LESSON 6 MISSING OR INCOMPLETE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (in, at, with, fm; until. and so on) followed by a noun phrase or pronoun. which is called the prepositional object. Prepositional phrases often describe relationships of time and location, among others. In the auturnn, maple leaves tum red. Beacon Hill is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Boston. ‘With luck, there won't be any more problems. This house was built by John's grandfather. Often, prepositional phrases come at the beginning of sentences, but they may appear in other parts of the sentence as well. The correct answer for this type of item may be a preposition, its object, or both, as well as other parts of the sentence. You may see prepositions in distractors, especially before the subject of a sentence. Remember, the object of a preposition cannot correctly be the subject of a sentence, as in these examples: “in the autumn is my favorite season. “Without a pencil is no way to come to a test. Example: 01.____ the unaided eye can see about 6,000 stars. (A) A clear night (B) Its a clear night (C) Ona clear night (D) When a clear night 02.____ all the field crops grown in the United States are harvested with machines called combines. : (A) Of nearly (B) Nearly (C) That nearly (D) Nearly ofExercise: Choose the best answer. 1. Dynamite is ordinarily detonated __ called a blasting cap. (A) a device is used (B) that a device (C) with a device (D) the use of a device 2._____ seed of a flowering plant is covered by a dense protective coat. (A) On each (B) Each (C) Each of (D) That each 3.___ 1900 there were some 300 bicycle factories in the United States, and they produced over a million bicycles. (A) In (B) Because in (C) It was in (D) That in 4. A thick layer of fat called blubber keeps whales warm even ____ coldest water. (A) although the (B) in the (C) the (D) of the 5.____ the United States, the general movement of air masses is from west to east. (A) Across (B) To cross (C) They cross (D) It's across 6. The bark of a tree thickens __ (A) with age (B) it gets older (C) as older (D) by age 7. A substance that is harmless to a person who has no allergies can cause mild to serious reactions ina person ___ allergies. (A) has (B) which having (C) can have (D) with 658. In 1886 a number of national unions formed the American Federation of Labor 3 (A) Samuel Gompers was its leader vO t (B) under the leadership of Samuel Gompers (C) which, under Samuel Gompers' leadership (D) Samuel Gompers led it 9. Harmonicas, autoharps, and kazoos __ folk instruments. (A) are examples (B) for example (C) are examples of (D) as examples of 10.____ charming shops and restaurants, Old Town is the most picturesque section of Albuquerque. (A) With its (B) Its (C) Because its (D) For its 11. __, such as banking and travel, in which computers are not a convenience but a necessity. (A) Where some industries (B) In some industries (C) Some industries (D) There are some industries 12. One of the oldest large suspension bridges still__ today is the George Washington Bridge between New york City and Fort Lee, New Jersey. (A) uses (B) is used (C) the use of (D) in use 66PRACTICE TEST Directions: The following sentences are incomplete. Beneath each of these sentences, there are four words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence. 1, __, an organism must be able to adapt to changing factors in its environment. (A) If survival (B) For surviving (C) To survive (D) It survives 2. The art of landscape architecture is __- that of architecture itself. (A) almost as old as (B) as almost old (C) almost as old than (D) old as almost 3. The Mummers’ Parade has ___ every year on New Year's Day since 1901. (A) holding > (B) been holding (C) held (D) been held 4. Rarely___ more than fifty miles from the coast. (A) redwood trees grow (B) redwood trees do grow (C) grow redwood trees (D) do redwood trees grow 5. Microorganisms live in extreme conditions of heat and cold where __ other organisms can survive. (A) not (B) never (C) no (D) none 6. The higher one rises in the atmosphere, __ the temperature generally becomes. (A) colder than (B) the colder (C) the colder as (D) is colder 7. Medical researchers are constantly looking for ways to control and cure diseases. (A) prevention (B) preventing (C) prevent (D) to prevent 678. Nerve cells, or neurons, __in the human body. (A) the most complex cells are (B) are the most complex cells (C) most complex the cells are (D) most are the complex cells 9. Released in 1915,__ (A) D. W Griffith made an epic film about the Civil War, Birth of a Nation (B) the Civil War was the subject of D. W Griffith's epic film, Birth of a Nation (C) D. W Griffith's epic film Birth of a Nation was about the Civil War (D) the subject of D. W Griffith's epic film Birth of a Nation was the Civil War 10.___ on barren slopes can help prevent erosion. (A) Planting trees (C) In order to plant trees (8) For trees to be planted (D) Trees are planted 11. Vermont is the only state in New England ____an Atlantic coastline. (A) without (B) not with (C) which not having (D) doesn't have 12. In 1867, Hiram R. Revels ____ the first black to be elected to the US Senate. (A) becoming (B) became (C) to have become (D) has become 13. Jupiter's moons can be easily seen through ___ binoculars or a small telescope . (A) either (B) if (C) whether (D) or 14. The Colorado beetle is a beautiful insect, ___ it causes a great deal of damage to food crops. (A) but (B) what (C) or (D) that 45. Judge Francis Hopkins is probably best known as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but he also excelled as a poet, __, and an orator. (A) as a musician (B) by playing music (C)a musician (0) he played music 46. Itis said he was aman, ___ to have the vision of an eagle and courage of a lion. (A) who