Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors - GMAT Verbal
Card 1 of 1072
Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician was a difficult job for the reporters assigned to the beat.
Keeping track of the different machinations of the politician was a difficult job for the reporters assigned to the beat.
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Although the sentence as written is a little too wordy, and could be slightly simplified, there is nothing inherently wrong grammatically. Overall, the best choice among the answers is to leave the sentence as written.
Although the sentence as written is a little too wordy, and could be slightly simplified, there is nothing inherently wrong grammatically. Overall, the best choice among the answers is to leave the sentence as written.
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Few ever took the typically jovial boy seriously, which made it hard for him to be understood in the moment.
Few ever took the typically jovial boy seriously, which made it hard for him to be understood in the moment.
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The sentence is actually perfectly correct as it is written, and needs no changes to be made correct. Additionally, all the other answer choices are either incorrect grammatically or change the meaning of the sentence.
The sentence is actually perfectly correct as it is written, and needs no changes to be made correct. Additionally, all the other answer choices are either incorrect grammatically or change the meaning of the sentence.
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The young boy, tired from the long trip, immediately went to sleep when he arrived at his grandparent's house.
The young boy, tired from the long trip, immediately went to sleep when he arrived at his grandparent's house.
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The phrase "tired from the long trip" is an interrupting phrase, a clause that is unnecessary to the structure of the sentence but gives crucial information. All such clauses need to be set off by commas, making the sentence correct as written.
The phrase "tired from the long trip" is an interrupting phrase, a clause that is unnecessary to the structure of the sentence but gives crucial information. All such clauses need to be set off by commas, making the sentence correct as written.
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The most disappointing element of the art exhibit was its inability to attain the painter's most well known works.
The most disappointing element of the art exhibit was its inability to attain the painter's most well known works.
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The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no changes to improve it. Further, all of the answer choices that do change the sentence make it incorrect grammatically.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no changes to improve it. Further, all of the answer choices that do change the sentence make it incorrect grammatically.
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Among other critiques, Martin Luther attacked the Catholic Church for the sale of indulgences, the practice of allowing congregants to purchase expiation for their sins.
Among other critiques, Martin Luther attacked the Catholic Church for the sale of indulgences, the practice of allowing congregants to purchase expiation for their sins.
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The original sentence, which contains an appositive noun phrase, is best. The other options lead to illogical statements or sentence fragments.
The original sentence, which contains an appositive noun phrase, is best. The other options lead to illogical statements or sentence fragments.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Children frequently want toys they have seen advertised on their favorite television shows.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Children frequently want toys they have seen advertised on their favorite television shows.
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The underlined portion of the sentence, while slightly awkwardly worded, is perfectly correct grammatically. All of the other answer choices have either an incorrect verb tense or a construction that muddles the meaning of the sentence.
The underlined portion of the sentence, while slightly awkwardly worded, is perfectly correct grammatically. All of the other answer choices have either an incorrect verb tense or a construction that muddles the meaning of the sentence.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The law prevented both active wiretapping and snooping.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The law prevented both active wiretapping and snooping.
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The key word in the sentence is "both." This indicates that the underlined portion holds two items, "active wiretapping" and "snooping." Thus, the use of "and" appropriately separates the two items, and no punctuation is necessary.
The key word in the sentence is "both." This indicates that the underlined portion holds two items, "active wiretapping" and "snooping." Thus, the use of "and" appropriately separates the two items, and no punctuation is necessary.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Rivers were once the key transportation method in civilization, but the paving of roads created concrete rivers across land masses.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Rivers were once the key transportation method in civilization, but the paving of roads created concrete rivers across land masses.
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The underlined portion of the sentence features a gerund, a present verb form that can be used as a noun. Thus, the phrase "the paving of roads" can appropriately be a subject in the phrase, and the sentence is correct as written.
The underlined portion of the sentence features a gerund, a present verb form that can be used as a noun. Thus, the phrase "the paving of roads" can appropriately be a subject in the phrase, and the sentence is correct as written.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
You and I will be the ones to go into the room first.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
You and I will be the ones to go into the room first.
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The appropriate use of the pronouns "you" and "I" together as the subject of the sentence is in the sentence as it is written. The correct answer is to leave it as "You and I."
The appropriate use of the pronouns "you" and "I" together as the subject of the sentence is in the sentence as it is written. The correct answer is to leave it as "You and I."
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The identity of the killer remained a mystery for the next fifty years.
The identity of the killer remained a mystery for the next fifty years.
