1. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
The Board of Directors on Monday said that the company could undertake the additional activities without first seeking the approving of the foreign investors.
Answers:
• without first
seeking the assent of the foreign investors
• without first seeking approval from the foreign investors
• without first
seeking the approbation of the foreign investors
• whether or not
they received the approving from the foreign investors
2. Read the following sentence and identify the type/s of error/s it contains.
The differences in the two committees had finally reached an insurmountable level; each wanted to delve in the problem more deeply, but neither wanted to cooperate among the other.
Answers:
• Errors in
pronoun usage and agreement
• Incorrect
placement of adjectives and adverbs
• Incorrect use of
coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
• Errors in preposition usage
• This sentence is
correct.
3. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
A doctor at the Metropolitan Clinic in Chicago claims that if women give up smoking and ate a healthful diet, their children would be less likely to develop lung diseases.
Answers:
• claims that if women gave up smoking and ate a healthy diet
• claims that if
women had given up smoking and eat a healthful diet
• claimed that
when a woman gives up smoking and has eaten a healthful diet
• claimed that
when women gave up smoking and ate a healthy diet
4. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Daphne's latest exhibition was roundly panned by the critics, whereas her earlier works had received a lukewarm reception.
Answers:
• Replace the incorrect adverb "roundly" with the
more appropriate "thoroughly."
• Recast the
second clause to correct the illogical use of "whereas."
• Edit subjects in
both clauses to correct parallel structure.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
5. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Catherine Bliss, who was one of the richest women
2)in the city in the 1940s, died at the age of 92 in a dingy
3)New York hotel suite where she had lived with 3 cats and five
4)parakeets for more than 20 years. Her downfall was attributed to
5)her husband Barry Bliss's shady dealings in the early 1970s.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for passive voice.
• Edit lines (2) and (5) for apostrophe usage.
• Edit lines (3)
and (4) for number style.
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
6. All but one of the following sentences require editing to correct passive voice, wordiness, or redundancy. Consider the underlined phrases, and then select the sentence that does NOT require editing.
Answers:
• Sally was sure
that danger lurked around every corner, but in actual fact, the danger was all
in her head.
• We laughed and
laughed at the surprise that was felt by everyone when we pulled off our
disguises.
• Our uncle has over $100,000 hidden under his mattress, yet
he won't give us one dollar even when we beg for it.
• Abigail, who
passed her exams and graduated with honors, hasn't started interviewing as of
yet.
• Although it is
possible that nothing will come of these preparations, we should keep moving
forward until someone in charge tells us to stop.
7. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
The CEO is wary about spelling out his strategy, preferring to play his cards close to his chest.
Answers:
• is wary about
spelling his strategy
• is wary of spelling
out his strategy
• is wary to spell
out his strategy
• is wary about
spelling his strategy out
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
8. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answers:
• Every one of the
scouts is responsible for his own camping equipment and should come prepared
for a strenuous hike.
• The walls of the
old villa have been newly plastered with white stucco, which rob them of their
charm.
• In your case,
I'd say that a deepened sense of self-awareness and a lessened propensity to
fly off the handle have made you much more pleasant to be around.
• Not only the
horses but also the goat has been rounded up and locked in the barn.
• The receptionists
and clerks each hope for a substantial bonus this year.
9. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct errors in punctuation?
Answers:
• You've been my
best friend for years; however, seeing as you cannot afford to lend me any more
money, I think it's time to end our relationship.
• As I listened to
the scraping of the shovel on the asphalt, I was suddenly reminded of my cousin
Bob's and my father's singing voices.
• The two faced
each other in silence, each one thinking the other a two-faced coward.
• I just adore
this carnivorous plant, which by the way was a gift from your mother.
10. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
I was truly shocked—could anyone have suspected such a thing?—to hear the news of his arrest. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he run on a platform of "family values?" I guess it just goes to show the hypocrisy of our elected officials and how they take us for...well, perhaps it's better if I just leave it at that.
Answers:
• Place the
question mark in the second sentence outside the quotation marks.
• Replace the em
dashes with parentheses.
