11
The students (A)have discovered that (B)they can address issues more effectively (C)through letter-writing campaigns (D)and not through public demonstrations. (E)No error
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
答案：D
解析：The error in this sentence occurs at (D). When a comparison is introduced by the adverb "more," as in "more effectively," the second part of the comparison must be introduced by the conjunction "than" rather than "and not."
The other options contain no errors. In (A), the plural verb "have discovered" agrees with the plural subject "students." In (B), the plural pronoun "they" correctly refers to the plural noun "students." In (C), the preposition "through" appropriately expresses the means by which issues are addressed.
The sentence may be corrected as follows: The students have discovered that they can address issues more effectively through letter-writing campaigns than through public demonstrations.
12
(A)After hours of futile debate, the committee has decided (B)to postpone further discussion (C)of the resolution until (D)their next meeting. (E)No error
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
答案：D
解析：The error in this sentence occurs at (D). A pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) with the noun to which it refers. Here, the plural pronoun "their" incorrectly refers to the singular noun "committee."
The other options contain no errors. In (A), the preposition "After" appropriately introduces a phrase that indicates when the committee made its decision. In (B), "to postpone" is the verb form needed to complete the description of the committee's decision. In (C), the prepositional phrase "of the resolution" appropriately specifies the subject of the postponed discussion.
The sentence may be corrected as follows: After hours of futile debate, the committee has decided to postpone further discussion of the resolution until its next meeting.
13
At the music recital, Alexandra (A)enjoyed listening to her friend Mohammed's insightful interpretation, (B)which she thought was (C)more sophisticated (D)than the other performers. (E)No error.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
答案：D
解析：The problem in this sentence is one of illogical comparison. Alexandra is said to consider Mohammed's insightful interpretation more sophisticated than the other performers, improperly comparing his interpretation to other performers, rather than to interpretations of other performers. The correct sentence reads: At the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listening to her friend Mohammed's insightful interpretation, which she thought was more sophisticated than the interpretations of the other performers.
14
The (A)other delegates and (B)him (C)immediately accepted the resolution (D)drafted by the neutral states. (E)No error
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
答案：B
解析：In the example above, "The other delegates and him" are the people who "immediately accepted the resolution," and the phrase "drafted by the neutral states" describes "the resolution." Check each underlined word or phrase for correctness.
The phrase "The other" correctly modifies the word "delegates."
The pronoun "him" is in the wrong case. (One would not say "him immediately accepted.") "Him" is an error, but go on to check the other choices, especially if you are not sure.
The word "immediately," which modifies the verb "accepted," is correct.
The phrase "drafted by" correctly expresses the action of the "neutral states."
15
Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book and she was sixty-five years old then.
(A) and she was sixty-five years old then
(B) when she was sixty-five
(C) at age sixty-five years old
(D) upon the reaching of sixty-five years
(E) at the time when she was sixty five
答案：B
解析：Look carefully at the underlined portion of the sentence because it may have to be revised. Keep in mind that the rest of the sentence stays the same. Follow the two outlined steps in answering each Improving Sentences question.
In the example above, connecting the two ideas ("Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book") and ("she was sixty-five years old then") with the word "and" indicates that the two ideas are equally important. The word "and" should be replaced to establish the relationship between the two ideas.
Remember that choice (A) is the same as the underlined portion. Even if you think that the underline does not require correction and choice (A) is the correct answer, it is a good idea to read each choice quickly to make sure.
The word "and" indicates that the two ideas it connects are equally important. No.
Replacing the word "and" with "when" clearly expresses the information that the sentence is intended to convey by relating Laura Ingalls Wilder's age to her achievement. Yes, but continue to look at the other revisions.
Using the word "at" results in a phrase that is not idiomatic. No.
The phrase "upon the reaching of" also results in a phrase that is not idiomatic. No.
The phrase "at the time when she was sixty-five years old" is awkward and wordy. No.
16
Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans, which are realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner.
(A) Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans, which are realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner.
(B) Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans being realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner.
(C) The paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner realistically depict scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans.
(D) Henry Ossawa Tanner, in his realistic paintings, depicting scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans.
(E) Henry Ossawa Tanner, whose paintings realistically depict scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans.
答案：C
解析：For a sentence to be grammatically complete, it must include both a subject and a main verb. When a sentence lacks either a subject or a main verb, the result is a sentence fragment. In this example all options but (C) are sentence fragments.
In (A), the phrase "Scenes ... Americans " is modified by the dependent clause "which ... Tanner," but there is no main verb.
In (B), the phrase "Scenes ... Tanner" contains no main verb.
In (D), the noun "Henry Ossawa Tanner" is modified by "depicting" but is not combined with a main verb.
And in (E), the noun "Henry Ossawa Tanner" is modified by the dependent clause "whose ... Americans" but not combined with a main verb.
(C) is correct. It is the only choice in which a subject ("The paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner") is combined with a verb ("depict") to express a complete thought.
17
Looking up from the base of the mountain, the trail seemed more treacherous than it really was.
(A) Looking up
(B) While looking up
(C) By looking up
(D) Viewing
(E) Viewed
答案：E
解析：When a modifying phrase begins a sentence, it must logically modify the sentence's subject; otherwise, it is a dangling modifier. In this example, every option except (E) is a dangling modifier.
In (A), the phrase "Looking up from the base of the mountain" does not logically modify the subject "the trail." A person might stand at the base of a mountain and look up at a trail, but it is illogical to suggest that a trail looks up from the base of a mountain.
(B), (C), and (D) are simply variations of the error found in (A). Each results in a sentence that illogically suggests that a trail was looking up from the base of a mountain.
(E) is correct. Although a trail cannot itself look up from the base of a mountain, a trail can be viewed by someone looking up from the base of a mountain, so the phrase "Viewed from the base of the mountain" logically modifies the subject "the trail."
18
One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms, another that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment.
(A) symptoms, another that occurs
(B) symptoms; another one that occurs
(C) symptoms, the other, and it occurs
(D) symptoms; another one which is occurring
(E) symptoms and also occurring
答案：B
解析：This sentence illustrates a comma splice, the incorrect use of a comma to connect two complete sentences. Choice (B) correctly uses a semicolon to coordinate two independent clauses and form a compound sentence (while at the same time keeping verb tenses parallel). The correct sentence reads: One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms; another one that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment.
19
Underestimating its value, breakfast is a meal many people skip.
(A) Underestimating its value, breakfast is a meal many people skip.
(B) Breakfast is skipped by many people because of their underestimating its value.
(C) Many people, underestimating the value of breakfast, and skipping it.
(D) Many people skip breakfast because they underestimate its value.
(E) A meal skipped by many people underestimating its value is breakfast.
答案：D
解析：The problem with this sentence is that the opening phrase "underestimating its value" modifies "breakfast," not "people." The order of the words in the sentence in choice (D) does not have this problem of a misplaced modifying phrase. Choice (D) also clarifies the causal relationship between the two clauses in the sentence. None of the other choices convey the information presented in the sentence as effectively and directly as choice (D).
20
Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people which have a belief in finding the treasure in them.
(A) which have a belief in finding the treasure in them
(B) that belief there is treasure to be found in them
(C) who believe they hold treasure and that they can find it
(D) who believe that there is treasure to be found in them
(E) who believe about treasure to be found in them
答案：D
解析：This sentence is awkward as written, and the pronoun "which" is the wrong relative pronoun to refer to "people" (the antecedent of the pronoun in this sentence). Choice (D) uses the correct pronoun "who" and more effectively than the other choices states the characteristics of people who are fascinated by shipwrecks. The correct sentence reads: Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people who believe that there is treasure to be found in them.