Sample of Test 2: Sentence Skills

This test measures your knowledge of sentence structure–of the ways parts of a sentence are put together and of what makes a sentence complete and clear.

Questions 1-5: Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence.  Choice (A) is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose answer (A).

1. From biblical times forward, the crime of theft reported to be one of the most common forms of deviant behavior.

(A) reported

(B) being reported

(C) that was reported

(D) has been reported

2. Since each disease has a distinctive natural course of its own, the physician must make herself familiar with it, she can predict the sequence of events and know precisely when to intervene with treatment.

(A) the physician must make herself familiar with it, she can

(B) the physician must make herself so familiar with it that she can

(C) the physician must make herself familiar with it, so she can

(D) the physician must make herself familiar with it, then she can

3. When we were almost finished with the survey, the computer lost all our data.

(A) with the survey, the computer lost all our data

(B) with the survey; we lost all our data in the computer

(C) with the survey, the data was lost in the computer

(D) with the survey. We lost all our data

4. Notice also that, by reversing it, you can use this coat in rainy weather.

(A) by reversing it, you can use this coat in rainy weather

(B) by reversing it, this coat can be used in rainy weather

(C) by being reversed, you can use this coat in rainy weather

(D) by being reversed, this coat can be used in rainy weather

5. Our company specializes in cars of conservative design and which get good gas mileage.

(A) of conservative design and which get good gas mileage

(B) that are conservatively designed and get good gas mileage

(C) conservatively designed and good gas mileage

(D) designed conservatively and which get good gas mileage

Questions 6-10: 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.

6. Unless Julie begins to come to class every day, the instructor will drop her from the class.

Rewrite, beginning with

Julie must begin to come to class every day...

The next word will be

(A) and
(B) but
(C) or
(D) so

7. The Career Counseling and Testing Center, located in Building “M,” Room 14, is staffed by professional career counselors who provide counseling and vocational testing for students seeking to make career decisions.

Rewrite, beginning with

Staffed by professional career counselors who provide counseling and vocational testing for students seeking to make career decisions...

The next words will be

(A) located in Building “M,”
(B) the Career Counseling Center
(C) the counselors are located
(D) the college locates the Career Counseling Center

8. Shown in movie theaters throughout the nation, Marty won the Academy Award in 1955.

Rewrite, beginning with

Winning the Academy Award in 1955...

Your new sentence will include

(A) showed
(B) was showing
(C) had been showed
(D) was shown

9. Students enrolling at Nassau Community College assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the functions of the college as an educational institution.

Rewrite, beginning with

At Nassau Community College, we expect that students

Your new sentence will include

(A) who enroll
(B) who have been enrolled
(C) who enrolling
(D) are enrolled

10. It is easy to see a great distance ahead in traffic when one drives a truck, but the same is not true when one drives a sub-compact.

Rewrite, beginning with

Unlike driving a sub-compact...

The next words will be

(A) it is easy to
(B) we can easily
(C) a great distance ahead in traffic can be
(D) driving a truck