BC English Placement/Pre-Post Test
REV. 03/24/14 cwk
NAME:_____________________________________________
Last
First
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1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
2. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
Between you and I, the sushi was terrible.
Between you and me, the sushi was terrible.
Between you and I the sushi was terrible.
Between I and you, the sushi was terrible.
5. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
She and him are never satisfied.
She and he are never satisfied.
Her and him are never satisfied.
She and him ain’t never satisfied.
4. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
Some immigrants struggles with learning a new language.
Some immigrant struggle with learning a new language.
Some immigrants struggle with learning a new language.
The immigrant struggle with learning a new language.
3. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
Wally was a borned comedian.
Wally was a born comedian.
Wally borned a comedian.
Wally was a comedian borned.
Whomever should get the autographed CD?
Whom should get the autographed CD?
Who should get the autographed CD?
Whoever should get the autographed CD?
6. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The better picture will win the award and the cash prize.
The good picture will win, the award and the cash prize.
The gooder picture will win the award and the cash prize..
The better the picture will win the award and the cash prize.
SCORE_________
Date: __________________
2
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7. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. George would of been on time if he had set his alarm clock.
b. George would have been on time if he had set his alarm clock.
c. George woulda been on time if he had set his alarm clock.
d. George ought of been on time if he had set his alarm clock.
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8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
9. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
With all the rain outside the gardens should do very well this season.
With all the rain outside the gardens are very well this season.
With all the rain outside, the gardens should do very well this season.
With all the rain outside the gardens oughta do very well this season.
The car did not start, because she did not check the gas gauge.
The car did not start because she did not check the gas gauge.
The car did not start; because she did not check the gas gauge.
The car did not start because, she did not check the gas gauge.
10. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. She eating chocolate all of the time is not very good for her teeth.
b. Chocolate is my favorite snack, I always eat chocolate.
c. If vegetables were available in chocolate flavor, I would be very healthy.
d. Chocolate with red, raspberries or blueberries is very tasty.
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11. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. One of the girls believe that Justin will sing to her.
b. Either Tom or Wayne are going to be chosen.
c. All the CD players on that shelf comes with a remote control.
d. The lizard on the wall has only three legs.
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12. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. Foods that contains artificial sweeteners may be hazardous to our health
b. There is no direct route to Thistle Cove from here.
c. Here is the teapot and sugar bowl I’ve been looking for.
d. Why is Shane and Morgan so suspicious?
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13. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. The cherry pie is definitely more sweeter than the carrot cake.
b. The cherry pie is definitely sweeter than the carrot cake.
c. The cherry pie is definitely more sweeter than the carrot cake is.
d. The cherry pie is definitely sweeter then the carrot cake.
3
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14. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. One teacher left their cell phone in the library.
b. One teacher left there cell phone in the library.
c. A teacher left their cell phone in the library.
d. One teacher left a cell phone in the library.
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition,
seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in
the world with very little to distress or vex her.
15. The underlined words are:
a. adjectives
b. adverbs
c. articles
d. prepositions
Upon the walls of the lonely locked room where he had spent so much of his boyhood, he had
hung with his own hands the terrible portrait whose changing features showed him the real
degradation of his life, and in front of it had draped the purple-and-gold pall as a curtain.
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16. The underlined words are:
a. subjects
b. verbs
c. adjectives
d. nouns
____
17. Arrange these sentences in the most logical order.
1) Everyone who cooks in the kitchen should take turns cleaning it.
2) Establishing a cleaning schedule with other roommates should be at the top of the "to-do" list.
3) Cleaning the kitchen is a necessary task.
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
1,2,3
2,3,1
3,1,2
3,2,1
When we return from our trip, we’ll have visited several European capitals.
18. This sentence is written in:
a. past tense
b. present tense
c. future perfect tense
d. future tense
4
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19. _________ is a group of paragraphs about one subject.
a. An essay
b. An argument
c. A novella
d. A thesaurus
____
20. The thesis is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
the first sentence of the last paragraph in the essay.
the first sentence of the introduction the novella.
the final sentence of the conclusion of the argument.
the most important sentence in the essay.
21. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. My sister has been lieing on the beach all week.
b. My sister has been laying on the beach all week.
c. My sister has been laiding on the beach all week.
d. My sister has been lying on the beach all week.
____
22. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. Lady Gaga sang; "I am woman, hear me roar!"
b. Lady Gaga sang, "I am woman; hear me roar!"
c. Lady Gaga sang I am woman, hear me roar!
d. Lady Gaga sang, " I am woman, hear me roar!"
____
23. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. His widow found it difficult to accept the circumstances.
b. His widow found it difficult to except the circumstances.
c. His widow found it difficult to excerpt the circumstances.
d. His widow found it difficult to effect the circumstances.
