Sentence Correction(句子改错) Each of the sentence correction questions presents a sentence, part or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. Follow the requirements of standard written English to choose your answer, paying attention to grammar, word choice, and sentence construction. Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence; your answer should make the sentence clear, exact, and free of grammatical error. It should also minimize awkwardness, ambiguity, and redundancy.
1. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had long been expected to announce a reduction in output to bolster sagging oil prices, but officials of the organization just recently announced that the group will pare daily production by 1.5 million barrels by the beginning of next year, but only if non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, were to trim output by a total of 500,000 barrels a day.
A.year, but only if non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, were to trim output
B.year, but only if the output of non-OPEC nations, which includes Norway, Mexico, and Russia, is trimmed
C.year only if the output of non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, would be trimmed
D.year only if non-OPEC nations, which includes Norway, Mexico, and Russia, were trimming output
E.year only if non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, trim output
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Logical Predication The underlined part of this sentence deals with the conditions under which OPEC members will lower their own oil production by 1.5 million barrels by the beginning of next year. The important thing to notice here is the following logical relation: X will do something only if Y does something else. A This version has redundant words, were to in front of trim, that do not add anything more in meaning. Furthermore, were to trim is not the proper verb form to accompany will pare. The addition of but before only is also redundant. B This version uses the passive construction in the conditional clause only if the output... is trimmed. This use of the passive voice makes this sentence vague; it is now unclear who needs to trim the output of non-OPEC nations. Finally, the addition of but before only is redundant. C As in (B), this version also introduces vagueness by using the passive construction. In addition, would in front of the passive verb be trimmed is redundant. D This version uses an active verb, but in the past progressive form, were trimming. The progressive tense denotes actions in progress, so its use is not normally warranted in conditional sentences such as this one. E Correct. This version uses the correct and most concise conditional structure, without redundancies. The correct answer is E.
2. Over the past ten years cultivated sunflowers have become a major commercial crop, second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil.
A.second only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil
B.second in importance to soybeans only as a source of vegetable oil
C.being second in importance only to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil
D.which, as a source of vegetable oil, is only second to soybeans
E.as a source of vegetable oil only second to soybeans
A B C D E
A
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Idiom The sentence makes the point-that cultivated sunflowers are the second largest source of vegetable oil, soybeans alone being larger. Where only is placed in the sentence greatly affects the sense. A Correct. The placement of only allows the sentence to correctly express the thought that cultivated sunflowers rank second as a source of vegetable oil, with soybeans alone ranking first. B The placement of only creates an ambiguity: does it modify soybeans or the phrase as a source of vegetable oil? In the latter case, the sense would be that being a source of vegetable oil is the only respect in which soybeans are more important than sunflower seeds. However, this does not seem to be the intended sense of the given sentence. The phrase in importance is unnecessary and would make the sentence wordy. C The word being and the phrase in importance are unnecessary and make the sentence wordy. D The phrase only second to soybeans appears to minimize the importance, initially suggested, of sunflowers' being second to soybeans as a source of vegetable oil. E The word only is misplaced, given the intended sense, and it is unclear whether it modifies the phrase as a source of vegetable oil, or the phrase second to soybeans. In either case it fails to capture the sense of the given sentence. The correct answer is A.
3. Not trusting themselves to choose wisely among the wide array of investment opportunities on the market, stockbrokers are helping many people who turn to them to buy stocks that could be easily bought directly.
A.stockbrokers are helping many people who turn to them to buy stocks that could be easily
B.stockbrokers are helping many people who are turning to them for help in buying stocks that they could easily have
C.many people are turning to stockbrokers for help from them to buy stocks that could be easily
D.many people are turning to stockbrokers for help to buy stocks that easily could have been
E.many people are turning to stockbrokers for help in buying stocks that could easily be
A B C D E
E
[解析] Logical Predication; Grammatical Construction; Verb Form This sentence is intended to be about people who, because they do not trust themselves to make wise investment decisions, turn to stockbrokers for advice. As the sentence is worded, however, it is stockbrokers who do not trust themselves to choose wisely. The sentence is made even more incomprehensible by the peculiar placement of the adverbs in the phrase, could be easily bought directly. A This version of the sentence incorrectly identifies the subject described by the opening modifier as stockbrokers; the adverb easily is misplaced in the phrase could be easily bought. B As in (A), the opening clause illogically modifies stockbrokers rather than many people. The tense of the verb phrase could easily have bought does not match the tense of are helping earlier in the main clause. C Although the opening modifier is correctly attached to people rather than stockbrokers, the sentence is unnecessarily wordy (for help from them). D To buy is not idiomatic in this context—in buying would be correct—and the tense of the verb could have been does not match the tense of the verb earlier in the clause; the point is not that people are turning to stockbrokers for help in buying stocks that at some earlier time could have been bought directly, but rather that the stocks could be bought by the people directly at the very time they are seeking help from the stockbrokers. E Correct. The opening clause correctly modifies many people, and the adverb is correctly placed. The correct answer is E.
4. In the 1940s popular magazines in the United States began to report on the private lives of persons from the entertainment industry, in despite of the fact that they previously had featured individuals in business and politics.
A.in despite of the fact that they previously had featured individuals
B.in spite of the fact previously that these publications featured articles on those
C.whereas previously there were those individuals featured in articles
D.whereas previously those individuals they featured were
E.whereas previously these publications had featured articles on individuals
A B C D E
E
[解析] Idiom; Parallelism; Logical Predication The sentence compares the reporting by popular magazines in the 1940s to the reporting by these magazines before the 1940s. Whereas previously the publications featured articles on people in business and politics, in the 1940s the magazines began to report on the private lives of persons in the entertainment industry. The two elements being compared should be described clearly and in a parallel fashion. A This sentence appears to misuse the in spite of idiom by using despite instead of spite. The use of despite is incorrect. Furthermore, although we can discern what the pronoun they is meant to refer to, the sentence would be easier to read if these publications were used in place of they. B The word previously, which is misplaced in this sentence, should be between publications and featured, and perhaps preceded with had. The wording of the relevant portion of the sentence would thus be fact that these publications had previously featured. Furthermore, although we can discern what (or who) those in business and politics is meant to refer to, more specific wording would have made this phrase in the sentence easier to read. For example, we could substitute individuals for those. C In this sentence, the phrase, there were those individuals featured in articles in business and politics is an assertion that individuals thus featured existed. Although we can guess that the writer would have meant to indicate that it was the magazines that were doing the featuring, the sentence fails to make this point clear. The sentence thus lacks clarity. D This sentence may present an improvement over sentences A, B, and C. However, the sentence would be more readable if the phrase those individuals they featured was made parallel with the corresponding portion of the other element of the comparison. For example, they featured those individuals would be parallel with popular magazines... began to report on the private lives of persons... It would also help if they were replaced with a more specific term such as the magazines. E Correct. This sentence is clear and relatively easy to read. The correct answer is E.
5. In the early part of the twentieth century, many vacationers found that driving automobiles and sleeping in tents allowed them to enjoy nature close at hand and tour at their own pace, with none of the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or with the formalities, expenses, and impersonality of hotels.
A.with none of the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or with the
B.with none of the restrictions of passenger trains, railroad timetables, nor
C.without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables nor
D.without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or with the
E.without the restrictions of passenger trains and railroad timetables or the
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Diction The sentence lays out some advantages that car travel and tent camping were perceived to offer over rail travel. The sentence attempts to describe these advantages in terms of the absence of any of a series of annoyances accompanying rail travel. But the sentence fails because of the mismatch between with none of... and or with...One way to successfully convey the intended meaning is to use the preposition without governing all the items in the series, expressed as nouns or noun phrases. A By using none of... to introduce the first drawback of rail travel, and or to introduce the rest of them, this sentence suggests that the presence of drawbacks on the final list is an alternative to the absence of restrictions. B With none... nor... is nonidiomatic (as opposed to neither... nor...). C The structure without... nor... in the way used here is nonidiomatic. The negative without governs the whole list of drawbacks at the end of the sentence. D The coupling of without and or with is confusing, suggesting, as in (A), that the drawbacks on the final list are an alternative to the absence of restrictions. E Correct. The sentence is unambiguous and constructed in a way that without clearly distributes over all the items in the series. The correct answer is E.
6. Over the next few years, increasing demands on the Chattahoochee River, which flows into the Apalachicola River, could alter the saline content of Apalachicola Bay, which would rob the oysters there of their flavor, and to make them decrease in size, less distinctive, and less in demand.
A.which would rob the oysters there of their flavor, and to make them decrease in size,
B.and it would rob the oysters there of their flavor, make them smaller,
C.and rob the oysters there of their flavor, making them decrease in size,
D.robbing the oysters there of their flavor and making them smaller,
E.robbing the oysters there of their flavor, and making them decrease in size,
A B C D E
D
[解析] Category The sentence claims that demands for river water may change the saline content of the bay, possibly altering the flavor and size of oysters there and diminishing the oysters' marketability. The sentence is not parallel. It should read which would rob the oysters... and make them decrease to be parallel and grammatical. The series of three phrases after make them that describes what will happen to the oysters also needs to be parallel. A The referent of the relative pronoun, which, is ambiguous; the two effects of altered saline content are not expressed in parallel form, with a relative clause expressing the first effect, and an infinitive phrase expressing the second. B The referent of the pronoun it is ambiguous. Also, the effects of the bay's altered saline content are not expressed in parallel form—the first being an independent clause and the second a verb phrase. C The comma before the conjunction and signals that an independent clause will follow and, but a verb phrase follows instead. The series of phrases following making them lacks appropriate parallelism. D Correct. The potential effects on the oysters are expressed by two parallel participial phrases, the second of which lists three adjectives correctly in a series. E The series of phrases following making them lacks appropriate parallelism. The correct answer is D.
