TABE Language Practice Test 1
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. For every song that is a hit, it is critical to have a quality “beat” and quality lyrics; (however), music companies hire professional producers and song writers.
The underlined portion of this sentence is wrong because the conjunction “however” needs to properly reflect the supporting nature of the second clause—NOT a contrasting relationship. (Choice “however”, “nevertheless” and “yet”) all reflect a contrasting relationship when a supporting and united relationship should be here. (Choice “therefore” and “and” are left. (Choice “therefore”) is best because the initial clause creates a premise (the requirements for a good song) that the second clause needs to support (how these requirements are met); therefore is the ideal transition for this type of cause-effect relationship.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Even though I have seen the movie countless times, I still (laughed when the sheriff throws his mug.)
The correct answer is “laugh when the sheriff throws his mug.“ ( the remaining choices have verb tense mismatches.)
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Explanation:
Because there are no usage errors in answer option (C), it is accurate. In answer option (D), "hunger" is used instead of "hungry," "real" is used instead of "truly," and "excited" is used in place of "exciting" in answer choice (A).
Read the entire sentence. The housing market is changing ________ many younger people aren’t making enough money to afford to buy a house. Which word completes the statement correctly?
Explanation:
The statement depicts a cause and consequence, necessitating a transition word that reflects that, making answer option (B) correct. The causes and effects in the other answer options aren't expressed in the right sequence. Though it might be alluring, answer option (A) requires that the two phrases be switched around.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Concerns about global warming have grown into actual efforts sanctioned by non-governmental organizations and governments that not only work to (understand global warming and also to prevent it.)
The original underlined portion is incorrect because of the improper use of the “not only...but also...” structure. Only (choice “understand global warming but also to prevent it.") and (choice “understand global warming but also to prevent its growth.“) use this structure, but (choice “understand global warming but also to prevent its growth. “) accurately adds “to prevent its growth.” The sentence began by discussing growth because global warming is a dynamic problem that has not just stagnated; it continually has changed. (Choice “understand global warming but also to prevent its growth.”) corrects the structure and also uses the proper possessive form of it (i.e. its).
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Fleeing the horde of zombies on foot, (an apparently safe building became visible to the terrified couple.)
The correct answer is “the terrified couple spotted a building that looked safe.” (The remaining choices are all dangling modifiers. Who was fleeing the horde? The terrified couple was.)
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Inside the glove compartment were legal documents, pictures, (and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.)
The correct answer is (and napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.). (and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.) and (and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but not any gloves.) break the parallelism of the list of things in the glove compartment. (and napkins from the coffee shop, no gloves were there.) and (and napkins from the coffee shop, there were no gloves.) are run-ons.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (For homes in typically colder geographic regions,) it is particularly important to have effective and efficient heating systems.
The problem with this sentence is that it makes sense conversationally but not in written English. You cannot just say “colder geographic regions” when there is no object of comparison. Colder compared to what? An area can easily be identified as cold without a prior standard (such as the southern regions or areas near the equator) but not “colder.” Also, it is wrong to refer to people as the subject of this sentence because the second clause states that “it is particularly important to have...heating system.” People cannot have heating systems usually. Therefore, choice (“For homes in typically cold geographic regions”), which uses a descriptive rather than comparative term, is the best choice.
Read the entire sentence. There was a great moment during ______ show. Which word completes the statement correctly?
Explanation:
Since the term "yesterday" is used to describe which show had a memorable moment, answer choice (C) is accurate. Because it is only the plural of yesterday, answer option (A) is wrong, and answer choices (B) and (D) are misspelled.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then) tried to act like I did so on purpose.
The correct answer is “Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then “ (“Yesterday I fell down the stairs, I” and “I fell down the stairs yesterday, I “ are run-ons. “After I fell down the stairs yesterday; I” and “Falling down the stairs; I” misuse their semicolons: the parts before them are not independent clauses.)
Read the entire sentence. Richard and Shyanne ______ both taking the test after school tomorrow. Which word completes the statement correctly?
Explanation:
The plural and present forms of the verb "to be" are both used in answer option (C), making it the correct choice. Because "am" only functions with the personal pronoun "I," answer choice (D) is untrue and response choice (A) is in the past tense. There are two people taking the test, not one, so answer choice (B) is incorrect.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.)
The problem with this sentence is that it uses the passive voice and a mistaken pronoun to refer to people (i.e. that). (Choice “Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.“) and (choice “Alumnus that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.”) change the passive voice to the active voice by writing that the alumni commit the action, rather than writing that the action was committed by the alumni. Also, (choice “Alumnus that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.”) mistakenly changes “alumni” (plural) to “alumnus” (singular). (Choice “Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.”) is the best choice because “alumni” is plural as it should be based on the logic of the sentence (not just one person looks forward to high school reunions) and the active voice is properly implemented.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Lockers in schools are often dilapidated, (making student’s valuables susceptible to theft.)
This sentence is wrong because of a possession error. Not just one student possesses lockers and many valuables. The sentence refers to “lockers in schools,” and your typical student doesn’t just have a ton of lockers to choose from! Because multiple entities (i.e. people) possess the valuables referred to, the clause needs to become “making students’ valuables susceptible to theft.” Choices “making student’s valuables susceptible to theft”, “which makes student’s valuables susceptible to theft” and “that makes student’s valuables susceptible to theft” all fail to correct this possession error, and (choice “that makes students’ valuables susceptible to theft” mistakenly places “that” after the comma when “which” would be the only appropriate way to begin the descriptive clause. If there was no comma or a replacement semi-colon preceding (coming before) “that” then the sentence would have been okay. Only choice “making students’ valuables susceptible to theft” corrects the possession error and makes a fitting descriptive clause.
Angel _______ up this morning when she heard the sound of crackling bacon. Which word completes the statement correctly?
Explanation:
Because the sentence needs a past-tense verb, answer choice (A) is the correct response. Because it would only function in situations where a past perfect verb was required, answer choice (C) is untrue. Because the verb's present tense is rarely employed, answer option (D) is wrong. Because it refers to a state of being as a noun, answer choice (B) is wrong.
Which of the following is an opinion statement?
Explanation:
The correct response is option (A), as the definition of what is fun might vary from student to student. The other answer options all express ideas that are more factual and objective.
Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Natural disasters (have been increasingly effecting) nearly every part of the world in the past decade with catastrophic tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
The only problem with the underlined portion of this sentence is the use of the word “effecting” instead of “affecting.” When an object/s undergoes changes, these changes are effects such as in the following sentence: John’s excellent attendance at school has had positive effects on his education. However, in the verb form, “effects” turns into “affects” such as in the following sentence: John’s excellent attendance has affected his education. Noun (effect) vs. verb (affect). Only (choice “have been increasingly affecting”) and (choice “will be increasingly affecting”) properly used “affecting” but (choice “will be increasingly affecting”) uses the future tense when the sentence clearly describes an occurrence of the past (“...in the past decade...”). (Choice “have been increasingly affecting”) is correct.