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. To estimate the expansion rate of the universe is a notoriously difficult problem because there is a lack of a single yardstick that all distances can be measured by.
A.To estimate the expansion rate of the universe is a notoriously difficult problem because there is a lack of a single yardstick that all distances can be measured by.
B.Estimating the expansion rate of the universe is a notoriously difficult problem because there is no single yardstick by which all distances can be measured.
C.Because there is a lack of a single yardstick to measure all distances by, estimating the expansion rate of the universe is a notoriously difficult problem.
D.A notoriously difficult problem is to estimate the expansion rate of the universe because a single yardstick is lacking by which all distances can be measured.
E.It is a notoriously difficult problem to estimate the expansion rate of the universe because by no single yardstick can all distances be measured.
A B C D E
B
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Logical Predication The sentence seeks to explain the difficulty of estimating the expansion rate of the universe and uses a because-clause to present the explanation. Issues in the given sentence include the following: is the infinitive verb form to estimate best here? And is there a more straightforward and more readable way to express the explanation? A The wording with the infinitive verb form to estimate is less than ideal here (as opposed to how to estimate, for example). The phrase there is a lack of a single yardstick is wordy. The placement of the preposition by so far from the relative pronoun it governs (that) is unnecessarily awkward. B Correct. Use of the verbal noun estimating is acceptable here. The phrase there is no single yardstick is much more direct and readable than there is a lack of a single yardstick. The preposition by is adjacent to which, the relative pronoun that it governs. C The phrase there is a lack of a single yardstick is wordy. The placement of the preposition by at the end of the phrase a single yardstick to measure all distances by is unnecessarily awkward, in that it separates by from the noun that it is meant to govern. D Compared with the given sentence, this sentence involves a reordering of the ideas and a shifting of emphases in a way that is confusing. For example, is this sentence to be understood as citing one instance of "a notoriously difficult problem"? This was not the purpose of the given sentence. In addition, the phrase to estimate is less clear than would be how to estimate. Finally, the wide separation of the because-clause from the reference to difficulty produces a sentence that is unnecessarily awkward, if not incoherent (for example, structurally it seems to make the adverbial because-clause modify the verb estimate). Contrast this with the given sentence, where the because-clause is placed adjacent to the phrase difficult problem. E The phrase to estimate is less clear than would be how to estimate. The because-clause, which is meant to explain why estimating the expansion rate of the universe is difficult, is too widely separated from the reference to difficulty. In the because-clause, the inversion of the normal subject-verb order is unnecessarily awkward. The correct answer is B.
2. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was making the case for women's equality long before the cause had a name: Born in the mid-seventeenth century in San Miguel Nepantla, Mexico, the convent was the perfect environment for Sor Juana to pursue intellectual pursuits, achieving renown as a mathematician, poet, philosopher, and playwright.
A.the convent was the perfect environment for Sor Juana to pursue intellectual pursuits, achieving
B.Sor Juana found the convent provided the perfect environment for intellectual pursuits, and she went on to achieve
C.the convent provided the perfect environment for intellectual pursuits for Sor Juana; going on to achieve
D.Sor Juana found the convent provided the perfect environment for intellectual pursuits; achieving
E.the convent was, Sor Juana found, the perfect environment for intellectual pursuits, and she went on to achieve
A B C D E
B
[解析] Logical predication; Grammatical construction This sentence focuses on Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, but the subject of its second clause is the convent. This causes a problem because the predicates born and achieving, which have only understood subjects, are grammatically paired with the convent, an illogical subject. Also, normally where a semicolon is used to mark the end of an independent clause (as in some of the options), it should be followed by another independent clause. A. The convent is the subject of the second clause, so both born and achieving are illogically forced to take it as their subject. B. Correct. Sor Juana provides the correct logical subject for born and went on to achieve; the second clause is correctly introduced by and, and is constructed as a full clause with a subject and tensed verb. C. As the convent is the subject of the second clause, born is illogically forced to take that phrase as its subject. Also, the clause after the semicolon is not an independent full clause with a subject and a tensed verb; she went on is required instead of going on. D. The clause after the semicolon is not an independent full clause with a subject and a tensed verb: she achieved is required instead of achieving. E. Since the convent is the subject of the second clause, born must illogically take that phrase as its subject. The correct answer is B.
3. Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.
A.which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize
B.published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
C.published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
D.was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim
E.was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim
A B C D E
C
[解析] Idiom; Grammatical Construction This sentence claims that the 1982 novel The Color Purple brought Alice Walker more acclaim than her many publications in the 1970s. A The construction both the American Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize is unidiomatic; the correct idiomatic form is both x and y. B Because this sentence uses only participial phrases in the clause following the initial, dependent clause, the sentence lacks a main verb and is therefore ungrammatical. C Correct. This version correctly uses the form both x and y and is grammatically correct. D The use of which is inappropriate here; although it would still be rhetorically inferior to the correct answer (C), this version would be acceptable if the word which were deleted. E Like (A), this version of the sentence uses the unidiomatic form both x as well as y. The correct answer is C.
4. Scientists have recently found evidence that black holes—regions of space in which matter is so concentrated and the pull of gravity so powerful that nothing, not even light, can emerge from them—probably exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to its host galaxy.
A.exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to
B.exist at the core of nearly all galaxies and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of
C.exist at the core of nearly all galaxies, and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to
D.exists at the core of nearly all galaxies, and that the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of
E.exists at the core of nearly all galaxies and the mass of each black hole is proportional to that of
A B C D E
B
[解析] Logical Predication; Agreement This sentence focuses attention on two hypotheses about black holes—one about their location and the other about their mass. These hypotheses appear as parallel relative clauses that black holes... exist at... and that the mass... is proportional. The subject of the first relative clause (black holes) is plural, so the clause must be completed with the plural form of exist. A This version of the sentence does not provide the relative pronoun that to provide parallel structure for presenting the two things scientific evidence reveals about black holes. This leaves it somewhat unclear whether the final clause is intended to convey part of what the scientists discovered or to express a claim that the writer is making independently of the scientists' discovery. The sentence illogically compares mass to galaxy. B Correct. The structure of the sentence makes the meaning clear, and the plural verb form agrees with the plural subject. C The comma appears to signal that the final part of the sentence is intended as an independent clause expressing a separate claim rather than describing part of the scientists' discovery. But if it were intended in that way, it should be set off as a separate sentence, not conjoined with the preceding clause. Like (A), this version makes an illogical comparison between mass and galaxy. D The singular verb exists does not agree with the plural subject black holes. As in (C), the comma is inappropriate because it does not introduce a new independent clause. E The singular verb exists does not agree with the plural subject black holes. Like (A), this version lacks the relative pronoun that, which would clarify the relationship between the two clauses. The correct answer is B.
5. Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily response.
A.private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable
B.private, are social phenomena that are inseparable
C.private are a social phenomenon but are not those separable
D.private—are social phenomena but not separable
E.also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable
A B C D E
B
[解析] Agreement; Rhetorical Construction The main problem is one of agreement: in the subordinate clause starting with that, the subject is the plural emotions, which demands the verb are, not is. Also, the phrase starting with including is a parenthetical expression that needs to be set off from the rest of the clause, with some punctuation to indicate a pause at its end (after private). A The verb form is is incorrect, and should instead be are; the parenthetical expression is not separated at its end from the rest of the clause. B Correct. Are is the correct agreeing verb form, and the comma after private correctly sets off the parenthetical expression. C Are is correct, but nothing after private sets off the parenthetical expression from the subsequent material. In addition, not those separable is awkwardly phrased; it would be better as not separable or inseparable as in the correct answer choice B. D The dash would be correct to set off the parenthetical expression only if including had been immediately preceded by a dash; otherwise a comma is needed. The phrase not separable is awkward; it would be better as are not separable or are inseparable. E The phrase also as private emotions is wordy and unidiomatic. The phrase social phenomena not inseparable not only does not express the intended meaning, but is also awkward without a verb and a relative pronoun such as that: a better phrasing is social phenomena that are not separable. The correct answer is B.
