Name:____________________________________________
Diagnostic Test I
Read the entire essay carefully. Next, proofread the essay for errors. If one of the underscored parts in a
line is incorrect, circle the letter below the error on your answer sheet. If all underscored parts in a line
are correct, circle E on your answer sheet. There is no more than one error in a line. You will have 40
minutes to complete the test.
1.
When I opened the door. I could tell it was going to be a typical,
A
B
C
D
2.
sultry August afternoon. The sun and the high humidity was producing such
A
B
C
D
3.
intense heat that I felt as if they were sitting on my doorstep. Stepping
A
4.
B
C
D
out to get the newspaper. I practically burned my bare feet on the steel
A
5.
C
B C
D
if I has just opened a blast furnace. I climbed into the car. My legs
B
C
D
melting into the vinyl seat. My hands burned from the heat of the black
A
9.
D
I sprinted to my car and opened the door; fierce heat emerge as
A
8.
D
B
A
7.
C
porch, I decided then the only place to be on such a torrid day was the beach.
A
6.
B
B
C
D
steering wheel. Even the air conditioning, did not succeed in diminishing
A
B
C
D
10. the heat in their four-wheel pressure cooker.
A
11.
B
C
D
As I drove through the suburban development; heat rose from the pavement
A
B
C
D
12. in waves. I drove passed many people attempting to find relief from the heat.
A
B
C
D
13. Children tryed to cool off under whirling sprinklers and garden hoses.
A
B
C
D
14. The temperatures of the rushing water however, must have been lukewarm instead
A
B
C
D
15. of icy cold. After every spraying, the kids dodging the
A
B
C
D
16. scorching sidewalks to save his feet from blisters. When I drove
A
B
C
D
17. through town, City public works employees, drowsy from the intolerable
A B
C
D
18. heat, lounged on park benches for an all-day lunch brake. More fortunate
A
B
C
D
19. people managed to have the day free, they sat under trees and by pools and
A
B
C
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
D
1
Name:____________________________________________
20. sipped cold lemonades both the glasses of lemonade and the people sweated
A
B
C
D
21. profusely. Everyone – young and old – trudged along the sidewalks, each
A
B
C D
22. were clothed as comfortably as possible. Most people, seeking comfort,
A
B
C
D
23. were wearing shorts and light-weight shirts; their feet encased in sandals.
A
B
C
D
24. Only a few stalwart businesspeople insist upon wearing three-piece suits with
A
B
C
D
25. long-sleeved shirts and vests. Even the gait of these intrepid souls eager
A
B
C
D
26. to close lucrative business deals, were slowed by the waves of heat
A
B C
D
27. raising from the steamy concrete sidewalks and molten asphalt roads.
A
28.
B
C
D
After seeing the city people struggling for comfort, I am glad
A
B
C D
29. to reach the nearest beach, where I heard radios. Blaring out cries
A
B
C
D
30. for releif from the heat. I saw athletes playing volleyball in the
A
B
C
D
31. scorching sand and swimmers bobbing up and down in the ocean’s waves,
A
B
C
D
32. a few people sat by the water’s edge or waded in the shallow tidal
A
B
C
D
33. pools some hardy people jogged down the beach in seeming comfort.
A
34.
B
C
D
I ran through the maze of bodies to find a empty spot on the beach.
A
B
C
D
35. When I finally sat down, I noticed a slight ocean breeze but it did not
A
B
C
D
36. lessen the intense heat of the suns rays. I soon became so dizzy from
A
B
C
D
37. the heat that I drug myself the shoreline of the cool ocean in hopes
A
B
C
D
38. of regaining my strength the water’s temperature, however, was not refreshing.
A
B
C
D
39. After wading aimlessly in the tepid water, I had begun to swim out to the breakers.
A
B
C
D
40. Seeking cooler water, I dove repeated under the breaking, white-capped
A
B
C
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
D
2
Name:____________________________________________
41. waves to lower depths. My efforts were in vain unfortunately, the water a few
A
B
C
D
42. feet from the surface lacked the cool temperatures I craved and covered
A
B
C
D
43. with salt and sand, I returned to the shore and laid down on my blanket.
A
B
C
D
44. I then decided that my adventure to the beach was useless I was never
A
B
C
D
45. going to conquer the heat. After a couple of hours at the beach; I headed home.
A
46.
B
C
D
As I drove away from the beach, the clear sky quickly became cloudy
A
B
C
D
47. and high winds blew from the sea. A thunderstorm broke lose as a
A
B
C
D
48. result of the day’s intense heat and humidity. The wind and rain
A
B
C
D
49. cooled the air temporarily, after an hour, the sun reappeared, and
A
B
C
D
50. the scorching heat returned, which was disappointing.
A
B
C
D
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
3
Name:____________________________________________
Diagnostic Test I Answer Sheet
1.
A
B
C
D
E
2.
A
B
C
D
E
3.
A
B
C
D
E
4.
A
B
C
D
E
5.
A
B
C
D
E
6.
A
B
C
D
E
7.
A
B
C
D
E
8.
A
B
C
D
E
9.
A
B
C
D
E
10.
A
B
C
D
E
11.
A
B
C
D
E
12.
A
B
C
D
E
13.
A
B
C
D
E
14.
A
B
C
D
E
15.
A
B
C
D
E
16.
A
B
C
D
E
17.
A
B
C
D
E
18.
A
B
C
D
E
19.
A
B
C
D
E
20.
A
B
C
D
E
21.
A
B
C
D
E
22.
A
B
C
D
E
23.
A
B
C
D
E
24.
A
B
C
D
E
25.
A
B
C
D
E
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
26.
A
B
C
D
E
27.
A
B
C
D
E
28.
A
B
C
D
E
29.
A
B
C
D
E
30.
A
B
C
D
E
31.
A
B
C
D
E
32.
A
B
C
D
E
33.
A
B
C
D
E
34.
A
B
C
D
E
35.
A
B
C
D
E
36.
A
B
C
D
E
37.
A
B
C
D
E
38.
A
B
C
D
E
39.
A
B
C
D
E
40.
A
B
C
D
E
41.
A
B
C
D
E
42.
A
B
C
D
E
43.
A
B
C
D
E
44.
A
B
C
D
E
45.
A
B
C
D
E
46.
A
B
C
D
E
47.
A
B
C
D
E
48.
A
B
C
D
E
49.
A
B
C
D
E
50.
A
B
C
D
E
4
Name:____________________________________________
Diagnostic Test II
Read the entire essay carefully. Next, proofread the essay for errors. If one of the underscored parts in a
line is incorrect, circle the letter below the error on your answer sheet. If all underscored parts in a line
are correct, circle E on your answer sheet. There is no more than one error in a line. You will have 40
minutes to complete the test.
1.
College demands a great deal from their students. They spend most of their
A
B
C
D
2.
time and effort preparing for tests. It would seem that watching television; reading
A
3.
B
B
B
B
D
C
B
C
D
D
subject are also incentives that encourages students to spend long,
B
C
D
tiring hours in the college Library to complete their work.
A
10.
C
addition, Academic competition and a personal interest in the
A
9.
D
students to study. Self-satisfaction is certainly one motivation, in
A
8.
C
B
A
7.
D
exam time) over leisure pastimes. Thus, there must be major factors that motivates
A
6.
C
college students chose demanding, stressful days and nights of studying (especially at
A
5.
D
a good book, and visiting friends are much easier tasks to perform, however, most
A
4.
C
B
C
D
First students study to fulfill personal goals; each individ-
A
B
C
D
11. uals’ goal may be different. Some persons may feel that they have fulfilled
A
B
C
D
12. their potential if they earn a “C” in the course. While other students
A
B
C
D
13. may be satisfied with nothing less then an “A”. In either case, success
A
B
C
D
14. encourages success. When students study competently for one test,
A
B
C
D
15. and are rewarded with a high grade. Then they are encouraged to study
A
B
C
D
16. more for the next test. This process had developed self-esteem and pride that,
A
B
C
D
17. in turn, build self-confidence. When students are confident of their abilities
A B
C
D
18. they are more likely too succeed at a chosen task. Consider, for example,
A
B
C
D
19. students who learned how to solve a chemical equation. Certainly,
A
B
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
C
D
5
Name:____________________________________________
20. the next time they encounter a similar problem, or even a more advanced one
A
B
C
D
21. they will be better prepared to answer it correct. As confidence grows,
A
B
C
D
22. so do the ability to do more. Each victory invites another one.
A
23.
B
C
D
Competition also encourages students’ success. Students competing for
A
B
C
D
24. high grades in the classroom as they do for records on athletic fields;
A
B
C
D
25. however, academic competition can yeild rewards other than high grade-point
A
B
C
D
26. average. For example, if students pushed themselves intellectually to
A
B
C
D
27. compete for a scholarship, they also may develop new interests or
A
B
C
D
28. skills. Students who strived to comprehend their most difficult
A
B
C
D
29. subject will find that soon they will be able to enjoy them and see its
A
B
C
D
30. applications in the “real world”. Students may also begin to
A
B
C D
31. synthesize materials from a number of fields hence, they will be prepared to approach
A
B
C
D
32. new challenges. Finally, they will began to enjoy learning simply for its own sake.
A
B
C
D
33. Students now will possess one of the great rewards of education an intellectual
A
B
C
D
34. curiosity about the world around him and a desire to learn more.
A
35.
B
C
D
A third motivation is a genuine interest in a particular subject
A
B
C
D
36. when students are interested in a subject they tend to study harder,
A
B
C
D
37. to devote more time to it, and to perform better. If students are interested
A
B
C
D
38. in science, then they will probably devote additional time to
A
B
C
D
39. science courses and excell in them. Another factor in developing
A
B
C
D
40. students’ interest in a coarse is the instructor; if the
A
B
C
D
41. instructor demonstrated knowledge and enthusiasm for the material,
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
6
Name:____________________________________________
A
B
C
D
42. often the students will become interested in the subject when
A
B
C
D
43. they develop an interest in the material, they will be motivated
A
B
C
D
44. to learn it and learning will be a pleasure, not a chore.
A
45.
B
C
D
Self-satisfaction, competition, and interest in the subject demand
A
B
C
D
46. that students excel in college. For these reasons, serious students will often
A
B
C
D
47. turn to their books on a dreary evening rather than to an episode of Friends
A
B
C
D
48. or to someone’s party. The rewards they gain from their studying had been
A
B
C
D
49. great. Gaining discipline, knowledge, a college degree, and employment
A
B
C
D
50. in their select field. Certainly, college is worth the effort.
A
B
C
D
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
7
Name:____________________________________________
Diagnostic Test II Answer Sheet
1.
A
B
C
D
E
2.
A
B
C
D
E
3.
A
B
C
D
E
4.
A
B
C
D
E
5.
A
B
C
D
E
6.
A
B
C
D
E
7.
A
B
C
D
E
8.
A
B
C
D
E
9.
A
B
C
D
E
10.
A
B
C
D
E
11.
A
B
C
D
E
12.
A
B
C
D
E
13.
A
B
C
D
E
14.
A
B
C
D
E
15.
A
B
C
D
E
16.
A
B
C
D
E
17.
A
B
C
D
E
18.
A
B
C
D
E
19.
A
B
C
D
E
20.
A
B
C
D
E
21.
A
B
C
D
E
22.
A
B
C
D
E
23.
A
B
C
D
E
24.
A
B
C
D
E
25.
