English to the max 1 200 questions that will maximize your english power

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ENGLISH
TO THE MAX


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ENGLISH

TO THE MAX
1,200 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS TO
MAXIMIZE YOUR
ENGLISH POWER
®

NE W

Y O RK


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Copyright © 2008 LearningExpress, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United
States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
English to the max: 1,200 practice questions to maximize your English power.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-57685-704-5 (1-57685-704-2)
1. English language—Examinations, questions, etc. I. LearningExpress (Organization)
PE1114.E645 2008
428.0076—dc22

2008012379
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:
2 Rector Street
26th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Or visit us at:
www.learnatest.com


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Contents

Introduction

1

Chapter 1: Punctuation Power-Up

3

Chapter 2: Agreement

19

Chapter 3: Modifiers—Are Yours Misplaced or Dangling?

37

Chapter 4: Sentence Sense

45

Chapter 5: Building Paragraphs from the Ground Up

123

Chapter 6: Acing the Essay

179

Chapter 7: Writing Boot Camp

195

Chapter 8: Literary Response Writing Prompts

267

Chapter 9: Critical Reading

293

Glossary

429

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ENGLISH
TO THE MAX

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Page 1

Introduction

T

and inventor Benjamin Franklin once said: “Failing to prepare is preparing
to fail.” As Franklin astutely pointed out, preparation is the key to success. English to the Max:
1,200 Practice Questions to Maximize Your English Power prepares you for success by powering up
your verbal, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through intensive English review and practice. Mastering the assignments in this book will help you succeed on many levels: in your language arts classes, on
assessment and entrance exams, in the data-driven multimedia college and workplace environment that you
will be entering in the near future, and as a lifelong learner. To help you reach your goals, this handbook offers
several features:
HE PROLIFIC WRITER

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a streamlined review of punctuation, modifiers, subject-verb agreement, tense agreement, and antecedentpronoun agreement, with practice questions organized at increasing levels of difficulty
lessons on sentence structure basics and pointers on identifying contextual clues in sentence-completion
test questions
paragraph development lessons with practice exercises targeted at different skill levels
individualized mini-lessons and writing prompts for three common essay forms—persuasive, expository,
and narrative—including essay models and detailed rubrics for scoring
77 literary response writing prompts for use in timed practice writing sessions
a chapter on essay writing with guidelines for crafting first-rate introductory, supporting, and concluding
paragraphs
a revision checklist for use during essay writing practice
critical reading passages featuring intensive targeted reading and critical analysis practice

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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

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supplementary “Get a Grip” grammar, research,
writing, and reading sidebars featuring useful
information
“Word Bite” definitions throughout the book
a multimedia grammar resource list
a vocabulary-building list of supplementary
multimedia resources
a literary devices crossword puzzle
a multicultural enrichment reading list featuring titles geared to middle school to high school
level

detailed answer keys
a glossary

or symbols (such as +++▲♥$6Å##!?//<>) by important words or sentences.
It’s also suggested that you purchase a minute
timer so that you can time your writing practices.
Timed writing practices ranging from 15 to 30 minutes will accustom you to outlining, brainstorming,
and writing under pressure.
English to the Max covers a lot of ground, but
if you really want to excel in your studies, it’s important to get into the habit of reading. Do you
read the daily newspaper? Read the movie reviews
and study the way the critic analyzes the movie failures and the movies that are destined for Oscar
gold. Do you like to read people’s opinions about
the latest news and events? Head straight to the editorial section and dig right in! If you’ve had a bad
day at school and you need a laugh, the comics section will cheer you up. And if you think that cartoons are just for kids, you might be interested to
know that there are plenty of adults who enjoy
reading or watching their favorite cartoons. Bart
Simpson rules!
It is highly recommended that you supplement
the lessons and practice sessions in this book with at
least a half hour of supplementary reading per day. To
help you achieve your reading goals, we’ve included
an enrichment reading list in Chapter 9, “Critical
Reading,” to help you find appropriate reading selections. Enjoy!

