Ninth Grade - Grammar Pretest

Multiple Choice 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Name: _____________________

A. Identify the Parts of Speech

Choose the answer option that identifies the italicized word or words in the sentence.

____ 1. John Stuart Mill was an oldest son.

a. noun
b. verb
c. adjective
d. pronoun
____ 2. His father was his only teacher.
a. noun
b. verb
c. adjective
d. pronoun
____ 3. He learned Greek before he was eight years old.
a. noun
b. verb
c. adjective
d. pronoun
____ 4. “I might not have enough hours for practice.”
a. conjunction
b. preposition
c. adverb
d. interjection

B. Classifying Sentences

Choose the answer option that identifies the structure of the sentence.

____ 5. She fills the cavity with cement, and the cement hardens into the shape of the roots.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound-complex
____ 6. They also study the gardens shown in paintings that decorated many houses of Pompeii.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound-complex
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 7. These paintings can suddenly disintegrate if they are exposed to rain, and some have been lost.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound-complex
____ 8. This loss saddens Jashemski.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound-complex
____ 9. However, the result of all this labor is that the gardens of Pompeii are coming alive again through
replantings.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound-complex

C. Identify the Prepositional Phrase

Choose the answer option that identifies the prepositional phrase or phrases in the sentence.

____ 10. The tires and gears on his bike were brand-new.
a. The tires and gears
b. and gears
c. on his bike
d. were brand-new
____ 11. The owner of the bike shop had given Hector’s ten-speed a complete tuneup.
a. The owner
b. of the bike shop
c. had given Hector’s ten-speed
d. a complete tuneup

D. Identify the Correct Type of Phrase

Choose the answer option that identifies the type of phrase that is italicized in each sentence.

____ 12. That man, the one with Mr. Hodgkin, is always happy.
a. participial phrase
b. gerund phrase
c. infinitive phrase
d. appositive phrase
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____ 13. I like baking bread because of its wonderful smell.

a. participial phrase
b. gerund phrase
c. infinitive phrase
d. appositive phrase
____ 14. My greatest wish is to become an artist.
a. participial phrase
b. gerund phrase
c. infinitive phrase
d. appositive phrase
____ 15. Hoping it wouldn’t rain, we made plans for the picnic.
a. participial phrase
b. gerund phrase
c. infinitive phrase
d. appositive phrase

E. Identifying Independent Clauses and Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses

Choose the answer option that classifies the italicized clause in each sentence as either an
independent clause or a dependent (subordinate) clause.

____ 16. Irving Berlin, who immigrated to the United States from Russia, became a great composer.
a. independent clause
b. dependent clause
____ 17. I remembered that I locked the apartment this morning.
a. independent clause
b. dependent clause
____ 18. It is an important number system to know because it is used by computers.
a. independent clause
b. dependent clause
____ 19. Please bring me the pitcher of juice that is in the refrigerator.
a. independent clause
b. dependent clause
____ 20. The concert that we attended last night was excellent.
a. independent clause
b. dependent clause

F. Classifying Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses

Choose the answer option that identifies the kind of dependent (subordinate) clause that is
italicized in each sentence.

____ 21. Whether Toshio intends to run again for the student senate is a secret.
a. noun clause
b. adjective clause
c. adverb clause
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 22. Flying squirrels, which glide rather than flap their arms, are an impressive sight.
a. noun clause
b. adjective clause
c. adverb clause
____ 23. When Mom goes on an emergency call, Anjan helps me cook dinner.
a. noun clause
b. adjective clause
c. adverb clause
____ 24. I thought that I should collect wood for a fire.
a. noun clause
b. adjective clause
c. adverb clause

G. Identify the Correct Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Choose the answer option that best completes the sentence.

____ 25. The least expensive bottles _____ have famous names on them.
a. doesn’t
b. don’t
____ 26. The committee _____ reached a decision.
a. has
b. have
____ 27. Who _____ the first settlers in this area?
a. was
b. were
____ 28. The frog and the rat _____ made of carved wood.
a. is
b. are
____ 29. Some of the nails _____ on the bottom shelf.
a. is
b. are
____ 30. Neither Luna nor Aretha _____ in Spanish as well as I do.
a. writes
b. write
____ 31. Many a decision _____ been made in haste.
a. has
b. have
____ 32. Paco and Larry have _____ models on display.
a. his
b. their
____ 33. Each of the women raised _____ hand to vote.
a. her
b. their
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 34. Either he or they _____ guilty.

a. is
b. are
____ 35. Economics _____ an interesting class.
a. is
b. are

H. Identify the Correct Pronoun

Choose the answer option that identifies the pronoun form that correctly completes each of the
following sentences.

