Many people confuse whether and if, but theres a clear and easy way to keep it straight.

"Whether [or not] is

used when there are only two alternatives-- the whether and the not; if is used with conditional or
hypothetical situations. Here, students either will or wont continue to vacation in the state, so this is properly a
whether situation. (Note that the or not can be implied rather than stated.)

Next, as written, their refers to the students, but the restrictions certainly dont belong to the spring breakers!
"Their" cant be correct. And finally, looking at the remaining two whether choices, some ambiguous pronouns
can help make the right answer more apparent.

Ordinances prohibiting alcohol consumption and limiting noise levels on municipal beaches have been passed in
several cities throughout the state; the concern of beachfront businesses is whether students on spring break will
continue to vacation in our state and patronize our beaches after their restrictions are enacted.
Choices
A
whether students on spring break will continue to vacation in our state and patronize our beaches after their
restrictions are
This is not the credited choice. "Whether" is correct, but the restrictions dont belong to the students, as their
suggests.

B
whether students on spring break will continue to vacation in our state to patronize one once their restrictions are
This is not the credited choice. One should refer to a beach, but as this is written, it could refer to a state, a
student, or a beachfront business.

C
whether students on spring break will continue to vacation in our state to patronize our beaches once the cities
restrictions have been
This is the credited response. This variant correctly uses whether to note the two-alternative situation, and it
contains no ambiguous pronouns. Note that, as this sentence is written, "to vacation...to patronize" is acceptable.
D
if students on spring break will continue to vacation in our state and patronize our beaches once the cities
restrictions are

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice.If denotes a hypothetical or conditional situation, which this is not. It does, though,
eliminate ambiguous pronouns.

E
if students on spring break will continue to vacation in our state to patronize one after the cities restrictions have
been
This is not the credited choice.If denotes a hypothetical or conditional situation, which this is not. Theres also no
way to know what one refers to with certainty.

Comments About This Question

Proper verb tense and concise, clear wording are the keys to this sentence. The rest of the sentence is in the
present tense, so the underlined portion should be as well, with "seemed" replaced with "seem." Also, the sentence
compares "the medieval invention of playing cards" with the "thousands of unique games," so those two phrases
should be as parallel and concise as possible. Eliminating unnecessary words helps to achieve this.

What seemed as remarkable as the medieval invention of playing cards are the thousands upon thousands of
unique games that are shared by a worldwide audience.
Choices
A
What seemed as remarkable as the medieval invention of playing cards
This is not the credited choice. This uses the past tense "seemed," which doesn't agree with "are."
B
No less remarkable than the medieval invention of playing cards
This is the credited choice. It is the most clear, concise, and parallel way to introduce the comparison.

C
The concept that had been as remarkable as the medieval invention of playing cards
This is not the credited choice. It uses the wrong tense and is extremely wordy.
D
The medieval invention of playing cards has been nonetheless remarkable than
This is not the credited choice. "Nonetheless remarkable than" is incorrect.

E
Medieval invention of playing cards was just as remarkable as

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice. It uses the wrong tense and the omission of "the" before "medieval invention"
doesn't work. Most importantly, the meaning of the sentence has been completely changed.

Comments About This Question

This question tests your knowledge and phrases, and the proper way to introduce them. Clauses have subjects and
verbs and are introduced by conjunctions or relative pronouns. Phrases do NOT have subjects and verbs and are
often introduced by prepositions. The preposition like, not the conjunction as, should introduce the underlined
phrase.

Over a century ago, a prescient educator discovered that children simultaneously process information through
multiple sensory channels, as a multitude of rivers flowing into the ocean.
Choices
A
as a multitude of rivers flowing into the ocean
This is not the credited choice. As incorrectly introduces the phrase when like is required.
B
like a multitude of rivers flowing into the ocean
This is the credited choice. The preposition like properly introduces the phrase.

C
as a multitude of rivers do that flow into the ocean
This is not the credited choice. The simile creates an image that is not real; the use of the verb do suggests that
the rivers movement is a reality.

D
like a multitude of rivers do that flow into the ocean
This is not the credited choice. Like here incorrectly introduces a clause (with the verb "do"). Furthermore, the
verb do indicates a reality rather than an imagined image.

E
as do the multitude of rivers that flow into that ocean

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice. It suggests an actual action happening at a specific time rather than an imaginary
simile.
This question primarily tests your ability to construct a sentence in parallel grammatical construction. Note that the
women are choosing one thing instead of another. These items need to be expressed in the same grammatical
form.

This question is also testing your ability to choose the best verb forms for the multiple actions being described. The
action that the women perform is one that started in the past ("within the last decade") but continues into the
present ("take"). Therefore, it is best to use the present perfect tense "have chosen" instead of "had chosen."

A new employment analysis has revealed that within the last decade, more women had chosen childcare programs
rather than quit their jobs or take extended time off work after having a child.
Choices
A
had chosen childcare programs rather than quit

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice. The verb "had chosen" is incorrect because in implies a complete past action, but
the sentence's context implies that the action started in the past but is ongoing. The phrase "within the last
decade" is your contextual clue. The form "have chosen" should instead be used.

