Test 9: Explanations to Writing
Section 5 Writing
Choice (A) involves an error in agreement. The
singular pronoun “it” cannot correctly refer to the
plural noun “plans.”
1. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by making the third item in the series a noun phrase,
as the other two items are.
Choice (A) involves an error in parallelism. The third
item in the series should be a noun phrase like the
other two (“a drawing room with a piano,” “bath
fixtures of silver”), not an independent clause.
Choice (C) involves an error in parallelism. The third
item in the series should be a noun phrase like the
other two (“a drawing room with a piano,” “bath
fixtures of silver”), not an independent clause.
Choice (D) involves an error in parallelism. The third
item in the series should be a noun phrase like the
other two (“a drawing room with a piano,” “bath
fixtures of silver”), not an independent clause.
Choice (E) involves an error in parallelism. The third
item in the series should be a noun phrase like the
other two (“a drawing room with a piano,” “bath
fixtures of silver”), not an independent clause.
2. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using the past tense consistently.
Choice (A) involves an error in verb tense. It shifts
from past tense (“was”) to present perfect tense (“has
been”) for no reason.
Choice (B) involves an error in verb tense. It shifts
from past tense (“was”) to present perfect tense (“had
been”) for no reason.
Choice (C) involves an error in verb form. The
participle “Having conceived” should be the infinitive
form “to conceive.”
Choice (E) creates a fragment. There is no subject for
the verb “having been.”
Choice (B) involves improper modification. To modify
the verb “made,” “hasty” should be “hastily.”
Choice (D) involves improper modification. To modify
the verb “made,” “hasty” should be “hastily.”
Choice (E) involves an error in agreement. The
singular pronoun “it” cannot correctly refer to the
plural noun “plans.”
4. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using a second verb phrase (“are therefore wary of
it as a result”) instead of a second independent
clause.
Choice (A) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“Many...practices” and “it...result”)
are joined by only a comma.
Choice (C) involves improper phrasing. Whose
“wariness” is being referred to is not clear.
Choice (D) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“Many...it” and” therefore...result”)
are joined only by a conjunction (“and”), without a
comma to proceed it.
Choice (E) involves improper pronoun case. “It”
should be “its.”
5. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using a plural verb (“were”) for the subject “two.”
Choice (A) involves an error in agreement. The
subject “two” requires a plural verb (“were”).
Choice (B) involves an error in agreement. The
subject “two” requires a plural verb (“were”).
3. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (C) involves an error in agreement. The
subject “two” requires a plural verb (“were”).
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using a plural pronoun (“them”) to refer to the
plural noun “plans.”
Choice (D) involves wordiness. The wordy phrase
“the calling of them” should simply be “calling them.”
Page 1 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
6. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) involves an error in verb form. The verb
“clarifying” should be “clarifies.”
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by using a comma to link two independent
clauses joined by the conjunction “and.”
Choice (C) involves a pronoun error. The pronoun “it”
is unnecessary.
Choice (A) involves improper coordination. It uses a
semicolon where a comma is necessary.
Choice (E) involves a pronoun error. It is not clear
what the pronoun “it” is meant to refer to.
Choice (C) creates an illogical sentence. It illogically
suggests that the grandsonʼs having blue ribbons is a
result of his thinking that he is the best cook at the
fair.
9. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) results in an illogical sentence. There is
no relationship between the idea in the first part of the
sentence (“To think . . . fair”) and the idea in the last
part of the sentence (“my grandson . . . to prove it.”).
Choice (A) involves an error in pronoun reference.
“There” does not refer to anything in the sentence.
Choice (E) creates an illogical sentence. It does not
make sense to say that the blue ribbons that the
grandson had somehow prove that he was “thinking
he can cook better . . . fair.”
7. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by correctly comparing “Greek theaters” to “Roman
theaters.”
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by avoiding unclear pronoun usage.
Choice (B) involves wordiness. The wordy phrase
“consumption is not done much by people” should be
simply “are rarely consumed by people” or “are rarely
eaten by people.”
Choice (D) involves an error in pronoun reference.
The pronoun “them” incorrectly refers to the closest
previous plural noun, “farm animals.”
Choice (E) involves an unclear reference. The object
of “consumption” is not clear.
10. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (A) involves an illogical comparison. It
compares “the Greeks” with “the Roman theaters.”
Choice (C) involves an illogical comparison. It
compares “the Greeks” with “the Roman theaters.”
Choice (A) is correct. It correctly uses a relative
clause (introduced by “that”) to indicate what the
educator was stressing.
