Michigan ECPE English Usage Practice — All Questions
22 questions
___ had she sat down than the phone rang again. Which choice is correct?
- a.No sooner
- b.Hardly
- c.Scarcely✓
- d.No longer
'No sooner ... than' is the fixed correlative pair for two closely following events. 'Hardly' and 'scarcely' pair with 'when', not 'than', so only 'No sooner' completes this structure.
Were it not for her guidance, the project ___ long ago. Which choice is correct?
- a.would have collapsed✓
- b.would collapse
- c.will collapse
- d.collapsed
'Were it not for' is an inverted conditional referring to a past result ('long ago'), so the main clause uses 'would have + past participle': 'would have collapsed'.
The committee insisted that every proposal ___ reviewed before the vote. Which choice is correct?
- a.is
- b.was
- c.will be
- d.be✓
After 'insist that' the subjunctive is used, which takes the base form 'be' regardless of the subject. 'Every proposal be reviewed' is the correct subjunctive construction.
She is reported ___ the manuscript years before it was published. Which choice is correct?
- a.to complete
- b.to have completed✓
- c.completing
- d.having complete
The completion happened before the reporting, so a perfect infinitive is needed: 'to have completed'. The simple infinitive 'to complete' would place the action at the same time as the reporting.
Only after the results were published ___ the significance of the study. Which choice is correct?
- a.did we grasp✓
- b.we grasped
- c.we did grasp
- d.grasped we
When a sentence opens with a restrictive 'Only after' phrase, the subject and auxiliary invert: 'did we grasp'. The normal order 'we grasped' is incorrect after this fronted phrase.
Her argument was so ___ that even her critics were persuaded. Which word fits best?
- a.tedious
- b.dubious
- c.cogent✓
- d.trivial
'Cogent' means clear, logical, and convincing, which fits persuading even critics. 'Dubious' means doubtful and 'trivial' means unimportant, both of which contradict the sentence.
The negotiations reached an ___ when neither side would compromise. Which word fits best?
- a.outset
- b.impasse✓
- c.influx
- d.upsurge
An 'impasse' is a deadlock where no progress is possible, which matches neither side compromising. 'Outset' means a beginning, and 'influx' and 'upsurge' refer to increases.
The critic's review was scathing, leaving the author feeling utterly ___. Which word fits best?
- a.elated
- b.indifferent
- c.vindicated
- d.demoralised✓
A 'scathing' (harshly critical) review would leave the author 'demoralised', meaning discouraged. 'Elated' and 'vindicated' are positive, and 'indifferent' means unconcerned.
The senator's evasive answers only served to ___ public suspicion. Which word fits best?
- a.fuel✓
- b.quell
- c.dispel
- d.allay
'Fuel' means to intensify, which fits evasive answers increasing suspicion. 'Quell', 'dispel', and 'allay' all mean to reduce or calm, the opposite of what the sentence implies.
Despite the setback, she remained ___ in her pursuit of the record. Which word fits best?
- a.fickle
- b.undaunted✓
- c.reluctant
- d.apathetic
'Undaunted' means not discouraged by difficulty, which fits continuing despite a setback. 'Fickle', 'reluctant', and 'apathetic' all suggest wavering or lack of commitment.
The scandal seriously undermined public ___ in the institution. Which form is correct?
- a.confident
- b.confidently
- c.confidence✓
- d.confide
After the adjective 'public' a noun is needed, and 'confidence' is the noun. 'Confident' is an adjective, 'confidently' an adverb, and 'confide' a verb.
The proposal was rejected as economically ___. Which form is correct?
- a.unviable✓
- b.unviably
- c.viability
- d.viably
After the linking verb 'was' and the adverb 'economically', an adjective is needed to describe the proposal, and 'unviable' means not workable. The other options are an adverb or a noun.
The author writes with remarkable ___, capturing complex ideas in a few words. Which form is correct?
- a.concise
- b.concisely
- c.conciseness's
- d.conciseness✓
After the adjective 'remarkable' a noun is needed, and 'conciseness' is the noun. 'Concise' is an adjective and 'concisely' an adverb.
The new regulations are intended to ___ the risk of financial fraud. Which form is correct?
- a.minimal
- b.minimise✓
- c.minimally
- d.minimum
After 'intended to' a base verb is needed, and 'minimise' means to reduce to the smallest amount. 'Minimal' is an adjective, 'minimally' an adverb, and 'minimum' a noun or adjective.
The plan is ambitious; ___, it may prove difficult to fund. Which connector fits best?
- a.hence
- b.thereby
- c.that said✓
- d.whereby
'That said' concedes a point while introducing a contrasting reservation, which fits praising the plan then noting a drawback. 'Hence' shows result and 'whereby' means 'by which'.
The findings are consistent ___ those of earlier studies in the field. Which preposition fits?
- a.with✓
- b.to
- c.for
- d.of
The adjective 'consistent' is followed by 'with' when comparing agreement between things. 'Consistent with' is the fixed pairing; the other prepositions do not follow 'consistent'.
___ all his wealth, he lived a strikingly modest life. Which phrase fits best?
- a.Owing to
- b.As for
- c.In case of
- d.For all✓
'For all' means 'despite', which fits the contrast between wealth and a modest life. 'Owing to' shows cause, and the other phrases do not signal this concessive meaning.
The author is often credited ___ pioneering the modern detective novel. Which preposition fits?
- a.for
- b.with✓
- c.of
- d.to
The passive 'be credited with' names the achievement attributed to someone: 'credited with pioneering'. 'Credit someone for' exists in other structures, but 'credited with + -ing' is standard here.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.Had I known the truth, I would tell you.
- b.Had I known the truth, I would have told you.✓
- c.Had I know the truth, I would have told you.
- d.Had I known the truth, I will have told you.
This inverted third conditional refers to the unreal past, so the main clause needs 'would have + past participle': 'would have told'. The inverted 'if' clause also requires the past participle 'known'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- a.The data suggests that the results is reliable.
- b.The data suggest that the results is reliable.
- c.The data suggests that the results are reliably.
- d.The data suggest that the results are reliable.✓
In formal usage 'data' is treated as plural ('data suggest'), and 'results' is plural ('results are'). The adjective 'reliable' describes the noun 'results', so 'reliably' would be wrong.
Which sentence uses 'whom' correctly?
- a.The candidate whom the panel selected withdrew.✓
- b.The candidate whom applied was selected.
- c.The candidate who the panel selected him withdrew.
- d.The candidate whom was selected withdrew.
'Whom' is correct as the object of 'selected': the panel selected the candidate. When the relative pronoun is the subject of its clause, 'who' is used instead, as in the incorrect options.
Which sentence avoids the misplaced modifier?
- a.Running for the bus, the umbrella was left behind by Sara.
- b.Running for the bus, the umbrella Sara left behind.
- c.Running for the bus, Sara left her umbrella behind.✓
- d.The umbrella running for the bus was left by Sara.
The introductory phrase 'Running for the bus' must attach to the person doing the running, so 'Sara' should follow it. Only 'Running for the bus, Sara left her umbrella behind' places the runner correctly.