How should you use this book? First, set a goal.
What are you trying to achieve? By the time the middle school years roll around, most students are well
aware of their grasp of grammar (or lack thereof) or
their ability (or inability) to create a terrific lead sentence. Are you an English hater? Would you rather
slurp curdled milk spiked with cayenne pepper than

write an essay? Or are you a book fiend who burns
through the reading list like a fire blazing through a
parched forest? Are you good at grammar? Do you
ace your essays? Now think about the areas where a
little extra rehab is needed. Do you need help unblocking writer’s block? Do you mangle your modifiers? Do you know what a modifier is?
Unless you are in dire danger of failing a class because of a particularly weak area, it is strongly recommended that you tackle the chapters in this book in
chronological order. LearningExpress encourages you
to highlight the tips and passages that are most essential to your particular area of focus. Don’t be afraid to
create graffiti around the borders of the pages by doodling notes and spotlighting important passages with
gobs of neon highlighter. You might want to place a
double underline under the words or sentences that
you want to focus on or place your own personal notes

Get a Grip Study Tip
While you are studying, it’s okay to listen to
soft classical music, but be sure to turn off
your cell phone and other electronic devices
until your study period is over.

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C H A P T E R

1

Punctuation
Power-Up

T

O DAY ’ S DATA - D R I V E N I N F O R M AT I O N A G E

demands stronger reading and writing skills.
Being able to think clearly and to create interesting content is important. Having a good
grasp of the rules of punctuation is equally essential. You don’t have to love punctuation; you
just have to respect it a little. The best way to master punctuation and sentence mechanics is to learn the
basic rules and use those rules during daily writing practice. You might also consider taking passages from
books and copying them into your notebooks to reinforce the patterns of proper punctuation and sentence structure.
Mastering the intricacies of the English language is a gradual process that will become easier and
more rewarding as your proficiency increases, and as you grow more confident in your abilities. Because
becoming an active reader and writer is crucial to achieving success in language arts, it is suggested that
you make reading and writing important parts of your daily activities by reading a wide variety of media
and by taking advantage of some of the supplementary material listed in the Chapter 3 resource list.
The following is a quick reference guide. We suggest you read the entire guide before moving on to
other sections.

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Period (.)
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Periods signal that a sentence has come to a
complete stop. → Sentences that do not require a
question mark or exclamation point should end
with a period.
A period is used to indicate a decimal. → a GPA

of 3.9
A period separates dollars and cents. → The
price of the loaf of bread is $2.89.
A period follows an initial in a name. → Is
Robert W. Smith here today?
A period indicates that a word is being used in
abbreviated form. → Diva Apparel & Accessory
Co., Inc.
Use a period to end a command. → Take this
book to Mrs. Grundy’s office.
Use a period to separate letters in abbreviations.
→ C.E. [common era]

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Quotation Marks (“ ”)
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Question Mark (?)
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Always place a question mark at the end of a direct question. → What kind of maintenance

schedule should I follow?
When a question includes a direct quote, the
question mark of the overall sentence is placed
outside (after) the end quotation mark. → Did
Mr. Keats say, “The reading assignment is due on
the last Friday of November”?
If a direct quotation is itself a question, the
question mark is placed inside (before) the end
quotation mark. → Mark asked, “Does anyone
want more soda?”

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Exclamation Point (!)
■

Place an exclamation point after an interjection.
→ Wow!
Exclamation marks are placed inside quotation
marks only when they are part of the direct
quote. → Melissa screamed “Help!” when her bicycle’s rain-soaked brakes unexpectedly failed.

Place an exclamation point after a word, phrase,
or sentence that requires extra emphasis or one
that conveys an especially strong emotion. →
That car is speeding out of control!

4

When using a direct quote from an outside
source, place double quotation marks around
the speaker’s words, and use a comma or colon
directly before the quote. → The local news anchor reported: “Retailers are responding to lackluster consumer spending by slashing prices on
apparel, electronics, and household goods.”
The titles of chapters, articles, poems, songs,
and short stories require quotation marks. →
“The Road Not Taken”
The rules of American standard English dictate
that periods and commas are always placed inside (before) end quotation marks, whereas
sentence structure determines placement of
other punctuation, such as question marks and
colons. → “I like to listen to hip-hop classics by
Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Eminem,” said Lisa.
When punctuating dialogue—conversations
between two or more speakers—enclose each
speaker’s words in quotation marks.
Use single quotation marks when enclosing
quoted material inside a direct quotation. →
When John and I discussed the writings of Henry
David Thoreau, he remarked, “I especially appreciate Thoreau’s sentiment: ‘The bluebird carries
the sky on his back.’ ”


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– PUNCTUATION POWER-UP–

Semicolon (;)
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Apostrophe (’)

Use a semicolon to separate individual items or
word groups in a series containing commas. →
Field trips are planned for Monday, May 5; Tuesday, May 6; and Wednesday, May 7.
Use a semicolon before adverbial connectives
such as however, nevertheless, and therefore joining together two independent clauses. → Cheryl
tried out for cheerleading with her arm in a cast;
nevertheless, her routine dazzled the judges.