____ 36. Lila sent both Josh and _____ an invitation.

a. I
b. me
____ 37. _____ Japanese eat fish at many meals.
a. We
b. Us
____ 38. He saw _____ and _____ at the game.
a. she, I
b. her, me
____ 39. Shantala was depending upon Harun and _____.
a. they
b. them
____ 40. Mrs. Daly handed _____ guests warm napkins.
a. our
b. ours
____ 41. Shannon explained _____ wove each rug.
a. who
b. whom

I. Identify the Correct Usage of the Word

Choose the answer option that identifies the correct word or words to complete each of the
following sentences.

____ 42. My mother has _____ the bricks down in a circular pattern.
a. lain
b. laid
____ 43. The whole family has _____ early so we can go to the silver fair in Taxco.
a. risen
b. raised
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 44. Hakeem spent _____ money at the market because he clipped coupons.
a. fewer
b. less
____ 45. My aunt Lucy walks a long _____ from her apartment to work.
a. ways
b. way
____ 46. Exercising has a positive _____ on my energy level.
a. affect
b. effect

J. Identify the Correct Capitalization

Choose the sentence in which all words are correctly capitalized.

____ 47. Choose the answer option that is correctly capitalized.

a. My Grandmother is taking me to hear it next month.
b. My grandmother is taking me to hear it next month.
c. my grandmother is taking me to hear it next month.
____ 48. Choose the answer option that is correctly capitalized.
a. She tried to persuade the Conductor of the orchestra to perform The Barber of
Seville.
b. She tried to persuade the conductor of the orchestra to perform The Barber of
Seville.
c. she tried to persuade the conductor of the orchestra to perform The barber of
Seville.
____ 49. Choose the answer option that is correctly capitalized.
a. I read about that opera in Stories Of The Operas.
b. I read about that opera in Stories of the Operas.
c. I read about that Opera in Stories of the Operas.
____ 50. Choose the answer option that is correctly capitalized.
a. According to Grandmother, the conductor, dr. park, was determined to perform
another work, Nixon in China, and he wouldn’t budge.
b. According to Grandmother, the Conductor, Dr. Park, was determined to perform
another work, Nixon in China, and he wouldn’t budge.
c. According to Grandmother, the conductor, Dr. Park, was determined to perform
another work, Nixon in China, and he wouldn’t budge.

K. Identify the Correct Use of Apostrophes, Quotation Marks, End Marks and Italics

Read each pair of items, and identify the item that is correctly punctuated.

____ 51. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.

a. the article “Yesterday is Gone”
b. the article Yesterday is Gone
____ 52. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.
a. the book “Starting Out”
b. the book Starting Out
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 53. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.

a. Who said, “You may?”
b. Who said, “You may”?
____ 54. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.
a. “Ouch” she said!
b. “Ouch!” she said.

L. Identify the Correct Use of Punctuation

Read each sentence, and decide which answer option is punctuated correctly with commas,
semicolons, and colons.

