TSI Prep Unit 1: Verb Tense and Agreement

Directions: In the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. The choices suggest different ways of writing the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, select the answer that you think offers the best version of the sentence.

The heaviest president in history was William Howard Taft, who at one time weighed over 350 pounds.

• was

• were

• are

• have been

Directions: In each of the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. Following each sentence or sentences are alternative suggestions for rewriting the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, choose the best alternative.

Today many people, even some residents of cities, are keeping chickens in order to have a supply of fresh eggs.

• are keeping

• kept

• had kept

• were keeping

Directions: In the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. The choices suggest different ways of writing the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, select the answer that you think offers the best version of the sentence.

The power of Benton's best paintings come from his ability to transform seemingly mundane subjects into something grand.

• come from

• comes from

• come by

• coming from

Directions: In each of the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. Following each sentence or sentences are alternative suggestions for rewriting the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, choose the best alternative.

In contrast to mythical periods such as the Gold and Silver Ages, the Bronze age regarding as a historical fact.

• regarding

• will be regarded

• is regarded

• had been regarded

Directions: In the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. The choices suggest different ways of writing the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, select the answer that you think offers the best version of the sentence.

One of the judge's most important character traits are his courage in the face of the unpopularity of his positions.

• are his courage

• is his courage

• are his courages

• being his courage

Directions: In the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. The choices suggest different ways of writing the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, select the answer that you think offers the best version of the sentence.

My brother, along with several of his friends, were not in school on Monday because he and his friends all contracted a case of poison ivy during a weekend camping trip.

• were not in

• was not being in

• were not from

• was not in

Directions: In each of the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. Following each sentence or sentences are alternative suggestions for rewriting the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, choose the best alternative.

Since the organization's founding, tens of thousands of Peace Corps volunteers will help many people with their work in villages, towns, and cities around the globe.

• will help

• will be helping

• help

• have helped

Directions: In the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. The choices suggest different ways of writing the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, select the answer that you think offers the best version of the sentence.

Principal Taylor explained that there is going to be some changes made in the school code that will have an immediate effect on both teachers and students.

• Principal Taylor explained that there is going to be some changes made in the school code

• Principal Taylor explained that there are going to be some changes made in the school code

• Principal Taylor explained that there's going to be some changes made in the school code

• Principal Taylor explained that there's some changes that are going to be made in the school code

Directions: In each of the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. Following each sentence or sentences are alternative suggestions for rewriting the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, choose the best alternative.

With e-books replacing print books at an increasingly rapid pace, I wonder whether books disappeared in the same way that ancient scrolls did.

• disappeared

• will disappear

• have disappeared

• disappear

Directions: In each of the following items, a word or phrase is underlined. Following each sentence or sentences are alternative suggestions for rewriting the underlined part. If you think the original is correct, choose the first answer. Otherwise, choose the best alternative.

My computer crashed several times before I finally figured out that I had loaded a corrupted copy of the program.

• I finally figured out that I had loaded

• had finally figured out that I loaded

• had finally figured out that I had loaded

• finally had figured out that I loaded