1.

By offering lower prices and a menu of personal communications options, such as

caller identification and voice mail, the new telecommunications company has not
only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced them to
offer competitive prices.
(A) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced
them
(B) has not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also forced
them
(C) has not only captured customers from other phone companies but also forced
these companies
(D) not only has captured customers from other phone companies but also these
companies have been forced
(E) not only captured customers from other phone companies, but it also has forced
them
2. Unable to build nests or care for their young, a female cowbird lays up to 40 eggs
a year in the nests of other birds, including warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and
thrushes.
(A) a female cowbird lays up to 40 eggs a year in the nests of other birds, including
(B) a female cowbird will use the nests of other birds to lay up to 40 eggs a year,
including those of
(C) female cowbirds use the nests of other birds to lay up to 40 eggs a year, including
those of
(D) female cowbirds lay up to 40 eggs a year in the nests of other birds, including
(E) up to 40 eggs a year are laid by female cowbirds in the nests of other birds,
including
3. In many of the world's regions, increasing pressure on water resources has
resulted both from expanding development, changes in climate, and from
pollution, so that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a concern
going forward.
(A) both from expanding development, changes in climate, and from pollution, so
that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a concern going forward (The
preposition both creates confusion since it indicates two factors, when the sentence actually
lists three)
(B) both from expanding development or changes in climate, and pollution, so that
future supplies in some of the more arid areas are a concern (Both indicates that there
are two factors. If the entire disjunction expanding development or changes in climate is
intended—somewhat implausibly—to be the first of the two factors, the comma before and
pollution makes its relationship to the preceding portion of the sentence unclear.)
(C) from expanding development, changes in climate, and also from pollution, so
that the future supply in some of the more arid areas is a matter of concern going
forward (Repetition of the preposition from disrupts the parallelism of the list and makes the
meaning unclear.)
(D) from expanding development, changes in climate, and pollution, so that
future supplies in some of the more arid areas are a concern (The three factors are
listed in parallel form as objects of the preposition “from”)
(E) from expansion of development, changes in climate, and from pollution, so that
supplies in some of the more arid areas are a future concern (Repetition of the
preposition from disrupts the parallelism of the list and makes the meaning unclear. Future
somewhat implausibly modifies concern rather than supplies.)

4. The horse, ridden by the experienced jockey with the broken leg, had to be
destroyed.
(A) horse, ridden by the experienced jockey with the broken leg, had
(B) horse ridden by the experienced jockey with the broken leg had
(C) horse with the broken leg ridden by the experienced, jockey had
(D) horse with the broken leg ridden by the experienced jockey, had
(E) horse with the broken leg, ridden by the experienced jockey, had (With the
broken leg is a misplaced modifier. Commas are needed to set off the non-restrictive
clause ridden by the experienced jockey)
5. Industry analysts said that the recent rise in fuel prices may be an early signal of
the possibility of gasoline and heating oil prices staying higher than usually
through the end of the year. (The correct idiom to contrast prices with the norm is higher
than usual—not usually, as written.)
(A) of the possibility of gasoline and heating oil prices staying higher than usually
through (The unnecessary phrase of the possibility of makes the sentence wordy; higher than
usually is not a proper idiom.)
(B) of the possibility that gasoline and heating oil prices could stay higher than usual
throughout (throughout the end of the year is not a proper idiom)
(C) of prices of gasoline and heating oil possibly staying higher than usually through
(Possibly is redundant with may and is not needed to indicate the speculative nature of the
prediction; higher than usually is not a proper idiom.)
(D) that prices of gasoline and heating oil could stay higher than they usually are
throughout (The conditional verb tense could stay is incorrect since the modal verb may has
already introduced the concept of possibility; throughout the end of the year is not a proper
idiom.)
