Sentence Clarity Quiz

Identify the misplaced modifier in this sentence: "Running quickly, the finish line seemed to approach as the runner sped up."

• Running quickly

• the finish line

• seemed to approach

• as the runner sped up

Correct the vague pronoun reference in this sentence: "When Kevin gave his dog a bone, it was very happy."

• When Kevin gave his dog a bone, Kevin was very happy.

• When Kevin gave his dog a bone, the dog was very happy.

• The dog was very happy when it received a bone from Kevin.

• Kevin, after giving his dog a bone, was happy.

Eliminate unnecessary wordiness in this sentence: "The reason for the failure of the project was primarily due to the fact that there was a lack of coordination."

• The project failed primarily because there was a lack of coordination.

• The reason for the project's failure was because of a lack of coordination.

• Primarily, the project failed due to the fact that coordination was lacking.

• The project's failure was primarily due to a lack of coordination.

Revise the awkward sentence structure: "The cake was eaten by the dog on the table."

• On the table, the cake was eaten by the dog.

• The dog on the table ate the cake.

• The cake on the table was eaten by the dog.

• The dog ate the cake on the table.

Clarify the ambiguous antecedent in this sentence: "Jake told Henry he would pick him up at 8."

• Jake told Henry, "I will pick you up at 8."

• Jake told Henry that Jake would pick Henry up at 8.

• "I will pick you up at 8," Jake told Henry.

• All of the above clarify the ambiguous antecedent.

Fix the dangling participle in this sentence: "After reading the novel, the movie seemed disappointing."

• After reading the novel, I found the movie disappointing.

• The movie seemed disappointing after the novel was read.

• The movie seemed disappointing to read the novel.

• After the novel was read, the movie seemed disappointing.

Identify the misplaced modifier in this sentence: "She served cupcakes to the children on paper plates."

• She served

• cupcakes

• to the children

• on paper plates

Correct the vague pronoun reference in this sentence: "The teacher told the student that his handwriting needed improvement."

• The teacher told the student that the student's handwriting needed improvement.

• The teacher told the student that the teacher's handwriting needed improvement.

• The student was told by the teacher that his handwriting needed improvement.

• The teacher's handwriting needed improvement, he told the student.

Eliminate unnecessary wordiness in this sentence: "At this point in time, we need to make a decision quickly."

• Now, we need to make a decision quickly.

• At this time, a quick decision is needed.

• We need to quickly make a decision now.

• A decision needs to be made quickly at this point.

Revise the awkward sentence structure: "The report, which was released recently, it shows that unemployment rates have dropped."

• The recently released report shows that unemployment rates have dropped.

• It shows that unemployment rates have dropped in the recently released report.

• The report shows, which was recently released, that unemployment rates have dropped.

• That unemployment rates have dropped, the report, which was recently released, shows.