7. Elizabeth Barber, the author of both Prehistoric Textiles, a comprehensive work on cloth in the early cultures of the Mediterranean, and also of Women's Work, a more general account of early cloth manufacture, is an expert authority on textiles in ancient societies.
A.also of Women's Work, a more general account of early cloth manufacture, is an expert authority on
B.also Women's Work, a more general account of cloth manufacture, is an expert authority about
C.of Women's Work, a more general account about early cloth manufacture, is an authority on
D.of Women's Work, a more general account about early cloth manufacture, is an expert authority about
E.Women's Work, a more general account of early cloth manufacture, is an authority on
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Idiom; Parallelism Using a lot of parenthetical elements, this sentence communicates the main idea that Elizabeth Barber is an authority on textiles in ancient societies. It is the main rhetorical goal of the sentence to position the parenthetical elements so that they do not obscure the main idea. The parenthetical descriptions need to be streamlined enough to be informative, but not too long. In addition, several versions repeat of before the title Women's Work and doing so makes the sentence unparallel; the first of comes before both and so should distribute over both clauses. A The use of also of before Women's Work is redundant and unparallel. It is sufficient to connect the two book titles like this: both X and Y. The meanings of the two nouns expert and authority largely overlap, so there is no need to modify one with the other. B The use of also before Women's Work is redundant. It is sufficient to connect the two book rifles like this: both X and Y. The meanings of the two nouns expert and authority largely overlap, so there is no need to modify one with the other. Finally, the noun authority takes the preposition on, not about. C As in (A), repeating the preposition of before Women's Work makes the sentence unparallel. The noun account takes the preposition of, not about. D As in (A) and (C), repeating the preposition of before Women's Work makes the sentence unparallel. The noun account takes the preposition of, not about. It is redundant to modify authority with expert because they express the same idea. Finally, the noun authority takes the preposition on, not about. E Correct. This version is parallel, uses the most concise structure of the parenthetical descriptions, eschews the redundant modification of authority, and employs the correct prepositions. The correct answer is E.
8. Digging in sediments in northern China, evidence has been gathered by scientists suggesting that complex life-forms emerged much earlier than they had previously thought.
A.evidence has been gathered by scientists suggesting that complex life-forms emerged much earlier than they had
B.evidence gathered by scientists suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms than had been
C.scientists have gathered evidence suggesting that complex life-forms emerged much earlier than
D.scientists have gathered evidence that suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms than that which was
E.scientists have gathered evidence which suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms than that
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical Predication; Modification In principle, the relationship described in the first part of the underlined portion could be expressed with scientists as the subject (scientists gathered evidence) or with evidence as the subject (evidence was gathered by scientists). The latter construction could be effective in some contexts, but here its relationship to the rest of the sentence appears to commit the writer to the claim that the evidence was digging in China. A This version has a dangling participle, digging.... Digging in sediments in northern China must modify scientists, not evidence. The passive structure of the main clause also creates an inadvisable distance between the words evidence and suggesting. Furthermore, the dependent clause starting with suggesting may be construed with either the evidence or the scientists, which makes this version unnecessarily ambiguous. B This version has a dangling participle, digging.... Digging in sediments in northern China must modify scientists, not evidence. C Correct. Choosing scientists as the subject of gathered, this version corrects the dangling participle. It also uses a parallel active form of the verb emerge, and does not use redundant material. D In this context it would be preferable to use a verb (emerged). The phrasing used here (suggests a much earlier emergence of) sounds more stilted and is less clear and direct. In addition, inserting that which before previously thought is not only redundant but incorrect English. E The problems described in (D) above are also in evidence here. The correct answer is C.
9. Employing many different techniques throughout his career, Michelangelo produced a great variety of art works, including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, for example, the statue of David.
A.including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, for example,
B.including paintings, for example, in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, like
C.including paintings, such as those in the Sistine Chapel, and sculpture, as
D.ranging from paintings, such as those in the Sistine Chapel, to sculpture, such as
E.ranging from paintings, such as in the Sistine Chapel, and sculpture, such as
A B C D E
D
[解析] Parallelism; Rhetorical Construction This sentence names painting and sculpture as two of the many kinds of art created by Michelangelo and provides examples of his work in those two art forms. Although the two sets of examples are expressed in parallel form, the position of the phrase for example that introduces them creates a choppy and awkward sentence since it must be surrounded by commas. A more concise way to construct parallel sets of examples is to express each using a phrase introduced by such as. A The sentence is choppy and awkward due to the twofold use of the phrase for example, which must be surrounded by commas. The preposition to, in context, suggests a range, but it would then be needed to be preceded by from. B The examples of art are not in parallel form since the first is introduced by for example followed by the prepositional phrase in the Sistine Chapel, and the second is introduced by the prepositional phrase like...The preposition to is unidiomatic and awkwardly used here. C The examples of art are not in parallel form since the first is introduced by such as, and the second is introduced by as. D Correct. The examples of art are in parallel form, each introduced with the words such as. E Although the examples of art are both introduced by such as, the form is not parallel since the first is a prepositional phrase (in the Sistine Chapel) and the second is a noun phrase (the statue of David). The correct answer is D.
10. Outlining his strategy for nursing the troubled conglomerate back to health, the chief executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months.
A.executive's plans were announced on Wednesday for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
B.executive's plans, which are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months, were announced on Wednesday
C.executive's plans for cutting the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months were announced on Wednesday
D.executive announced plans Wednesday to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
E.executive announced plans Wednesday that are to cut the company's huge debt by selling nearly $12 billion in assets over the next 18 months
A B C D E
D
[解析] Logical Predication; Verb Form In this sentence, the opening dependent clause beginning Outlining his strategy is a dangling modifier. Furthermore, the verb form for announce should make it clear that the chief executive is doing the announcing. In addition, to cut is a clearer phrase than for cutting in this sentence. A The subject of the opening clause should be executive, not plans. The passive verb form were announced suggests that someone other than the chief executive is outlining the strategy. Putting the phrase were announced between plans and for cutting makes it somewhat unclear whether for cutting ... is intended to modify announced or plans. B In addition to having a dangling modifier and the wrong form of the verb announce, this sentence is made less clear by separating the subject and verb with the long clause beginning with which are. C This version has the same issues as in (A) and (B) and is made less dear by separating the subject and verb with the long clause beginning with for cutting. D Correct. The opening clause properly modifies chief executive and the verb form announced makes it clear that the chief executive is doing the announcing. E Although the opening clause correctly modifies chief executive in this version, the words that are are extraneous and also suggest that the plans themselves are doing the cutting and selling. The correct answer is D.
11. It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.
A.It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers
B.Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth, which covers
C.Though called a sea, the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, covering
D.Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian covers
E.Despite being called a sea, the largest lake on Earth is actually the landlocked Caspian, covering
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical Predication; Grammatical Construction The topic of this sentence is a single large body of water, the Caspian Sea. The wording needs to make it clear that being the largest lake on Earth and covering more than four times the surface area of... Lake Superior are both predicated of this one subject. A The referent of which is unclear. Grammatically, its antecedent cannot be the landlocked Caspian, so it must be either Earth or the largest lake on Earth. The latter is a little odd, because the sentence has already said that the lake in question is the Caspian, so one would expect and instead of which. For these reasons and because Earth immediately precedes which, the sentence appears to say, illogically, that Earth covers more than four times the surface area of Lake Superior. B As in (A), this appears to say, illogically, that Earth covers more than four times the surface area of Lake Superior. C Correct. The wording is direct, unambiguous, and grammatically correct. D The structure here is grammatically incoherent. E Despite being called a sea indicates, somewhat illogically, that the largest lake being called a sea would lead one to expect it not to be the Caspian. This makes little sense, especially to those who are familiar with the name Caspian Sea. The correct answer is C.
12. According to a recent study of consumer spending on prescription medications, increases in the sales of the 50 drugs that were advertised most heavily accounts for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year, the remainder of which came from sales of the 9,850 prescription medicines that companies did not advertise or advertised very little.
A.heavily accounts for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year, the remainder of which came
B.heavily were what accounted for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year; the remainder of the increase coming
C.heavily accounted for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year, the remainder of the increase coming
D.heavily, accounting for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year, while the remainder of the increase came
E.heavily, which accounted for almost half of the 520.8 billion increase in drug spending last year, with the remainder of it coming
A B C D E
C
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Verb Form The sentence indicates that according to research, increases in sales of the relatively small number of the most heavily advertised drugs accounted for nearly half of last year's total increase in drug spending. The sentence is flawed because of subject-verb disagreement, and an ambiguity in the referent of which. A The singular verb form accounts fails to agree in number with the plural subject increases. What the relative pronoun which refers to is unclear; to make clear sense, it should refer to the... increase. B The phrase were what accounted is unnecessarily wordy; the semicolon before the remainder signals that a complete clause will follow, but what follows is not a complete clause. C Correct. The sentence is clear and grammatically correct. The subject and verb agree. D In the resulting sentence, no main verb follows the main subject increases. E The resulting sentence lacks a main verb for the main subject increases. The correct answer is C.
13. Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
A.that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
B.that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
C.that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics
D.saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid
E.saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character
A B C D E
B
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Logical Predication The statement provides a definition of the term quicksand as sand that has been saturated with water to a certain degree. Many of the flaws in the incorrect options have to do with how this degree of saturation is described. A The matter of degree in this option is introduced with the word so, which is used to indicate that the relevant degree of saturation will be specified with a clause that states a condition—a statement that includes both a subject and a verb—that implies a certain degree of saturation. Lacking a subject, this sentence fails to state a clear condition. B Correct. In this option, the clause introduced with that contains a proper statement—with both a subject and verb—which implies a degree of saturation with water. This option thus has none of the flaws discussed in connection with option A. C In this option, we might immediately note that the word (adjective) enough, which qualifies the word water is misplaced. In English (with, as almost always, exceptions), qualifiers of nouns are generally placed before the noun. In this case, it should be enough water. D The words so as make this option a poor choice. In the case of option D, if we cut out "so as" and write, "quicksand" is the term for sand saturated enough to acquire the character of a liquid, then our statement would be much improved. However, as it stands, option D is at best awkward. E We might immediately note that this option is awkward—so much qualifies saturated, yet it is placed after the word water, well after saturated. This makes the statement unnecessarily difficult to read. A modification of this part of the sentence so as to read saturated so much with water would be an improvement. Furthermore, as discussed in connection with options A and B, option E would be better if as to acquire a liquid character were replaced with that it acquires a liquid character (or, as in B, that it acquires the character of a liquid). The correct option is B.
14. Along the major rivers that traverse the deserts of northeast Africa, the Middle East, and northwest India, the combination of a reliable supply of water and good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endure in at least 6,000 years.
A.good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endure in
B.good growing conditions encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, endured for
C.of good growing conditions have encouraged farming traditions that, in places, endured for
D.of good growing conditions both encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, endured
E.of good growing conditions encouraged farming traditions that have, in places, been enduring for
A B C D E
B
[解析] Logical Predication; Rhetorical Construction The time line of this sentence, captured by the use of verb tenses, is of utmost importance. A combination of factors (in the past) encouraged farming traditions that are still with us today. The conditions for the use of the present perfect tense have endured are in place. A The word both repeats the meaning of combination and is thus redundant. The use of the present tense (endure) is not justified by the time line of the whole sentence. The correct preposition for this type of construction is for (an amount of time), not in. B Correct. This version correctly employs the present perfect tense with the appropriate adverbial for at least 6,000 years. C The repetition of the preposition of before good growing conditions makes no sense. It seems to indicate that there is both a combination of a reliable supply of water and a combination of good growing conditions. D The preposition of should not be repeated in front of good growing conditions. The word both repeats the meaning of combination and is thus redundant. E The preposition of should not be repeated in front of good growing conditions. The use of the present perfect progressive have been enduring is not grammatically incorrect, but it is rhetorically inappropriate and sounds exaggerated. The correct answer is B.
15. Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not seamless or stationary, rather it is fragmented into mobile semirigid plates.
A.Despite its covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not seamless or stationary, rather it is
B.Despite the fact that it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor is it stationary, but is
C.Despite covering the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor is it stationary, but rather
D.Although it covers the entire planet, Earth's crust is neither seamless nor stationary, but rather
E.Although covering the entire planet, Earth has a crust that is not seamless or stationary, but
A B C D E
D
[解析] Idiom; Parallelism; Logical Predication A dangling modifier is an error in sentence structure whereby a participle is associated with a word other than the one intended or with no particular word at all. In this sentence, Earth is the closest word to the participial clause, and so the latter means that Earth is covering the entire planet (itself), which is a contradiction. A This version has a dangling participle. The addition of it is before fragmented is unwarranted and makes the sentence ungrammatical. Neither... nor... but rather would make the intended relationship among seamless, stationary, and fragmented clearer and more precise than not... or... rather. B Parallel structure is disrupted by the addition of is it after nor and by the addition of is after but. C Parallel structure is disrupted by the addition of is it after nor. D Correct. Despite and although are very close in meaning. However, despite is a preposition and needs to be followed by a noun or noun phrase, while although is a conjunction and should be followed by a finite clause. This version uses although correctly. The parallel structure is also clear and correct. E Although is a conjunction and should be followed by a finite clause with a subject, not by a participle. In addition, the first clause represents a dangling modifier. Omitting rather from the parallel structure neither X nor Y but rather Z is possible, but not optimal. The correct answer is D.
16. At the end of 2001, motion picture industry representatives said that there were about a million copies of Hollywood movies available online and expected piracy to increase with high-speed Internet connections that become more widely available.
A.online and expected piracy to increase with high-speed Internet connections that become more widely available
B.online and expect the increase of piracy with the wider availability of high-speed Internet connections
C.online, and they expect more piracy to increase with the wider availability of high-speed Internet connections
D.online, and that they expected the increase of piracy as high-speed Internet connections would become more widely available
E.online, and that they expected piracy to increase as high-speed Internet connections became more widely available
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Grammatical Construction Every clause needs a subject, either an overt subject or an understood subject (whose interpretation can come from a coordinated clause or some other nearby clause). In this sentence, the clause containing expected lacks a clear subject. The intended subject is motion picture industry representatives, but to clearly indicate that, the subject should either be repeated or be replaced with the pronoun they. Furthermore, piracy to increase with high-speed Internet connections that become more widely available is awkward, and it fails to clearly communicate the idea that piracy will increase as a result of high-speed Internet connections becoming available. A The second clause is awkward and unclear; there is no clear subject for expected. B There is no clear subject for expect. C It is redundant to use both more and increase. D This wording makes the meaning very unclear. They expected the increase in piracy appears to refer to a particular (past) increase, but this does not clearly make sense with the ensuing use of the conditional verb form would become, which is inappropriate here. E Correct. In this version the verb expect has an overt subject, and the following phrasing clearly indicates that the expected increase in piracy is the result of high-speed Internet connections becoming more widely available. The correct answer is E.
17. Making things even more difficult has been general market inactivity lately, if not paralysis, which has provided little in the way of pricing guidance.
A.has been general market inactivity lately, if not paralysis, which has provided
B.there is general market inactivity, if not paralysis, lately it has provided
C.general market inactivity, if not paralysis, has lately provided
D.lately, general market inactivity, if not paralysis, has provided
E.is that lately general market inactivity, if not paralysis, which provides
A B C D E
D
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Rhetorical Construction This sentence uses a special inverted structure, putting the predicate (Making things even more difficult) before the verb (has been) and the subject. In this construction, the subject (general market inactivity) can be directly compared with paralysis. Such contrasts are best made using phrases that are adjacent, not separated by other material (here, the adverb lately). If a more normal clause structure is used, making things even more difficult becomes a modifier, not the main predicate, so it should be dearly set off from the rest of the clause with a comma. A This inverted structure makes general market activity the subject of Making things even more difficult. This would be legitimate by itself, but it requires general market inactivity to be next to both if not paralysis (for contrast) and which (marking a relative clause modifying inactivity). It cannot be next to both of these simultaneously. B This is a run-on sentence, with two independent clauses (Making things even more difficult there is general market inactivity, f not paralysis, and lately it has provided little in the way of pricing guidance) conjoined merely by a comma, rather than by a coordinating conjunction, such as and. Also, the initial topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) is awkward without a following comma. C The initial topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) should be followed by a comma. D Correct. The topic phrase (Making things even more difficult) is properly separated from the subject by a comma, and inactivity and if not paralysis are adjacent for the clearest connection between them. E This is a sentence fragment. The correct answer is D.
18. Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China, and that of Japan-were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as the content of his fiction.
A.that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
B.that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed both his literary style as well as
C.Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
D.Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
E.Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical Predication; Agreement When a verb follows a complex noun phrase made up of several parts, it agrees with the first noun in the phrase. In this case, knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China, and Japan is a singular noun and the correct verb form is was, not were. The various parts of an enumeration have to be alike: the literatures of Europe, China, and Japan. The logical relationship between the predicates is important. A This version of the sentence violates the correct subject-verb agreement, and the correct structure of enumeration is disrupted by the addition of that of in front of Japan. B The correct structure of enumeration is disrupted by the addition of that of in front of Japan. Both... as well as...is incorrect usage. C Correct. The structure of the enumeration (Europe, China, and Japan) as well as the conjunction structure (both X and Y) are correct. The logical relationships among the parts of the sentence are clearly expressed. D This phrasing makes it unclear what the writer is claiming. It appears to indicate that the effect of Akutagawa's knowledge on his development as a writer was due to the fact that both of the aspects of his writing were influenced to the same extent. However, it is implausible to suppose that this is what the writer intends. Furthermore, the comparison is ambiguous: did his knowledge inform his style as much as it informed the content, or did it inform his style as much as the content informed his style? E The subject-verb agreement in this version is incorrect. Both X in addition to Y is incorrect usage. The correct answer is C.
19. According to scientists who monitored its path, an expanding cloud of energized particles ejected from the Sun recently triggered a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, which brightened the Northern Lights and also possibly knocking out a communications satellite.
A.an expanding cloud of energized particles ejected from the Sun recently triggered a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, which brightened the Northern Lights and also possibly knocking
B.an expanding cloud of energized particles ejected from the Sun was what recently triggered a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, and it brightened the Northern Lights and also possibly knocked
C.an expanding cloud of energized particles ejected from the Sun recently triggered a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, brightening the Northern Lights and possibly knocking
D.a large storm in the magnetic field that surrounds Earth, recently triggered by an expanding cloud of energized particles, brightened the Northern Lights and it possibly knocked
E.a large storm in the magnetic field surrounding Earth was recently triggered by an expanding cloud of energized particles, brightening the Northern Lights and it possibly knocked
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical Predication; Rhetorical Construction; Verb Form The timing and logical relationships among the events described in this sentence are of utmost importance. The scientists monitored a cloud ejected from the Sun. The cloud triggered a large storm, whose consequences were the brightening of the Northern Lights and the possible knocking out of a satellite. The latter two events are in a conjunction, so they should be represented by similar verb forms. A In this context, the shift in verb form from which brightened to and also possibly knocking is ungrammatical. The two verbs should be in the same verb form for parallel construction. B X was what triggered Y is wordy and awkward, and its meaning is unclear in this context. Given the most plausible intended meaning of the sentence, the two conjunctions and... and... in the last clause are redundant. The comma after Earth turns the final part of the sentence into an independent clause, and it is unclear whether this is part of what the scientists claimed or a separate claim made by the writer. C Correct. The conjoined elements are of parallel forms, and the logical relations between the events are clear and concisely communicated. D The wording in this answer choice makes the intended meaning unclear. The information that the cloud particles were ejected from the Sun is lost. The sentence is ungrammatical; the second conjoined main verb, knocked, needs no pronoun subject it because its subject is a large storm. E The wording in this answer choice makes the intended meaning unclear. The information that the cloud particles were ejected from the Sun is lost. The two conjoined verbs are of different form; the second conjoined verb includes an unnecessary pronoun subject. The correct answer is C.