(E) that prices of gasoline and heating oil will stay higher than usual through (The
simple future tense verb will stay expresses the analysts’ prediction, and idioms are
used correctly)

6. To attempt at curbing the water hyacinth, an ornamental plant which was

infesting Lake Victoria and was native of the Brazilian rain forest, ecologists are
introducing weevils and fungi into the lake’s ecosystem.
(A) To attempt at curbing the water hyacinth, an ornamental plant which was
infesting Lake Victoria and was native of (attempt to – is correct; attempt at is incorrect)
(B) The attempt at curbing the infesting of Lake Victoria of the water hyacinth, an
ornamental plant which is a native to (same reason as the above)
(C) In an attempt to curb the water hyacinth, an ornamental plant which had been
infesting Lake Victoria and had been native to (ecologists are introducing – but had
been)
(D) In an attempt to curb the infestation of Lake Victoria by the water hyacinth, an
ornamental plant native to
(E) By attempting to curb Lake Victoria’s infestation of the water hyacinth, an
ornamental plant native in (native to or native of is the correct usage)
7. Unwilling to threaten the revenue generated by the city’s two airports, the plan to
build a third airport outside the city limits was opposed by the Mayor.
(A) the plan to build a third airport outside the city limits was opposed by the Mayor
(B) the Mayor opposed the plan to build a third airport outside the city limits
(C) opposition to plan to build a third airport outside the city limits was expressed
by the Mayor
(D) it was opposed by the Mayor that a third airport was planned to be built outside
the city limits
(E) the third airport that had been planned to be built outside the city limits was
opposed by the Mayor
8. Arguably one of the most influential figures in the Silver Age of Comics, Jack
Kirby’s drawing style, which utilized foreshortening to convey depth and allowed
characters to “burst” out of panel frames.
(A) Jack Kirby’s drawing style, which utilized foreshortening to convey depth and
allowed characters to
(B) Jack Kirby’s drawing style, utilizing foreshortening to convey depth and
allowing characters
(C) Jack Kirby developed a drawing style which utilized foreshortening to convey
depth and allowed characters to
(D) Jack Kirby developed a drawing style that utilized foreshortening to convey
depth but also allowed characters
(E) Jack Kirby developed a drawing style utilizing foreshortening conveying depth
and allowing characters to
(The underlined portion of the sentence contains Jack Kirby’s drawing style, which follows
the modifying phrase one of the most influential figures. This is a misplaced modifier error.
Eliminate (A) and look for any obvious repeaters. Choice (B) repeats the error, so eliminate
this choice. Evaluate the remaining answer choices individually, looking for reasons to
eliminate each. Choice (C) repairs the original error by allowing the modifying phrase to refer
to Jack Kirby, and it makes no other errors. Keep (C). Choice (D) includes the construction
but also as a connector. This is idiomatically incorrect as it is not preceded by not only, so
eliminate this answer. Choice (E) uses the phrase utilizing foreshortening conveying depth
which does not have the idiom utilize…to, so eliminate this answer. The correct answer is
(C).)
9. Any real estate professional will tell you that the value of a parcel of land is most
directly affected by the extent of its development and how close it is to a major
business centre.
(A) the extent of its development
(B) whether it has been developed extensively
(C) how extensively it has developed
(D) the extent to which it has developed
(E) how extensively it has been developed
(Before trying to figure out the use of extent, look at the need for parallelism. Since “How”
appears in the nonunderlined portion at the end of the sentence, it should also appear at the
beginning of the underlined portion. (Affected by how and how), eliminate all but C and E.
The only difference is that E uses ‘been’. E is correct because the property has not developed
itself, it has been developed by others.
10. Since 1994, when voters in several American cities rejected plans for the using of
public money in building of new sports stadiums, voters in San Diego,
Pittsburgh, and Denver changed their minds.