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Colon (:)
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Use an apostrophe when letters have been
deleted. → It’s [It is] time for a change.
An apostrophe is used with an s at the end of a
word in order to indicate ownership. → On the
day she was absent, Ms. Carlson’s homeroom class
was very unruly.
Only an apostrophe is added to a plural word
ending with an s to indicate ownership. → The
books’ pages were scattered across the floor.

Comma (,)

Use a colon directly in front of a listing of a series of items. → While I was at the supermarket,
I picked up the following: cheese, rolls, pie, and
bottled water.
A colon separates hours and minutes. → Let’s
meet for lunch at 1:30 P.M.
A colon can be substituted for a comma before
a direct quote. → Ms. Jones said: “Students who

are missing more than five homework assignments will have points taken off their final
grades.”
To separate biblical chapter and verse, a colon is
used after the chapter, with the verse appearing
directly after the colon. → Isaiah 61:3
A colon is placed at the end of the salutation
line in a formal letter. → Dear Mr. Smythe:
A colon separates the city and publisher in a
bibliographical citation or note. → New York:
Alfred A. Knopf
Use a colon between titles and subtitles.

The best way to learn to use commas properly is to
study and imitate proper comma usage in model sentences. Reinforce your comma punctuation skills by
reading the specific rule for each situation and then
practicing what you’ve learned by copying each
model sentence five times in the spaces provided.
Rule: Place a comma before a coordinating
conjunction (and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet) joining
two or more independent clauses.
Model sentence:
I was going to go to the party, but I fell asleep
while watching television.
Practice:
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________

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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

Rule: Place a comma between dates, addresses, and
titles:

Rule: Place a comma between all of the items in a list.
Model sentence:
She shopped for paper plates, napkins, cups,
and plastic spoons.

Model sentence:
Robert Smith, PhD, received his doctoral degree
on May 14, 2007.

Practice:

Practice:

1. ____________________________________

1. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________
Rule: Place a comma directly after tags or phrases
preceding direct quotations.

Rule: Set off nonrestrictive appositives and
nonessential phrases and clauses by placing a
comma on both sides. (Do not use commas
with restrictive appositives such as the poet
Robert Frost.)

Model sentence:
The author of the best-selling novel declared, “I
can’t wait to start working on my next book.”

Practice:

Model sentence:
Will’s girlfriend, Halle [nonrestrictive
appositive], whom he has dated for two years
[nonessential clause], doesn’t know how to
drive.

1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________

Practice:

5. ____________________________________

1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________

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– PUNCTUATION POWER-UP–

Rule: Place a comma directly after conjunctive
adverbs and transitional phrases, such as however,
also, then, therefore, for instance, in conclusion, in
fact, and for example.

Rule: Place a comma within (before) the end
quotation mark of a direct quote preceding a tag
(unless the quote ends with a question mark or an
exclamation point).

Model sentence:
In fact, the black shoes are handcrafted in Italy.

Model sentence:
“I’m going on vacation next week,” said Tanya.

Practice:

Practice:

1. ____________________________________

1. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________

Rule: Use a comma after an introductory adverbial
clause or a prepositional phrase.

Hyphen (-)
■

Model sentence:
Under the decaying front porch, we discovered
a box filled with books and old letters.
■

Practice:
1. ____________________________________

■

2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________

Use a hyphen whenever two or more words are
joined together to serve as an adjective directly
before a noun (unless the first word ends in -ly).
→ The well-regarded teacher was honored for his
exceptionally hard work and dedication.
Use a hyphen when writing out fractions and
compound numbers. → I spent one-third of my
allowance on books and DVDs.
Use a hyphen with compound nouns. → My
sister-in-law works at the local mall.