A
B
C
D
E
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
26.
A
B
C
D
E
27.
A
B
C
D
E
28.
A
B
C
D
E
29.
A
B
C
D
E
30.
A
B
C
D
E
31.
A
B
C
D
E
32.
A
B
C
D
E
33.
A
B
C
D
E
34.
A
B
C
D
E
35.
A
B
C
D
E
36.
A
B
C
D
E
37.
A
B
C
D
E
38.
A
B
C
D
E
39.
A
B
C
D
E
40.
A
B
C
D
E
41.
A
B
C
D
E
42.
A
B
C
D
E
43.
A
B
C
D
E
44.
A
B
C
D
E
45.
A
B
C
D
E
46.
A
B
C
D
E
47.
A
B
C
D
E
48.
A
B
C
D
E
49.
A
B
C
D
E
50.
A
B
C
D
E
8
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 1: Parts of Speech
Name
Date
In the following sentences identify the part of speech of each underlined word by writing the appropriate
abbreviation in the space provided.
N for noun
V for verb
P for pronoun
Adj for adjective
V
N
Adv for adverb
Prep for preposition
C for conjunction
Example: The leaves clogged the gutters.
1. Careers in the sciences are becoming more attractive to young people.
2. Henry nearly collapsed in the locker room after a workout.
3. Many companies are having difficulty recruiting qualified employees.
4. That is a beautiful car.
5. Employees in the business world spend many hours in company classrooms.
6. I really love this house.
7. He is in New York for a business meeting.
8. Last Saturday my uncle made a hole in one.
9. The United States has the highest rate of illiteracy of any industrialized
country.
10. We walked and shopped all day.
11. How many textbooks did you buy for your history class?
12. The morning train to Boston is seldom late.
13. Althea Wilson studied art while growing up in Africa.
14. Mary and Paul are living in a stilt house on Pawleys Island.
15. Can you bring me a quart of milk from the store?
16. Uncle Rainey has retired from the state audit department.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
9
Name:____________________________________________
17. The rhododendron and mountain laurel were breathtakingly beautiful this year.
18. Teresa will be here early if she can find a ride.
19. I know that I need a comprehensive guide to landscaping.
20. The committee carefully analyzed each proposal.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
10
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 2: Parts of Speech
Name
Date
In the following sentences identify the part of speech of each underlined word by writing the appropriate
abbreviation in the space provided.
N for noun
V for verb
P for pronoun
Adj for adjective
Ad
j
V
Adv for adverb
Prep for preposition
C for conjunction
Example: The gourmet cook snapped the beans.
1. The rain ruined the newspaper.
2. The main thing that keeps a bonsai small is careful pruning.
3. None in the class understood the assignment.
4. The puppy eventually dragged its blanket out of its bed.
5. My family recently visited my nephew at the Naval Academy.
6. The first major league baseball game played at night took place in Cincinnati.
7. The squirrels hid pecans and acorns in the flower boxes.
8. The mockingbird woke me early with its beautiful song.
9. Libraries maintain many records of our past and present civilizations.
10. The car telephone is a time-saving device for business people.
11. The San Francisco wharf is noted for its seafood.
12. I didn’t order a pizza.
13. Please call us when you arrive home.
14. Ice hockey is a very physical game.
15. The children believed that the old, broken-down house was haunted.
16. During the twilight hours driving can be dangerous.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
11
Name:____________________________________________
17. Miscellaneous subjects will be discussed at the seminar.
18. According to the National Association for the Visually Handicapped, there are
800,000 legally blind Americans.
19. These are my favorite jeans.
20. Criticism is difficult to accept.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
12
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 3: Parts of Speech
Name
Date
In the following sentences identify the part of speech of each underlined word by writing the appropriate
abbreviation in the space provided.
N for noun
V for verb
P for pronoun
Adj for adjective
Adv for adverb
Prep for preposition
C for conjunction
1. You must attend the three sessions or he will dock you a day’s pay.
2. John seemed too tired to answer any more questions.
3. We enjoyed the movie because it was a good comedy.
4. These are very troubled times that require all our strength.
5. The work was progressing according to schedule.
6. Will the girls practice later than they did last evening?
7. Among the visitors was a famous novelist.
8. Red is a very common autumn color.
9. Politics can be a very interesting topic of conversation.
10. For the winter formal, he bought himself a new tuxedo.
11. In spite of the weather, we found the hidden cave.
12. John is a far wiser man since his defeat.
13. That is an impossible request, which I know I cannot fulfill.
14. Even though he was ill, he went to his classes.
15. The Pacific fleet was nearly destroyed in that attack.
16. It was a thrilling novel of the last war.
17. What kind of individual can he be?
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
13
Name:____________________________________________
18. The player who caught the pass is my roommate.
19. The senator came to the meeting, though she could remain only a few minutes.
20. We should have seen his car approaching earlier.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
14
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 4: Subjects and Verbs
Name
Date
Write the subject and verb of each of the following sentences in the space provided.
Subject
Verb
1. Please stop that noise.
2. Americans are famous for their optimism.
3. There are many opportunities for graduates in data processing.
4. Some young couples have decided to move to more rural areas in order to
avoid the pressures of city living.
5. Where is your parents’ summer cottage?
6. Bar Harbor and Galveston have excellent beaches.
7. Cody won $10,000 in Las Vegas.
8. At the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains is Skyline Drive.
9. Everyone has a radio in his or her car.
10. Unfortunately, rich desserts are loaded with calories.
11. At the end of the long, dark road stood a haunted house.
12. Have you ever thought of visiting New York City?
13. Joseph Conrad, a native of Poland, proved to be a major English writer.
14. Jealousy and envy are not admirable emotions.
15. Swimming and jogging are good for you.
16. Bruce Springsteen, a rock singer, grew up in New Jersey.
17. There are many advantages to traveling abroad.
18. In many southern states, the cost of living is less than in northern states.
19. Plants and flowers add a homey atmosphere to any apartment.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
15
Name:____________________________________________
20. Uncle James, as well as Aunt Mary, enjoys spending the summer at the
shore.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
16
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 5: Subjects and Verbs
Name
Date
Write the subject and verb of each of the following sentences in the space provided.
Subject
Verb
1. Television provides entertainment and comfort for many people.
2. After all, Harriet is the best jockey in the state.
3. Maria and Tony dated for seven years and will be married in July.
4. Philadelphia and New York are close together and offer many cultural
opportunities.
5. Sit up straight and pass the chicken.
6. Teachers appreciate typed papers.
7. There is a long line at the theater.
8. An American Tragedy and The Great Gatsby, both major American novels,
were written in the 1920s.
9. Inflation eats away at an individual’s income and destroys savings.
10. Will you and Henry help me with this sofa?
11. Reading and swimming are Terry’s favorite pastimes.
12. Love and discipline are important elements in a child’s life.
13. Bilingual secretaries command higher salaries in certain areas of the
country.
14. Nearly everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
15. Video games are a new form of entertainment.
16. Some artisans still practice the old crafts, such as pottery, quilting, and
glass blowing.
17. Photography, a relatively new art form, was once considered only a
means of recording a visual image.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
17
Name:____________________________________________
18. Students and teachers prefer comfortable learning environments, such as
classrooms with carpeting and overstuffed chairs.
19. Polo is a sport for wealthy people.
20. Terry studies diligently every day.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
18
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 6: Subjects and Verbs
Name
Date
Write the subject and verb of each of the following sentences in the space provided.
Subject
Verb
1. My brother and his friend sold tickets for the field day.
2. Can somebody in command give us permission to moor our boat?
3. There were several excellent applicants for the position of dean of studies.
4. Now comes the best part of the entertainment.
5. Please read the minutes of the previous meeting.
6. During the first ten minutes of the game, our team, with two of the
players out on fouls, scored two goals.
7. Never again will I be able to speak to her about that.
8. There will be among your visitors today two agents from the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
9. Both the coach and the players were angered by a series of unjust
penalties.
10. The cast was congratulated and given bonuses by a grateful producer.
11. Never again will Helen help her with the work.
12. A tour of the churches and castles of Denmark is a worthwhile experience.
13. Shut that window and take your seat.
14. Bill will help us to dig the foundation and to erect the framework of the
new building.
15. How many books are published each month on that particular subject?
16. Two important items on the agenda were salaries and a pension plan.
17. Her unassuming attitude and careful concern for details impressed her
employer.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
19
Name:____________________________________________
18. The spectators stood, cheered, and waved their pennants.
19. Where have we placed those new suits?
20. Way up the steep mountain path stood William.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
20
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 7: Kinds of Sentences
Name
Date
Indicate the kind of sentence by writing the correct abbreviation in the blanks: S—simple; CP—compound;
CX—complex; CC—compound-complex.
1. Traveling by train is better than traveling by airplane; for one thing, one can see the
entire country from ground level.
2. My father, who is a professional golfer, plans to enter the U.S. Open competition;
however, he doesn’t expect to win.
3. If couples decided to have fewer children, then the population growth in the United
States would slow down.
4. The Golden Gate Bridge is a triumph of modern engineering.
5. Both the Eagles and the ’76ers tried to win their championship games; however, the
Phillies did win the World Series.
6. At a baseball game, grown men reminisce about the glory of playing baseball when
they were children.
7. American children should learn foreign languages; if they did so, then, in another
generation, Americans could gain a better understanding of foreign countries and
cultures.
8. Whether one graduates from college or high school, commencement day is an
important occasion.
9. Our society has very few ceremonial initiation rites; going on the first date and
getting a driver’s license are contemporary rites of initiation.
10. It is important to be aware of one’s responsibilities at all times.
11. Since housing costs are so high, many people feel that they will never be able to buy
a new house.
12. Students often do not realize that college requires a greater effort than high school
did; consequently, many freshmen do not learn how to budget their time until it is too
late.
13. When American troops returned victorious from Europe and the Pacific after World
War II, they were greeted by huge crowds of happy people; when American troops
returned from Vietnam, they were greeted by angry protesters.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
21
Name:____________________________________________
14. Judy enjoys backpacking, but her husband enjoys staying at luxurious hotels.
15. After you have finished writing your essay, please give it to me.
16. Although the music was fast, all couples danced.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
22
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 8: Kinds of Sentences
Name
Date
Indicate the kind of sentence by writing the correct abbreviation in the blanks: S—simple; CP—compound;
CX—complex; CC—compound-complex.
1. After the mayor finished his speech, a number of angry protesters pelted him with
eggs.
2. Because of her accounting ability, Frieda decided to become a certified public
accountant.
3. It was a warm, humid day; fortunately, the rain later cooled us off.
4. When the monster appeared on the screen, everyone in the audience shrieked, and
one girl fainted.
5. Because the shore is so close, most people in Florida spend their summers there.
6. After all was said and done, both groups of protesters walked away from the scene of
the demonstration.
7. After living in New York City, Brent enjoyed the peace and quiet of Taos, New
Mexico.
8. There must be a way to combine technology and ecology so that we can enjoy new
scientific inventions and yet not destroy our planet.
9. In only 30 years, America has moved from liberal protests to conservative politics.
10. You can still hear Elizabethan English spoken on the North Carolina Outer Banks.
11. Dreams of shipwrecks, hidden treasure, and golden mountains filled the young boy’s
head, so he stowed away on an African freighter.
12. While the Industrial Revolution produced better lives for many people, it destroyed
others.
13. Nuclear energy has been called both the cure and the curse of our world; one day such
power will be used only to help humankind.
