Which sentence places the introductory modifier correctly?

Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, Ms. Ortega worked through her planning period.

Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, the work was done by Ms. Ortega during planning.

Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, Ms. Ortega's planning period was used for work.

Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, the planning period was spent working by Ms. Ortega.

Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement?

Neither the coaches nor the athletic director was aware of the schedule change.

Neither the coaches or the athletic director was aware of the schedule change.

Neither the coaches nor the athletic director were aware of the schedule change.

Neither the athletic director nor the coaches was aware of the schedule change.

In the final sentence, the phrase "a way to buy time" most nearly means

a way to slow losses while the larger cause is addressed

a way to raise money to pay for continued research on reefs

a way to make bleached corals recover faster than normal

a way to stop future heat waves from damaging reefs at all

As used in Passage 1, the word "settled" in the phrase "treat a past injustice as settled" most nearly means

resolved and no longer open to question

paid for through some earlier agreement

placed in a fixed and permanent home

calmly accepted by the people it harmed

(1) After reviewing the survey results, the decision was made to extend library hours. (2) Starting next month, the media center will stay open until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. (3) Students may use the computers or study quietly during the added time. Which revision of sentence 1 corrects the dangling modifier?

After reviewing the survey results, the media specialist decided to extend library hours.

After reviewing the survey results, library hours were extended by the media specialist.

After reviewing the survey results, the library's hours were extended by the specialist.

After reviewing the survey results, it was decided by the media specialist to extend hours.

Which sentence has a verb that agrees with its subject?

Each of the new science textbooks includes an online access code for students.

Each of the new science textbooks have included an online access code for students.

Each of the new science textbooks are including an online access code for students.

Each of the new science textbooks include an online access code for students.

According to the passage, what is the purpose of the bearings beneath a bridge deck?

to let the deck shift lengthwise without pulling its supports along

to hold the ends of the deck firmly in place when the steel warms

to give tires a smooth, continuous surface where sections of the deck meet

to absorb the rhythmic pushes created by eddies shed from the deck

In Passage 1, the author's use of the word "battleground" mainly serves to

emphasize how much conflict nightly assignments can create at home

show that children usually win their arguments about doing homework

suggest that parents should be stricter about enforcing homework rules

imply that teachers deliberately design homework to test families

FTCE General Knowledge Test (082)

Free FTCE General Knowledge Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the FTCE General Knowledge Test (082), with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: English and Language Usage, Reading.

