Verb form 4 doc

assumptions make a logical connection between the premise and conclusion of the argument. It is
possible that the speaker’s leadership ability will be questioned by the Task Force findings (choice d) or
that the Task Force wants to hire more police officers (choice e), but these two assumptions also do not
link the premise and conclusion.
Sentence Correction
51. c. Choices a, b, and d have problems with word order. In choices a and d, the modifier presumed to be
genetic or partially genetic in origin is misplaced. In b, the subject and predicate are reversed. Choice e
is unnecessarily wordy and redundant.
52. a. The original is the most clear and correct version. Choices b and c are unnecessarily wordy, and c
also creates a sentence fragment with the semicolon. Choice d is awkward and unclear, and the use of
since in choice e is illogical.
53. b. The correct idiom is hazard a guess. All of the other choices incorrectly express the idiom. In addi-
tion, the idiom completes an independent clause, and we need more data to draw a real conclusion is
also an independent clause; they cannot be separated with a comma, so choices a and d are also
incorrect.
54. d. This choice is nearly identical to a, except that choice a makes a mistake in subject-verb agreement
(have instead of has, which must be singular to agree with each). Choice b reverses the subject and
predicate, creating awkward word order. Choice c disrupts the parallel structure of the list, and choice
e is slightly wordy and less direct than choice d.
55. c. Errors is a plural noun, so it should be modified by fewer, not less. Thus, choices a, b, and e are
incorrect. Choice e also reverses the word order, placing the modifier less after the noun. Choice d is
incorrect because it is less concise than choice c and the placement of
20% to 30% in parenthesis is
slightly awkward and less direct than in choice c.
56. b. Choices a, c, and d are wordy and redundant, with a being the most problematic. Choice e changes
to make decisions into deciding, creating an awkward sentence because the sentence opens with a par-
ticiple rather than an infinitive clause, suggesting action already in progress rather than action that will
be taken once reasons for punishment are understood.
57. c. The correct idiom is to live a life of privilege, so choices a and d are incorrect. Choice b is wordy
(simultaneously repeats while and she is repeated unnecessarily), as is choice e (wealth is redundant
with life of privilege).

58. e. This is the most correct and concise version. Choices a, b, and d are less concise, and d creates an
illogical sentence by changing have to having. Choice c is incorrect because declining over the last 20
years is misplaced and as a result modifies main reason.
59. e. Choice a reverses the subject and predicate. Choice b is correct but is less effective than choice e
because it sets up the two items of information as equal
—
that stalking is probably as old as human
society and its definition. Choice e uses probably as old as human society as an introduction to the focus
of the sentence
—
the definition of stalking. Choice e is also more direct and does not need to repeat
– VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST–
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the verb is. Choice c uses the phrase the definition of stalking is rather than the more direct stalking is
defined as. Choice d puts the definition before the word being defined, which is less effective, making
readers wait until they have finished the definition to find out what is being defined.
60. c. This choice maintains the parallel structure necessary in a not only/but also construction. Choices a
and d disrupt the parallel structure, and d is also wordy. Choice b uses the grammatically incorrect
phrase being that. Choice e has two problems. First, it creates an illogical sentence by changing as hav-
ing to as it has. If you eliminate the whether clause in the middle of the sentence, the core sentence
would read Typically people think of genius as it has two qualities, not only supernatural but as well
eccentric. Second, it changes not only/but also to not only/but as well, an incorrect idiom.
61. a. Choice b is a run-on sentence. Choice c inserts an unnecessary which clause, making the sentence
unnecessarily wordy. Choice d misplaces the modifier a system of recording, analyzing, and reporting
economic transactions, which should be as close as possible to accounting. Choice e has awkward word
order and the indirect and bulky phrase in that it is.
62. b. Choices a, c, and e are incorrect because the helping verb is is required to make the sentence logical.
Choice e is also missing the preposition through, which is necessary for the correct meaning as sug-
gested by the context of the sentence. Choice d uses the preposition by instead of through, which is
inconsistent with the final phrase and also less correct as suggested by the context of the sentence.

63. d. Choice a uses a double superlative, combining most and a modifier with -est. Choice
b uses a double
comparison as well, using more and a modifier with -er. Choice c incorrectly uses evolving instead of
evolved, changing a modifier to a verb and making the sentence illogical. Choice e makes evolutionarily
an adverb, which creates an awkward and unclear sentence.
64. c. The proper idiom is in conjunction with. Choices a and e are therefore incorrect. Choices b and d are
incorrect because the pronoun who, not that, must be used to refer to doctor.
65. d. Choice a is wordy and redundant. Choice b is correct, but it is less effective than choice d because
the word choice and sentence structure are less sophisticated. Choice c has an error in subject-verb
agreement (problems shows) and has awkward word order. Choice e has a misplaced modifier;
because of its placement, lacking computer-related skills modifies today’s job market.
66. a. This is a complicated sentence, and many phrases and clauses separate the subject story from the
verb is (this subject-verb pair is not the main subject of the sentence but the subject and verb in the
that clause describing what Jung and Campbell believed). Because story is the subject, choice c is incor-
rect; the verb must be singular. Choices d and e are incorrect because they do not provide a verb to
complete the clause; rather, they create an additional clause or phrase. Choice b creates a sentence
fragment by inserting a semicolon after people.
67. c. The correct idiom is based on, so all other choices are incorrect.
68. d. The pronoun who should be used to refer to people. Choices a and c are therefore incorrect. The
clause
who suffer from antisocial personality disorder is necessary to describe which people demonstrate
a disturbing emotional shallowness. Choices b and e do not use a pronoun to create such a clause, mak-
ing the sentence unclear and/or illogical.
– VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST–
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69. e. Choices a, b, and c misplace the modifier in protracted space flight, which should follow astronauts,
and a also misplaces brought on by weightlessness, which should follow atrophy. Choice c also makes an
error in the idiom brought on by. Choice d is wordy.
70. b. All of the other choices are unnecessarily wordy and/or less direct. Choices a and e also disrupt the
parallel structure of the list. Choice e is also awkward.