• Recast the last
sentence to avoid the use of ellipsis points.
• Insert a comma
after "officials" in the last sentence.
• a and d
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
11. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct errors in diction or spelling?
Answers:
• Please lie the
snake on the table and back away slowly.
• The reason I'm
late is because my car got stuck in a snow bank.
• The crowd held
its breath, hoping that the matador gorged by the bull would be all right.
• Helga must try
and finish her credits by May if she wants to graduate with the class.
• All of the above
sentences require editing.
12. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Outsourcing our accounting and collections tasks has really laid credence to our company. Our customers now perceive us to be bigger than we are and are certainly put hard to ignore their outstanding invoices.
Answers:
• Edit the first
sentence to correct the error in diction.
• Edit the second
sentence to correct the idiomatic error.
• Recast the
second sentence for logic and parallel structure.
• a and b
• a and c
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
13. Read the following passage from a company report and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
As part of the new incentive program instituted in the second quarter, each sales employee was asked to forecast his own contribution to each period's total profit and, based on that amount, to assign himself a year-end bonus. If the employee reaches his goal, he will receive the stated bonus.
Answers:
• Query the
pronoun use (are all sales employees male?) and, if necessary, make suggestions
for gender-neutral alternatives.
• Recast the
passage to eliminate use of jargon.
• Rewrite the
entire passage to eliminate sexist language.
• Edit the last
sentence to correct unnecessary verb tense shift.
• This passage is
correct; the author should take no action.
14. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
To maintain a healthy body and mind, one must exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, and refrain from cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Answers:
• refrain from
smoking cigarettes and drinks.
• refrain from
smoking and drinking alcohol.
• refrain from
smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
• refrain from
cigarettes and drinking.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
15. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error it contains.
Although I'm not a big fan of so-called chick flicks, I have to admit that The Devil Wears Prada is far away the best film of the genre I've seen.
Answers:
• Illogical
comparison
• Incorrect idiom
usage
• Omission of
quotation marks
• Verb tense shift
• This sentence is
correct.
16. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
The breakup of the Soviet Union left nuclear weapons in the hands of unstable nascent countries, thus making it imperative for world security that they be destroyed.
Answers:
• imperative to
the security of the world that those countries be destroyed.
• imperative that
these weapons be destroyed for world security.
• imperative to
world security that they be destroyed.
• imperative for
world security that those weapons be destroyed.
17. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
Herbert works hard all week and has plans every weekend for the next year and he still finds time to volunteer at the animal shelter.
Answers:
• Herbert works
hard all week and he has plans every weekend for the next year and he
• Working hard all
week and having plans every weekend for the next year, Herbert
• Although Herbert
works hard all week and has plans every weekend for the next year, he
• Despite working
hard all week and with plans every weekend for the next year, Herbert
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
18. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The intern glanced nervously around the operating room. The moment had arrived—his first solo operation—and he couldn't hardly contain his excitement. He took a deep breath and looked down at the patient. Then, having been completely anesthetized, the new surgeon made his first incision.
Answers:
• Edit the second
sentence to correct the double negative.
• Place
"nervously" before "glanced."
• Combine the
first two sentences to break up the series of short sentences and create
variety.
• Recast the last
sentence to correct the dangling modifier.
• c and d
• a and d
19. Read the following passage from a play script and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
HORATIO, preparing to blow his horn. Aw, dang! The pistons are all gummy. Now what?
JOE. Chill out. (He takes off his shoe.) Here, hit 'em with this.
Answers:
• Change "Aw,
dang!" to "Oh, dear!" to eliminate colloquial speech.
• Eliminate
inappropriate slang by changing "Chill out" to a phrase like
"Never fear."
• Italicize the
stage direction in the second line.
• Insert quotation
marks around all dialogue.
20. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error contained in the underlined portion.
Alistair protested the rock singer's tour and threatened to burn down any theater that dared to host his concert.
Answers:
• Subject-verb
agreement error
• Modal verb error
• Incorrect use of
past participles
• Unnecessary verb
tense shift
• This sentence is
correct.
