Language Skills Check

What is the best way to revise this sentence:

During summer vacation, reading books and relaxing in the backyard are what I plan to do

• During summer vacation, I plan to read books and relax in the backyard.

• Relaxing in the backyard and reading books, I plan on during summer vacation.

• Reading books during summer vacation, and relaxing in the backyard, I plan.

• During summer vacation reading books, I plan to do, and relaxing in the backyard.

What is the best way to revise this sentence:

Storming around the house, looking for her boots, Hallie was late for school.

• Hallie was late for school while storming around the house, looking for her boots.

• Looking for her boots storming around the house, Hallie was late for school.

• Looking for her boots, Hallie was late for school and storming around the house.

• Late for school, Hallie was storming around the house looking for her boots.

How could this sentence be rewritten:

Drink the nectar, hummingbirds when the flowers bloom.

• Hummingbirds, drink the nectar when the flowers bloom.

• Flowers bloom when the hummingbirds, drink the nectar.

• When the flowers bloom, hummingbirds drink the nectar.

• Leave as is.

What would be the best way to rewrite this sentence:

In his youth, Ben Franklin worked for a newspaper called The Courant belonging to his older brother.

• In his youth, Ben Franklin worked for his older brother’s newspaper, The Courant.

• Ben Franklin had worked for The Courant in his youth, a newspaper of his older brother’s.

• Ben Franklin, in his youth, had worked for the newspaper belonging to his older brother, The Courant.

• The Courant was the newspaper belonging to Ben Franklin’s older brother, and he had worked for it in his youth.

Read the sentence.

____________ and we appreciate the efforts of the art department.

Which independent clause would BEST complete the sentence?

• We will all celebrate later,

• They have worked very hard,

• Everyone decided to leave early,

• Some people forgot about the meeting,

Read the sentence.

He wandered down the road.

Which phrase below is a prepositional phrase that could be added to the end of the sentence?

• slowly and aimlessly

• where dandelions grew

• listening to music

• with his friend

Read the sentence.

She brushed her teeth after eating with mint toothpaste.

What change, if any, should be made to the sentence and its modifiers?

• After eating, she brushed her teeth with mint toothpaste.

• After eating with mint toothpaste, she brushed her teeth.

• With mint toothpaste, she brushed her teeth after eating.

• Leave as is.

Read the sentence.

Ellen watered the plants with the pitcher while Ted talked on the phone.

What change, if any, should be made to the sentence so its modifiers are placed correctly?

• Ellen watered the plants while Ted talked on the phone with the pitcher.

• With the pitcher, Ellen watered the plants while Ted talked on the phone.

• Ted talked on the phone while Ellen with the pitcher watered the plants.

• Leave as is.

Which sentence is correct?

• She walked down the path in a happy mood, which was lined with rose bushes.

• In a happy mood, she walked down the path, which was lined with rose bushes.

• She walked down the path in a happy mood, that was lined with rose bushes.

• Lined with rose bushes, she walked down the path in a happy mood.

Which of the following sentences is NOT clearly expressed?

• These drills help improve their skills for players.

• These drills help players improve their skills.

• These drills are used to help players improve their skills.

• These drills are what are used to help players improve their skills.