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

Standardized Test PrepGrammar and Usage

Grammar and Usage: Section 1


Handout


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.


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.

2. (A) they use

(B) use

(C) uses

(D) used

1. (A) which

(B) who

(C) whom

(D) what



3. (A) its

(B) his or her

(C) they’re

(D) their




4. (A) doesn’t absorb no more

(B) don’t absorb more

(C) doesn’t absorb any more

(D) don’t absorb any more




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.



6. (A) it decays

(B) decays

(C) decay

(D) were decaying

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.

7. (A) passes

(B) is passing

(C) have passed

(D) has passed



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



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.

View All Answers


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.

(A) whom

(B) who

(C) that

(D) which

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.

EXAMPLE

(B) who


(A) is when

(B) is that

(C) is because

(D) occurs when

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

1. In basketball, one kind of illegal dribbling is when a player stops dribbling and then begins dribbling again.

(D) occurs when


(A) more tastier than

(B) more tastier then

(C) tastier than

(D) tastier then

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

2. Karen’s sandwich is more tastier than the one I brought.

(C) tastier than


(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.

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.


(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.

3. Tonya said she had seen a hummingbird at her feeder in the mall today.



(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

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


(D) Has the Glee Club and they sat

4. Have the Glee Club and they set down to discuss the program?



(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

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


5. For many years, Matthew Henson accompanied Robert Peary on expeditions, together, in 1908, they set out for the North Pole.



(A) is because it

(B) is that it

(C) is that they

(D) is when it

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

6. The reason you should wear a helmet is because it can prevent head injuries.

(B) is that it


(A) learned

(B) taught

(C) was learning

(D) teached

7. A dedicated and creative teacher, Anne Sullivan learned Helen Keller how to communicate effectively.



(A) learned

(B) taught

(C) was learning

(D) teached

7. A dedicated and creative teacher, Anne Sullivan learned Helen Keller how to communicate effectively.

(B) taught


(A) him lay

(B) he lay

(C) him laid

(D) him has laid

8. Between Josh and him lay the exhausted puppy.



(A) him lay

(B) he lay

(C) him laid

(D) him has laid

8. Between Josh and him lay the exhausted puppy.

(A) him lay


(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.

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.


9. The treasure that was buried in the abandoned mine.



(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.

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.


(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.

10. Peering behind the bookcase, a secret passage was discovered by the detective.


The End

Documents

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