Sara Sellers

ENGL 3201 Grammar

Spring 2014
Final Exam
First, underline the main verb in each sentence. Then circle the nominalizations. Finally,
improve them by revising to create clearer characters and actions. Write the new sentence
below the original one. (4 points each)
1. Attempts were made on the part of the presidents aides to assert his immunity
from a congressional subpoena.

The presidents aides attempted to assert his immunity from congressional subpoena.

2. Your analysis of my report omits any data in support of your criticism of my

findings.
You analyzed my report, but failed to support any of my findings you criticized.

3. A papal appeal was made to the worlds rich nations for assistance to those
facing the threat of African starvation.

The worlds rich nations made a papal appear to assist those facing the threat of African
starvation.

4. The agreement by the class on the reading list was based on the assumption
that there would be tests on only certain selections.

The class agreed on a reading list by assuming that there would be tests on only certain
selections.

5. An understanding as to the need for controls over drinking on campus was

recognized by fraternities.

Fraternities understood the need for controls over drinking on campus.

6. The Deans rejection of our proposal was a disappointment but not a surprise
because our expectation was that a decision had been made.

The Dean rejected our proposal and disappointed us, but we were not surprised because we
expected that a decision had been made.

7. Precision in plotting the building foundations enhances the possibility of its

accurate reconstruction. (Create a character)

The architect was precise in plotting the building foundations to enhance the possibility of its
accurate reconstruction.

8. The successful implementation of a new curriculum depends on the cooperation

of faculty with students in setting achievable goals within a reasonable time.

The faculty cooperates with students to achieve goals within a reasonable time when
implementing a new curriculum.

Underline all the active and passive verbs in these sentences. The revise the sentences to
make them clearer and stronger. (4 points each)

1. Science education will not be improved in this nation to a level sufficient to

ensure that American industry will be supplied with skilled workers and
researchers until more money is provided to primary and secondary schools.

Science education will not improve to a level sufficient enough to ensure that skilled workers and
researchers are supplied to the American industry until more money is provided to schools.

2. Many arguments were advanced against Darwinian evolution in the nineteenth

century because basic assumptions about our place in the world were
challenged by it. No longer were human defined as privileged creatures but
rather as a product of natural forces.

The nineteenth century advanced arguments against Darwinian evolution because it challenged
basic assumptions about human existence. Humans defined themselves as a product of
natural forces, rather than privileged creatures.

3. Based on training needs assessment reviews and on office site visits, there was
an identification of concepts and issues that can be used in our creation of an
initial staff questionnaire instrument.

We identified concepts and issues based on training assessment reviews and site visits to use in
our creation of a staff questionnaire instrument.

Revise this passage to improve its cohesion (flow) and coherence (wholeness, unity). First,
underline the beginning of each sentence to highlight problems with topic consistency.
Then circle the Main Verb of each sentence. Put a box around important nominalizations.
Then start revising. (10 points)

Some sort of palace revolt or popular revolution plagued seven of eight reigns of the Romanov
line after Peter the Great. In 1722, achievement by merit was made the basis of succession when
the principle of heredity was terminated by Peter. This resulted in many tsars not appointing a
successor before dying, including Peter. Ivan VI was less than two months old when appointed
by Czarina Anna, but Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, defeated Anna and ascended to the
throne in 1741. Succession not dependent upon authority resulted in the boyars regularly
disputing who was to become sovereign. Male primogeniture became the law in 1797 when Paul
I codified the law of succession. But conspirators strangled him (one of whom was probably his
son, Alexander I).
Revision goes here:
After Peter the Great, a palace revolt or revolution plagued seven of eight reigns of the Romanov
line. Peter terminated the principle of heredity in 1722, resulting in the basis of succession
becoming achievement by merit. Achievement by merit as the basis of succession prevented
tsars not appointing a successor before dying with Peter included. Czarina appointed Ivan VI
when he was less than two months old. Conversely, the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth,
defeated Anna in 1741 in order to ascend to the throne. Succession no longer depending on
authority resulted in the boyars dispute over who was to become sovereign. Paul I codified the

law of succession, making male primogeniture the law in 1797. However, conspirators (one of
whom was probably his son, Alexander I) strangled him.