Sentence Coordination and Subordination Test

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Multiple-Choice Questions
Choose the best answer to each question.
1. You can coordinate independent clauses by using all the following methods except
(a) Coordinating conjunctions
(b) Correlative conjunctions
(c) A semicolon and a conjunctive adverb
(d) Subordinating conjunctions
2. When you coordinate independent clauses, you should decide which ideas can and
should be combined and then
(a) Select the method of coordination that shows the appropriate relationship
between ideas.
(b) Use the subordinating conjunction that most clearly expresses your ideas.
(c) Add a semicolon to link ideas.
(d) String together as many ideas as you can.
3. When you decide how to coordinate or subordinate ideas, you should always consider
your
(a) Audience
(b) Purpose
(c) Handwriting
(d) Style
4. Which revision best combines ideas?
Ancient Egypt had an abundance of rocks quarried close to the banks of the Nile.
These rocks had to be brought from quarries to the building sites.
(a) Ancient Egypt had an abundance of rocks quarried close to the banks of the
Nile, so these rocks had to be brought from quarries to the building sites.
(b) Ancient Egypt had an abundance of rocks quarried close to the banks of the
Nile, when these rocks had to be brought from quarries to the building sites.
(c) Ancient Egypt had an abundance of rocks quarried close to the banks of the
Nile, but these rocks had to be brought from quarries to the building sites.
(d) Since ancient Egypt had an abundance of rocks quarried close to the banks of
the Nile; these rocks had to be brought from quarries to the building sites.
5. Which revision best combines ideas?
Darrow invented a board game he called “Monopoly.” Monopoly made him a millionaire.
This did not happen at first.
(a) This did not happen at first, but Darrow invented a board game he called
“Monopoly.” When Monopoly made him a millionaire.
(b) Darrow invented a board game he called “Monopoly,” which made him a millionaire,
although not at first.
(c) Because Darrow invented a board game he called “Monopoly,” Monopoly
made him a millionaire. This did not happen at first.
(d) Although Monopoly made him a millionaire, Darrow invented a board game
he called “Monopoly,” but this did not happen at first.
6. Which revision best combines ideas?
Parker Brothers turned the game down. They felt it was too complicated to play.
(a) Parker Brothers turned the game down and they felt it was too complicated to
play.
(b) Since Parker Brothers turned the game down, they felt it was too complicated
to play.
(c) When Parker Brothers turned the game down, they felt it was too complicated
to play.
(d) Parker Brothers turned the game down because they felt it was too complicated
to play.
7. Which revision best combines ideas?
Large numbers of people began flooding into southern Florida more than a century
ago. The amount of water that once flowed south through the Everglades has been
drastically reduced.
(a) Ever since large numbers of people began flooding into southern Florida more
than a century ago, the amount of water that once flowed south through the
Everglades has been drastically reduced.
(b) Large numbers of people began flooding into southern Florida more than a
century ago, but the amount of water that once flowed south through the
Everglades has been drastically reduced.
(c) Large numbers of people began flooding into southern Florida more than a
century ago, yet the amount of water that once flowed south through the Everglades
has been drastically reduced.
(d) When the amount of water that once flowed south through the Everglades has
been drastically reduced, large numbers of people began flooding into southern
Florida more than a century ago.
8. Which choice best connects the following sentence?
It took almost a year for three men to sign confessions admitting the series had been
fixed. The men were Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte, and J. Jackson. The men admitted
they were in on the scam.
(a) It took almost a year for three men—Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte, and J.
Jackson—to sign confessions admitting the
(b) Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte, and J. Jackson admitted they were in on the
scam when it took almost a year for them to sign confessions admitting the
series had been fixed.
(c) Since it took almost a year for Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte, and J. Jackson to
sign confessions admitting the series had been fixed, they admitted they were
in on the scam.
(d) It took almost a year for Lefty Williams, Eddie Cicotte, and J. Jackson to sign
confessions admitting the series had been fixed; however, the men admitted
they were in on the scam.
9. Which revision best combines ideas?
The water declined. The freshwater bird population has declined more than 90 percent
since the early 1900s.
(a) The freshwater bird population has declined more than 90 percent since the
early 1900s and the water declined.
(b) The water declined because the freshwater bird population has declined more
than 90 percent since the early 1900s.
(c) The water declined, but the freshwater bird population has declined more than
90 percent since the early 1900s.
(d) As a result of the declining water, the freshwater bird population has declined
more than 90 percent since the early 1900s.
10. Which revision best combines ideas?
There are still ample physical reminders of the history of the Native Americans in
Florida. Impressive burial mounds, dating back hundreds of years, can be found
along many of the rivers, for instance.
(a) Impressive burial mounds, dating back hundreds of years, can be found along
many of the rivers, for instance; there are still ample physical reminders of the
history of the Native Americans in Florida.
(b) Since there are still ample physical reminders of the history of the Native
Americans in Florida, impressive burial mounds, dating back hundreds of
years, can be found along many of the rivers, for instance.
(c) Although impressive burial mounds, dating back hundreds of years, can be
found along many of the rivers, for instance, there are still ample physical
reminders of the history of the Native Americans in Florida.
(d) There are still ample physical reminders of the history of the Native Americans
in Florida; impressive burial mounds, dating back hundreds of years, can
be found along many of the rivers, for instance.