Directions: Each of these GMAT sentence correction practice questions presents a sentence, some or all of which is underlined. Below the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. Option A always repeats the original phrasing, while the other four are different. Choose the answer that produces the most effective sentence based on the requirements of standard written English. Your answer should make the sentence clear, exact, and grammatically correct.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: The leading campaign finance reformer has indicated that the political machine is in danger of becoming a mere extension of big corporate agendas.
A
is in danger of becoming
B
is in danger to become
C
is becoming in danger
D
has become through danger
E
has been in danger of becoming
Correct Answer: A
The correct response is (A). The sentence is correct as written. The verb “is” agrees with its noun “political machine.” The verb form “becoming” is used appropriately as well.
If you chose (B), the infinitive form, although sometimes preferred on the GMAT, is not used correctly in this sentence. The participle is required.
If you chose (C), this choice may sound correct on its own, but placed back in the original sentence it reads “is becoming in danger a mere extension….” This answer choice does not make sense when placed in the underlined part of the sentence.
If you chose (D), the present perfect tense “has become” is not the correct verb form here. We use the present perfect to indicate that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The simple present tense is all we need.
If you chose (E), the wording in this choice gives us a very unclear meaning, particularly when compared with choice (A). Since “has been” (i.e. ended at some point in the past) and “in danger of becoming a mere extension” (i.e. in the future) connote different time frames, the meaning of this choice is unclear. With (B), it’s clear that the machine is currently in danger of becoming (over time) an extension of big corporate agendas, as indicated by the reformer.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself:The Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, such as fifteenth-century tapestries and Gothic sculptures, that were displayed since 1843 is much more impressive when compared to the Metropolitan Museum’s medieval collection that, by and large, required more funding in order to compete on the international stage and not to concede its reputation as one of the world’s foremost museums.
A
The Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, such as fifteenth-century tapestries and Gothic sculptures, that were displayed since 1843 is much more impressive when compared to the Metropolitan Museum’s medieval collection that, by and large, requires more funding in order to compete on the international stage
B
The Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, including fifteenth-century tapestries and Gothic sculptures, displayed since 1843 is much more impressive when compared with a similar collection by the Metropolitan Museum, requiring more funding in order to compete on the international stage
C
As compared to the Metropolitan Museum’s, the Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, which has been displayed since 1843, is much more impressive, by and large, since it has required more funding in order to compete on the international stage
D
Compared with that displayed by the Metropolitan Museum, the Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, such as fifteenth-century tapestries and Gothic sculptures, that has been displayed since 1843 is much more impressive, by and large, since the former required more funding in order to compete on the international stage
E
In 1843, the Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art, such as fifteenth-century tapestries and Gothic sculptures, were displayed more impressively when compared with the Metropolitan Museum’s medieval collection that, by and large, since it required more funding in order to compete on the international stage
Correct Answer: D
Compare to is used to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded as essentially of a different order;
Compare with is used mainly to point out differences between objects regarded as essentially of the same order.
Since we wish to point out the differences between the Cluny Museum’s collection of medieval art and the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, we should use “compared with”.
The correct response is (D). This is a Comparison question, and the correct choice must compare the Cluny’s collection to the Metropolitan’s collection. “That” is used here as a pronoun referring to the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The singular verb “is” correctly agrees with the subject “collection” and the use of “the former” avoids pronoun ambiguity by referring back to the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The past tense verb “required” is appropriate since the meaning of the sentence is offering an explanation for a present-day situation by explaining what happened in the past.
If you chose (A), the verb “were” is plural and does not agree with the subject of the sentence “collection.” Always start a long-winded sentence correction by identifying the subject and its predicate verb.
If you chose (B), the final clause beginning with “requiring…” is somewhat ambiguous. It could be referring to the Cluny’s collection, which is NOT the correct meaning of the sentence.
If you chose (C), this choice makes a correct comparison, but alters the meaning of the sentence. The pronoun “it” can only refer back to the Cluny Museum’s collection, but it is not the Cluny that required more money, but rather the Metropolitan.