6. Recently physicians have determined that stomach ulcers are not caused by stress, alcohol, or rich foods, but a bacterium that dwells in the mucous lining of the stomach.
A.not caused by stress, alcohol, or rich foods, but
B.not caused by stress, alcohol, or rich foods, but are by
C.caused not by stress, alcohol, or rich foods, but by
D.caused not by stress, alcohol, and rich foods, but
E.caused not by stress, alcohol, and rich foods, but are by
A B C D E
C
[解析] Parallelism; Diction The formula used in this sentence not this but that requires parallel elements following not and but. This means that not by stress, alcohol, or rich foods must be balanced by but by a bacterium....There is no need to repeat the verb are caused, or even the auxiliary verb are, because the verb precedes the not by... but by... formula. The substitution of the conjunction and for the conjunction or changes the meaning of the sentence: Stress, alcohol and rich foods identifies the combination of these three factors as a suggested cause of stomach ulcers, whereas stress, alcohol, or rich foods offers three individual possibilities. There is no way to tell which one of these is the intended meaning of the sentence. A To preserve parallelism, but should be followed by by. B There is no reason to repeat the auxiliary verb are. C Correct. This sentence correctly uses the not by... but by... formula. D To preserve parallelism, but should be followed by by. E To preserve parallelism, but should be followed by by. The correct answer is C.
7. 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.
8. She was less successful after she had emigrated to New York compared to her native Germany, photographer Lotte Jacobi nevertheless earned a small group of discerning admirers, and her photographs were eventually exhibited in prestigious galleries across the United States.
A.She was less successful after she had emigrated to New York compared to
B.Being less successful after she had emigrated to New York as compared to
C.Less successful after she emigrated to New York than she had been in
D.Although she was less successful after emigrating to New York when compared to
E.She had been less successful after emigrating to New York than in
A B C D E
C
[解析] Idiom; Grammatical Construction; Logical Predication This sentence compares the success Jacobi experienced after moving to New York to the success she had previously experienced in Germany. The phrase less successful anticipates the conclusion of the comparison with the phrase than.... The main subject of the sentence is photographer Lotte Jacobi, and the main verb is earned. The opening clause She was less successful... therefore creates a comma splice if the comma is not followed by a conjunction. The most efficient way to incorporate the information about Jacobi's comparative successes in Germany and in New York is to turn this clause into an adjectival phrase describing Jacobi. A Less successful... anticipates than rather than compared to ...; a comma is insufficient to join two independent clauses into a single sentence. B As compared to is an incorrect way to complete the comparison introduced by less; Being... is unnecessarily wordy and awkward. C Correct. The idiomatic construction less successful... than is incorporated into an introductory adjectival phrase modifying Lotte Jacobi. D When compared to is an incorrect phrase to complete the comparison introduced by less. E A comma is insufficient to join two independent clauses into a single sentence; past-perfect tense is misleading, since it refers to Jacobi's experience in New York, which in fact followed her experience in Germany. The correct answer is C.
9. Alter weeks of uncertainty about the course the country would pursue to stabilize its troubled economy, officials reached a revised agreement with the International Monetary Fund, pledging the enforcement of substantially greater budget discipline as that which was originally promised and to keep inflation below ten percent.
A.the enforcement of substantially greater budget discipline as that which was originally promised and to keep inflation below ten percent
B.the enforcement of substantially greater budget discipline than originally promised and keeping inflation below the ten percent figure
C.to enforce substantially greater budget discipline than originally promised and to keep inflation below ten percent
D.to enforce substantially greater budget discipline than that which was originally promised and keeping inflation less than the ten percent figure
E.to enforce substantially greater budget discipline as that which was originally promised and to keep inflation less than ten percent
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical predication; Parallelism This sentence explains the two-part strategy an unnamed country agreed to pursue in order to stabilize its economy. Nominalization (the enforcement of...) and an incorrect form of comparison (as that which was...) in the account of the first strategy causes excessive wordiness and indirection and makes the account of the first strategy nonparallel with the account of the second strategy. To reduce wordiness and achieve parallelism, both strategies pledged by the country should be presented in infinitive form (to enforce... and to keep...).The sentence also needs to employ the correct comparative form greater discipline than.... A. The two strategies (the enforcement of and keeping) are not presented in parallel form; the nominalized presentation of the first strategy is wordy and indirect, and the comparative form is incorrect. B. The two strategies (the enforcement of and keeping) are not presented in parallel form. C. Correct. The comparative form is correct, and the two strategies are presented in parallel form, as infinitives completing the verb pledged. D. The two strategies are not presented in parallel form, and the comparative form is unnecessarily wordy. E. The comparative form is incorrect and wordy. The correct answer is C.
10. Like ancient Egyptian architectural materials that were recycled in the construction of ancient Greek Alexandria, so ancient Greek materials from the construction of that city were reused in subsequent centuries by Roman, Muslim, and modern builders.
A.Like ancient Egyptian architectural materials that were recycled in the construction of
B.Like recycling ancient Egyptian architectural materials to construct
C.Just as ancient Egyptian architectural materials were recycled in the construction of
D.Just as they recycled ancient Egyptian architectural materials in constructing
E.Just like ancient Egyptian architectural materials that were recycled in constructing
A B C D E
C
[解析] Diction; Parallelism When two situations are asserted to be similar, the proper way to express this is with the paired expressions just as... so..., not like... so. Moreover, the two compared situations should be expressed as clauses, not as noun phrases. Thus the clause ancient Egyptian architectural materials were recycled... is correct, as opposed to a noun phrase like ancient Egyptian architectural materials that were recycled... A Just as and a following clause with a passive verb are preferred, but instead this option has like and a following noun phrase (ancient Egyptian materials...). It appears, somewhat implausibly, to say that the ancient Greek materials were similar to the earlier ancient Egyptian ones in that both were used by Roman, Muslim, and modern builders. B Just as and a following clause with a passive verb are preferred, but instead this option has like and a following noun phrase (recycling ancient Egyptian materials...). It appears illogically to say that the action of recycling was similar to the ancient Greek materials in that both were reused in subsequent centuries. C Correct. The expressions just as and so are paired to link the two clauses in parallel, and both clauses use the passive construction. D Just as is used to connect two clauses, which is good, but the first clause employs the active construction rather than the preferred passive, so there is a failure of parallelism. Also, it is unclear what they refers to. The sentence appears to say illogically that some unidentified group's action of recycling was similar to the ancient Greek materials' being reused. E Just as introducing a clause with a passive verb is preferable, but this sentence uses like and a following noun phrase (ancient Egyptian materials...). It appears, somewhat implausibly, to say that the ancient Greek materials were similar to the earlier ancient Egyptian ones in that both were used by Roman, Muslim, and modern builders. The correct answer is C.
11. Hundreds of species of fish generate and discharge electric currents, in bursts or as steady electric fields around their bodies, using their power either to find and attack prey, to defend themselves, or also for communicating and navigating.