14. Public transportation saves its riders money, conserves energy, and is convenient, yet
many cities can’t afford to finance transportation systems.
15. Although few people would want to be drafted, some Americans favor reinstating
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
23
Name:____________________________________________
the draft.
16. Because of a bad winter storm, the flight was delayed.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
24
Name:____________________________________________
17. Write a simple sentence in the space provided.
18. Write a compound sentence.
19. Write a complex sentence.
20. Write a compound-complex sentence.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
25
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 9: Kinds of Sentences
Name
Date
Indicate the kind of sentence by writing the correct abbreviation in the blanks: S—simple; CP—compound;
CX—complex; CC—compound-complex.
1. William and Henry James contributed much to American philosophy and literature.
2. William was the philosopher, and Henry was the novelist and short-story writer.
3. Although William revolutionized philosophy, Henry is considered the better
known.
4. Henry, who lived in England, wrote fiction; William stayed home and lectured.
5. He is taller than I am.
6. Some take up bicycling; others try swimming for their exercise.
7. Those who brought equipment went skiing; others stayed in the lodge.
8. Colorful clothing styles have become very popular, especially in California.
9. To avoid foolish mistakes, always read the directions carefully.
10. Any money that I receive from the will will be invested.
11. The wait seemed endless to the lovers, but at last the wedding day came.
12. I thought that I had given the right answer; however, I was proved wrong.
13. His efforts to comfort the accident victim were endless.
14. Dropped from the fifth-story window, the flowerpot shattered on the sidewalk.
15. Because I have debts, I will have to postpone my vacation.
16. I believe that he is honest; therefore, I gave him my wallet to hold.
17. Either you pay your rent this week, or you will be asked to move out.
18. Sandy, who can pitch, and Willie, who can catch, are valuable players.
19. Sandy, who could pitch, was retained, but Willie was released from his contract.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
26
Name:____________________________________________
20. In the lion’s carcass was honey; Samson took some.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
27
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 10: Sentence Combining
Name
Date
Rewrite each set of sentences to make an effective compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence.
Example:
Although the storm uprooted three of our pear trees, it blew over quickly.
Although the storm blew over quickly, it uprooted three of our pear trees.
1. He joined a law firm in Miami. We seldom saw each other anymore.
2. The Wildcats’ basketball team has the depth necessary to win the tournament. The forwards are small.
3. The ambulance driver turned on the siren. She raced to the address given by the 911 caller.
4. Gus baked some apple bread this morning. He took a loaf to one of his neighbors.
5. I searched for the check that my mother had asked me to deposit in the bank this morning. I was unable
to find it.
6. The skies were overcast this morning. To my surprise the sun came out in the afternoon.
7. The young author read her own story in the current issue of The New Yorker. She was satisfied.
8. The roof began to leak, and several of the stained-glass windows were cracked. The members of the
congregation knew that they must increase the church’s maintenance budget for the coming year.
9. Octavia is nervous. She is making her debut tonight with the city’s new opera company.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
28
Name:____________________________________________
10. The job calls for computer skills. I expect to be hired.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
29
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 11: Sentence Combining
Name
Date
Rewrite each set of sentences to make an effective compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence.
1. Between January 1924 and September 1929 stock prices rose.
Many people thought stock prices would go up forever.
2. On Thursday, October 24, the stock exchange opened for what brokers hoped would be a profitable day
of rising prices.
Within an hour, their hopes were dashed.
3. Everyone wanted to sell stocks.
No one wanted to buy them.
4. Great crowds gathered on the street outside the Stock Exchange.
Rumors of business failures and attempted suicides swept through the crowd.
5. At first, the crash appeared to have hurt only the million or so people who had gambled and lost on the
stock market.
Within a few months of the crash, unemployment rates began to rise.
6. Industrial production, prices, and wages fell sharply.
A long business slump known as the Great Depression began.
7. By 1932, factory production had been cut in half.
About 86,000 businesses had failed, and almost 9,000 banks had closed.
8. Around 9 million people lost their savings accounts.
Unemployment soared from 3.2 percent in 1929 to 25 percent in 1933.
9. Many historians have studied the Great Depression.
They do not all agree on the causes.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
30
Name:____________________________________________
10. One certain cause was that ordinary people had not been able to buy expensive items produced in
American factories.
Fully 60 percent of all American families earned less than $2,000 a year.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
31
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 12: Sentence Combining
Name
Date
Rewrite each set of sentences to make an effective compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence.
1. The Joad family lived in Oklahoma.
The time was the 1930s, during the Great Depression.
The dust storms hit the area.
The Joad family headed for California.
2. In California the Joads were not welcome.
Thousands of poor people had gone to California.
The poor people had heard of jobs in fruit packing.
They discovered that California had more job seekers than jobs.
3. Some large farm owners took advantage of the workers.
The workers banded together.
Jim Casey and Tom Joad became leaders.
The people learned to help themselves.
4. Edgar Allan Poe wrote a short story entitled “The Cask of Amontillado.”
In that story the narrator tells of his experience fifty years earlier.
He wanted revenge against an enemy.
He walled that person up in a catacomb.
5. At first his victim said it was surely a joke.
He begged to be freed.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
32
Name:____________________________________________
The narrator refused.
The narrator cannot dismiss the experience from his mind after all these years.
6. Carrie was Stephen King’s first published novel.
In it King used some ideas from his experience as a high school teacher.
Carrie is not treated well.
She is insecure and unhappy.
7. Some of Carrie’s peers try to trick her for their amusement.
She is, at first, deceived.
She resorts to using a special power.
She gets revenge.
The town will not soon forget her.
8. Tennessee Williams wrote The Glass Menagerie.
It is concerned with four people.
Each tries to escape reality.
The reality is harsh.
Life is lonely and nightmarish.
9. Laura is one of the main characters.
She has tried to escape into the world of her glass menagerie and her music.
Then she meets a young man she has long admired.
He offers kindness to her.
10. The young man dances with Laura.
For a brief time she has confidence.
But then she discovers she will never see him again.
She returns to her glass menagerie and her music.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
33
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 13: Fragments
Name
Date
In the space provided, write C if the sentence is correct or Frag if the group of words is a fragment. Make the
fragments into complete sentences.
1. Let us begin at the beginning.
2. After the party was over.
3. The beer blast lasting all night.
4. Hurriedly and ineffectively tried to smother the small fire.
5. The discussion continued far into the night.
6. The silhouetted figure standing in the doorway.
7. The long-haired dog in the pen on the corner of the row.
8. When the storm was over and the sun had broken through.
9. My nephew is a smart child, of course.
10. Locked file cabinets seem to arouse a busybody’s curiosity.
11. Since she was operated on a year ago.
12. Slowly but confidently, opened the locked door.
13. The space shuttle had been tested several times before.
14. The rain swelling the waters behind the dam.
15. The dam on the third-largest river in the state, a technological and engineering
wonder.
16. Until you decide to accept responsibility for your own actions and for the
consequences
of your actions.
17. She accepting the invitation to the ball.
18. The insects hatching on the Schoharie, a stream famous for its trout fishing.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
34
Name:____________________________________________
19. When she stepped onto the loose front step.
20. After the child developed a rash, the school nurse sent her home.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
35
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 14: Fragments
Name
Date
In the space provided, write C if the sentence is correct or Frag if the group of words is a fragment. Make the
fragments into complete sentences.
1. While trying to sound aristocratic.
2. Most temptations should be resisted.
3. Dieted for a month with no visible results.
4. The bright green plant with the red flowers on the windowsill.
5. The youth tried unsuccessfully to save the drowning cat.
6. Because desperation overcame prudence.
7. The yellow and red stained-glass ornament by the patio doors.
8. Whenever I even thought of protesting.
9. Quickly and angrily threw the ball at his enemy’s head.
10. He submitting his resignation to his supervisor at the same time.
11. While skating on the lake, the children scared the geese away.
12. The flu being a viral infection.
13. While the flu is not cured by antibiotics.
14. Filled with happiness and excitement on this glorious day.
15. The child on the rusted swing by the side of the lake.
16. Before he left on his first trip to Europe.
17. Although he was caught in an unhappy marriage, John decided not to seek a divorce.
18. Each year, approximately the same number of people get divorced as get married.
19. Many people still catching colds in the spring because they don’t dress properly.
20. The medical profession is a vastly overpaid one, according to some economists.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
36
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 15: Comma Splices and Run-Ons
Name
Date
Mark correct sentences C, run-ons RO, and comma splices CS in the space provided.
CS
Example: In Hartford, Wisconsin, there is a small Chrysler plant, it makes outboard motors.
1. In 1781 the Revolutionary War ended when General Cornwallis surrendered to General
Washington at Yorktown.
2. I did not understand that we were to go skiing this weekend, I have a book report due on
Monday.
3. Ray sold his house he moved to Santa Fe, where he was offered a job as a systems
analyst.
4. Derrick was not as bright as some of his classmates, however, because he worked so
diligently, he did better than those who had more ability.
5. James Webb, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is a former Secretary of the Navy
he has written several books about his experiences in the Marines and as a midshipman.
6. Many Russian and French choreographers wrote ballets; some of these ballets became
popular in America.
7. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln delivered his often-quoted Gettysburg Address, he was
assassinated two years later in 1865.
8. Once Anita had decided to go back to school, she felt relieved that the decision had
been made however, she was a little apprehensive about attending classes with students
so much younger than she.
9. Geraldo hurried into the house; he took his coat off and hung it up, then he yelled, “I’m
home.”
10. The desire to complete a job is frequently the key to completing it; someone told me that
truth a long time ago.
11. Acid rain is damaging our national forests and polluting our lakes it also is ruining the
paint on my car.
12. Many homeowners are learning to do their own repairs, some are finding the experience
rewarding.
13. We ate barbecue at Zeb’s last night on the way home I saw a falling star, a sign of good
luck.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
37
Name:____________________________________________
14. Climbing, hiking, and backpacking are Natasha’s favorite pastimes, she is not
interested in any indoor sports.
15. The acrid smell of cigarettes may become offensive to nonsmokers; smoke can be a
hazard to their health.
16. Wearing extra-large pants is a current fad it will be something else someday.
17. The police were called when the next-door neighbors got into an argument over the
boundary line the police persuaded them to discuss the matter calmly.
18. I don’t have time to cook a turkey for Christmas, therefore, I ordered one with all the
trimmings from the Gourmet Cook.
19. Every year Ed and Helen Phillips have a New Year’s Eve celebration at their home
this year it is a costume party.
20. Garry, shifting from one foot to another, waited patiently for Maria to finish work he
wanted to take her to dinner.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
38
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 16: Comma Splices and Run-Ons
Name
Date
Mark correct sentences C, run-ons RO, and comma splices CS in the space provided.
CS
Example: Linemen get very little credit for winning football games, however, they play
important roles.
1. Kinisha was the storyteller in her family she remembers making up stories for the
younger children.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
39
Name:____________________________________________
2. There is a proliferation of “how-to” and “self-help” books on the market, they are
frequently on the best-seller list.
3. Curtis is the oldest of five children he is the only one to have graduated from college.
4. Paper towels serve many useful purposes, and they are not very expensive.
5. Juan’s desk was cluttered with computer printouts the mess didn’t seem to bother him.
6. She broke the zipper on her evening dress her mother had to cut the dress off.
7. The director of the research center has a top-level managerial position, the director
reports directly to the vice president for research.