Choice (B) involves improper verb form. The verb
“needed” lacks an auxiliary verb (“are”).
Choice (D) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The Greeks...Romans” and
“they...hillside”) are joined by only a comma.
Choice (E) involves an error in pronoun reference.
There is no place to which “where” can refer.
8. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by omitting the plural pronoun (“they”), which did not
agree with the singular noun “chronological order.”
Choice (A) involves an error in agreement. The plural
pronoun “they” is used incorrectly to refer to the
singular noun “chronological order.”
Choice (C) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The educatorʼs...programs” and
“everyone...society”) are joined by only a conjunction
(“for”), without the comma that should precede it.
Choice (D) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The educatorʼs...programs” and
“everyone...society”) are joined by only a conjunction
(“and”), without the comma that should precede it.
Choice (E) creates an illogical sentence. A noun can
be “stressed,” but an adverb (“why”) cannot.
11. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Page 2 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using the pronoun “its,” which correctly refers to
the noun “The Portuguese... fado .”
Choice (A) involves an error in pronoun reference.
The pronoun “their” does not refer to anything that
comes before it.
Choice (B) involves an error in pronoun reference.
The pronoun “their” does not refer to anything that
comes before it.
prepositional phrase “During the last fifty years”
establishes that the action of the main clause (taking
radio communications for granted) takes place over
the whole period. Therefore, the present-tense verb,
“come” should be in the present perfect tense (“have
come”).
There is no error at (A). The preposition “During” is
an appropriate and necessary part of the
prepositional phrase “During the last fifty years.”
There is no error at (C). The infinitive “to take”
appropriately introduces its object, “radio
communications.”
Choice (D) creates a fragment. The subordinate
clause “that...love” is not completed.
Choice (E) involves an error in pronoun reference.
The pronoun “their” does not refer to anything that
comes before it.
There is no error at (D). The preposition “in”
appropriately introduces the prepositional phrase “in
such a fashion,” and the adjective “such”
appropriately modifies “a fashion.”
12. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
14. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: Every year, toy manufacturers
gather groups of children into playrooms, observing
their choices of toys and predicting which new
products will become the most popular.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is an incomplete verb form. The word “as” cannot
properly join the verbs “observing” and “predicting” to
form the compound predicate. Instead, the
conjunction “and” should be used.
There is no error at (A). The verb “gather”
appropriately agrees with its subject, “toy
manufacturers.”
Corrected Sentence: The uncompromising tone of a
recent city call ordinance concerning the blocking of
emergency vehicles in traffic jams carries a stern
warning to motorists.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there
is subject-verb disagreement. The plural verb “carry”
cannot refer to the singular subject, “The
uncompromising tone.” The singular verb “carries” is
needed.
There is no error at (A). The adjective
“uncompromising” appropriately modifies the noun
“tone.”
There is no error at (C). The relative pronoun “which”
appropriately refers to the noun “new products” in
describing the kinds of products that “will become
most popular.”
There is no error at (D). The adverb “most” properly
modifies the adjective “popular.”
There is no error at (B). The participle “concerning”
appropriately modifies the preceding noun
“ordinance.”
There is no error at (D). The preposition “to” properly
links the noun phrase “a stern warning” to the noun
“motorists.”
13. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
15. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence:
During the last fifty years, we have come to take
radio communication for granted, but the mere
suggestion that we could communicate in such a
fashion must once have seemed outlandish.
Corrected Sentence: Formed by volcanic eruptions
over the last five million years, the Hawaiian Islands
contain an incredibly wide variety of species—many
found nowhere else on Earth.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is an improper verb tense. The introductory
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where a
sentence fragment is created. The use of the
Page 3 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
participle “containing,” instead of the present-tense
“contain,” leaves the sentence without a main verb.
There is no error at (A). The preposition “over”
properly introduces the prepositional phrase “over the
last five million years,” which establishes when the
volcanic eruptions took place.
There is no error at (B). The singular verb “is” agrees
with its singular subject, “recycling center,” and the
adjective “accessible” appropriately modifies
“recycling center” to indicate one aspect
(accessibility) of an “economical and efficient”
recycling center.
There is no error at (D). The participle “governing”
appropriately indicates the kind of regulations being
discussed (those governing waste disposal).
There is no error at (C). The adverb “incredibly”
appropriately modifies the adjective “wide.”
There is no error at (D). The phrase “nowhere else”
properly indicates that the “wide variety of species”
are found mainly in one place.
18. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Explanation for Correct Answer E: There is no
error in this sentence.
16. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
There is no error at (A). The phrase “not only”
operates appropriately as the first part of the
correlative construction “not only . . . but also.”
Corrected Sentence: Because the owl is usually
nocturnal and is virtually noiseless in flight, it is
seldom seen by the casual observer.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is an awkward construction. The phrase “and is”
should be used in place of “plus being” to properly
join one characteristic (nocturnal behavior) with the
other (noiselessness in flight).
There is no error at (A). The singular verb, “is,” agrees
with its singular subject, “the owl,” and the adverb
“usually” properly modifies the adjective “nocturnal.”
There is no error at (B). The tense of the verb
correctly indicates that the action described (the way
the novel is viewed) is still going on.
There is no error at (C). The adverb “as” joins with
the participle “marking” to produce an appropriate
idiom.
There is no error at (D). The preposition “among”
joins with the plural noun “Quakers” to correctly
describe where Toomer was “a respected advisor.”
There is no error at (C). The pronoun “it” refers
correctly to the noun “the owl.”
19. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
There is no error at (D). The singular verb “is” agrees
with its singular subject (“the owl”), and the adverb
“seldom” appropriately modifies the verb “seen.”
Corrected Sentence: Election results came in from
upstate New York quite rapidly, but the results from
New York City were known even faster.
17. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where an
adjective (“rapid”) is incorrectly used to modify the
verb “came.” The adverb “rapidly” is needed.
Corrected Sentence: An economical and efficient
recycling center is accessible to the public,
responsive to community needs, and complies with
current federal regulations governing waste disposal.
There is no error at (A). The preposition “in”
appropriately modifies the verb “came” to indicate
where the election results came from.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there
is subject-verb disagreement. The plural verb
“comply” does not agree with its singular subject
(“recycling center”).
There is no error at (C). The past tense of the verb is
consistent with the tense previously established by
the past-tense verb “came.”
There is no error at (A). The compound adjective,
“economical and efficient,” appropriately modifies
“recycling center.”
There is no error at (D). The adverb “even”
appropriately modifies the adjective “faster” to
indicate how quickly the results were known.
Page 4 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
20. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: As we rely more and more on
the Internet, the need for effective security planning
and design to safeguard data has increased.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is an error in pronoun use. There is nothing in the
sentence to which the possessive pronoun “your” can
logically refer.
There is no error at (A). The subordinating
conjunction “As” appropriately introduces the
dependent clause (“As we rely . . . on the Internet”).
There is no error at (C). The infinitive “to safeguard”
appropriately indicates the purpose of “effective . . .
design” (to safeguard data).
There is no error at (D). The tense of the verb “has
increased” appropriately indicates that the action
described (the increasing need for effective planning)
is ongoing.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there
is an incorrect verb form. The plural verb “are” should
be the singular “is” to agree with the singular gerund,
“modifying eating and exercise habits.”
There is no error at (A). The plural verb (“agree”)
agrees with its subject, “Experts,” and the relative
pronoun “that” appropriately introduces the phrase
that immediately follows.
There is no error at (B). The gerund “dieting” is
appropriately modified by the adverb “merely.”
There is no error at (D). The preposition “to” properly
links the noun “the key” with the gerund “controlling
weight.”
23. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: The ability to control the plots
of our dreams is a skill, researchers have shown, that
we can learn if we want to change recurrent dreams.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there
is improper pronoun use. The second-person
pronoun “you” should be changed to the first-person
plural “we” to be consistent with the earlier use of
“we.”
21. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Explanation for Correct Answer E: There is no
error in this sentence.
There is no error at (A). The singular verb “is” agrees
with its singular subject “the book,” and the adverb
“essentially” appropriately modifies the verb “is.”
There is no error at (B). The adverbs “very” and “well”
combine to appropriately modify the adjective
“documented.”
There is no error at (C). The preposition “of”
combines with the relative pronoun “what” to produce
an appropriate idiom indicating what was documented
in the book.
There is no error at (D). The pronoun “each”
combines with the preposition “of” to form an
appropriate idiom linking “what happened” to the
group to which it happened.
There is no error at (A). The infinitive “to control”
properly modifies the preceding noun, “The ability.”
There is no error at (B). The singular verb “is” agrees
with its singular subject, “The ability.”
There is no error at (C). The verb tense appropriately
establishes that the action described (what
researchers have determined about the ability to
control dreams) has already taken place.
24. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: In swimming as in soccer,
Evangelina proved time after time to be an abler
competitor than Juanita.
22. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: Experts agree that
permanently modifying eating and exercise habits
rather than merely dieting for brief periods is the key
to controlling weight.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is an improper idiom. The preposition “in” should be
used with the noun “soccer” to convey the idea that
what happens “in swimming” is also what happens “in
soccer.”
Page 5 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
There is no error at (A). The preposition “in”
combines with the gerund “swimming” to create an
appropriate idiom.
There is no error at (C). The pronoun “he” correctly
refers to its antecedent “Chef Louis,” and the singular
verb “considers” agrees with its singular subject, “he.”
There is no error at (C). The comparative form of the
adjective “able” is correct and properly modifies the
noun “competitor.”
There is no error at (D). The infinitive “to be” joins
with the verb “considers” to appropriately indicate
what the “lengthy explanations” are about.
There is no error at (D). The conjunction “than” is
used correctly to introduce the object of the
comparison (“Juanita”).
27. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: Paul Ecke, flower grower and
hybridizer, became known as “Mr. Poinsettia” after
developing new varieties of the flower and pioneering
it as a living symbol of Christmas.
25. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Explanation for Correct Answer E: There is no
error in this sentence.
There is no error at (A). The pronoun “one” is used
correctly to refer to “The common cold,” and the
preposition “of” appropriately introduces the
prepositional phrase that modifies “The common
cold.”
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there
are excess words. The preposition “by” is
unnecessary.
There is no error at (A). The past-tense verb
“became” appropriately establishes that Mr. Ecke was
known a “Mr. Poinsettia” only after he developed “new
varieties of the flower.”
There is no error at (B). The pronoun “it” correctly
refers to the noun “The common cold,” and the
singular verb “makes” agrees with its singular subject,
“it.”
There is no error at (B). The adjective “known”
appropriately modifies the subject of the sentence
“Paul Ecke.”
There is no error at (C). The noun “distinction” links
appropriately with the preposition “between” to create
an appropriate idiom.
There is no error at (D). The preposition “as” joins
with the noun phrase “a living symbol” to create an
appropriate idiom.
There is no error at (D). Both pronouns (“you” and
“me”) are properly in the objective case.
28. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
26. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: As he does in his other
cookbooks, in his new book Chef Louis offers lengthy
explanations of what he considers to be basic cooking
principles.
The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where there
is an illogical comparison. It would be appropriate to
compare what is in “his other cookbooks” with what is
in “his new book,” but instead the sentence illogically
compares a thing (“his other cookbooks”) with a
person (“Chef Louis”).
There is no error at (B). The preposition “of”
combines with the pronoun “what” to create an
appropriate idiom.
Corrected Sentence: Long thought of as quiet,
stuffy places where people just borrowed books,
libraries have been changing their images
dramatically over the last few years.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is noun-noun disagreement. To agree with the plural
“libraries,” the singular noun “place” should be
changed to the plural “places.”
There is no error at (A). The verb “thought” combines
with the preposition “of” to create an appropriate
idiom.
There is no error at (C). The plural noun “people” is
logical here because more than one library is being
talked about.
Page 6 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
There is no error at (D). The present perfect
progressive tense of the verb appropriately indicates
that the action described may be ongoing.
Choice (E) is correct. The resulting sentence
maintains the sense of the original while eliminating
the redundancy.
29. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Corrected Sentence: To understand twentiethcentury economic practices, one must be sufficiently
familiar with Keynesian theories, whether one agrees
with them or not.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there
is incorrect pronoun use. The first-person plural
pronoun “we” is not consistent with the later pronoun
“one.”
There is no error at (A). The infinitive “To understand”
appropriately indicates that a familiarity with
Keynesian theories will facilitate oneʼs understanding
of “twentieth-century economic practices.”
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because it contains an
unclear referent: “which” seems to refer to the
incident itself rather than to the report.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because the word “which”
appears to refer to the incident, when it can logically
refer only to the report of the incident.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because the word
“consequently” suggests incorrectly that Smithʼs
report is a consequence of the legend.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it uses the
unnecessary phrase “it seems” to relate a fact.
32. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
There is no error at (C). The adjective “familiar” joins
with the preposition “with” to form an appropriate
idiom.
There is no error at (D). In the prepositional phrase
“with them,” the object of the preposition, “them,”
must be in the objective case, as it is here.
30. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) is correct. It properly explains that most
children hear the Pocahontas story before they leave
elementary school.
