Test Bank for The Little, Brown Handbook, 14th Edition

DIAGNOSTIC TEST B MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1) Why __________ you picking on your brother? A) war B) we’re C) were 2) Each horse in the race had __________ colors. A) their B) there C) its D) it’s 3) The young lawyer struggled to understand and to articulate the __________ of the complex case. A) principal B) principle 4) That young mother is one of many people who __________ been working two jobs. A) has B) have 5) The ballerina felt __________, for she did not know the choreography well. A) badly B) bad 6) Do you really have to give __________ the best chocolates from the box? A) Al and she B) Al and her C) she and Al 7) After the news of his friend’s death in the car crash, Jeff wished that he __________ his friends not to drive when they were drunk. A) would’ve warn B) would of warned C) had warned D) would warn 8) Of the four siblings, she was the __________ successful. A) less B) least 9) __________ impressive to see a grizzly bear in the wild. A) Its’ B) Its C) It’s 10) Neither the majorettes nor the drum major __________ to alter the routine. A) want B) wants 11) In her column, the reviewer wrote that the ballet dancers __________ a wonderful performance. A) had given B) had gave C) gave 12) Students in the summer art class were involved enough in __________ work to skip lunch to complete a project. A) his B) her C) their 13) The hurricane damaged our home__________ we will have to file an insurance claim. A) so, B) , so; C) , so, D) , so 14) In a fit of anger after an argument, I __________ out all of my friend’s letters and pictures. A) threw B) had thrown C) thru D) through 15) Louis was a scoundrel __________ everyone disliked. A) who B) whom 16) The government official carefully __________ the precise responsibilities of each new cabinet officer. A) explained B) implied C) alluded to D) inferred 17) After the committee had deliberated, they __________ a report that included the concerns of the citizens. A) wrote B) had wrote C) written D) had written 18) The lawyer suggested that you and __________ work to find an agreement outside the courtroom, for the trial would be long and unpleasant. A) his B) he C) him 19) Guilt over his crime weighed __________ upon his mind. A) heavy B) heavily 20) The dancing instructor told the class to practice in order to make __________ steps automatic. A) their B) its 21) The committee found it difficult to __________ his revisions. A) accept B) except 1) Alan’s friends resented him because they were not as talented as __________. A) he B) him C) his 23) At the dog show, the __________ exhibited great concentration in determining the winner of each category. A) dogs’ judges’ B) dogs’ judges C) dog’s judges D) dogs judges 24) The ambulance responded to an accident at the construction __________. A) cite B) sight C) site 25) The sophomores __________ contain their excitement at having won first place in the university’s academic contest. A) could hardly B) couldn’t hardly 26) Which sentence is the most correct, clear, and concise? A) The association gave the award to the lawyers who won the most cases for his or her clients. B) The association gave the award to the lawyers who won the most cases for clients. C) The association gave the award to the lawyer who won the most cases for their clients. 27) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) Joan will make an effective president of the class, for she has intelligence, perseverance, dedication, and humor. B) Joan will be the best person to be president of the class because she has such fine intelligence, her ability to persevere is clear, she possesses a basic sense of determination, and a lovely sense of humor. C) Joan will be an excellent class president because she has intelligence, a sense of humor, an extraordinary strong inner sense that enables her to persevere, and a sense of dedication. 28) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) Walking on the stone wall three feet above the water, Lake Michigan reminds me of the power and untamed beauty of nature. B) Lake Michigan reminds me of the power and untamed beauty of nature walking on the stone wall three feet above the water. C) Walking on the stone wall three feet above the water of Lake Michigan, I appreciate the power and untamed beauty of nature. 29) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) The senior citizen’s principal mood was one of irritation. B) The octogenarian experienced constant irritation about the limitations of his mental ability. C) The old man was usually irritable. D) The elderly person’s predominant mental condition was one of extreme irritation. 30) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) My son, by working in a fast food restaurant, has learned the responsibility that comes with a job and how much he must discipline himself. B) Working in a fast food restaurant, learning responsibility, and to acquire discipline teach my son how to handle a job. C) My son has learned how to handle a job by working in a fast food restaurant, discipline, and practicing responsibility. 31) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) The choice to go to the college that she liked best was made by Katherine. B) Katherine chose to go to the college she liked most. C) The choice about which college she liked most was made by Katherine herself. D) The choice to go to the college that was most appealing to her was made by Katherine. 32) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) The plumbers replaced the water lines with plastic pipe that were leaking. B) The plumbers replaced the leaking water lines with plastic pipe. C) With plastic pipe the water lines that were leaking were replaced by the plumbers. 33) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) To discover, to understand, and to create—these are the activities of the educated. B) The activities of educated people are to discover, understand, and creation. C) To discover, understand, and creation are the activities of the educated. D) To discover, to understand, and to create; these are the activities of the educated. 34) Which sentence is correct, clear, and concise? A) The committee argued about seat belt legislation and they could not scarcely remain polite. B) The committee argued about seat belt legislation and scarcely remain polite. C) The committee argued about seat belt legislation, and it could not scarcely remain polite. D) The committee argued about seat belt legislation, and they could scarcely remain polite. 35) Which sentence best expresses the relationship between the two clauses? A) Looking at the character development in the story, the novelist reveals to us surprisingly psychological insight. B) Looking at the character development in the story, we discover the novelist’s surprisingly psychological insight. C) Looking at the character development in the story, surprising psychological insight is revealed to us. D) Looking at the character development in the story, the novelist surprisingly reveals psychological insight to us. 36) Which sentence best expresses the relationship between the two clauses? A) Jane is a pretty girl with a good sense of humor and a quick intelligence, but she is shy and has difficulty making friends. B) Jane is a pretty girl with a good sense of humor and a quick intelligence. Then she is shy and has difficulty making friends. C) Jane is a pretty girl with a good sense of humor and a quick intelligence; therefore, she is shy and has difficulty making friends. 37) Which sentence best expresses the relationship between the two clauses? A) He is bright, hard working, and agreeable; moreover, he is attractive and punctual. B) He is bright, hard working, and agreeable; thus, he is attractive and punctual. C) He is bright, hard working, and agreeable; nonetheless, he is attractive and punctual. One of the underlined sections may mark an error in punctuation. Choose the letter that marks the error in punctuation. If there is no error, choose E. 38) Moving to a new city is often both stressful and exciting, for although we are A isolated, we are faced with possibilities. For most average adults, the first six B C months are stressful. The next six months bring the comfort of new friendships, the adventure of new places, and the satisfaction of making a new D home. No error. E 39) On certain days I seem to go at the world in the wrong direction. I feel clumsy, A unintelligent, irritable, and depressed, others seem overbearing, arrogant, clever, B and insufferable. On such days I try to retreat to a quiet place as soon as possible. C D No error. E 40) In the midst of great personal happiness, some people have difficulty empathizing A with another person who is in pain; we often fear feeling another’s pain. B Nevertheless, we can find ways to help each other; if we are willing to do so. C D No error. E One of the four underlined words in this passage may mark an error in capitalization. Choose the letter that marks the error in capitalization. If there is no error, write E. 41) During the Vietnam war, some families experienced turmoil when one son went A north to Canada to avoid the draft and one went east for training before being B C shipped to Vietnam to fight. Many clinical psychiatrists have tried to explain the D divisions within these families. No error. E 42) For vacation I went to Fort Worth, Texas, and explored the Amon Carter Museum A B C that had shows on Winslow Homer, contemporary American photography, and D recent acquisitions. No error. E 43) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) The band was ready to leave, but the car would not start. B) The band was ready to leave; however, the car would not start. C) Although the band was ready to leave, the car would not start. D) The band was ready to leave, the car, however, would not start. 44) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) As the band walked to work, Elwood composed a song called “Cadillac Blues.” B) Elwood composed a song called “Cadillac Blues” as the band walked to work. C) Although Elwood composed a song called “Cadillac Blues” as the band walked to work. D) The band walked to work; incidentally, Elwood composed a song called “Cadillac Blues.” 45) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) The band was late for its gig; indeed, the bar was just closing when they arrived. B) The band was so late for its gig that the bar was just closing when they arrived. C) The band arrived late, not surprisingly, the bar was just closing when they arrived. D) When the band–late again–arrived for its gig, the bar was just closing. 46) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) Stretching and yawning, Elwood went to sleep on a pool table. B) Elwood, stretching and yawning, went to sleep on a pool table. C) Elwood stretched and yawned then he went to sleep on a pool table. D) Elwood stretched, yawned, and then went to sleep on a pool table. 47) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) “Get off that pool table,” shouted the bartender the next morning, “get out of here!” B) “Get off that pool table,” shouted the bartender the next morning. “Get out of here and don’t come back!” C) “Get off that pool table! Get out of here and don’t come back,” shouted the bartender the next morning. D) The next morning the bartender shouted, “Get off that pool table! Get out of here and don’t come back!” 48) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) Starting easily and purring like a kitten, a Cadillac with a new battery. B) Having a new battery, the Cadillac started easily and purred like a kitten. C) The Cadillac had a new battery; it started easily and purred like a kitten. D) Whenever it had a new battery, the Cadillac started easily and purred like a kitten. 49) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) The whole band laughed when they heard that the bartender’s car wouldn’t start. B) When the band heard that the bartender’s car wouldn’t start, they all laughed. C) News came that the bartender’s car wouldn’t start; the whole band laughed. D) The bartender’s car not starting, and the whole band laughing. 50) Which of the following examples illustrates a fragment, run-on (or fused) sentence, or comma splice? A) The band drove off into the sunset; the bartender wondered where Elwood had procured a new battery. B) As the band drove off into the sunset, the bartender wondered where Elwood had procured a new battery. C) The band drove off into the sunset; meanwhile, the bartender wondered where Elwood had procured a new battery. D) The band drove off into the sunset, the bartender wondered where Elwood had procured a new battery. DIAGNOSTIC TEST B 1) Answer: C Topic: Confused Words Little, Brown References: LBC25.2, LB14.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK333 2) Answer: C Topic: Possessives Little, Brown References: LBC42.1.7, LB30.1 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266 3) Answer: B Topic: Confused Words Little, Brown References: LBC25.2, LB14.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK333 4) Answer: B Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement Little, Brown References: LBC29, LB15 Little DK Handbook References: LDK236–239 5) Answer: B Topic: Adjectives and Adverbs Little, Brown References: LBC21.1, LB16 Little DK Handbook References: LDK164 6) Answer: B Topic: Pronoun Case Little, Brown References: LBC30, LB13 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266–267 7) Answer: C Topic: Verb Tenses Little, Brown References: LBC26, LB14.7, 14.8 Little DK Handbook References: LDK240–243 8) Answer: B Topic: Comparative Adjectives Little, Brown References: LBC33.2, LB16.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK268 9) Answer: C Topic: Contractions Little, Brown References: LBC42.2, LB30.