21. Read the following passage from the manuscript of a novel and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Along the dusty roadway lay intermittent reminders of the war: a mud-filled crater here, a bullet-riddled tree there—and all around, the silence of expectation, of the calm before the storm.
Answers:
• Expand on the
author's idea by inserting one or two additional reminders of the war.
• Tactfully
suggest that the author rethink the cliche expression "the calm before the
storm."
• Query the author
about the logic of the phrase "the silence of expectation."
• Change
"roadway' to "road" to eliminate wordiness.
22. Read the following sentence and identify the type of error contained in the underlined part.
Although Ralph didn't like the name-calling and teasing he endured from the cool kids, he found their pointed silence equally as upsetting.
Answers:
• Unnecessary
shift in voice
• Faulty phrasing
• Inappropriate
use of passive voice
• Redundancy
• This sentence is
correct.
23. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
If all goes according to plan, three years from now Agatha will marry, give birth to two children, and learn how to juggle a hectic career in between.
Answers:
• marries, gives
birth to two children, and learns how to juggle
• has married and
given birth to two children, and had already learned how to juggle
• will marry and
give birth to two children, and she will learn how to juggle
• will have
married, given birth to two children, and learned how to juggle
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
24. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
A recent study by a team of UCLA sociologists confirmed that the average female moviegoer expects to see at least three romantic scenes per film, and that they are seldom disappointed.
Answers:
• Change all verbs
to the present tense.
• Change all verbs
to the past tense
• Edit "and
that they are seldom disappointed" to correct error in pronoun-antecedent
agreement.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
25. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The news of the avalanche shocked the citizens of our little town. Fortunately, however, Sven was the only one of the skiers who were injured in the incident.
Answers:
• Correct the
spelling error in the first sentence.
• Delete the comma
after "Fortunately".
• Delete
"Sven was" and insert "was Sven" after
"incident".
• Change
"were" to "was" in the second sentence to correct an error
in subject-verb agreement.
26. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct a modifier usage error?
Answers:
• Your opinion
will greatly influence the outcome of today's vote.
• Wendy barely
threw the ball two feet, thereby losing the game for the team.
• Having sung his
heart out, Billy took a bow and exited stage left.
• "This cake
tastes wonderful," said Frederick, "but I'd prefer fewer raisins next
time."
27. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct voice, wordiness, or redundancy?
Answers:
• The focus of the
meeting centered around the issue of the adult video store, which had been
built in close proximity to an elementary school.
• At the time that
Ronald wrote his dissertation, he had no idea that he would one day become a
world-renowned mathematician.
• It is expensive
to upgrade the software every year; this has had a detrimental effect on our
bottom line.
• Because the
factory fire started due to negligence, the company that was responsible had to
pay a substantial fine.
• Although talking
would help to resolve the problem, I'm sure Manuel would prefer to knock all of
them upside the head.
• All of the above
sentences require editing for voice, wordiness, or redundancy.
28. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
It will require diligence and careful planning to rebuild the town's infrastructure and create systems of protection for future hurricanes.
Answers:
• create systems
of protection about future hurricanes
• to create
systems of protection regarding future hurricanes
• create those
systems needed to protect that infrastructure from any future hurricanes
• create systems
of protection against future hurricanes
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
29. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in parallel structure?
Answers:
• We applauded him
not only for admitting his serious offenses and helping the police, but also
for expressing his sincere regret for the pain he had caused.
• The merger led
to restructuring the internal systems, redefining the roles of each department,
and realigning the company's goals to those of its parent company.
• According to a
recent survey, the average French woman speaks two languages, marries and
divorces twice in her lifetime, and drinks seventeen gallons of wine a year.
• "This is a
time not for words, but action!" roared the candidate, backed up by the
deafening cheers of the crowd.
30. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct the unnecessary use of passive voice?
Answers:
• The award was
received joyously by Mr. Pocklock for his volunteer service.
• He was so
pleased, he began to dance a jig and didn't stop until dawn.
• The spectacle
was watched by the entire population of the town.
