Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
ANSWER KEY Unit 1
Pre-Test
Recognizing noun phrases
Underline all the noun phrases used as subjects in the following sentences.
1. Genetically modified foods are becoming controversial.
2. Most people do not know much about these foods.
3. Processed foods often contain some genetic modifications.
4.In the United States, milk has been altered by a genetically modified growth hormone.
5. Genetic modification of foods involves transferring spliced genes from one species to another.
Recognizing verb phrases
Underline all the verb phrases in the following sentences.
1. Biotech companies claim amazing possibilities from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
2. They are promoting GMOs as a solution to world hunger.
3. Critics have argued against these claims.
4. The public increasingly needs sound scientific information.
5. How will the consumer find that important information?
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Recognizing and correcting sentence fragments
Read each sentence and decide: Is it a complete sentence? Is the subject missing? Is the verb missing
or is there an error in the verb tense?
Correct the sentence fragments but do not change a sentence that is complete.
1.In 1997 a cloned sheep named Dolly was produced.
2. Since then Dolly produced her own lambs and died.
3. Bioengineering has become a popular media topic. (no error)
4. Biotech companies are searching for cures for diseases.
5. The ethics of stem cell research and gene therapy lead to many debates.
6.Genetic changes are very controversial.
7. The Human Genome Project has mapped the human DNA code. (no error)
8. It was an expensive undertaking.
9.Genetic research has been providing doctors new tools for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
10. However elimination of all disease seems unlikely.
Analyzing sentence patterns
Identify the different elements of each sentence.
1. Ana is speaking.
SLVIV
2. Her first language is Spanish.
SLV SC
3. The school needs Spanish textbooks.
S
TV
O
4. The students find reading the most challenging part of their schoolwork.
S
TV O
OC
5. The president gave Ana the job because she reads and speaks Spanish fluently.
S
TVIO DO
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Practice 1
Read the following paragraph and perform the given tasks
1. Identify the two sentence fragments in the paragraph
(1) In August 1862, gold was found in Williams Creek in central British Columbia. (2) In the following
spring, miners from eastern Canada, the U.S., and China came to Barkerville, a new mining town. (3) Fire
was a constant danger in the town. (4) During the long hot summers. (5) The wooden buildings along the
streets became tinder dry. (6) On September 16, 1868, a fire started in a restaurant and spread quickly. (7)
In just an hour, the fire totally destroyed four-fifths of the town. (8) And killed dozens of people.
2. Identify the verb or verb phrase in Sentences (1) and (3).
(1)In August 1862, gold was found in Williams Creek in central British Columbia.
(3)Fire was a constant danger in the town.
3. In Sentences (2) and (5), identify the noun phrases with the structure
of noun + prepositional phrase.
(2)In the following spring, miners from eastern Canada, the U.S., and China came to Barkerville,
a new mining town.
(5) The wooden buildings along the streets became tinder dry.
4. In Sentence (3) and (5), identify the noun phrases with the structure of adjective + noun.
(3)Fire was a constant danger in the town.
(5) The wooden buildings along the streets became tinder dry.
5. In Sentences (6) and (7), identify the adverbs that modify the verb phrases.
(6) On September 16, 1868, a fire started in a restaurant and spread quickly.
(7)In just an hour, the fire totally destroyed four-fifths of the town.
6. In Sentences (2) and (7), identify the prepositional phrases that modify the verb phrase.
(2) In the following spring, miners from eastern Canada, the U.S., and China came to Barkerville,
a new mining town.
(7) In just an hour, the fire totally destroyed four-fifths of the town.
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Construct noun phrases to fit the given patterns, using the words provided
1. from
on the block
children
dancing
school
the
small
adjective
+
children
noun
school
noun
+
children
noun
small
adjective
+
school
noun
+
children
noun
small
adjective
+
children
noun
+
on the block
prepositional phrase
2. lead
pencil
some
before
black
black
adjective
+
pencil
noun
black
adjective
+
lead
noun
pencil
noun
+
on the desk
prepositional phrase
black
adjective
+
pencil
noun
3. some
my
more
+
+
in the library
Science
noun
+
students
noun
students
noun
+
in the library
prepositional phrase
write
small
on the desk
pencil
noun
on the desk
prepositional phrase
young
Science
students
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Indicate if each sentence below is correct, or if it contains an error in the verb phrases or verb
phrase modifiers. Correct the errors.
Correct
Incorrect
1. Many of my classmates speak Arabic.