8. Brothers and sisters can be best of friends, they can be worst of enemies.
9. Swimming, running, and bicycling are three parts of a triathlon; it is now an Olympic
event.
10. The environmentalists are urging the public to recycle trash however, few people are
willing to separate their garbage.
11. If I knew the environmental benefits of various products, I would be a better shopper
and environmentalist.
12. All at once she shivered, she began to feel the cold night air.
13. The rain was cold, and the wind was piercing.
14. In March I often stroll through the woods looking for crocuses, the crocus is a sign that
spring is not far away.
15. When our tire blew out, we had to walk three miles to the nearest service station when
we got there, the station was closed.
16. The rain forests are essential in keeping the earth healthy, however, developers
continue to disregard the role of natural resources in the earth’s survival.
17. Ballet requires concentration and self-discipline, it provides great satisfaction to both
the dancer and the audience.
18. Journal writing is frequently used in English classes to teach composition; it is also used
in weight-loss therapy.
19. On the way to the hospital, the ambulance was involved in an accident, no one was
hurt.
20. Leticia devotes many hours of service to charities and the community, she also spends
several hours a day writing for the daily newspaper.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
40
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 17: Comma Splices, Run-Ons, and Fragments
Name
Date
Write the appropriate identification in each blank: OK—correct; CS—comma splice; RO—run-on; Frag—
fragment.
1. Don Quixote was a good man who saw evil in the world, he decided to take action.
2. He was old, nevertheless, he decided to become a knight.
3. He was old nevertheless he decided to become a knight.
4. He was old, but he decided to become a knight.
5. He was old; nevertheless, he decided to become a knight.
6. He made his armor from his materials the quality was not good.
7. He used his own horse, an old nag with a sagging back.
8. For a squire, he enlisted Sancho Panza, a peasant neighbor who would leave his family
behind.
9. The reason being that he trusted and admired Don Quixote.
10. Sancho Panza riding a mule.
11. They went on many adventures together some were laughable.
12. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza were deadly serious, they had a mission.
13. Don Quixote would do what he could to rid the world of evil Sancho Panza would be
rewarded with his own island kingdom.
14. Because Don Quixote often misrepresented reality, he mistook a servant for a noble
woman and devoted himself to her.
15. He usually treated people of low social status and bad behavior very well they often
responded by being better persons than they ordinarily were.
16. On one occasion he attacked a windmill he thought it was an evil giant.
17. The arms of the windmill knocked him off his horse, but he had an explanation for this
misfortune.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
41
Name:____________________________________________
18. Evil beings will sometimes change shapes Don Quixote would not be discouraged.
19. As he became famous, some people wanted to be near him so they could laugh, however,
they often went away with admiration for him.
20. He sometimes made mistakes, nevertheless, he dedicated his life to virtue, beauty, and
justice.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
42
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 18: Parallelism
Name
Date
Complete each of the following sentences by adding a construction that is parallel to the underlined
construction.
Example: Christy ordered a hamburger, a small chef’s salad, and a cup of coffee.
1. The train was crowded with students going home to be with their parents during the holidays or
2. Dad wondered whether he could see the second half of the game and still
3. Not only does the girl ask countless questions but
also
4. The hats and coats were piled everywhere: on the beds, on the chairs, and even
5. During our coffee break this morning, we had blueberry muffins that were small but
6. Reggie will either have to study after we get back from the show or
7. Diggins was an entrepreneur at heart; nevertheless,
8. The plan was to cross the English Channel by hydrofoil, rent a car, and then
9.
Looking out the window, I saw several boys from the neighborhood playing a pickup game of
basketball during the morning, but
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
43
Name:____________________________________________
10. Dennelle knew neither what to say in her letter of application nor
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
44
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 19: Parallelism
Name
Date
Rewrite in correct form all sentences that contain faulty parallelism. Note that some sentences may be
corrected in more than one way. Write C if a sentence is correct.
Example:
In the picnic basket were three pieces of fruit: an apple, orange, and banana.
In the picnic basket were three pieces of fruit: an apple, an orange, and a banana.
1. The recently published biography of Winston Churchill is interesting, detailed, and it is well written
too.
2. The number of apple trees replanted in the orchard this year is greater than last year’s.
3. The wing chair was upholstered in a linen that had green and white stripes and with red poppies.
4. At six o’clock Thursday morning, the telephone rang loudly, persistently, and it went on and on.
5. We not only went horseback riding but took also a boat out on the Rio Grande.
6. On New Year’s Eve, Uncle Sean was both amused by and responsive to my request for a small loan.
7. The flash of lightning and the thunderclap were frightening.
8. October skies are blue, clear, and seem cold.
9. After Janie finally got the bottom drawer open, she found a roll of pink ribbon, an ornament from a
Christmas tree, and a dozen or more old photographs.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
45
Name:____________________________________________
10. He can either order the cap by mail or by calling a toll-free number.
11. She lives in Montana, works for a pharmaceutical company, and she attends night school.
12. He spends his Saturdays working on his antique cars or to go to ball games.
13. Pat visits all those hardware stores that sell sporting goods and stopping by the specialty shops as well.
14. The car salesmen were impressed with the sleek new model, but the shop foreman was somewhat
dubious about it.
15. The musical was fast-paced, upbeat, and our whole family enjoyed it thoroughly.
16. That commercial was neither accurate nor was it entertaining.
17. Teresita hoped to travel to Alaska and to stay with friends.
18. The banquet table in the great dining hall was long, narrow, and it was dirty.
19. We assured the visitors from Scotland that the climate in the mountains is cool at night and turning hot
during the day.
20. The judge has asked both to speak to the defense attorneys and the district attorney.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
46
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 20: Parallelism
Name
Date
Write the appropriate identification in each blank: P—good parallel structure; NP—nonparallel structure.
1. Both political parties were not only sure that their platforms were needed but happy
that they were different.
2. The drivers were suspected of changing the compression of both the motor and of the
size of the wheels.
3. For thirty years, Senator Fogle has advocated federal work projects and urged
regulative agencies.
4. The newspapers are filled with stories of how deserters are working as spies and they
create havoc in the provinces.
5. He believed that senior citizens make poor drivers and referred to his uncle as a good
example.
6. Boxing may be a dangerous sport, but to box can also be a good discipline.
7. To increase sales, they hired a new advertising representative and held regular staff
meetings.
8. Unemployment seemed to be the cause not only of the delinquency but the reason for an
increase in the number of divorces.
9. The new administration has taken over the control of food and drugs and the
investigation of air and water pollution.
10. Mr. James’s resignation was as much a tragedy for the company as it was victorious for
him.
11. The fascist leaders were trained in methods of organization, and the followers were
coached in ways to cooperate.
12. To get an English poet for the occasion and paying the fee are two different matters.
13. Mars is about half the diameter of the earth and has only a tenth of its mass.
14. Darwin thought of his century as a “golden age,” but his opponents disagreed.
15. One teacher simply ignored the cheating in his classes and rationalizing his position
by saying the real students would get an education anyway.
16. There are not only thousands of cars commuting daily to the downtown hub, but vehicles
of all kinds that never leave the hub.
17. In Delhi, we enjoyed both the flowers that were always in evidence and the climate
made them possible.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
47
Name:____________________________________________
18. She would not put up with abstract and subjective interpretations or giving credit for
unsupported generalizations.
19. Madison Avenue takes people as they are and leaves them there intellectually.
20. He was an undersized man with both an enormous head and a conceited fool with
delusions of grandeur.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
48
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 21: Tense
Name
Date
In the space provided, write the correct form of the verb that appears in parentheses.
led
Example: Who (lead) the singing at last year’s reunion?
1. Last night the two couples (talk) in the theater lobby until time for the
performance.
2. Aloysius (think) that his life would be easier if he were named “Al.”
3. Who knows how many vines Tarzan has (swing) from?
4. We were (suppose) to leave for Shawnee before lunch, but of course Terence was
late.
5. I was (awaken) at midnight by the grandfather clock at the end of the hall.
6. Because the small boy had had only a few lessons, he (blow) his tuba with more
enthusiasm than skill.
7. Tonight Yvette (hope) to read The Glass Menagerie before going to bed.
8. I (remember) when my mother used to call out my spelling words while I was
eating breakfast.
9. Jenny has (begin) swimming on the weekends at the YMCA.
10. I am surprised that she has not (swim) there before.
11. As they waited to cross the busy street, the small boy (cling) to his mother’s coat.
12. In the late movie the soldiers (stand) at the ship’s rail and waved good-bye to
the crowd on the dock.
13. It’s easy to understand why this stock scene (appear) regularly in World War II
movies.
14. We have (get) several cards from Holly since she has been in Mexico City.
15. Everyone else had (eat) before Audrey finally came down to breakfast.
16. He (feel) perfectly at ease in the small commuter plane.
17. Every morning the United States flag as well as that of our state is (raise) on the
front campus.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
49
Name:____________________________________________
18. Billy Budd was (hang) from the yardarm, a punishment that is debated by
sailors, lawyers, and students.
19. Although the blanket was (wear) around the child’s neck as a cape, her mother
insisted the blanket should stay on the bed.
20. The man on first had (hope) to steal second.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
50
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 22: Tense
Name
Date
In the space provided, write the correct form of the verb that appears in parentheses.
1. He had (steal) at least a dozen bases during the season.
2. But this time he had (run) only halfway down the baseline when the pitcher
picked him off.
3. As the fans booed, he (flee) to the dugout.
4. Uncle Leo (decide) to leave.
5. The Wileys are (accustom) to having an early dinner and then watching
television.
6. We had (drive) all the way to Greenville before we stopped for gas.
7. Although Rufus had (fall) from the pecan tree numerous times, he persisted in
climbing it.
8. Clement Moore’s poem tells us that “the stockings were (hang) by the chimney
with care.”
9. After the boys had (ring) Mrs. Worley’s doorbell a half dozen times, they
decided that she must be taking her afternoon nap.
10. If you had (take) the Norman Parkway to the Civic Center, you would have
saved ten minutes or more.
11. We were told that the ferry (sail) for the island every morning, coming back to
the mainland before sundown.
12. My brother and I (burst) into laughter every time we saw Lucy in her candyfactory episode.
13. Donna was all but (freeze) by the time she walked from the student union
building to the bookstore.
14. Mother told me that the clasp on her pearls is (break).
15. Jess was (sting) by a yellow jacket when he was looking for the shovel in the tool
shed.
16. Our class has been (ask) to decorate a float for the homecoming parade.
17. Mr. Elliot says that all of the research has been (do) for the marketing report.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
51
Name:____________________________________________
18. When she called the 800 number, she was (tell) that the train would leave at
8:45 A.M.
19. Yesterday the White Witch of Narnia (command) her subjects.
20. Have you (receive) a tax notice from the city?
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
52
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 23: Problems with Special Verbs
Name
Date
Write the correct verb in the blank.
1. If you (lie, lay) down, the exercise does you no good.
2. The doctor told him that his trouble was caused by the water he had (drank,
drunk).
3. The game began before the bets were (lain, laid) on the table.
4. The Halloween mask and costume made the children wonder who she was
(suppose, supposed) to be.
5. The audience ruined his act because it just (set, sat) there.
6. He wanted to do the right thing, but he didn’t know what he should (had, have)
done.