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK328 10) Answer: B Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement Little, Brown References: LBC29, LB15 Little DK Handbook References: LDK236–239 11) Answer: A Topic: Verb Tenses Little, Brown References: LBC26, LB14.7, 14.8 Little DK Handbook References: LDK240–243 12) Answer: C Topic: Pronoun Agreement Little, Brown References: LBC31, LB15.4 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266–267 13) Answer: D Topic: Punctuation Little, Brown References: LBC39, LB28 Little DK Handbook References: LDK294–331 14) Answer: A Topic: Verb Tenses Little, Brown References: LBC26, LB14.7, 14.8 Little DK Handbook References: LDK240–243 15) Answer: B Topic: Relative Pronouns Little, Brown References: LBC29.4, LB15.4 Little DK Handbook References: LDK132, 267 16) Answer: A Topic: Confused Words Little, Brown References: LBC25.2, LB14.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK333 17) Answer: A Topic: Verb Tenses Little, Brown References: LBC26, LB14.7, 14.8 Little DK Handbook References: LDK240–243 18) Answer: B Topic: Pronoun Case Little, Brown References: LBC30, LB13 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266–267 19) Answer: B Topic: Adverbs Little, Brown References: LBC33, LB16, 21.6 Little DK Handbook References: LDK264 20) Answer: A Topic: Pronoun Agreement Little, Brown References: LBC31, LB15.4 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266–267 21) Answer: A Topic: Confused Words Little, Brown References: LBC25.2, LB14.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK333 22) Answer: A Topic: Pronoun Case Little, Brown References: LBC30, LB13 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266–267 23) Answer: B Topic: Possessives Little, Brown References: LBC42.1.7, LB30.1 Little DK Handbook References: LDK266 24) Answer: C Topic: Confused Words Little, Brown References: LBC25.2, LB14.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK333 25) Answer: A Topic: Double Negatives Little, Brown References: LBC33.3, LB16.3 Little DK Handbook References: LDK131 26) Answer: B Topic: Pronoun Agreement, Sexist Pronouns Little, Brown References: LBC18.2, LB37.5 Little DK Handbook References: LDK136 27) Answer: A Topic: Parallel Structure, Wordiness Little, Brown References: LBC16, LB25 Little DK Handbook References: LDK93, 133, 147 28) Answer: C Topic: Misplaced Modifiers Little, Brown References: LBC34.1, LB21 Little DK Handbook References: LDK254–55 29) Answer: C Topic: Writing Concisely Little, Brown References: LBC20, LB39 Little DK Handbook References: LDK140 30) Answer: A Topic: Writing Concisely Little, Brown References: LBC20, LB39 Little DK Handbook References: LDK140 31) Answer: B Topic: Passive Voice, Wordiness Little, Brown References: LBC20, 28, LB14.1, 39 Little DK Handbook References: LDK, 130, 140 32) Answer: B Topic: Misplaced Modifiers Little, Brown References: LBC34.1, LB21 Little DK Handbook References: LDK254–55 33) Answer: A Topic: Punctuation Little, Brown References: LBC44, LB32 Little DK Handbook References: LDK294–331 34) Answer: D Topic: Pronoun Reference, Double Negative Little, Brown References: LBC33.3, LB16.3 Little DK Handbook References: LDK131 35) Answer: B Topic: Dangling Modifiers Little, Brown References: LBC34.2, LB21.8 Little DK Handbook References: LDK254–255 36) Answer: A Topic: Transitions Little, Brown References: LBC7.3.6, 40.1, LB29.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK129 37) Answer: A Topic: Transitions Little, Brown References: LBC7.3.6, 40.1, LB29.2 Little DK Handbook References: LDK129 38) Answer: E Topic: Comma Rules Little, Brown References: LBC39, LB28 Little DK Handbook References: LDK295–311 39) Answer: B Topic: Semicolon Little, Brown References: LBC40, LB29 Little DK Handbook References: LDK314 40) Answer: D Topic: Semicolon Little, Brown References: LBC40, LB29 Little DK Handbook References: LDK314 41) Answer: A Topic: Capitalization Little, Brown References: LBC46, LB33 Little DK Handbook References: LDK326–327, 334 42) Answer: E Topic: Capitalization Little, Brown References: LBC46, LB33 Little DK Handbook References: LDK326–327, 334 43) Answer: D Topic: Comma Splice Little, Brown References: LBC36, LB18 Little DK Handbook References: LDK250–251 44) Answer: C Topic: Fragments Little, Brown References: LBC35, LB17 Little DK Handbook References: LDK246–249 45) Answer: C Topic: Comma Splice Little, Brown References: LBC36, LB18 Little DK Handbook References: LDK250–251 46) Answer: C Topic: Run-On Little, Brown References: LBC36, LB18 Little DK Handbook References: LDK250–251 47) Answer: A Topic: Comma Splice Little, Brown References: LBC36, LB18 Little DK Handbook References: LDK250–251 48) Answer: A Topic: Fragments Little, Brown References: LBC35, LB17 Little DK Handbook References: LDK246–249 49) Answer: D Topic: Fragments Little, Brown References: LBC35, LB17 Little DK Handbook References: LDK246–249 50) Answer: D Topic: Comma Splice Little, Brown References: LBC36, LB18 Little DK Handbook References: LDK250–251