Question 1

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880.
A)Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880.
B)Missoula, Montana, on June 11, 1880.
C)Missoula, Montana on, June 11, 1880.
D)Missoula, Montana, on June, 11, 1880.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Missoula, Montana, on June 11, 1980."
Use commas after the city and after the state when listing them a document. Commas are inappropriate after the preposition "on" and after the month "June."

Question 2

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
A)Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
B)Interestingly, she is a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX, granting women the right to vote, was ratified.
C)Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX is ratified, granting women the right to vote.
D)Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the ratification of U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX, which granted women the right to vote.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the ratification of U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX, which granted women the right to vote."
In its original form, the sentence can confuse readers because the lack of commas. The ratification of the amendment has already occurred, so the sentence should include past tense verbs. The pronoun "which" properly represents the antecedent "U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX."

Question 3

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.
A)secure
B)protect
C)advance
D)progress

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "secure"
When used as a verb, "secure" means "to obtain." The purpose of the suffrage movement was to obtain voting rights for women. "Protect," "advance" and "progress" all imply that women's voting rights were already in place, but women didn't get the right to vote until 1920.

Question 4

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
A)She attended public schools in Montana, and
B)She attended public schools in Montana; and
C)She attended public schools in Montana and
D)She attended public schools in Montana. And

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "She attended public schools in Montana and"
Generally, commas are used before coordinating clauses such as "and" in sentences with two independent clauses. Periods and semicolons are inappropriate types of punctuation to use with this sentence. Since the clause after "and" cannot stand alone as a sentence, no punctuation is needed before the conjunction.

Question 5

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States.
A)There have been many
B)There had been many
C)There were many
D)There will be many

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "There have been many"
"Had been" presents the past perfect, meaning an event occurred before another action in the past. "Were," a past tense form of "be" conveys that there will be no more political firsts. "Will be" hints at future events that do not fit within the context of the passage. "Have been" indicates the present perfect tense - that event(s) happened at an unspecified time before the present. In the passage, many political firsts occurred at unspecified periods before the present.

Question 6

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States met to quickly develop a monarch butterfly conservation plan.
A)met to quickly develop
B)met to develop quickly
C)met to develop
D)quickly met to develop

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "met to develop"
In the original sentence, the adverb "quickly" splits the infinitive "to develop." Sentences are stronger without split infinitives. Depending on the adverb's position in the sentence, it can change the meaning from "they met in a hurry" to "they developed plans fast." To avoid confusion, set aside the adverb.

Question 7

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
A)In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
B)Scientists use satellite imagery to illustrate in 2008 the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
C)In 2008, scientists had satellite imagery illustrating the degradation of oyamel fir forests.
D)Scientists uses satellite imagery illustrating the degradation of oyamel fir forests from 2008.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests."
The year indicates an event that happened in the past. "Use" and "uses" are two present tense forms of "use." "Had" is an inappropriate verb for this sentence. "Used" is the correct form of the verb to include in this sentence.

Question 8

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
A key feature of the plan focused on protecting the monarch butterflies' habitat.
A)A key feature of the plan focused
B)The plan focused
C)Features of the plan focus
D)Focused on the plan

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "The plan focused"
Wordy phrases can affect a sentence's clarity. "Key features" and "focused" convey similar meanings. Since the subject is "plan" and the verb is "focused," setting aside the phrase "A key feature of" will strengthen the sentence.

Question 9

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
If further efforts are not made, some scientist predict the total collapse of the ecosystem that supports monarch butterflies in Mexico.
A)some scientist predict
B)scientist predicts
C)scientists predict
D)some scientists predict

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "some scientists predict"
The subject and verb must agree in a sentence. The verb "predict" does not agree with the subject "scientist." The adjective "some" indicates more than one scientist, but not all of them. Setting aside "some" can change the meaning of the sentence. "Scientists" agrees with the verb "predict."

Question 10

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
There was a 28 percent reduction in amount of butterflies overwintering in Mexico.
A)in amount of butterflies
B)from amounts of butterflies
C)in the amount of butterflies
D)from the amount of butterflies

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "in the amount of butterflies"
Without an article before "amount," this sentence is unclear. "From" is not an appropriate replacement for an article. Use the definite article - "the" - because it refers directly to the amount of butterflies.

Question 11

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana.
A)After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and
B)After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party, and
C)After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party; and
D)After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party. And

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and"
Commas are used before coordinating clauses such as "and" in sentences with two independent clauses. Periods and semicolons are inappropriate types of punctuation to use with this sentence. Since the clause after "and" cannot stand alone as a sentence, no punctuation is needed before the conjunction.

