Writing Diagnostic, Prof. Nelson

1. In the article it states that NATO countries face serious reductions of their military budgets.

In the article it states

The article states

They say in the article

In the article is stated the fact

unclear pronoun reference, usage

Explanation

unclear pronoun reference, usage

In each of the following sentences some part of the sentence is underlined and bolded. In the answer choices you will find four ways of writing the underlined part. The first choice repeats the underlined part in the original sentence, but the other three are different. If you think the... see moreoriginal sentence is better than any of the suggested changes, you should choose letter A; otherwise you should mark one of the other choices. Choose the answer that produces the most effective sentence - clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity. Do not make a choice that changes the meaning of the original sentence.
A brief explanation is provided for each question. You have 30 minutes! see less

2. Mary Well's version of "My Guy" is still my most favorite one that I like best.

My most favorite one that I like best

My favorite one that I like best

My most favorite

My favorite

wordiness

Explanation

wordiness

3. Right whales can swim at a speed of up to eight knots, but it is more likely to cruise at about three knots.

But it is more likely to cruise

But it is more likely they will cruise

But they are more likely to cruise

But, more likely, it cruises

pronoun reference

Explanation

pronoun reference

4. Some people worry about overpopulation because of the food and perhaps too many people eat it in the future.

Because of the food and perhaps too many people eat it in the future

Because in the future there may be too many people and not enough food to feed them

Because in the future they may have too many people and there will not be enough to feed them

Because of, in the future, perhaps having too little food for all the people eating it

parallelism, parallel structure

Explanation

parallelism, parallel structure

5. Veronica Geng's humor is intelligent and witty, it takes some thinking to understand her jokes.

It takes

They take

Which takes

But it takes

fused sentence, run-on

Explanation

fused sentence, run-on

6. Some experimental automobiles use natural gas instead of gasoline for fuel, this change reduces the pollutants in their exhaust by ninety percent.

Fuel, this change reduces

Fuel, and it reduced

Fuel, reducing

Fuel, by which it reduces

fused sentence

Explanation

fused sentence

7. Erosion by rivers, continuing over thousands of years, has carved vast, deep valleys.

Rivers, continuing over thousands of years,

Rivers having continued over thousands of years and

Rivers, it continues over thousands of years and

Rivers continues over thousands of years, it

non-restrictive clause

Explanation

non-restrictive clause

8. Many of the schoolchildren interviewed said they wanted to become doctors or lawyers.

Doctors or lawyers

A doctor or a lawyer

A doctor and a lawyer

Doctors than lawyers

agreement

Explanation

agreement

9. Jeans and other informal costumes are accepted dress now that businesses would once have banned.

Are accepted dress now that businesses would once have banned

Is an accepted way to dress now but businesses would once have banned it

That businesses would once have banned are accepted dress now

That businesses would once have banned is an accepted way to dress now

agreement, parallelism

Explanation

agreement, parallelism

10. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to run for Vice-President on a major-party ticket, her example especially inspired the nation's women and the Italian-American community.

Her example especially inspired

Her example was especially inspiring to

While her example especially inspired

And her example especially inspired

fused sentence

Explanation

fused sentence