If you chose (E), “were” is a plural verb and does not agree with its subject “collection.” Additionally, the phrase “that, by and large, since it…” is not grammatically correct. We would need to have a verb after the word “that.” The pronoun “it” is ambiguous here. It must clearly refer to the Metropolitan for the sentence to make sense.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: Yo-yo Ma, whom according to the classical cellists of the world is perhaps the world’s best, plays in a versatile style which is ever-changing but which also employs aspects of genres as varied as Baroque, American bluegrass, and modern minimalism.
A
Whom according to the classical cellists of the world is perhaps the world’s best, plays in a versatile style which is ever-changing but which also employs
B
Considered perhaps the world’s best by classical cellists, plays in a versatile style, which at the same time employs
C
Regarded by the world’s best classical cellists as the best cellist of the classical world, plays in an ever-changing style, yet employs
D
Looked on by the classical cellists of the world as perhaps the world’s best, who plays in an ever-changing style all his own, which also employs
E
Whom the world of classical cellists looks on as the best, plays in a versatile, ever-changing style while at the same time employing
Correct Answer: B
The correct response is (B). This choice avoids redundancy, and the problems in meaning contained in the other options. This answer choice does not repeat “world” twice as answer choice (A) does.
If you chose (A), “whom” is used incorrectly here. You use "who" when you are referring to the subject and "whom" when you are referring to the object. Since “Yo-yo Ma” is clearly the subject, “who” would be correct. Additionally “ever-changing” and “versatile” are redundant.
If you chose (C), we have some issues with meaning. The “classical world” is somewhat unclear, and since we know Yo-yo Ma plays in a variety of genres, including “modern minimalism,” it is clear that is not the intended meaning of the sentence. In addition, the word “yet” implies a contrast, but the Yo-Yo Ma’s versatility is exemplified by the list of genres in which he plays. The two ideas are not meant to disagree.
If you chose (D), this is a sentence fragment. Each of the three dependent clauses describe the subject, “Yo-yo Ma,” but we are never given a predicate verb to make the sentence a complete thought. There’s no need to repeat the word “world” twice as this answer choice does.
If you chose (E), “every-changing” and “versatile” are redundant. “Plays” and “employing” are not parallel. We should use the verbs “plays” and “employs” to maintain parallelism.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: Due to the slow-moving nature of tectonic plates, the oldest ocean crust is thought to date from the Jurassic period, formed from huge fragments of the Earth's lithosphere and lasted 200 million years.
A
Formed from huge fragments of the Earth's lithosphere and lasted 200 million years.
B
Forming from huge fragments of the Earth’s lithosphere and lasting 200 million years.
C
Forming from huge fragments of the Earth’s lithosphere and lasted 200 million years.
D
Formed from huge fragments of the Earth’s lithosphere and lasting 200 million years.
E
Formed from huge fragments of the Earth’s lithosphere and has been lasting 200 million years.
Correct Answer: D
The correct response is (D). The meaning of the sentence is that the “oldest ocean crust” was “formed” in the past during the Jurassic period and has been around for 200 million years. We need to use the correct tenses. The past tense (formed) indicates the formation ended in the past while the present progressive (lasting) indicates the oldest ocean crust is still around.
If you chose (A), the ocean crust was “formed” in the past” but if “lasted” is past tense then the oldest ocean crust is no longer around, which would mean it couldn’t be the “oldest.”
If you chose (B) or (C), “forming” implies the crust is still being formed. While it’s true the Earth’s crust is constantly in flux, we’re concerned with the “oldest ocean crust” – that part that is no longer continuing to form, but was formed at some point during the Jurassic period.
If you chose (E), you correctly used “formed,” however “has been lasting” is incorrect. The present perfect form of a verb is formed by combining have/has + the past tense form of the verb. For example, has lasted or have lasted will be correct present perfect constructions. To indicate that something is expected to continue into the future, we need the progressive form of the verb (lasting).
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself:There are also, unfortunately, of the myriad of concerns facing our nation, especial reason to be concerned about government corruption both within and without the legislative and executive branches these bodies require careful scrutiny and oversight by experts.
