TESTONVERBS

Allbutoneofthefollowingsentencescontainamistakeinvolving(1)standardEnglishor
irregularverbforms,(2)subjectverbagreement,or(3)consistentverbtense.Crossoutthe
incorrectverbandwritethecorrectforminthespaceprovided.Markthesentencethatuses
verbscorrectlywithaC.
______________

1. Dotsearchedforthetwentydollarbillshehadhidsomewhereinher
purse.

______________

2. Hoveringoverheadatthesceneoftheaccidentwasseveraltraffic
helicopters.

______________

3. WhenIcaughtmylittleboypullingthedogsears,Isathimdownand
talktohimaboutbeingkindofanimals.

______________

4. Somebodyinthedormalwayskeepastereoplayingallnightlong.

______________

5. ThegiantsizeboxofRaisinetssellsforthreedollarsatthetheaters
candycounter.

______________

6. Thiscoatandscarflooksverywarm,butthewindseemstogoright
throughthem.

______________

7. WandaswabbedtheinsideofhercheekwithaQtip,smearsthecellson
aglassslide,andthenlookedatthemthroughthemicroscope.

______________

8. LastAugust,CarmentakedhisfamilyonalongcartriptoYellowstone
NationalParkandtheGrandCanyon.

______________

9. Whensmokespilledfromthefrontoftheoverheatedcar,thedriver
openedupthehoodandthenjumpsbackassteambillowedout.

______________ 10. Theclassclownhadwenttoofar,andthestudentswaitedtoseewhatthe

teacherwoulddo.

TESTONPUNCTUATIONMARKS
Eachofthesentencesbelowcontainsanerrorinpunctuation.Refertotheboxbelowtowrite,in
thespaceprovided,theletteridentifyingtheerror.Thencorrecttheerror.
a.missingcomma
c.missingsemicolon

b.missingapostrophe
d.missingquotationmarks

_____

1. WhenKarensmotherreturnedtocollegethisyeartheentirefamilyhadtohelpout
withthehousework.

_____

2. Thecashiertestifiedthattherobbersfacehadbeencoveredwithanylonstocking.

_____

3. Arlenejustreceivedapromotionshesnowanassistantbuyerforthesportsshopin
themall.

_____

4. Imthinkingaboutcallingthehumanesociety,forourneighborleaveshisdog
outsideinthemostbitterlycoldweather.

_____

5. PresidentCoolidge,whowasknownasSilentCaldidnttalkmuchandslept
elevenhoursaday.

_____

6. Mydadsfavoritesayingis,Dontpulltomorrowscloudovertodayssunshine.

_____

7. Lourarelyhasachancetorelaxontheweekendshestoobusycatchinguponthe
laundryandthefoodshopping.

_____

8. Wereyoufiredorlaidoff?thewomanattheunemploymentofficeasked.
Theresabigdifference.

_____

9. Thegalaxyweliveinismovingslowlythroughspacesomedayitwillprobably
collidewithanothergalaxy.

_____ 10. MyschoolexpectsmetobuyacomputernextyearbutIwillbarelyhaveenough

moneyformytuition.

EDITINGFORSENTENCESKILLSMISTAKES
Seeifyoucanlocateandcorrectthetensentenceskillsmistakesinthefollowingpassage.The
mistakesarelistedintheboxbelow.Asyoulocatemistakes,placechecksinthespaces
provided.
2sentencefragments__________

