don’t put too much information on a slide.

Why large type is a good idea.
c. No change
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5. When a police officer stops you for speeding, you should apologize, be polite, and find your driver’s
license.
a. When a police officer stops you for speeding, you should try apologizing, be making an effort to be polite,
and try to find your driver’s license.
b. When a police officer stops you for speeding, you should be apologetic, try to be polite, and to find your
driver’s license.
c. No change
6. The Norton Field Guide offers the guidance many new teachers need and the flexibility wanted by many
experienced teachers.
a. The Norton Field Guide offers guidance for new teachers and the flexibility many experienced teachers want.
b. The Norton Field Guide offers the guidance many new teachers need and the flexibility many experienced
teachers want.
c. No change
7. The perky Labrador retriever charged through the yard, did go down the hill, and went after the squirrels.
a. The perky Labrador retriever charged through the yard, down the hill, and after the squirrels.
b. The perky Labrador retriever was charging through the yard, went down the hill, and chased the squirrels.
c. No change
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8. Evaluating the causes of the Civil War
●Economic reasons
●Cultures of North and South different
●Understanding slavery
a. Evaluating the causes of the Civil War
●Economic reasons were a factor.
●Culture—North vs. South
●Slavery as a moral issue
b. Evaluating the causes of the Civil War
●Economic reasons
●Cultural factors
●Slavery issues
c. No change
9. My wealthy aunt works hard every day, as she polishes her nails, and is chatting with friends, and is reading
romance novels.
a. My wealthy aunt works hard every day, as she polishes her nails, chats with friends, and reads romance
novels.
b. My wealthy aunt works hard every day, as she is polishing her nails, and she chats with friends and reads
romance novels.
c. No change
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10. To finish her paper by tomorrow afternoon, Jayne needs either to work until midnight or she would have
to get up early in the morning
a. To finish her paper by tomorrow afternoon, Jayne needs either to work until midnight or to get up early in the
morning.
b. To finish her paper by tomorrow afternoon, Jayne needs either to be working until midnight or to get up early
in the morning.
c. No change
Parallelism: Including All the Necessary Words
Multiple Choice
Each of the following sentences may be missing one or more words that are needed for parallelism and clarity.
Select the answer that uses parallel structure correctly. If the original sentence is correct, select c. No change.
1. Politicians announce their intention to run for office in several ways: in news conferences, major speeches,
and with their Web sites.
a. Politicians announce their intention to run for office in several ways: during news conferences, during major
speeches, and by having their own Web sites.
b. Politicians announce their intention to run for office in several ways: in news conferences, during major
speeches, and on their Web sites.
c. No change
2. The psychologist quickly realized that the husband liked golf more than his wife.
a. The psychologist quickly realized that the husband liked golf more than he liked his wife.
b. The psychologist quickly realized that the husband liked golf more than his wife was ever going to like the
game.
c. No change
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3. Jack prefers living in the Rockies to the East Coast.
a. Jack prefers the Rockies to life on the East Coast.
b. Jack prefers living in the Rockies to living on the East Coast.
c. No change
4. While researching Edgar Allan Poe, I discovered that it was important not only to analyze the plots of his
famous short stories but the details of his personal life.
a. While researching Edgar Allan Poe, I discovered that it was important to analyze not only the plots of his
famous short stories but to look at the details of his personal life.
b. While researching Edgar Allan Poe, I discovered that it was important to analyze not only the plots of his
famous short stories but also the details of his personal life.
c. No change
5. What would you rather do tonight—go to that new movie we wanted to see, get tickets for the rock concert
on campus, or just stay home and watch television?
a. What would you rather do tonight—go to that new movie we wanted to see, the rock concert on campus, or
just stay home and watch television?
b. What would you rather do tonight—go to that new movie, the rock concert on campus, or watch television?
c. No change
6. For renovation jobs, Marty is the one who does the best job and I trust.
a. For renovation jobs, Marty is the one who does the best job, and I trust that.
b. For renovation jobs, Marty is the one who does the best job and whom I trust.
c. No change
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7. The poetry of Robert Frost, of Emily Dickinson, and the music of Willie Nelson are some of my favorite
things.
a. The poetry of Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson and the music of Willie Nelson are some of my favorite
things.
b. Robert Frost’s poetry, Emily Dickinson’s poetry, and hearing Willie Nelson’s music are some of my favorite
things.
c. No change
8. The qualities of friendship include being a good listener, an honest opinion, and a sense of humor.
a. The qualities of friendship include being a good listener, honesty, and having a sense of humor.
b. The qualities of friendship include being a good listener, giving an honest opinion, and having a sense of
humor.
