1. Standardized Test Prep
Grammar and Usage 2
Grammar and Usage: Section 1
Grammar and Usage: Section 2
Handout

2. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: Read the paragraph below. On the following slides, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime. Thus, __6__ find fingerprints at crime scenes. Sometimes fingerprints are clearly visible, but other times __7__ cannot be seen. Most latent, or hidden, fingerprints __8__ detected until they have been covered with colored powder or special chemicals. Moreover, there are some types of latent fingerprints __9__ with a laser beam. Fingerprints, which are also used to identify victims of fires and plane crashes, __10__ to be an invaluable tool for more than a century.

3. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime.
1. (A) has played
(B) played
(C) plays
(D) had played
(E) will have played

4. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime.
2. (A) no two people never have
(B) people they never have
(C) two people don’t have no
(D) no two people don’t have
(E) no two people have

5. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime.
3. (A) introduced his
(B) introduced their
(C) were introducing his
(D) had introduced their
(E) have introduced their

6. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime.
4. (A) more useful type
(B) usefuller types
(C) most usefullest types
(D) most useful types
(E) usefullest types

7. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Fingerprinting __1__ a significant role in investigative work ever since the late nineteenth century, when a British anthropologist determined that __2__ identical fingerprints. Building upon this research, two other scientists __3__ fingerprint classification systems during the 1890s. Fingerprints are one of the __4__ of identification because a person’s fingerprints are unlikely to change during __5__ lifetime.
5. (A) his or her
(B) her
(C) there
(D) their
(E) they’re

8. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Thus, __6__ find fingerprints at crime scenes. Sometimes fingerprints are clearly visible, but other times __7__ cannot be seen. Most latent, or hidden, fingerprints __8__ detected until they have been covered with colored powder or special chemicals.
6. (A) investigators they try and
(B) investigators try and
(C) investigators try to
(D) investigators they try to
(E) those investigators try to

9. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Thus, __6__ find fingerprints at crime scenes. Sometimes fingerprints are clearly visible, but other times __7__ cannot be seen. Most latent, or hidden, fingerprints __8__ detected until they have been covered with colored powder or special chemicals.
7. (A) they
(B) no fingerprints
(C) these here fingerprints
(D) these kind of fingerprints
(E) those type of fingerprints

10. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Thus, __6__ find fingerprints at crime scenes. Sometimes fingerprints are clearly visible, but other times __7__ cannot be seen. Most latent, or hidden, fingerprints __8__ detected until they have been covered with colored powder or special chemicals.
8. (A) can’t hardly be
(B) can’t in no way be
(C) can hardly be
(D) they can’t hardly be
(E) can’t scarcely be

11. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Moreover, there are some types of latent fingerprints __9__ with a laser beam. Fingerprints, which are also used to identify victims of fires and plane crashes, __10__ to be an invaluable tool for more than a century.
9. (A) that only can be seen
(B) that can be seen only
(C) what can be seen only
(D) only that can be seen
(E) what can only be seen

12. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Moreover, there are some types of latent fingerprints __9__ with a laser beam. Fingerprints, which are also used to identify victims of fires and plane crashes, __10__ to be an invaluable tool for more than a century.
10. (A) has proven
(B) proves
(C) will have proven
(D) proved
(E) have proven
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13. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
EXAMPLE
1. Gail told Wendy that the tryout had gone so well that she was sure she got the part of Emily in Our Town.
(A) well that she was sure she got
(B) good that she was sure Wendy had got
(C) well that she was sure Wendy had got
well that Wendy was sure she had got
good that Gail was sure she had got
(C) well that she was sure Wendy had got

14. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
1. On the other side of these here mountains lie some of the richest farmland in the world.
(A) these here mountains lie
(B) these mountains lie
(C) these mountains lies
these mountains lay
these mountains lays

15. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
2. The myelin sheath which surrounds nerve cells and helps to speed up nerve impulses.
(A) The myelin sheath which surrounds nerve cells and helps to speed up nerve impulses.
(B) The myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells, which helps to speed up nerve impulses.
(C) The myelin sheath which surrounding nerve cells and helping to speed up nerve impulses.
The myelin sheath, which surrounds nerve cells, helps to speed up nerve impulses.
Helping speed up nerve impulses, the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells.

16. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
3. Arnie carves soapstone beautifully; he plans to give them to his friends.
(A) them
(B) these
(C) carvings it
ones

17. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
4. Beaming proudly, a medal hung around her neck at the ceremony.
(A) Beaming proudly, a medal hung around her neck at the ceremony.
(B) At the ceremony, a medal hung around her neck, beaming proudly.
(C) At the ceremony, she wore a medal around her neck beaming proudly.
Beaming proudly, she wore a medal around her neck at the ceremony.
Beaming proudly at the ceremony, a medal hung around her neck.

18. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
5. The contract between him and them is quite complex.
(A) between him and them
(B) between him and they
(C) between he and them
(D) among him and them
(E) among he and they

19. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
6. I can’t hardly believe that less people than we had predicted turned out for today’s carnival.
(A) I can’t hardly believe that less people than
(B) I can hardly believe that fewer people then
(C) I can hardly believe that less people then
I can’t hardly believe that fewer people than
I can hardly believe that fewer people than

20. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
7. In 1824, I read that a fifteen-year-old student who was blind, Louis Braille, developed a system of reading that used raised dots.
(A) In 1824, I read that a fifteen-year-old student who was blind, Louis Braille, developed a system of reading that used raised dots.
(B) I read in 1824 that a fifteen-year-old student who was blind, Louis Braille, developed a system of reading that used raised dots.
(C) I read that in 1824 a fifteen-year-old student who was blind, Louis Braille, developed a system of reading that used raised dots.
I read that Louis Braille, a fifteen-year-old student who was blind in 1824, developed a system of reading that used raised dots.
I read that a fifteen-year-old student who was blind, Louis Braille, developed a system of reading that used raised dots in 1824.

21. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
8. In golf, a “mulligan” is when a player is given a free shot after having made a poor shot.
(A) when a player is given a free shot after having made
(B) where a player is given a free shot after having made
(C) when a player is given a free shot after he or she has made
a free shot given to a player after he or she has made
that a player is given a free shot after having made

22. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
9. Skimming through the magazine, there were two articles I found for my report on Marcus Garvey.
(A) Skimming through the magazine, there were two articles I found for my report on Marcus Garvey.
(B) While skimming through the magazine, there were two articles I found for my report on Marcus Garvey.
(C) Skimming through the magazine, I found two articles for my report on Marcus Garvey.
I found two articles for my report on Marcus Garvey skimming through the magazine.
Two articles for my report on Marcus Garvey were found skimming through the magazine.

23. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of standard, formal English, choose the revision that most clearly expresses the meaning of the underlined part of each item. If there is no error, choose A.
10. Each of the athletes in the Olympics wore their nation’s jersey.
(A) Each of the athletes in the Olympics wore their
(B) Each of the athletes in the Olympics wore his or her
(C) Every athlete in the Olympics wore their
All of the athletes in the Olympics wore their
All of the athletes in the Olympics wore his or her

24. The End