4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________

Grammar-Gram
If a word is not listed in the dictionary as a
compound word (for example, notebook or
self-esteem), write it as two separate words
(for example, test taker).

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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

Parentheses
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Comma Use and Abuse

Place parentheses around letters or numbers
that mark divisions in a series. → The main
rules of the class are the following: (1) don’t
speak when someone else is speaking, (2) act respectfully toward your teacher and your classmates, and (3) work hard and complete all of
your assignments.
Use parentheses to enclose supplementary material. → Dorothy (Mrs. Thomas) Walker, an animal welfare activist, recently adopted an elderly
mixed-breed dog from the local animal shelter.

Some writers sprinkle commas into their
writing like Parmesan cheese over a plate of
spaghetti or sprinkles onto a cake. Yikes!
The best way to avoid this type of comma
abuse is to ask yourself the following question before using a comma: What specific
punctuation rule applies to this particular situation? If a rule doesn’t fit the situation, you
might be creating a dreaded comma splice

by placing a comma between two independent clauses that are direly in need of a coordinating conjunction (there are seven of
them: and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet).

Ellipsis Points (. . .)
■

Ellipsis points signify that material has been
omitted from the middle of a quotation, but
they are normally not placed at the beginning or
end of a quotation. → In his play Uncle Vanya,
Anton Chekhov wrote: “Man has been endowed
with reason, with the power to create . . . but up to
now he hasn’t been a creator, only a destroyer.”

Practice Questions
Choose the punctuation mark that is needed in each
of the following sentences. If no additional punctuation is needed, choose e.
1. “It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. Coach Lewis
never lets me start the game!”
a. .
b. ,
c. !
d. “
e. correct as is

Get a Grip on
Punctuation
Help!! Writer Wigs Out on
Exclamation Points!
Exclamation points are like cayenne pepper—

use them to add a dash of excitement, but
don’t be heavy-handed or they will irritate
the reader. If you have used more than one
exclamation point on a page, focus instead
on revising to make more precise word
choices that will interject your writing with
the same degree of enthusiasm that you are
hoping to achieve by using exclamation
points.

2. Maureen’s three sisters, Molly, Shannon, and
Patricia are all spending the summer at their
grandmother’s beach house.
a. ;
b. –
c. !
d. ,
e. correct as is

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– PUNCTUATION POWER-UP–

7. Before sending out invitations, Margo checked
the party date with her mother-in-law.
a. ,
b. ;
c. —
d. .
e. correct as is

3. For the centerpieces, the florist recommended
the following flowers daisies, tulips, daffodils,
and hyacinths.
a. :
b. ,
c. .
d. ;
e. correct as is

8. “I remember” Luis recollected, “the first time I
was allowed to walk home from school by
myself.”
a. ?
b. ,
c. :
d. ;
e. correct as is

4. Lily is an accomplished gymnast she won
three medals in her last competition.

a. ;
b. ,
c. ?
d. :
e. correct as is

9. Madeline Larkin our office manager, is the
most organized person I’ve ever known.
a. :
b. ;
c. —
d. ,
e. correct as is

5. Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield—
a studious, extremely bright high school senior
decided that college was not for him.
a. ;
b. ,
c. —
d. :
e. correct as is

10. I spend most of my time at the gym on the
treadmill walking is my favorite form of
exercise.
a. ,
b. ?
c. ;
d. !

e. correct as is

6. Kims assistant, usually so reliable, has been
late for work three times this week, without
any excuse.
a. ’
b. ,
c. ;
d. .
e. correct as is

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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

15. Before the student could be hired by the company, the students adviser had to provide a
letter of recommendation.
a. company the students
b. company, the student’s
c. company, the students’
d. company the students’

e. correct as is

Choose the alternative that shows the best punctuation for the underlined part of the sentence. If the
sentence is correct as is, choose e.
11. Simone bought three new pairs of shoes even
though she had put herself on a tight budget
just last week.
a. shoes, even though, she
b. shoes, even though she
c. shoes. Even though she
d. shoes; even though she
e. correct as is
12. Most residents of the building have air conditioners however I’ve always found that a
ceiling fan is sufficient.
a. air conditioners however: I’ve
b. air conditioners, however, I’ve
c. air conditioners however, I’ve
d. air conditioners; however, I’ve
e. correct as is