2. The weather in San Francisco is very nice.


3. The children proudly displayed their artwork.


4. Most students like to live in the downtown area. 

5. Paul repaired the antique vase using special glue.


6. Slowly, he walked to the door. 

7. The children displayed their artwork proudly.


8. The weather in San Francisco is very nice.


9. Many of my classmates speak Arabic.


10. Quietly, I entered the classroom.


11. Most students like living in the downtown area. 

12. He walked slowly to the door.


13. My classmates speak Arabic.


14. The weather in San Francisco must be very nice.


15. Most students like to live in the downtown area.


16. The children displayed their artwork with pride.


17. Paul repaired the antique vase by using special glue.


18. I entered the classroom quietly.


Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Practice 2
1. Circle the structure of the underlined part
1. (b)
2. (c)
3. (e)
4. (c)
5. (b)
6. (d)
7. (a)
8. (e)
9. (b)
10.(d)
2. Make up sentences with only the words or phrases that fit the given pattern
1. A storm hit the island.
S
TV O
2. Many people became homeless.
SLV
SC
3. Relief efforts started.
SIV
4. The Governor declared the island a disaster area.
S
TV
O
OC
5. The government gave local people financial aid.
S
TVIO
DO
6. The local people rebuilt the island.
S
TV
O
7. Many tourists find the island more attractive.
S
TV O
OC
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
Quiz Unit 1
1. Read the following paragraph and underline or highlight the main verb or verb phrase
in every sentence
(1) Kevin Layton is a serious body builder. (2) He tries to increase the size of his muscles by lifting
weights at a gym. (3) He usually goes there at the same time every day. (4) He works out rigorously
twice a day – in the morning and in the afternoon. (5) Usually, he starts out on an exercise bike to
warm up his muscles. (6) Then he moves on to his weight-lifting exercises. (7) However, he never does
exercises on Saturdays and Sundays. (8) This way, he gives his muscles a chance to rest. (9) Also, he
wants to spend time with his family over the weekend. (10) Kevin thoroughly enjoys his life.
2. Read the following paragraph and underline or highlight the main verb or verb phrase
in every sentence
(1) Mary Morris is a lucky woman tonight. (2) She is resting comfortably at home. (3) However, early
this morning, she was involved in the strangest automobile accidents in local history. (4) On her way
to work, her car hit a muddy patch of road. (5) She got out of her car to push it out of the mud. (6)
Suddenly, a herd of wild pigs came out of the bush. (7) They surrounded her. (8) They started to attack
her. (9) Mary finally scared them off back into the bushes by blowing the horn. (10) She was later
treated for gashes on her legs and shock.
3. Select the appropriate item to complete the following sentences
1. c
2. d
3. c
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. b 9. c
10. b
11. c
12. d
13. b
14. d
15. a
16. c
4. The following sentences contain an error related to a noun phrase, verb phrase, or verb phrase
modifier. Identify each error.
1. She spoke in a soft voice to her husband.
2. The accident was happened yesterday.
3. The Dean responded quickly to the student’s request.
4. The student gave a satisfactory response.
5. After the explosion, we went immediately to the house to inspect the damage.
6.Are women more safer drivers than men?
7. We have being told him the story recently.
8. We moved quietly to the position and blocked the back door of the building.
9. Water is necessary for life.
Online Tutoring System for Essay Writing
answer key – Unit 1
10.Everything happened so suddenly that we did not have time to evacuate everyone.
11. Abraham Lincoln was a great president of the United States.
12. He examined the device carefully and said it was safe.
13. We like living in big cities because of all the services we can easily get.
14. Antarctica is covered by a huge ice cap that contains 70 percent of the earth’s fresh water.
15. He seemed happy yesterday.
16. Only people with courage and intelligence can be (can become) successful test pilots.
5. Identify the structure of the sentence
(1) Last year, Paul started college.
Pattern 3
(2) He was thirty-two.
Pattern 1
(3) He considered going to college a gamble.
Pattern 4
(4) Paul had worked as a data entry clerk for ten years.
Pattern 2
(5) The full-time job had allowed him many material comforts.
Pattern 5
(6) However, the desire to move out of the dead-end job made him restless.
Pattern 4
(7) After a year of preparing himself financially and psychologically, Paul returned to school. Pattern 2
(8) He is now in a graphics design program.
Pattern 1
(9) He thus puts his money, time, and abilities on the line.
Pattern 3
(10) Paul enjoys his program very much.
Pattern 3
(11) After graduation, he wants a job with a multi-national company.
Pattern 3
(12) His payoff will be a career with a future.
Pattern 1