Question 12

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Her bid was very unsuccessful.
A)Her bid was very unsuccessful.
B)Her bid was mostly unsuccessful.
C)Her bid was unsuccessful.
D)Her bid was unsuccessfully.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Her bid was unsuccessful"
Unnecessary words can affect sentence clarity. If Rankin did not win election to the Senate, then her bid was unsuccessful. The adverbs "very" and "mostly" do not add meaning to the sentence. "Unsuccessfully" is an adverb that improperly modifies "was."

Question 13

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.
A)precursor
B)starting
C)forefront
D)catalyst

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "precursor"
"Precursor" is a noun that means something that comes before someone or something. "Starting," "forefront" and "catalyst" are also nouns, but they do not fit based on the context. Since the resolution came before the constitutional amendment, it was a precursor to the amendment.

Question 14

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
A)In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
B)In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.
C)In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent, of World War II.
D)In her second term she was, an outspoken opponent of World War II.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "In her second term, she was an outspoken opponent of World War II."
A comma is needed to set off the introductory phrase "in her second term" from the main part of the sentence. Commas are unnecessary after "opponent" and "was."

Question 15

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Although water covers approximately sixty-seven percent of the Earth's surface, less than three percent is fresh water.
A)Earth's surface, less than three percent
B)Earth's surface; less than three percent
C)Earth's surface: less than three percent
D)Earth's surface. Less than three percent

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Earth's surface, less than three percent"
Commas can be used between with two dependent clauses such as the ones ending with "surface" and beginning with "less." Colons, periods, and semicolons are inappropriate types of punctuation to use with this sentence.

Question 16

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue.
A)continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed
B)continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointing
C)continued supporting women's suffrage, and she was appointing
D)continued supporting women's suffrage, and she was appointed

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "continued supporting women's suffrage, and she was appointed"
In the original sentence, the past tense verb "continued" and the present tense verb "is" creates faulty parallelism. The verbs in the sentence should have the same tense. "Was appointing" indicates the past continuous form, meaning an action was interrupted. "Was appointed" signifies an action that was started and completed.

Question 17

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.
A)Rankins involvement helped
B)Rankins' involvement helped
C)Rankins's involvement helped
D)Rankin's involvement helped

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Rankin's involvement helped"
An apostrophe can show the possessive case of single nouns by using an apostrophe and s. An apostrophe after the s can indicate a plural noun or a noun that ends in s.Rankin is one person whose last name ends in n, so the apostrophe should appear before the s.

Question 18

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts.
A)She continued her working on women's suffrage
B)She continued, her working on women's suffrage,
C)She continued her work on women's suffrage
D)She continued, by her work, on women's suffrage

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "She continued her work on women's suffrage"
In the original sentence, "working" refers to a person that performs an action. The sentence does not contain a parenthetical expression, so commas are unnecessary. "Work," which refers to effort to accomplish a goal, best conveys the intended meaning of the sentence.

Question 19

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially.
A)Her brother a prominent businessman
B)Her brother, a prominent businessman,
C)Her brother was a prominent businessman
D)Her brother a prominent businessman, and

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "Her brother, a prominent businessman,"
Commas can be used before and after non-essential phrases. These parenthetical expressions can be set aside and not change the meaning of a sentence. The fact that Rankin's brother was a prominent businessman is not essential to his financial support. Therefore, that phrase can be set off by commas.

Question 20

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A.
One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I.
A)the United States's entry
B)the United States' entry
C)the United State's entries
D)the United States' entries

Accepted Answer

The best choice is "the United States' entry"
An apostrophe can show the possessive case of nouns by using an apostrophe and s. An apostrophe after the s can indicate a plural noun or a noun that ends in s.The United States is plural because it refers to more than one state. The verb "entry" agrees with "United States."

Quiz 19: Composition

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States met to quickly develop a monarch butterfly conservation plan.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. In 2008, scientists used satellite imagery to illustrate the degradation of oyamel fir forests.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. A key feature of the plan focused on protecting the monarch butterflies' habitat.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. If further efforts are not made, some scientist predict the total collapse of the ecosystem that supports monarch butterflies in Mexico.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. There was a 28 percent reduction in amount of butterflies overwintering in Mexico.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Her bid was very unsuccessful.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Although water covers approximately sixty-seven percent of the Earth's surface, less than three percent is fresh water.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially.

Choose the answer which best rewords the italicized portion. If you think the original wording is best, choose option A. One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I.