COM 1193 A

GRAMMAR TEST 2

1. Edit the following sentences to correct faulty parallelism.

Before working on that exercise, read section S1 in A Canadian Writer’s reference,

Sixth Edition.

1. Activities on Wednesday afternoons include fishing trips, dance lessons, and gaming
or (Computer lessons).

2. Arriving at Lake Powell in a thunderstorm, the campers found it safer to remain in

their cars than setting up camp.

3. The streets were not only too steep but also too narrow for anything other than
pedestrian traffic.

4. More digital artists in the show are from the South Shore than from the North Shore.

5. To load her toolbox, Anika the Clown gathered hats of different sizes, put in two tubes
of face paint, arranged a bundle of extra-long straws, added a bag of colored balloons,
and included (or packed) a battery-powered hair dryer.

2. Edit the following sentences to correct dangling modifiers.

Most sentences can be revised in more than one way.

Before working on that exercise, read section S3-e in A Canadian Writer’s reference,
Sixth Edition.

1. While working as a ranger in Everglades National Park, a Florida panther crossed the
road in front of my truck one night.

“While working as a ranger in Everglades National Park, I encountered a Florida panther

when it crossed the road in front of my truck one night.” Or “While I was working as a
ranger in Everglades National Park, a Florida panther crossed the road in front of my
truck one night.”

2. By following this new procedure, our mailing costs will be reduced significantly.

“By the company following this new procedure, our mailing costs will be reduced
significantly.” Or “By following this new procedure, our company can reduce mailing
costs significantly.”

3. Serving as president of the missionary circle, one of Grandmother’s duties is to raise

money for the church.

“While she serves as president of the missionary circle, one of my grandmother's duties
is to raise money for the church.” Or “While serving as president of the missionary
circle, my grandmother will have a number of duties including raising money for the
church.”

4. After buying an album by Ali Farka Toure, the rich and rolling rhythms of Malian
music made more sense to Silas.

“After Silas bought an album by Ali Farka Toure, the rich and rolling rhythms of Malian
music made more sense to him.” Or “After buying an album by Ali Farka Toure, Silas
began to understand the rich and rolling rhythms of Malian music.”

5. Understanding the high-tech needs of drivers, the Volkswagen Phaeton has an

innovative dashboard design.

“Because the engineers understood the high-tech needs of drivers, the Volkswagen
Phaeton has an innovative dashboard design.” Or “Understanding the high-tech needs of
drivers, the engineers incorporated an innovative dashboard into the design of the
Volkswagen Phaeton.”

3. Edit the following sentences to untangle mixed constructions.

Before working on that exercise, read section S5 in A Canadian Writer’s reference,

Sixth Edition.

1. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer is often curable.

Prostate cancer is often curable when diagnosed early.

2. Depending on our method of travel and our destination determines how many
suitcases we are allowed to pack.
Our method of travel and our destination determines how many suitcases we are
allowed to pack.

3. Dyslexia is where people have a learning disorder that impairs reading ability.
Dyslexia is a learning disorder suffered by people who are reading impaired.

4. Even though Ellen had heard French spoken all her life, yet she could not speak it.
Even though Ellen had heard French spoken all her life, she could not speak it.

5. In understanding artificial intelligence code is a critical skill for computer game

designers.
Understanding artificial intelligence code is a critical skill for computer game
designers.
1. When prostate cancer is diagnosed early, it is often curable.
2. Our method of travel and our destination determine how many suitcases we are
allowed to pack.
3. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that impairs reading ability.
4. Even though Ellen had heard French spoken all her life, she could not speak it.
5. Understanding artificial intelligence code is a critical skill for computer game
designers.

4. Edit the following paragraph to eliminate distracting

shifts in point of view (person and number)
Before working on that exercise, read section S4-a in A Canadian Writer’s reference,
Sixth Edition.

When online dating first became available, many people thought that it would simplify

romance. We believed that you could type in a list of criteria — sense of humor, college

education, green eyes, good job — and a database would select the perfect mate.

Thousands of people signed up for services and filled out their profiles, confident that

truelove was only a few mouse clicks away. As it turns out, however, virtual dating is no

easier than traditional dating. I still have to contact the people I find, exchange e-mails

and phone calls, and meet him in the real world. Although a database might produce a

list of possibilities and screen out obviously undesirable people, you can’t predict

chemistry. More often than not, people who seem perfect online just don’t click in

person. Electronic services do help a single person expand their pool of potential dates,

but it’s no substitute for the hard work of romance.

“When online dating first became available, many people thought that it would simplify

romance. Hopeful singles believed that they could type in a list of criteria—sense of

humor, college education, green eyes, good job—and a database would select the perfect

mate. Thousands of people signed up for services and filled out their pro-files, confident

that true love was only a few mouse clicks away. As it turns out, however, virtual dating
is no easier than traditional dating. Online daters still have to contact the people they

find, exchange e-mails and phone calls, and meet in the real world. Although a database

might produce a list of possibilities and screen out undesirable people, it can’t predict

chemistry. More often than not, people who seem perfect online just don’t click in

person. Electronic services do help single people expand their pool of potential dates, but

they’re no substitute for the hard work of romance.”

5. Edit the following sentences to eliminate distracting shifts

Before working on that exercise, read section S4 in A Canadian Writer’s reference,
Sixth Edition.

1. Everyone should protect yourself from the sun, especially on the first day of extensive

exposure.

2. Our neighbor told us that the island was being evacuated because of the coming

storm. Also take the northern route to the inland.

3. Rescue workers put water on her face and lifted her head gently onto a pillow.

Finally, she opened her eyes.

4. In my first tai chi class, the instructor had asked if I had ever done yoga stretches and

did I have good balance.

5. The artist has often been seen as a threat to society, especially when they refuse to

conform to conventional standards of taste.

“1. You should protect yourself from the sun, especially on the first day of extensive

exposure.

2. Our neighbors told us that the island was being evacuated because of the coming

storm. They also suggested that we take the northern route to the mainland.
3. Rescue workers put water on her face and lifted her head gently onto a pillow. Finally,

she opened her eyes.

4. In my first tai chi class, the sensei asked if I had ever done yoga stretches and if I had

good balance.

5. Artists have often been seen as a threat to society, especially when they refuse to

conform to conventional standards of taste.”