____
24. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
In asking such a question, an answer cannot really be expected.
Having studied the exams, your score should improve.
Both of the above
Neither of the above
Can you believe it is snowing again?
____
25. This sentence is written in:
a. future perfect tense
b. present tense
c. past tense
d. past perfect tense
5
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26. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. Saul's brother left the matter entirely up to he and I.
b. Saul's brother left the matter entirely up to him and I.
c. Saul's brother left the matter entirely up to he and me.
d. Saul's brother left the matter entirely up to him and me .
There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house. The March Hare and the Hatter
were having tea at it. A Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two
were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head.
27. Which clause can stand alone as a complete sentence?
a. A Dormouse was sitting between them
b. resting their elbows on it
c. were having tea at it
d. out under a tree in front of the house
A clammy and intensely cold mist made its slow way through the air in ripples that visibly
followed and overspread one another, as the waves of an unwholesome sea might do.
28. The underlined sentence is:
a. a verb phrase
b. a conjunctive phrase
c. a dependent clause
d. the subject of the sentence
Bill applied for the position nevertheless I don't think he'll take it if we offer it to him.
29. The sentence above:
a. has a comma splice.
b. is a run-on sentence.
c. is correct.
d. None of the above answers are correct.
30. What kind of essay is used to share varying thought on a particular subject?
a.
b.
c.
d.
____
process
definition
descriptive
opinion
31. The revision part of the writing process is:
a. proofreading.
b. rethinking and rewriting.
c. reading aloud.
d. none of the above.
6
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32. Correcting errors in mechanics and grammar:
a. is the most important task in writing.
b. doesn't really matter if the essay is thought-provoking.
c. doesn’t lend credibility to your essay.
d. is completed during the editing process of writing.
____
33. An outline
a. searches the internet for information.
b. is a good way to organize ideas for an essay.
c. is found in the back of many books.
d. arranges information at random.
____
34. When writing, new ideas
a. give the reader a break.
b. are usually segmented by paragraphs.
c. are presented at the end of the paper.
d. fill up space for a word count.
____
35. Formal essays
a. have one very long paragraph.
b. have the same number of paragraphs as other essays.
c. have several paragraphs.
d. do not have paragraphs.
____
36. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. Her nose was broken, however, the cosmetic surgeon assured her that he could repair it.
b. Her nose was broken; however; the cosmetic surgeon assured her that he could repair it.
c. Her nose was broken; however, the cosmetic surgeon assured her that he could repair it.
d. Her nose was broken, however; the cosmetic surgeon assured her that he could repair it..
____
37. Identify the sentence fragment.
a. This is the point
b. related to Einstein
c. you cannot fix a problem with the problem
d. There are no fragments.
____
38. Which sentence is grammatically and mechanically correct?
a. There are five stages of grief namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
b. There are five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
c. There are five stages of grief, namely; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
d. There are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
7
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39. Which of these can be argued in an essay?
a. a fact
b. a matter of taste
c. an opinion
d. None of the above
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in
my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little
and see the watery part of the world.
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40. The underlined words are:
a. proper nouns.
b. pronouns.
c. proper subjects.
d. improper nouns.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must
be in want of a wife.
41. The underlined phrase is a/an:
a. a sentence that can stand alone.
b. dependent clause.
c. parenthetical phrase.
d. subordinate phrase.
____
42. Which of the following sentences contains a misplaced modifier?
a. He almost talked for three hours before his voice began to fail.
b. He talked for almost three hours before his voice began to fail
c. Both of the above
d. Neither of the above
____
43. Which sentence is written using parallel construction?
a. Not getting enough sleep and not eating correctly will wreck your health.
b. Mary has taken courses not only in linguistics but also in computer science.
c. I would like either to travel in Europe next summer or to vacation in Colorado again.
d. All of the above
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44. Strong academic writing includes:
a. copying from the internet
b. including only personal thoughts and opinions
c. writing in first person.
d. none of the above.
8
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45. Formal writing is not a/an:
a. critical, investigative essay
b. argumentative, researched essay
c. article review for a research journal
d. a poem
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46. Which kind of paragraph is best suited for presenting concise information?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Process
Summary
Narrative
Explanatory
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47. The body of an essay should include:
a. the justification of the thesis
b. The thesis statement as well as the writer’s stance
c. A topic sentence and a transition sentence
d. Both b & c
____
48. A well-organized essay should begin with
a. pre-writing.
b. a plan.
c. an outline.
d. all of the above.
____
49. Academic writing should
a. Use standard English
b. Use personal language
c. Use the words "I" and "you"
d. none of the above
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50. Using impartial language in an essay means
a. Writing clearly
b. Writing concisely
c. Using objective language
d. Having a strong point to make