Practice Items for the College Placement Test

DIRECTIONS: Select the best version of the highlighted part of the sentence. There is a choice that is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, pick that choice.

1     Because of his longstanding reputation with the board of trustees, he did not have to make the normally required presentation of his proposal, therefore, the board was accused of failing to follow due process.

(A) his proposal, therefore, the board

(B) his proposal therefore, the board

(C) his proposal; therefore, the board

(D) his proposal, therefore the board

2     Ms. Ceita Hernandez, who is the founder of the Cuban-American Alliance, and who has been a child care advocate for over a decade.

(A) and who has been

(B) she has been

(C) and she has been

(D) has been

3     Walt Disney World is a place of enchantment and children and adults are entertained.

(A) enchantment and children and adults are entertained

(B) enchantment where children and adults are entertained

(C) enchantment, although children and adults are entertained

(D) enchantment, children and adults entertaining

4     Encouraged by the good report, whistling down the hall is where the patient was.

(A) whistling down the hall is where the patient was

(B) the patient was whistling down the hall

(C) down the hall the patient was whistling

(D) whistling the patient was down the hall

5     Our family enjoys a wide array of sports: skiing, to fish, and basketball.

(A) skiing, to fish, and basketball

(B) to ski, fish, and play basketball

(C) skiing, fishing and basketball

(D) skiing, fishing and playing basketball

6     Harriet Tubman was a guide for the Underground Railroad.

(A) Tubman was a guide

(B) Tubman, who was a guide

(C) Tubman, a guide

(D) Tubman, who had been a guide

7     The old school house that we toured is probably the second or third oldest in the western United States, this is because it is 175 years old.

(A) The old school house that we toured is probably the second or third oldest in the western United States, this is because it is 175 years old.

(B) Because the old school house that we visited is 175 years old is why it may be the second or third oldest in the western United States.

(C) The old school house that we toured, which is 175 years old, is probably the second or third oldest in the western United States.

(D) The old school house that we toured is probably the second or third oldest in the western United States, it is 175 years old.

8     High levels of sugar can cause hyperactivity in fruit juices that preschoolers consume.

(A) High levels of sugar can cause hyperactivity in fruit juices that preschoolers consume.

(B) High levels of sugar in fruit juices consumed by preschoolers can cause them to be hyperactive.

(C) High levels of sugar for preschoolers in fruit juices that they consume can cause hyperactivity.

(D) Hyperactivity can be caused in preschoolers with high levels of sugar that they consume in fruit juices.

DIRECTIONS: In the following questions, you are going to be asked to rewrite sentences in your head. You will be told exactly how to begin your new sentence. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have the same meaning as the sentence given you.

9     Exhibiting great perseverance and stamina, Jolie beat her own record and won the Boston Marathon.Rewrite, beginning with: Because Jolie had perseverance and stamina… The next words will be

(A) which beat

(B) so as to beat

(C) and she beat

(D) she beat

10     Leaving his hometown as a recent college graduate and new teacher, Andrew moved to Miami, where he had done his student teaching. Rewrite, beginning with: As a recent college graduate and new teacher… The next words will be

(A) Andrew left his hometown

(B) Andrew left his hometown when

(C) who left his hometown

(D) he left his hometown

11     The students were rushing to finish their science projects all night and finally completed them at five o’clock in the morning. Rewrite beginning with At five o’clock in the morning…Your new sentence will include

(A) in rushing to finish

(B) have completed

(C) the students finally completed

(D) insofar as rushing to finish

12     Not only has Dr. Peterson written two novels, but she has also written a collection of short stories and poems. Rewrite beginning with Dr. Peterson has written not only two novels… The next words will be

(A) but also has written

(B) she has even written

(C) but along with them has

(D) but along with them also

13     In her paintings, Mary Lou Park captures nature and its surreal elements quite masterfully. Rewrite beginning with Nature and its surreal elements…Your new sentence will include

(A) Mary Lou Park captures

(B) make Mary Lou Park’s

(C) in Mary Lou Park’s

(D) does Mary Lou Park

14     Robert Frost contributed to American literature by writing poetry about common people in common situations. Rewrite beginning with Robert Frost’s contribution to American literature… The next words will be

(A) was writing poetry about

(B) which was writing poetry about

(C) in which he wrote

(D) was by writing poetry

15     The WNBA has made one notable difference in the way Americans view female athletes: it has created a newfound respect for female athletes on college and high school campuses. Rewrite beginning with By creating Your new sentence

(A) a newfound respect for female athletes on high school and college campuses, the WNBA

(B) a newfound respect for female athletes on high school and college campuses: one notable difference

(C) a newfound respect for female athletes on high school and college campuses, one notable difference

(D) a newfound respect for female athletes on high school and college campuses; there is one notable difference