A.either to find and attack prey, to defend themselves, or also for communicating and navigating
B.either for finding and attacking prey, defend themselves, or for communication and navigation
C.to find and attack prey, for defense, or communication and navigation
D.for finding and attacking prey, to defend themselves, or also for communication and navigation
E.to find and attack prey, to defend themselves, or to communicate and navigate
A B C D E
E
[解析] Idiom; Verb form The sentence explains that fish discharge electric currents for several purposes, which are most efficiently and effectively described in a parallel structure: to find and attack, to defend, or to communicate and navigate. The use of either is inappropriate in this sentence because more than two uses of electric currents are listed; idiomatic usage requires either to be followed by or to identify alternatives, not by also. A. Either inappropriately introduces a list of more than two alternatives, and it should not be followed by or also; parallelism requires that for communicating and navigating be changed to to communicate and navigate. B. Defend is not parallel with the list of gerunds, leaving the reader to wonder how to make sense of defend themselves. C. The lack of parallelism obscures the relationships among the items in the series; it is especially confusing to list an infinitive phrase (to find...), an object of a preposition (for defense), and nouns with no grammatical connection to the verb phrase (communication and navigation). D. This answer choice also violates parallelism by mixing an infinitive with objects of the preposition for. Or also is an unidiomatic, contradictory expression. E. Correct. The different ways in which the various species of fish use their electric power are correctly expressed in a series of parallel infinitives. The correct answer is E.
12. Mauritius was a British colony for almost 200 years, excepting for the domains of administration and teaching, the English language was never really spoken on the island.
A.excepting for
B.except in
C.but except in
D.but excepting for
E.with the exception of
A B C D E
C
[解析] Idiom; Grammatical Construction This two-clause sentence describes an apparent incompatibility: as a British colony, Mauritius might be expected to be English-speaking, but in fact it was not. To describe this apparent contradiction and to avoid a comma splice, the clauses should be joined by the conjunction but. Domains describes places in which English is spoken; for is the incorrect preposition. Excepting is not idiomatic English in this case. A The lack of a conjunction causes a comma splice; excepting for is non-idiomatic. B The lack of a conjunction causes a comma splice. C Correct. The two independent clauses are separated by but, and except in is an appropriate idiom. D Excepting for is non-idiomatic. E The lack of a conjunction causes a comma splice. The correct answer is C.
13. A long-term study of some 1,000 physicians indicates that the more coffee these doctors drank, the more they had a likelihood of coronary disease.
A.more they had a likelihood of coronary disease
B.more was their likelihood of having coronary disease
C.more they would have a likelihood to have coronary disease
D.greater was their likelihood of having coronary disease
E.greater was coronary disease likely
A B C D E
D
[解析] Idiom; Rhetorical Construction This sentence describes the results of a study in which researchers found a correlation between the amounts of coffee that people drank and their likelihood of coronary disease. It most eloquently expresses this correlation as a comparison of parallel forms, using the idiom the + comparative adjective phrase...the + comparative adjective phrase. The two adjective phrases should have the same grammatical form. A This version obscures the intended correlation between coffee and likelihood. The phrase the more they had a likelihood somewhat illogically indicates that the research subjects had likelihood to a greater degree rather than that their likelihood was greater. B Although the adverb more is used to indicate a greater degree or extent in phrases such as more likely, the adjective more normally indicates greater quantity. THUS, the use of more as an adjective modifying their likelihood is nonstandard. Differences in a particular type of likelihood are normally thought of as matters of degree, not of quantity. Greater is the preferred adjective for indicating such differences. C The conditional verb phrase would have a likelihood to have is redundant, wordy, and not comparable to the simple past tense drank. D Correct. This version uses proper wording and is clear and concise. E This completion of the comparison is not idiomatic; moreover, it is ungrammatical, attempting to use an adjective greater to describe an adverb, likely. The correct answer is D.
14. Using digital enhancements of skull fragments from five prehistoric hominids dating to more than 350,000 years ago, anthropologists argue that these human ancestors probably had hearing similar to that of people today.
A.anthropologists argue that these human ancestors
B.anthropologists argue, so these human ancestors
C.anthropologists argue, these human ancestors
D.these human ancestors, anthropologists argue,
E.these human ancestors are argued by anthropologists to have
A B C D E
A
[解析] Logical predication; Diction The verb argue here, because it expresses the idea of arguing for a position or theory, should be followed directly by a clause introduced by that, without a pause. Verb forms ending with -ing with understood subjects, like the one beginning this sentence, must have their subject supplied elsewhere—preferably by the subject of the main clause. A. Correct. Argue is followed immediately by a that clause, and the subject of using is supplied by anthropologists. B. Argue is not directly followed by a that clause; moreover, by continuing with so the sentence does not coherently express the intended idea. C. Argue is not directly followed by a that clause. D. The subject of the main clause, these human ancestors, will illogically be taken as the subject of using. E. The subject of the main clause, these human ancestors, will illogically be taken as the subject of using. The correct answer is A.
15. A recent court decision has qualified a 1998 ruling that workers cannot be laid off if they have been given reason to believe that their jobs will be safe, provided that their performance remains satisfactory.
A.if they have been given reason to believe that their jobs will
B.if they are given reason for believing that their jobs would still
C.having been given reason for believing that their jobs would
D.having been given reason to believe their jobs to
E.given reason to believe that their jobs will still
A B C D E
A
[解析] Verb form; Idiom This sentence asserts that a court decision has qualified a 1998 ruling. It then goes on to explain the series of conditions stipulated by that ruling: workers cannot be laid off if they have been given (prior) reason to believe that continued satisfactory job performance will (always) ensure that their jobs are safe. To express these complicated temporal relationships, the present tense passive verb cannot be laid off describes the assurance provided by the ruling; the present- perfect, passive verb describes the prior condition have been given..., and the future tense verb will be describes the outcome the workers can expect. The idiom reason to believe succinctly describes the assurance given to workers. A. Correct. The sequence of conditions makes sense, and the idiom is correct. B. The present tense are given fails to clarify that the assurance of job security must precede the workers' confidence that they cannot be laid off. The phrase reason for believing (singular, with no article) is unidiomatic and in this context is inappropriate. C. This version appears to be presenting having been given reason ... as a restrictive modifier of laid off. This makes the sentence very awkward and hard to make sense of, and it obscures the requisite nature of the condition (that workers had been given prior reason to think their jobs were safe). Reason for believing is unidiomatic. D. Without a comma after off, it is unclear what having been given reason... modifies; the string of infinitive phrases is awkward and confusing. E. As in (D), it is unclear what the participial phrase (in this case, given reason to believe) is supposed to modify. The correct answer is A.
16. Prices at the producer level are only 1.3 percent higher now than a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in the South are hurting crops and therefore raised corn and soybean prices.
A.than a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in the South are hurting crops and therefore raised
B.than those of a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in the South are hurting crops and therefore raising
C.than a year ago and are going down, despite floods in the Midwest and drought in the South, and are hurting crops and therefore raising
D.as those of a year ago and are going down, even though floods in the Midwest and drought in the South hurt crops and therefore raise
E.as they were a year ago and are going down, despite floods in the Midwest and drought in the South, and are hurting crops and therefore raising
A B C D E
B
[解析] Logical Predication; Verb Form The sentence as written makes an illogical comparison between prices at the producer level and a time period (a year ago); surely the intended comparison is between such prices now and those of a year ago. The clause at the end of the sentence states that flooding and a drought are hurting crops, and as a result of this, they have raised prices of certain crops. Are hurting is in the present progressive tense, indicating an ongoing process; raised is in the simple past tense, indicating a completed action. It would be more appropriate to use the present progressive tense here as well, [are] raising. A The first part of this version of the sentence illogically compares prices to a time; the second part of the sentence indicates that a completed action (raised... prices) results from an ongoing present condition (floods... and drought... are hurting crops). B Correct. This version of the sentence makes an appropriate comparison (between prices now and those of a year ago), and uses tenses in an appropriate way. C Like (A), this version of the sentence illogically compares prices to time past. Furthermore, in this version, Prices is the subject not only for the verb are but also for the verbs are hurting and [are] raising, which makes no sense. D The comparative adjective higher requires the comparative term than instead of as; the tenses of the verbs in the latter half of the sentence, hurt (simple past) and raise (simple present), do not work together logically. E Like (D), this version inappropriately uses as instead of than with higher. Furthermore, like (C), in this version [p]rices is the subject not only for the verb are but also for the verbs are hurting and [are] raising. The correct answer is B.