71. e. The correct idiom is of a like mind. All other choices are therefore incorrect.
72. a. This is the most concise version. Choice b disrupts the parallel structure by turning the modifier
renowned into a clause. Choices c and d are wordy. Choice e incorrectly uses being to create an awk-
ward sentence.
73. c. Choice a misplaces the modifier also called genetic engineering, which should immediately follow
recombinant DNA technology. Choice b turns what should be the predicate of the sentence (the main
action and focus of the sentence) into a huge introductory phrase, shifting the emphasis onto also
called genetic engineering, which becomes the new predicate. Choice d incorrectly uses the wordy and
indirect phrases the cutting of instead of the infinitive to cut and the combination of them with instead
of combine them with. Choice e is wordy.
74. b. Choice a is a run-on sentence, which choice b corrects by changing the comma to a semicolon.
Choice c creates a wordy and awkward sentence. Choice d changes the meaning of the sentence and
makes it unclear
—
90% more of what? Choice e is also a run-on.
75. d. Choice a is an unclear sentence because it could refer to several antecedents, including foreign body,
molecules, immune system, and species. The correct antecedent is immune system. Choice e also has an
error in subject-verb agreement (species requires a singular verb
—
reacts).
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active voice when the subject is performing the action (as opposed to passive voice)
ad hominem a logical fallacy in which the arguer attacks a person rather than the person’s claim
agreement the state of being balanced in number (e.g., singular subjects and singular verbs; plural
antecedents and plural pronouns)
antecedent the word or phrase to which a pronoun refers (e.g., J
ane kissed her son)
argument a set of claims with a conclusion (main claim) and one or more premises supporting that

conclusion
begging the question a logical fallacy in which the conclusion repeats the premise
bias a strong inclination or preference for one person, position, or point of view over others
cause a person, thing, or action that makes something happen
chronological order when events are arranged by time (the order in which the events occurred or will
occur)
claim a statement with a truth value
clause a group of words containing a subject and predicate (e.g., as he came running)
comparative the adjective form showing the greater degree in quality or quantity, which is formed by
adding -er (e.g., happier) or less (e.g., less beautiful)
CHAPTER
Verbal
Section
Glossary
12
207
comparison the discovery of similarities between two or more items or ideas
complex sentence a sentence with at least one dependent and one independent clause
compound sentence a sentence with at least two independent clauses
conclusion in critical reasoning, the main claim of an argument (the assertion it aims to prove)
conjunctive adverb a word or phrase that often works with a semicolon to connect two independent clauses
and show the relationship to one another (e.g., however, therefore, likewise)
contraction a word that uses an apostrophe to show that a letter or letters have been omitted (e.g., can’t)
contrast the discovery of differences between two or more items or ideas
coordinating conjunction one of seven words
—
and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet
—
that serve to connect two
independent clauses

dependent clause a clause that has a subordinating conjunction and expresses an incomplete thought
diction word choice
direct object the person or thing that receives the action of the sentence
effect an event or change created by an action
fragment an incomplete sentence (it may or may not have a subject and predicate)
gerund the noun form of a verb, which is created by adding -ing to the verb base
helping verb (auxiliary verb) verbs that help indicate exactly when an action will take place, is taking place,
did take place, should take place, might take place, and so on.
independent clause a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand on its own
indirect object the person or thing that receives the direct object
infinitive the base form of a verb plus the word to (e.g., to go)
intransitive verb a verb that does not take an object (the subject performs the action on his-/her-/itself)
logical reasonable, based upon reasoning and good common sense, not emotional
logical fallacy a flaw or error in reasoning
main idea the controlling idea of a passage
mechanics the rules governing punctuation, capitalization, and spelling
modifier a word or phrase that describes or qualifies a person, place, thing, or action
non sequitur a logical fallacy in which the connection between a premise and conclusion is unstated; jump-
ing to conclusions
order of importance when ideas are arranged by rank, from most to least important or least to most
important
paragraph one or more sentences about one main idea, set off by indenting the first line
participial phrase the adjective form of a verb, which is created by adding -ing to the verb base
passive voice when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon (passively receives the action)
past participle the verb form expressing what happened in the past, formed by a past-tense helping verb
plus the simple past-tense form of the verb
phrase a group of words that do not contain both a subject and a predicate (e.g., in the box, will be going)
post hoc, ergo propter hoc a logical fallacy that assumes X caused Y just because X preceded Y
predicate the part of the sentence that tells us what the subject is or does
premise a claim given in support of a conclusion in an argument

– VERBAL SECTION GLOSSARY–
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