• When he was
finished, handcuffs were put on him by the police, who then carted him away.
31. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct a word usage error?
Answers:
• Although
everyone in the acting troupe was talented, Samantha always got the leading
role.
• Alfred latched
onto Amy although he'd been waiting for her all his life.
• Clarissa trumped
Claude not only in talent but also in popularity.
• No improvement in
our conditions will be possible unless the naysayers are weeded out.
32. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?
Answers:
• Each of the
volunteers contributes a good deal to the cause in his or her own way.
• A number of ants
are marching into their anthill outside the kitchen door.
• Somebody left
their marbles on the bench; shall we find out whose they are?
• Although its
members may have disagreed among themselves, the jury eventually handed its
unanimous verdict to the judge.
• All of the above
require editing.
33. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
If you have a copy of your resume, and if you have the completed application form, you may go in to see the interviewer now.
Answers:
• resume; and if
the application form has been completed
• resume, an
application form, then
• resume and a
completed application form,
• resume and if a
completed application form has been filled out by you,
34. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
Brooke went with Carrie, Tom's event planner, to pick out flowers for Tom's luncheon, but she couldn't find anything they liked; hence, they went home empty-handed.
Answers:
• but he couldn't
find anything they liked; hence she
• but she couldn't
find anything they liked, hence she
• but they
couldn't find anything they liked; hence, they
• but she couldn't
find anything he liked; hence, they
35. Read the following sentence from a journal article and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Of the two control groups, a significant number (85) of those in Group A scored higher (74%) than those in group B (66 percent), while both had similar standard deviations (8.3% and 7.9% respectively).
Answers:
• Change "66
percent" to "66%."
• Edit passage to
ensure consistency in capitalization.
• Remove
statistics from the sentence and place them in a table.
• Suggest the use
of inferential statistics rather than descriptive statistics.
• All of the above
may be necessary. Before editing, refer to the publication's in-house style
sheet for guidance on capitalization, use of tables, and preferred style for
writing statistics.
36. The following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the given editing options turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
The point is Mr. Rosenwell said Andrew whether or not you intend to pay off your debts
Answers:
• Andrew said,
"The point is Mr. Rosenwell, whether or not you intend to pay off your
debts."
• "The point
is, Mr. Rosenwell," said Andrew, "whether or not you intend to pay
off your debts."
• "Mr.
Rosenwell," said Andrew: "The point is whether or not you intend to
pay off your debts."
• "The point,
Mr. Rosenwell, is whether or not you intend to pay off your debts," said
Andrew.
• b and d
37. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Our voyage would have been a different and much more boring experience would it not have been for the family of dolphins that followed the ship from Mallorca to Malta.
Answers:
• Edit the
predicate to correct parallel structure.
• Change all verbs
to simple past tense.
• Edit to correct
error in use of conditional and/or subjunctive mood.
• Query the author
about the factual validity of the claim that dolphins were present between
Mallorca and Malta.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
38. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)I am unable to forgive my neighbor who
2)fails to return a lawn mower he had taken
3)from my garage without my permission. He is
4)now persona non grata in my home.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for pronoun reference.
• Edit line (2)
for verb tense consistency.
• Edit lines (1)
and (4) for diction.
• Edit line (3)
for punctuation.
• This passage
does not need editing.
39. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct general errors in grammar, usage, or style?
Answers:
• Driving in northern
Italy may be very dangerous because the fog often extended from Milan to Turin
and will last for many hours in the morning.
• After spending
many long years to work in Australia finally, Darby returned to her homeland.
• The fact that
Odysseus is a man "skilled in all ways of contending" is a fact
proven many times in The Odyssey.
• Among that group
of trees just over the little knoll—where we used to play as children,
remember?—stands a marble monument to our ancestors.
40. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct the errors in verb tense?
Answers:
• Had Pamela asked
you sooner, would you have joined her on her trip to Europe?
• You never would
have believed Pamela if she had asked you to join her on her travels through
Europe.
• I don't think
you could have resisted the temptation if Pamela had asked you to join her on
her trip to Europe.