16. The volunteers who would like to work the
morning shift should sign their names on this
sheet.
a. volunteers, who would like to work the
morning shift
b. volunteers who would like to work the
morning shift,
c. volunteers, who would like to work the
morning shift,
d. volunteers who, would like to work the

morning shift,
e. correct as is

13. “Are you okay,” asked Timothy, “Are you sure
you don’t want to sit down and rest for a
while?”
a. okay?” asked Timothy. “Are
b. okay?” asked Timothy, “Are
c. okay,” asked Timothy? “Are
d. okay?” asked Timothy? “Are
e. correct as is

17. The employees asked whether the company
would be offering tuition reimbursement
within the next three years?
a. reimbursement within the next three years!
b. reimbursement, within the next three years.
c. reimbursement within the next three years.
d. reimbursement, within the next three years?
e. correct as is

14. The owners of the restaurant maintain that only
organic ingredients are used in their kitchen.
a. maintain, that only
b. maintain that, only
c. maintain: that only
d. maintain—that only
e. correct as is

18. This is the new restaurant you’ve been talking

about, isn’t it?
a. about isn’t it?
b. about, is’nt it?
c. about, isn’t it.
d. about isn’t it.
e. correct as is

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– PUNCTUATION POWER-UP–

19. Turnips a root vegetable can be mashed,
roasted, or used in casseroles.
a. Turnips, a root vegetable,
b. Turnips, a root vegetable
c. Turnips, a root vegetable—
d. Turnips a root vegetable,
e. correct as is

Do Capitalize
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20. They met for the first time on August 27, 1972
in Seattle, WA.
a. August 27 1972 in Seattle, WA.
b. August 27 1972, in Seattle WA.
c. August 27, 1972 in Seattle, WA.
d. August 27, 1972, in Seattle, WA.
e. correct as is

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Capitalization
Don’t Capitalize
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the seasons of the year → spring, summer, fall,
winter
written-out references to specific dates of the
month → the tenth day of February
geographical directions → I told him to drive
north.
the first word in a quotation that is written as a
phrase instead of a complete sentence → He
said that he would prefer to “spend some time at
the shore” during the summer months.
the names of academic subjects, unless they are
languages such as English or titles of academic
courses → second-year calculus; Advanced Calculus II
the first letter(s) of words of an academic degree → bachelor of arts
prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in a
book or article title, unless they appear as the
first or last word

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11

the first letter(s) of proper nouns referring to
specific beings, places, and things such as the
names of continents, countries, states, cities,
races, nationalities, religions, and languages
the first letter(s) of the names of months, weekdays, and holidays → New Year’s Day
the first word of a sentence → School is in session today.
the first letter(s) of the name of a geographical
location → She left for a business trip out West.
the first letter of an individual’s first, middle,
and last names → President John Quincy Adams
the first letter(s) in the name of an animal →
My cat is named Miss Kitty.
the first letter of the first word of a direct quotation that is written as a complete sentence →
Principal Roberts said, “Research indicates that
an extended school day increases academic
achievement.”
all of the letters in an acronym → ASPCA
the first letter in each word of an organization’s
name → American Red Cross

the pronoun I → I am going to school early today.
the first letter in the first, last, and major words
in the title of a book, magazine, computer software program, poem, story, play, song title, film,
or work of art (However, the titles of certain poems, magazines, and such are sometimes typed
completely in lowercase letters for artistic effect.)
the first letter(s) of a brand name → Crest
toothpaste
the first letter(s) of the name of a river, ocean,
or other large body of water → Mississippi River
the first letter in Mother, Father, Dad, Mom,
Grandfather, Grandma, and so on if they are
not preceded by a possessive noun or pronoun
→ I met Dad in front of the diner.
the first letter(s) in a company name → General
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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

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21. Last week, | dr. Tanya Miller received |
a
b
a special award from the | city of Atlanta. |
c
d
Correct as is
e

the first letter(s) in the name of a school, college, or university → Columbia University
the first letter(s) of the names of streets, buildings, and institutions when they are part of a
proper noun → Wall Street; White House
the first word of each item in an outline →
Introduction
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2

