Writing and Language Flashcards

The biochemist’s research was meticulous; not only were the lab results cross-referenced, but also _______ by an independent third party.

Answer: was the methodology validated

This question tests parallel structure with the correlative conjunction 'not only... but also.' When 'not only' is followed by an inverted verb-subject structure ('were the lab results'), the phrase following 'but also' must have the same inverted structure ('was the methodology validated') to maintain parallelism.

Which of the following sentences best corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence below? "After simmering for hours, the chef decided the stew was finally ready to be served."

Answer: After the stew had simmered for hours, the chef decided it was finally ready to be served.

The original sentence has a dangling modifier because the introductory phrase 'After simmering for hours' incorrectly modifies 'the chef' instead of 'the stew.' Choice B corrects this by making 'the stew' the subject of the introductory clause, clearly indicating what was simmering.

The council passed the new zoning ordinance, a controversial decision that would fundamentally alter the town's character _______ it promised significant economic growth by attracting new businesses.

Answer: :

A colon is the most appropriate punctuation here because the second clause ('it promised significant economic growth...') serves as a direct explanation or elaboration of the first clause, explaining the rationale behind the 'controversial decision.' A semicolon connects two related independent clauses but doesn't show this strong explanatory relationship.

The ethics board requires that any researcher applying for a grant _______ all sources of funding from the previous five years.

Answer: disclose

This sentence requires the subjunctive mood, which is used for demands, requirements, or suggestions. The verb 'requires' followed by 'that' triggers the subjunctive. The subjunctive form is the base form of the verb, which in this case is 'disclose,' for all subjects.

When the lead prosecutor spoke with the junior associate, she worried that his argument was not compelling enough for the jury. Which choice most effectively resolves the ambiguity in the underlined portion?

Answer: she worried that the junior associate's argument

The original sentence is ambiguous because the pronoun 'his' could refer to either the 'lead prosecutor' (if the prosecutor is male) or the 'junior associate.' To eliminate this confusion, the pronoun should be replaced with the specific noun it refers to. Choice A clarifies that the argument belongs to the junior associate.

The final conclusion of the exhaustive, multi-year study was that its ultimate outcome was essentially inconclusive.

Answer: The conclusion of the exhaustive, multi-year study was that its outcome was inconclusive.

This sentence contains multiple redundancies. A 'conclusion' is by definition 'final,' and an 'outcome' is 'ultimate.' Therefore, using both 'final conclusion' and 'ultimate outcome' is repetitive. Choice B eliminates these redundancies, creating the most concise and clear sentence while retaining the important descriptor 'exhaustive.'