writing questions (blue book)

<p>1.Surface mining is safer, quicker, and cheaper than deep mining, but the greater is its toll in human misery.</p>

<p>B) it has a greater human misery toll
E) its toll in human misery is greater</p>

<p>Why is that answer E instead of B?</p>

<p>2.Trees are able to collect large amounts of water from fog–in some areas as much as thirty inches annually.</p>

<p>A) in some areas as much as thirty inches annually
E) which in some areas amounts to thirty inches collected annually</p>

<p>Why is the answer A instead of E?</p>

<p>3.As patients, the medical directors of the clinic believe that you are entitled to know the reason for the increase in fees.</p>

<p>A) As patients, the medical directors of the clinic believe that you
E) The medical directors of the clinic believe that as patients,you</p>

<p>4.The scientific writings of Edward O. Wilson, Stephen Jay Gould, and Richard Dawkins, which has continued the discussion of genetic issues raised by Charles Darwin, are familiar to many high school and college students. No error</p>

<p>Why is the answer B and not E?</p>

<li>The governor’s aides are convinced that the announcement of the investigation coming just days before the filling deadline, were calculated to discourage the governor from running for reelection. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Why is the answer C?</p>

<li>Air pollution caused by industrial fumes has been studied for years, but only recently has the harmful effects of noise pollution become known. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Why is the answer C?</p>

<li>Contrasting with most other fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings could count on the support of the aristocracy in any overseas ventures. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Why is the answer A rather than B?</p>

<ol>
<li>I don’t think either of them are technically incorrect, but “human misery toll” sounds awkward.</li>
<li>They’re both correct, but A is shorter. Answers with unnecessary words are generally wrong.</li>
<li>For this one A is definitely wrong. Since the sentence begins with the modifier “as patients,” the next word should be “you” or something–as is, the sentence implies that the medical directors are the patients.</li>
<li>Subject is “writings,” plural; should be “have continued.”</li>
<li>Subject is “announcement,” singular; should be “was calculated.”</li>
<li>The verb goes with “harmful effects,” which is plural, so C should be “have.”</li>
<li>B sounds colloquial but it’s technically correct…I’m not sure of the problem with A though. Maybe it should be “In contrast to?”</li>
</ol>

<p>for the last one, it should be contrasting to. its like one of those idoms which you just have to memorize</p>