West B Writing: Revision and Editing Skills Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the sentences below.

'The city council approved the new park project. The project will begin next spring. It includes a playground and a walking trail.'

Which of the following is the BEST way to combine these sentences to improve flow and conciseness?

Accepted Answer

The city council approved the new park project, which will begin next spring and include a playground and a walking trail.

Answer

The city council approved the new park project, and it will begin next spring, including a playground and a walking trail.

Answer

Including a playground and walking trail, the city council approved the new park project that will begin next spring.

Answer

The city council approved the new park project, it will begin next spring, it includes a playground and a walking trail.

Question 2

A writer is revising a draft for clarity and conciseness. Which of the following sentences should be revised to eliminate redundancy?

Accepted Answer

The basic essentials for the camping trip include a tent and a sleeping bag.

Answer

The committee will collaborate on the joint project.

Answer

The final outcome of the experiment was unexpected.

Answer

She was a new innovator in the field of biotechnology.

Question 3

Read the sentence below.

'Covered in thick, bubbling cheese, the family eagerly awaited the pizza.'

Which revision most effectively corrects the misplaced modifier in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

The family eagerly awaited the pizza covered in thick, bubbling cheese.

Answer

Eagerly awaiting the pizza, the family was covered in thick, bubbling cheese.

Answer

The pizza was covered in thick, bubbling cheese, and the family eagerly awaited it.

Answer

Covered in thick, bubbling cheese, the pizza was eagerly awaited by the family.

Question 4

Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

The concert was fantastic, the band played all of their most popular songs.

Answer

The museum was crowded, so we decided to visit the sculpture garden instead.

Answer

Although the trail was steep, the view from the summit was worth the climb.

Answer

The storm passed quickly; the sun was shining again within an hour.

Question 5

Read the passage below.

'The company invested heavily in new marketing strategies. ______, its quarterly sales figures showed a significant decline.'

Which transitional word or phrase, if inserted in the blank, would best link the two sentences?

Accepted Answer

Nevertheless

Answer

For example

Answer

Furthermore

Answer

Consequently

Question 6

Which of the following sentences contains an error in parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

The new manager is responsible for hiring new staff, training employees, and the evaluation of performance.

Answer

She spent the afternoon reading a book, listening to music, and sipping tea.

Answer

The goals of the project are to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

Answer

He wanted either to finish his degree in the fall or to find a full-time job.