WRITING AND LANGUAGE DRILL 3: ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
1. D Notice that the length of the phrase is changing in the answer choices. Some of the answer
choices have extra words, which indicates that the question is testing concision. Because the
words famous and well-known are synonyms, it would be redundant to use both. Choose the
most concise answer, which eliminates this redundancy. Choice (D) is correct.
2. B Since the verb is changing in the answer choices, the question is testing subject-verb agreement.
First, find the subject. Readers is the subject of the sentence, which is plural. The verb will
need to be consistent with that subject. Eliminate (A). The remaining options are all plural, but
only (B) is concise and consistent with the meaning of the sentence, which makes it the correct
answer.
3. B When the use of pronouns changes in the answer choices, the question is usually testing
precision. It is unclear who many of them, they, and some are. Only (B) precisely identifies
readers as the subject. Choice (B) is the correct answer.
4. C Notice that verb tense is changing in the answer choices. The word could precedes the
underlined portion, so in order to be consistent with the sentence, the verb should be in its base
form. Eliminate (A) and (D). Otherwise, could can be followed by have, not of. Eliminate (B).
Choice (C) is the correct answer.
5. B The question asks for the best placement of the underlined portion, which is a reference to
Tolstoy’s other novels and writings. Therefore, its best placement is next to the mention of one
of his novels: War and Peace. Of the answer choices, (B) does this the best. Choice (B) is the
correct answer.
6. A Notice that verb tense changing in the answer choices. The subject of the sentence is
Shakespeare, a playwright from the past. Therefore, to remain consistent with the sentence, use
past tense. Eliminate (B), (C), and (D) because they use verbs in the present tense. Choice (A)
is correct.
7. A The description of Tolstoy’s time is changing in the answer choices. The sentence refers to
Tolstoy’s vast study. The only answer choice that is consistent with the idea of a vast study is
(A), which is the correct answer.
8. C Again, notice that verb tense changing in the answer choices. The sentence here refers to
Tolstoy, a writer from the past. Therefore, to remain consistent with the sentence, use past tense.
Eliminate (A) and (D). Because the sentence is remarking on Tolstoy’s ability to learn so much,
the use of the word could is most consistent with the meaning of the sentence. Choice (C) is the
correct answer.
9. B The question asks whether the phrase since Tolstoy’s death should be deleted. The phrase is
consistent with the content of the paragraph and precisely identifies the time period in question.