22. The new bakery | in the center of town |
a
b
sells a wide assortment | of italian pastries. |
c
d
Correct as is
e

Examples of Capitalization

in Titles

Amelia Rules! (comic book)
American Idol (television show)
“Casey at the Bat” (poem by Ernest Lawrence
Thayer)
Girl with a Pearl Earring (work of art by Johannes
Vermeer)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (book by
Douglas Adams)
March of the Penguins (film)
Paradise Lost (lengthy poem by John Milton)
Popular Science (periodical)
A Raisin in the Sun (play by Lorraine Hansberry)
“The Tell-Tale Heart” (short story by Edgar
Allan Poe)
“What a Wonderful World” (song)
Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 7 (software)

23. Michael Blake, jr., |
a
is such an accomplished golfer |
b
that he won three tournaments | in a row. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
24. Catherine complained loudly, |
a

“why can’t you ever | pick me up on time |
b
c
in the morning?” | Correct as is
d
e
25. The Declaration of Independence |
a
is one of the most important |
b
documents in the history | of the United States.
c
d
Correct as is
e

Practice Questions
For the following questions, choose the lettered part
of the sentence that contains a word that needs a capital letter. If no additional words should be capitalized, choose e. Refer to the preceding checklists if you
want to be certain about your choice.

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26. Sally’s Sweet shop, |
a
one of the oldest businesses in town, |
b
is located on one of the main streets |
c
of Millersville. | Correct as is
d
e

31. a. Leo told her, to call the customer service
department in the morning.
b. She put up signs all over town, but she
didn’t get any response.
c. Occasionally, her neighbors ask her to feed
their cat.
d. no mistakes

27. My first childhood pet, | a gray cat named otis,
a
b
| was given to me as a gift | on my fifth birthday. |
c
d
Correct as is
e

32. a. Did you see all three movies about Shrek?
b. She was given an award by mayor
Chambers.
c. Math and science are my two best subjects.
d. no mistakes

28. The local elementary school |
a
is organizing a screening |
b
of the movie toy story | as a fund-raiser. |
c
d
Correct as is
e

33. a. A major highway is being built on the outskirts of town.
b. When you reach the traffic light on Berkshire Road, turn right onto Springfield
Boulevard.
c. We were staying at my sister’s cape Cod
vacation home.
d. no mistakes

For each question, find the sentence that has a mistake in capitalization or punctuation. If you find no
mistakes, mark choice d.

34. a. The instructor asked us if we needed more
time?
b. Carla’s mother is a pediatric dentist.

c. Every item in the store costs less than a
dollar.
d. no mistakes

29. a. My least favorite season is Winter.
b. Next Friday, Uncle Jake is coming to visit.
c. Maureen served as treasurer for the
women’s organization.
d. no mistakes

35. a. Jane’s family owned three Persian cats.
b. My Uncle always takes the subway to Yankee Stadium.
c. Everyone knows that Marisa’s favorite book
is Pride and Prejudice.
d. no mistakes

30. a. “Can you attend next week’s meeting?” she
asked.
b. His new car was damaged in the accident.
c. The girls’ giggled through the whole movie.
d. no mistakes

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36. a. “I’ll do the grocery shopping for you,
grandma,” Lucy said.
b. “Where can I find the best pizza in town?”
he asked.
c. “Be sure to arrive two hours early,” she
warned.
d. no mistakes

42. a. Can you find the Indian ocean on this
map?
b. Which river, the Nile or the Amazon, is
longer?
c. Lerner Avenue runs into the Thompson
Parkway.
d. no mistakes

37. a. I always have a hard time getting up in the
morning.
b. We took: a tent, a cooler, and a sleeping bag.
c. The fog was as thick as potato soup.
d. no mistakes

43. a. He’s the best dancer in the school.
b. We were planning to go, but the meeting
was canceled.

c. “Okay,” she said, I’ll go with you.”
d. no mistakes

38. a. This is someone elses coat.
b. Which of these songs was recorded by
Bruce Springsteen?
c. That book must be yours.
d. no mistakes

44. a. Does Judge Parker live on your street?
b. Twenty government officials met to deal
with Wednesday’s crisis.
c. The Mayor spoke at a news conference this
morning.
d. no mistakes

39. a. Don’t stand in my way.
b. Cecilia and I fought our way through the
crowd.
c. The vegetables were old rubbery and
tasteless.
d. no mistakes
40. a.
b.
c.
d.

