11.
Read the passage.
(1) Most Americans know that “Uncle Sam” is a nickname for the United States; however, few Americans know how the name originated. (2) Some historians believe the name comes from a nineteenth-century businessman from New York. (3) His real name was Samuel Wilson. (4) His neighbors called him Uncle Sam. (5) During the War of 1812, he won a government contract. (6) He was to supply beef to U.S. soldiers. (7) The beef was packed in barrels labeled “U.S.” to show that they belonged to the U.S. government. (8) Soldiers from New York saw the barrels. (9) They jokingly said “U.S.” stood for Uncle Sam. (10) The joke spread. (11) Soon, soldiers began using the nickname Uncle Sam to refer to the United States. (12) Civilians also began using the nickname Uncle Sam to refer to the United States. (13) In 1961, Congress passed a resolution. (14) The resolution recognized Samuel Wilson as the original Uncle Sam.
Which is the most effective way to combine sentences (3) and (4)?
A. Though his real name was Samuel Wilson, his neighbors called him Uncle Sam.
B. His real name, Samuel Wilson, was called by his neighbors Uncle Sam.
C. His real name was Samuel Wilson, his neighbors called him Uncle Sam.
12.
Which sentence is an example of faulty parallelism?
A. Kelli drove to school, went to play rehearsal, and the play was wonderful!
B. I need to do my homework, mow the yard, and help Mom with the dishes this afternoon.
C. Our softball coach says that we have great players but that we do not work as a team as well as we should.
D. Sam prefers running track to playing football.
13.
Read the sentence.
While waiting for the fireworks to begin, the mosquitoes began to bite.
Which revision most effectively corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence?
A. We were waiting for the fireworks to begin; the mosquitoes began to bite.
B. The mosquitoes began biting while waiting for the fireworks to begin.
C. The mosquitoes began to bite before we began the fireworks.
D. While we were waiting for the fireworks to begin, the mosquitoes began to bite.
14.
Read the passage.
(1) When Benjamin Franklin was 22 years old, he opened a printing shop in Philadelphia. (2) There he published two popular periodicals. (3) They were the Philadelphia Gazette and Poor Richard’s. (4) The Philadelphia Gazette was a newspaper. (5) Poor Richard’s was an almanac. (6) Poor Richard’s was published once a year. (7) Poor Richard’s was a collection of miscellaneous information. (8) A feature of Poor Richard’s was advice about how to be happy. (9) The advice was also about how to be successful. (10) The advice was in the form of sayings, such as, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Which is the most effective way to combine sentences 2 and 3?
A. There he published two popular periodicals, the Philadelphia Gazette and Poor Richard’s.
B. There he published the Philadelphia Gazette and Poor Richard’s that were two popular periodicals.
C. There two popular periodicals, the Philadelphia Gazette and Poor Richard’s, he published.
15.
Read the sentence.
Jules likes to watch comedies, Dale prefers to watch dramas.
Which revision most effectively corrects the comma splice?
A. Jules likes to watch comedies, however Dale prefers to watch dramas.
B. With Jules liking comedies, Dales prefers to watch dramas.
C. Jules likes to watch comedies, but Dale prefers to watch dramas.
D. Jules likes to watch comedies Dale prefers to watch dramas.