(A) for the using of public money in building of new sports stadiums, voters in San
Diego, Pittsburgh, and Denver
(B) to use public money to build new sports stadiums, voters in San Diego,
Pittsburgh, and Denver have
(C) for using public money for the buildings of new sports stadiums, voters in San
Diego, Pittsburgh and also in Denver
(D) for the public use of money to build new sports stadiums, voters in San Diego,
Pittsburgh, and Denver have
(E) to use public money to build new sports stadiums in San Diego, Pittsburgh, and
Denver
(Simple Noun form Use is better than the gerund using. There’s also a two/three split on the
end of each answer choice. B and D use “have” and others do not. Because the sentence
begins with since, you need to use “have”. D- Public should not use money. The taxpayers
aren’t actually using money; they are paying and is used by someone.)
11. Goethe’s talents as a poet, painter and dramatist were so diverse they inspired
his many fans to refer to him as the “giant of Weimar”.
(A) so diverse they inspired
(B) so diverse as to inspire (an idiom that ETS loves, most people are unfamiliar
with it)
(C) as diverse as those which inspired
(D) diverse enough so as to inspire
(E) as diverse as to inspire

12. Any political figure who is intending on running for president will not succeed
without a large quantity of campaign money contributed by wealthy benefactors.
(A) who is intending on running
(B) who has the intention of running
(C) who is intent to run
(D) intending on running (intending to run)
(E) intent on running (intend to and intent on – correct idiom. The use of “who” in
answer choices A, B, and C is fine but E is better because who is not necessary.

13. The price of a bushel of corn has fallen so drastically that some farmers have
found it to be more cost-effective to destroy their crops so as to make the effort to
get them to market.
(A) have found it to be more cost-effective to destroy their crops so as to make
(B) found that the destruction of their crops is more cost-effective than making
(C) find the destruction of their crops as more cost-effective than making
(D) find it more cost-effective to destroy their crops than to make
(E) are finding that the destruction of their crops is more cost-effective than the
making of
(The sentence is wrong as written because more needs than. Since it uses as instead, you can
get rid of A. B changes the tense to past, but the present tense is remains later on. C is not
parallel because destruction and making are not in the same format. E is a verbose mess.
There is no need to use the making of when making is just fine but itself.)
14. The John Hopkins Centre for Gun Policy and Research revealed that half of all
American men keep a gun in the house, and that on any given day, one out of every
fifty adults carry a handgun away from home.
(A) one out of every fifty adults carry
(B) every one out of fifty adults carry
(C) out of every fifty adults, one carries
(D) each adult among fifty carries
(E) one adult in fifty carries
( A and B are eliminated because of the verb carry. C and D are incorrect because they use
every and each, which suggest that if you take fifty people off the street and put them in a
room, exactly one will be carrying a handgun. But the point of sentence is to establish a more
general ratio: for every forty nine people who don’t carry a gun, there is one person who does)
15. Although not quite as liquid an investment as a money market account,
financial experts recommend a certificate of deposit for its high yield.
(A) Although not quite as liquid an investment as
(B) Although it is not quite as liquid an investment as
(C) While not being quite as liquid an investment as
(D) While it is not quite as liquid as an investment
(E) Although not quite liquid an investment as
(The underlined portion of the sentence is part of a modifying phrase, so make sure the phrase
is correctly modifying the noun or pronoun following it. The modifying phrase Although not
quite as liquid an investment modifies financial experts. This is a misplaced modifier error, so
eliminate (A) and look for any obvious repeaters. Despite that some of the answer choices
begin with Although, none of them qualify as obvious repeaters because it is necessary to
evaluate them individually to determine if there is an error. There are no obvious repeaters,
so evaluate each answer choice individually, looking for reasons to eliminate each.
Choice (B) fixes the original error by inserting the pronoun it, which means that the opening
phrase is no longer a modifying phrase, and does not appear to create any new errors, so keep
(B). Choice (C) does not fix the original error as the modifying phrase still modifies the noun
financial experts. Eliminate (C). Choice (D) fixes the original error but creates a new error.
