Unit 2 sample test answers

Unit 2 sample test answers

In 1-3, the verbs are in blue and the simple subjects are in green:

1. Bill and Jane are tremendously upset because they have class today while the U.S. soccer team is playing the Czech Republic in the World Cup.

2. They wonder how they are supposed to concentrate on grammar when such an exciting and important sporting event is taking place.

3. Despite how much they both would rather be watching the World Cup, Bill and Jane must concentrate on their work and do their best to put soccer out of their minds for the time being.

Naturally, how you completed the fragments may be different from how I've completed them here.

4. Fragment. Climbing the crepe myrtles in their backyard.

Surprisingly, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are at this moment climbing the crepe myrtles in their backyard.

5. Sentence. Knowing the weeds in the flower bed had to be pulled, she got up early.

6. Fragment. Rachel, a gifted organist who accompanies our choir.

Rachel, a gifted organist who accompanies our choir, was recently arrested for armed robbery.

The subordinate clauses are in red.

7. Simple. Many visitors enjoy the mild weather in San Diego all year.

8. Complex. When it rains, the busy streets are full of umbrellas.

9. Complex. One should never sign a contract until he or she has read the fine print carefully.

Your answers are likely to vary, though each answer with a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) should have a comma between the independent clauses and each with a conjunctive adverb (see p. 183) requires a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb.

10. The state's bridges must be repaired. Our highway infrastructure will be dangerous.

The state's bridges must be repaired, or our highway infrastructure will be dangerous.
The state's bridges must be repaired; otherwise, our highway infrastructure will be dangerous.

11. Roger has a large snowblower. His driveway is always clean.

Roger has a large snowblower, so his driveway is always clean.
Roger has a large snowblower; therefore, his driveway is always clean.

How you address the two problem sentences may vary.

12. Run-on. My college roommate Philip is now a playwright he lives in the city.

My college roommate Philip is now a playwright; he lives in the city.

13. Comma splice. The children in the nursery take naps after lunch, it's the only quiet time.

The children in the nursery take naps after lunch, so it's (GR1) the only quiet time.

14. Correct. Keeping journals is a good way to overcome the anxiety that many writers feel.

The part that is not parallel with the rest is in red:

15. Chinese egg rolls, cheese from France, Greek salad, Mexican tacos ("cheese from France" includes a prepositional phrase; the others are adjective-and-noun units).

16. to go home, to the bank, to the dry cleaners, to the drug store ("to go home" is an infinitive phrase; the others are prepositional phrases).

Answers may vary:

17. In the oath of office, the President swears to preserve, protect, and to defend the Constitution of the United States.

In the oath of office, the President swears to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

18. Arnold Arboretum is a good place for a walk or to teach kids about trees.

Arnold Arboretum is a good place to walk or to teach kids about trees.

19. Four methods of fixing the comma splice:

The Braves stink right now. Their pitching is bad and so is their hitting.
The Braves stink right now, for their pitching is bad and so is their hitting.
The Braves stink right now; their pitching is bad and so is their hitting.
The Braves really suck right now because their pitching is bad and so is their hitting.