Grad Exam- Language Practice Quiz

I. Parallel Structure Practice

On the back of this sheet, rewrite the following sentences to improve the parallel structure in each.

1.      He brought a set of clean linens, towel, and a washcloth.

 2.      When he visited his parents, Julio both wanted to spend time with his family and visit with old friends.

 3.      Greek temples for the god of medicine, Asklepios, were not only places of worship but also of healing.

 4.      At Christmas we like to decorate the tree, making special cookies, and singing carols.

 5.      Lorenzo loves hiking, climbing mountains, and especially to camp in the forest.

 6.      The Romans constructed their baths by elevating the floors on brick pillars, enclosing the pillars and rooms to control the air circulation, and then installed furnaces    to circulate hot air.

7.      Edith bought a computer, dot-matrix printer, and a popular word-processing software program.

8.      Ramon never felt prepared for French class, whether he had studied the language daily or cramming several hours before class.

9.      I didn't go to the concert because I didn't have any interest in it, the time, and I lacked the energy to go out.

10.  Even though Marla was tired from jogging five miles and she practiced wind sprints for twenty minutes, she was ready for a night of dancing.

II. Commonly Confused Words
Circle the correct word from the two given in parentheses.

1. Everyone could attend (accept, except) Carla.

2. The concert is (all ready, already) sold out.

3. Rich didn’t want to (loose, lose) your friendship.

4. We (past, passed) many vacant lots.

5. The empty gym was still and (quiet, quite).

6. My new (stationary, stationery) is pink with a black border.

7. I asked (whether, weather) the gerbils would bite.

8. (Bare, bear) with me, please.

9. Kenny delivered the dog to (its, it’s) new owner.

10. In (whose, who’s) name shall the letter be sent)?

11. The coach said, “I (advise, advice) you to do your best during practice today.”

12. You should (sit, set) in the third seat on the first row.

13. Please (sit, set) your books on the back table before we begin the test.

14. Lucy is taller (than, then) Billy.

15. The hot-air balloons (rise, raise) above the treetops.

16. The graduates threw (there, their, they’re) hats in the air.

17.  (Their, there) are three police officers guarding the gate.

18. The sergeant (busted, burst) into the room.

19. He (lay, laid) in bed until noon.

20. She seemed (kind of, rather) bored.

III. Punctuating Quotations Correctly

Rewrite each sentence below, adding any necessary punctuation and capitalization.

1. that jacket looks nice on you my father said as he walked in the door

2. with growing irritation, the taxi driver asked have you decided where you want to go yet

3. he who has imagination without learning warns Joubert has wings but no feet

4. you’ve got to keep your eye on the ball every second instructed my coach


5. If you have a problem I told the babysitter just call me at the number written on the pad next to the phone

6. are you going asked Shannon to the party that Doug is throwing this weekend


7. I heard the Dean ask which one of you did this

8. Did Mrs. Mock say I will not accept any papers after today

IV. Active & Passive Voice
Identify each sentence as active or passive.

1. The bitter medicine was taken by my sister.

2. We each purchased several new outfits for spring.

3.  Later, the speaker wrote a letter of apology.

4. Bread crumbs were then sprinkled on the fish.

5. Surgery was performed by a team of specialists.

6. Eileen grew her own fresh herbs this summer.

7. The letter was signed by the President.

Rewrite each of the passive voice sentences, and make them active voice.

8. The package was opened by Jennifer.

9. That story is told over and over again by Grandfather.

10. The bad news was given to John by the coach.

11. The jammed window was finally opened by my mother.

12. The New York Times is always read by me after breakfast on Sunday.

13. A gold bracelet was found by Laura.

14. The film’s special effects were developed by a team of engineers.

V. Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers
Write each of the following sentences, correcting each misplaced modifier.  Then underline the correct modifier and draw an arrow from it to the word it modifies.

            Ex. The child ran into the house crying loudly.

                                                                                    Crying loudly, the child ran into the house.

 1. A cupcake was served to each guest, covered with chocolate frosting.

 
2. Tony realized the mistake he had made after a few minutes.

3. We gave scraps of meat to the dog that had been left on our plates.

4. The hunter crouched behind a tree waiting for a bear to come along with a bow and arrow.

5. We saw many beautiful homes driving through the South.
 

6. Adrianne put the trophies into a glass cabinet that she had won during gymnastics competitions.

Write each of the following sentences, correcting each dangling modifier. 

7. Jogging one morning, the solution to the problem was obvious.

 
8. When she was five, Paula’s mother graduated from the university.

9. Getting up much earlier than usual, the house seemed strangely quiet.

10.  Waiting for a ride, the rain pounded down all around.

11. Driving through the desert at night, the cacti looked eerie.

12. Giving a party, several balloons were blown up.

VI. Using Apostrophes Correctly

Write the underline noun in possessive form.

            Ex. The door of the bird cage was open.       bird’s

 1. The student paper discussed the novel in great detail.

 2. Phyllis hair looked good styled that way.

 3. New courses were listed in the college fall catalog.

 4. We read three of Robert Graves books. 

5. The members dues should be paid this week.

 6. The children toys were scattered all over the floor.

 7. The visitors suitcases had not yet been unpacked.

8. My father-in-law hair has a streak of gray in it.

 9. Both of my brother-in-law cars are parked in the driveway.

 10. The police chief wife is a police officer, too.

Write each of the underlined nouns, adding apostrophes to show the kind of ownership indicated in parentheses.

            Ex. Mike and Sue jackets are in the closet. (individual)
                        Mike’s and Sue’s

 11. In the aftermath of the hurricane, it became apparent that the husband and wife house was damaged beyond hope of repair. (joint)

12. The prosecutor and defense attorney opening remarks took up most of the morning. (individual)

13. Stacy and Kevin teacher assigned a lengthy research paper. (joint)

14. I would say that either Megan or John paper could win the essay competition. (individual)

If a sentence uses the apostrophe correctly, write correct.  If not, underline the error and correct it.

            Ex.       Someone’s else’s package was delivered to them.
                                    Someone

 15. Robin gave his’ coconut cake to her.

16. When the coat didn’t fit, he decided he had picked up another’s by mistake.

 

17. It’s my duty to fight crime whenever and wherever I find it.

18. Her’s was the first car to be pulled over by the police.

19. When he was cooking the steaks, he cooked their’s a little too long.

20. Anybody elses’ actions would have been suspect, but nobody doubts his word.