Choice (D) moves the word as, which changes the meaning of the sentence to indicate that the
certificate of deposit referred to by the pronoun it is not as liquid as an investment, as
opposed to as liquid an investment as a money-market account. Eliminate (D). Choice (E)
does not fix the original error as the modifying phrase still modifies the noun financial
experts and creates a new error by eliminating the word as from the idiom as…as. Eliminate
(E). The correct answer is (B).
16. Doctors sometimes have difficulty diagnosing viral pneumonia because the early
symptoms of this potentially deadly illness are often quite similar to the common
cold.
(A) are often quite similar to the common cold
(B) often resemble that of the common cold
(C) are often quite similar to those of the common cold
(D) are often quite similar to the common cold’s symptom
(E) quite often are, like the common cold, similar
(The underlined portion of the sentence contains the comparison word similar, so look for
comparison errors. The first item being compared in the non-underlined portion of the
sentence is the symptoms of viral pneumonia. The second item being compared is the
common cold. This is a comparison error as the symptoms are not being compared to other
symptoms. Eliminate (A) and look for obvious repeaters.
Choice (E) does not compare symptoms to other symptoms, so eliminate (E). Evaluate the
remaining answer choices, looking for reasons to eliminate each.
Choice (B) fixes the original error by introducing the pronoun that.
However, the noun symptoms is plural and the pronoun that is singular, so
there is a pronoun agreement error. Eliminate (B). Choice (C) fixes the
original error and makes no new errors, so keep (C). Choice (D) appears to
fix the original error, but actually compares symptoms to symptom, which is
both a parallel construction and comparison error. Eliminate (D). The
correct answer is (C).

17. With its plan to create a wildlife sanctuary out of previously unused landfill,
Sweden is but one of a number of industrialized nations that is accepting its
responsibility to protect endangered species and promote conservation.
(A) is accepting its responsibility to protect endangered species and promote
(B) is accepting its responsibility for protecting endangered species and promoting
(C) are accepting its responsibility to protect endangered species and promoting
(D) are accepting of their responsibility to protect endangered species and to
promote
(E) are accepting their responsibility to protect endangered species and promote
(The underlined portion of the sentence contains the verb is ‘so’. check to make sure the verb
agrees with its intended subject. The verb is in the underlined portion seems to agree with the
subject of the sentence, Sweden, but in fact, the noun is must agree with nations, which is
plural. Eliminate (A) and look for obvious repeaters. Choice (B) uses the verb is so eliminate
(B). Evaluate the remaining answer choices individually. Choice (C) keeps the singular
pronoun its, which is a pronoun agreement error with the noun nations. Eliminate (C).
Choice (D) contains the clunky phrase accepting of. The of is an unnecessary preposition that
is an incorrect idiom. Eliminate (D). Choice (E) fixes the original error and commits no new
errors. The correct answer is (E).
18. The machine press union and company management were not able to
communicate effectively, and it was a major cause of the 1999 strike in Seattle.
(A) The machine press union and company management were not able to
communicate effectively, and it
(B) Communications between the machine press union and company management
were not effective, and it
(C) For the machine press union and company management, to be unable to
communicate effectively
(D) The inability of the machine press union and company management to
communicate effectively
(E) The machine press union, being unable to communicate effectively with
company management,
(The underlined portion of the sentence contains the pronoun it, so check for agreement and
ambiguity. The word it could refer to either union or management, but neither of those
options makes sense. Instead, what it intends to refer to is that the two sides were not able to
communicate effectively. This is not clear from the current construction, so eliminate (A) for
a pronoun ambiguity error and look for obvious repeaters. Choice (B) obviously repeats the
error, so eliminate (B) as well. Evaluate each remaining choice individually. Choice (C)
contains a verb tense error with the verb to be which does not match tense with the past tense
verb was. Eliminate (C). Choice (D) fixes the original error by removing the pronoun it and
referring directly to the inability…to communicate. This choice does not commit any new
errors, so keep (D). Choice (E) fixes the original error but is overly wordy and awkward in
comparison to (D). Eliminate (E). The correct answer is (D).