c. No change
9. I admired the doctor in charge of the case and who stayed with us as my grandfather took his last breaths.
a. I admired the doctor who was in charge of the case and the fact that he stayed with us as my grandfather took
his last breaths.
b. I admired the doctor who was in charge of the case and who stayed with us as my grandfather took his last
breaths.
c. No change
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10. According to my instructor, neither the novels of John Grisham nor James Patterson are of high literary
quality, but I enjoy them nevertheless.
a. According to my instructor, neither the novels of John Grisham nor those of James Patterson are of high
literary quality, but I enjoy them nevertheless.
b. According to my instructor, neither the novels of John Grisham nor James Patterson’s books are of high
literary quality, but I enjoy them nevertheless.
c. No change
Pronoun Review
Multiple Choice
Select the answer that contains no problem with pronoun reference, pronoun-antecedent agreement, or pronoun
case.
1.
a. The teenagers should be ashamed of their behavior, which is unlikely.
b. The teenagers know they should apologize for his or her behavior.
c. We teenagers did not realize that our behavior offended you.
2.
a. Larry and Bob have both locked their keys in their cars.
b. I haven’t known Bob for long; I have more faith in Larry than in he.
c. Larry told Bob that his days were numbered.
3.
a. In the weather report, it says, “Snow is falling heavily all over New England.”
b. Someone was hoping they could go skiing.
c. Have you seen his skiing? It’s far superior to mine.
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4.
a. The baby would not stop crying. This annoyed the babysitter.
b. A babysitter today charges more than they did ten years ago.
c. The little girl did not stop crying until she and the babysitter went to the park.
5.
a. The gourmet shop was charging eleven dollars, which was way over our budget, for a quart of soup.
b. Everyone decided to try their hand at cooking soup from scratch.
c. Whom do you think made the best soup?
6.
a. The museum’s Monet holdings are impressive. It will put on a special exhibit this summer.
b. In the Times, it says that Monet produced many works on paper, not just oil paintings.
c. Who knew that Claude was Monet’s middle name, not his first name?
7.
a. “Management tries to exploit we nurses,” read the placard.
b. One nurse had been working thirteen-hour shifts every Saturday for three years; it was she who mobilized
her coworkers to strike.
c. Ms. Goodman, the nurse, and my mother spoke in private. She said I should get out of bed.
8.
a. An actor should keep thoughts about politics to themselves.
b. Modern acting was influenced by the director Stanislavsky, who emphasized the actor’s identification with
his or her role.
c. Dustin Hoffman played the title role in the 1967 movie The Graduate. Could anyone else have played it
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9.
a. Whom is the Stanley Cup named after?
b. Every hockey player wants to see if their talent will land them the Stanley Cup, the oldest trophy awarded to
North American professional athletes.
c. To who was the first Stanley Cup awarded in the 1893-1894 hockey season?
10.
a. Did Andorra or Palau receive its membership in the United Nations before 2000?
b. The United Nations has always been a controversial organization, which is inevitable.
c. Whom besides U Thant and Kofi Annan has been secretary-general of the United Nations?
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Multiple Choice
Each of the following sentences may have an inappropriate pronoun. Select the instruction that tells how to treat
the sentence so that all of the pronouns make sense and agree with their antecedents in gender and in number.
1. The essay test asks each sixth-grader in the school district to explain why he does or does not identify with
the hero of an assigned novel.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change he does or does not to they do or do not.
c. Change he does or does not to he or she does or does not.
2. Everyone at the boys’ camp on this side of the lake and at the girls’ camp across the lake must demonstrate
that he can swim the width of the lake.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change he can swim to they can swim.
c. Change Everyone to All the campers; change he can swim to they can swim.
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3. Wendy Wasserstein’s play Uncommon Women and Others traces a group of women friends who attend a
single-sex college and stay in touch after graduation. Each friend has her own strengths and weaknesses.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change her own strengths and weaknesses to their own strengths and weaknesses.
c. Change her own strengths and weaknesses to his or her own strengths and weaknesses.
4. Martha Graham and George Balanchine had his own ideas about choreography.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change his to her.
c. Change his to their.
5. Neither the clowns nor the animal trainer showed their fear of the lions.
a. Leave as is.
b. Reverse the compound subject, putting the animal trainer first and the clowns second.
c. Change their fear to his or her fear.
6. I want to find a personal trainer who will help me build strength. Ideally, he won’t tease me about mixing up
left and right.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change he to he or she.
c. Change he to they.
7. A nurse must demonstrate her competence and her compassion.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change her competence and her compassion to their competence and their compassion.
c. Remove both instances of her.
