Select the word that makes the following sentence grammatically correct. The flock huddles against the wind that ruffles ___________ feathers.
- A. its
- B. their
- C. it's
- D. they're
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this sentence, the word 'flock' is singular, so the pronoun that follows should also be singular. Therefore, the correct choice is 'its,' which refers back to the singular noun 'flock.'
Choice B ('their') is incorrect because it is a plural pronoun and does not agree in number with the singular noun 'flock.' Choices C ('it's') and D ('they're') are both incorrect contractions that do not fit grammatically in this context.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? Many pass through those doors, but only a few deserve their degrees.
- A. pass
- B. through
- C. deserve
- D. degree
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The word 'deserve' should be used instead of 'deserves' to match the plural subject 'few'. The subject 'few' is plural, so the verb should also be plural. Therefore, the correct sentence should be 'but only a few deserve their degrees.' Choices A, B, and D are used correctly in the sentence and do not need any changes.
What word is best to substitute for the underlined words in the following sentence? The staff sergeant and I reviewed the enlisted men's records.
- A. Us
- B. We
- C. They
- D. He
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the sentence, "The staff sergeant and I reviewed the enlisted men's records," the pronoun "I" refers to the subject of the sentence, which is the speaker. When combining the staff sergeant and the speaker "I," the correct pronoun to use is "we," which is the plural form of "I." Therefore, the word "We" is best to substitute for the underlined words in the sentence. Choice A, "Us," is incorrect as it is an object pronoun and does not match the subject position in the sentence. Choice C, "They," is also incorrect as it refers to a third-party group, not including the speaker and the staff sergeant. Choice D, "He," is incorrect as it does not include both the staff sergeant and the speaker in the pronoun substitution.
Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? She is already an adjunct at a college in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.
- A. already
- B. adjunct
- C. college
- D. capital
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The word 'college' is used incorrectly in the sentence. The correct term to use in this context would be 'capital,' not 'college.' 'Capital' refers to the city that serves as the seat of government, while 'college' refers to an educational institution. The sentence should read: 'She is already an adjunct at a capital in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.' Choices A, B, and D are all used appropriately in the sentence.
Which of the following words fits best in the following sentence? ___________ having finished her coursework, Lorene expects to spend another year on campus.
- A. Despite
- B. Although
- C. Thus
- D. However
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Despite.' 'Despite' is the best word to use in the sentence because it shows a contrast between Lorene having finished her coursework and her expectation to spend another year on campus. The word 'Despite' signals that there is an unexpected or contrary situation, emphasizing the contradiction between the two parts of the sentence. 'Although' (choice B) introduces a contrast but is not as strong as 'Despite' in highlighting the contradiction. 'Thus' (choice C) and 'However' (choice D) do not convey the intended contrast needed in this context, making them incorrect choices.
Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? Jeremiah seemed enthusiastic when we reported on our astonishing success.
- A. seemed
- B. enthusiastic
- C. astonishing
- D. success
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The word 'enthusiastic' is used incorrectly in the sentence. It should be 'enthusiastic' instead of 'enthusiastically' since it is describing Jeremiah's state of being, not an action he performed. Adverbs like 'enthusiastically' are used to modify verbs, not adjectives like 'enthusiastic'. The other choices ('seemed,' 'astonishing,' 'success') are all used appropriately in the sentence and do not need any correction.
Nokea