B
had chosen to use childcare programs instead of quitting
This is not the credited choice because it contains errors in verb tense and parallel structure. The verb "had chosen"
implies a complete past action, but the phrase "within the last decade" lets you know that this action is ongoing.
The verb "have chosen" would correct this error. Note also that the verbs setting up the comparison are "to use"
and "quitting." In order for this sentence to achieve parallel structure, these verbs need to be in the same
grammatical form.
C
have chosen using childcare programs instead of quitting
This is not the credited choice. Even though the verb "have chosen" is correct because it correctly implies an
ongoing action, this sentence contains an error in parallelism. The answer choice looks like it could be correct
because the first two verbs, "using" and "quitting" appear in the same grammatical format, but they are not
consistent with the final verb "take."
D
have chosen to use childcare programs rather than quitting
This is not the credited choice. The verbs in this choice are not grammatically parallel. "To use" is not in the same
grammatical format as "quitting." Therefore, this sentence does not achieve parallelism.
E
have chosen to use childcare programs rather than quit
This is the credited choice. In this sentence, the subject "women" agrees with the plural verb "have chosen. The
sentence also achieves a grammatically parallel structure because the actions being compared all occur in the
same grammatical format. The verbs "to use," "quit," and "take" are all infinitive forms of the verb; the "to" is
implied in the final two.

Argument: For toilet seat sales to the government, price is calculated as past price plus a percentage increase
based on inflation.

Question: What is the best criticism of this formula? Which choice identifies a weakness in the scheme?

A principle called cost-plus is used to calculate the price that the government pays when buying standard toilet
seats from longstanding suppliers. Cost-plus is a formula which adds to the prior years price a certain percentage
increase, based on current inflation rates, thus letting suppliers maintain profit margins.
Question
Which of the following, if true, is the strongest reason for criticism of the cost-plus pricing system as an
economically sound method of paying government contractors?
Choices
A
The state may continue to pay for inefficient purchases made in the past.
This is the credited choice. The price is last years price plus inflation adjustments; if past years prices were
excessive, then all later years prices will include that waste.
B
The inflation rate has fluctuated greatly over the last decade.

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice because it is contradictory. If inflation varies widely, then costing becomes more
reasonable, because adjusting increases for inflation keeps high inflation rates from eroding the buying power of the
suppliers profits, while requiring less price growth in periods when prices are unchanged.
C
The price will be determined largely by the cost of the raw materials.
This is not the credited choice because it is contradictory. If the price is determined largely by raw material costs
(and if we assume materials costs also increase with inflation), then the formula reflects costs reasonably, so
costing would keep suppliers profit margins from being eroded by unexpectedly high inflation.

D
Many taxpayer groups are outraged at the sums the government spends on toilet seats.
This is not the credited choice because it is irrelevant. Taxpayer opinion does not affect the formulas fairness.
E
Cost-plus is based on past, historical prices, so it might not encourage improvements in toilet seat design.
This is not the credited choice because it is irrelevant. It mentions innovative toilets seats, but the passage is
limited to discussing standard toilet seats.

Comments About This Question

This question tests your ability to recognize and correct an agreement error. The "apartment rental company" is a
singular entity; therefore, the pronouns that refer to it must also be singular. Pronouns must agree with their
antecedents (the nouns to which they refer) in gender, case, and number.

The new law stipulates that an apartment rental company disclose to their tenants how far in advance they will
require notice of an intent to vacate the property.
Choices
A
that an apartment rental company disclose to their tenants how far in advance they will require notice of an intent
to vacate the property
This is not the credited choice. The pronouns "their" and "they" are plural; therefore, they do not correctly refer to
the singular "apartment rental company."
B
an apartment rental company to disclose to their tenants how far in advance they will require notice of an intent to
vacate the properties
This is not the credited choice because it contains errors in pronoun agreement and structure. The plural pronouns
"their" and "they" do not correctly refer to the singular antecedent "apartment rental company." The word "that" is
omitted from this sentence; the omission creates confusion of ideas because the word "that" would help clarify the
introduction of a subordinate clause.

C
that an apartment rental company disclose to its tenants how far in advance it will require notice of an intent to
vacate a property
This is the credited choice In this sentence, the singular pronouns "its" and "it" both correctly refer to the singular
antecedent, "apartment rental company." This sentence is organized in a clear and grammatically correct way.
D
an apartment rental company should disclose to its tenants how far in advance it will require notice of an intent to
vacate someones property
This is not the credited choice. The omission of the word "that" creates confusion because the phrase "stipulates an
apartment rental company should disclose" is unclear. The word "that" would help organize this sentence's ideas
more clearly into a main and a subordinate clause.
E
that apartment rental companies disclose to tenants how far in advance notice of an intent to vacate a property is
required

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice because this sentence is in passive voice. In this instance, the passive voice makes
the sentence's meaning hard to determine because who or what is performing the action remains unclear. A better
choice will express this sentence's ideas in the active voice.