7. The ball would not stop rolling even when she (set, sat) it between the two books.
8. In his thirties, he (use, used) to rise at 8:00 and be at work by 9:00.
9. The European audiences would (rise, raise) up in a body and applaud him for
several minutes.
10. The inspector accidentally (rang, rung) the bell that summoned the villagers to
Mass.
11. She lived in the old house for thirty-two years, and the shades were never
(risen, raised).
12. In spite of her confused testimony, she must (had, have) been guilty.
13. Any good doctor would insist that a child with a bad heart (lie, lay) down every
day to rest.
14. Every day for three months they (eat, ate) the same boring meals and
complained as usual.
15. Before his mother said a word, he told everyone he had been (lying, laying)
down when the fire started.
16. When he said his balloon (busted, burst), the other employees sympathized.
17. Rubinstein refused to start until everyone was (setting, sitting) down.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
53
Name:____________________________________________
18. The last thing the board wanted was to have the president (rise, raise) from her
chair and start the ticker tape.
19. The group at the church whispered that he had (drank, drunk) himself to death.
20. Four kittens (lay, laid) in the basket like balls of white yarn.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
54
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 24: Subject-Verb Agreement
Name
Date
Circle the verb that agrees in number with the subject in each of the following sentences.
1. Juan and Marguerite (is, are) both lawyers.
2. Children’s stories (contains, contain) many images of horror and create fear.
3. Neither Almeta nor her teachers (was, were) present at the assembly.
4. Economics, as well as mathematics, (is, are) difficult for many students.
5. Each of the members (is, are) ready for a new election.
6. The crew (is, are) servicing the plane at 6:00 A.M.
7. At the beginning of the semester, each student (is, are) given a basic skills test.
8. A good pair of running shoes (costs, cost) quite a bit more than old-fashioned sneakers.
9. Ricardo and his brothers (is, are) going to the family reunion.
10. One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays (is, are) Romeo and Juliet.
11. At the back of the book (is, are) an envelope that contains pictures.
12. The Cosby Show, a long-running TV program, (has, have) gone off the air.
13. There (is, are) a lot left to be done.
14. (Isn’t, Aren’t) Mario going to the prom?
15. Where (is, are) the members of the Senior Committee?
16. An individual’s right to freedom of speech (is, are) an important constitutional guarantee.
17. He is a man who (protects, protect) his family.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
55
Name:____________________________________________
18. Athletes (works, work) hard to stay in shape.
19. The American political system (encourages, encourage) many divergent views.
20. Alex, as well as all of his relatives, (is, are) invited to the party.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
56
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 25: Subject-Verb Agreement
Name
Date
Circle the verb that agrees in number with the subject in each of the following sentences.
1. It’s said that politics (makes, make) strange bedfellows.
2. There (is, are) many natural situations that can harm people.
3. A pair of designer jeans (costs, cost) about $60.
4. Physics (is, are) the most difficult course I’ve ever taken.
5. Either my parents or I (is, are, am) going to Europe this summer.
6. The jury (is, are) meeting now; a decision should be reached soon.
7. A thorough knowledge of economics (is, are) necessary for investing money wisely.
8. Each of the junior women (was, were) told to meet with the Dean of Women.
9.
Two Gentlemen of Verona (is, are) one of Shakespeare’s plays.
10. Alicia, as well as Janice, (is, are) a member of the National Honor Society.
11. Television news (sensationalizes, sensationalize) all important events.
12. At the end of a rutted lane (is, are) a house and a barn.
13. Marriage (is, are) an important step in every person’s life.
14. Both Newsweek and Time (covers, cover) major news stories.
15. The President and the First Lady, as well as the Cabinet members, (is, are) staying at Camp David.
16. Concord and Lexington (is, are) important historical sites.
17. Reno’s casinos (has, have) proven to be tourist attractions.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
57
Name:____________________________________________
18. Neither the coaches nor the captains (was, were) available for an interview.
19. Each nurse (spends, spend) nearly 60 hours a week at the hospital.
20. One hundred dollars (is, are) too much to pay for a pair of shoes.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
58
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 26: Subject-Verb Agreement
Name
Date
Write the correct verb in the blank.
1. There (is, are) a number of a foods containing no animal fat.
2. After the explosion, (was, were) there any people unaccounted for?
3. Not one of us (was, were) ready to promise not to fight.
4. Find out whether each of the skiers (have, has) floats for the keys.
5. Most of the birds on the islands (are, is) related to the finch.
6. Only a few of the sheep (has, have) enough wool to shear.
7. Every night a pink moon and a fleecy cloud (appears, appear) over the horizon.
8. The owner and manager (was, were) declared an incompetent reporter.
9. Each camper and each boat (make, makes) trouble for commuters on the freeway.
10. Every glass and cup in the kitchen (has, have) lipstick on the rim.
11. Either the doctor or his lawyers (has, have) to testify.
12. Not only the oil tanks but also the office building (was, were) consumed.
13. The whole town knew he was one of those people who (spread, spreads) gossip.
14. The Sea Gull is one of the boats that (sail, sails) in the Honolulu race.
15. The troop, with its leaders, (assemble, assembles) in groups for contests.
16. Many helpers (become, becomes) necessary for milking the camels, tending the
children, making rugs, and preparing meals.
17. Antarctic Caves (describe, describes) a great hole that Admiral Byrd is said to
have explored.
18. The anthropologists believe semantics (is, are) within their discipline.
19. All he needs for a new watch (is, are) five dollars more.
20. The psychologist at our school believes a child’s environment (is, are) more
important than anything else.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
59
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 27: Tense Consistency
Name
Date
Read the following paragraph carefully, checking for shifts in verb tenses. Strike out any underlined verb
that is not consistent, and write in the correct-tense verb above it.
(1) One evening in 1986 while I was working the swing shift at the General Tire Recapping Plant, I
experienced the greatest pain of my life due to a terrible accident. (2) I was recapping large off-road
tires. (3) Raw rubber was heated in a large tank prior to it being fed into an extruder.
(4) While the lowering platform is in the up position, the chain snapped, sending the heavy platform
crashing down into the tank. (5) This causes a huge wave of steaming water to surge out of the tank.
(6) Unfortunately, I was in its path. (7) The wave hit me just above the waist on my backside.
(8) The sudden pain takes my breath away. (9) I could not move because my clothes were steaming; I could
only stand there and scream. (10) Co-workers run to my aid and stripped the hot clothing from my body,
taking skin as they did. (11) I lay face down on the plant floor, naked and shaking for what seemed like an
eternity until the paramedics arrived to transport me to the hospital. (12) The painful experience is still with
me as a nightmare memory.
from “Pain Unforgettable”
James Hutchinson
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
60
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 28: Tense Consistency
Name
Date
Read the following paragraph carefully, and check the underlined verbs for consistent tense. Strike out any
underlined verb that is not consistent, and write in the correct-tense verb above it.
(1) In the L.A. Basin, people know why the Santa Anas are called the “devil winds.” (2) They came in
from the desert searing hot like the breath of a blast furnace, tumbling over the mountain ranges and
streaking down the canyons. (3) Pitilessly they destroy and disrupt. (4) Trees are stripped of foliage, broken,
and toppled. (5) Fires that start in the foothills may become fire storms and bombard the downwind areas
with smoke, ash, and burning embers. (6) But even without fire, the winds picked up sand, dirt, and debris
and send them toward the ocean as a hot, dry, dirty tide going out. (7) All the time the Santa Anas are
relentless, humming, howling, and whining through yards, and rattling and rippling loose shingles. (8) Palm
fronds slapped and clatter. (9) Dogs howled and often panic and run away; birds hunkered down in wind
breaks; and human beings mostly stay inside, wiping up the dust, coughing, and get grumpy. (10) The devil
winds earned their reputation.
from “The Santa Anas”
Juanita Rivera
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
61
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 29: Passive to Active Voice
Name
Date
Rewrite the following sentences, changing the passive-voice verbs to active voice.
1. The lecture was given by a famous scientist.
2. The surgery was performed by Dr. Song.
3. The opera was produced by the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
4. The winning horse was ridden by Janice Baines.
5. The Wimbledon men’s tennis tournament was won by Harold Stanton.
6. Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was read by the class.
7. The report for the mayor was written by Jan Brown.
8. The rock star was greeted by thousands of fans.
9. The album was recorded by Elvis on June 15, 1956.
10. The gun-control legislation was passed by both houses of the state assembly.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
62
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 30: Passive to Active Voice
Name
Date
Rewrite the following sentences, changing the passive-voice verbs to active voice.
1. The lunch was made by me.
2. The Irish wolfhound was operated on by the veterinarian.
3. The experiment was completed by the biologist.
4. The computer was programmed by Cary.
5. The championship was won by our basketball team.
6. The spy was deported by the government.
7. A space walk was taken by the astronaut.
8. The brunch was given by Mrs. Nelson.
9. The Declaration of Independence was signed by Thomas Jefferson.
10. His appeal was declined by the Supreme Court judges.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
63
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 31: Pronoun Case
Name
Date
Circle the correct form of the pronoun who.
1. (Who, Whom) does the choir director think is the more talented of the two composers?
2. If this chartreuse umbrella does not belong to you, to (who, whom) does it belong?
3. You will have to ask (whoever, whomever) is on duty at the gate house how to get to the picnic area.
4. (Whoever, Whomever) is running that vacuum cleaner has succeeded in destroying my powers of
concentration.
5. Everybody in camp (who, whom) had been hoping for a letter arrived at mail call.
6. (Whose, Who’s) going to call Norman about our plans for the weekend?
7. The afternoon I met Ann and her bulldog, I couldn’t decide who was walking (who, whom).
8. Neither of us knows (who, whom) the woman in that gorgeous sari is.
9. (Who, Whom) should we ask for when we get to the clinic?
10. The names of those to (who, whom) we have sent season tickets are posted in the box office.
11. (Who’s, Whose) glasses are those lying on the beach towel?
12. Tell the Garcias to ask (whoever, whomever) is at the reception desk where the auditorium is.
13. You can be sure that Kim knows (who, whom) is responsible for the graffiti on the sidewalk.
14. A computer programmer (who, whom) used to work here now works in the Candler Building.
15. The programmer (who, whom) Ms. Newsome hired to take his place graduated a year behind us at
State.
16. The Russian sailors (who, whom) we saw at the Eagle Bar and Grill must be on shore leave.
17. For (who, whom) did your friends name their yacht?
18. Ask (whoever, whomever) you invite to the Halloween dance to wear a costume.
19. The congressman is interested in discussing forest preservation with (whoever, whomever) will listen.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
64
Name:____________________________________________
20. In a small town, one speaks to (whoever, whomever) one meets in the stores or on the streets.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
65
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 32: Pronoun Case
Name
Date
In the following sentences, write the correct form of the underlined pronoun in the space provided. Write C if
the sentence is correct.
they
Example: I’ve never known anyone to enjoy a carnival as much as them.
1. The dean and Professor Smithers will sit on the platform in front of you and I.
2. Us two and the five tellers were told yesterday that the bank will begin opening
on Saturday mornings.
3. Did you hear about him?
4. Although both José and her were experienced drivers, they hesitated to set out
across the mountain in the snow.
5. Standing behind he and Susie in the long line at the seafood restaurant were
their former neighbors.
6. The kindergarten children had not met the new principal and she.
7. Coach is an eternal perfectionist; he simply will not accept the attitude of some
of us.