• If Pamela had
forced you to go with her on her trip to Europe, do you think you would have
fun?
• When Pamela
asked you to join her on her trip to Europe, did you hesitate or accept the
invitation right away?
41. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Like miniature planets, the moths orbited the
2)fire, their firefly companions providing intermittent
3)flashes of starlight. We sat in our lawn chairs,
4)as silent as empty space, enthralled by the show.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for illogical comparison.
• Edit line (2)
for punctuation.
• Edit line (3)
for clarity.
• Edit line (4)
for incomplete comparison.
• This passage
does not need editing.
42. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
"Have you read Zinn's A People's History of the United States?" asked Jamie. "Yes," I replied, "and I must say it's the most eye-opening history book I've read in some time."
Answers:
• Replace the
comma after "replied" with a period and capitalize the following
"and."
• Change
"People's" from a possessive to a plural noun.
• Underline or
italicize the book title.
• Place the
question mark outside the quotations marks.
43. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)"If you cut along the crease here," said Haruko, "then
2)fold the paper into a triangle thusly, and then fold it
3)again to form a base, you will have made yourself a
4)chic—and cheap—yacht. And that's the beauty of origami!"
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (4) for punctuation.
• Edit line (2)
for adverb usage.
• Edit line (3)
for dangling modifier.
• Edit line (4)
for spelling.
44. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If you can learn to control your anger just a touch more, you ought to find that people react to you more positively.
Answers:
• Edit both modal
verbs to correct usage and tense errors.
• Change all verbs
to future tense.
• Change the first
modal verb to "could," but leave the second modal verb as is.
• Recast the
sentence to eliminate all adverbs.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
45. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answers:
• He drank a fifth
of whiskey after two-fifths of his vineyard was destroyed in the flood.
• The study on
drug abuse showed that the number of teenage victims are increasing every year.
• Neither of my
brothers, who are more artistic by nature, are particularly interested in
sports.
• The assistants,
but not the manager, has decided not to come in over the weekend.
46. Choose the series of adjectives that best completes the following sentence.
We have no doubt that the senator's meeting of "goodwill" with our arch rival will be accompanied by _________ clandestine deal for lucrative building contracts and ________ talk of future collaborations.
Answers:
• some, secret
• any, secretive
• every, secreted
• each, secret
47. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct errors in punctuation?
Answers:
• Dahlia, Doris's
younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you"? I nodded in
affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris'
younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded in
affirmation, however; I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris'
younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded in
affirmation, however, I didn't want her to join me.
• Dahlia, Doris's
younger sister, asked me, "Could I please join you?" I nodded in
affirmation; however, I didn't want her to join me.
48. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)I know that Thomas is eager to move
2)operations to the east; however, it might be a
3)first good step for him to assess just how many
4)of his current employees are willing to relocate.
Answers:
• Edit line (2)
for use of conjunctive adverbs.
• Edit line (2)
for capitalization.
• Edit line (3)
for placement of adjectives.
• Edit line (4)
for preposition usage.
• b and c
• This passage
does not need editing.
49. The following sentence is devoid of punctuation. Which of the given editing options turns it into a coherent, plausible sentence?
At last I met Dr. Sneeth the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the city
Answers:
• At last I met
the evil scientist, Dr. Sneeth, who had caused such trouble for the city.
• At last I met
Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the city.
• At last I met
Dr. Sneeth, the evil scientist, who had caused such trouble for the city.
• I met Dr.
Sneeth—at last!—the evil scientist who had caused such trouble for the city.
• All of the above
are acceptable; the final choice would depend on the author's intention.
50. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Delilah's twenty page tale of derring do
2)delighted the dignitaries who stamped their
3)feet in approval. Reading from a dais draped
4)in crepe, she felt like a modern day Scheherazade.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (4) for hyphenation.
• Edit line (2)
for missing comma.
• Edit lines (1)
and (3) for diction.
• Edit line (4)
for comma use and allusion errors.
• a and d
• a and b
• This passage
does not need editing.
51. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct a modifier usage error?
