Coordinating Ideas Quiz
Welcome to our latest blog post on mastering the art of coordinating ideas for standardized tests! Whether you're preparing for the SAT, ACT, EST, or another major exam, it's crucial to know how to effectively coordinate your thoughts and present them in a clear and concise manner. In this post, we'll be providing you with a quiz that will help you test your understanding of coordinating ideas and give you tips on how to improve your skills. So, whether you're a student looking to ace your next exam or a teacher searching for new ways to help your students succeed, be sure to read on and take our coordinating ideas quiz!
1/6
Director H. K. Schaffer’s third movie has received widespread critical acclaim. This movie is entitled The Return, and she is the daughter of legendary playwright George Schaffer.
NO CHANGE
The Return, the third movie directed by H. K. Schaffer, daughter of legendary playwright George Schaffer, has received widespread critical acclaim.
The daughter of legendary playwright George Schaffer, director H. K. Schaffer’s third movie, The Return, has received widespread critical acclaim.
H. K. Schaffer’s third movie is The Return: as the daughter of legendary playwright George Schaffer, her movie has received widespread critical acclaim.
Explanation: The original sequence of sentences is not logically coordinated. Choice B coordinates the ideas logically by emphasizing the central idea (that The Return has received widespread acclaim) in the main clause, and relegating the minor facts to modifying phrases. In choice C, the introductory modifying phrase does not logically modify the subject of the main clause. In choice D, the colon is misused and the prepositional phrase does not logically modify anything in the sentence.
2/6
Neuroscientists have made an important discovery concerning the prefrontal cortex of the brain. They discovered that this governs impulse control in humans. This discovery can help us to understand the causes of criminal behavior.
NO CHANGE
have discovered that impulse control in humans is governed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which can help us
have discovered that the prefrontal cortex of the brain governs impulse control in humans, which in turn can help us
have discovered that impulse control in humans is governed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This finding can help us
Explanation: The original set of sentences should be combined because they all relate one key idea about a common topic. Choices B and C are incorrect because, in both cases, the interrogative pronoun which has no logical antecedent. Choice D is best because it consolidates the first two sentences effectively, and clarifies the subject of the last clause.
3/6
Electric cars may not be as environmentally friendly as we think, because the electricity they use is often produced in coal-burning power plants, this can produce large quantities of greenhouse gas.
NO CHANGE
the burning of which
which
which, when it burns,
Explanation: The original sentence commits a comma splice because the clause following the comma qualifies as an independent clause. Also, the pronoun this lacks a logical antecedent. Choice B is illogical because the power plants are not being burned. Choice C is best because a clause whose subject is which is no longer independent, so the comma splice problem is fixed. Additionally, which can logically refer to the plural noun power plants. Choice D is incorrect because it lacks a logical antecedent.
4/6
Regular exercise not only strengthens your muscles, it also strengthens your brain by keeping it well-oxygenated.
NO CHANGE
muscles; by keeping it well-oxygenated it also strengthens your brain
muscles, but also it oxygenates your brain to make it strong
muscles, but also strengthens your brain by keeping it well-oxygenated
Explanation: The original sentence contains a standard parallel construction not only A but also B. However, choices A, B, and C do not use standard idiomatic phrasing. Additionally, in both B and C, the two instances of the pronoun it refer to different antecedents. Only choice D avoids redundancy and uses standard idiomatic phrasing.
5/6
Widely regarded as one of the most influential economic treatises of the 20th century, John Maynard Keynes’ The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money forever changed the way social scientists view recessions.
NO CHANGE
John Maynard Keynes, with his book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money,
The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money was written by John Maynard Keynes, which
John Maynard Keynes, through his book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, which
Explanation: The original phrasing is best. The sentence begins with a participial phrase, which must coordinate with the main clause by sharing its subject. This participle describes a treatise, so the subject of the main clause must be the book, not Keynes, therefore choices B and D are incorrect. Choice C is incorrect because the interrogative pronoun which does not coordinate logically with the antecedent Keynes.
6/6
Our principles can change, but these are often what motivate us: our experiences affect our priorities and deepest values.
NO CHANGE
experiences affect our priorities: our principles often motivate us and can change our
principles can change, and they are often what motivate us: our experiences affect our priorities and
principles are often what motivate us, but they can change: our experiences affect our priorities and
Explanation: A colon before an independent clause indicates that this clause explains the one preceding it. In choices A, C, and D, the clause after the colon is the same: our experiences affect our priorities and deepest values. What does this explain? It does not explain the fact that our principles motivate us, so choices A and C are incorrect. It does, however, explain how our principles can change, so D provides a logical phrasing. Choice B is incorrect because the fact that our principles often motivate us does not explain the fact that our experiences affect our priorities.
