Select the word or phrase that makes this sentence grammatically correct: 'The development committee ____ a bargain with the city planners.'

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: struck.' In this context, the correct verb form should be 'struck' as it is the past tense form of 'strike.' Therefore, the correct sentence should read: 'The development committee struck a bargain with the city planners.' Choice A, 'striked,' is incorrect as 'strike' is an irregular verb, and the past tense is 'struck' rather than 'striked.' Choice B, 'stroke,' is incorrect as it is not the correct past tense form of 'strike' in this context. Choice D, 'strike,' is incorrect as it is the base form of the verb and does not fit the sentence structure requiring a past tense verb.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: 'Badly' is the correct adverb to modify 'danced'. In this context, 'badly' is used to describe the manner in which the student danced, indicating that her dancing performance was not good, contrasting with her singing ability. 'Poorly' (choice C) is also an adverb, but 'badly' is more commonly used in this context to describe performance in an artistic or skill-based activity. Choice D, 'poorer,' is incorrect as it is the comparative form of 'poor,' not the appropriate adverb to describe how she danced.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'amount.' In this context, 'amount' is used to describe the intensity or level of pain, which is an uncountable noun. 'Frequency' (B) refers to how often something occurs, 'number' (C) is used for countable objects, and 'amplitude' (D) is typically used in the context of sound or waves, not pain.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In the sentence 'The bird flew across the blue sky,' 'bird' is the noun. A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this sentence, 'bird' represents a living creature, making it the noun. 'Across' is a preposition used to show the relationship between 'flew' and 'sky.' 'Flew' is a verb indicating an action, and 'blue' is an adjective describing the sky.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In this sentence, the correct choice is 'swam,' which is the past tense of 'swim.' Therefore, 'swam' correctly completes the sentence: 'Theo was in great shape; he swam all the way back to the pier.' 'Swimmed' is not a valid past tense form of 'swim,' 'swum' is the past participle form and doesn't fit the context, and 'swim' is the base form of the verb and is not suitable in this case.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct adverb to describe Dean's action of eyeing the cheesecake is 'hungrily.' Adverbs modify verbs, in this case, 'eyed,' making the sentence grammatically correct. 'Hungry' (choice A) is an adjective and does not fit the sentence structure. 'Hungriest' (choice B) is a superlative adjective and is not suitable to modify the verb 'eyed.' 'More hungry' (choice D) is a comparative construction and is also not the correct form to modify the verb.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: 'But' is the conjunction in this sentence. A conjunction is a word that connects clauses or sentences. In this case, 'but' links two contrasting ideas: the little girl wanting a cookie and her decision not to take one. The other options are not conjunctions; 'little' is an adjective, 'take' is a verb, and 'the' is a definite article.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct word to fill in the blank is 'break.' In this context, 'break' refers to a pause or rest, which is what Dr. Capra needed after completing the intense surgery. 'Brake' (choice A) refers to a device used to slow or stop a vehicle. 'Brink' (choice C) means the edge or verge of something. 'Broke' (choice D) is the past tense of 'break' and is grammatically incorrect in this sentence.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'the students watched the snow begin to fall.' In this sentence, the structure is correct with the subject 'the students' followed by the verb 'watched' and the object 'the snow begin to fall' in a grammatically appropriate manner. Choices B, C, and D have issues with verb tense agreement and sentence structure, making them grammatically incorrect. Choice B changes the active voice to passive, choice C lacks a verb for the subject 'snow,' and choice D does not complete the action initiated in the introductory participial phrase.