Copyright © MeDougel Lit Sentence Completion Sentence completion questions test your abilty to understand words and to recognize relationships among parts of a sentence. You are given a sentence with one or more words missing and are asked to choose the word or words that best complete the sentence. Here is a typical question: The argument _, but Aaron fet his anger (A) proceeded . .. grow (8) exploded ... simmer © continued ... diminish (0) regressed ... disappear (E) ended . . . slightly The following strategies can help you answer sentence completion questions: + Read the entire sentence carefully, paying particular attention to words that indicate relationships such as contrast (but, although, however) and similarity (and, another, likewise). For example, the word but in the sample question is a clue that the correct pair of words will express a contrast. The correct answer is ¢ continued . . . diminish. + Look for grammatical clues. Does the structure of the sentence require 3 noun? a verb? an adjective or adverb? If a verb is needed, what tense and number must itbe? + Ty each of the choices in the sentence. Eliminate those that do not make sense, are grammatically incorrect, or contradict information in the sentence. Choose the word or words that best complete each sentence. Part A 1. Julio was impressed with the of the mountain bike, (A) mediocrity (©) predictability (©) technique (©) quality © expense 2. The white shark we encountered while swimming was a(n) (®) predator (8) threat © prey (0) surprise © inducement to our safety 3, Because of their__and hostility, the two apes in the zoo had to be separated. (A) remoteness, (8) resourcefulness (© aggressiveness (©) age © playfulness StANDARDZED Test PRACTICE 2294. The in the directions for preparing the dessert made several outcomes possible (A) uniformity @®) diversion © mistakes (©) transcription (©) ambiguity 5. The flaw in the diamond was so imperceptible that several jewelers itin their appraisal. (A) overlooked (B) disguised (©) extolled (D) mentioned (E) fixed 6. Sonia was very apprehensive about the (A) exciting (8) recognizable (© daunting (0) forgotten © pleasant task that was facing her. 7. Scientists do the human body. (recycling (8) practice (©) experiments (D) hypotheses (©) anticipation in the laboratory to determine how new drugs might work in 8. The main character in the story is intense, solitary, , and pessimistic, but at the same time likable. (A) aborninable (8) brooding ©) benign (O) personable © sparkling 9, The company _____ huge profits from the sale of its popular new video program. (A) comprised (B) deducted (© adapted (©) realized (© lost 10. During the debate, Raphael forcefully (A) remembered (©) deduced (© confounded (0) forgot © articulated his team’s position. 230 FonuAt Assesstaenr, GRADE Copwiaht © McDougal Lite Inc.Copyright © MeDougal Litel nc. n 16. The colony's people expressed their yearning for self government by denouncing the with which the colonial power treated them. (A) integrity (8) doggedness (O stealth (©) paternalism (© comradeship Lara behaves so that she makes all her friends fee! inadequate. (A) unpredictably (©) haughty © spiritually (©) childishly © retroactively . To avoid muscle strain, exercise in___ (8) moderation (8) daylight (© sweat pants (0) company (© repetition |. Before attempting to move to the United States, Li studied its __laws, (A) dietary (8) traffic (© unwritten (©) immigration © new The vaulter's pole acts as a to launch him over the bar. (A) cataract (©) catapult © lever (©) support (©) reminder Psychologists say that itis better to express your feelings than to keep them inside, (A) mottled (8) festering (© expressive (©) discernible © perceptive A good {0 promote comprehension and retention of what you read is to skim the material first, noting main headings, and then to study the text carefully, (A) reminder (8) improvement (© distraction (©) approximation © strategy Staxpaxpizeo Test Pracnice 23118, At the end of the term, we took a exam covering everything we had studied (A) confusing. (8) conservative (© comprehensive (0) corollary © commencement 19, After examining all the evidence, the detective have committed the burglary. (A) interpreted (8) aspired (© concluded (0) reconciled © appropriated 20. One of the for admission to a university is a high school diploma. (A) benefits (8) prerequisites (© causes. (0) deliberations © achievernents 21. Traditionally, robins are said to the arrival of spring, (A) estimate (@) herald (© maintain (0) overtake © enjoy 22. Advertisements tend to even