17. As an actress and, more importantly, as a teacher of acting, Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, who trained several generations of actors including Marion Brando and Robert De Niro.
A.Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, who trained several generations of actors including
B.Stella Adler, one of the most influential artists in the American theater, trained several generations of actors who include
C.Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, training several generations of actors whose ranks included
D.one of the most influential artists in the American theater was Stella Adler, who trained several generations of actors including
E.one of the most influential artists in the American theater, Stella Adler, trained several generations of actors whose ranks included
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical predication The original sentence contains a number of modifiers, but not all of them are correctly expressed. The clause who trained...describes Stella Adler, yet a relative clause such as this one must be placed immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies, and this clause follows theater rather than Adler. Replacing who trained with training corrects the error because the phrase training...modifies the whole preceding clause rather than the single preceding noun. Several generations of actors including shows the same error in reverse; including modifies the whole phrase, but the two actors named are not generations of actors. The more limiting clause whose ranks included (referring to actors) is appropriate here. A. Relative (who) clause follows theater rather than Adler, including refers to generations of actors, when the reference should be to actors only. B. This construction, in which the subject is both preceded and followed by modifiers, is awkward; the verbs should be consistently in the past tense, but include is present tense. C. Correct. In this sentence, substituting training for who trained and whose ranks included for including eliminates the modification errors. D. Introductory modifier must be immediately followed by Stella Adler, not one...; including refers to generations of actors rather than to actors only. E. Introductory modifier must be immediately followed by Stella Adler, not one. The correct answer is C.
18. In many of the world's regions, increasing pressure on water resources has resulted both from expanding development, changes in climate, and from pollution, so that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a concern going forward.
A.both from expanding development, changes in climate, and from pollution, so that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a concern going forward
B.both from expanding development or changes in climate, and pollution, so that future supplies in some of the more arid areas are a concern
C.from expanding development, changes in climate, and also from pollution, so that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a matter of concern going forward
D.from expanding development, changes in climate, and pollution, so that future supplies in some of the more arid areas are a concern
E.from expansion of development, changes in climate, and from pollution, so that supplies in some of the more arid areas are a future concern
A B C D E
D
[解析] Parallelism; Rhetorical construction The sentence lists three factors that have increased pressure on water resources and expresses concern for future water supplies in arid regions. The preposition both creates confusion since it indicates two factors, when the sentence actually lists three. If expanding development and changes in climate are supposed to be grouped together—implausibly—as a single factor, they should be conjoined by and, not separated by commas. The sentence could be constructed most clearly by listing all three factors in parallel form as objects of the preposition from: from expanding development, changes in climate, and pollution. A. The preposition both creates confusion since it indicates two factors, when the sentence actually lists three. B. Both indicates that there are two factors. If the entire disjunction expanding development or changes in climate is intended—somewhat implausibly—to be the first of the two factors, the comma before and pollution makes its relationship to the preceding portion of the sentence unclear. C. Repetition of the preposition from disrupts the parallelism of the list and makes the meaning unclear. D. Correct. The three factors are listed in parallel form as objects of the preposition from. E. Repetition of the preposition from disrupts the parallelism of the list and makes the meaning unclear. Future somewhat implausibly modifies concern rather than supplies. The correct answer is D.
19. Bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, whose repertory, views on musical collaboration, and vocal style were influential on generations of bluegrass artists, was also an inspiration to many musicians, that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from his own.
A.were influential on generations of bluegrass artists, was also an inspiration to many musicians, that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from
B.influenced generations of bluegrass artists, also inspired many musicians, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from
C.was influential to generations of bluegrass artists, was also inspirational to many musicians, that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music was different significantly in comparison to
D.was influential to generations of bluegrass artists, also inspired many musicians, who included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, the music of whom differed significantly when compared to
E.were an influence on generations of bluegrass artists, was also an inspiration to many musicians, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music was significantly different from that of
A B C D E
B
[解析] Agreement; Rhetorical construction; Grammatical construction The original sentence logically intends to explain that Monroe's work influenced generations of artists in his own musical field and that he inspired many musicians in other musical fields. Who or what influenced or inspired whom must be more clearly stated. Additionally, the original sentence lacks precision, being overly wordy and using phrases that are not idiomatic. Concise and consistent verb forms, as well as the use of subordinate phrases rather than clauses, improve the precision of the sentence. A. The phrase were influential on is wordy and is not idiomatic; the use of verb forms were (the predicate of repertory, views, and style) and was (the predicate of Monroe) is confusing. B. Correct. The use of the concise verb forms of influenced and inspired simplifies and clarifies the sentence. The concise use of including avoids the pronoun error and unnecessary wordiness. C. The subject and verb do not agree in repertory, views, and style... was (compound subject with singular verb). Was influential to and different... in comparison to are unnecessarily wordy. D. There is incorrect subject-verb agreement in repertory, views, and style... was (compound subject with singular verb). Was influential to and in when compared to are unnecessarily wordy. The music of whom is cumbersome and stilted. E. The phrase were an influence on is wordy and not idiomatic. The phrases was also an inspiration to and was significantly different are unnecessarily wordy. The phrase from that of is unclear and confusing. The correct answer is B.
20. Long overshadowed by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, historians are now exploring the more ancient Olmec culture for the legacy it had for succeeding Mesoamerican societies.
A.historians are now exploring the more ancient Olmec culture for the legacy it had for succeeding Mesoamerican societies
B.historians' exploration is now of the more ancient Olmec culture's legacy to the Mesoamerican societies succeeding them
C.the legacy of the more ancient Olmec culture to the Mesoamerican societies that succeeded them is what historians are now exploring
D.the more ancient Olmec culture is now being explored by historians for its legacy to succeeding Mesoamerican societies
E.the Olmec culture is more ancient and had a legacy to succeeding Mesoamerican societies that historians are now exploring
A B C D E
D
[解析] Logical predication; Idiom The sentence notes that historians are exploring the contributions of the ancient Olmec culture to societies that came after it. The sentence structure is flawed, however. A. The sentence's initial phrase is, nonsensically, predicated of historians rather than of Olmec culture. The wording for the legacy it had for is verbose, the repetition of for is awkward, and the second for is unidiomatic with legacy. B. The sentence's initial phrase long... civilizations is, nonsensically, predicated of exploration. The wording is now of is unnecessarily awkward (for example, the phrase no, focuses on would not be so). C. The context suggests that the sentence's initial phrase long... civilizations is more likely meant to be predicated of a noun phrase referring to another civilization (or culture), thus making the legacy be the subject of the sentence (as opposed to the more ancient Olmec culture). The relative what and its antecedent are too widely separated from each other; also, the construction is what... is unnecessarily awkward. D. Correct. This version is logically and structurally correct. Making the more ancient Olmec culture the subject of the main clause—the most logical subject, given the initial modifying phrase referring to civilizations—has required a change in the verb form, from active to passive. The preposition to following legacy is idiomatic. E. This shifts the emphasis, compared with the given sentence, to how far back in time the Olmec culture existed. Unlike the given sentence, it makes the historians' current preoccupation with the Olmec culture seem secondary. The wording had a legacy to is unnecessarily awkward. The correct answer is D.