19. As a result of surging economic indicators, most analysts upgraded the
company’s stock to a strong “buy,” ignoring the advice of the head of a watchdog
organization who warned that the company’s product would prove not only
dangerous but ineffective in the long run.
(A) who warned that the company’s product would prove not only dangerous but
(B) warning that the company’s product would prove not only dangerous and also
(C) warning that the company’s product would prove itself to be both dangerous
and
(D) who warned that the company’s product would prove to be both dangerous
and
(E) who was warning that the company’s product would prove not only dangerous
but
(The sentence, as written, needs a but also to complement its not only. Choices (A) and (E)
bite the dust. In (B), the same idiom comes into play, but this choice has bigger problems:
without the who warned, it is no longer clear who is doing the warning. Choice (C) can be
eliminated for the same reason. Choice (D) uses the correct combination of both…and. The
correct answer is (D).)
20. Rules governing participation in a new extreme sports fantasy camp require that
applicants should be physically fit enough to endure the demanding activities in
which they will be engaging.
(A) that applicants should be physically fit enough to endure the demanding
(B) that applicants be physically fit enough to endure the demanding
(C) applicants should have enough physical fitness to allow enduring the demands
of
(D) applicants are physically fit enough as to endure the demands of
(E) physical fitness in applicants, enough for endurance of demanding
(This question tests two concepts. The first is idiomatic and concerns the word require.
Because the word require indicates something that is compulsory (as opposed to optional), it
cannot be followed by the word should; in other words, you can’t require that something
should happen, because then it’s not really a requirement. This eliminates (A) and (C). The
second concept is a little more arcane. Requirements, like hypothetical situations posited in
the future, take the subjunctive mood. In the subjunctive, the proper way to phrase the idea
expressed in this sentence is the rules require that applicants be physically fit. The correct
answer is (B).
21. During the summer of 2002, the Outer Banks suffered a massive toad
infestation, discouraging many vacationers from visiting the area.
(A) suffered a massive toad infestation, discouraging
(B) suffered from a massive toad infestation and discouraged
(C) suffered a massive infestation of toads, which discouraged
(D) was suffering a massive infestation of toads and discouraging
(E) had suffered from a massive toad infestation and this discouraged

(This question presents two ways to discuss the unfortunate toad incident on the Outer
Banks. Was there a massive toad infestation or a massive infestation of toads? The second
option is better, because the first leaves it unclear whether massive refers to the infestation or
the toads themselves. Under the first option, it is theoretically possible that the Outer Banks
was infested by a single 50-foot-tall toad. Thus, (A), (B), and (E) are all incorrect. Choice (D)
incorrectly suggests that the Outer Banks, not the infestation of toads, discouraged
vacationers. The correct answer is (C).
22. Within the Green Party, an internal debate is raging among those who believe in
compromising with mainstream politicians in order to achieve some goals with
those who believe the party must not abandon any of its principles.
(A) among those who believe in compromising with mainstream politicians in order
to achieve some goals with those who believe the party must not abandon any of its
principles
(B) among those who believe that achieving some goals requires compromise with
mainstream politicians and those believing that none of the party’s principles must
be abandoned
(C) between those believing in compromising with mainstream politicians in order
to achieve some goals with those who believe the party must not abandon any of its
principles
(D) between those who believe in compromising with mainstream politicians in
order to achieve some goals and those who believe the party must not abandon
any of its principles
(E) between those believing that achieving some goals means compromising with
mainstream politicians and those who believe that the principles of the party must
not be abandoned
(This is a tricky between/among question. The rule is that between is used to compare two
items, among to compare three or more. Here you are talking about thousands of people, so
you might think that among is the correct choice. However, because the sentence compares
two groups of people, the correct answer is between. The argument is between the two
groups, not among the thousands of people who make up those groups. Eliminate (A) and
(B). Eliminate (C) because it is unidiomatic: it draws a comparison between one group with
another when it should draw a comparison between one group and another. Choice (E) can be
eliminated because it lacks parallel structure: it compares those believing that achieving some
goals…and those who believe that the principles of the party must not be abandoned. The
correct answer is (D).
