The old woman advised her granddaughter, "If you wish to be happy and wise, _____."
A. do not neglect to read good books daily.
B. one ought never neglect reading good books daily.
C. neglect not to read good books daily.
D. never neglect reading good books daily.
The correct answer is: D
Rationale: The sentence requires a direct imperative, which is option D.
While the hikers _____ the mountain path, they _____ a rare species of wildflower.
A. were ascending, discovered
B. ascended, had discovered
C. had ascended, have discovered
D. had been ascending, discovered
The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The actions happened concurrently in the past, so the past continuous tense is appropriate for both verbs.
_____ I known about the surprise party, I would have brought a gift.
A. Had
B. Should
C. Would
D. Did
The correct answer is: A
Rationale: This sentence expresses a hypothetical past condition and its result, requiring the past perfect subjunctive ("had known").
Despite _____ for hours, the sculptor was unable to capture the essence of her subject.
A. having toiled
B. toiling
C. to have toiled
D. having been toiled
The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The perfect gerund ("having toiled") is needed to express an action completed before the main verb ("was unable").
The professor, _____ research has revolutionized the field of genetics, will be giving a lecture this evening.
A. who
B. whom
C. whose
D. which
The correct answer is: C
Rationale: "Whose" is the possessive form needed to modify "research."
Neither the students nor the teacher _____ aware of the fire alarm malfunction.
A. was
B. were
C. have been
D. has been
The correct answer is: A
Rationale: "Neither...nor" constructions take a singular verb to agree with the closest subject ("teacher").
The jury _____ its verdict after only two hours of deliberation.
A. have reached
B. has reached
C. had reached
D. is reaching
The correct answer is: B
Rationale: "Jury" is a collective noun that takes a singular verb ("has reached").
The novel, _____ last year, has already been translated into several languages.
A. that was published
B. which was published
C. published
D. it was published
The correct answer is: C
Rationale: The past participle phrase ("published") functions as a reduced relative clause modifying "novel."
The antique vase, once belonging to a king, _____ a high price at the auction.
A. fetched
B. had fetched
C. was fetching
D. has fetched
The correct answer is: A
Rationale: The action ("fetched") occurred and was completed in the past, requiring the simple past tense.
The children were excited _____ their cousins from out of town.
A. to seeing
B. to see
C. having seen
D. to have seen
The correct answer is: B
Rationale: The adjective "excited" is followed by the infinitive form of the verb ("to see").