appeared (B) he appeared (C) that appears (D) and appears 6817. Before Johnson & Smith reached great heights in the business world, __ encountered many great difficulties in promoting their theories and methods. A. they B. who C. which D. and 18. After the discovery of the abandoned getaway vehicle, the nearby Riverside forest region. A. that the bank robber is B. the bank robber who C. the bank robber is D. the bank robber who is believed to be hiding in 19. A gifted scientist, Newton ___ some of the most fundamental laws in the history of science, A. keeps discovering B. who discovered C. the discoverer of D. discovered 20. George Washington once said that ___ have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder. A. few men B. the few men C. few are the men D. the men are few 21. ____ getting the highest result in the class, John still had problems with the teacher. (A) Despite of (B) In spite of (C) Even though (D) Nonetheless 22. ___airis composed of about 78 percent nitrogen and only about 21 percent oxygen, is a little known fact on the streets. A. How that B. That C. When D. However 23. ___ he was seen to be an aggressive politician, he was a quiet and loving family man at home. A. Although B. Despite C. In spite of D. Nevertheless 6924.___ the variable drops by a unit of 1, the rank drops by X amount. A. Why : B. Whenever C. How D. What 25. This method is widely used __ algorithm is not only effective but also very simple. A. because its B. because C. itis because D. because of its 26. This new service will be available to all users __ up for paid membership. A. that signed B. that signed it C. which signed D. sign 27. That's a story of hardship ___ our own situation into perspective. A. puts. B. it puts C. that it puts D. that puts 28. John Smith, __ of economic crimes, tax evasion and fraud, is being accused of attempted murder now: : A. of that he was accused B. that was accused C. whom he was accused D. who was accused 29. The process uses an innovative digital technology __. the products with as many colors as the image contains. (A) imprints (B) that imprints it (C) that imprints (D) that it imprints 30. The police were-greatly outnumbered by.rioters, ___ran into the hundreds. A. whose figures B. those figures C. that its figures D. its figures that 7031. ___. explores the nature of guilt and responsibility and builds to a remarkable conclusion. A. The written beautifully novel B. The beautifully written novel C. The novel beautifully written D. The written novel beautifully 32. Over time the young students will perfect the art of piano playing. After all, such __ needs delicate handling. A. a tuned instrument finely B. an instrument tuned finely C. a finely instrument tuned D. a finely tuned instrument 33. Honore de Balzac said "The errors of ____., from their faith in the good, or their confidence in the true". A. women spring, almost always B. almost always, women spring C. almost women, always spring D. almost spring, always women 34. In that particular department of the company, production __.. day and night. (A) going often keeps (B) keeps often going (C) keeps going often (D) often keeps going 35. The tenants were asked to throw all recyclable trash into__. A. the green big plastic bag B. the big plastic green bag C. the big green plastic bag D. the green plastic big bag 36. The causes of gamma-ray bursts throughout the universe, and how the gamma rays are actually produced, _ until recently remained a mystery. A. have B. have been C. has been D. has 37. That the legal drinking age __ lowered is a hot topic for debate in many states. A. should have B. which should C. should be D. should 7138. Discovery of these ancient anthropic markings __. our understanding of how these early humans interacted with their environment. A. has broadened B. have broadened C. broaden D. will have broadened 39. The rivalry between the two communities stems from ancient times and openly ___ to this day. A. persist B. which persist C. persists D. which persists 40. Despite the'simplicity of their construction, the ancient systems __ exhibit very complicated behavior. A. find to B. found to C. are found to D. were found to 41. In general, _____ have a professional obligation to protect confidential sources of information. A. which journalists B. journalists C. journalists, they D. journalists that 42. ____ of Elvis Presley is banned in seven different countries across the world. A. The music Is B. That the music C. The music which D. The music 43. For___ you who don't know, “Rainbow” was a credible children's TV show from the 70's and 80's. A. those of B. those in C. these of D. these in 44. As was the case throughout the United States, __ was subject to higher gas prices during the winter of 2002-2003. A. for New York C. New York which B. for New York as well D. New York 7245.____ in history caused as much Shock and grief worldwide as the 2004 tsunami disaster in Asia. A. None natural disaster B. That natural disaster C. No natural disaster D. The natural disaster 46. Surprisingly cost was regarded __-_ important factor in choosing a new cell phone by the three teenagers. Aas the least B of the least Cin the least D to the least 47. Maine's coastline is a major attraction and a vista of sandy beaches contrasted __ rockbound shoreline. A to the rugged B by the rugged C on the rugged D at the rugged 48. John knows that he had better__ his algebra skills before the mid-term exam. A. brush up on B. brush on up C. brushing up on D. brushing on up 49. The pressure____ was intense after his team lost five basketball games in a row. A. under the coach B. over the coach C. of the coach D..on the coach 50. In _._, the team has begun to show some form again and has won some big games. (A) few weeks (B) few past weeks (C) the past few weeks (D) a few weeks since 73