1missingcommaafter
introductorywords_____

2runons__________

2missingcommas
aroundaninterrupter__________

1inconsistentverbtense_____

1nonparallelstructure_____

1apostrophemistake_____

AnotherfieldthatseemstoattracteccentricteachersisEnglish.Oneofmyhigh
schoolEnglishteachersMr.Karlinskyusedtocarryalongwoodenpointeraroundthe
room.Whenhespottedastudentwhowasnotpayingattention.Hewouldsneakupfrom
behindandrapthepointerashardaspossibleonthestudentsdesk.Theunexpectedand
earsplittingcrackwouldcausethevictimsbodytoriseatleastsixinchesfromthedesk
chair.CollegehasitsshareofstrangeEnglishteachersaswell,forexample,oneofmy
professorslikedtodrawontheboard.Dr.Sandlinwouldstrollaroundtheroom,chalkin
hand,waitingforthechancetodrawsomething.Thenshewouldspendthirtyminutesof
afiftyminuteclassdrawingShakespearesGlobeTheateroraseventeenthcentury
sword.TheoddestEnglishteacherIhavehadwasMr.Shaw,whotaughtadramacourse.
Mr.Shawlovedthesoundofhisownvoice,whenwereadaplay,hewouldtakeallthe
parts.StandingbehindthelecternMr.Shawwouldrunthroughanentireplaybyhimself.
Whilethestudentseitherfellasleep,doinghomeworkforotherclasses,orread
magazines.Mr.Shawwassohappytobeactinghedidnotseemtomind.Attheendof
class,aswepickedupourbooksandheadoutthedoor,Mr.Shawcouldstillbeheard
boomingouttheendofascenefromHamletorTheGlassMenagerie.

TEST:ESLPOINTERS
Ineachofthefollowingsentences,underlinethecorrectforminparentheses.
1. (Is,Thereis)muchtoomuchsaltinthissoup.
2. Layyourhomeworkpapers(on,in)thetablebeforeyouleave.
3. Kimlikesgettingattentionandhatestobe(ignored,ignoring).
4. Mygrumpyneighbor(always,healways)seemstohavesomethingtocomplainabout.
5. (Pizza,Thepizza)isthemostpopularfastfoodintheUnitedStates.
6. Doyoueverwatchtelevision(at,in)thedaytime?
7. Bluejeans(like,arelike)auniformatmyschoolnearlyeveryonewearsthem.
8. Peoplewhowinthelotteryhavetodecidewhattodowiththeirsudden(wealth,wealths).
9. ChungwantedtothankEmily(fortogive,forgiving)himagift.
10. IjumpedupindisgustwhenIsawthe(uglymanyleggedgreen,greenmanyleggedugly)
insect.

PARAGRAPHWRITINGASSIGNMENTS
Writeaparagraphofabout150wordsononeofthefollowingtopics.Yourinstructor
mayallowyoutochooseanytopicormayrequireyoutochooseaspecifictopic.In
eithercase,yourparagraphshouldbeginwithatopicsentencethatstatestheideatobe
developedinyourpaper.Itshouldthenbefollowedwithsupportingdetailsthatsolidly
supporttheopeningidea.
1.Writeaparagraphonsomehabits,qualities,orconditionsthatmakeyoueitheran
organizedordisorganizedstudent.Youmightwanttoconsider,forinstance,your
habitofallowingplentyoftimeforassignments(oryourprocrastination);your
readingability(orreadingproblems);yourgoodhealthhabits(orpoorones);your
skillatnotetaking(orlackofskill);yoursupportivehomeatmosphere(ordistracting
homeatmosphere);andsoon.Chooseatleastthreeareastodiscusswhichwillsupport
thetopicsentence,ThereareseveralreasonswhyIamanorganized(orwhyIama
disorganized)student.Remembertobespecificabouteachreason.
2.Manypeopleareconcernedwithpassingthingsontotheirchildrenaslegacies.
Willsaredrawnup,motherssavebridalgownsinlayersoftissuepaper,specialchina
isstoredinacupboard,atreasuredphotoispreserved,amemoryofanancestoris
rememberedandrepeated.Whatisthemostimportantthingyouwouldwanttopass
ontoyour(realorimaginary)children?Describeitandgivereasonswhyitisso
importanttoyouthatyourchildrenpossessit.Youmaywanttoconsideranyofthe
followingaslegacies":apreciouspossession;avalueorgoal;amemory;acultural
heritage;ahabitorcharactertrait;askill;afamilytradition;andsoon.
3.Probablyyou,likemostpeople,haveexperiencedatimewhenyoulostcontrol.You
mayhavegivenyourselfovercompletelytoanger,fear,euphoria,jealousy,hunger,
pain,frustration,grief,drunkenness,sleepiness,orgreed.Inyournarrative,emphasize
howthisparticularemotionincreaseduntilyoucouldnolongercontrolit.Besureto
useplentyofspecificdetailstomakeyouraudiencetrulyfeelthelossofcontrolyou
experienced.
4.Writeaparagraphcontrastingyourattitudetowardcollegewiththatofsomeone
whoholdsadifferentview.Forexample,youmightwanttocontrastyourattitudewith
thatofyourparents,yourspouse,yourcoworkers,yoursisterorbrother,your
classmate.Areasyoumightwanttocontrastcouldinclude:reasonforattending
college;valueofacollegeeducation;needforyouasanindividualtoattendcollege;
theviews(onpolitics,socialissues,andsoon)onelearnsatcollege;kindsofafter
classactivities(drinking,drugs,sex,andsoon)studentsengagein.Makeascratch
outlineofseveralareasyouintendtocontrastbeforewritingyourparagraph.
5.Musicvideosseemtobeeverywhere:onMTV,oncablechannels,andonlocalTV
stations.Somepeoplehavesaidthatmusicvideosemphasizesexandviolenceandthat
theymostoftenportraywomenassexobjectsorvictims.Otherpeoplepraisemusic
videosasinnovative,artistic,andcompelling.Watchsomemusicvideosandchoose
onetoanalyze.Thendoeitherofthefollowing:1)showhowitemphasizessex,
violence,andsexismor2)showwhyitisartisticandexciting.Bespecificaboutthe
following:thenameofthesong,singer,orgroup;theimagesinthevideo;the