20. Because many of Australia's marsupials, such as the koala, are cute and cuddly, as well as being biologically different than North American marsupials, they have attracted a lot of attention after their discovery in the 1700s.
A.being biologically different than North American marsupials, they have attracted a lot of attention after
B.being biologically different from North American marsupials, they attracted a lot of attention since
C.biologically different than North American marsupials, they attracted a lot of attention since
D.biologically different than North American marsupials, they have attracted a lot of attention after
E.biologically different from North American marsupials, they have attracted a lot of attention since
A B C D E
E
[解析] Verb Form; Parallelism In seeking to explain why Australian marsupials have attracted much attention in North America, the sentence ascribes two attributes to them: they differ biologically from North American marsupials and seem friendly and appealing. The structure are... as well as... is used to coordinate the description of the two properties—but incorrectly, because the insertion of being impairs the required parallelism: are cute and cuddly is not parallel to [are] being biologically different. Also, there is a lack of fit between the verb form have attracted and the preposition after. A The phrase cute and cuddly is adjectival, as is biologically different...; adding the word being is not useful and impairs parallelism. The verb form have attracted suggests a process continuing from some point in the past, but the word after is most naturally read as indicating the time of a single event relative to an earlier point in time. B The word being is superfluous here. The word since indicates continuation over a past period, whereas the verb attracted indicates a single event occurring within a period. C The word being is superfluous here and impairs parallelism. The verb attracted, indicating a single event, does not match the use of the word since, which indicates a continuing duration relative to the time of an earlier event. D Tie verb have attracted, indicating continuation, does not match the use of the word after, which is appropriate in order to give the time of a single event relative to an earlier point in time. E Correct. The superfluous word being is omitted, preserving the parallelism between the two adjectival phrases in the description of the attribute following as well as. The preposition since is the appropriate usage with the verb form have attracted. The correct answer is E.
21. Having been named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter, the asteroid named Ida, in the middle of the belt of asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, was discovered in 1884.
A.Having been named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter, the asteroid named Ida, in the middle of the belt of asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, was discovered in 1884.
B.Discovered in 1884, the asteroid Ida, named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter, is in the middle of the belt of asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
C.In the middle of the belt of asteroids that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, the asteroid Ida, discovered in 1884 and named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter.
D.The asteroid Ida, named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter and discovered in 1884, is in the middle of the belt of asteroids to orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
E.Ida, an asteroid discovered in 1884 and which was named for a mythological nymph who cared for the infant Jupiter, is in the middle of the belt of asteroids to orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
A B C D E
B
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Logical Predication; Grammatical Construction This sentence describes a discovery that occurred in 1884 and provides some additional information about the object that was discovered. The most effectively worded answer choice opens with a past-participial phrase (discovered...) describing the subject of the sentence, the asteroid Ida. Ida's discovery is logically prior to its naming, described in a second past, following the subject (named...). The sentence is then completed with a present tense linking verb is + prepositional phrase to explain Ida's location. A Opening with a past perfect passive verb, Having been named, this version of the sentence illogically suggests that being named for a mythological nymph preceded the discovery of Ida. B Correct. This version is clear, logically coherent, and grammatically correct. C This version of the sentence is ungrammatical; it has no main verb for the subject the asteroid Ida. D The sequence of events is obscured by the placement of named before discovered in the compound participial phrases. The infinitive form to orbit is ungrammatical in place of the relative clause. E This sentence awkwardly attempts to use a compound conjunction and to join the past participial phrase discovered in 1884 with the relative clause which was named.... The infinitive form to orbit is ungrammatical in place of the relative clause. The correct answer is B.
22. Many utilities obtain most of their electric power from large coal and nuclear operations at costs that are sometimes two to three times higher as that of power from smaller, more efficient plants that can both make use of waste heat and take advantage of the current abundance of natural gas.
A.two to three times higher as that of power from smaller, more efficient plants that can both
B.higher by two to three times as that from smaller, more efficient plants that both can
C.two to three times higher than those for power from smaller, more efficient plants that can both
D.between two to three times higher as those for power from smaller, more efficient plants that both can
E.between two to three times higher than from smaller, more efficient plants that they can both
A B C D E
C
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Diction The sentence compares utilities' high costs of power obtained from large producers with the costs of power obtained from smaller, more economic producers. The comparative form higher must be followed by the preposition than, not by as. The sentence uses the plural costs; therefore, the singular pronoun that in the phrase as that of power from ... incorrectly refers to a plural antecedent costs. An issue that arises in some of the five choices concerns the placing of both in a both ... and... construction that is meant to indicate parallelism between the clauses that make use of... and [that] take advantage of A As indicated, the use of as with higher in the comparison between costs is incorrect. Use of the singular pronoun that to refer to the plural costs is incorrect. B The phrase higher by two to three times is unclear, and the use of as is unidiomatic here. Also, higher as is incorrect. C Correct. The comparative higher is correctly followed by than. The plural pronoun those is correctly used to refer back to costs. The placement of both indicates correctly the parallel clauses. D The phrase higher as is unidiomatic. The placement of both is ambiguous: either suggesting that the number of "more efficient plants" is just two, or that the verb can is not to be read as going along with take (this reading would create a grammatical-construction flaw, and render take advantage... gas into a sentence fragment). E This omits a pronoun that would refer back to costs and so fails to capture the comparison intended in the given sentence. It compares the costs of power from large plants with power from smaller plants, i.e., it nonsensically compares costs with power. The correct answer is C.
23. When viewed from the window of a speeding train, the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of more distant objects.
A.the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of
B.the speed that nearby objects move seems faster than for
C.the speed of nearby objects seems faster than
D.nearby objects' speeds seem to be faster than those of
E.nearby objects seem to move at a faster speed than do
A B C D E
E
[解析] Logical Predication; Parallelism The intended meaning of the sentence is easily discerned: objects viewed from a speeding train seem to move faster than more distant objects. However, the sentence is defective in structure. One problem is that the participle viewed seems to apply to the subject of the main clause, the noun phrase the speed with which nearby objects move. Since this produces nonsense, the sentence needs to be reshaped. Comparing the speed of nearby objects with the speed of more distant objects would ideally be done with parallelism in phrasing, but that is lacking in the given sentence. A The subject of the main clause should be nearby objects and not the speed with which nearby objects move, given the participle in the when-clause. B The phrase the speed... move is erroneously made the subject of the main clause, but the phrase contains an additional problem: structurally it makes the relative pronoun that the object of the verb move. C The phrase the speed... objects is erroneously made the subject of the main clause. D The phrase nearby objects' speeds is erroneously made the subject of the main clause. E Correct. The phrase nearby objects is correctly made the subject of the verb seem, and this fits with the participle in the when-clause. Additionally, there is a strict parallelism between nearby objects and more distant objects, which are being compared with respect to their apparent speed. The correct answer is E.
24. The English physician Edward Jenner found that if experimental subjects were deliberately infected with cowpox, which caused only a mild illness, they are immune from smallpox.
A.which caused only a mild illness, they are immune from
B.causing only a mild illness, they become immune from
C.which causes only a mild illness, they are immune to
D.causing only a mild illness, they became immune from
E.which caused only a mild illness, they would become immune to
A B C D E
E
[解析] Verb Form This sentence describes the result of infecting volunteers with cowpox. A conditional verb form is used to describe the cowpox infection: if experimental subjects were deliberately infected. The sentence then incorrectly uses simple present tense for the effects of that infection: they are immune. However, since the effects are dependent on an action that may or may not occur, the correct way to express those effects is by using another conditional verb form: they would become immune. A The effects of a conditional situation are incorrectly expressed using the simple present tense verb are. B The participle causing suggests that infecting the subjects with cowpox caused a mild illness only in some of the cases—but this does not seem to be the intended meaning. The effects of a conditional situation are incorrectly expressed using the simple present tense verb become. The preposition from is incorrect with immune; it should be to. C The effects of a conditional situation are incorrectly expressed using the simple present tense verb are. D See above the comment on causing in (B). The effects of a conditional situation are incorrectly expressed using the simple past tense verb became. The preposition with immune should be to. E Correct. The effects of a conditional situation are correctly expressed using the conditional verb would become. The preposition to (rather than from) is correct with immune. The correct answer is E.
25. The final decades of the twentieth century not only saw an explosion of the literary production among women, but there was also an intense interest in the lives and works of women writers.
A.not only saw an explosion of the literary production among women, but there was also
B.not only saw an explosion of literary production in women, but there was also
C.saw not only an explosion of literary production among women, but also
D.saw not only an explosion of the literary production by women, but it also saw
E.saw not only an explosion of literary production by women, but also saw
A B C D E
C
[解析] Parallelism; Diction The sentence, about twentieth century literary production by women and the interest in women writers, contains a common type of construction that requires parallelism. A The predicate of this sentence begins with what would be the first part of the construction not only saw... but also saw. In this construction, not also saw would be parallel with but also saw, thus allowing for a statement that is easy for a human to process. However, instead of but also saw, the sentence uses but there was also. The sentence thus lacks parallelism and is unnecessarily difficult to read. B This sentence has the same flaw as does sentence a with respect to but there was also. Furthermore, the use of in in production in women is incorrect and should be replaced with among. C Correct. This sentence correctly uses, after the main verb saw, the construction not only... but also. It also uses among as suggested for sentence B. D The portion of this sentence that follows the main verb saw starts with what would be the construction not only... but also. However, instead of but also, the sentence uses but it also saw. This is incorrect on various grounds. First, the portion is in the predicate and it is clear what the subject is. The pronoun it, which refers to the subject, is thus unnecessary. Second, because it fails to correctly follow the construction not only... but also, the sentence lacks parallelism. E The main flaw in this sentence is the inclusion of saw after also. This use of saw is redundant and lacks parallelism. The correct answer is C.
