Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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Sentence Skills
There are two types of Sentence Skills
questions:
1. Sentence correction questions test your understanding
of sentence structure. These questions ask you to examine an underlined portion of a sentence and
then choose the correct option to replace it.
2. Construction shift questions test
your ability to rewrite sentences according to directions while maintaining the same meaning as the
original sentence.
Some questions address the logic of the sentence, some
questions address issues of complete sentences versus fragments or run-ons, and some questions
address coordination and subordination.
Sentence Skills Practice Questions
Directions for questions 1-5
For the part of the sentence that is underlined, select the BEST
option. If you think the original sentence is best, the first item in the answer list is the original
underlined part.
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1.
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The
basketball player was becoming tired, then the coach replaced him with a
substitute.
a. | tired, then the coach
replaced | b. | tired; the coach, replacing | c. | tired. The coach
replaced | d. | tired; the coach, therefore, replaced | | |
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2.
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To cook,
cleaning, and organizing are Elise’s least favorite responsibilities at the
house.
a. | To cook, cleaning, and
organizing | b. | Cooking, cleaning, and organizing | c. | To cook, cleaning, and
to organize | d. | To cook, to clean and also organizing | | |
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3.
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Sitting by
the window in the sunlight, the old lady, I saw, was feeding birds on the
sidewalk.
a. | the old lady, I saw,
was feeding | b. | there was, I saw, an old lady feeding | c. | I saw the old lady
feeding | d. | an old lady was feeding, I saw | | |
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4.
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She wanted
to get a new checking account. One that would allow her to earn interest for her
money.
a. | checking account. One that | b. | checking account. The kind that | c. | checking account, one
that | d. | checking account, so
that it | | |
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5.
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Battered
by the wind, the sign appeared as if it would collapse.
a. | Battered by the wind,
the sign appeared | b. | The sign was battered by the wind, appeared | c. | The sign, appearing
battered by the wind, | d. | The sign looked battered by the wind | | |
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Directions for questions 6-10
Following the directions given, rewrite the sentence. Your
well-written, new sentence should express the same meaning as the original
sentence.
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6.
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Michael saw nothing of interest when he attended the museum’s art
show.
Rewrite the sentence, beginning with
Attending the
museum’s art show,…
The next words will
be
a. | nothing of interest
was seen | b. | then Michael saw nothing of interest | c. | and seeing nothing of
interest | d. | Michael saw nothing of interest | | |
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7.
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If he had his toolbox, Brad would fix the washing
machine.
Rewrite the sentence, beginning with
Brad cannot fix the washing machine…
The next words will be
a. | without
enough | b. | because he | c. | although there | d. | when
lacking | | |
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8.
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The team began to rally, and then the crowd
roared.
Rewrite, beginning with
The crowd
roared…
The next words will
be
a. | after the team
rallied | b. | and the team rallied | c. | although the team
rallied | d. | the team rallying | | |
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9.
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In his poetry, Robert Frost makes rhythm and rhyme complexly blend
into
poetic
form.
Rewrite, beginning with
Rhythm and
rhyme…
You new sentence will include
a. | Robert Frost
has | b. | does Robert
Frost | c. | in Robert Frost’s | d. | make Robert
Frosts | | |
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10.
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It is
difficult to repair objects with many parts, but the same cannot be said of objects with few
parts.
Rewrite, beginning with
Unlike objects with few parts
The next words will be
a. | we can
easily | b. | objects with many parts can easily be | c. | objects with many
parts are difficult to | d. | it is easy to | | |
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Essay
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Writing
Skills
Expressing thoughts and knowledge in writing is a very important
academic skill. This portion of the test is designed to measure your abiltiy to write effectively. It
will be scored based on how well your essay communicates an entire message to your reader for an
intended purpose. You should be able to express, organize and support your ideas and opinions. The
following will be considered:
1. Focus - maintaining
a main idea or point of view.
2. Organization -
Structuring your essay according to a logical pattern.
3. Development and Support - Elaborating on ideas and presenting
supporting details.
4. Sentence Structure - Structuring sentences effectively and
correctly.
5. Mechanical Conventions - Writing relatively free of errors in usage
and mechanics.
Writing Sample Essay
Topic
Write an essay (multiple-paragraph writing sample) of 300-600
words on the following topic. Be sure to take time to plan, write, revise and edit your
work.
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11.
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Many
schools today are eliminating ‘recess’ as part of the schedule for fourth-graders. People
argue that academics have become so strenuous and the consequences for failure so serious that
schools cannot risk allowing free-time when students could be learning. Others say that, given the
nature of children, it is essential for proper child development that young people have time for
active movement and free interaction with peers. Write an essay for a class instructor in which you
take a position on whether the elimination of ‘recess’ should be allowed. Be certain to
defend your position with logical points and supportive examples. Your essay should be 300-600
words.
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