question 4 of 13

[NOTE: Boldface replaces underlining in the sample question below.]


(from the October 18, 1997 test)

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The error in this sentence is (A): the phrase "protest on" is not idiomatic in standard written English. The verb "protest" takes the preposition "against." The correct sentence reads: Originally a protest against conventional painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exerted great influence on the art of its time.

question 5 of 13

[NOTE: Boldface replaces underlining in the sample question below.]


(from the October 18, 1997 test)

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The error in this sentence is (C): the verb "were" (which is plural) does not agree in number with the noun "quality" (which is singular). The correct sentence reads: The board reviewing the courses offered by the college found that the quality of academic programs was generally good but somewhat uneven.

question 6 of 13

[NOTE: Boldface replaces underlining in the sample question below.]


(from the October 17, 1998 test)

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The error in the sentence is (D): the pronoun "their" in the phrase "of their" should be "it" because the pronoun refers to the singular noun "starling." Note that the verb following "starling" is singular, forcing one to recognize that the noun "starling" is singular. The correct sentence reads: The starling is such a pest in rural areas that it has become necessary to find ways of controlling the growth of its population.

question 7 of 13

[NOTE: Boldface replaces underlining in the sample question below.]


(from the October 17, 1998 test)

Correct Answer: E
Explanation: Each of the parts of the sentence underlined with A, B, C, and D is correct as written. Therefore choice (E): no error is the appropriate answer.

question 8 of 13

[NOTE: Boldface replaces underlining in the sample question below.]


(from the October 20, 1998 test)

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The error in this sentence is (C): the word "heavy" in the phrase "heavy veiled" should not be in the form of an adjective but in the adverbial form since it is used to modify the participle "veiled." The correct sentence reads: Maude Adams, after her spectacular triumph as the original Peter Pan, went about heavily veiled and was accessible to only a handful of intimate friends.