Deck 2: Hiset: Editing and Improving Sentences and Passages

Question 1

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
Once it became clear that the hedge fund had been involved in some dirty deals, the SEC sent an auditor to pour over the company's books.

A)Change pour to pore.
B)Change auditor to adjudicator.
C)Capitalize hedge fund.
D)Change the comma to a semicolon.

Answer 1

Change pour to pore.

Question 2

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)At first the constant teasing
B)only mildly aggravated me,
C)but after a few months
D)it became truly irritating.

Answer 2

only mildly aggravated me,

Question 3

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Susan's primary criteria
B)for choosing a new car
C)is low gas mileage;
D)she isn't interested in aesthetics.

Answer 3

Susan's primary criteria

Question 4

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
He felt badly about canceling the appointment at the last minute, but there was no chance he would make it on time.

A)Change badly to bad.
B)Remove but.
C)Change canceling to cancelling.
D)Change at to in.

Question 5

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)For all intensive purposes,
B)there is no difference between
C)using cake mix and
D)baking a cake from scratch.

Question 6

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Many Southerners, especially Georgians,
B)still have mixed feelings about
C)General Sherman's March to the Sea,
D)which ravished Atlanta and other cities.

Question 7

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)The human resources department
B)disperses each of our salaries
C)on the first and third
D)Friday of each month.

Question 8

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Many people thought
B)of the priest as kind and generous,
C)and a few people thought
D)of him as discrete.

Question 9

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
Even though he couldn't afford to buy it, Chris convinced the dealer to let him test drive a brand new Cadillac.

A)Lowercase Cadillac.
B)Change test drive to test-drive.
C)Change the comma to a semicolon.
D)Move the beginning clause to the end.

Question 10

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Gabriel went to the public library,
B)and checked out The Stranger after
C)being enthralled by an excerpt
D)in his AP English class.

Question 11

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Although they were not severe,
B)his acute lung problems
C)proved to be a source of annoyance
D)throughout his life.

Question 12

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)During the jury selection process
B)lawyers for each side are allowed
C)to strike jurors who they suspect
D)will not be uninterested observers.

Question 13

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
After the closed-door meeting had ended, a few off-hand remarks inferred that I would be passed over for a promotion.

A)Remove the hyphen from closed-door.
B)Remove the word over.
C)Change inferred to implied.
D)Change the comma to a semicolon.

Question 14

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)John was certain that
B)"The Godfather" was the greatest film
C)of all time and made all of his
D)friends watch the same.

Question 15

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)"Were you able to illicit
B)the response that you wanted
C)by asking that inane question?"
D)Stephan asked him.

Question 16

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)To avoid plagiarism charges,
B)it is important to site any
C)references that you consulted
D)while writing your thesis.

Question 17

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)I'm traveling to London
B)by means of an airplane
C)because it is both faster and
D)cheaper than driving.

Question 18

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
Only a few areas of the country continue to operate without daylight savings time.

A)Hyphenate daylight savings.
B)Change savings to saving.
C)Capitalize daylight savings.
D)change to operate to operates.

Question 19

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)In the US Senate, a simple majority
B)of senators are able to pass a bill,
C)but a supermajority is necessary
D)to end a filibuster.

Question 20

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
After a difficult season, the women's soccer team won their first victory last night.

A)Use a semicolon in place of the comma.
B)Change their to its.
C)Change difficult to hard.
D)Fix the misplaced modifier.

Question 21

Which course of action most improves the following sentence?
Tom Brady is one of the NFL quarterbacks who has won more than one Super Bowl.

A)Insert a comma after quarterbacks.
B)Lowercase Super Bowl.
C)Change has to have.
D)Fix the parallel structure.

Question 22

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)The interview was stressful; but
B)John kept his cool throughout
C)and felt good about his chances of
D)landing a new job.

Question 23

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)Stewart was worried that him
B)getting suspended would
C)permanently mar his record
D)and keep him out of Yale.

Question 24

Which section of the following passage needs to be edited for incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, inappropriate word choice or wordiness?

A)She kept the exact recipe for
B)her award-winning chili a secret:
C)no one would believe that she
D)intentionally burned the meat.

Question 25

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-It was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston.

A)It was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston.
B)It was discovered, in 1803, by William Hyde Wollaston.
C)William Hyde Wollaston discovered in 1803 it.
D)William Hyde Wollaston discovered it in 1803.

Question 26

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Japan control the disputed East China Sea islands until World War II.

A)control
B)controls
C)controlling
D)controlled

Question 27

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-China and Japan have been locked in a territorial dispute since the 1970s.

A)have been locked
B)are locked
C)will be locked
D)had been locked

Question 28

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Its conflict has escalated in recent times, with citizens from both nations protesting and raising flags on different islands.

A)Its
B)It's
C)There
D)Their

Question 29

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-President Truman assisted France by providing military equipment to help reestablish their presence and power in Vietnam.

A)their
B)there
C)itts
D)it's

Question 30

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-They believe labeling will drive food costs and will confuse consumers.

A)drive
B)hamper
C)increase
D)enforce

Question 31

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-There are a group of islands located in the East China Sea that are the subject of a dispute between two nations.

A)There are a group of islands located in the East China Sea that are the subject of a dispute between two nations.
B)There are a group of islands, located in the East China Sea, that are the subject of a dispute between two nations.
C)A group of islands located in the East China Sea that is the subject of a dispute.
D)A group of islands located in the East China Sea is the subject of a dispute between two nations.

Question 32

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-As water resources dwindle, competition for available sources rose.