Answers:
• Claire
accidentally dropped the crate on Chad's foot with her barbells in it.
• Swinging wildly
through the trees, the spectators were delighted by the monkeys.
• Petra wanted
only one raspberry parfait, but Pedro insisted on giving her three.
• I heard that my
coworkers planned to throw a birthday party for me while I was standing outside
the bathroom.
52. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
If we decided to move venues, our production process would not be likely to suffer much as long as a system of checks keeps production tasks on schedule.
Answers:
• Change
"decided" to "would have decided" to ensure consistency of
conditional mood.
• Change
"keeps" to "kept" to correct the unnecessary shift in verb
tense.
• Edit to correct
error in use of past perfect tense.
• a and c
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
53. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Why, Helen wondered, did I ever show my face in Troy?
2)There's been nothing but infighting, death, and destruction
3)—not to mention the cost of launching those thousand
4)ships. My choice is clear: I'm moving to Cleveland.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1) and
(2) for overuse of commas.
• Edit line (2)
for spelling.
• Edit line (3)
for use of em dash.
• Edit line (4)
for capitalization and use of colon.
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
54. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Even though Sharon spends a good deal of time complaining,
2)bemoaning her fate, and wishing that her circumstances
3)are not quite so humble, I'm pretty sure that she is
4)grateful for everything she has.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (4) for pronoun-antecedent agreement.
• Edit line (2)
for verb tense consistency.
• Edit lines (1)
and (3) to correct errors in diction and idiomatic expressions.
• Edit line (3) to
correct error in present tense vs. past subjunctive mood.
• This passage
does not need editing.
55. Read the following stanza from a contemporary poem and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
She ran daintily among the tame, silky hills
disappeared and reappeared, galloping on the wind
whirlingly penetrated the universe and the nothing.
She smiled at me. I liked her. I latched onto her joy.
Crumbs of history under the chair of time.
Answers:
• Delete the
non-word "whirlingly."
• Edit the
ambiguous image in the last line for logic and clarity.
• Rework the
stanza to follow an abab rhyme scheme.
• Suggest the use
of more similes and other literary devices.
• Work closely
with the author throughout the revision process to understand his or her
editing needs and expectations, and make tactful suggestions accordingly.
• Revise the
punctuation in the first three lines so that it conforms to standard usage.
• An editor should
take no action, as poetry should not be edited by anyone other than the author.
56. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
"Those fake pearls and the upswept hairdo makes her look like a poor man's Grace Kelly," drawled Inga. "But please don't tell her I said that."
Answers:
• Edit the second
quoted speech to correct ambiguous pronoun reference.
• Change
"poor man's" to "second-rate" to correct error in idiom
usage.
• Edit the main
verb in the first quoted speech to correct a subject-verb agreement error.
• Insert a comma
after "Inga" and lowercase the capital B in "But."
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
57. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Henrik, who was desperate to impress Sophie—who happened to be sitting next to him on the divan and pretending not to notice anything untoward—was beside himself with shame and anger, because his goat had just entered the living room with the remains of Sophie's cashmere coat dangling from its mouth.
Answers:
• Edit the passage
to correct pronoun-antecedent errors.
• Delete
parenthetical elements to eliminate wordiness.
• Delete the comma
after "Henrik."
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
58. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
According to the chief of surgery, the risk of death from this medical procedure is about the same from an airplane crash or from a nuclear reactor meltdown.
Answers:
• the same as an
airplane crash or
• the same as from
an airplane crash as well as that from
• the same as from
an airplane crash or
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
59. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)After the accident, Justine left her teaching
2)job; she has not able to resume her teaching
3)and possibly never will be able
4)to resume her teaching again.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for adverb clause structure and punctuation.
• Edit line (2)
for omission of a completing verb form.
• Edit lines (2),
(3), and (4) to eliminate repetition of "able" and "her
teaching."
• Delete
"again" in line (4) to avoid redundancy.
• a, b, and d
• b, c, and d
60. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Nothing is more disgusting to Ruth but seeing toads squashed on the side of the road.
