Ben's Writing Improvement Quiz

Ben wants to add support to his introductory paragraph. Which of the following should be added after sentence 3 to accomplish this goal?

• Both children and their parents climb all around the intricate wonderland that is found in St. Louis, Missouri.

• Others position themselves at the top of a long slide that reaches down ten stories inside the building.

• This is an amazing museum, and there should be many more like this across the country.

• This Ferris wheel is from long ago, and it is an incredible presence as it spins on the rooftop of this building.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, "This is an amazing museum, and there should be many more like this across the country," adds strong support by emphasizing the museum's significance and suggesting its value as a model for others.

Ben has included an extraneous sentence in the third paragraph (sentences 12–19). Which sentence should Ben delete from this paragraph?

• Sentence 13

• Sentence 14

• Sentence 18

• Sentence 19

Answer explanation

Sentence 18 is extraneous as it does not contribute to the main idea of the paragraph, making it the best choice for deletion. The other sentences provide relevant information that supports the paragraph's focus.

What is the most effective way to revise sentence 15?

• For some of the slides, Cassilly welded together the chutes of old cement mixers.

• For some of the slides, the chutes and old cement mixers were welded together by Cassilly.

• Together the chutes of old cement mixtures were welded by Cassilly.

• The chutes were welded together by Cassilly for some of the slides by using old cement mixers.

Answer explanation

The correct choice maintains clarity and proper structure, emphasizing that Cassilly welded the chutes and old cement mixers together for some slides, which is more concise and grammatically correct than the other options.

The meaning of sentence 20 is unclear. What change should Ben make to improve the clarity of this sentence?

• Change the museum to it

• Change opened to began

• Change they to visitors

• Change delighted to thrilled

Answer explanation

Changing 'they' to 'visitors' clarifies who is being referred to in the sentence. This makes it easier for readers to understand that the sentence is about the visitors' experience at the museum.

Ben wants to improve the transition between the fourth paragraph (sentences 20–27) and the fifth paragraph (sentences 28–31). Which of the following should replace sentence 28 to help accomplish this goal?

• But the playscapes are not all this museum has to offer; it also has some unique displays.

• There are actually some other things this unique museum has to offer, and they are inside the museum as well.

• At this museum people can enjoy creative and unusual playscapes; they are available both day and night.

• If this isn’t enough, there are some other things for you to do when you visit this museum.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, "But the playscapes are not all this museum has to offer; it also has some unique displays," effectively connects the two paragraphs by contrasting the playscapes with other offerings, enhancing the transition.

What is the most effective way to revise sentence 33?

• Employees are constantly adjusting creations and added new ones.

• Employees are constantly adjusting creations and adding new ones.

• Employees are constantly adjust creations and add new ones.

• Employees are constantly having adjusted creations and adding new ones.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'Employees are constantly adjusting creations and adding new ones,' uses the proper gerund forms 'adjusting' and 'adding' to maintain parallel structure and grammatical accuracy.

Ben is considering adding a concluding sentence to the final paragraph. Which of the following would best serve this purpose?

• In conclusion, the museum offers a unique experience for all visitors.

• Finally, the museum is open every day of the week.

• In summary, the museum is located in the heart of the city.

• Overall, the museum's architecture is as fascinating as its exhibits.

Which sentence in the second paragraph (sentences 4–11) should Ben revise to improve coherence?

• Sentence 5

• Sentence 7

• Sentence 9

• Sentence 11

Ben wants to add a statistic to support his argument in the third paragraph. Which of the following would be most appropriate?

• Studies reveal that the museum has a large parking lot.

• According to recent surveys, 90% of visitors rate the museum as excellent.

• Statistics show that the museum is open 365 days a year.

• Research indicates that the museum was built over a decade ago.

Which of the following sentences would best introduce the topic of the museum's history in the second paragraph?

• The museum was established over a century ago and has a rich history.

• Many people visit the museum each year.

• Visitors often wonder about the museum's history.

• The museum is located in a historic part of the city.