the most unexciting products and make them seem desirable. (A) glamorize (8) expose (© avoid (0) mention (© correct 23. Keeping taxes low while also providing good services is @ problem in city management. (®) perpetual ®) prestigious (© pessimistic (©) tisky © responsible 24, The capacity for self-preservation is a(n) quality of the wild dog (A) tenuous (8) sporadic © inherent (©) undesirable © unconscious 232 FoRuaL Assessment, Grane 9 that the suspect could not Copyright © McDougal Lita ne.25, The newcomer’s solution to the problem astonished all those who had been working on it fruitiessly for months. (A) insolent (B) incomprehensible (© inept (0) ingenious (©) identical Part B 1.As a(n) care center. (A) reminder .. . had discouraged (8) authorization ... employs (© enticement... offers () empowerment ... described © inspiration .... will have planned to shoppers with children, the shopping mall a free child- 2. Naomi lives in a(n) (A) large ... aspiration (8) sinister ... tactical (© remote... mobility (©) ethnic... heritage © important ... memory neighborhood; almost everyone has a similar 3. the ciitic wrote with about the performance, worth the price of admission. (A) indictment... . ascertaining (©) approval ... envisioned (© exertion ... eemembering (0) derision ... proclaiming © qualification ... predicting that the play was not 4. The lecture was so that | could not on what the speaker was saying. (A) interminable ... concentrate (®) revealing... understand (©) stimulating... expanded (D) unexpected ... dispute © symbolic. .. illuminate 5. Luis did not know the started it. (A) source... suspects (8) reason... knew (© humor... hopes (0) probability .. . doubted (© origin... thought of the rumor, but he that Jorge had STANDARDIZED Test Practice 2336. The delegation from the unaligned nation between and supporting the resolution. (A) dispute .. . approval (B) vacilated ... opposing (O intensified ... restoring (©) questioned... apprehending (© circumscribed ... applause 7 behavior is not in the classroom, (A) Superlative ... memorable (©) Disruptive... tolerated (© Hostie... contemptuous (0) Mediocrity... important © Immature ... suspected 8. Unauthorized or use of certain common medications can be to your health, (A) urgency ... acceptable ®) compulsive... restorative (© immoderate hazardous (0) lawlessly ... tragic © immoral ... comforting 9. The natural of the buffalo was destroyed as plains were brought under cultivation by farmers. (A) equality... luxuriant (B) significance ... flooded (© nutritional... extinct (0) family... uninhabited (© habitat... vast 10. As Alexis descended the stairs to the subway, she to the commuters who were trying to exit. (A) proved ... obstacle (B) is trying . .. example (© proposes... guide (0) has hoped .... distraction (©) ceased . . . interruption to be a(n) 11. Itwould have been impossible for our ancestors to have today's __. (A) appreciating . .. progress (@) understood . .. comparison (©) envisioned . .. technology (D) encounter... . ecology (© realized ... history 12 The caterpillar’s into a butterfly takes place _ not abruptly. (A) arrangement... quickly (©) disintegration ... absolutely (© metamosphosis ... gradually (0) turing... inevitable (© assemblage ... consequently 254 FoRwaL Assessment, GRADE 9 Coowiaht © MeDouaal Lite IneCopyright © MeDougel Lita nc. 13. The Renaissance was a(n) (A) atmosphere . .. implode (B) experience .... disagrees (© government ... consulted (D) era... flourished © fantasy... floundered when the arts and sciences 14, The union hoped to__a pay raise that would (A) intellectualize ... precede (©) compete... comprise (© forgo . . . expose (0) negotiate ... exceed © manifest... deny three dollars an hour. 15. The family's ‘a new home. (A) unhealthy... lived (8) debt... survive (© financial... invest (©) domestic... . communicate © intellectual ... calculating situation was so good that they were able to____in 16. plant growth could not be (A) Abundant . .. supported (B) Perpetual... uprooted (© Stunted . . . described (0) Useless... appreciated (© Annually... interupted by such an arid climate. 17. Itwould be nice if the world were an ideal place where everyone _; Unfortunately, this is not the (A) communicates ... implication (8) survived .:. opportunity (© agree ... reality (0) prospered ... case (©) existed ... intuition 18. During a(n) of two previously must be developed for the new entity. (A) shortage . . . hostile (8) merger... independent (© altemation ... commercial (0) examination... enterprising (© communicating ... construction companies, new operating policies 19, The psychologist was in her analysis of @ person's () uncomplicated... finances * (©) distinguishable ... style (© analytical... memorization (0) disapproval... habits © perceptive ... character StanpARDizeD Test Practice 238,20. 