Common Errors in Usage Quiz 1

1. The damage (1) _____ by the attack was so severe that we had no options left (2) _____ surrender.

2. His noisy entrance into the building gave us (1) _____ notice of his arrival, so we were able to (2) _____ him.

3. Tim Duncan’s performance was not just (1) _____; it was the (2) _____ game of basketball I’ve ever seen someone play.

4. The school she (1) _____ was UC Davis, where she earned an (2) _____ degree.

5. The first chapter alone contains (1) _____ a dozen (2) _____ to The Odyssey.

6. This essay needs (1) _____ of revision; in fact, you should probably rewrite it (2) _____.

7. The CEO decided to (1) _____ changes in the company’s policies and (2) _____ a completely new strategy.

8. I became deeply (1) _____ the book; even though I didn’t (2) _____ the author’s claims, I appreciated her (3) _____ the rules of logic.

9. I became (1) _____ a severe case of depression after (2) _____ my favorite team’s chances of winning the championship.

10. I hesitated to (1) _____ her of the bad news because I knew it would have a profound (2) _____ on her mood.

11. He (1) _____ her demands because he hated (2) _____ her, a feeling that was (3) _____ his long experience with the futility of such arguments.

12. We quickly (1) _____ a plan to get petty revenge on the coworker who was always so (2) _____ to everyone.