FSOT English Grammar and Usage Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following sentence and determine if it contains an error:

Having finished the detailed report, the summary was sent to the department head for immediate review.

Accepted Answer

The sentence contains a dangling modifier.

Answer

The correct answer identifies a dangling modifier. The introductory phrase 'Having finished the detailed report' does not logically modify the subject 'the summary'. A summary cannot finish a report. The sentence should be rewritten to clarify who finished the report, for example: 'Having finished the detailed report, the project manager sent the summary to the department head for immediate review.'

Question 2

A Foreign Service Officer is drafting a cable and wants to ensure it is grammatically flawless. Which of the following sentences correctly uses parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

The policy requires that we engage in bilateral talks, that we provide humanitarian aid, and that we monitor the situation closely.

Answer

This sentence correctly uses parallel structure by repeating the clause structure 'that we [verb]'. Each element in the series begins with 'that we,' creating a balanced and clear construction. The other options mix grammatical forms (e.g., mixing a noun phrase with an infinitive 'to report' or mixing gerunds with nouns).

Question 3

Select the sentence that correctly uses the subjunctive mood.

Accepted Answer

The committee recommended that the proposal be approved without delay.

Answer

The correct sentence uses the subjunctive mood, which is required after verbs of recommendation, demand, or suggestion like 'recommended'. In the present subjunctive, the base form of the verb ('be') is used, regardless of the subject. The other options are incorrect: 'If I were' should be used for hypothetical situations, 'employee complete' is the correct subjunctive form after 'requires that', and 'he were given' is the correct form for a wish.

Question 4

The consul met with the citizen _______ the embassy had been trying to contact for several weeks.

Accepted Answer

whom

Answer

The correct pronoun is 'whom' because it functions as the object of the verb 'contact' in the subordinate clause. A simple test is to rephrase the clause: 'the embassy had been trying to contact him/her'. Since 'him' or 'her' (object pronouns) fits, 'whom' is the correct choice. 'Who' is a subject pronoun.

Question 5

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written?

Accepted Answer

The ambassador, along with her senior staff, is attending the international summit.

Answer

This sentence is correct. The phrase 'along with her senior staff' is an intervening phrase and does not affect the subject-verb agreement. The singular subject 'ambassador' correctly pairs with the singular verb 'is'. Option A incorrectly uses 'that' in a non-restrictive clause (it should be 'which'). Option B has a subject-verb agreement error; the verb should agree with the closest subject 'chief', so it should be 'is'. Option D is incorrect because the subject 'Every one' is singular and requires the singular verb 'has'.

FSOT Test Practice Test

FSOT Test Practice Test

FSOT English Grammar and Usage Questions and Answers