21. The themes that Rita Dove explores in her poetry is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally she deals with racial issues.
A.is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally she deals
B.is universal, encompassing much of the human condition, also occasionally it deals
C.are universal, they encompass much of the human condition and occasionally deals
D.are universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally dealing
E.are universal, they encompass much of the human condition, also occasionally are dealing
A B C D E
D
[解析] Agreement; Grammatical construction The plural subject of the sentence, themes, requires the plural verb are in place of is. Because the themes of Dove's poetry encompass the human condition and deal with racial issues, there is no need to make this a compound sentence by introducing a new grammatical subject, she, in a final clause. A single subject with two parallel verbs is the clearest and most efficient form for this sentence. A. The plural subject disagrees with the singular verb. The sentence should retain the focus on the single subject themes rather than introduce a new subject and clause at the end. B. The plural subject disagrees with the singular verb. Because also occasionally it deals with... introduces a new main clause, the comma between condition and also is an insufficient connector (creating a comma splice). C. The comma between universal and they is an insufficient connector, creating a comma splice; the singular verb deals does not agree with the plural subject they. D. Correct. The plural verb are agrees with the plural subject. The sentence is effectively worded and grammatically correct. E. The comma between universal and they creates a comma splice. There is no subject for the verb are dealing. The correct answer is D.
22. Written early in the French Revolution, Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) attributed Europe's social and political ills to be the result of the dominance of aristocratic values and patriarchal hereditary privilege.
A.Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) attributed Europe's social and political ills to be the result of
B.Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) attributed Europe's social and political ills to result from
C.Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) attributed Europe's social and political ills to
D.in A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), Mary Wollstonecraft attributed Europe's social and political ills to have been the result of
E.Mary Wollstonecraft, in A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), attributed Europe's social and political ills to
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical Predication; Idiom The phrase at the beginning needs a subject for written; most logically here it would be the books mentioned written by Mary Wollstonecraft; any other main-clause subject is therefore incorrect. The verb attribute idiomatically requires the preposition to followed by a noun phrase, not the infinitive marker to followed by a verb. A The main subject is correctly predicated of written, but attribute is incorrectly followed by the infinitive to plus a verb (be). B The main subject is correctly predicated of written, but attribute is incorrectly followed by the infinitive to plus a verb (result). C Correct. The main subject is correctly predicated of written, and attribute is correctly followed by the preposition to. D The subject of the main clause is Mary Wollstonecraft, and so this phrase is illogically forced to be taken as the subject of written. Also, attribute is incorrectly followed by to plus a verb (have been). E The subject of the main clause is Mary Wollstonecraft, and so this phrase is illogically forced to be taken as the subject of written. The correct answer is C.
23. The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings' burning of fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds by harming their habitats as a result of altering the environment.
A.by harming their habitats as a result of altering the environment
B.by altering the environment to the extent of it harming their habitats
C.by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitats
D.from the fact that their habitats will be harmed by the environment being altered
E.from the fact that the environment will be altered and this will harm their habitats
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical predication; Rhetorical construction The sentence describes a declaration by the World Wildlife Fund that global warming will "create havoc" among migratory birds in certain respects, which are specified in the underlined portion. The underlined portion thus needs to specify, in a clear and focused fashion, how, according to the World Wildlife Fund, global warming will create havoc for the birds. A. The description in this option of the effects of global warming among migratory birds is convoluted and confusing. First, the sentence as written does not specify who or what is altering the environment. Second, given the reasonable guess that it is global warming that is or will harm the environment, the order of the listing of the causal elements is confusing. According to the sentence, global warming will alter the environment and then this altering will harm the habitat of birds. However, although this sentence accurately describes what causes what, the elements are listed in an order that does not correspond to the order of causation ("global warming" is followed by "harming the habitats," which is followed by "altering the environment"). B. This sentence uses the word extent, followed by a condition, it harming their habitats, intended to imply a certain level of extent. The extent is great enough to harm the habitat of the birds. However, as worded, the sentence does not provide a clear condition on the level of extent. For example, in it harming their habitat, it is not clear what it refers to. The word it could refer to the environment or to the extent of change to the environment. C. Correct. This sentence clearly specifies how global warming will "create havoc" for the birds. D. This sentence, like sentence A, is convoluted and confusing, in part because, when reading the sentence, it is unnecessarily difficult to understand what is supposed to be causing what. Note that, although the meaning of this option is more or less the same as that of sentence C, this sentence, sentence D, is much more difficult to process. E. This sentence is unnecessarily wordy and difficult to process. Sentence C is a much better choice. The correct answer is C.
24. Less than 400 Sumatran rhinos survive on the Malay peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, and they occupy a small fraction of the species' former range.
A.Less than 400 Sumatran rhinos survive on the Malay peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, and they occupy a small fraction of the species' former range.
B.Less than 400 Sumatran rhinos, surviving on the Malay peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, occupy a small fraction of the species' former range.
C.Occupying a small fraction of the species' former range, the Malay peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo are where fewer than 400 Sumatran rhinos survive.
D.Occupying a small fraction of the species' former range, fewer than 400 Sumatran rhinos survive on the Malay peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
E.Surviving on the Malay peninsula and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, less than 400 Sumatran rhinos occupy a small fraction of the species' former range.
A B C D E
D
[解析] Diction; Logical Predication Because the number of Sumatran rhinos has been given, the comparative term fewer rather than less should be used to account for their numbers. In order to clarify that habitat currently occupied by the rhinos is but a small fraction of their former range, the information about their dwindling habitat is most efficiently presented in an opening participial phrase describing the rhinos, followed by a main clause in which the number of surviving rhinos is the subject, with the predicate explaining where the rhinos currently live. By presenting the information about the population and range of rhinos in two separate independent clauses, the sentence as written does not clarify that the former range of the rhinos once extended beyond the peninsula and the islands. A. Less is inappropriate for describing the specific number of surviving Sumatran rhinos. The separate independent clauses obscure the fact that the rhinos' range used to extend beyond the peninsula and the two islands. The referent of they is unclear. B. Less is inappropriate for describing the specific number of surviving Sumatran rhinos. By using a nonrestrictive phrase surviving..., the sentence suggests that fewer than 400 rhinos—perhaps only a portion of the total number—occupy a small fraction of the species' former range. C. The opening participial phrase somewhat illogically modifies peninsula and... islands rather than the rhinos. D. Correct. The opening participial phrase correctly modifies fewer than 400... rhinos, a phrase that uses the correct comparative term. E. The comparative term less is inappropriate for describing the number of rhinos. The correct answer is D.
25. The reason many people consider the Mediterranean island to be ungovernable is because that the inhabitants long ago learned to distrust and neutralize all written laws.
A.is because that the inhabitants long ago learned to distrust and neutralize
B.is the inhabitants long ago learned distrusting and neutralizing
C.was because of the inhabitants long ago learning to distrust and to be neutralizing
D.is that the inhabitants long ago learned to distrust and to neutralize
E.was on account of the inhabitants long ago learning to distrust and neutralize
A B C D E
D
[解析] Verb form; Grammatical construction The sentence provides a reason for why "many people" consider a certain Mediterranean island to be "ungovernable." It has the form X is Y, with X a noun phrase that refers to the reason in terms of what is being explained. Y provides the explanation. A. This sentence has two words next to one another that would each, by itself, have the same function. Each of because and that could serve alone to introduce the explanation and is provided by portion Y. Furthermore, in addition to introducing a redundancy, the two words together make the sentence ungrammatical. Removing any one of these words would resolve this issue. B. If the word that were inserted between is and the, then it would be more immediately clear, when reading this sentence, where the explanation begins (immediately after the word that). Furthermore, learned distrusting and neutralizing all written laws should be learned to distrust and to neutralize all written laws. C. In this sentence, the verb consider needs to agree with was. As it stands, consider pertains to the present while was pertains to the past. D. Correct. This sentence follows recommendations made in connection with sentence A. E. As in sentence C, the verb consider needs to agree with was. The correct answer is D.