21 22. 23. 24, 25. It was easy to and (A) force ... repressed (B) evoke... effusive (© adopt... . adaptably (0) persuading... hyperactive (B) negate... serious laughter from the children, who were basically uninhibited The coach a(n) triathlon. (A) ends . forgivable (®) commented .. leisurely (© launched... rigorous (0) practiced ... sophisticated (© recommended ... exemplary ‘exercise program in preparation for the upcoming Living in a(n) essentially undeveloped part of the country few of the creature comforts offered by modem society (A) urban... extols © forgotten .. establish (© remote ... provides (0) sedimentary... manifest © mountainous... interprets ‘The transparent lake and the cloudless sky are so even the most troubled mind, (A) visionary... revere (B) serene... soothe (©) theoretical... approximately (0) glorious ... condemn (© unbelievably... . convince that they could The criminal the state border and north to Canada. (A) crossed .. . headed (8) intersected ... calculates (© misses . . . sneaked (0) canceled ... vanished (© lengthened ... disgruntled The shy hero his accomplishment, done what he did (A) preserved... unmercfully (®) ennobles.... grotesquely (©) brandished ... courageous (0) dismantled ... urgently (© minimized ... modestly < saying that anyone could have 236 Format Assessneenr, GRADES omrinht Mein el neError Identification Error identification questions test your abilty to recognize errors in standard English usage. In each sentence four words or phrases are underlined and marked with letters. You are asked to choose the underlined part that needs correction or to mark E if the sentence contains no error. Here is a typical question: Many a music lover believe that Mozart's music is the mast beautiful ever A B c wetten. No error D E The following strategies can help you answer error identification questions: + Read the entire sentence carefully + Reexamine the underlined parts. Check for lack of agreement, errors in capitalization and punctuation, improper sentence construction, incorrect forms, and inappropriate word choice. In the sample question, the subject of the sentence, Many a music lover, is singular and therefore requires a singular verb. Since the verb believe is plural, the answer is A. Choose the letter that indicates an error. If the sentence is correct, mark E. = 1. Each of the women has brought her own scissors, No erro A B i D E 2. Having been spoke in biblical times, Hebrew is one of the world’s oldest living A B c D languages. No error e 3. Him singing "Danny Boy’ and other ethnic songs was the highlight of the A B c & evening for my family and me. No error 2 D E § 4, Smallpox was one of the worse diseases in history, but it g A B c g 2 has been virtually wiped out by a worldwide vaccination campaign. No error E D E 5. Neither Sasha nor Isabel enjoys mysteries; neither one can never guess who A 8 Cc D the murderer is, No error ~ E Stanpanpizep Test Paacrice 2376. One of the many differences between the letters of our alphabet js theit A age: for example, 0 is thousands! of years old, whereas j and v came into 8 c D the language about 1630, No error E 7. When each of the witnesses takes the witness stand, he or she looks A BC nervously at we jury members. No error D E 8. Columbus Day, along with certain other holidays, are now celebrated on A BC a Monday in order to create a three-day weekend. No error D E 9, Athough Captain Wiliam Kidd was employed by England to fight piracy he A 8 became a pirate bimself and was ultimately executed by the government that Cc has once employed him. No error D o 10. Neither the host nor the guests have found Mr. Harris's sunglasses, A B which were laying on the kitchen table a few hours ago. No error = D a 11. In 1981 twenty cents was the price of a first-class stamp: by 1991 the A 8 price had risen to twenty-nine cents. No error c D 3 12. Caring for contact lenses are more difficult than caring for glasses, but ar) c contact lenses can be more convenient to wear. No error D E 13, War and Peace presents an intimate picture of Russian society during A B the wars with Napoleon. in fact some aitics have declared Tolstoy's c novel the best ever written. No error D E 238 Format Assesswenr, Grape 9Copyright © MeDouga Litel inc. 14, Because the orchestra sounded so beautifully, we chorus members