This short quiz will help you sharpen your writing skills. Answers are posted below.
1. What essential piece of information is missing from this sentence?
Porter was patted down, and a small, clear plastic bag of white powder was found in his right front pocket.
2. One of these statements lacks objectivity. Which one?
a) Porter repeatedly refused to comply with my instructions.
b) I saw Falton use his left foot to nudge something under the sofa.
3. Correct the errors in these sentences. A sentence may have more than one error – or none.
a) The Browns’ were seated at the kitchen table.
b) Although, we were on time for the meeting, two committee members were late.
c) The proposal sounded rightly to everyone accept Nancy and Vince.
ANSWERS
1. What essential piece of information is missing from this sentence?
Porter was patted down, and a small, clear plastic bag of white powder was found in his right front pocket.
Answer: Who patted him down and found the bag of powder?
Here’s a better version of the sentence:
I patted down Porter. I found a small, clear plastic bag of white powder in his right front pocket.
2. One of these statements lacks objectivity. Which one?
a) Porter repeatedly refused to comply with my instructions. NOT OBJECTIVE
[This is an opinion, not a fact. Perhaps Porter didn’t hear your instructions. Or he may have had a medical condition that prevented him from processing what you were telling him. Another problem is that you didn’t record the instructions you gave him.
Here’s a better sentence: “I told Porter to raise his hands above his head. He said, “No way, you idiot” and folded his arms in front of his chest.”]
b) I saw Falton use his left foot to nudge something under the sofa. CORRECT
3. Correct the errors in these sentences. A sentence may have more than one error – or none.
a) The Browns were seated at the kitchen table. [No apostrophe in Browns: it’s a plural word, not a possessive.]
b) Although we were on time for the meeting, two committee members were late. [Omit the comma after although.]
c) The proposal sounded right to everyone except Nancy and Vince. [Right, not rightly. Change accept to except.]