A
There are also, unfortunately, of the myriad of concerns facing our nation, especial reason to be concerned about government corruption both within and without the legislative and executive branches these
B
Unfortunately, there are, of the myriad concerns facing our nation, especial reason for concern regarding government corruption both within and without the legislative and executive branches; the
C
Of the myriad concerns facing our nation, especially there is reason for government corruption both within and without the legislative and executive branches; these
D
Especially there is reason to be concerned over government corruption, out of the myriad concerns facing our nation, as it is both within and without the legislative and executive branches, the
E
Of the myriad concerns facing our nation, there is especial reason to be concerned about government corruption both within and without the legislative and executive branches as these
Correct Answer: E
The correct response is (E). As written, this is a run-on sentence with dubious clarity. The correct answer will separate the two independent clauses with a semicolon or make one clause dependent, as choice (E) does by using the word “as.”
If you chose (A), the verb “are” does not agree with the singular noun “reason.” Additionally, the word “these” begins an independent clause (a stand-alone thought that can act as a complete sentence). It should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a semicolon or turned into a dependent clause.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: The city of Rouen, France saw tourism decline by 10 percent last year, though sales of biographies of Joan of Arc have consistently increased when it could have been assumed they would decline.
A
it could have been assumed they would decline.
B
it might have been expected that they should decline.
C
they might have been expected to decline.
D
their decline might have been assumed.
E
there might have been an assumption they would decline.
Correct Answer: C
The correct response is (C). This corrects the original sentence by using the plural pronoun “they” to refer back to “sales,” rather than the ambiguous “it.” Additionally, it is more idiomatic to say that sales were expected to decline than to say “it could have been assumed they would decline”. If we assume something, we take for granted other possibilities that could materialize. If a city sees a decline in tourism, we might EXPECT sales of biographies to decline as well.
If you chose (A), this has an awkward double-conditional with “could” and “would.” Only one conditional is needed for the meaning to be clear. Additionally, “it” is ambiguous and has no antecedent. Look for a more concise choice.
If you chose (B), we have an awkward double-conditional with “might” and “should.” We do not need to introduce a relative clause with the word “that.”
If you chose (D), this choice is written in passive voice. The “decline” is the object of the verb, so in an active construction, it should come at the end of the sentence. The subject, the noun or pronoun doing the action, should come first in a GMAT clause.
If you chose (E), this choice retains the errors from the original sentence and increases the wordiness, additionally muddling the meaning. We don’t need the double-conditional of “might” and “would.”
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: During the U.S. Supreme Court case of 1857, Dred Scott v. Sandford, two justices opposed the judgment for the defendant, half as many as later dissented with another landmark case, 2000’s Bush v. Gore.
A
judgment for the defendant, half as many as later dissented with
B
defendant’s judgment, half those that gave their dissent later in
C
judgment of the defendant, half the number as dissented later on
D
defendant’s judgment, which was half the ones who later dissented in
E
judgment for the defendant, half those who later dissented in
Correct Answer: E
It is more idiomatic to say that the judges dissented in a case, or that the judges dissented from an opinion or interpretation than to say the judges dissented with a case.
The correct response is (E), “those” is the correct pronoun to refer back to “justices,” while “later dissented in another landmark case” correctly uses a past-tense verb.
If you chose (A), “half as many as later dissented” is not correct. This answer choice appears to be saying “two is half as many as later dissented” A better way of expressing this comparison is to say “two is half the number that later dissented”. Additionally, it is more idiomatic to say “the judges dissented in a landmark case” than to say “the judges dissented with a landmark case”. You can disagree with the verdict reached in a case, but you don’t disagree with the case itself.
If you chose (B), since “those” refers to people, the “justices,” we cannot use the pronoun “that.” Only “who” and “whom” can refer to people.
If you chose (C), the phrase “judgment of the defendant” here implies that the defendant was the one making the judgment, which is clearly false. In addition, the phrase “half the number as dissented later on” is needlessly wordy. Look for a more concise choice.
If you chose (D), “the ones” is an awkward choice of pronoun. Additionally, since the pronoun “which” refers to the immediately preceding noun (judgment), this answer choice appears to be saying “the judgment was half the ones who later dissented in…”
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: No attempt was made on the part of SteelCo to ensure that information that was provided to the consumer about product offerings was accurate.
A
No attempt was made on the part of SteelCo to ensure that information that was provided to the consumer about product offerings was accurate.