26. By offering lower prices and a menu of personal communications options, such as caller identification and voice mail, the new telecommunications company has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them to offer competitive prices.
A.has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them
B.has not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also forced them
C.has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced these companies
D.not only has captured customers from other phone companies but also these companies have been forced
E.not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also has forced them
A B C D E
C
[解析] Parallelism, Verb form The sentence intends to show the effect of the new telecommunications company on the other phone companies. In the original sentence, however, the antecedent of the pronoun them is unclear; it may refer to companies or to customers. If it refers to customers, the sentence structure illogically has the new company forcing customers to offer competitive prices. A. The referent of them is unclear. B. The referent of them is unclear, and the use of it is redundant. C. Correct. The verbs are parallel in this sentence, and these companies is clearly the object of the verb forced. D. The sentence does not maintain parallelism, unnecessarily changing from active voice (has captured) to passive voice (have been forced). E. The referent of them is unclear. Captured and has forced are not parallel in verb tense, and the use of it is redundant. The correct answer is C.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. Literacy opened up entire realms of verifiable knowledge to ordinary men and women having been previously considered incapable of discerning truth for themselves.
A.having been previously considered incapable of discerning truth for themselves
B.who had previously been considered incapable of discerning truth for themselves
C.previously considered incapable of discerning truth for himself or herself
D.of whom it had previously been considered they were incapable of discerning truth for themselves
E.who had previously been considered incapable of discerning truth for himself or herself
A B C D E
B
[解析] Rhetorical construction; Agreement The phrase beginning with having been modifies the noun phrase ordinary men and women. In cases like this, it is best to use a full relative clause, starting with that or a relative pronoun such as which or who, instead of a clause with the -ing form of the verb. Also, themselves is the correct form of a reflexive pronoun to refer back to the plural noun phrase ordinary men and women. A. A phrase starting with the -ing verb form, instead of with that or who, is awkward in this context. B. Correct. A relative clause correctly beginning with who is used, and themselves is the correct form for the reflexive pronoun. C. Himself or herself is not the correct form for the plural reflexive pronoun. D. Though the relative and reflexive pronouns are grammatically correct, the relative clause (the clause that starts with of whom) is unnecessarily long and complex. E. Himself or herself is not the correct form for the plural reflexive pronoun. The correct answer is B.
32. Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last because refiners are paying about $5 a barrel more for crude oil than they were last year.
A.Heating-oil prices are expected to be higher this year than last because refiners are paying about $5 a barrel more for crude oil than they were
B.Heating-oil prices are expected to rise higher this year over last because refiners pay about $5 a barrel for crude oil more than they did
C.Expectations are for heating-oil prices to be higher this year than last year's because refiners are paying about $5 a barrel for crude oil more than they did
D.It is the expectation that heating-oil prices will be higher for this year over last because refiners are paying about $5 a barrel more for crude oil now than what they were
E.It is expected that heating-oil prices will rise higher this year than last year's because refiners pay about $5 a barrel for crude oil more than they did
A B C D E
A
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Idiom The sentence connects a comparison between this year's and last year's heating-oil prices with a comparison between this year's and last year's crude-oil prices, The most efficient, parallel expression of those comparisons is to use two comparative expressions, higher than and more than. A Correct. This sentence expresses the comparison in succinct, parallel phrases. B The comparative form, higher, anticipates the comparative term than, not over; in the second clause, the comparative terms more than should immediately follow $5 a barrel. C Expectations are for... is an unnecessarily wordy and indirect expression; the possessive year's is not parallel with the adverbial phrase this year. D It is the expectation that... is wordy and awkward; for and what are unnecessary. E It is expected that... is wordy and awkward; the possessive last year's does not parallel the adverbial phrase this year. The correct answer is A.
33. Heavy commitment by an executive to a course of action, especially if it has worked well in the past, makes it likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear.
A.Heavy commitment by an executive to a course of action, especially if it has worked well in the past, makes it likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear.
B.An executive who is heavily committed to a course of action, especially one that worked well in the past, makes missing signs of incipient trouble or misinterpreting ones likely when they do appear.
C.An executive who is heavily committed to a course of action is likely to miss or misinterpret signs of incipient trouble when they do appear, especially if it has worked well in the past.
D.Executives' being heavily committed to a course of action, especially if it has worked well in the past, makes them likely to miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpreting them when they do appear.
E.Being heavily committed to a course of action, especially one that has worked well in the past, is likely to make an executive miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear.
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Logical Predication This sentence explains that an executive who is blindly committed to a proven course of action is likely to overlook or misinterpret indicators that the plan may no longer be working. The sentence needs to make clear who may misinterpret these indicators. A The passive construction causes the sentence to be wordy and confusing; the reference for it is ambiguous, leaving the reader with questions about who or what is likely to miss these signs. B The sentence structure indicates that the executive, not his or her strategy, causes signs to be overlooked; the modifier when they do appear is misplaced. C The reference for the pronoun it is unclear because many nouns have intervened between the appearance of the logical referent (course of action) and it. D Misinterpreting should be an infinitive verb form to parallel miss; the phrasing throughout the sentence is wordy and awkward. E Correct. The grammatical structure of this sentence and the appropriate placement of modifiers expresses the meaning clearly and concisely. The correct answer is E.
34. 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.
35. Like the grassy fields and old pastures that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas, the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in farming practices.
A.the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in
B.the bird itself is vanishing in the northeastern United States as a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in
C.that the birds themselves are vanishing in the northeastern United States is due to residential and industrial development and changes to
D.in the northeastern United States, sandpipers' vanishing due to residential and industrial development and to changes in
E.in the northeastern United States, the sandpipers' vanishing, a result of residential and industrial development and changing
A B C D E
B
[解析] Comparison; Sentence structure The comparison introduced by like must be logical and clear; the point of this comparison is that both the habitat and the bird are disappearing for similar reasons. The comparison must use comparable grammatical components; the bird itself is a noun phrase and matches the noun phrases grassy fields and old pastures. A. Illogically compares the sandpipers vanishing to grassy fields and old pastures; omits apostrophe in sandpipers' vanishing, wordy. B. Correct. This sentence properly compares the bird itself to grassy fields and old pastures; is vanishing as the verb strengthens the sentence by making the comparison clearer. C. Does not finish the comparison begun with like but instead substitutes a clause (that the birds themselves are vanishing). D. Illogically compares the sandpipers' vanishing to grassy fields and old pastures; creates a sentence fragment. E. Illogically compares the sandpipers' vanishing to grassy fields and old pastures; creates a sentence fragment. The correct answer is B.
36. The Commerce Department reported that the nation's economy grew at a brisk annual pace of 3.7 percent in the second quarter, but that while businesses were expanding their production, unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply.