Answers:
• Change the main
verb to "were" to correct subject-verb agreement.
• Change
"seeing" to "to see."
• Change
"but" to "than" and place "squashed" before
"toads."
• Delete
"more" and insert "most."
• b and c
61. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)So the guy breaks into our house, steals our stuff, and
2)then slips on the ice in the driveway on his way out,
3)breaking his ankles. And guess what? He hit us with a
4)personal injury suite. Isn't that the most ridiculous
5)tragedy of justice you ever heard of?
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (2) for comma usage errors.
• Edit line (4)
for spelling error.
• Edit line (5)
for word choice error.
• b and c
62. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Knowing she had no right for privacy as long
2)as she stayed in the convent, Marta hid her forbidden
3)diary in the secret compartment she'd discovered
4)besides the confessional in the chapel.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (4) for preposition usage.
• Edit lines (2)
and (3) for pronoun usage.
• Edit line (2)
for modifier placement.
• Edit line (1)
for participle use.
• Edit line (3)
for verb tense.
• This passage
does not need editing.
63. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Greta, who is completely enamored of her new
2)designer handbag, is even more enamored of the
3)envious glances she receives from her pals.
4)Made of buttery leather, Greta's fashionista friend just
5)had to run out and get one of her own.
Answers:
• Edit lines (1)
and (2) for diction.
• Edit lines (2)
and (3) for adjective usage.
• Edit line (4)
for dangling modifier.
• Edit line (5)
for phrasal verb usage.
• This passage
does not need editing.
64. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Don't flatter yourself! Susannah had no intention of crying for you regardless of whether you had a banjo on your knee, came from Alabama, or were headed to Louisiana!
Answers:
• Change
"regardless of whether" to "irregardless of whether or
not."
• Query the author
about the validity of the implication that banjos can be balanced upon knees.
• Change verbs to
present tense.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
65. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
After a whole morning of experimenting with all these new potions and pills, I'm sorry to say that my migraine is as bad today as yesterday.
Answers:
• is as bad today
just as it was yesterday
• is as bad today
as it was yesterday
• was worse today
than it had been yesterday
• was as bad today
as yesterday
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
66. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Try and imagine a mental picture of someone struggling with the activity of trying to learn what the fingerings and techniques are for how to play the flute.
Answers:
• Delete the
phrase "with the activity of trying" to eliminate wordiness.
• Change "Try
and" to "Try to" to correct faulty phrasing.
• Recast the
entire sentence to fix multiple style and usage errors.
• Query the author
about flute-playing techniques.
• Delete "a
mental picture" to eliminate redundancy.
67. Which of the following sentences requires editing to correct general errors in grammar, usage, or style?
Answers:
• While Paris
smashed all records for tourism revenue this year, it still lags well behind
other European cities in exports.
• Do you know the
blonde woman in the red car that is rounding the corner at this very moment?
• Senator Clark
would go to any lengths to deter his constituents going to support his rival.
• The marketing
department's performance has been decidedly lackluster this quarter; its
efforts haven't brought in any revenue whatsoever.
68. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
Happiness has always and will always be an elusive element in my life, yet I don't let that fact bother me too much.
Answers:
• Delete the comma
after "life."
• Change "has
always" to "has always been" to correct the parallel structure
of the first clause.
• Enclose
"Happiness" in quotation marks to show its status as a concept.
• Change
"elusive" to "illusive" to correct diction error.
69. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct a comparison error?
Answers:
• Annabel thinks
her sister's apple pies are better than the bakery.
• Did I ever tell
you that you complain more than anyone I know?
• We specialize in
producing Belgian chocolates that contain 50% less fat.
• The symptoms of
typhoid quite often resemble those of fever.
70. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)If you are concerned about wrinkles and other telltale signs of age,
2)you should know that prolonged sun exposure has at least two damaging effects:
3)not only is the wrinkling of the skin hastened, but it may also result in
4)lowered immunity against infection.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for redundancy.
• Edit line (2)
for passive voice.
• Edit line (3)
for unnecessary shift in voice.