26. Covering 71 percent of Earth's surface, the oceans play an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, moderating temperature by the absorption of heat and carbon dioxide, and giving pure water back to the atmosphere through evaporation.
A.Covering 71 percent of Earth's surface, the oceans play an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, moderating
B.Covering 71 percent of Earth's surface and playing an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, the oceans moderate
C.The oceans cover 71 percent of Earth's surface and play an essential role in maintaining conditions for human existence on land, and by moderating
D.The oceans cover 71 percent of Earth's surface, play an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, and moderate
E.The oceans cover 71 percent of Earth's surface, playing an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, and they moderate
A B C D E
A
[解析] Parallelism; Rhetorical Construction; Grammatical Construction This sentence about the essential role oceans play in maintaining conditions for human existence on land begins with a participial phrase describing the vastness of the oceans, followed by the main clause (oceans play an essential role...). The object, role, is modified by a prepositional phrase that indicates what kind of role the oceans play (it plays a role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land). This statement about the ocean's role in maintaining terrestrial conditions is elucidated by two parallel participial phrases that describe the oceans, explaining how they maintain conditions essential for human existence on land (moderating... and giving...). A Correct. This version of the sentence effectively conveys the means by which the ocean plays an essential role in maintaining the conditions for human existence on land, using parallel verb forms. B This version of the sentence is ungrammatical; and giving... suggests that this is part of a series of participial phrases, but it is not. C The conjunction followed by a prepositional phrase and by moderating... anticipates a new subject—an agent that does something by moderating—but this subject never appears. D This version of the sentence is structured as a series of verbs—cover, play, and moderate—all describing things the oceans do; the final participial phrase giving... water... violates the parallel structure set up in the sentence. E This version of the sentence correctly makes playing an essential role... a function of the oceans' coverage of Earth's surface, but the introduction of a new main verb moderate fails to indicate that what follows (moderating temperature and returning pure water) identifies the role oceans play in maintaining conditions for human existence on land. Furthermore, the participial phrase and giving pure water... violates the parallel structure set up by the series of main verbs that appear earlier in this version of the sentence. The correct answer is A.
27. The Eastern State Penitentiary was established in 1822 by reformers advocating that prisoners be held in solitary confinement and hard labor so as to reform them.
A.advocating that prisoners be held in solitary confinement and hard labor so as to reform them
B.who were advocating prisoners to be held in solitary confinement and hard labor for their reform
C.advocating solitary confinement and hard labor as the means to reform prisoners
D.who advocated solitary confinement and hard labor for the means of prisoner reform
E.advocating as the means for prisoner reform solitary confinement and hard labor
A B C D E
C
[解析] Idiom; Rhetorical Construction The sentence describes an effect—reform of prisoners—that those who founded a prison in 1822 hoped would result from two types of punishment they advocated. The phrase held in solitary confinement and hard labor is problematic because held in hard labor is nonidiomatic. The adverbial phrase so as to reform them is wordy; it is also grammatically problematic because the subject of the passive-voice verb is prisoners, whereas the implicit subject of the verb to reform is presumably the punishments or the prison staff. A This is wordy, unidiomatic, and grammatically flawed, as explained. B An alternative wording that prisoners be held... would be much clearer and less awkward; the phrase advocating prisoners ... makes it misleadingly appear that prisoners is the object of advocating. As indicated, the phrase held in solitary confinement and hard labor is unidiomatic. C Correct. The wording here conveys the intended meaning correctly and idiomatically, as well as with clarity and brevity. It indicates that reform of prisoners is the hoped-for result of the advocated punishments. D The phrase for the means of prisoner reform is wordy and unidiomatic and conveys no clear meaning. For example, is it intended to suggest that prisoner reform is a means to something else? Probably not. Is it intended to suggest that the two punishment types are means to reform? If so, then as would work much better than for. E The insertion of as the means for prisoner reform placed before (rather than after) confinement and hard labor—the object of the verb advocating—renders the resulting sentence unnecessarily awkward. The correct answer is C.
28. Some anthropologists believe that the genetic homogeneity evident in the world's people is the result of a "population bottleneck"—at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers and thus our genetic variation.
A.at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers
B.that at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event that greatly reduced their numbers
C.that some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event so that their numbers were greatly reduced,
D.some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event from which their numbers were greatly reduced
E.some time in the past, that our ancestors suffered an event so as to reduce their numbers greatly,
A B C D E
B
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Parallelism The underlined part of this sentence is an explanatory rewording of the clause that follows believe. Scientists believe that X—[in other words,] that Y. In this construction, X and Y are parallel clauses. A The omission of that after the dash makes the function of the final clause unclear. The structure makes that clause appear to be an awkward and rhetorically puzzling separate assertion that the writer has appended to the prior claim about what the anthropologists believe. The agent or cause of reducing is unclear. B Correct. Repetition of that effectively signals the paraphrasing of the belief. C The preposition at before some time is missing; without at the adverb sometime would be needed instead of this two-word noun phrase. The modifier of event is expressed with a wordy passive construction, which destroys the parallelism between it and what follows. D Repetition of that signals the paraphrasing of the belief and is therefore needed. The preposition at before some time is missing. The modifier of event is expressed with a wordy passive construction, which destroys the parallelism between it and what follows. E That is repeated in the paraphrase, but in the wrong place. A possible, and absurd, reading of this version is that our ancestors suffered an event in order to willfully reduce their own numbers and thus our genetic variation. The correct answer is B.
29. Through experimenting designed to provide information that will ultimately prove useful in the treatment of hereditary diseases, mice have received bone marrow transplants that give them a new gene.
A.Through experimenting designed to provide information that will ultimately prove
B.Through experiments designed to provide information ultimately proving
C.In experimentation designed to provide information that ultimately proves
D.In experimenting designed to provide information ultimately proving
E.In experiments designed to provide information that will ultimately prove
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Diction The sentence reports that mice received a new gene by means of a bone marrow transplant, in the context of experiments aimed at improving treatment of hereditary disease. Issues arise concerning use of the preposition through, use of the verb form experimenting, and use of certain forms of the verb prove. The hoped-for result is more clearly expressed by the future tense will...prove than by other forms of the verb. A The verb form experimenting is inappropriate here because it seems to have mice as its implicit subject, which would be nonsensical, presuming scientists ran the experiment. The preposition through awkwardly signals that the experiments were the means by which—rather than the context in which—the bone marrow transplants were administered. B The use of through is awkward for the reason already indicated. Compared with will... prove, the present participle proving less clearly signals the prospective nature of the experimenters' goal. C The word experimentation, because it can simply mean "trying out new things or ideas," is unnecessarily imprecise compared with experiments. The present tense prove does not clearly signal the prospective nature of the experimenters' goal. D The use of the verbal noun experimenting is less idiomatic than experiments. Compared with will... prove, the present participle proving less clearly signals the prospective nature of the experimenters' goal. E Correct. The use of the preposition in, the word experiments, and the future will...prove create a sentence that avoids some of the potential problems identified. The correct answer is E.
30. The United Parcel Service plans to convert its more than 2,000 gasoline-powered trucks in the Los Angeles area to run on cleaner-burning natural gas.
A.to convert its more than 2,000 gasoline-powered trucks in the Los Angeles area to
B.to convert its more than 2,000 trucks in the Los Angeles area that are powered by gasoline to
C.on converting its more than 2,000 gasoline- powered trucks in the Los Angeles area that will
D.for its more than 2,000 gasoline-powered trucks in the Los Angeles area to convert to
E.that its more than 2,000 trucks in the Los Angeles area that are powered by gasoline will convert to
A B C D E
A
[解析] Verb Form; Logical Predication The sentence reports a company's plan to convert certain of its trucks to run on natural gas. Issues to note include: what construction should follow the verb plan and how the class of trucks that are to be converted is described. A Correct. The planned action is described by the infinitive form to convert. Of the company's trucks, those in question are specified by the adjective gasoline-powered and by the adjectival phrase in the Los Angeles area. The goal of the conversion is given by the infinitive verbal phrase to run ... gas. B The introduction of the relative clause that are powered by gasoline is unnecessarily awkward, especially because the relative pronoun that is not adjacent to its antecedent trucks. C The construction plans on converting... is not a standard form, even if sometimes used informally. The future tense in the relative clause that will run... does not clearly specify that the trucks' running on natural gas is the goal of the planned conversion. D This fails to capture the thought in the given sentence, which indicates that the company plans to convert the trucks, rather than (as here) the trucks converting. In this version, to convert is being used intransitively (without an object), with its implicit subject being the noun phrase its more than... area, which refers to the trucks. E This refers to a plan that the trucks will convert (where convert is used intransitively), rather than to a plan to convert the trucks. This intransitive use makes no sense in the context. The introduction of the relative clause that are powered by gasoline is unnecessarily awkward. The correct answer is A.
31. Foraging at all times of the day and night, but interspersing their feeding with periods of rest that last between one and eight hours, a sperm whale could eat so much as a ton of squid a day.
