Full Length Practice Exam 2 (no explanations)

1. DIRECTIONS: Choose the option that corrects the error in the underlined portions. If no error exists, choose “No change necessary.”

Evelyn ate some bad (A) oysters, she got (B) sick and couldn’t return to (C) work after lunch.

28. DIRECTIONS: Choose the most effective word or phrase within the context suggested by the sentence(s).

My daughter seems to have the ____________ ability to create something beautiful out of almost anything, from aluminum cans, to broken glass, to pencil stubs.

29. DIRECTIONS: Choose the option that corrects the error in the underlined portion(s) of the sentence below. If no error exists, choose “No change necessary.”

The old farmhouse we (A) past looked (B) too (C) quiet; it seemed almost haunted.

30. DIRECTIONS: Choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change necessary.”

The principal said that the class, which sold the most tickets for the PTA Fair would win a full-day field trip to the Museum of Natural History

Read the entire passage carefully, and then answer the questions. (Note: Intentional errors may have been included in this passage.)

(1) _______________________________________________________ (2) When Cities Service Oil Company relabeled its entire line of products Citgo, that name was chosen by a computer which had been specially programmed to produce words that began with the letters “CI.” (3) Of the thousands of names the computer program presented, Citgo was chosen because it suggested the motion appropriate to automobile
accessories and lubricants. (4) As the program for Cities Service ran, the machine produced thousands of strange-sounding combinations, such as Cikbyg, Cijkle, Cilgfub and Cisknif; _________, dozens of more useful, easily-pronounced words came spilling out. (5) Another example of an early computerized name-generating application was Coca-Cola’s use of a software program to find the name Tab, which boosted sales for one of the company’s soft drinks. (6) Now, some companies are using computers to project product sales beyond the year 2000. (7) Even the name for a popular make of computer, Compaq, resulted from a list that had been electronically generated. (8) Similarly, duPont picked Corfam, the name for its synthetic leather, via computer lists. (9) It seems only fair that if computers can pick winning commercial identities for all sorts of other commercial products, they ought to be able to name themselves.

31. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled number 1, is the best main idea or topic sentence for this passage?

32. Select the arrangement of sentences 2, 3, and 4 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.

When Cities Service Oil Company relabeled its entire line of products Citgo, that name was chosen by a computer which had been specially programmed to produce words that began with the letters “CI.” Of the thousands of names the computer program presented, Citgo was chosen because it suggested the motion appropriate to automobile accessories and lubricants. As the program for Cities Service ran, the machine produced thousands of strange-sounding combinations, such as Cikbyg, Cijkle, Cilgfub, and Cisknif; dozens of more useful, easily-pronounced words came spilling out.

As the program for Cities Service ran, the machine produced thousands of strange-sounding combinations, such as Cikbyg, Cijkle, Cilgfub, and Cisknif; dozens of more useful, easily-pronounced words came spilling out. Of the thousands of names the computer program presented, Citgo was chosen because it suggested the motion appropriate to automobile accessories and lubricants. When Cities Service Oil Company relabeled its entire line of products Citgo, that name was chosen by a computer which had been specially programmed to produce words that began with the letters “CI.”

When Cities Service Oil Company relabeled its entire line of products Citgo, that name was chosen by a computer which had been specially programmed to produce words that began with the letters “CI.” As the program for Cities Service ran, the machine produced thousands of strange-sounding combinations, such as Cikbyg, Cijkle, Cilfgab, and Cisknif; dozens of more useful, easily-pronounced words came spilling out. Of the thousands of names the computer program presented, Citgo was chosen because it suggested the motion appropriate to automobile accessories and lubricants.

Of the thousands of names the computer program presented, Citgo was chosen because it suggested the motion appropriate to automobile accessories and lubricants. As the program for Cities Service ran, the machine produced thousands of strange-sounding combinations, such as Cikbyg, Cijkle, Cilgfub and Cisknif; dozens of more useful, easily-pronounced words came spilling out. When Cities Service Oil Company relabeled its entire line of products Citgo, that name was chosen by a computer which had been specially programmed to produce words that began with the letters “CI.”

33. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 4, would make the relationship of the ideas in sentence 4 more clear?

A. consequently

B. therefore

C. for this reason

D. in addition

Read the entire passage below carefully, and then answer the questions. (Note: Intentional errors may have been included in this passage.)

(1) His works are given a place of honor in every major art museum in the world, and through almost 100 self-portraits, he left an astonishing track of his own passage from young manhood to old age. (2) Rembrandt van Rijn was surely one of the most gifted painters who ever lived, yet few people looking at his masterworks would guess at the deep sadness which filled this artist’s personal life. (3) As a young man, Rembrandt earned high prices for portraits of wealthy patrons but was not very talented at managing money; this weakness caused serious problems. (4) For example, he began buying the works of other fine painters almost as soon as he had coins in his pocket, but as his art collection grew, his credit rating sank. (5) His young wife Saskia brought him some additional wealth in the form of her dowry; however, Rembrandt purchased a magnificent house which weighed him down with huge mortgage payments. (6) __________, he loved to present Saskia with fancy clothing and jewelry and bought lavish capes, boots, and velvet suits for himself, whether he could afford the finery or not. (7) When years of money troubles finally caught up with him, Rembrandt, at the age of 50, was forced to declare bankruptcy, and his house and possessions had to be sold at auction to pay his debts.

(8) __________________________________________________________________. (9) Three of his four children died in infancy as a result of terrible misfortunes. (10) Geertje, the nanny hired to care for his little boy, became Rembrandt’s live-in mistress, which caused social pressures for him. (11) Later, Rembrandt fell in love with the beautiful Hendrijke Stoffels. (12) Then, only eight years after their marriage, his beloved Saskia died. (13) When he asked the nanny to leave, she sued him for breech of promise, creating a messy court case. (14) During these years, Rembrandt was creating some of his finest works. (15) Hendrijke and Rembrandt also lived together without marrying, causing more social pressures. (16) His only son died at 27, and when Hendrickje also died, Rembrandt was left alone with a young daughter in his last years.

(17) The master died at age 63, a sick, lonely man. (18) However, he left a wonderful legacy of beautiful paintings which inspire all who see them. (19) Through his magnificent art, Rembrandt lives on.

34. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled number 8, is the best main idea or topic sentence for the paragraph?

A. Family troubles and sadness also shadowed the artist’s life.

B. In addition, Rembrandt’s family had serious health problems.

C. There were, furthermore, many deaths in his family.

D. However, Rembrandt’s money troubles were not over.

35. Select the arrangement of sentences 10, 11, and 12 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.

A. Geertje, the nanny hired to care for his little boy, became Rembrandt’s live-in mistress, which caused social pressures for him. Later, Rembrandt fell in love with the beautiful young Hendrijke Stoffels. Then, only eight years after their marriage, his beloved Saskia died.

B. Later, Rembrandt fell in love with the beautiful young Hendrijke Stoffels. Then, only eight years after their marriage, his beloved Saskia died. Geertje, the nanny hired to care for his little boy, became Rembrandt’s live-in mistress, which caused social pressures for him.

C. Geertje, the nanny hired to care for his little boy, became Rembrandt’s live-in mistress, which caused social pressures for him. Then, only eight years after their marriage, his beloved Saskia died. Later, Rembrandt fell in love with the beautiful young Hendrijke Stoffels.

D. Then, only eight years after their marriage, his beloved Saskia died. Geertje, the nanny hired to care for his little boy, became Rembrandt’s live-in mistress, which caused social pressures for him. Later, Rembrandt fell in love with the beautiful young Hendrijke Stoffels.

36. Which of the numbered sentences is not supported by sufficient specific details?

A. sentence 2

B. sentence 3

C. sentence 9

D. sentence 11

37. Which numbered sentence is least relevant in the 2nd paragraph?

A. sentence 9

B. sentence 12

C. sentence 13

D. sentence 14

38. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 6, would make the relationship of the ideas in sentences 5 and 6 more clear?

A. In addition

B. Nevertheless

C. Consequently

D. On the other hand

39. DIRECTIONS: Choose the sentence in which the modifiers are used appropriately.