8. No one but he could have inspired the team to play as it has this year.
9. Everybody except him had predicted a miserable record.
10. The dancers in the next scene—Louisa, Rosie, and me—have never appeared
before so large an audience.
11. Because Alan does not know this section of the city, it’s not unlikely that him
missed our exit.
12. No one other than your friend from Saudi Arabia has bracelets as handsome as
them.
13. In spite of his beard, I’m certain that the man in the telephone booth is him.
14. Let’s you and I accept the contract.
15. Neither Christina nor me heard the thunderstorm during the night.
16. The Chamber of Commerce appreciated your telling the visitors about we.
17. The man sitting between my brother and I on the plane offered to exchange seats
with either of us.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
66
Name:____________________________________________
18. Between you and I, the next chief executive officer of Windsor Mills is Rosa
Gonzales.
19. Sylvia could wear this burnt-orange sweater better than either you or I.
20. The rock group coming tonight to the college impresses I.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
67
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 33: Pronoun Case
Name
Date
Write the correct pronoun in the blank.
1. (Who, Whom) do you want me to call?
2. Give it to her and (me, I).
3. She works faster than (I, me).
4. Let’s you and (me, I) leave before midnight.
5. All but Maria and (he, him) left on the bus.
6. (Who, Whom) do you think is the best person for the job?
7. Nevertheless, we were just as careful as (they, them).
8. I will accept (whoever, whomever) they select.
9. We (ourself, ourselfs, ourselves) are ultimately responsible.
10. Do you expect the winner to be (he, him)?
11. I will try to help (whoever, whomever) asks.
12. She was the person (who, whom) we thought would succeed.
13. (We, Us) citizens have a responsibility to be well informed.
14. They objected to (our, us) doing the work.
15. No one was more pleased than (he, him).
16. All of (we, us) residents signed the petition.
17. It will be read by (whoever, whomever) opens the mail.
18. I will ask Shirley and (he, him) to go.
19. Between you and (I, me), I am not interested in the idea.
20. The cat will not eat (its, it’s) food.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
68
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 34: Pronoun Agreement
Name
Date
Circle the pronoun that agrees in number with its antecedent in each sentence.
1. Each of the girls makes (her, their) own clothes.
2. The jury finally made (its, their) decision.
3. It often seems that television programmers are not concerned with (its, their) viewers.
4. Both Bill and Tony write (his, their) mothers twice a week from their army base.
5. Neither Damon nor his parents offered (his, their) advice.
6. Either of the two boys will offer (his, their) help.
7. Neither the Library of Congress nor the New York Public Library has (its, their) own film rooms.
8. Either the President or the senators will give (his or her, their) speeches today.
9. American citizens must protect (its, their, his) rights.
10. Every person should have (his or her, their) own savings account.
11. Neither the baseball players nor the managers want to lose (his, their) side of the argument.
12. Each student should turn in (his or her, their) paper now.
13. Does everyone have (his or her, their) textbook?
14. Everyone has the right to (his or her, their) own opinion.
15. Each of the first-year women called (her, their) home on the first day of the fall term.
16. The mayor and her husband offered (his, her, their) home to the Merry Twirlers for its annual ball.
17. One of the girls agreed to drive (her, their) own car.
18. Does anyone have (his or her, their) car keys?
19. Ms. Perry is a captain in the Navy; (he, she, they) also is a well-known author.
20. Virtue is (its, his, her) own reward.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
69
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 35: Pronoun Agreement
Name
Date
Circle the pronoun that agrees in number with its antecedent.
1. Either Josh or Bob will present (his, their) speech today.
2. Any one of the club members will give (his or her, their) approval to the new plan.
3. The team members took (his or her, their) seats on the plane.
4. Neither of the girls wore (her, their) coat on this cold day.
5. Each man, woman, and child has (his or her, their) own opinion of what is most important in life.
6. Van Gogh’s paintings have (its, their) own special qualities: one can always distinguish his paintings
from those of the other impressionists.
7. Which one of the men paid (his, their) bill?
8. Each student must do (his or her, their) homework.
9. Nurses must adhere to the ethics of (her, their) profession.
10. A person who follows the crowd stands to lose (his or her, their) own individuality.
11. The Navy promises (its, their) recruits a chance to see the world.
12. Lou Gehrig’s baseball record was intact, but Cal Ripkin was within one game of breaking (it, them).
13. Some nightclubs do not offer (its, their) customers different types of music.
14. The women on the soccer team are proud of (her, their) team’s record.
15. Neither the boys nor their sister had received (her, their, his) allowance for three weeks.
16. The judge ordered the jury to observe the rule of silence until (it, they) reached a verdict.
17. The board of trustees finally made (its, their) decision about a new athletic field.
18. Every faculty member has (his or her, their) own office.
19. Sheila and her sisters offered (her, their) assistance in planning the party.
20. Hank, along with his fraternity brothers, studied for (his, their) final examination.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
70
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 36: Pronoun Agreement
Name
Date
Write the correct pronoun in the blank.
1. If anyone saw the accident, will (he or she, they) please tell me?
2. Ms. Johnson, the president and treasurer, left (their, her) home early for the
meeting.
3. A person should always choose (his or her, their) friends with great care.
4. Today a nation that does not educate its citizens may find (itself, themselves)
unable to compete in international markets.
5. The audience was so delighted with the performance of the soprano that (it,
they) rose and applauded her loudly.
6. The group of hikers carried a two-day supply of food in (its, their) knapsacks.
7. Neither Beth nor her friends have ever had (their, her) ears pierced.
8. Joe, the former owner and manager of the store, sold (his, their) stocks in the
company.
9. Someone in this class forgot (his or her, their) books yesterday.
10. The jury did (its, their) best to bring in a fair but quick verdict.
11. Every student at this school must join a club of (his or her, their) choice.
12. Either Henry or his friends lost (his, their) way to the beach.
13. What kind of man would forget (his, their) promises to Alice?
14. No one has any knowledge of what (his or her, their) assignments will be.
15. Brown & Company is having (its, their) spring clearance sale now.
16. All the workers (which, who) were fired met at his house Tuesday.
17. He was one of those students who were sure of (his or her, their) answers.
18. Each boy bought a box of candy for (himself, theirselves, themselves).
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
71
Name:____________________________________________
19. A boxer must keep in top condition, if (you, he, they) expects to win consistently.
20. She played tennis and basketball very well; she received letters in (it, them).
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
72
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 37: Pronoun Reference
Name
Date
Rewrite each sentence that contains an error in the reference of a pronoun. Notice that some sentences may
be corrected in more than one way. Write C if the sentence is correct.
Example:
Ken is a sales representative, and he thrives on it.
Ken is a sales representative, and he thrives on his job.
1. When you have to walk from the subway to your office, a woman needs to wear one pair of shoes and
carry another.
2. I remember when a smokestack belched forth clouds of smoke, which no one considered hazardous.
3. Adam, look at your watch to see whether it is almost time for this lecture to be over.
4. The man in front of me at the market had a heap of groceries in his cart, which delayed my work.
5. When we read that Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm were both linguists, we became interested not only in
them but also in it.
6. This jigsaw puzzle, which is a reproduction of a painting by Winslow Homer, contains a dozen shades
of blue.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
73
Name:____________________________________________
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
74
Name:____________________________________________
7. If a man decides to order a monogrammed shirt, you should be absolutely sure that it will fit.
8. Some years our grapevines are laden with them.
9. More and more of us shop by mail; this saves time, a commodity in short supply.
10. Coach Pankhurst told Gerald that he had to spend more time on the track if he expected to stay in
shape.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
75
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 38: Pronoun Reference
Name
Date
Rewrite each sentence that contains an error in the reference of a pronoun. Notice that some sentences may
be corrected in more than one way. Write C if the sentence is correct.
Example:
I’m not surprised that Steve is in medical school; after all, his father was one.
I’m not surprised that Steve is in medical school; after all, his father was a doctor.
1. With the stereo going full blast in the next room, Herb could not concentrate on reading Lord Jim, which
certainly annoyed him.
2. The washing machine, which I had bought only a week ago, was streaming water across the kitchen
floor.
3. The radio says a stalled lumber truck has blocked the freeway traffic; that means Melissa will be late for
work.
4. Grandfather told Bernard that he ought to stop watching wrestling on television and do something
constructive.
5. Did you realize that Mr. Jacobs, whose photographs are on display in the alumni gallery, has two
daughters who are also interested in it?
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
76
Name:____________________________________________
6. It was so hot and humid that all we could think about was home, an air conditioner, and a tall glass of
iced tea.
7. When anyone learns to read, you have taken the essential step toward acquiring other knowledge.
8. At the half our soccer team was ahead; this was certainly a surprise to those of us who had seen last
week’s shutout.
9. I could not pull from my memory the name of the man hurrying across the lobby of the bank toward
me, which has frozen on more than one occasion.
10. If a person chooses to room alone on the cruise, you will have to pay an additional fee.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
77
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 39: Pronoun Reference
Name
Date
If the sentence is correct, write OK in the blank. If the sentence has a problem with pronoun reference, write
the incorrect pronoun in the blank.
1. I have always admired the Danes; they are such a happy people.
2. Alice and I spend our summer vacations in Massachusetts, for we like their many
beautiful lakes.
3. In his English composition class, you have to write at least twelve themes.
4. The police cars arrived at the scene, and they quickly rounded up the young
rioters.
5. She chose a nontraditional career, which made her mother very proud.
6. On television it said that the weather would be fair on Saturday.
7. Elizabeth spoke to the saleswoman, and she was very rude.
8. I can still see the look on the coach’s face, who was standing near me when
Wilbur missed the tackle.
9. John dropped the present into the basket which he had bought for his sister.
10. Clear Pond has a particular significance for people who live in Shawnee,
Oklahoma. This is probably unfamiliar to most of you.
11. They will not permit me to visit my father after work has begun.
12. I finally found the tailor’s shop who pressed my suit.
13. A child was adopted by a man and a woman. Her name was Sally.
14. I have always wanted to visit Switzerland. They have such magnificent
mountains there.
15. The clerk told the customer that her automobile had been stolen.
16. He kept whispering to the student in front of him. That disturbed the teacher
considerably.
17. John’s leaving his clothes around the house made his mother angry.
18. A young person should take care in choosing a profession, if you wish to be
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
78
Name:____________________________________________
successful and happy.
19. You wrote an excellent article on the defeat of our team, which I enjoyed very
much.
20. Barbara did not give her enough money to take the train home, which she
wanted to do desperately.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
79
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 40: Adjectives and Adverbs
Name
Date
Underline any adjective or adverb that is incorrectly used. Then write the correct form at the left. Write C if
the sentence is correct.
surely
Example: You sure do make a good lemon meringue pie.
1. Jack and Fran painted steady all morning, finishing the deck just before lunch.
2. My rolls didn’t rise, and, to make matters worse, my cheesecake turned out bad.
3. The train stopped so sudden that her coat and books spilled into the aisle.
4. Of Joan’s two watercolors in the show, this one is surely the best.
5. His idea of a well morning is to sleep until he wakes up and then have his coffee
and read the morning paper on the patio.
6. The child stared uncertain at the clown, who was smiling broadly at the nursery
school audience.
7. The factory whistle sounded very clearly on that gray Monday afternoon.
8. My father spoke plain to us children when he disapproved of our behavior.
9. We always knew when Professor Coldham had arrived in the dining hall; his
was a real good voice.
