1. Standardized Test Prep
Grammar and Usage
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.
Scientists __1__ study the prehistoric world __2__ carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials such as wood and bone. All living things absorb carbon-14 from the environment into __3__ tissues. An organism that has died __4__ carbon-14 because __5__ no longer takes in air and food. Carbon-14 that was previously absorbed into the organism’s tissues __6__ at a specific rate. Knowing the rate of breakdown, scientists measure the amount of carbon-14 in an organism’s remains to determine how much time __7__ since the organism died. Scientists cannot use carbon dating to determine the age of organic material __8__ is __9__ about 120,000 years, because carbon-14 __10__ down and becomes untraceable after that length of time.

3. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
1. (A) which
(B) who
(C) whom
(D) what
Scientists __1__ study the prehistoric world __2__ carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials such as wood and bone. All living things absorb carbon-14 from the environment into __3__ tissues. An organism that has died __4__ carbon-14 because __5__ no longer takes in air and food.
2. (A) they use
(B) use
(C) uses
(D) used

4. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
3. (A) its
(B) his or her
(C) they’re
(D) their
Scientists __1__ study the prehistoric world __2__ carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials such as wood and bone. All living things absorb carbon-14 from the environment into __3__ tissues. An organism that has died __4__ carbon-14 because __5__ no longer takes in air and food.

5. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Scientists __1__ study the prehistoric world __2__ carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials such as wood and bone. All living things absorb carbon-14 from the environment into __3__ tissues. An organism that has died __4__ carbon-14 because __5__ no longer takes in air and food.
4. (A) doesn’t absorb no more
(B) don’t absorb more
(C) doesn’t absorb any more
(D) don’t absorb any more

6. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
5. (A) he
(B) she
(C) it
(D) they
Scientists __1__ study the prehistoric world __2__ carbon dating to determine the age of organic materials such as wood and bone. All living things absorb carbon-14 from the environment into __3__ tissues. And organism that has died __4_ carbon-14 because __5__ no longer takes in air and food.

7. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
Carbon-14 that was previously absorbed into the organism’s tissues __6__ at a specific rate. Knowing the rate of breakdown, scientists measure the amount of carbon-14 in an organism’s remains to determine how much time __7__ since the organism died.
6. (A) it decays
(B) decays
(C) decay
(D) were decaying
7. (A) passes
(B) is passing
(C) have passed
(D) has passed

8. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
8. (A) that
(B) what
(C) who
(D) whom
Scientists cannot use carbon dating to determine the age of organic material __8__ is __9__ about 120,000 years, because carbon-14 __10__ down and becomes untraceable after that length of time.
9. (A) more old then
(B) older than
(C) older then
(D) more older than

9. Grammar and Usage: Section 1
DIRECTIONS: For each numbered blank, select the word or word group that best completes the sentence.
10. (A) busts
(B) busted
(C) break
(D) breaks
Scientists cannot use carbon dating to determine the age of organic material __8__ is __9__ about 120,000 years, because carbon-14 __10__ down and becomes untraceable after that length of time.
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10. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. The first Cuban-born woman to become a U.S. Army officer was Mercedes O. Cubria, whom served in the Women’s Army Corps.
(A) whom
(B) who
(C) that
(D) which
(B) who

11. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. In basketball, one kind of illegal dribbling is when a player stops dribbling and then begins dribbling again.
(A) is when
(B) is that
(C) is because
(D) occurs when

12. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
1. In basketball, one kind of illegal dribbling is when a player stops dribbling and then begins dribbling again.
(A) is when
(B) is that
(C) is because
(D) occurs when
(D) occurs when

13. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. Karen’s sandwich is more tastier than the one I brought.
(A) more tastier than
(B) more tastier then
(C) tastier than
(D) tastier then

14. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
2. Karen’s sandwich is more tastier than the one I brought.
(A) more tastier than
(B) more tastier then
(C) tastier than
(D) tastier then
(C) tastier than

15. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder in the mall today.
(A) Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder in the mall today.
(B) In the mall today, Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder.
(C) Tonya said in the mall today she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder.
(D) Tonya said in the mall today at her feeder she had seen a hummingbird.

16. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
3. Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder in the mall today.
(A) Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder in the mall today.
(B) In the mall today, Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder.
(C) Tonya said in the mall today she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder.
(D) Tonya said in the mall today at her feeder she had seen a hummingbird.
(B) In the mall today, Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder.

17. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. Have the Glee Club and they set down to discuss the program?
(A) Have the Glee Club and they set
(B) Have the Glee Club and them sat
(C) Have the Glee Club and they sat
(D) Has the Glee Club and they sat

18. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
4. Have the Glee Club and they set down to discuss the program?
(A) Have the Glee Club and they set
(B) Have the Glee Club and them sat
(C) Have the Glee Club and they sat
(D) Has the Glee Club and they sat
(C) Have the Glee Club and they sat

19. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. For many years, Matthew Henson accompanied Robert Peary on expeditions, together, in 1908, they set out for the North Pole.
(A) expeditions, together, in 1908, they set
(B) expeditions, together, in 1908, they setted
(C) expeditions; together, in 1908, they setted
(D) expeditions. Together, in 1908, they set

20. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
5. For many years, Matthew Henson accompanied Robert Peary on expeditions, together, in 1908, they set out for the North Pole.
(A) expeditions, together, in 1908, they set
(B) expeditions, together, in 1908, they setted
(C) expeditions; together, in 1908, they setted
(D) expeditions. Together, in 1908, they set
(D) expeditions. Together, in 1908, they set

21. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. The reason you should wear a helmet is because it can prevent head injuries.
(A) is because it
(B) is that it
(C) is that they
(D) is when it

22. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
6. The reason you should wear a helmet is because it can prevent head injuries.
(A) is because it
(B) is that it
(C) is that they
(D) is when it
(B) is that it

23. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. A dedicated and creative teacher, Anne Sullivan learned Helen Keller how to communicate effectively.
(A) learned
(B) taught
(C) was learning
(D) teached

24. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
7. A dedicated and creative teacher, Anne Sullivan learned Helen Keller how to communicate effectively.
(A) learned
(B) taught
(C) was learning
(D) teached
(B) taught

25. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. Between Josh and him lay the exhausted puppy.
(A) him lay
(B) he lay
(C) him laid
(D) him has laid

26. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
8. Between Josh and him lay the exhausted puppy.
(A) him lay
(A) him lay
(B) he lay
(C) him laid
(D) him has laid

27. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. The treasure that was buried in the abandoned mine.
(A) The treasure that was buried in the abandoned mine.
(B) The treasure found buried in the abandoned mine.
(C) The treasure buried in the abandoned mine.
(D) The treasure was buried in the abandoned mine.

28. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
9. The treasure that was buried in the abandoned mine.
(A) The treasure that was buried in the abandoned mine.
(B) The treasure found buried in the abandoned mine.
(C) The treasure buried in the abandoned mine.
(D) The treasure was buried in the abandoned mine.
(D) The treasure was buried in the abandoned mine.

29. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
DIRECTIONS: Using the rules of formal, standard 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. Peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.
(A) Peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.
(B) Peering behind the bookcase, the detective discovered a secret passage.
(C) The detective discovered a secret passage peering behind the bookcase.
(D) While peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.

30. Grammar and Usage: Section 2
10. Peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.
(A) Peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.
(B) Peering behind the bookcase, the detective discovered a secret passage.
(C) The detective discovered a secret passage peering behind the bookcase.
(D) While peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.
(B) Peering behind the bookcase, the detective discovered a secret passage.

31. The End