charactersportrayed;thecostumesorpropsused.

Answers to Supplementary Activities & Tests

TEST:THEWRITINGPROCESS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

list
c
a
d
a

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

prewriting
organized
d
d
F

TEST:EVALUATINGTOPICSENTENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

TNb
TNa
TNb
TNa
TNa

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

TBa
TBb
TBb
TBa
TBb

TEST:IDENTIFYINGTHEKEYWORD(S)INATOPICSENTENCE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

juvenile
dreadfulconsequences
wellcoordinated
unusuallyyouthful
toohighinsodium

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

bigdisappointment
littlethingsbotherme
revealapersonsfeelings
encouragedruguse
Hiddengreed

TEST:WRITINGATOPICSENTENCE
Answersmayvaryslightly.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Theapartmenthadseveralseriousproblems.
Thereareseveralbenefitsofgoingtocollege.
IhavebeendepressedsinceIbrokeupwithmyboyfriend.
Mysociologytextbookmakeslearningeasier.

IDENTIFYINGTRANSITIONSANDOTHERCONNECTINGWORDS
1. T
2. P
3. T

6. RW
7. P
8. S

4. T
5. S

9. T
10. S

PROVIDINGTITLES
A. 1. KeystoStudySuccess
2. ADiscoveryinMyLife
B. (Answersmayvaryslightly.)
1. BuyingOurFirstHome
2. HowFastFoodCommercialsWork
3. LeavingHome
GENERALOUTLININGACTIVITIES
1.

A. Athome
1.TVonasbackgroundnoise
2.Stereosandradiosonnonstop
B. Atschool
1.Muzakplayingincafeteria
2.TVsoapoperasoninlounges
C. Onvacation
1.Noisytoyssuchassnowmobilesanddirtbikes
2.Noisyplacessuchascrowdedbeachesandamusementparks

2.

A. Helpsfinancially
1.Abletoaffordsomeluxuries
2.Easespayingmonthlybills
B. Helpseachindividual
1.Givesfeelingofachievement
2.Givesfeelingofindependence
C. Helpsrelationship
1.Learntoappreciatetimetogether
2.Abletotalktogetheraboutoutsideactivities

3.

A. Shoppingaround
1.Visitseveraldealers
2.ConsultConsumerReports
B. Agreeingonaprice
1.Startwithalowerpricethanyourewillingtopay
2.Askforadiscountifyourepayingcash
C. Signingthefinalpapers
1.Makesuretheloaninterestrateyouwantisspecifiedonpaper
2.Watchoutforaddedcontractclauses,suchasinsuranceandspecialwarranties

OUTLININGAPARAGRAPHI

Topicsentence: Freshmanbluesaffectsmanybeginningcollegestudents,making
themfeellonely,anxious,anddepressed.
a.Studentsunpreparedforcollege
(1)Highschooltooeasy
(2)Emotionalproblemsnotdiscussedinorientationprograms
b.Shockofmovingfromsecuretoinsecureworld
(1)Changefromseniortofreshman
(2)Changefromhometodorm
c.Pressuresonstudentstoday
(1)Brokenhomes
(2)Risingcollegecosts
OUTLININGAPARAGRAPHII
Topicsentence:Americaencouragesitsyoungpeopletodrink.
a.Drinkingpartofcelebrations
(1)Personalcelebrations
(2)Nationalholidays
b.Drinkingglamorizedontelevision
(1)Soapoperas
(2)Musicvideos
c.Advertising
(1)Sponsoringspecialevents
(2)Showingattractivesituationsinliquorads
TESTONFRAGMENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

