Grammar Quiz

Choose an answer for each of the ten questions below. Click “Score Quiz” to see how you did. There will be detailed explanations for each incorrect answer.

1.Which of the following phrases is punctuated correctly?
 

a. a long confusing speech

b. a long, confusing speech

2.Which of these sentences indicates that all of the students received awards?
 

a. I gave awards to the students who had earned perfect scores.

b. I gave awards to the students, who had earned perfect scores.

3.How many commas does the following sentence require?
The company introduced a revolutionary healthcare plan on February 23 2006 at its headquarters in Dubuque Iowa.
 

a. 0

b. 1

c. 2

d. 3

4.Mark Smith, as well as Dana Rogers and Jeff Jones, _____ going to speak at the meeting.
 

a. is

b. are

5.In which of the following sentences does passive voice appear?
 

a. The presentation was long.

b. The book was missing a few pages.

c. The deadline was missed.

d. All of the above.

6.Martha is one of the few people who _____ how to operate the equipment.
 

a. knows

b. know

7.Mary Waller is working at her desk when her phone rings. She picks it up and says, “Hello?” The caller asks to speak to Mary Waller. If Mary wants to be grammatically correct, which of the following responses should she choose?
 

a. This is her.

b. This is she.

8.Jack Smith, _____ my uncle has always admired, was recently arrested for insider trading.
 

a. who

b. whom

9.Consider the following sentence: I was told about the decision by Ron’s colleague. A structural problem in the sentence creates ambiguity. Which of the following alternatives would resolve that ambiguity?
 

a. I was told by Ron’s colleague about the decision.

b. Ron’s colleague told me about the decision.

c. Both a and b.

10.Which of the following sentences is preferable?
 

a. The project only lasted three months.

b. The project lasted only three months.