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8. Most of the campers passed his swimming test this summer.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change his swimming test to their swimming tests.
c. Change his swimming test to his or her swimming test.
9. I remember when neither my father nor my mother had her own passport; instead, we all had a family
passport.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change had her own passport to had their own passports.
c. Change neither my father nor my mother had her own passport to neither my father nor my mother had an
individual passport.
10. After the celebration, the team left for their dorms or the library.
a. Leave as is.
b. Change their dorms or the library to its dorms or the library.
c. Change the team to the players; change their dorms or the library to his or her dorms or the library.
Pronoun Reference
Multiple Choice
Some of the following sentences contain problems with pronoun reference. Select the answer that has no such
problems. If the original sentence is correct, select c. No change.
1. The newspaper’s editors should feel guilty about their stance on pollution, but it is probably not going to
happen.
a. The newspaper’s editors should feel guilty about their stance on pollution, but they probably won’t.
b. The newspapers editors should feel guilty about their stance on pollution, which probably won’t happen.
c. No change
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2. Most economists agree that building a nest egg for retirement is possible if we set aside some money every
week.
a. Most economists agree that building a nest egg for retirement is possible if he or she sets aside some money
every week.
b. Most economists agree that building a nest egg for retirement is possible for people who set aside some
money every week.
c. No change
3. The boss became an object of ridicule because of his outrageous behavior.
a. The boss’s outrageous behavior made him an object of ridicule.
b. Ridiculing the boss’s outrageous behavior is what he deserved.
c. No change
4. A real-estate developer wants to build residences and offices on some vacant land in our town. The
community objects to this.
a. A real-estate developer wants to build residences and offices on some vacant land in our town. The
community objects to this use of the land.
b. A real-estate developer wants to build residences and offices on some vacant land in our town, which the
community objects to.
c. No change.
5. In many states, they don’t require motorcyclists to wear helmets.
a. In many states, they haven’t passed a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets.
b. Many states don’t require motorcyclists to wear helmets.
c. No change
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6. Someone who was on the bus left behind their books and lunch.
a. Someone who was on the bus left behind her books and lunch.
b. Someone who was on the bus left behind his or her books and lunch.
c. No change
7. The radio announcer said, “Because of last night’s storm, the high school’s classes will start at 11:00 a.m.,
but you will be dismissed at the normal time.”
a. The radio announcer said, “Because of last night’s storm, the high school’s classes will start at 11:00 a.m.,
but students will be dismissed at the normal time.”
b. The radio announcer said, “Because of last night’s storm, the high school’s classes will start at 11:00 a.m.,
but it will be dismissed at the normal time.”
c. No change
8. They say that the governor rescinded his job offer to a local politician.
a. In the news summary, it says that the governor rescinded his job offer to a local politician.
b. The news summary reports that the governor rescinded his job offer to a local politician.
c. No change
9. John told the critic, “A magnanimous review will make me famous.”
a. John told the critic that he would be famous if the review were magnanimous.
b. John said to the critic that a magnanimous review would make him famous.
c. No change
10. Some historians speak about the collapse of earlier, sophisticated cultures, and they resonate with today’s
audiences.
a. Some historians speak about the collapse of earlier, sophisticated cultures, a topic that resonates with today’s
audiences.
b. Some historians speak about sophisticated cultures in the past having collapsed, which resonates with today’s
audiences.
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c. No change
Pronoun Case
Multiple Choice
Select the pronoun that belongs on the blank.
1. After reading Fitzgerald for several weeks, Abigail and ___ went back to Hemingway.
a. I
b. me
2. Abigail likes Fitzgerald better than Hemingway, but both authors challenge her and ____.
a. I
b. me
3. You can expect _____ literature majors to admire Fitzgerald and Hemingway.
a. we
b. us
4. Hemingway’s first wife was Elizabeth Hadley Richardson. Hemingway and _____ divorced in 1927.
a. she
b. her
5. Do you think the succinct style Hemingway made famous resulted from _____ never going to college?
a. him
b. his
6. Although I like Fitzgerald, I like Hemingway more than _____.
a. he
b. him
7. Speaking of Hemingway and Fitzgerald, if two writers deserved the Nobel Prize, it was _____.
a. they
b. them
8. Besides Hadley, _____ else did Hemingway marry?
a. who
b. whom
9. Is it possible to figure out _____ was the best wife for Hemingway?
a. who
b. whom
10. _____ knew Hemingway well knew not only the writer but also the skier, hunter, and deep-sea fisherman.
a. Whoever
b. Whomever
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