45. a. My brother Isaac is the best player on the
team.
b. Because of the high cost; we decided not

to go.
c. Where’s your new puppy?
d. no mistakes

Remember to walk the dog.
“Don’t run”! Mr. Ellington shouted.
It’s supposed to snow today and tomorrow.
no mistakes

46. a. I have learned to appreciate Mozart’s music.
b. My cousin Veronica is studying to be a
Veterinarian.
c. Mr. Shanahan is taller than Professor
Martin.
d. no mistakes

41. a. Charleen’s parents worried whenever she
drove the car.
b. Who designed the Brooklyn Bridge?
c. Diseases like Smallpox and Polio have been
virtually eradicated.
d. no mistakes

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53. a.
b.
c.
d.

47. a. “You look just like your mother,” Ms. Jones
told me.
b. “Please be careful,” he said.
c. Tyler asked, “why do I have to go to bed so
early?”
d. no mistakes

Questions 54–57 are based on the following passage.
First, read the passage; then, choose the alternative
that shows the best capitalization or punctuation for
each underlined part.

48. a. Do you prefer root beer or orange soda?
b. In which year did world war II end?
c. I like to study the geography of the
Everglades.
d. no mistakes

Madam Helena P. Blavatsky born in Russia on

May 8, 1831, claimed to have psychic powers
and to be capable of performing feats of
clairvoyance and telepathy. During her 60 years,
she traveled to many countries—including the
United States, England, India, and Egypt—in
order to study the occult. Although many
considered her a fake throughout her lifetime
she was surrounded by faithful believers,
including such influential persons as British
statesman Allen O. Hume and Swedish countess
Constance Wachtmeister. To this day, followers
commemorate the date of her death calling
May 8 “White Lotus Day.”

49. a. Colds like many other viruses are highly
contagious.
b. Call me when you feel better.
c. Did you wash your hands, Michael?
d. no mistakes
50. a.
b.
c.
d.

Those shoes are too expensive.
Michael’s best friend is Patrick.
Did you hear that Inez got a new puppy.
no mistakes

The industrial revolution began in Europe.

Is Labor Day a national holiday?
General Patton was a four-star general.
no mistakes

51. a. Carmen brought bread, and butter, and
strawberry jam.
b. Let’s look at the map.
c. Be sure to thank Aunt Helen for the gift.
d. no mistakes
52. a. My Aunt Georgia loves to read EighteenthCentury novels.
b. Eli’s sister’s cousin lives in Alaska.
c. Is that a German shepherd?
d. no mistakes

15

54. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Blavatsky: born
Blavatsky—born
Blavatsky, born
Blavatsky. Born
correct as is

55. a.
b.

c.
d.
e.

countries, including
countries: including
countries. Including
countries including
correct as is


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– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–

56. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

fake, throughout
fake. Throughout
fake: throughout

fake; throughout
correct as is

treatment I expect from your fine
establishment. I hope you will make restitution
and have a discussion with your staff about
customer service. My receipt is enclosed.

57. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

death. Calling
death, calling
death: calling
death; calling
correct as is

Melanie Jeffords

Sincerely yours,

Questions 58–61 are based on the following passage.
First, read the passage; then, choose the alternative
that shows the best capitalization or punctuation for
each underlined part.
312 Maple Avenue
Chicago, IL 60632

June 2, 2006
Mark Franklin, general manager
Wholesome Food Store
1245 Main Street
Chicago, IL 60627

58. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Franklin, general Manager
franklin, General Manager
Franklin, General Manager
Franklin, General manager
correct as is

59. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Dear Mr. Franklin.
Dear, Mr. franklin,
dear Mr. Franklin:
Dear Mr. Franklin:
correct as is

60. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Monday, May 22nd I
Monday May 22nd; I
Monday. May 22nd I
Monday, May 22nd, I
correct as is

61. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

extremely rude, and she
extremely rude: and she
extremely rude? And she
extremely rude and, she
correct as is

dear Mr. Franklin;
I am writing to complain about the behavior of
one of your sales clerks. On Monday May 22nd
I visited your store to return a package of
ground turkey that I had purchased the day
before. When I explained to your sales clerk that

the expiration date on the package was May 1st,
she was extremely rude and she refused to
refund my money. This is not the kind of

16