A.unsold goods piled up on store shelves as consumer spending is slowed sharply
B.unsold goods were piling up on store shelves as consumer spending slowed sharply
C.unsold goods had piled up on store shelves with a sharp slowing of consumer spending
D.consumer spending was slowing sharply, with the piling up of unsold goods on store shelves
E.consumer spending has slowed sharply, with unsold goods piling up on store shelves
A B C D E
B
[解析] Verb Form; Rhetorical Construction The sentence summarizes a government report about four business and economic processes occurring over a single quarter: economic growth, increasing production, unsold goods accumulating in retail stores, and a sharp slowing in consumer spending. A problem in the verb is slowed is use of the passive form, which in this context is awkward and unidiomatic. It is also present tense, whereas piled up is simple-past tense—a breach of proper tense sequence. A This fails because of the inappropriate and in context unidiomatic use of the passive voice. Also, piled up does not clearly indicate a process. B Correct. The verb were piling up correctly indicates a process as opposed to a single event; with the as-clause, the verb slowed indicates a process simultaneous with another process (and, implicitly, contributing to it). C The verb had piled up suggests an event that occurred before businesses were expanding their production, even though the while-clause indicates that the piling-up occurred simultaneously with that expansion. D The import of the with-phrase is insufficiently clear. It could be read as indicating that the piling-up was also slowing. But this reading fails to capture the idea of a causal relationship implicitly conveyed in the given sentence. E The verb has slowed suggests a process that occurred in the recent past and impinges on the present (not necessarily in "the second quarter"). The verb tense does not match the verb tense were expanding in the while-clause, and does not convey simultaneity with the expansion referred to. The correct answer is B.
37. Researchers have found that individuals who have been blind from birth, and who thus have never seen anyone gesture, nevertheless make hand motions when speaking just as frequently and in virtually the same way as sighted people do, and that they will gesture even when conversing with another blind person.
A.who thus have never seen anyone gesture, nevertheless make hand motions when speaking just as frequently and in virtually the same way as sighted people do, and that they will gesture
B.who thus never saw anyone gesturing, nevertheless make hand motions when speaking just as frequent and in virtually the same way as sighted people did, and that they will gesture
C.who thus have never seen anyone gesture, nevertheless made hand motions when speaking just as frequently and in virtually the same way as sighted people do, as well as gesturing
D.thus never having seen anyone gesture, nevertheless made hand motions when speaking just as frequent and in virtually the same way as sighted people did, as well as gesturing
E.thus never having seen anyone gesture, nevertheless to make hand motions when speaking just as frequently and in virtually the same way as sighted people do, and to gesture
A B C D E
A
[解析] Parallelism; Verb form; Diction The researchers have found (1) that individuals... make hand motions...as sighted people do and (2) that they will gesture...with another blind person. In the original sentence, the two findings are reported in two parallel subordinate clauses introduced by that. The verb tenses are logical and parallel: who have been blind and who have never seen indicate a condition that began in the past and continues in the present; make and do refer to present actions. The verb make (hand motions) is correctly modified by the adverb frequently to show how the action of the verb is carried out. The emphatic future will gesture is properly used here with even to emphasize the extreme or the unexpected. A. Correct. Although the original sentence is complicated, the parallelism of its structure and phrasing allows its meaning to be clear and its expression effective. B. Verbs saw and did indicate action completed in the past; the simple past tense is not appropriate in either case; the adjective frequent cannot modify the verb; awkward and muddy. C. Made indicates past action, but the present tense is logically required; as well as gesturing violates the parallelism of the two subordinate (that) clauses; choppy and unclear. D. Having seen is not parallel to have been; made and did do not show ongoing action; frequent incorrectly modifies the verb; as well as gesturing destroys the parallelism of the two subordinate (that) clauses; awkward and unclear. E. Replacing the verb make with the infinitive to make results in an ungrammatical construction that fails to complete the sentence. The correct answer is A.
38. 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.
39. The absence from business and financial records of the nineteenth century of statistics about women leave us with no record of the jobs that were performed by women and how they survived economically.
A.from business and financial records of the nineteenth century of statistics about women leave us with no record of the jobs that were performed by women and
B.from business and financial records of statistics about women from the nineteenth century leave us with no record of what jobs women performed or
C.of statistics for women from business and financial records in the nineteenth century leaves us with no record of either the jobs that women were performing and of
D.of statistics on women from business and financial records in the nineteenth century leave us with no record of the jobs that women performed or of
E.of statistics about women from business and financial records of the nineteenth century leaves us with no record of either what jobs women performed or
A B C D E
E
[解析] Rhetorical Construction; Agreement This sentence is phrased awkwardly in two ways. The first relates to absence of statistics: it is best to place a noun modifier right next to the noun that it modifies, with no intervening material. Second, jobs that were performed by women is more complicated than necessary—jobs women performed is better, for example. Also, the singular noun absence requires the correct agreeing verb form leaves. A Absence and of statistics are widely separated, and leave does not properly agree with its subject, absence. B Absence and of statistics are widely separated, and leave does not properly agree with its subject, absence. C Jobs that women were performing is unnecessarily long and complex. The either construction should be completed with or, not and. D Leave does not properly agree with its subject, absence. E Correct. Leaves agrees with absence. The phrase of statistics is next to the noun it modifies (absence), and jobs women performed is a nicely simple phrasing. The correct answer is E.
40. By using a process called echolocation to analyze the echoes of the high-pitched sounds they produce, bats can determine not only the distance to an object, but they also can determine its shape and size and the direction in which it is moving.
A.can determine not only the distance to an object, but they also can determine
B.not only can determine the distance to an object but also
C.can determine not only the distance to an object but also
D.not only can determine its distance from an object but also
E.can determine not only their distance from an object, but they can also determine
A B C D E
C
[解析] Parallelism; Logical predication This sentence explains that bats' echolocation allows them to determine both the distance to an object and other pieces of information. The correct way to construct this sentence using a correlative conjunction is to follow not only and but also with the same parts of speech. Using nouns to indicate all the kinds of information bats gain through echolocation provides parallel grammatical structure and concise wording: not only distance, but also shape, size, and direction. A. Introducing the second main clause they also can determine makes the sentence wordy and disrupts the correct formation of the correlative conjunction not only, but also. B. The correlative conjunction is used incorrectly because not only is followed by a verb, while but also is followed by a list of nouns. C. Correct. This sentence concisely uses not only, but also to connect a series of nouns. D. The correlative conjunction is used incorrectly because not only is followed by a verb, while but also is followed by a list of nouns. Its most plausibly refers to bats, but on that interpretation the singular pronoun does not agree with its plural antecedent, and the sentence indicates, somewhat implausibly, that the bats use echolocation to determine their own shape, size, and direction of movement. Alternatively, its could refer to some other thing that is not named in the sentence, but it is implausible and confusing to say that the bats determine the distance of that unnamed thing from an unspecified object. E. Introducing the second main clause they also can determine makes the sentence wordy and disrupts the correct construction to be used with the correlative conjunction: not only is followed by a noun, while but also is followed by a verb. The correct answer is C.
41. Among the Tsonga, a Bantu-speaking group of tribes in southeastern Africa, dance teams represent their own chief at the court of each other, providing entertainment in return for food, drink, and lodging.
A.the court of each other, providing entertainment in return for
B.the court of another and provide entertainment in return for
C.the court of the other, so as to provide entertainment as a return on
D.each other's court, entertainment being provided in return for
E.another's court and provide entertainment as a return on
A B C D E
B
[解析] Diction; Idiom The point of the sentence is that dancers representing one chief perform at the court of another chief in return for gifts. The court of each other is unidiomatic and unclear. It could be intended to indicate, somewhat implausibly, that each team has a court that the other teams visit, but represent their own chief strongly suggests that the court referred to is the court of another chief. The correct pronoun to refer to a different chief is another. A The court of each other is unidiomatic and unclear. Each other seems to refer, somewhat illogically, to the dancers. B Correct. The sentence clearly explains the idea, using the correct pronoun another and the correct idiom in return for. C This could be confusing in that the other indicates that there is only one other chief, whereas group of tribes suggests that there may be a number of chiefs. As a return on is the incorrect idiom; a return on normally refers to a gain from an investment, not a direct exchange of one good for another. D Each other's court somewhat illogically indicates that the dancers each have a court. Entertainment being provided in return for is awkward and indirect. E As a return on is the incorrect idiom; a return on normally refers to a gain from an investment, not a direct exchange of one good for another. The correct answer is B.