____ 55. My brother was accepted at Troy State University his first choice
a. My brother was accepted at Troy State University, his first choice.
b. My brother was accepted at Troy State University: his first choice
c. My brother was accepted at Troy State University, his first choice
____ 56. There were many layoffs in the following industries transportation manufacturing and real estate
a. There were many layoffs in the following industries, transportation,
manufacturing, and real estate.
b. There were many layoffs in the following industries: transportation manufacturing,
and real estate.
c. There were many layoffs in the following industries: transportation,
manufacturing, and real estate.
____ 57. Yes I brought pencil and paper and a calculator and a ruler
a. Yes I brought pencil and paper and a calculator and a ruler.
b. Yes, I brought pencil and paper and a calculator and a ruler.
c. Yes I brought pencil, and paper, and a calculator, and a ruler.
____ 58. Harold will conduct the interviews Francine will meet the managers and Charles will guide the plant
tour
a. Harold will conduct the interviews, Francine will meet the managers, and Charles
will guide the plant tour.
b. Harold will conduct the interviews, Francine will meet the managers and Charles
will guide the plant tour.
c. Harold will conduct the interviews, Francine will meet the managers and, Charles
will guide the plant tour.
____ 59. Her low soft whisper could not be heard in the big noisy room
a. Her low soft whisper could not be heard in the big, noisy room
b. Her low, soft whisper could not be heard in the big, noisy room.
c. Her low, soft, whisper could not be heard in the big, noisy, room.
____ 60. The Tlingit wore a mask of which this is a reproduction only during special ceremonies
a. The Tlingit wore a mask, of which this is a reproduction, only during special
ceremonies.
b. The Tlingit wore a mask of which this is a reproduction, only during special
ceremonies.
c. The Tlingit, wore a mask of which this is a reproduction, only during special
ceremonies.
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

____ 61. Please try to arrive before dark otherwise call ahead
a. Please try to arrive before dark; otherwise call ahead.
b. Please try to arrive before dark; otherwise, call ahead.
c. Please try to arrive before dark, otherwise, call ahead.

M. Identify the Correct Use of Contractions and the Possessive

Read each pair of items, and identify the item that is correctly punctuated.

____ 62. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.

a. their song
b. they’re song
____ 63. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.
a. Its a sunny day!
b. It’s a sunny day!
____ 64. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.
a. the childrens’ toys
b. the children’s toys
____ 65. Choose the answer option that is correctly punctuated.
a. Your welcome.
b. You’re welcome.

N. Identifying Fragments and Run-ons

Choose the answer option that correctly identifies the sentence as a fragment, run-on or
complete sentence.

____ 66. Even though I was tired

a. Fragment
b. Run-on
c. Complete Sentence
____ 67. He asked for a raise she got it.
a. Fragment
b. Run-on
c. Complete Sentence
____ 68. She is a good mother she pays attention to her children
a. Fragment
b. Run-on
c. Complete Sentence
____ 69. When Alex calls.
a. Fragment
b. Run-on
c. Complete Sentence
____ 70. He laughed.
a. Fragment
b. Run-on
c. Complete Sentence
 10th Grade Study Skills JMBiddle

Ninth Grade - Grammar Pretest

Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: A PTS: 1
2. ANS: C PTS: 1
3. ANS: D PTS: 1
4. ANS: B PTS: 1
5. ANS: B PTS: 1
6. ANS: C PTS: 1
7. ANS: D PTS: 1
8. ANS: A PTS: 1
9. ANS: C PTS: 1
10. ANS: C PTS: 1
11. ANS: B PTS: 1
12. ANS: D PTS: 1
13. ANS: B PTS: 1
14. ANS: C PTS: 1
15. ANS: A PTS: 1
16. ANS: B PTS: 1
17. ANS: B PTS: 1
18. ANS: A PTS: 1
19. ANS: A PTS: 1
20. ANS: B PTS: 1
21. ANS: A PTS: 1
22. ANS: B PTS: 1
23. ANS: C PTS: 1
24. ANS: A PTS: 1
25. ANS: B PTS: 1
26. ANS: A PTS: 1
27. ANS: B PTS: 1
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29. ANS: B PTS: 1
30. ANS: A PTS: 1
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40. ANS: A PTS: 1
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42. ANS: B PTS: 1
43. ANS: A PTS: 1
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44. ANS: B PTS: 1

45. ANS: B PTS: 1
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48. ANS: B PTS: 1
49. ANS: B PTS: 1
50. ANS: C PTS: 1
51. ANS: A PTS: 1
52. ANS: B PTS: 1
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54. ANS: B PTS: 1
55. ANS: A PTS: 1
56. ANS: C PTS: 1
57. ANS: B PTS: 1
58. ANS: A PTS: 1
59. ANS: B PTS: 1
60. ANS: A PTS: 1
61. ANS: B PTS: 1
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66. ANS: A PTS: 1
67. ANS: B PTS: 1
68. ANS: B PTS: 1
69. ANS: A PTS: 1
70. ANS: C PTS: 1