Improving Sentences
Read through the tips and sample question below. When you are ready, Start the test.
Tips
In this section, you will read sentences that contain mistakes in English usage. In each sentence, certain words are underlined. In some cases, the entire sentence will be underlined. The questions ask you to select the best way to revise the sentence. In each question, choice A repeats the original phrasing. If you think that the original phrasing produces a better sentence than the other four choices, then select choice A.
Things To Remember
- Carefully read the entire sentence before you look at the answer choices.
- Before selecting an answer, read each choice as part of the entire sentence. Remember that some sentences do not contain errors. Choice A is the correct answer for those questions.
- Some of the common problems will be the incorrect use of relative clauses, mistakes in subject-verb agreement, and the incorrect placement of modifiers.
- Poorly written sentences can often be improved by using parallelism. Here is an example of a sentence that uses parallelism: Carlos wants all the auditions to take place in the theater building on Wednesday rather than in the gymnasium on Tuesday. Notice how this sentence uses similar wording in two portions.
- If you skip over a question, be sure to mark it in your test booklet so that you can easily return to it later.
Directions and Sample Question
The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select Choice A; if not, select one of the other choices.
In making your selection, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, sentence construction, and punctuation. Your selection should result in the most effective sentence-clear and precise, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
Q: Julio has a strong interest in marine biology, he has decided to pursue a career as a meteorologist.
(A) Julio has a strong interest in
(B) Had Julio's strong interest been in
(C) Julio had a strong enough interest in
(D) Even though Julio has a strong interest in
(E) Julio, having a strong interest in
Note: The correct answer to this question is (D).