A.between one and eight hours, a sperm whale could eat so
B.between one and eight hours, sperm whales can eat as
C.between one to eight hours, sperm whales could eat as
D.from one to eight hours, sperm whales could eat so
E.from one to eight hours, a sperm whale can eat so
A B C D E
B
[解析] Agreement; Diction Although this sentence, as presented, uses the conditional or past verb form could, it is more plausibly intended to make a general statement about the actual behavior of a species, a statement that holds in the present day. For that purpose, the present indicative can is preferable. So much as is not the correct wording to express the upper level of a variable amount; as much as should be used instead. Also, although the singular a sperm whale can be used to refer to sperm whales generally, the plural their needs to refer to the plural sperm whales. A This sentence incorrectly uses so. Also, the plural their does not agree with the singular sperm whale. B Correct. Both can and as are used; also, sperm whales agrees with the plural their. C To is the wrong word to use with between. The proper construction would be between...and or from... to. D This sentence incorrectly uses so. E So is not the correct form; also the use of the singular a sperm whale does not agree with the plural their. The correct answer is B.
32. In some types of pine tree, a thick layer of needles protects the buds from which new growth proceeds; consequently they are able to withstand forest fires relatively well.
A.a thick layer of needles protects the buds from which new growth proceeds; consequently they are able to withstand forest fires relatively well
B.a thick needle layer protects buds from where new growth proceeds, so that they can withstand forest fires relatively well
C.a thick layer of needles protect the buds from which new growth proceeds; thus, they are able to withstand relatively well any forest fires
D.since the buds from which new growth proceeds are protected by a thick needle layer, consequently they can therefore withstand forest fires relatively well
E.because the buds where new growth happens are protected by a thick layer of needles, they are able to withstand forest fires relatively easily as a result
A B C D E
A
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Rhetorical Construction This sentence is fine as written. It uses the correct from which to introduce the relative clause modifying buds and avoids redundant expressions of causation, such as consequently... therefore, or because... as a result. A Correct. The relative clause starting with from which is in the correct form, and the causality is expressed efficiently and clearly with one word, consequently. B In this context, needle layer is less precise than the more standard layer of needles, which makes it clear that the layer is composed of needles rather than being, for example, a layer of a needle. From where is not the correct form, because it is redundant in using two words that express the idea of location (from and where) instead of one. C The short direct object any forest fires is separated from its verb withstand by an adverb phrase; this word order is awkward, and is acceptable only with very long direct objects and in some cases where there is no other reasonable way to eliminate ambiguity. D This version is unnecessarily redundant in expressing causation, using all of since, consequently, and therefore. As in answer choice B, layer of needles would be more precise than needle layer. E This version is unnecessarily redundant in expressing causation, using both because and as a result. The correct answer is A.
33. The tourism commission has conducted surveys of hotels in the most popular resorts, with the ultimate goal of reducing the guests who end up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the service in the hotels.
A.with the ultimate goal of reducing the guests who end up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the service in the hotels
B.with the goal to ultimately reduce the number of guests who end up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the hotels' service
C.ultimately with the goal to reduce expressions of overall dissatisfaction by the guests with the hotel service
D.in an ultimate attempt to reduce the number of guests that ends up expressing overall dissatisfaction with the hotels' service
E.with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of guests who express overall dissatisfaction with the hotels' service
A B C D E
E
[解析] Verb Form; Rhetorical Construction This sentence seems to be saying something absurd: that the goal is to reduce the guests themselves, instead of to reduce the number of guests or the expressions of dissatisfaction. It is also awkward in introducing the superfluous end up; but at least, if it does so, the correct form to agree with the subject guests is end up, not ends up, which is used in answer choice D. In general, direct modifiers (such as with the (hotel) service) should not be separated from the word they modify (such as dissatisfaction) if possible. A Reducing the guests is clearly not the intent of the sentence; it should be phrased as reducing the number of guests or the expressions of dissatisfaction. B With the goal to ultimately reduce is awkward and unidiomatic. C With the hotel service should be placed next to dissatisfaction; also, ultimately with the goal is awkward, better phrased as with the ultimate goal. D The relative clause that ends up... modifies the plural guests (not, in this context, number), so the correct verb form is end up. E Correct. The with phrase is concise, and it is the number of guests, not the guests themselves, that is to be reduced. With the hotel's service is adjacent to dissatisfaction. Also, in the relative clause starting with who, the implicit subject of express is guests, so this verb correctly agrees with its subject. The correct answer is E.
34. A new study suggests that the conversational pace of everyday life may be so brisk it hampers the ability of some children for distinguishing discrete sounds and words and, the result is, to make sense of speech.
A.it hampers the ability of some children for distinguishing discrete sounds and words and, the result is, to make
B.that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words and, as a result, to make
C.that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words and, the result of this, they are unable to make
D.that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words, and results in not making
E.as to hamper the ability of some children for distinguishing discrete sounds and words, resulting in being unable to make
A B C D E
B
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Parallelism; Diction The sentence describes a hypothesized causal series: The fast conversational pace impairs children's ability to distinguish individual sounds and words, and this, in turn, impairs their ability to make sense of speech. These two consequences, both impaired abilities, are most clearly and efficiently expressed in parallel infinitive phrases (to distinguish and to make). The explanatory phrase as a result before the second infinitive clarifies the sequence. The term ability should be followed by the preposition to, not for. A For is the wrong preposition to follow ability; the phrase and, the result is, introduces a new clause which indicates that children's inability to distinguish sounds enables them to make sense of speech. B Correct. The two abilities hampered by the fast pace of conversation are described with the parallel infinitive phrases to distinguish and to make. C The result of this is a new subject that grammatically requires a new verb; the phrase is wordy and unclear. D This version of the sentence nonsensically suggests that the pace of speech results in not making sense of speech, removing the children from the picture as the ones who are affected. E The phrase is awkward, wordy, and unclear; for is the incorrect preposition to follow ability. The correct answer is B.
35. The nineteenth-century chemist Humphry Davy presented the results of his early experiments in his "Essay on Heat and Light," a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a new chemistry that Davy hoped to found.
A.a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a
B.a critique of all chemistry following Robert Boyle and also his envisioning of a
C.a critique of all chemistry after Robert Boyle and envisioning as well
D.critiquing all chemistry from Robert Boyle forward and also a vision of
E.critiquing all the chemistry done since Robert Boyle as well as his own envisioning of
A B C D E
A
[解析] Parallelism; Rhetorical Construction The main objective of the sentence is to describe "Essay on Heat and Light" as Davy's presentation of his own experiments and to further explain that the essay served as both a critique of previous chemistry and a vision of a new kind of chemistry. The clearest, most effective form for providing this explanation of the essay's function is to make critique and vision both appositives of "Essay on Heat and Light," and to present them in a parallel structure. A Correct. The phrases describing the essay's function are presented in parallel form. B Critique and his envisioning are not parallel; the phrase and also his envisioning is unnecessarily wordy; it is also unclear to whom his refers. C The two descriptors are not parallel. D The two descriptors are not parallel. E The meaning is confused in the assertion that Davy critiqued his own vision of chemistry. The correct answer is A.
36. To attract the most talented workers, some companies are offering a wider range of benefits, letting employees pick those most important to them.
A.benefits, letting employees pick those most important to them
B.benefits, letting employees pick the most important of them to themselves
C.benefits and letting employees pick the most important to themselves
D.benefits and let employees pick the most important to them
E.benefits and let employees pick those that are most important to themselves
A B C D E
A
[解析] Diction; Parallelism; Verb Form The sentence describes the benefit options offered by some companies, which allow employees to pick those most important to them. Letting maintains the progressive sense of are offering; those refers clearly and concisely to benefits; and them is the correct pronoun to serve as the object of the preposition to. A Correct. The sentence clearly and concisely explains benefit options that allow employees to pick those most important to them. B The most important of them to themselves is wordy, and the function of themselves is unclear. Normally, themselves would be either reflexive or emphatic, but in this case it cannot reasonably be taken in either of those ways. This nonstandard use of the pronoun makes it unclear whether to themselves is supposed to modify pick or most important of them. C The pronoun themselves is used incorrectly, and its intended function is unclear. Normally, themselves would be either reflexive or emphatic, but in this case it cannot reasonably be taken in either of those ways. This nonstandard use of the pronoun makes it unclear whether to themselves is supposed to modify pick or most important of them. D The present tense verb let incorrectly shifts tense from the present progressive are offering. E The present tense verb let incorrectly shifts tense from the present progressive are offering; the function of themselves is unclear. Normally, themselves would be either reflexive or emphatic, but in this case it cannot reasonably be taken in either of those ways. This nonstandard use of the pronoun makes it unclear whether to themselves is supposed to modify pick or most important of them. The correct answer is A.
37. Many of the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India date from the time of the Kushan Empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan grey schist.
A.Empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
B.Empire, fashioned from either the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
C.Empire, either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or
D.Empire and either fashioned from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
E.Empire and were fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or from
A B C D E
E
[解析] Logical Predication; Parallelism The sentence makes two claims about the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India: They date from the Kushan Empire, and they are made from sandstone or schist. The clearest, most effective way to incorporate these two claims into a single sentence is to provide two parallel predicates for the single subject, the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India. The two options of media, presented as either/or choices, must also be given in parallel structure: either from... or from... or from either... or.... A Placement of the modifier fashioned...suggests that the Empire (the closest noun), not the images of the deities, was fashioned out of these materials; to parallel either from, the preposition from should also follow or. B Parallelism requires that either precede the first appearance of from or that the second appearance of from be eliminated. C As in (A) and (B), the placement of the modifier after Empire is misleading; parallelism requires that the phrase fashioned from, or another comparable verb and preposition, follow or. D Parallelism requires that a verb follow or, since a verb follows either. E Correct. Two verbs, date and were fashioned, introduce parallel predicates for the subject, earliest known images; the choices of media are correctly presented with the structure either from... or from. The correct answer is E.
38. Tides typically range from three to six feet, but while some places show no tides at all, some others, such as the Bay of Fundy, have tides of at least thirty feet and more.
