39Notice the switch from the gerunds “chewing” and “carrying” to the infinitive “to chew.” Something is not quite
parallel. To chew needs to be chewing to fix the Parallelism error. ETS has also thrown in an “it,” which we like
to avoid whenever possible.
(B) “relating” looks good, and “connecting” looks good, but the sentence should read
relating IS not relating ARE. ETS added a SVA error.
(C) chewing, relating, connecting – I’d say we are all parallel!
(D) where is the “one” all of a sudden coming from? This option is way wordy
and also seems to affect the meaning of the sentence.
(E) This option is wordy and confusing. Why insert a “you”? And how do you
USE chewing?
Revised Sentence:
Although chewing gum while carrying on a
conversation was once considered rude, teenagers
have now found that chewing the same flavor gum
during conversation makes relating and connecting
easier for many young people.
Correct Answer: (C)
- Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist leader, was an
opponent of slavery, a supporter of social reform,
and a master of political oratory.
(A) was an opponent of slavery, a supporter of social
reform, and a master of
(B) was an opponent of slavery, a supporter of social
reform, and he mastered
(C) was an opponent of slavery, a supporter of social
reform, and mastering
(D) was an opponent of slavery, supported social
reform, and a master of
(E) opposed slavery, was a supporter of social
reform, masteringThe sentence is correct as written, (an opponent, a supporter, and a master) but the comma series and the other
answer choices should clue you in to the fact that ETS is testing Parallelism.
(B) he mastered (mastered is a verb) is not parallel to an opponent of slavery and a supporter
of social reform. (Opponent and supporter are both nouns.)
(C) mastering (verb) is not parallel to an opponent and a supporter (nouns).
(D) supported social reform (supported is a verb) is not parallel to an opponent and a master.
(Opponent and master are nouns.)
(E) was a supporter of social reform is wordy; supported social reform is the better option.
Mastering creates a dependent clause and thus a Sentence Fragment error, and changes the
meaning of the sentence.
Correct Answer: (A)