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the original
sentence connects the two main ideas—children
leaving school and the Pocahontas story—with only
the conjunction “and.” The sentence thus offers no
clue about the relationship between the two ideas.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it is logical to
give the names of the principal figures in a story or
event before telling the story, not after—especially
when the names are familiar.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it repeats the
error of the original in failing to explain the
relationship between the children and the story.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because the original
correctly refers to Pocahontasʼs tribe.
Choice (A) is correct. It links sentence 10 to the rest
of the paragraph by explaining the harmlessness of
the “ritual display” mentioned in the previous
sentence (and thus clarifies the contrast between
Smithʼs account and the probable facts).
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because sentence 10
outlines a scenario that challenges Smithʼs “life-ordeath” account, implying that Smith is not a credible
source.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because the inserted
phrase unhelpfully interrupts the connection between
the “ritual display” introduced in sentence 9 and the
explanation of it in sentence 10.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because the use of “and”
implies that the “ritual” and the “drama” are two
different events, whereas the “drama” actually refers
to the “ritual display.”
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because nothing in
sentence 10 is contrary to sentence 9; the latter
sentence logically follows the former.
33. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. Sentence 10 elaborates on the
information about what may have really happened to
Smith presented in sentence 9.
31. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Page 7 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because sentence 10
offers only support for the claim made in sentence 9.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because the information
in sentence 10 is not an “example”; rather, it is a
reasoned clarification of what may have happened to
Smith.
introduction in sentence 11.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because the focus of the
paragraph is Pocahontas, not her husband.
Section 10 Writing
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because nothing about
sentence 10 contradicts sentence 9.
1. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because sentence 10
does not make use of any new sources.
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by reducing the first complete thought to a phrase.
34. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (A) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The sales...counter” and
“he...stone”) are joined by only a comma.
Choice (C) is correct. The third paragraph gives two
detailed examples of Pocahontasʼs political
successes in later life.
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the passage
does not mention any of Pocahontasʼs shortcomings.
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because focusing on the
believability of historical facts is odd and unnecessary.
Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because the information
in paragraph 3 deals primarily with Pocahontasʼs
public life, not her private life.
Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because the third
paragraph gives detailed information about
Pocahontas that is not in dispute.
Choice (B) creates a fragment. There is no main verb
in the sentence.
Choice (C) creates an illogical sentence. It is illogical
that “gems” “proceeded to tell us” something.
Choice (E) involves an error in pronoun use. The
pronoun “he” is unnecessary.
2. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by correctly referring to a whistle-blower as “an
employee.”
Choice (A) creates an illogical sentence. A whistleblower is a what, not a when.
35. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (E) is correct. This information is consistent
with the information presented in the first two
sentences of the paragraph.
Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the first two
sentences of the paragraph present events
chronologically, and it would be illogical to describe
Pocahontasʼs marriage, which occurred before the
events described in sentence 12, at the end of the
paragraph
Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because the passage has
moved from a discussion of Smithʼs account to a
discussion of Pocahontasʼs life; to return to Smith at
this point would be illogical.
Choice (C) creates an illogical sentence. A whistleblower is a person, not “reporting.”
Choice (D) creates an illogical sentence. A whistleblower is a what, not an “if.”
Choice (E) creates an illogical sentence. It calls a
whistle-blower “fraud or mismanagement.”
3. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using the pronoun “one” consistently.
Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because this information
would need to be presented directly after its
Page 8 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
Choice (A) involves a pronoun shift. The pronoun
changes from “one” to second-person “your” for no
reason.
6. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (C) creates a fragment. There is no main verb
in the sentence.
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using the idiomatic “as . . . as” construction to
indicate the variety of subjects addressed on
electronic bulletin boards.
Choice (D) creates a fragment. There is no main verb
in the sentence.
Choice (A) involves improper phrasing. “As” requires
“such” before it.
Choice (E) involves an error in pronoun reference.
“There” does not stand for anything in the sentence.
Choice (B) involves improper phrasing. “That are”
should be “such as.”
4. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (C) involves an improper idiom. “Such
diversity as” should be “diversity such as.”
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by using plural nouns consistently (“students,”
“spellers”).
Choice (A) involves an error in agreement. The
singular noun “a better speller” cannot correctly refer
to the plural noun “students.”
Choice (B) involves an error agreement. The singular
noun “a better speller” cannot correctly refer to the
plural noun “students.”
Choice (E) creates an error in agreement (in number).
The phrase “a subject” cannot refer to the multiple
subjects named.
7. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by making clear that it was “the representatives” who
were “free from British rule.”
Choice (D) involves an error in agreement. “Students”
cannot logically become “a better speller.”