Question 1 · English and Language Usage
Which sentence places the introductory modifier correctly?
- A.Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, Ms. Ortega worked through her planning period.
- B.Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, the work was done by Ms. Ortega during planning.
- C.Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, Ms. Ortega's planning period was used for work.
- D.Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, the planning period was spent working by Ms. Ortega.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Hoping to finish the grading before dinner, Ms. Ortega worked through her planning period.
An introductory modifier must be followed by the person or thing it describes, and only Ms. Ortega can be hoping to finish the grading. When the planning period or the work follows the comma, the modifier dangles. The possessive Ms. Ortega's is a trap: the subject is still the planning period, not Ms. Ortega.
Question 2 · English and Language Usage
Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement?
- A.Neither the coaches or the athletic director was aware of the schedule change.
- B.Neither the coaches nor the athletic director were aware of the schedule change.
- C.Neither the coaches nor the athletic director was aware of the schedule change.
- D.Neither the athletic director nor the coaches was aware of the schedule change.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Neither the coaches nor the athletic director was aware of the schedule change.
When subjects are joined by neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. In the correct sentence the nearer subject is director, which is singular, so was is right. When coaches is nearer, the verb must be were; and neither must be paired with nor, not or.
Question 3 · Reading
In the final sentence, the phrase "a way to buy time" most nearly means
- A.a way to raise money to pay for continued research on reefs
- B.a way to make bleached corals recover faster than normal
- C.a way to slow losses while the larger cause is addressed
- D.a way to stop future heat waves from damaging reefs at all
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. a way to slow losses while the larger cause is addressed
The sentence contrasts local protection with "addressing ocean warming itself," so protection delays decline but does not remove the cause. The passage has just warned that even protected reefs may lose ground, which rules out stopping damage entirely.
Question 4 · Reading
As used in Passage 1, the word "settled" in the phrase "treat a past injustice as settled" most nearly means
- A.paid for through some earlier agreement
- B.placed in a fixed and permanent home
- C.calmly accepted by the people it harmed
- D.resolved and no longer open to question
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. resolved and no longer open to question
The author objects to treating an injustice as finished business "simply because it is old," so "settled" means closed or resolved. The sense of a permanent home fits a different use of the word, and nothing suggests the harmed communities accepted the loss.
Question 5 · Reading
Solve for x: (2/3)(x − 6) = (1/4)x + 3
- A.16.8
- B.10.2
- C.−2.4
- D.8.4
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. 16.8
Multiply both sides by 12 to clear the fractions: 8(x − 6) = 3x + 36. Forgetting to multiply the 3 by 12 leads to 10.2, and multiplying only the x by 8 leads to 8.4. Then 8x − 48 = 3x + 36, so 5x = 84 and x = 16.8.
Question 6 · English and Language Usage
(1) After reviewing the survey results, the decision was made to extend library hours. (2) Starting next month, the media center will stay open until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. (3) Students may use the computers or study quietly during the added time.
Which revision of sentence 1 corrects the dangling modifier?
- A.After reviewing the survey results, library hours were extended by the media specialist.
- B.After reviewing the survey results, the library's hours were extended by the specialist.
- C.After reviewing the survey results, the media specialist decided to extend library hours.
- D.After reviewing the survey results, it was decided by the media specialist to extend hours.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. After reviewing the survey results, the media specialist decided to extend library hours.
The phrase After reviewing the survey results must be followed by the person who did the reviewing. Only the media specialist can review results; library hours, the vague it, and the library's hours cannot, so those revisions still dangle.
Question 7 · English and Language Usage
Which sentence has a verb that agrees with its subject?
- A.Each of the new science textbooks have included an online access code for students.
- B.Each of the new science textbooks are including an online access code for students.
- C.Each of the new science textbooks includes an online access code for students.
- D.Each of the new science textbooks include an online access code for students.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Each of the new science textbooks includes an online access code for students.
The subject is Each, which is singular; textbooks is the object of the preposition of. A singular subject takes a singular verb, so includes is correct. Include, have included and are including are plural forms.
Question 8 · Reading
According to the passage, what is the purpose of the bearings beneath a bridge deck?
- A.to hold the ends of the deck firmly in place when the steel warms
- B.to let the deck shift lengthwise without pulling its supports along
- C.to give tires a smooth, continuous surface where sections of the deck meet
- D.to absorb the rhythmic pushes created by eddies shed from the deck
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. to let the deck shift lengthwise without pulling its supports along
The passage states that bearings of steel rollers or rubber and steel "let the structure shift lengthwise without dragging its supports along with it." Giving tires a continuous surface is the job of finger joints, and locking the ends in place is exactly what the passage says causes cracking.
Question 9 · Reading
In Passage 1, the author's use of the word "battleground" mainly serves to
- A.show that children usually win their arguments about doing homework
- B.suggest that parents should be stricter about enforcing homework rules
- C.imply that teachers deliberately design homework to test families
- D.emphasize how much conflict nightly assignments can create at home
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. emphasize how much conflict nightly assignments can create at home
Calling the evening hours a "battleground" is figurative language that stresses the tension and arguments homework can cause, which supports the author's point about its costs. The word carries no suggestion about who wins or about teachers' intentions.
Question 10 · Reading
Solve for x: 0.4(3x − 5) = 1.5x − 2.9
- A.−1/3
- B.3
- C.−7
- D.−3
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 3
Distributing gives 1.2x − 2 = 1.5x − 2.9; multiplying 0.4 by only the 3x leads to −7. Subtracting 1.2x from both sides and adding 2.9 to both sides gives 0.9 = 0.3x. Dividing both sides by 0.3 gives x = 3.

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