A)rose
B)rises
C)risen
D)raised

Question 33

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Her bid was very unsuccessful.

A)Her bid was very unsuccessful.
B)Her bid was mostly unsuccessful.
C)Her bid was unsuccessful.
D)Her bid was unsuccessfully.

Question 34

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-After the division of Vietnam, the United States supports South Vietnam.

A)supports
B)supported
C)support
D)will support

Question 35

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Palladium mining is an intricate process because it is spread out under the earth's surface.

A)earth's
B)earths'
C)Earth's
D)Earths'

Question 36

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-[1] At the center of the controversy is Jammu and Kashmir (a territory both nations claim). [2] When the British government controlled the region, it appointed a Hindu leader - called the Maharaja - to rule over the Jammu and Kashmir territory. [3] Jammu is predominately Hindu while the majority of Kashmir residents are Muslim.

A)1, 2, 3
B)1, 3, 2
C)2, 3, 1
D)3, 1, 2

Question 37

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-France colonized the country Vietnam in the mid-19th century.

A)the country Vietnam
B)Vietnam
C)the country, Vietnam
D)Vietnam,

Question 38

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.

A)Rankins involvement helped
B)Rankins' involvement helped
C)Rankins's involvement helped
D)Rankin's involvement helped

Question 39

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The North Vietnamese and supportive rebel communists in South Vietnam, called the Viet Cong, started fighting.

A)Vietnam, called the Viet Cong, started
B)Vietnam; called the Viet Congstarted
C)Vietnam: called the Viet Cong, started
D)Vietnam called the Viet Cong - started

Question 40

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

A)She attended public schools in Montana, and
B)She attended public schools in Montana; and
C)She attended public schools in Montana and
D)She attended public schools in Montana. And

Question 41

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Although extreme drought conditions have dried up nectar plants monarch butterflies rely on for food.

A)Although extreme drought conditions have
B)Although extreme drought conditions has
C)Extreme drought conditions have
D)Extreme drought conditions has

Question 42

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-In the past, residents used the wood for cooking and heating, but recently, they have began to sell it in order to support their livelihoods.

A)heating, but recently, they have began to sell it
B)heating. But they had recently began to sell it
C)heating. Recently, they have begun selling it
D)and they were selling it

Question 43

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The population grow each year at a rate of about 2.05 percent.

A)The population grow
B)The population grew
C)The population grows
D)The population has grown

Question 44

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Main cash crop for Belize was sugar, but in recent years, citrus fruits have become the leading source of crop income.

A)Main cash crop
B)A main cash crop
C)The main cash crop
D)An main cash crop

Question 45

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-People should only eat with their right hands, especially if they are eating with their fingers.

A)their
B)they're
C)there
D)theyre

Question 46

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-In Belize tourism has become one of the fastest growing sources of employment and income.

A)In Belize tourism has become
B)In Belize, tourism has become
C)In Belize tourism, has become
D)In Belize tourism has become,

Question 47

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people of the Congo have a wide variety of customs, traditions, and values.

A)With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people
B)With over 200 ethnic groups represented, the people
C)With over 200 ethnic groups represented. The people
D)With over 200 ethnic groups represented; the people

Question 48

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The economy in Egypt has suffered due to the fact that there was a political upheaval caused by the revolution and the removal of President Mubarak.

A)due to the fact that
B)due to
C)because
D)through

Question 49

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The country of Belize's economy is fueled greatly by foreign aid because it is based on an agrarian economy.

A)The country of Belize's
B)Belize's country
C)Belize's the
D)Belize's

Question 50

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests.

A)In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
B)Scientists use satellite imagery to illustrate in 2008 the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
C)In 2008, scientists had satellite imagery illustrating the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
D)Scientists uses satellite imagery illustrating the degradation of oyamel fir forests from 2008.

Question 51

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The government has requested loans to help their banks, but the government has not been able to repay the money.

A)the government
B)they
C)it
D)its

Question 52

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-In total there have been four wars between the two countries.

A)In total there have been four wars between the two countries.
B)In total, there have been four wars, between the two countries.
C)In total, there have been four wars between the two countries.
D)In total; there have been four wars between the two countries.

Question 53

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged.

A)was
B)were
C)where
D)we're

Question 54

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Many tourists fear terrorism and of being targeted by religious political parties.

A)of being targeted
B)of targets
C)agendas
D)attacks

Question 55

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii.

A)On the day of the attack three cruisers
B)On the day, of the attack three cruisers
C)On the day of the attack, three cruisers
D)On the day of the attack; three cruisers

Question 56

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses.

A)Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed
B)Japan's fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed
C)Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, believed
D)Japan's fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, believed

Question 57

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-Recently, the new government ordered banks to set aside money for troubled, property, development loans because of the mortgage crisis and recession.

A)troubled, property, development loans
B)troubled property, development loans
C)troubled property development loans
D)troubled property development, loans

Question 58

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-If further efforts are not made, some scientist predict the total collapse of the ecosystem that supports monarch butterflies in Mexico.

A)some scientist predict
B)scientist predicts
C)scientists predict
D)some scientists predict

Question 59

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-When dining in the Congo hands should be washed before and after eating.

A)When dining in the Congo hands should be
B)When dining in the Congo hand should be
C)When dining in the Congo, hands should be
D)When dining in the Congo; hands should be

Question 60

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.

-The first war between India and Pakistan began in 1947 and continued until 1949, when the United Nations stepped in and broker a ceasefire.

A)broker
B)brokers
C)brokering
D)brokered