• Edit line (4)
for faulty phrasing.
• This passage is
correct; the editor should take no action.
71. Read the following sentence and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
The forthcoming community celebration in Tuscaloosa has many surprises in store for whomever arrives before nine in the morning and manages to find one of the fifteen special golden tickets hidden in the haystack at the entrance.
Answers:
• Change
"forthcoming" to "imminent" to clarify the intent of the
sentence.
• Change
"has" to "will have had."
• Change the
correlative pronoun to "whoever."
• Place a comma
after "tickets."
• c and d
72. Which of the following sentences does NOT require editing to correct errors in diction or spelling?
Answers:
• He told jokes
for half an hour before finally homing in on the point of his lecture.
• You really hit
the nail on the head with your idea—it's really the idyllic solution.
• The court's
decision impelled the disgraced politician to hand over all his correspondence.
• Would you go ask
the secretary to disperse some money from petty cash for the luncheon?
73. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
"Your sister's behavior has been a bit odd lately, have you noticed?" Gladys asked. "I mean, I know she's never been the sharpest marble in the drawer, but I think she's really gone over the deep end now."
Answers:
• Delete "I
mean" to eliminate wordiness.
• Keep quoted
speech together by moving "Gladys asked" to the end of the passage.
• Edit the second
sentence to correct the mixed metaphors.
• Recast the first
sentence to correct the order of the adverbs.
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
74. Read the following passage and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
1)Whether Steve is aware of it or not,
2)today is the anniversary of us packing up the
3)house and hightailing it to Canada. If I were
4)you, I wouldn't remind him of it.
Answers:
• Edit line (1)
for structure and punctuation.
• Edit line (2) to
correct error in possessive determiner.
• Edit line (3) to
correct idiom and verb tense errors.
• Edit line (4)
for pronoun reference.
• This passage
does not need editing.
75. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
An understanding of the manner in which different types of disciplinary tactics affects student behavior will help us design better methods for classroom management.
Answers:
• Understanding
how different types of disciplinary tactics affect student behavior
• An understanding
of the way that disciplinary tactics affects student behavior
• Having an
understanding of how different types of disciplinary tactics affect student
behavior
• Different types
of disciplinary tactics affect students in diverse ways, and understanding that
• This sentence is
correct; the editor should take no action.
76. Choose the series of phrasal verbs that best completes the following passage.
Harold cannot get over the fact that Maude _____________ every night of the week. If he had his way, he'd ____________ until she realized how wonderful it was to tuck into a nice home-cooked meal.
Answers:
• eats out, tie
her down
• eats up, tie her
over
• eats in, tie her
in
• eats over, tie
her up
77. Read the following closing paragraph of an Internet-based business-to-consumer sales letter and select the option that illustrates the best course of action for an editor to take.
So are you ready to get your head out of the weeds? CLICK HERE to order your Garden Guru Deluxe package and FREE GardenFriend Tool Belt, and join more than 100,000 other hard-working people who now spend their weekends playing instead of pruning! And just to sweeten the pot, I'll take off an additional 30% if you order before December 10. You can't beat that with a stick!
Weedlessly Yours,
Jay Appleseed
President, Garden Guru Inc.
P.S. I have your deluxe Package and FREE gift ready to send to you. After you order using your credit card, I'll send you your tracking number and full instructions. Click here to order.
Answers:
• For the sake of
credibility, strongly suggest that the author back up his claim that
"100,000 people" own this product.
• Change instances
of ALL CAPS to sentence case or lowercase as appropriate.
• Recast the
entire closing to eliminate humor.
• Delete the
unprofessional "P.S."
• None of the
above actions are necessary. Though it may benefit from a little tweaking, this
closing is acceptable.
78. Choose the editing option that best corrects the underlined part of the following sentence.
At this point in the play, we see that Hamlet has still not decided whether to kill Claudius, despite brooding over it for quite some time.
Answers:
• despite he
brooded over it for quite some time
• despite having
brooded over it for quite some time
• despite that he
had been brooding over it for quite some time
• despite that he
broods over it all the time
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