A B were inspired to perform our very best. No error c D E 15. The Japanese beetle, an insect harmful to many kinds of plants, comes A 8 ic to the United States accidentally in about 1916, carried on a plant from D Japan. No error E 16. Neither of the mice has found its way through the cleverly constructed A B Cc D maze yet. No error E 17. Of all the peanut-growing states, the state of Georgia is the more productive. A B = D No error E 18, Early operas were based on myths and legends, but more realistic A 8 c subjects have been becoming popular in the nineteenth century. No error D a 19. My friend Huang and his brother claim that no theme park isn’t more famous A B c D ‘than Walt Disney World. No error E 20. Visitors to Peru learn that many of its inhabitants are Quechua Indians, whose A B c D ancestors established the great Inca Empire in that mountainous country hundreds of years ago, No ertor E 21. The coach's daughter taught Mitsuo and myself some basketball A 8 c strategies that we can use in tomorrows game. No error D E ‘STANDARDIZED Test PaacTice 23922, Fossils are seen by paleontologists scientists who study ancient life A B forms, as records of earlier times. No erro c D E a 23. As soon as one of the onlookers shouted, “Look, there's the stunt planes ~ A 8 ‘now!" everyone in the crowd scanned the sky intently. No exror c D E 24. Despite the fact that my uncle and aunt's new car includes all sors of special A B features, it doesn't handle very well. No error G DoE 25. "Were any of the tourists surprised to heer Catalan spoken in the streets of A Barcelona,” Xavier asked, “Especially since they had been told to study 8 c Gastilian Spanish?" No error D = 26, Petra is the most highly siled player on our team: nevertheless, the coach A B doesn't expect that the state champion will be her. No error _ c D E 27, Rebecca sang well last night, but you're voice sounded even better than A B c hers, No enor DoE 28. Every job applicant has already filled out their application and has taken it A 8 coo to the appropriate office. No error £ E a 29. Most of the world was unaware of the existence of Hawaii until } A 3 g ‘Captain James Cook lands there in January 1778, No ertor 2 8 cl D E 3 = 30. Although | have known our village librarian all my life, she hardly never ° A B c speaks to either my brother or me. No error D E 240 Fonuat Assesswexr, Grane 9Error Correction Error correction questions can appear in a variety of formats, One of the most common is the paragraph format shown below. These questions test your ability to recognize and correct errors in sentence construction, grammar, and usage. !n each paragraph certain words are underlined and numbered. You are asked to choose the correct version of each numbered word or phrase from the choices at the fight or, if the original is correct, to mark A or F Here is a typical paragraph: - Vast ranches, which breed cattle, sheep, and 1.A. No change 1 B. ranches, that other domesticated animals have operated C. ranches that D. ranches, and which are becoming popular as well, especially in Africa, In 2.F. No change Botswana, for example, ostriches are being raised G. are rose 2 H. are risen profitably on ranches. 4. are rising | successfully for centuries. Now ranches for wild game The following strategies can help you answer these questions: + Read the entire paragraph carefully. + Then reread each sentence, paying special attention to each underlined part. + Decide whether the underlined part contains an error and, i so, which rewording at the right corects the error. In number | of the example, ranches, which indicates that the clause following the comma is nonessential. However, the clause actually Presents essential information, so it should be introduced by that and no comma The correct rewording of number 1, therefore, is C ranches that. * Ifthe underlined partis correct, select the frst choice, in number 2, the underlined words are correct, so the answer is & No change. SranpAnDize Test PRacrice 241Choose the letter that indicates the best revision of the underlined word or words. If there is no error, mark A or F. ‘The growth of radio, television, newspapers and other media have staan many artists and pestorers to the attention of the public. For every famous and generously paid rock star or sculptor, however, there are thousands of other highly oes which remain relatively unknown. Perhaps no area a artistic endeavor receives, afte recognition as folk art. This lack of widespread appreciation for the indigenous arts is particulary sad in a county ke the United states, thi