English Skills with Readings 7th Edition by John Langan

Exercise 62

This test will help you measure your improvement in important sentence skills. Certain parts of the following word groups are underlined. Write X in the answer space if you think a mistake appears at the underlined part. Write C in the answer space if you think the underlined part is correct.
The headings ("Fragments," "Run-Ons," and so on) will give you clues to the mistakes to look for.
Fragments
__________ 1. After a careless driver hit my motorcycle, I decided to buy a car. At least I would have more protection against other careless drivers.
__________ 2. I was never a good student in high school. Because I spent all my time socializing with my group of friends. Good grades were not something that my group really valued.
__________ 3. The young couple in the supermarket were not a pleasant sight. Arguing with each other. People pretended not to notice them.
__________ 4. Using a magnifying glass, the little girls burned holes in the dry leaf. They then set some tissue paper on fire.
__________ 5. My brother and I seldom have fights about what to watch on television. Except with baseball games. I get bored watching baseball.
__________ 6. My roommate and I ate, talked, danced, and sang at a party the other night. Also, we played cards until 3 A.M. As a result, we both slept until noon the next day.
Run-Ons
__________ 7. She decided to quit her high-pressure job, she didn't want to develop heart trouble.
__________ 8. His car's wheels were not balanced properly, for the car began to shake when he drove over forty miles an hour.
__________ 9. I got through the interview without breaking out in a sweat, I also managed to keep my voice under control.
__________ 10. The craze for convenience in our country has gone too far. There are drive-in banks, restaurants, and even churches.
__________ 11. My most valued possession is my stoneware cooker, I can make entire meals in it at a low cost.
__________ 12. The shopping carts outside the supermarket seemed welded together, Rita could not separate one from another.
Standard English Verbs
__________ 13. I am going to borrow my father's car if he agree.
__________ 14. For recreation he sets up hundreds of dominoes, and then he knocks them over.
__________ 15. He stopped taking a nap after lunch because he then had trouble sleeping at night.
__________ 16. There was no bread for sandwiches, so he decided to drive to the store.
Irregular Verbs
__________ 17. I learned that Dennis had began to see someone else while he was still going out with me.
__________ 18. That woman has never ran for political office before.
__________ 19. I knowed the answer to the question, but I was too nervous to think of it when the instructor called on me.
__________ 20. They had ate the gallon of natural vanilla ice cream in just one night.
Subject-Verb Agreement
__________ 21. Her watchband have to be fixed.
__________ 22. There is two minutes left in the football game.
__________ 23. He believes films that feature violence is a disgrace to our society.
__________ 24. The plastic slipcovers that she bought have begun to crack.
Consistent Verb Tense
__________ 25. Myra wanted to watch the late movie, but she was so tired she falls asleep before it started.
__________ 26. When the mailman arrived, I hoped the latest issue of People magazine would be in his bag.
__________ 27. Juan ran down the hall without looking and trips over the toy truck lying on the floor.
__________ 28. Debbie enjoys riding her bike in the newly built park, which features a special path for bikers and runners.
Pronoun Agreement, Reference, and Point of View
__________ 29. At the Saturday afternoon movie we went to, children were making so much noise that you could not relax.
__________ 30. We did not return to the amusement park, for we had to pay too much for the rides and meals.
__________ 31. Drivers should check the oil level in their cars every three months.
__________ 32. At the hospital, I saw mothers with tears in their eyes wandering down the hall, hoping that her child's operation was a success.
__________ 33. Sharon's mother was overjoyed when Sharon became pregnant.
__________ 34. You must observe all the rules of the game, even if you do not always agree with it.
Pronoun Types
__________ 35. Nancy and her often go to dance clubs.
__________ 36. No one in the class is better at computer programming than he.
Adjectives and Adverbs
__________ 37. The little girl spoke so quiet I could hardly hear her.
__________ 38. Lola looks more better than Gina in a leather coat.
Misplaced Modifi ers
__________ 39. I saw sharks scuba-diving.
__________ 40. With a mile-wide grin , Betty turned in her winning raffle ticket.
__________ 41. I bought a beautiful shirt in a local store with long sleeves and French cuffs.
__________ 42. I first spotted the turtle playing tag on the back lawn.
Dangling Modifiers
__________ 43. When seven years old , Jeff's father taught him to play ball.
__________ 44. Running across the field , I caught the baseball.
__________ 45. Turning on the ignition , the car backfired.
__________ 46. Looking at my watch , a taxi nearly ran me over.
Faulty Parallelism
__________ 47. Much of my boyhood was devoted to getting into rock fights, crossing railway trestles, and the hunt for rats in drainage tunnels.
__________ 48. I put my books in a locker, changed into my gym clothes, and hurried to the yoga class.
__________ 49. Ruth begins every day with warm-up exercises, a half-hour run, and taking a hot shower.
__________ 50. In the evening I plan to write a paper, to watch a movie , and to read two chapters in my biology text.
Capital Letters
__________ 51. When the can of drano didn't unclog the sink, Hal called a plumber.
__________ 52. I asked Cindy, "what time will you be leaving "
__________ 53. I have to get an allergy shot once a Week.
__________ 54. Mother ordered a raincoat from the catalog on Monday , and it arrived four days later.
Apostrophe
__________ 55. I asked the clerk if the store had Stevie Wonders latest CD.
__________ 56. He's failing the course because he doesn't have any confidence in his ability to do the work.
__________ 57. Clyde was incensed at the dentist who charged him ninety dollars to fix his son's tooth.
__________ 58. I cant believe that she's not coming to the party.
Quotation Marks
__________ 59. "Don't forget to water the grass, my sister said.
__________ 60. Martha said to Fred at bedtime, "Why is it that men's pajamas always have such baggy bottoms " "You look like a circus clown in that flannel outfit."
__________ 61. The red sign on the door read, "Warning -open only in case of an emergency."
__________ 62. "I can't stand that commercial," said Sue. "Do you mind if I turn off the television "
Comma
__________ 63. Hard-luck Sam needs a loan, a good-paying job, and someone to show an interest in him.
__________ 64. Even though I was tired I agreed to go shopping with my parents.
__________ 65. Power, not love or money, is what most politicians want.
__________ 66. The heel on one of Lola's shoes came off, so she spent the day walking barefoot.
__________ 67. "Thank goodness I'm almost done" I said aloud with every stroke of the broom.
__________ 68. I hated to ask Anita who is a very stingy person to lend me the money.
Commonly Confused Words
__________ 69. To succeed in the job, you must learn how to control your temper.
__________ 70. Fortunately, I was not driving very fast when my car lost it's brakes.
__________ 71. Put your packages on the table over their.
__________ 72. There are too many steps in the math formula for me to understand it.
__________ 73. The counseling center can advise you on how to prepare for an interview.
__________ 74. Who's Honda Civic is that in front of the house
Effective Word Use
__________ 75. The teacher called to discuss Ron's social maladjustment difficulties.
__________ 76. I thought the course would be a piece of cake , but a ten-page paper was required.
__________ 77. When my last class ended, I felt as free as a bird.
__________ 78. Spike gave away his television owing to the fact that it distracted him from studying.