Transcript Grammar 1-16 - WordPress.com

Bridge Program
OU, Summer 2013
GRAMMAR
REDUNDANCY AND WORDINESS
The following sentence contains redundant words or phrases.
1.
Public school art and music programs
endeavor to identify each and every child with
a creative talent and/or interest.
a) True
The phrase each and every is redundant. Since each and
every have the same meaning, one can be eliminated.
However, the phrase is also idiomatic and can be used
occasionally for emphasis.
REDUNDANCY AND WORDINESS
The following sentence contains redundant words or phrases.
2. Nonetheless, the programs' successful past
history and future plans cannot seem to help it
avoid elimination due to budget cuts.
a) True
Past and history have the same meaning; so do future and
plans. One of each pair can be eliminated.
STRINGY SENTENCES
3. The following sentence is stringy because it contains excessive
coordination or subordination.
Among the filmmakers making films for teens,
several--including John Hughes, Amy
Heckerling, George Lucas, Cameron Crowe, and
the Wachowski brothers--made films that were
critically applauded and presented significant,
laudable themes for teens.
b) False
STRINGY SENTENCES
4. The following sentence is stringy because it contains excessive
coordination or subordination.
In the 1950s and 1960s, films like Rebel Without
a Cause began taking on serious social themes,
and they did so in a heavy-handed way, but they
also were quite imaginative, well acted, and the
stories became more and more imaginative.
a) True
The sentence is stringy because it contains excessive coordination
linking clauses, several of which are only loosely related.
BIASED OR SEXIST LANGUAGE
5. The following sentence contains biased or sexist language.
Masculine actors like John Wayne and Cary
Grant were the models of real men.
a) True
BIASED OR SEXIST LANGUAGE
6. The following sentence contains biased or sexist language.
Jewish studio executives, since they made all
the decisions about which actors got contracts,
were largely responsible for the mostly
Caucasian look of Hollywood films.
a) True
FAULTY COMPARISON

7. The following sentence contains a faulty comparison.
Spider-Man II cost the studios more than any
other comic book adaptation to film has cost.
b) False
FAULTY COMPARISON
8. The following sentence contains a faulty comparison.
Tobey Maguire's performance was more
believable.
a) True
MISUSED/CONFUSED WORDS
9. Select the word(s) that correctly completes the sentence.
Students _______ [whose / who's] major
course of study requires analytical thinking
should possess advanced writing skills.
a) whose
MISUSED/CONFUSED WORDS
10. Select the word(s) that correctly completes the sentence.
University educators believe advanced writing
skills are ___________ [suppose to / supposed
to] help students understand the subject
matter studied.
b) supposed to
CLAUSES AND PHRASES
11. Decide whether the group of words in boldface is a clause or a
phrase.
Freshman students in writing classes are often
admonished that they should not try to write in an
artificial voice.
a) independent clause
b) dependent clause
c) phrase
An independent (main) clause can stand by itself as a complete
sentence. A dependent (subordinate) clause cannot stand by
itself as a sentence: it must be attached to an independent
clause.
CLAUSES AND PHRASES
12. Decide whether the group of words in boldface is a clause or a
phrase.
The old English grammar handbook, for example,
did not address the issue of style, which is an
important element of college writing today.
a. independent clause
The clause The old English grammar handbook, for example, did
not address the issue of style is an independent (main) clause. It
can stand by itself as a complete sentence.
SUBJECTS AND VERBS


a.
b.
13. In each sentence, select the best description to identify the
word(s) in boldface.
Mountain lions and bobcats compete with each
other for hunting territories among the rocky
mountains.
Subjects
b) direct objects c) objects of a preposition
The subjects of the sentence (Mountain lions and bobcats)
must agree with the verb (compete).
SUBJECTS AND VERBS
14. In each sentence, select the best description to identify the
word(s) in boldface.

a.
b.
Campers and backpackers in some national
parks must be careful around bears.
D. verb
The verb of the sentence (must be) expresses action or links
the subject in the main clause to the rest of the sentence.
SUBJECTS AND VERBS

15. The verb in boldface agrees with the
subject:
Everyone, including the parents, were yelling
when the punt was returned for a touchdown.
a.
b.
B. false
The indefinite pronoun everyone is always singular.
SUBJECTS AND VERBS

16. The verb in boldface agrees with the
subject:
To many college athletes, the belief that sports
is perhaps a beginning, rather than a brief
pursuit, are a great comfort.
a.
b.
B. false
Belief is a singular subject that agrees with the singular verb
form is.