C
F
C
F
F
C
F
C
F
F

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

F
C
F
C
C
C
F
C
F
C

TESTONRUNONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

spoiled.It
parents.I
Chinese.Nearly
C
question.He

Or:spoiled,forit
Or:parents,butI

Or:spoiled;it
Or:parents;I
Or:Chinese;nearly

Or:question,buthe

Or:question;he

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

C
melted.Sticky
peanuts.Squirrels
headache.She
tomorrow.I

Or:melted,andsticky
Or:headache,soshe
Or:tomorrow,butI

Or:melted;sticky
Or:peanuts;squirrels
Or:headache;she
Or:tomorrow;I

TESTONVERBS
1. Dotsearchedforthetwentydollarbillshehadhiddensomewhereinherpurse.
2. Hoveringoverheadatthesceneoftheaccidentwereseveraltraffichelicopters.
3. WhenIcaughtmylittleboypullingthedogsears,Isathimdownandtalkedtohimabout
beingkindofanimals.
4. Somebodyinthedormalwayskeepsastereoplayingallnightlong.
5. C
6. Thiscoatandscarflookverywarm,butthewindseemstogorightthroughthem.
7. WandaswabbedtheinsideofhercheekwithaQtip,smearedthecellsonaglassslide,and
thenlookedatthemthroughthemicroscope.
8. LastAugust,CarmentookhisfamilyonalongcartriptoYellowstoneNationalParkand
theGrandCanyon.
9. Whensmokespilledfromthefrontoftheoverheatedcar,thedriveropenedupthehoodand
thenjumpedbackassteambillowedout.
10. Theclassclownhadgonetoofar,andthestudentswaitedtoseewhattheteacherwoulddo.

TESTONPUNCTUATIONMARKS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

a
b
c
b
a
d
c
d
c
a

year,the
robbers
promotion;shes
Im
Cal,
Dont
weekends;hes
difference.
space;someday
year,but

EDITINGFORSENTENCESKILLSMISTAKES
AnotherfieldthatseemstoattracteccentricteachersisEnglish.Oneofmyhighschool
Englishteachers,Mr.Karlinsky,usedtocarryalongwoodenpointeraroundtheroom.(Commas
aroundaninterruptercorrected.)Whenhespottedastudentwhowasnotpayingattention,he
wouldsneakupfrombehindandrapthepointerashardaspossibleonthestudentsdesk.
(Fragmentcorrected.)Theunexpectedandearsplittingcrackwouldcausethevictimsbodyto
riseatleastsixinchesfromthedeskchair.(Apostrophecorrected.)Collegehasitsshareof
strangeEnglishteachersaswell.Forexample,oneofmyprofessorslikedtodrawontheboard.
(Runoncorrected.)Dr.Sandlinwouldstrollaroundtheroom,chalkinhand,waitingforthe

chancetodrawsomething.Thenshewouldspendthirtyminutesofafiftyminuteclassdrawing
ShakespearesGlobeTheateroraseventeenthcenturysword.TheoddestteacherIhavehadwas
Mr.Shaw,whotaughtadramacourse.Mr.Shawlovedthesoundofhisownvoice.Whenwe
readaplay,hewouldtakealltheparts.(Runoncorrected.)Standingbehindthelectern,Mr.
Shawwouldrunthroughanentireplaybyhimselfwhilethestudentseitherfellasleep,did
homeworkforotherclasses,orreadmagazines.(Commaafterintroductorywords,fragment,
nonparallelstructurecorrected.)Mr.Shawwassohappytobeactinghedidnotseemtomind.
Attheendofclass,aswepickedupourbooksandheadedoutthedoor,Mr.Shawcouldstillbe
heardboomingouttheendofascenefromHamletorTheGlassMenagerie.(Inconsistentverb
tensecorrected.)

TEST:ESLPOINTERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Thereis
on
ignored
always
Pizza
in
arelike
wealth
forgiving
uglymanyleggedgreen