GMAT SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The same few grammatical errors come up over and over again in the GMAT Sentence Correction questions. The first thing a good test-taker does when faced with such a question is to determine which of these errors the sentence contains. Similarly, the first thing a good test-taker does to prepare for the Sentence Correction questions is to learn what the common errors are and how to recognize them.
One common error is an adverb or adjective that does not clearly modify the correct phrase. The modifier might be a single word or a longer phrase, and it could show up anywhere in the sentence. However, one structure in particular suggests a problem with a modifying phrase.
If the sentence begins with an adjective or adverb clause, followed by a main clause, the first thing a good test-taker does is to check whether the first clause correctly modifies what it is supposed to. If the sentence opens with an adjective clause, does that clause correctly modify the subject (the first noun) of the main clause? If the sentence opens with an adverb clause, does that clause correctly modify the main clause? Does it describe an action taken by the subject?
Below you will find five sentence correction questions. Each begins with a modifying clause. The questions get harder from 1 to 5; this is NOT the way the real computer-based GMAT is arranged. Click on the letter of your chosen answer to see how you did. Try again as often as you like.
Question 1
| Emboldened by a history of success in rancorous partisan disputes, it was decided by the congresswoman to attack her opponents at the earliest opportunity. | |
| A | it was decided by the congresswoman to attack her opponents at the earliest opportunity. |
| B | the decision of the congresswoman was to attack her opponents at the earliest opportunity. |
| C | the congresswoman decided to attack her opponents at the earliest opportunity. |
| D | her opponents were attacked at the earliest opportunity by the congresswoman. |
| E | an attack was launched at her opponents at the earliest opportunity by the congresswoman. |
Question 2
| Based on modern standards of research and record-keeping, Gregor Mendel's reports of his experiments with peas were partial, both in the sense that they excluded important results, and in the sense that this exclusion was designed to cast Mendel's theory in the best possible light. | |
| A | Based on modern standards of research and record-keeping |
| B | Basing them on modern research and record-keeping's standards |
| C | With modern standards of research and record-keeping used as a basis |
| D | By modern standards of research and record-keeping |
| E | Using modern standards of research and record-keeping |
Question 3
| Master seafarers, thousands of miles of open seas were traveled by the ancient Polynesians. | |
| A | Thousands of miles of open seas were traveled by the ancient Polynesians. |
| B | With no navigational equipment, thousands of miles across open seas were traveled by the ancient Polynesians. |
| C | The ancient Polynesians traveled thousands of miles across open seas with no navigational equipment. |
| D | Thousands of miles of open sea were traveled with no navigational equipment by the ancient Polynesians. |
| E | Were the ancient Polynesians who, with no navigational equipment, traveled thousands of miles across open seas. |
Question 4
| Although heavier and more powerful than their predecessors, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the newest hybrid cars are also more fuel-efficient. | |
| A | Although heavier and more powerful |
| B | Although they are heavier and more powerful |
| C | Heavier and more powerful |
| D | Being heavier and more powerful |
| E | Having been heavier and more powerful |
Question 5
| Using digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos, music with no tinny, synthesized sound can be made on relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards. | |
| A | Using digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos, music with no tinny, synthesized sound can be made on relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards. |
| B | Music with no tinny, synthesized using digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos sound can be made on relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards. |
| C | Making music with no tinny, synthesized sound, relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards use digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos. |
| D | On relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards, music can be made using digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos. |
| E | Using digital samples of tones produced by the best acoustic grand pianos, relatively inexpensive electronic keyboards can make music with no tinny, synthesized sound. |