10. Thank you very muchly for bringing me the jacket I left in the golf cart.
11. Jessica’s heart beat rapid when she heard the key turn in the lock.
12. Once the cloud cover had been burned away, the day grew somewhat warmerly.
13. Uncle Herman feels quite well now that he has given up his steady diet of
tamales.
14. I’m glad to hear that he feels better; he’s felt badly for days.
15. The harvest moon is real bright tonight.
16. The bass tournament scheduled for this weekend is the better of the three for this
season.
17. Ben certainly drives much more careful since having that accident at Birch
Corners.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
80
Name:____________________________________________
18. It seems that Miss Marple proves the innocence of her heroes and heroines as easy
as even more experienced sleuths.
19. For Agatha Christie’s readers, the solution to the mystery sometimes proves
more difficult.
20. Have you noticed that the price of gold has risen regular during the past month?
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
81
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 41: Adjectives and Adverbs
Name
Date
Circle the correct form of the word in parentheses.
1. Kim is (some, somewhat) better at playing goalie than her cousin.
2. The judges for the debate were relaxed, chatting (casual, casually) among themselves.
3. However, those of us on the debate teams huddled (nervous, nervously) at the back of the hall.
4. Which of the two lamps looks (best, better) on Mom’s desk?
5. Nina speaks (enthusiastic, enthusiastically) about her sales job at the boutique.
6. In fact, one might say that she has become (extravagant, extravagantly) in her praise.
7. Early Christmas morning, the children crept (cautious, cautiously) into the living room.
8. They (sure, surely) didn’t know whom or what they would find there.
9. When Marian wears that silk dress, she looks (more pretty, prettier) than ever.
10. When you use the online catalog in the library, your spelling has to be (most exact, exact).
11. Despite the substitute teacher’s growing irritation, he spoke (even, evenly) to the children.
12. Although he appeared (calm, calmly), his looks belied his feelings.
13. He wished that his rambunctious pupils would read (quiet, quietly) at their desks.
14. He wished even more that the final bell would sound (loud, loudly) and (clear, clearly).
15. The setter, which had been running along the edge of the water, stopped (sudden, suddenly).
16. The dog peered (intent, intently) at the crab washed up by the tide.
17. This month’s weather is the (worst, worse) we have had all winter.
18. After Justin took the antibiotic prescribed by his physician, he was as (good, well) as he ever had been.
19. The cranberry relish doesn’t need more sugar; it tastes (sweet, sweetly) enough.
20. Nan believes it is even (sweeter, more sweetly) than the batch you made at Thanksgiving.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
82
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 42: Adjectives and Adverbs
Name
Date
One word in each sentence should be omitted or corrected. Write the omission or correction in the blank.
1. The father of the two boys admitted he liked the oldest one better.
2. After two weeks of prospecting, the old man was beginning to walk too slow to
stay with the others.
3. The Tempest has real elaborate stage directions.
4. He threw the ball more straight than before.
5. The minister of finance felt badly when he discovered that the expedition had
succeeded without his help.
6. I’d rather work for someone who doesn’t dictate so rapid.
7. The king’s problem was always to decide which of his valets was honester.
8. The early English writers sure borrowed a great deal from each other.
9. The wooden horse helped the Greeks win the war easier.
10. No one except the teacher liked those kind of plays.
11. Of the four years I spent in college, my sophomore year was harder.
12. She should have felt real good after recuperating in Patagonia.
13. Joan Ford and Nancy Page were real good friends.
14. The little boy only whistled to show them he wasn’t afraid.
15. The riot was one of those kind of rebellions that do more harm than good.
16. It was agreed that the chapel was alright for the meeting.
17. Washington’s men got so cold they wanted nothing beside warm clothes and a
warm meal.
18. She had the most perfect voice for the role of Violetta of any who tried out.
19. The doctor said, “He is a terminal type case, but he doesn’t know it yet.”
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
83
Name:____________________________________________
20. The prison was not the kind of a place she wanted for the wedding.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
84
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 43: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Name
Date
Read each sentence carefully. If the sentence is correct, write C in the space provided. If the sentence contains
a misplaced modifier, write MM and correct the sentence. If the sentence contains a dangling modifier, write
DM and correct the sentence.
1. The rider was thrown by his horse wearing shorts.
2. Please give the desk to Mrs. Wooten with the brass inlaid figures.
3. The team with the highest number of wins will capture the championship.
4. Diets are difficult to follow that help one lose weight.
5. Doctors and lawyers with white hospital coats are in deep conversation.
6. Designer jeans that cost a lot of money are worth the price because they last forever, or
at least until styles change.
7. Handsome men are loved by women with hairy chests.
8. Looking out my window, a dog bit my neighbor.
9. An army that lacks proper equipment will not be an effective fighting force.
10. To enter the Olympics, an athlete must compete very hard.
11. Television shows influence children that emphasize violence.
12. Tommy with the red stripes is wearing a shirt.
13. Never buy a car from a dealer with a broken odometer.
14. Only give the book to Tony.
15. American writers who live in Europe gain new perspectives on culture.
16. A car was parked on the edge of a cliff that was rusty.
17. Country music is loved by many people because it praises simple virtues.
18. College students usually succeed in every aspect who work hard.
19. Hitting the tin roof, my sleep was disturbed by the rain.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
85
Name:____________________________________________
20. Houses provide comfort for people with central air conditioning and heating.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
86
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 44: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Name
Date
Read each sentence carefully. If the sentence is correct, write C in the space provided. If the sentence contains
a misplaced modifier, write MM and correct the sentence. If the sentence contains a dangling modifier, write
DM and correct the sentence.
1. Please give this watch with the brown stripes to the man wearing a shirt.
2. When diving into the water, a raft was hit.
3. The car was bought from a dealer with shifty eyes.
4. Every girl who won a prize was ecstatic.
5. Many churches that are made of stained glass have beautiful windows.
6. Harry told Sue that he was her only friend.
7. Because of his ability in math, the title of chief accountant was awarded to Jerry.
8. The Navy offers its recruits many opportunities.
9. Science has brought us many changes that make our lives easier.
10. To obtain a loan, the bank officer must be seen.
11. While driving a car, safety must be of first importance.
12. Foods that are low in calories often do not taste as good as foods that contain more
calories.
13. Avarice is one of the seven deadly sins which is greed.
14. We drove our car into a service station with a flat tire.
15. Television with its emphasis on violence corrupts young children.
16. Terry bought a bike from Mrs. Smith with broken gears.
17. British writers gain new perspectives who live in America.
18. To swim the English Channel, endurance and strength are required.
19. Puppies are adorable with good dispositions.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
87
Name:____________________________________________
20. Lawyers are crooked who chase ambulances.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
88
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 45: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Name
Date
Write the appropriate identification in the blank: D—dangling modifier; M—misplaced modifier; C—correct
sentence.
1. Through hard work, writing can be learned.
2. Arriving at the airport early, no one was waiting.
3. They installed the carpet in the den with tough fiber.
4. After waiting in line for three hours, our patience was lost.
5. They attempted to communicate secretly when no one was looking.
6. Being alert and well trained, the dogs found the drugs.
7. With the inspector’s signature, I had to secure permits.
8. For a long time I had wanted to dance with her in the worst way.
9. They only worked for three days in the mountain resort.
10. Arriving late at the box office, no tickets could be bought.
11. When dancing the twist, the music is a driving force.
12. Driving late at night in the fog, lights were very necessary.
13. We heard that the Dodgers had won on the radio.
14. Soon after I arrived, I was told on holidays that the school is always closed.
15. That kind of behavior is harmful to my way of thinking.
16. I tried to thoughtfully and carefully consider the alternatives.
17. Being well prepared, I completed the assignment in an hour.
18. A person of established reputation, he was immediately recognized.
19. She rejected his proposal and drove away from her suitor with screeching wheels.
20. Bill watched a large crow with binoculars.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
89
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 46: Commas
Name
Date
In the space provided, write C if the sentence is correctly punctuated. Write P if there is a comma error, and
correct the error.
1. My mother the lady in the pink suit is the president of this club.
2. The Restoration poets who were most popular during the eighteenth century are famous
for their wit and command of the English language.
3. You must understand young fellow that a child’s place is to be seen and not heard.
4. “You’re the thief” said the detective with astonishment.
5. She decided to shift the responsibility onto Harry an ambitious young man.
6. Phoenix a growing metropolis is developing pollution problems.
7. The city that has the largest population of senior citizens is Miami.
8. The tallest building in the world is now I believe the Sears Tower in Chicago.
9. The Empire State Building which held first honors in height for over 40 years is now in
third place.
10. Mr. President the reporters are waiting.
11. “Let them wait” he replied.
12. Recitation although it is a required part of the course is a bore.
13. The pine tree overbearing and wild cast a gloom over the whole house.
14. The depressed teenager whispered “Life should be better.”
15. Mr. Wildermuth a tall and distinguished-looking man served as one of the ushers.
16. Parrots colorful and exotic birds are subject to import restrictions.
17. The price of gold moreover has fluctuated wildly in recent years.
18. Mental strength is a treasured possession in times of hardship and adversity.
19. Jogging is enjoyable and worthwhile.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
90
Name:____________________________________________
20. Since today is such a beautiful day let’s get out the frisbee.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
91
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 47: Commas
Name
Date
In the space provided, write C if the sentence is correctly punctuated. Write P if there is a comma error, and
correct the error.
1. Since the beginning of time the world has been changing.
2. I must buy apples peaches pears and bananas for my fruit salad.
3. Guided-reading machines may be useful to students but they are frequently misused.
4. The Academy Awards ceremony is usually an elaborate overdone production.
5. Before four 20 workers had left the premises.
6. I would like to help you because you seem to know what you’re doing.
7. After swimming all day the children were exhausted.
8. She must decide whether to go to college immediately or to work for a year first.
9. On the way home from work, I must buy groceries pick up the children and stop at the
library.
10. The charming gregarious child impressed everyone with his poise.
11. You must pass this course or you will attend summer school this year.
12. “I might as well have gone skating instead of studying” Jerry stated ruefully.
13. The operation was an unqualified success doctor.
14. Georgiana after walking 20 miles tearfully admitted that her feet hurt.
15. Air conditioning both a bane and a boon to humankind is here to stay.
16. Nevertheless it should be improved.
17. Plants induce feelings of peace and tranquillity in an office environment.
18. Mrs. Erskine even though she may personally like a student will discipline anyone who
strays from the straight and narrow path.
19. Weather forecasters for my money are the biggest frauds in our society.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
92
Name:____________________________________________
20. High society long noted for its trendiness is about to develop a streak of conservatism.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
93
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 48: Commas
Name
Date
Insert commas where needed.
1. John Steinbeck a great American writer was born in Salinas California.
2. Using that area for a colorful setting he wrote some of his best material.
3. In those highly descriptive works he depicts common people.
4. Many of these common people are migrants and farm workers and most are basically good.
5. His most famous novel The Grapes of Wrath is set in the 1930s.
6. The main group of people is the Joad family in Oklahoma a mostly rural state.
7. After the dust storms hit the Joad family loses its farm to the bank executives who are taking advantage
of the poor.
8. Hearing of need for workers in California the Joads decide to leave.
9. On the trip to California these “Okies” are part of a migratory movement coming from other
impoverished areas in or near Oklahoma.
10. Their trip which occupies the first part of the book is a story of suffering compassion and sacrifice.
11. They help themselves and they meet others in similar circumstances on the road.
12. Their will to survive is personified by Steinbeck’s description of an ordinary determined turtle trying to
cross a road.