ch tapestry of cute in formal recognition of America's folk art, the National Endowment for the Arts awards $5,000 grants to exceptional atists who have chose to use wacional ar forms, Those honored by the program include a Hispanic carver of saints, a Cajun fiddler, a aur rom Missouri a Appalachian balad singer, 2 group of African-American gospel singers, an Ojibwa storyteller, and a Pueblo potter, One cannot help and be struck by the magnificent diversity of ‘the x fois, a phenomenon that reflect the diversity 10 of the American heritage 242 FonMat Assessent, Grave 9 10. \. No change newspapers, and newspapers; and newspapers also copy No change . have drawed had drew has drawn -zom No change sculptor; however sculptor although sculptor and also No change artists, which |. artists who artists that +zo™ onp> No change as less less . as least No change with its with our with their -zO™ 9np> No change choose had chose . will be choosing poe No change a appalachian i. an Appalachian the Appalachian simon No change . help and been help, and be help being one> No change that reflects which reflect J. which, reflect zomCopyright © McDougal Litel nc You are ‘heit in geography class, watching the teacher Point to a map of the world, Daydreaming a litle. You gaze at the shapes on the map. Suddenly you notice that the bulge on the East Coast of South America looks as f t would fitneat into the indented coast of westemn Aca across the oan Most scientists who study the earth now believe hain fac. these continents were joined until about 100 milion years ago. They base this belief on rock layers and fossils common to both South America and Aca, Further support is orvided by the theory of plate tectonics, which states that the outer shell of the earth always has been and sills ing constantly in motion According to this theory, the outer shell of the earth is broken up into large chunks, called tectonic slates these ‘move slowiy on the partially molten rock that, las beneath them, About 200 milion years ago, there was a single landmass, called Pangaea. Over a period of 65 million years, Pangaea broke up into two smaller masses—Gondwanaland and Laurasia. South America and Aftica were originally part of Gondwanaland, but they too began to drift apart, eventually ariving tits current positions on the globe. 20 u 12 13, 15. 16. 17. 18. 20. A B, ic D. 9OF> -r0™ 9ON®> §TO™ OAwS> -TO™ ONw> HtOM +zam No change heyre there here No change little you little, you little; you No change . East coast . east Coast east coast No change be fitting neatly have fitted neat fit neatly No change that, factually that in fact that, in fact No change in common to uncommon to commonly in No change is having been was is No change plates, these plates. These plates those No change has lain lies had laid No change it's 1 there their Staxpaabzep Test PRacnice 243Have you ever wondered? Why dogs bark? Sometimes them barking serves a 2 warning thea, 2 greeting of a complaint. though barking is a complicated communication system, dogs often seem to bark just because they feel ike i Different breeds of dogs have diferent barking habits. Ont some bat rarely, but thes find it difficult to be silent. For example, terriers they tend to bark more than most other dogs No matter what their particular habits, however, dogs apparently can'thelp but bark, 26 Scientists have been investigating this noisy phenomenon for some time; however, they have yet to come up with a definitive explanation, Some data sugges ink between en animasameness and its tendency to bark. When researchers in the Soviet Union bred unusually tare foxes they found thet those animals pohaved, looked, and sounded not like wild foxes but like dogs! One theory proposes on barking is a juvenile behavior, along with dependence and tameness, According to this theory, the barking dog is a case of sevolionary immaturity. The dog has. simply not developed as far as its wild cousin, the nonbarking wolf, 244 For\t Assess\enT, Gave 9 2 22. 23. 24, 25. 26. 27. 28, 29. 30. POe> §-TO™ 9OP> § TO" ONP> TOM ONS> + TOM ONB> rrom No change wondered why wondered, why wondered: why No change they barking their barking those barking No change felt lke it feel about it . were feeling it No change Only, some bark some only bark Some bark only No change them terriers terriers a terrier No change ,. but be barkers, but being barkers barking No change animal tameness. animals tameness . animal's tameness No change not bred usually 1. bread unusual bred unusual No change not alike not unlike alike No change evolutionary revolving voluntary