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The "identity of the killer" was unknown a while, so the use of the preposition "for" is correct, as it indicates the length of time was fully taken by the mystery of the killer's identity. The sentence is correct as written.
The "identity of the killer" was unknown a while, so the use of the preposition "for" is correct, as it indicates the length of time was fully taken by the mystery of the killer's identity. The sentence is correct as written.
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Hungry and tired, the group stopped under the tree by the river bank for the night.
Hungry and tired, the group stopped under the tree by the river bank for the night.
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The underlined phrase, although slightly awkward and over worded, is actually perfectly grammatically correct. As none of the "corrected" answer choices are grammatically correct, the unchanged form of the underlined portion is the correct answer.
The underlined phrase, although slightly awkward and over worded, is actually perfectly grammatically correct. As none of the "corrected" answer choices are grammatically correct, the unchanged form of the underlined portion is the correct answer.
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The massive effort to clean up the mess from the storm was a months long process.
The massive effort to clean up the mess from the storm was a months long process.
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While the underlined section of the sentence is rather wordy, and not perfectly stated, it is absolutely grammatically correct. More importantly, none of the other answer choices are grammatically correct. The best choice is to leave it as written.
While the underlined section of the sentence is rather wordy, and not perfectly stated, it is absolutely grammatically correct. More importantly, none of the other answer choices are grammatically correct. The best choice is to leave it as written.
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No one will come to our defense but ourselves in our time of need.
No one will come to our defense but ourselves in our time of need.
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The use of "ourselves" is actually correct in the sentence, as it refers to the previous use of "our" in the phrase "our defense;" therefore, the correct answer is to keep the word as "ourselves."
The use of "ourselves" is actually correct in the sentence, as it refers to the previous use of "our" in the phrase "our defense;" therefore, the correct answer is to keep the word as "ourselves."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Zany performers can make audiences laugh without having to be as clever as serious performers.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Zany performers can make audiences laugh without having to be as clever as serious performers.
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Although slightly awkward, the underlined portion is grammatically correct. The comparison needs to have both uses of the word "as," and to describe distinctly the quality being compared and what is being compared.
Although slightly awkward, the underlined portion is grammatically correct. The comparison needs to have both uses of the word "as," and to describe distinctly the quality being compared and what is being compared.
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Forcing the issue, the students brought up the teacher's overly long assignments.
Forcing the issue, the students brought up the teacher's overly long assignments.
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The underlined section of the sentence is a dependent clause, meaning it defines the rest of the sentence, but is not able to stand alone. The phrase "Forcing the issue" is correct in its usage.
The underlined section of the sentence is a dependent clause, meaning it defines the rest of the sentence, but is not able to stand alone. The phrase "Forcing the issue" is correct in its usage.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Although I had not wanted to attend the jazz concert, I was soon covered in goose bumps as I listened to the beautiful music.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Although I had not wanted to attend the jazz concert, I was soon covered in goose bumps as I listened to the beautiful music.
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The sentence is best in its original form.
The sentence is best in its original form.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
When you do research on the Internet, it is imperative that you evaluate each site; you must consider the date of the information, the reliability of the author, and the accuracy of the facts.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
When you do research on the Internet, it is imperative that you evaluate each site; you must consider the date of the information, the reliability of the author, and the accuracy of the facts.
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No change. This is the most concise, most correct answer.
No change. This is the most concise, most correct answer.
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Bethany simply could not believe it when she was asked to join the city council; she had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years.
Bethany simply could not believe it when she was asked to join the city council; she had been waiting for an opportunity like this for years.
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The sentence is best in its original form. This is a question testing your ability to make the right word choice. "Council" means committee.
The sentence is best in its original form. This is a question testing your ability to make the right word choice. "Council" means committee.
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More recently, the trend reversed itself to come back to the original position.
More recently, the trend reversed itself to come back to the original position.
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The underlined portion is correct as is. While the sentence is somewhat awkwardly worded, the underlined portion is gramatically correct, and there is little that other answer choices do to improve the sentence.
The underlined portion is correct as is. While the sentence is somewhat awkwardly worded, the underlined portion is gramatically correct, and there is little that other answer choices do to improve the sentence.
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Judged from a distance, the mountain looked smaller than it really was.
Judged from a distance, the mountain looked smaller than it really was.
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The initial sentence is correct. Only judged conveys the proper comparison in as few words as possible.
The initial sentence is correct. Only judged conveys the proper comparison in as few words as possible.
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