Sample Practice Exam

Question 1:  Sentence Correction

Select the best version of the bold part of the sentence.  The first choice is the same as the original sentence.  If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer.

Laura climbing next summer.

A.  climbing

B.  will be climbing

C.  plans on climbing

D.  climbs

Question 2:  Sentence Correction

Andy hoped to find a better pair of skis.  Ones that would turn more easily.

A.  skis.  Ones that

B.  skis, so that it

C.  skis.  The kind that

D.  skis, ones that

Question 3:  Sentence Correction

Bill was obviously growing tired, then he drove on the wrong side of the road.

A.  tired, then he

B.  tired.  He drove

C.  tired, he drove

D.  tired, Bill, driving

Question 4:  Sentence Correction

While thinking about my trip to the Virgin Islands, a friend, I noticed, was leafing through a travel magazine. 

A.  Virgin Islands, a friend, I noticed,

B.   I noticed a friend leafing

C.   a friend was leafing, I noticed,

D.   there was, I noticed, a friend

Question 5:  Sentence Correction

When you fall snowboarding, this is an example of a “garage sale.” 

A.  snowboarding, this is an

B.  You fall snowboarding, this is

C.  Falling off your snowboard is an example

D.  The fact that you fell snowboarding is

Question 6:  Sentence Correction

Tilted backwards, the bookshelf looked as if it would fall.

A.  Tilted backwards, the bookshelf

B.  The bookshelf was tilted backwards, looked

C.  The bookshelf looked tilted backwards

D.  The bookshelf, looking tilted backwards,

Question 7:  Sentence Correction

To write, telephoning, and emailing are Jan’s favorite ways of communicating.

A.  To write, telephoning, and emailing

B.   Writing, telephoning, and emailing

C.  To write, telephoning, and to email

D.  To write, to telephone, and also emailing

Question 8:  Construction Shift

Rewrite the sentence in your head, following the directions given below.  Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you. 

Being an excellent art historian, she often received job offers. 

Rewrite beginning with

She often received job offers…

The next words will be

A.  On account of she was

B.  by her being

C.  because she was

D.  being as she was

Question 9:  Construction Shift

It is easy to care for cats without harming them, but the same cannot be said of boa constrictors. 

Rewrite, beginning with

Unlike cats,

The next words with be

A. it is easy to

B.  we can easily

C.  boa constrictors can easily

D.  boa constrictors are easy to be

Question 10:  Construction Shift

Harried parents sifted through the paper work, and they told others about short cuts.

Rewrite, beginning with

The harried parents, who had sifted through…

The next words will be

A.  the paperwork, they told

B.  the paperwork, told

C.  the paperwork, telling

D.  paperwork and had told

Answers:  1. B  2. D  3. B  4. B  5. C 6. C  7. B  8. C 9. C 10. B