Choice (A) creates an illogical sentence. “A strong
central government” is not what had become “free
from British rule.”
Choice (E) involves an error in agreement. The plural
noun “better spellers” cannot correctly refer to the
singular noun “a student.”
Choice (B) creates an illogical sentence. “The idea of
a strong central government” is not what had become
“free from British rule.”
5. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) involves an improper preposition. One is
wary of something, not toward something.
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original
by not separating the subject (“the
withholding...children”) from its verb (“interferes”).
Choice (A) involves incorrect punctuation. The
comma unnecessarily separates the subject
(“young...affection”) from its verb (“interferes”).
8. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) involves unclear pronoun reference. What
the pronoun “it” refers to is not clear.
Choice (C) involves improper use of a definite article.
The phrase “the failure” suggests that the failure has
been referred to previously, but it has not.
Choice (D) involves improper phrasing. The verb
“withholding” has no subject.
Choice (E) creates a fragment. There is no main verb
in the sentence.
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by correctly completing the comparison with
the word “than.”
Choice (A) involves improper comparison.
“Compared with” should be “than.”
Choice (B) involves improper comparison.
“Compared to” should be “than.”
Choice (D) involves improper modification. To modify
the verb “burning,” “clean” would have to be “cleanly.”
Page 9 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
“because...generations”) are joined by only a comma.
Choice (E) involves improper comparison. It lacks
“than” and adds the unnecessary word “unlike.”
9. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The fruit fly...mechanisms” and
“since...generations”) are joined by only a comma.
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by making the two items joined by “and”
parallel. “Work” and “further study” are both nouns.
Choice (C) involves incorrect punctuation. The
subordinating work “since” should not be preceded by
a comma.
Choice (A) involves an error in parallelism. The two
items joined by “and” should be parallel, so “working”
should be the noun “work.”
Choice (E) involves improper phrasing. “Allows”
should be followed by “to,” not by “can.”
12. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (C) involves an error in agreement. The
singular verb “has supplied” does not agree with its
plural subject, “our many courses in the liberal arts.”
Choice (D) involves an error in agreement. The
singular verb “leaves” does not agree with its plural
subject, “our many courses in the liberal arts.”
Choice (E) involves awkward phrasing. “Were the
preparation for making” should simply be “prepared
us for.”
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by using the singular verb “was” to agree with
the singular noun “regime.”
Choice (A) involves an error in agreement. The plural
pronoun “they” cannot correctly refer to the singular
noun “Benin.”
Choice (B) involves an error in agreement. The plural
pronoun “they” cannot correctly refer to the singular
noun “Benin.”
10. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (A) is correct. It uses correct verb forms and
punctuation.
Choice (C) involves an error in agreement. The plural
verb “were” cannot agree with the singular subject
“Benin.”
Choice (B) involves an error in punctuation. The
phrase “through...beauty” should be enclosed in
commas.
Choice (D) involves an error in agreement. The plural
pronoun “them” cannot correctly refer to the singular
noun “Benin.”
Choice (C) creates an illogical sentence. It suggests
that “because modern bluegrass songs tell of love,”
the songs are therefore rural.
13. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (D) involves unclear pronoun reference. What
the pronoun “they” refers to is not clear.
Choice (E) uses an improper verb form. “Celebrating”
should be “celebrate.”
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by comparing “this legend” to “legends about
other naval heroes.”
Choice (A) involves an illogical comparison. It
compares “this legend” to “other naval heroes.”
11. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (B) involves an error in agreement. It uses
the plural verb “are” for the singular subject “this
legend.”
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by correctly joining two complete thoughts
(“The fruit fly...mechanisms” and
“because...generations”) with a semicolon.
Choice (C) involves an illogical comparison. It
compares “this legend” to “other naval heroes.”
Choice (A) involves improper coordination. Two
complete thoughts (“The fruit fly...mechanisms” and
Page 10 of 11
Test 9: Explanations to Writing
Choice (D) involves an error in agreement. It uses
the plural verb “are” for the singular subject “this
legend.”
14. ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the
original by using consistent verb forms (“to look”).
Choice (A) involves an error in verb tense. It shifts
from present tense (“come”) to past tense (“would
look”) for no reason.
Choice (B) involves an error in verb form. It shifts
from “come to look” to “look” for no reason.
Choice (C) involves an error in verb form. It shifts
from “look” to “are looking” for no reason.
Choice (D) involves an error in verb form. The
participle “looking” is an incomplete verb.
Page 11 of 11