13. Finally arriving at the California border the Joads discover that they are not welcome.
14. The large farm owners have advertised widely but they have no intention of employing all who come.
15. Instead they will cynically take advantage of the mass of poor desperate workers by paying starvation
wages.
16. When the workers try to organize they are met with violence.
17. Despite the exploitation and suffering the farm workers behave with much courage and honor.
18. At the end of The Grapes of Wrath the workers have ennobled themselves in the struggle and have
learned the importance of banding together for their human rights.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
94
Name:____________________________________________
19. When the novel was published it was regarded largely as a political statement directed toward a
current situation.
20. Now it has taken its place as a novel with universal appeal one that celebrates the quest of everyone for
human dignity.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
95
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 49: Commas and Semicolons
Name
Date
Mark correctly punctuated sentences with C, and correct other sentences with a comma or a semicolon. Each
sentence has no more than one error.
1. The road was slick in fact, my car lost traction numerous times.
2. I tried to obtain a loan however, all my friends said they had no money.
3. They said they had no money because they had problems with cash flow.
4. I said that I had no cash to flow under any circumstances I needed a friend with funds.
5. Paul was a pilot but most of us were afraid to fly with him.
6. His aircraft was an old Cessna that sounded like a large lawn mower.
7. Once I traveled with him to Palm Springs, California; Phoenix, Arizona and Taos, New
Mexico.
8. After we landed in a farmer’s field I returned home by bus.
9. The party started late and it ended just before sunrise.
10. If I had really understood the situation I would not have joined that club.
11. Steve Allen, who was a well-known actor, musician, and comedian, was active in show
business but his main activity was writing books.
12. One of his popular books is The Talk Show Murders a novel in which Allen
fictionalized some experiences of real-life talk-show hosts.
13. People of different backgrounds are killed on talk shows in front of live audiences, and
the murderer is sought therefore, the book is classified as a detective novel.
14. The business implications of these wicked and shocking acts are tremendous however,
no one can solve the crimes.
15. The talk-show industry is on the verge of collapse because future guests start canceling
their appearances.
16. Elmo Finstetter is the first to perish he leaves behind a grieving agent, a legion of
distraught fans, and a silver-gray Lamborghini.
17. He is very thirsty while being interviewed therefore, he takes a drink from a glass on
the set.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
96
Name:____________________________________________
18. That drink is his last as Toni Tennille, the host, looks at him in horror.
19. By the time a few others (from celebrities to members of the audience) die all show
business feels at the mercy of this psychopath.
20. In the midst of the confusion, Roger Dale, super sleuth, has little evidence to work with
however, he has millions of witnesses from the collective TV audience.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
97
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 50: Commas and Semicolons
Name
Date
Mark correctly punctuated sentences with C, and correct other sentences with a comma or a semicolon. Each
sentence has no more than one error.
1. He understood the people in the valley because he lived there.
2. Gerardo found the first page of the novel interesting but the remainder was boring.
3. It is one thing to jump but it is another to fly.
4. John Kennedy’s death was mourned in many countries indeed, ceremonies were held
throughout the world.
5. Our tour went through Tulsa, Oklahoma Kansas City, Kansas; and Chicago, Illinois.
6. Many children almost worship their elementary school teachers I was one of those.
7. Dogs will find their way in from the rain however, chickens may not.
8. Carl gave the package to the mail carrier however, he forgot to use postage.
9. I did not recommend that Judy read all of Mark Twain nevertheless, she did.
10. I do not feel responsible he made his own choice.
11. Sam is the only person who could be that brave there is no close second.
12. It was a long, hot summer and I was glad I was working in the shade.
13. I left a message on his phone recorder however, he said nothing was recorded.
14. That car is quite handsome but it is too expensive.
15. She is the leader of the class project because no one else volunteered.
16. Will we be called soon or must we wait for another hour?
17. My neighbor, who says his woodworking hobby is interesting, creative, and profitable,
is thinking of opening a shop but he needs capital.
18. Our psychology instructor gave us definitions of free will and determinism however, he
wouldn’t tell us which view he favored.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
98
Name:____________________________________________
19. Wanda looks tired today I wonder if her part-time job is too demanding.
20. I decided to move to another neighborhood because I wanted to be closer to work and
school.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
99
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 51: Commas and Semicolons
Name
Date
Insert a comma or a semicolon in each sentence, and indicate what you have done by writing in the blank the
correct abbreviation: C—comma; S—semicolon.
1. I had real friends among my relatives and I had enemies among my former friends.
2. One mother sued the school for expelling her son the expulsion was traumatic to her.
3. She thanked John Otis, the editor; Susan Curl, the critic; Mary Otis, her secretary and
Walter Ross, her agent.
4. The underdeveloped countries have about 69 percent of the world’s adults however,
they have about 80 percent of the world’s children.
5. It was impossible to move for the crowds were overwhelming.
6. The housetops were covered with people cannons were lined up along the sidewalks,
and the police officers were stationed at every corner.
7. Freud wanted to go to Rome, a city that fascinated him but his purpose was never clear
to me.
8. The lexicographer wanted to put all the names under three headings—philosophers,
living or dead; artists, living or dead; and scientists living or dead.
9. Albert Camus did not claim that the universe was rational however, he agreed that
humans are both rational and meaningful.
10. The teacher had us reading essays for speed in fact, we were even tested for reading
time and comprehension.
11. It’s true that Rome fell but most Roman buildings remained standing.
12. The human mind drives us to exploration, sometimes to destruction but all people are
not explorers, nor, indeed, are all people capable of real exploration.
13. The novel was exciting and it was full of colorful descriptions.
14. We like talent yet we want it to pay off.
15. He didn’t take himself seriously nevertheless, he was hurt when we ignored him.
16. We need moments of privacy for self-analysis, for looking inward; for making sense of
others, for looking outward for catching up with life, for looking around; and for
inspiration, for looking upward.
17. The mayor regarded herself as very fortunate in winning the election for she was only
thirty.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
100
Name:____________________________________________
18. He pitted Freud against Darwin and Freud won.
19. She treats the United States as a unit her purpose is to establish its unity in the
reader’s mind.
20. The great artists were also philosophers and scientists indeed, their contributions range
through many areas and activities.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
101
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 52: Other Types of Punctuation
Name
Date
If the sentence is correctly punctuated, write C in the space provided. If there is a punctuation error, write P
in the blank and then correct the error.
1. But do not let us quarrel any more is a famous line from one of Robert Browning’s
poems.
2. No, my Lucrezia; bear with me is the continuation of Browning’s poem.
3. Have you ever thought about the word really?
4. What does the word mean?
5. “In the spring of that year 1643, there came a terrible flood.”
6. There are a few things that are more important than money, such as health, happiness,
love, and friendship.
7. Some educated people seem to be predisposed to ill health.
8. Stop prancing around! he yelled.
9. “She was you must believe me not involved,” declared the distraught teenager.
10. Gold (long considered a precious metal) can function as a medium of exchange, not just
as
ornamentation.
11. “During the reign of Amhos, in the Year of the Great Sun 207 B.C., she assumed the
mantle of state.”
12. She said, “By the time we arrived at Phoenix, we decided the vacation was a mistake.
13. The newlyweds had a long shopping list a crock pot, a blender, a food processor, and a
juice extractor.
14. “Her Majesty has declared Saturday next to be a ‘Day of Awareness’ for all who might
benefit.”
15. However, she intends to spend that day watching her favorite television show
Gilligan’s Island.
16. Mis-fortune and bad-luck seemed to plague him wherever he went.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
102
Name:____________________________________________
17. Power sharing agencies are uncommon.
18. At Lord Twain’s birthday party, age old differences were put aside.
19. The preacher encouraged the congregation to give from the depths of their purses.
20. Even before the ever vigilant doctors considered radiation therapy, they insisted on
judging the patient’s general health.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
103
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 53: Punctuation and Capitalization
Name
Date
Each sentence in the following essay is numbered. Above the number at the beginning of the sentence, write
C if the sentence is correctly punctuated. If there is a punctuation error, write the correct editing symbol over
the number and then correct the error. (There may be more than one error in a sentence.)
(1) Recently, the media and the public have been denigrating the married-state. (2) The consensus
seems to be that a person who marries is a weak person, one who is afraid to face the world alone? (3) If one
were Truly Strong, he or she would not need a spouse—a crutch to use. (4) In other words each persons
highest goal should be to face the world on his or her own.
(5) Such emphasis on singleness denies that there are any advantages to being married; Of course, that
is not true. (6) Many people have consciously chosen to be married, not because they are weak or afraid, but
because they are affectionate and gregarious. (7) A giving caring sharing individual is happiest when he or
she has someone with whom to share.
(8) The companionship which the married-state offers increases such a persons ability to enjoy
life. (9) It is quite possible that this man or woman could enjoy gazing at a Beautiful Sunset in solitude but it
is likely that he or she would enjoy the spectacle more with another person there to share it. (10) In addition
married people give and receive pleasure by being nice to each other: a note by one’s coffee cup that begins
“How do I love thee” can make the day seem grand. (11) (Of course, the spouse should give credit to
Elizabeth Barrett browning.)
(12) On a more practical note, the state of marriage provides another brain to deal with problems and
another set of shoulders on which to rest some of life’s burden’s balancing the checkbook, maintaining the
car, and going Christmas shopping. (13) Indeed sharing responsibilities can lighten the load and provide
more leisure-time for both partners. (14) Single people can sometimes be overwhelmed by the details of
daily living. (15) That is not usually a problem for a married couple one partner is generally able to
cope. (16) Do you remember The Prisoner of second avenue?
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
104
Name:____________________________________________
Quiz 54: Punctuation and Capitalization
Name
Date
In each sentence, insert the missing punctuation mark or capital letter. Then write the preceding or affected
words in the blank. (Quotation marks are considered one unit.)
1. Wyatt Earp said. In two years at Wichita, my deputies and I arrested more than
800 men.
2. It was all in a days work.
3. “We really have no satisfactory synonym for Lebensraum,” Cary said.
4. “Its like a miracle of God,” Ginny said. “I can rest now.”
5. “Just say Stop when you’ve had enough,” she teased.
6. The wind carried its murmur through the trees, and we listened to the crickets
chirping louder and louder as the birds chirping softened into silence.
7. In a trite way its true that the best things are free.
8. Melville’s novel Billy Budd was published posthumously.
9. What does Keats mean by “Darkling I listen” in his poem Ode to a Nightingale?
10. Jack Londons books are still widely read in this country and abroad.
11. Will couldn’t see the connection between Oxford and Walnut—or could he.
12. Every one of the miners was lost in the cave in.
13. The boy from Germany crossed his 7s.
14. Joe Louis, Art Aragon, and Rocky Marciano these were my father’s favorite
fighters.
15. The following citizens in Hiroshima were interviewed a town official, a
housewife, a farmer, a mechanic, and a doctor.
16. Marx and Engels you know who they were understood dialectical materialism
much better than the working class did.
17. The romantic period is not as difficult to teach to this generation as I thought it
would be.
18. Those who believed in the Declaration of independence thought that Madison’s
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
105
Name:____________________________________________
Federalist was too conservative.
19. It’s not difficult to think of C. P. Snow as an english major, although his field
was science.
20. The doctor, Ralph Berger, called aunt Helen to hold his son’s head while he
stitched it up.
Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
106