42. 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.
43. Thai village crafts, as with other cultures, have developed through the principle that form follows function and incorporate readily available materials fashioned using traditional skills.
A.as with
B.as did those of
C.as they have in
D.like in
E.like those of
A B C D E
E
[解析] Logical Predication; Diction; Verb Form The phrase as with other cultures is initially confusing given that no culture has been specifically mentioned; Thai village culture is indirectly referenced by the mention of Thai village crafts, so perhaps that is what is meant. But then, looking at the phrase in context, it becomes clear that the sentence is intended to indicate that the crafts of other cultures are similar in certain ways to Thai village crafts. Thus, the sentence should say those of other cultures. Furthermore, the use here of as with is questionable. To do the job it is supposed to do here (to indicate that the crafts of Thai villages are like the crafts of other cultures in a particular way), as with should be at the beginning of the sentence: As with the crafts of other cultures, Thai village crafts have developed.... Alternatively, like could be used here instead of as with. A The appropriate comparison is between Thai village crafts and those (i.e., crafts) of other cultures, not the other cultures themselves. Additionally, like would be more appropriate here than as with. B The verb form here is incorrect. [D] id is not parallel to have later in the sentence. The phrase as have those of other cultures would be parallel, but it is in the wrong position. To be correct, it would need to occur after the main verb is introduced: Thai village crafts have developed, as have those of other cultures C The use of the pronoun they is inaccurate; the reader is likely to take its antecedent to be Thai village crafts, not crafts. Furthermore, even if the pronoun here were not problematic, if the construction as they have in other cultures is used, it should occur after the main verb (have developed) is introduced. D The comparative term like compares two nouns or noun phrases, but in this version of the sentence, like compares a noun (crafts) with a prepositional phrase (in other cultures). E Correct. [T]hose of other cultures clearly refers to the crafts of other cultures; like is appropriate for making a comparison between two sorts of things (crafts). The correct answer is E.
44. 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.
45. The gyrfalcon, an Arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.
A.extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than
B.extinction; its numbers are now five times more than
C.extinction, their numbers now fivefold what they were
D.extinction, now with fivefold the numbers they had
E.extinction, now with numbers five times greater than
A B C D E
A
[解析] Agreement; Diction; Logical predication The original sentence contains no errors. The semicolon correctly connects the closely related ideas in the two independent clauses. The gyrfalcon is the antecedent for its in the second phrase. A. Correct. The original sentence correctly uses a singular pronoun, its, to refer to the singular antecedent gyrfalcon, and it properly uses the construction its numbers are... greater than. B. The use of more instead of greater inappropriately implies that there are now more numbers, rather than more gyrfalcons. C. The pronoun their is plural, and thus incorrect, since the antecedent gyrfalcon is singular. Fivefold what they were is awkward and nonstandard and implies that there are now more numbers, rather than more gyrfalcons. D. The pronoun they is plural, and thus incorrect, since the antecedent gyrfalcon is singular. The comma introduces a confusing phrase seeming to modify extinction. Fivefold the numbers they had is awkward and nonstandard and implies that there are now more numbers, rather than more gyrfalcons. E. The comma introduces a confusing phrase seeming to modify extinction. The correct answer is A.
46. Rock samples taken from the remains of an asteroid about twice the size of the 6-mile-wide asteroid that eradicated the dinosaurs has been dated to be 3.47 billion years old and thus is evidence of the earliest known asteroid impact on Earth.
A.has been dated to be 3.47 billion years old and thus is
B.has been dated at 3.47 billion years old and thus
C.have been dated to be 3.47 billion years old and thus are
D.have been dated as being 3.47 billion years old and thus
E.have been dated at 3.47 billion years old and thus are
A B C D E
E
[解析] Agreement; Idiom The plural subject of this sentence, Rock samples, requires plural verb phrases—have been dated and are rather than has been dated and is. The idiomatic way of expressing estimation of age is with the phrase dated at. A The subject and verbs do not agree; dated to be ... is not idiomatic. B The subject and verb do not agree; the conjunction and thus should be followed by a verb. C Dated to be is not idiomatic. D As being is not idiomatic; the conjunction and thus should be followed by a verb. E Correct. The plural verbs match the plural subject, and the wording of the sentence is idiomatic. The correct answer is E.
47. 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.
48. The personal income tax did not become permanent in the United States until the First World War; before that time the federal government was dependent on tariffs to be their main source of revenue.
A.the federal government was dependent on tariffs to be their main source of revenue
B.the federal government had depended on tariffs as its main source of revenue
C.tariffs were what the federal government was dependent on to be its main source of revenue
D.the main source of revenue for the federal government was dependent on tariffs
E.for their main source of revenue, tariffs were depended on by the federal government
A B C D E
B
[解析] Agreement; Logical predication The First World War is designated as past tense in the opening clause of this sentence. The relationship between that time and whatever happened earlier can be most clearly indicated by using the past-perfect tense for the earlier events. [T]he federal government is a singular subject of the second clause, so a singular pronoun, its rather than their, must refer to it. The phrase was dependent on causes unnecessary wordiness, as does the passive construction in E. A. The plural pronoun their inappropriately refers to the singular noun government. B. Correct. The pronoun its agrees with the singular subject government, and the past perfect, active verb had depended refers clearly to government activity prior to the First World War. C. This version of the sentence is wordy because of the inverted word order that makes the subject of the second clause an object of the preposition on. D. This version of the sentence nonsensically makes source the subject of the verb was [dependent on]. E. The plural possessive pronoun their does not agree with its singular antecedent government. In fact, because of the placement of tariffs immediately after the opening prepositional phrase, their seems at first to refer to tariffs, which is illogical. The passive verb form were depended on is wordy and indirect. The correct answer is B.
49. Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities.
A.prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of
B.prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by
C.its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by
D.its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of
E.preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by
A B C D E
C
[解析] Logical predication; Rhetorical construction This sentence opens with a statement that sound can travel long distances through water and then explains why that is so: water layers in the ocean prevent acoustic energy from dissipating. Because dissipating is an intransitive verb, acoustic energy cannot be its object. A. Dissipating is not a transitive verb, so acoustic energy cannot function as its object. B. This version of the sentence is wordy, awkward, and indirect; from having... by erroneously suggests that the boundaries in the ocean are attempting to dissipate sound energy. C. Correct. Here, acoustic energy is effectively modified by the participial prevented from dissipating D. This version of the sentence is wordy, awkward, and indirect; being dissipated as a result of makes it unclear whether the boundaries contribute to energy loss or prevent it. E. This version of the sentence nonsensically explains that sound prevents the dissipation of its own energy. The correct answer is C.
50. A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.
A.on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there
B.about the books James Baldwin wrote in France
C.into James Baldwin's books written while in France
D.on the books of James Baldwin, written while he lived in France
E.the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France
A B C D E
E
[解析] Diction; Rhetorical Construction The phrasing of this sentence is wordy and redundant: books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there could more concisely be expressed with books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France. The verb research requires a direct object, not a preposition followed by its object. A On incorrectly follows to research, and books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there includes redundant information. B About incorrectly follows to research. C Into incorrectly follows to research. Given this sentence structure, while in France seems to say, illogically, that the books were written while they were in France. D On incorrectly follows to research; also, there is no need to make written while he lived in France into an independent phrase instead of a relative clause. E Correct. Research takes a direct object, which describes the books directly without redundancy. The correct answer is E.