23. Registered brokerage firms have been required to record details of all
computerized program trades made in the past year so that government agencies
will be able to decide whether they should be banned.
(A) will be able to decide whether they should be banned
(B) should be able to decide whether they should be banned
(C) should be able to decide whether they can be banned
(D) will be able to decide whether program trades should be able to be banned
(E) will be able to decide whether program trades should be banned
the pronoun they in the underlined portion of the sentence is ambiguous as it is unclear
whether they refers to registered brokerage firms or computerized program trades. There is an
error in the underlined portion of the sentence, so eliminate (A) and look for any obvious
repeaters. Choices (B) and (C) also used the ambiguous pronoun they, so eliminate (B) and
(C) as well. Evaluate the remaining answer choices individually, looking for a reason to
eliminate each. Choice (D) fixes the original error by changing the pronoun they to program
trades. Now, determine whether the answer choice makes any other errors. The verb able to
modifies the phrase program trade, meaning that the program trades are able to do
something. This is a misplaced modifier error, so eliminate (D). Choice (E) fixes the original
error by changing the pronoun they to program trades and creates no new errors, so keep (E).
If it was not apparent that (D) contained the misplaced modifier error, then (D) could have
been eliminated because it is not as concise as (E). Either way, the correct answer is (E).

24. Written in 1961, Joseph Heller scored a literary hit with his comedic first novel,
Catch-22.
(A) Written in 1961, Joseph Heller scored a literary hit with his comedic first novel,
Catch-22.
(B) Written in 1961, Joseph Heller scored a literary hit with Catch-22, his comedic
first novel.
(C) Written in 1961, Catch-22, the comedic first novel by Joseph Heller, was a
literary hit.
(D) Catch-22, which was written in 1961 by Joseph Heller, scored a literary hit with
his comedic first novel.
(E) Catch-22, the comedic first novel, scored a literary hit for Joseph Heller by its
being written in 1961.
(In this case, the modifying phrase written in 1961 modifies Joseph Heller. This indicates
that Joseph Heller was written in 1961, when the modifying phrase intended to modify
Catch-22. This is a misplaced modifier error. Eliminate (A) and look for any obvious
repeaters. Choice (B) repeats the error, so eliminate (B). Evaluate each remaining answer
choice individually, looking for reasons to eliminate each. Choice (C) fixes the original error
by correctly placing the noun Catch-22 immediately following the modifying phrase, and
commits no new errors, so keep (C). Choice (D) also contains a misplaced modifier error that
results in pronoun ambiguity. For (D), the construction Catch-22…scored creates a modifier
error. This sentence suggests that it is Catch-22 and not Joseph Heller that scored a literary
hit. Eliminate (D). Choice (E) also contains a misplaced modifier error as the answer choice
indicates that Catch-22… scored, which is an error because a book cannot score. Eliminate
(E). The correct answer is (C).
25. Although tapirs reared in captivity are generally docile and have even been kept
as pets by South American villagers, it is nonetheless a volatile creature prone to
unpredictable and dangerous temper tantrums.
(A) it is nonetheless a volatile creature
(B) it is nonetheless volatile creatures
(C) being nonetheless volatile creatures
(D) they are nonetheless a volatile creature
(E) they are nonetheless volatile creatures
(This is a pronoun agreement question. The subject of the sentence is tapirs; therefore, the
pronoun that refers to the subject must be plural. The answer, therefore, must be (D) or (E).
Choice (D) contains a new pronoun agreement error, because they is plural and a volatile
creature is singular. Choice (C) has no pronoun at all. The correct answer is (E).