A.some others, such as the Bay of Fundy, have tides of at least thirty feet and more
B.the others, such as the Bay of Fundy, that have tides of more than thirty feet
C.others, such as the Bay of Fundy, have tides of more than thirty feet
D.those at the Bay of Fundy, which has tides of more than thirty feet
E.the ones at the Bay of Fundy have tides of at least thirty feet and more
A B C D E
C
[解析] Idiom; Grammatical Construction This sentence defines typical tides and then draws a contrast between locations with tides lower than that norm and locations with tides higher than the norm. The proper idiom for drawing this contrast is some places and others—not some places and some others as written. The height of tides in places such as the Bay of Fundy is expressed in a confusing manner since at least thirty feet sets a lower limit on the height. This wording is pointlessly redundant with the phrase and more, which follows it. At least would normally be used to indicate that the writer does not know, or prefers not to say, whether the tides are sometimes higher. And more rhetorically conflicts with this by signaling a definite commitment to the claim that they are (at least sometimes) higher. A charitable reading suggests that tides of more than thirty feet is the intended meaning. A The sentence contains repetitive and redundant wording—some places and some others, and at least thirty feet and more. B The final clause is incomplete because that introduces a subordinate clause, leaving the subject others with no main verb. C Correct. A contrast is drawn between places with low tides and places with high tides using the expression some places and others, and the height of the high tides is expressed clearly and without redundancy. D The pronoun those, which refers to places, does not make sense along with at the Bay of Fundy, which names a single place; the final clause is incomplete because which introduces a subordinate clause, leaving the subject those with no verb. E The word ones, which refers to places, does not make sense along with at the Bay of Fundy, which names a single place; at least thirty feet and more is redundant and confusing. The correct answer is C.
39. A leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what Marx's Das Kapital is to socialism.
A.Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism what
B.Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism like
C.Adam Smith's two major books are to democratic capitalism just as
D.Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism similar to
E.Adam Smith wrote two major books that are to democratic capitalism what
A B C D E
E
[解析] Idiom; Logical Predication A leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment describes Adam Smith, not his two books, so the name of Adam Smith must immediately follow the opening phrase. The comparison between Smith's books and Marx's book is expressed as a ratio, so the correct idiomatic expression is x is to y what a is to b. A The opening phrase is a dangling modifier because it describes Smith, not his books. B The opening phrase is a dangling modifier; like is an incorrect word for making the comparison. C The opening phrase is a dangling modifier; just as is an incorrect term for the comparison. D Similar to is an incorrect conclusion to the comparison introduced by are to. E Correct. The opening phrase is followed by the subject that it modifies, Adam Smith, and the comparison of the two men's work is presented idiomatically. The correct answer is E.
40. Researchers studying the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is emotion, not logic or analytical reasoning.
A.the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is
B.the brain scans of volunteers who pondered ethical dilemmas and found the basis to make tough moral decisions to be
C.the brain scans of volunteers pondering ethical dilemmas and found that the basis for making tough moral decisions is
D.volunteers' brain scans while pondering ethical dilemmas have found the basis to make tough moral judgments to be
E.volunteers' brain scans while they pondered ethical dilemmas have found that the basis for making tough moral judgments is
A B C D E
A
[解析] Logical Predication; Grammatical Construction The sentence reports that researchers got volunteers to ponder ethical dilemmas and make moral judgments. Brain scans revealed that the volunteers' judgments were based on emotion rather than logical analysis. The main clause of this sentence is Researchers... have found that...; embedded within this sentence, the present participial phrase studying... describes the researchers, the relative clause who pondered... describes the volunteers, and the object of the main verb appears as a noun clause that the basis... is A Correct. The sentence is coherent and grammatically correct. B The use of the conjunction and immediately before found indicates that the past tense verbs pondered and found both have volunteers as subject, but this changes the original sentence, making it a long noun phrase rather than a complete sentence. C The conjunction and leaves the verb found without a subject, and this changes the original sentence into a sequence of incoherently connected phrases rather than a complete sentence. D The phrase the basis to make is unidiomatic, a sufficient reason for rejecting this option. The placement of the modifier while pondering appears in a form parallel to studying and means that the researchers, not the volunteers, were pondering ethical dilemmas. This does not make the sentence incoherent, but creates a sentence that fails to capture the meaning clearly intended in the original sentence. E Because the word volunteers' is a possessive form, and functions adjectivally as a modifier of brain scans, they must refer back to researchers rather than to volunteers'. This is not incorrect in itself, but, as with (D), the resulting sentence fails to capture the intended meaning of the original sentence. The correct answer is A.
41. Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an achievement, the army of terra-cotta warriors created to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife is more than 2,000 years old and took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete.
A.the army of terra-cotta warriors created to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife is more than 2,000 years old and took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete
B.Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, was protected in his afterlife by an army of terra- cotta warriors that was created more than 2,000 years ago by 700,000 artisans who took more than 36 years to complete it
C.it took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to create an army of terra-cotta warriors more than 2,000 years ago that would protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife
D.more than 2,000 years ago, 700,000 artisans worked more than 36 years to create an army of terra-cotta warriors to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife
E.more than 36 years were needed to complete the army of terra-cotta warriors that 700,000 artisans created 2,000 years ago to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife
A B C D E
A
[解析] Logical Predication; Rhetorical Construction The opening modifier, Rivaling the pyramids... describes the army of terra-cotta warriors, which must immediately follow the modifier. The placement of the predicates that follow is important; they must clarify two things about the army of terra-cotta warriors: how old it is and how long it took to complete. The clearest and most effective way to express these two assertions is as parallel verb phrases, is more than 2,000 years old and took ... more than 36years to complete. A Correct. The opening phrase correctly modifies the subject, the army of terra-cotta warriors; the placement of modifiers and predicates in the main clause makes the meaning of the sentence clear. B Opening phrase is a dangling modifier because it does not describe the subject Qin Shi Huang, in addition, the sentence is awkward and unclear. C Opening phrase is a dangling modifier because it does not describe the subject it, the sequence of information presented is confusing and unclear. D Opening phrase is a dangling modifier because it does not describe the subject 700,000 artisans. E Opening phrase is a dangling modifier because it does not describe the subject more than 36 years. The correct answer is A.
42. In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native Argentina.
A.due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits
B.due to its being so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limit
C.because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits
D.because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limit
E.because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits
A B C D E
D
[解析] Diction; Agreement Words that express comparisons, such as similar, require either a plural object, with an optional expression of the entities being compared, or a singular object, in which case this explicit comparison is required. Thus its being so genetically similar, without this explicit comparison, is incorrect. Also, the two sides of the construction consider... to be must agree in number (fellows...close relatives, not fellows... a close relative). A Consider all their fellows to be a close relative shows incorrect agreement, with plural fellows and singular a close relative. B Its being so genetically similar is incorrect because there is no explicit statement of what the ant is similar to; also, the plural fellows and singular a close relative do not agree. C It is so genetically similar is incorrect because there is no explicit statement of what the ant is similar to. D Correct. The clause with similar uses the plural they and an explicit to one another, and agreement is respected between ants and fellows. E The plural fellows and singular a close relative do not agree. The correct answer is D.
43. Next month, state wildlife officials are scheduled to take over the job of increasing the wolf population in the federally designated recovery area, the number of which will however ultimately be dictated by the number of prey in the area.
A.area, the number of which will however
B.area; the size of the population, however, will
C.area, however the number of wolves will
D.area; the number of which will, however,
E.area, when the size of the population will, however,
A B C D E
B
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Diction The point of the sentence is that the ultimate size of the wolf population will be determined according to the number of prey in the area. However, the phrase the number of which has no referent since it cannot logically refer to the noncount noun population or to the singular wolf, which is used adjectivally here to modify population. The idea can be expressed clearly by making the size of the population the subject of a new independent clause: the size of the population will be dictated by the number of prey. A The number of which cannot logically refer to the noncount noun population or to the singular wolf, which is used adjectivally here to modify population. B Correct. The idea is expressed clearly with an independent clause: the size of the population will be dictated by the number of prey. C However is intended to serve as a conjunctive adverb between the two independent clauses, but the punctuation of the sentence creates confusion by suggesting that however is modifying are scheduled. A semicolon after area and a comma after however would make the intended function of however clear. D The number of which cannot logically refer to the noncount noun population; the semicolon creates confusion since it is not followed by an independent clause. E When illogically suggests that the size of the population will be determined at the moment wildlife officials take over the task. This conflicts with the ensuing claim that the determination will ultimately depend on a long-term condition (the number of prey in the area). The correct answer is B.
44. About 5 million acres in the United States have been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia with milky sap that gives mouth sores to cattle, displacing grasses and other cattle food and rendering rangeland worthless.