Conjunctions such as "and" are used to construct series of items -- in this case, the simple diet of bears. It is
structurally weak to construct a series with "and" and then add something extra at the end with another "and."

The series here could be viewed "mathematically" as F, N & B, E, and G, and S. Everything is fine with this series
(including the series within the series -- the nuts and berries joined by "and") except for the last part: the salmon
"tacked on" with that extra "and." Additionally, the series is about the simple diet of bears -- salmon, being
something that requires a certain amount of predation and that can be seen as more of a "delicacy," does not
logically belong as part of this series. Thus, the credited response here will join "salmon" to the series in a way that
subordinates "salmon."

Bears are sometimes viewed as vicious predators, but they are actually omnivores, not strict carnivores, and their
diet is simple, consisting mostly of fruits, nuts and berries, eggs, and grub worms, and salmon occasionally.
Choices
A
and salmon occasionally

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice. As explained above, joining "salmon" to the series with an additional "and" is
grammatically unsound and illogical.

B
and salmon is occasionally
This is not the credited choice. It makes the same error with the conjunction "and." Furthermore, it doesn't complete
its statement: "salmon is... what?" Likewise, the adverb has nothing that it can logically modify.

C
with salmon as occasional
This is not the credited choice. It does use "with," a connector that is more subordinate than "and." However, like
(B) this choice doesn't complete its statement: "salmon as... what?" And, also as in (B), the adjective here has
nothing it can modify.
D
salmon an occasional meal
This is not the credited choice. It would be acceptable except for the absence of a connector: "salmon an occasional
meal" is not joined to the sentence in any way.
 E
with salmon as an occasional meal
This is the credited response. "With" is properly used as a connector weaker than the conjunction "and," and the
statement here is complete: "salmon as an occasional meal."

Comments About This Question

question tests your ability to identify and correct a verb form error. The infrequently used subjunctive form of the
verb is necessary here. When a subordinate clause (a "that" clause, in this case) follows a verb such as demand,
require, ask, or recommend, the subjunctive form of the verb should be used in the clause. The subjunctive form of
the verb is formed from the base of the verb ("pay," for example, from the infinitive "to pay"). Therefore, the correct
use of the subjunctive in this sentence appears in the phrase "residents who required that it pay..."

In one of the most surprising decisions in the history of Wardsville, the lumber company in the summer of 1994
responded to hundreds of angry residentsrequiring that it should pay restitution for selling faulty boards.
Choices
A
requiring that it should
This is not the credited choice. The construction requires a subjunctive verb; therefore, the "should" form of the
verb is incorrect.

B
requiring it to

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice for several reasons. The phrase "requiring it to" is not grammatically correct. The
word "that" needs to be added in order to construct a subordinate clause that employs the subjunctive tense. The
context of the sentence suggests that the action happened in the past (the summer of 1994), so a past tense form
of "requiring" is preferred.
C
and their requirement to
This is not the credited choice. The word resident already clarifies who is requiring the restitution, so the addition of
the pronoun "their" is redundant. This construction should be simplified to express the same ideas more clearly.
D
who required it to
This is the credited response. The verb is correctly used in active voice. The past tense "required" is consistent with
the sentence's context, which implies this past action.
E
who required for it to
This is not the credited choice. The words "for" and "to" are unnecessary. They contribute to wordiness and
confusion in this sentence.

rst, use the generally-easier-to-fix parallelism error: What are the mentioned groups doing? 1) touting, and 2)
encouraging. Since we can't change "touting" (because it isn't underlined), we need "encouraging" to match. This
reduces the field to A and B.

Next, we must thoroughly understand the differences between adjectives and adverbs. Progressively, like most
words ending in -ly, is an adverb, and-- as such-- may describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Progressive, the adjective variant, can describe a noun or a pronoun. Surely the author didnt intend to better
as a verb modified by progressively; that would be redundant. The author must have meant that the people s/he
mentioned see research as a means to progressive fuels that are better than previous fuels, and, as a result, they
are touting it as such and encouraging investment to further that end.

Increasingly in recent times, environmentalists, economists, and politicians are touting research as a means to
better fuels progressively and encouraginginvestment in green technologies.
Choices
A
to better fuels progressively and encouraging

Your answer was incorrect

This is not the credited choice. "To better...progressively" is redundant: progressively should be progressive and
should modify fuels, not to better.
B
to better progressive fuels and encouraging
This is the credited response. This choice contains the correctly parallel touting... and encouraging, and
progressive correctly modifies fuels.
C
of better fuels progressively and encourage
This is not the credited choice. As a means of better is idiomatically incorrect, progressively is redundant (it
should be progressive and modify fuels), and encourage does not parallel touting.
D
of better progressive fuels and encourage
This is not the credited choice. As a means of better is idiomatically incorrect, and encourage does not parallel
touting.
E
for better progressive fuels and the encouragement of
This is not the credited choice. As a means for is idiomatically incorrect, and the encouragement of does not
parallel touting.

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