AWA Clarity & Language Usage 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence best avoids the problem of a dangling modifier?
- Running to catch the bus, my backpack fell off.
- Running to catch the bus, I dropped my backpack. (Correct answer)
- My backpack fell off, running to catch the bus.
- To catch the bus, my backpack was dropped.
Correct answer: Running to catch the bus, I dropped my backpack.
A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase lacks a clear subject that matches the main clause; 'I' correctly performs the action 'running.'
Question 2: In AWA writing, using vague pronouns like 'it,' 'this,' and 'they' without clear antecedents primarily causes which problem?
- Overly complex sentence structure
- Ambiguity that confuses the reader about what is being referenced (Correct answer)
- Excessive formality in academic writing
- Redundancy within the paragraph
Correct answer: Ambiguity that confuses the reader about what is being referenced
Vague pronouns force readers to guess what is being referenced, undermining the clarity and precision essential in analytical writing.
Question 3: Which of the following is the clearest and most direct rewrite of: 'Due to the fact that the economy was in a state of decline, many businesses were forced to make the decision to close'?
- Because of economic decline, many businesses decided to close. (Correct answer)
- In light of the fact that there was economic decline, businesses closed their doors.
- The economy's declining state resulted in businesses being forced toward closure.
- Many businesses, due to the economy declining, were in a state of closure.
Correct answer: Because of economic decline, many businesses decided to close.
Eliminating wordy phrases like 'due to the fact that' and 'make the decision to' produces a concise, clear sentence.
Question 4: A writer argues: 'The policy is inefficient, costly, and it wastes time.' What language problem does this sentence contain?
- Faulty parallelism (Correct answer)
- A misplaced modifier
- Passive voice overuse
- Subject-verb disagreement
Correct answer: Faulty parallelism
The list mixes adjectives ('inefficient,' 'costly') with a clause ('it wastes time'), violating parallel structure.
Question 5: Which word choice best maintains formal, precise language appropriate for the AWA essay?
- The CEO basically messed up big time with this call.
- The executive's decision was fundamentally flawed. (Correct answer)
- The boss really blew it on this one.
- The top guy made a super bad choice here.
Correct answer: The executive's decision was fundamentally flawed.
AWA essays require formal diction; 'fundamentally flawed' is precise and appropriately academic in register.
Question 6: What is the primary AWA writing error in this sentence: 'The researchers studied the data, and then the results were published by them'?
- Unnecessary shift to passive voice creating an inconsistent subject (Correct answer)
- Incorrect use of a coordinating conjunction
- A comma splice joining two independent clauses
- Misuse of past tense in an academic context
Correct answer: Unnecessary shift to passive voice creating an inconsistent subject
Shifting from active ('researchers studied') to passive ('results were published') with a redundant pronoun weakens clarity and consistency.
Question 7: An AWA writer wants to say that two things happened at the same time. Which sentence correctly conveys simultaneity?
- Sales dropped; profits fell subsequently.
- As sales dropped, profits fell simultaneously. (Correct answer)
- Sales dropped, and then profits fell as a result.
- Because profits fell, sales dropped at the same time.
Correct answer: As sales dropped, profits fell simultaneously.
The subordinating conjunction 'as' signals two events occurring at the same time, while other options imply sequence or causation.
AWA Clarity & Language Usage 2
Which sentence best avoids the problem of a dangling modifier?