The Sentence Sense section uses two kinds of multiple-choice questions.  The first requires the students to identify faults in sentences and make appropriate corrections.  The second asks students to rewrite sentences, much as they would do when editing their own writing.
 The problems presented to the student for correction are concerned mainly with the structure and logic of sentences, not with problems of subject-verb agreement and the like.  Questions deal with expressing ideas clearly and accurately, appropriately coordinating or subordinating ideas within sentences, and recognizing complete sentences.  The types of questions used ask students either to identify and correct problems in sentences or to recast sentences to change structure or emphasis — tasks they might perform when they write themselves.
 Examples of the types of multiple-choice questions used in the Sentence Sense section follow.

Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence.  Choice (A) is the same as the original sentence.  If you think the original sentence is best, choose answer (A).

8. The record is held by Andrea, it is in the hundred-yard dash.

 (A) The record is held by Andrea, it is in the hundred-yard dash.
 (B) Andrea holds the record in the hundred-yard dash.
 (C) The record in the hundred-yard dash being held by Andrea.
 (D) The hundred-yard dash record, which is held by Andrea.

 This question asks the student to recognize first that the original sentence neither fits the traditional definition of a complete sentence nor presents the ideas in it in an appropriate way.  Choice (B), which is the correct response, eliminates the comma fault and conveys the required information briefly and clearly.

9. Jenny’s Cinderella costume was more elaborate than Henry, who wore a ghost costume.

 (A) Henry, who wore a ghost costume.
 (B) Henry in a ghost costume.
 (C) Henry’s ghost costume.
 (D) Henry’s who wore a ghost costume.

 This question presents a problem in logic in that the original sentence compares a costume to a person.  The sense of the sentence requires that two costumes be compared.  Choice (C) is the only one that provides that comparison.

In the following questions, you are going to be asked to rewrite sentences in your head.  You will be told exactly how to begin your new sentence.  Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have the same meaning as the sentence given you.

10. George saw no familiar faces when he looked around the room.

 Rewrite, beginning with

 Looking  around the room, . . .

 The next words will be

 (A) George saw no familiar faces
 (B) no familiar faces could be seen
 (C) and seeing no familiar faces
 (D) then George saw no familiar faces

 To answer this question, the student must remember that George is looking around the room and that, therefore, George must be the word to follow the comma in the new sentence.  Only by using George can the student avoid creating a sentence that has a dangling modifier.

11. If she had not agreed to work late this evening, she would be able to go shopping for Eleanor’s birthday present.

 Rewrite, beginning with

 She cannot go shopping for Eleanor’s birthday present . . .

 The next words will be

 (A) since her agreement
 (B) even though she agreed
 (C) without first agreeing
 (D) because she has agreed

 The sense of the original sentence is kept only when (D) is used to form the new sentence:  She cannot go shopping for Eleanor’s birthday present because she has agreed to work late this evening.