B
No attempt is made on the part of SteelCo to ensure that the consumer was provided information about product offerings that was accurate.
C
No attempt was made on the part of SteelCo to ensure that information provided to the consumer about product offerings were accurate.
D
There was no attempt made on the part of SteelCo to ensure the accuracy of that information provided to the consumer about product offerings.
E
SteelCo made no attempt to ensure that the consumer received accurate information about product offerings.
Correct Answer: E
The correct response is (E). On the GMAT, sometimes sentences unnecessarily written in passive voice can be corrected with an active construction. (E) replaces the passive form by starting the sentence with its true subject, “SteelCo.” It’s considerably clearer and more concise than the other choices.
If you chose (A), this sentence is written in passive voice and is wordy (“that information that was provided”). Look for a more active construction in the other choices, since that is usually a less wordy and clearer way of conveying a sentence’s meaning.
If you chose (B), the verb “is” does not match the past-tense “was” later in the sentence. Additionally, this simply rephrases the original sentence but remains passively constructed. Look for a more active construction that is free from grammar errors.
If you chose (C), this choice incorrectly changes the singular verb “was” to “were.” The verb “were” does not agree with the noun it references, “information.”
If you chose (D), this is simply a rewording of the original sentence. However, it does not fix the original wordiness and passive construction. Additionally, it is unclear what “that information” is referring to.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: For Ralph Waldo Emerson, transcendentalism was his professed ideal over a century before the contemporary American environmental movement was launched with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and he outlined his beliefs in his essay, “Nature,” arguing that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it has to offer.
A
was launched with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and he outlined his beliefs in his essay, “Nature,” arguing that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it has to offer.
B
launched itself with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and outlined his beliefs in his essay, “Nature,” which argued that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it offers.
C
launched with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring; he outlined his beliefs in his essay, “Nature,” which argued that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it has to offer.
D
launched Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring; Emerson outlined his beliefs in his essay, “Nature,” arguing that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it has to offer.
E
was launched with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring; in it he outlined his beliefs in this essay, “Nature,” arguing that man does not fully accept nature’s beauty and all that it offers.
Correct Answer: C
The correct response is (C). Answer choice (C) is preferable because it employs a semicolon to connect two independent clauses.
If you chose (A), the use of the coordinating conjunction “and” suggests that there are two separate and equally important ideas in the sentence, when in fact, the second half of the sentence just provides additional information about Ralph Waldo Emerson’s professed ideal of transcendentalism. When we want to connect two related independent clauses, we use a semicolon as answer choice (C) does.
If you chose (B), the lack of a pronoun before “outlined” implies that it was the American environmental movement which “outlined his beliefs” when in fact it was Emerson himself.
If you chose (D), the American environmental movement did not launch Rachel Carson’s book. Rather, the book helped to launch the movement.
If you chose (E), the pronoun “it” seems to refer to Silent Spring, but that is not Emerson’s work.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: Once the computer generates the financial reports, they are then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, named the way it is named because it demonstrates that every department’s accounting elements are in balance.
A
Once the computer generates the financial reports, they are then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, named the way it is named because it demonstrates that every department’s accounting elements are in balance.
B
Once the computer generates the financial reports, it is then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, named such because it demonstrated the balance of every department’s accounting elements.
C
Once the computer generates the financial reports they are then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, which demonstrates the balance of every department’s accounting elements.
D
Once the financial reports are generated by the computer, it is then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, so named because it demonstrates the balance of every department’s accounting elements.
E
Once the financial reports are generated by the computer, they are then used to program a company-wide balance sheet, named such because it demonstrates that every department’s accounting elements are in balance.
Correct Answer: D
The correct response is (D). This choice correctly uses the singular pronoun “it” to replace the noun “computer.” The construction is passive, but it avoids the grammatical and meaning issues in the other choices. This question hinges on meaning. The verb “program” tells us that it is the computer not the financial reports that are generating the balance sheet. A balance sheet cannot logically “program” something on its own.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because “named the way it is named” is unnecessarily wordy. “So named” as used in answer choice (D) is concise and clearly conveys the author’s intended meaning. In addition, it is not clear what the second “it” in answer choice A refers to.
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