FREE CLEP English Composition Question and Answers

Question 1

Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error

(1)If people (2) had helped solved the energy crisis, (3) it might (4) of been a lesson to humanity.

Accepted Answer

of

Answer

The phrase 'might of been' is a common grammatical error. The correct auxiliary verb construction is 'might have been.' 'Of' is a preposition and cannot substitute for the auxiliary verb 'have' in this context.

Question 2

Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error

As they (1) listened to his (2) fabulous statistics, the board members (3) became more and more (4) incredible.

Accepted Answer

incredible

Answer

The word 'incredible' means unbelievable or astonishing. In this context, the board members are becoming skeptical or disbelieving of the statistics, not becoming unbelievable themselves. The correct word to describe someone who is unwilling or unable to believe something is 'incredulous.'

Question 3

Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error

(1) Such a comment about anyone (2) who (3) we know to be generous, kind, and thoughtful (4) is unfair.

Accepted Answer

who

Answer

In the clause 'who we know to be generous,' the pronoun is the object of the verb 'know' (we know *him*). Therefore, the objective case pronoun 'whom' should be used instead of the subjective case 'who.' The correct phrasing is 'whom we know to be generous.'

Question 4

Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error

If he (1) would have been there, he would have seen for (2) himself the (3) further improvements they (4) had made.

Accepted Answer

would have been

Answer

This sentence uses a past hypothetical conditional (third conditional). The 'if' clause in a third conditional requires the past perfect tense ('had' + past participle). The phrase 'If he would have been there' is a common error; it should correctly be 'If he had been there.'

Question 5

Choose the appropriate error. No sentence contains more than one error. If No Error exists, then select the no error

He (1) has always been negligent (2) about his health, and he (3) is feeling the (4) effects of his carelessness.

Accepted Answer

about

Answer

The correct preposition to use with 'negligent' when referring to a specific area of neglect is 'of' or 'in,' not 'about.' One is 'negligent of one's health' or 'negligent in one's duties.' 'About' is less precise and less idiomatic in this context.

CLEP Practice Test

CLEP Practice Test

FREE CLEP English Composition Question and Answers