Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors - GMAT Verbal
Card 1 of 1072
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.
Hank's and Julie's pets caused much trouble around the neighborhood.
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.
Hank's and Julie's pets caused much trouble around the neighborhood.
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There are no errors in this sentence. Having a " 's" after each of the individuals' names is appropriate because it shows individual ownership; Hank and Julie do not own the same pets, but their own pets respectively. The correct choice is, "Hank's and Julie's pets caused much trouble around the neighborhood." All other choices change the meaning of the original sentence. While "their" is a possible substitute for "Hank's and Julie's," it is more ambiguous as it implies that they own the same pets when that is not the case.
There are no errors in this sentence. Having a " 's" after each of the individuals' names is appropriate because it shows individual ownership; Hank and Julie do not own the same pets, but their own pets respectively. The correct choice is, "Hank's and Julie's pets caused much trouble around the neighborhood." All other choices change the meaning of the original sentence. While "their" is a possible substitute for "Hank's and Julie's," it is more ambiguous as it implies that they own the same pets when that is not the case.
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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.
After much deliberation, he decided to buy pink roses for his date.
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.
After much deliberation, he decided to buy pink roses for his date.
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This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "After much deliberation" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct choice is, "After much deliberation, he decided to buy pink roses for his date."
This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "After much deliberation" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct choice is, "After much deliberation, he decided to buy pink roses for his date."
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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.
According to Ancient Greek Mythology, Zeus was the king of the Gods.
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.
According to Ancient Greek Mythology, Zeus was the king of the Gods.
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There are no errors in this sentence. The phrase "According to Ancient Greek Mythology" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct choice is, "According to Ancient Greek Mythology, Zeus was the king of the Gods."
There are no errors in this sentence. The phrase "According to Ancient Greek Mythology" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. The correct choice is, "According to Ancient Greek Mythology, Zeus was the king of the Gods."
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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.
Learning a new language requires many hours of practice.
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.
Learning a new language requires many hours of practice.
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This sentence contains no errors. It is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is needed whatsoever. Note that the choice that rewords the sentence is grammatically correct, but it is not the clearest or most precise since it replaces the active voice with the passive voice unnecessarily. The correct choice is, "Learning a new language requires many hours of practice."
This sentence contains no errors. It is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is needed whatsoever. Note that the choice that rewords the sentence is grammatically correct, but it is not the clearest or most precise since it replaces the active voice with the passive voice unnecessarily. The correct choice is, "Learning a new language requires many hours of practice."
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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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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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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.
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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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.
Moving into the future, the party's leaders decided to abandon their unsuccessful strategy.
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.
Moving into the future, the party's leaders decided to abandon their unsuccessful strategy.
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The underlined section does contain a number of punctuation marks and interesting wording, but it is entirely correct. No changes need to be made to the sentence.
The underlined section does contain a number of punctuation marks and interesting wording, but it is entirely correct. No changes need to be made to the sentence.
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Trying to understand her students' issues, the teacher found ways to ask about their problems indirectly.
Trying to understand her students' issues, the teacher found ways to ask about their problems indirectly.
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The sentence is absolutely correct as written, and needs no improvement. The various corrections all make the sentence incorrect, as "asks" does not work in an infinitive, "student's" refers to one student and contradicts "their" as mentioned later, "indirectly" is an adverb and not an adjective, and writing "try" makes the sentence unclear and a fragment.
The sentence is absolutely correct as written, and needs no improvement. The various corrections all make the sentence incorrect, as "asks" does not work in an infinitive, "student's" refers to one student and contradicts "their" as mentioned later, "indirectly" is an adverb and not an adjective, and writing "try" makes the sentence unclear and a fragment.
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