6.06 Critical Skills Test Review

What is the closest meaning of the word 'importuning' from The Modest Proposal?

• greeting

• begging

• robbing

• helping

Answer explanation

The closest meaning of the word 'importuning' from The Modest Proposal is 'begging'. It implies making persistent requests or pleas for something.

Which word best completes the sentence?

The police investigation found the company to be not __________ for the accident.

• cerebral

• discursive

• querulous

• culpable

Answer explanation

The correct word to complete the sentence is 'culpable' as it means responsible or accountable. The police investigation found the company to be not responsible for the accident.

Which pair of words best completes the sentence?

Despite his tough exterior, the detective had a ________ heart and a ________ approach to solving cases.

• stoic...clandestine

• compassionate...ingenious

• bombastic...sonorous

• solicitous...hapless

Answer explanation

The correct pair of words that best completes the sentence is 'compassionate...ingenious'. The detective's tough exterior hides a kind and caring heart, and he has a clever and creative approach to solving cases.

Choose the word or words that best complete the sentence.

It is impossible to comprehend the ___________ nature of the situation we are in; it is beyond our understanding.

• figurative

• nefarious

• convoluted

• solicitous

Answer explanation

The word 'convoluted' best completes the sentence. It means complex or intricate, emphasizing the difficulty in understanding the situation.

Each of the sentences provided may contain a grammar or usage error. Read each sentence and then identify the section that contains the error, if there is one, by selecting the appropriate answer choice. If there is no error in the sentence, choose no error.

TIP: READ THE SENTENCE ALOUD

If you will accompany me to the pharmacy, I'll accompanied you to the dentist's office.

• If you will

• I'll accompanied

• to the dentist's office

• to the pharmacy

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I'll accompanied' because it should be 'I'll accompany' to match the verb tense of 'If you will'.

Each of the sentences provided may contain a grammar or usage error. Read each sentence and then identify the section that contains the error, if there is one, by selecting the appropriate answer choice. If there is no error in the sentence, choose no error.

TIP: READ THE SENTENCE ALOUD

Peanut butter and jelly are two products that taste great by themselves and tastes great together, too.

• Peanut butter and jelly are

• tastes great

• too

• by themselves

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'tastes great' because it should agree with the plural subject 'peanut butter and jelly'.

Each of the sentences provided may contain a grammar or usage error. Read each sentence and then identify the section that contains the error, if there is one, by selecting the appropriate answer choice. If there is no error in the sentence, choose no error.

TIP: READ THE SENTENCE ALOUD

Alaska, the northernmost state in America is also the country's largest state.

• Alaska, the

• northernmost state

• America is

• the country's largest

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'America is' because it should be 'America, which is' to properly introduce the additional information.

Each of the sentences provided may contain a grammar or usage error. Read each sentence and then identify the section that contains the error, if there is one, by selecting the appropriate answer choice. If there is no error in the sentence, choose no error.

TIP: READ THE SENTENCE ALOUD

Joanie and me went to the jazz concert with all of our friends.

• all of our friends

• went

• the jazz concert

• Joanie and me

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Joanie and me' because it should be 'Joanie and I' as the subject of the sentence.

Each of the sentences provided may contain a grammar or usage error. Read each sentence and then identify the section that contains the error, if there is one, by selecting the appropriate answer choice. If there is no error in the sentence, choose no error.

TIP: READ THE SENTENCE ALOUD

The greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt were entombed in massive pyramids that it had built to celebrate themselves.

• massive pyramids

• it had built

• The greatest pharaohs

• were entombed

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'it had built' because the sentence should be in the passive voice, so it should be 'that were built' instead.

In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 1 (reprinted below)?

Ridge Boulevard and Sherman Avenue, two of our city's busiest thoroughfares, these streets cross very close to Spaulding Park.

• Avenue, two of our city's busiest thoroughfares these streets, cross

• Avenue two of our city's busiest thoroughfares these streets cross

• Avenue, these streets cross two of our city's busiest thoroughfares

• Avenue, two of these streets cross our city's busiest thoroughfares,

• Avenue, two of our city's busiest thoroughfares, cross

Answer explanation

The best version of the underlined portion is 'Avenue, two of our city's busiest thoroughfares, cross' because it maintains the correct subject-verb agreement and maintains the intended meaning of the sentence.