Word Usage Practice Test Questions 2

Each underlined section corresponds to an answer choice. Select the answer choice that contains an error, or select Choice E if there is no error.

  1. Known as Johnny Appleseed, John Chapman distributed apple seeds and saplings to families bound for the west.”
  1. Appleseed
  2. distributed
  3. bound
  4. west
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

When referring to the region, West should be capitalized, as with the East, North, and South. When indicating direction, as in “Turn left and drive west for 25 miles,” these are lowercase.

 

  1. Dancing to unanimous acclaim in The United States and Europe, she was known for her interpretation of Stravinsky’s Firebird.
  1. acclaim
  2. The United States
  3. Europe
  4. was known
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

United States is capitalized, but the article the before it should not be capitalized, as it is not part of the name.

 

  1. Needing a sustained wind for flight, the albatross rarely crosses the Equator.
  1. sustained
  2. flight
  3. rarely
  4. Equator
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use lowercase for general geologic/geographic terms like the equator, the poles, and the prime meridian unless part of a proper name. The capitalized “Equator” here is incorrect.

  1. Sparta and Athens, putting there own rivalry, fought off the Persians.
  1. there
  2. rivalry
  3. fought
  4. off
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Use the possessive pronoun their, not the adverb there.

 

  1. Mahalia Jackson, called the greatest potential blue’s singer since Bessie Smith, would sing only religious songs.
  1. blue’s
  2. since
  3. Smith
  4. would
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

The genre is blues (plural noun), not the possessive blue’s.

 

  1. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1958, Shirley Chisholm became the first black female member of Congress.
  1. House of Representatives
  2. became
  3. female
  4. Congress
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. Put the ingredients altogether in a bowl when you make the cake.
  1. Put
  2. altogether
  3. when
  4. make
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Use the two-word adverb all together (“collectively”), not altogether (“entirely”).

 

  1. Horatio, Hamlet’s loyal friend, wishes to die by his own hand, but he consents to stay alive so he can tell Hamlet’s story.
  1. friend
  2. hand, but
  3. can tell
  4. Hamlet’s story
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. We visited Boston Harbor, the site of the Boston Tea Party.
  1. visited
  2. Harbor
  3. site
  4. Boston Tea Party
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. George’s mother, Karen, has come with us to the mall.
  1. George’s mother
  2. has come
  3. with us
  4. mall
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. Marian Anderson, the first black person employed as a member of the Metropolitan opera, was born February 17, 1902.
  1. Marian
  2. employed
  3. as a member
  4. opera
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Capitalize Opera as part of the proper name Metropolitan Opera.

 

  1. The new expenditures will be born by the American taxpayers.
  1. expenditures
  2. be born
  3. American
  4. taxpayers
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Use borne (past participle of bear meaning “carried/sustained”), not born.

 

  1. Having joined a volunteer program, Mark helps by reading stories to patients in the children ward.
  1. Having joined
  2. program
  3. stories
  4. children ward
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use the possessive: children’s ward.

 

  1. Mr. French, the superintendent of schools in our district, spoke at the PTA meeting last night.
  1. Mr.
  2. superintendent of schools
  3. spoke at
  4. PTA meeting
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. Specially treated cloths , are best for cleaning eyeglass lenses.
  1. cloths
  2. , are best
  3. eyeglass
  4. lenses
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Do not place a comma between the subject and its verb.

 

  1. When he addresses the legislature, the Governor will have to answer several questions about the budget.
  1. legislature
  2. Governor
  3. will have
  4. to answer
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

Capitalize titles only when used with a name (e.g., Governor Adams). Here, use lowercase governor.

 

  1. According to some modern scientists, Galileo’s observations, which were made possible by the invention of the telescope, was long overdue.
  1. Galileo’s observations
  2. which
  3. telescope
  4. was
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Plural subject observations requires plural verb were, not was.

 

  1. Follow the marked route or you will surely loose your way.
  1. route
  2. or
  3. will surely
  4. loose
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use the verb lose (“misplace / fail to keep”), not the adjective/verb loose.

 

  1. Shakespeare tried to show us the complexity of the human’s mind.
  1. tried
  2. to show
  3. complexity
  4. human’s
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use the adjective human to modify mind (not the possessive human’s).

 

  1. The governor announced that the roof of the capital needs repair.
  1. governor
  2. that
  3. capital
  4. needs
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Use Capitol (proper noun for the legislative building), not capital.

 

  1. I am reading about Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential candidate of a major party.
  1. am reading
  2. about
  3. Ferraro
  4. vice-presidential
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is E!

This sentence is correct as written.

 

  1. After the eggs are weighed, they are separated by weight in to five groups.
  1. weighed
  2. they are
  3. weight
  4. in to
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

Use the single word into to indicate movement or change of state.

 

  1. The president decorated the astronaut, who had orbited Earth.
  1. president
  2. decorated
  3. astronaut, who
  4. Earth
  5. No error
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Do not use a comma before a restrictive clause. If only one astronaut is meant, make the clause nonrestrictive and set it off with commas on both sides; otherwise, omit the comma.