A.States have been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia with milky sap that gives mouth sores to cattle, displacing grasses and other cattle food and rendering
B.States have been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia, with milky sap, that gives mouth sores to cattle and displaces grasses and other cattle food, rendering
C.States have been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia having milky sap that gives mouth sores to cattle and displacing grasses and other cattle food, rendering
D.States, having been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia with milky sap that gives mouth sores to cattle, displaces grasses and other cattle food, and renders
E.States, having been invaded by leafy spurge, a herbaceous plant from Eurasia that has milky sap giving mouth sores to cattle and displacing grasses and other cattle food, rendering
A B C D E
B
[解析] Logical Predication; Grammatical Construction The sentence explains that leafy spurge causes mouth sores in cattle and also displaces other plants eaten by cattle. However, the structure of the sentence seems, illogically, to indicate that displacing grasses modifies either the immediately preceding phrase (that gives mouth sores to cattle) or the main subject of the sentence (about 5 million acres in the United States). A clearer way to express the effects of the leafy spurge invasion is with a compound predicate in the subordinate clause: that gives mouth sores... and displaces grasses. A Displacing grasses appears illogically to modify either about 5 million acres in the United States or that gives mouth sores to cattle. B Correct. The effects of the leafy spurge invasion are expressed clearly with a compound predicate in the subordinate clause: that gives mouth sores... and displaces grasses. The parenthetical commas around with milky sap make it clear that the entire phrase that gives... and displaces... rendering... is intended to modify a herbaceous plant from Eurasia. Although the sap may well be the means by which the plant gives mouth sores to cattle, the sentence can be well formed and meaningful without making a definite commitment to whether that is the case. C Having and displacing should not be expressed in parallel form since the first is a permanent characteristic of leafy spurge and the second refers to an effect of the plant's invasion. D The subject of the sentence, 5 million acres is not clearly paired with a verb. The structure of the sentence suggests that 5 million acres may be the intended subject of both displaces and renders but it is illogical to say that 5 million acres displaces grasses and renders rangeland worthless. E The subject of the sentence, 5 million acres is not clearly paired with a verb. The structure of the sentence suggests that 5 million acres may be the intended subject of both displaces and renders but it is illogical to say that 5 million acres displaces grasses and renders rangeland worthless. The correct answer is B.
45. While it costs about the same to run nuclear plants as other types of power plants, it is the fixed costs that stem from building nuclear plants that makes it more expensive for them to generate electricity.
A.While it costs about the same to run nuclear plants as other types of power plants, it is the fixed costs that stem from building nuclear plants that makes it more expensive for them to generate electricity.
B.While the cost of running nuclear plants is about the same as for other types of power plants, the fixed costs that stem from building nuclear plants make the electricity they generate more expensive.
C.Even though it costs about the same to run nuclear plants as for other types of power plants, it is the fixed costs that stem from building nuclear plants that makes the electricity they generate more expensive.
D.It costs about the same to run nuclear plants as for other types of power plants, whereas the electricity they generate is more expensive, stemming from the fixed costs of building nuclear plants.
E.The cost of running nuclear plants is about the same as other types of power plants, but the electricity they generate is made more expensive because of the fixed costs stemming from building nuclear plants.
A B C D E
B
[解析] Agreement; Logical Predication The emphatic construction it is X that does Y (as in the phrase it is Jane who knows the answer) should be used only when there is a compelling reason to emphasize the doer of the action. In this sentence, the emphatic construction is used without good reason. A This sentence uses the emphatic structure it is... that without justification. The singular verb makes violates the agreement within the structure. The verb makes should agree with the notional subject (the fixed costs), not with the pronoun it. B Correct. This answer choice clearly and succinctly compares the two types of costs. C In addition to using the more cumbersome emphatic structure, this version violates the agreement within the structure. The verb should agree with the notional subject (the fixed costs), not with the pronoun it. D The preposition for is redundant in comparing the two objects of run. Since it is not clear what stemming... refers to, this is a dangling modifier. E The passive construction electricity... is made more expensive because of... is wordy and cumbersome. The preposition for is necessary in the comparison of the costs. The correct answer is B.
46. The 32 species that make up the dolphin family are closely related to whales and in fact include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is famous for its aggressive hunting pods.
A.include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is
B.include the animal known as the killer whale, growing as big as 30 feet long and
C.include the animal known as the killer whale, growing up to 30 feet long and being
D.includes the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow as big as 30 feet long and is
E.includes the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and it is
A B C D E
A
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Agreement The subject of the sentence is the 32 species that make up the dolphin family, and the sentence makes two claims about them: They are closely related, and they include the killer whale. The relative pronoun which restates the object of the second verb, reintroducing the animal known as the killer whale as the subject of a relative clause followed by two parallel verbs: can grow and is famous. A Correct. In this concise sentence, verbs agree in number with their subjects and the relative pronoun which indicates clearly that the animal known as the killer whale is the subject of the verbs in the dependent clause. B Changing the verb to the participial growing introduces ambiguity, because it could refer back to the subject of the sentence (32 species). C The participial growing might refer to the 32 species; the introduction of being is unnecessarily wordy and adds nothing in terms of meaning. D as big as is an idiomatically incorrect expression of the comparison; the plural verb form include is needed to match the plural subject the 32 species. E It simply restates the subject of the previous phrase, introducing more words but no additional meaning; the singular verb form includes should be the plural form include. The correct answer is A.
47. The first trenches that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but independently of the more celebrated city-states of southern Mesopotamia, in what is now southern Iraq.
A.that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but
B.that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East were arising simultaneously with but also
C.having been cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East were arising simultaneously but
D.cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, yields strong evidence of centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arising simultaneously but also
E.cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar, Syria, have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Agreement; Grammatical Construction This sentence, explaining interconnections among a number of events, needs to be streamlined as much as possible in order to become understandable. To this end, unnecessary words and structures should be eliminated. Prominent among these are the relative clauses beginning with that. Additionally, the subject of this sentence is the plural trenches, which requires a plural verb. A That were cut... and that were arising ... are unnecessarily wordy and create an unnecessarily complicated and confusing sentence structure. B In addition to the unnecessarily wordy relative clauses, the singular verb yields does not agree with the plural subject trenches. C Having been cut... is unnecessarily wordy; arising simultaneously must be followed by the preposition with in order to make sense. D The singular verb yields does not agree with the plural subject trenches; also adds no meaning to the sentence. E Correct. Unnecessary clauses and phrases are avoided, and the subject and verb of the main clause agree in number. The correct answer is E.
48. Companies are relying more and more on networked computers for such critical tasks as inventory management, electronic funds transfer, and electronic data interchange, in which standard business transactions are handled via computer rather than on paper.
A.in which standard business transactions are handled via computer rather than on paper
B.where computers handle standard business transactions rather than on paper
C.in which computers handle standard business transactions instead of on paper
D.where standard business transactions are handled, not with paper, but instead via computer
E.in which standard business transactions are being handled via computer, in place of on paper
A B C D E
A
[解析] Idiom; Logical Predication; Rhetorical Construction The concluding comparison in this sentence uses the idiom rather than, which requires parallel structures. In this sentence the prepositional phrase via computer parallels on paper. Substituting where for in which creates a nonstandard idiom. A Correct. This sentence uses standard idiomatic constructions and avoids the problems that are found in the other versions. B Where is a nonstandard way to refer to a noun that does not name a location. If electronic data interchange were a location, this version would entail the odd claim that on paper is an alternative location at which computers would be expected to process information. C The comparison of the clause computers handle... with the prepositional phrase on paper illogically treats a location (on paper) as an alternative to an activity (computers handle). D As in (B), where is a nonstandard idiom. The commas around not with paper appear to make this phrase parenthetical; thus, it is somewhat unclear what instead via computer is contrasted with. E The pile of prepositions in the phrase in place of on paper is unnecessarily confusing and wordy. The correct answer is A.
49. Combining enormous physical strength with higher intelligence, the Neanderthals appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path, but their relatively sudden disappearance during the Paleolithic era indicates that an inability to adapt to some environmental change led to their extinction.
A.appear as equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
B.appear to have been equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
C.appear as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,
D.appeared as equipped to face any obstacle the environment could put in their paths,
E.appeared to have been equipped for facing any obstacle the environment could put in their path,
A B C D E
B
[解析] Verb Form; Diction Because Neanderthals "disappeared," the verb describing their apparent abilities cannot be present tense, so as equipped must be changed to to have been equipped. The expression equipped to face is clearer and more direct than equipped for facing. A As equipped indicates that Neanderthals still appear this way; equipped should be followed by an infinitive form instead of a prepositional phrase. B Correct. The verb tense clearly indicates that the current evidence is about Neanderthals in the past. C As equipped does not indicate that Neanderthals appeared this way in the past; while individual Neanderthals may well have followed different paths, this sentence is about the single evolutionary path taken by Neanderthals as a species. D Present-tense appear is needed to parallel present-tense indicates and to reinforce that this is current evidence about Neanderthals in the past; as in (C), paths should be singular. E For facing is an incorrect substitution of a prepositional phrase for an infinitive. The correct answer is B.
50. To map Earth's interior, geologists use a network of seismometers to chart seismic waves that originate in the earth's crust and ricochet around its interior, most rapidly traveling through cold, dense regions and slower through hotter rocks.
A.interior, most rapidly traveling through cold, dense regions and slower
B.interior, which travel most rapidly through cold, dense regions, and more slowly
C.interior, traveling most rapidly through cold, dense regions and more slowly
D.interior and most rapidly travel through cold, dense regions, and slower
E.interior and that travel most rapidly through cold, dense regions and slower
A B C D E
C
[解析] Grammatical Construction; Parallelism This sentence explains in detail an activity of geologists (using seismometers to chart waves), focusing primarily on the object, seismic waves. A description of these waves is developed in a relative clause (that originate... hotter rocks) that contains a compound verb phrase (originate... ricochet...). The action, ricochet, is further described in a participial phrase in which traveling... is then further described in a comparison of travel speeds in cold and hot regions of Earth's crust. A The two expressions of comparison should be parallel. Because most rapidly is placed before the verb, it appears to modify the entire ensuing phrase, including slower. This and the contrast between the forms of rapidly and slower make the comparisons nonparallel. Some usage advisers consider slower to be only an adjective. Although slower is sometimes used as an adverb, that usage would be more appropriate with the parallel faster. The stark contrast between this typically adjectival form and the clearly adverbially form is somewhat jarring. B The referent of the relative pronoun which is unclear. C Correct. The modifiers are parallel and correctly positioned in relation to the verb. D This version of the sentence offers travel as a compound verb parallel with originate and ricochet rather than as a description of how the waves ricochet. It has the same problems with parallelism as (A). E Adding a relative clause and that... makes this sentence wordy and awkward. The correct answer is C.