Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? Moving stealthily, the sneaky little boy reached for the cookie jar on the topmost shelf.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The word 'stealthy' is used incorrectly in the sentence. The correct adverb form of the word should be 'stealthily' to modify the verb 'moving.' Therefore, it should be 'Moving stealthily, the sneaky little boy reached for the cookie jar on the topmost shelf.' Choices B, C, and D are all used appropriately in the sentence. 'Sneaky' describes the boy, 'reached' is the action verb, and 'topmost' correctly describes the location of the cookie jar.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The word 'understand' should be used instead of 'understands' to maintain subject-verb agreement. In this sentence, 'few' is a plural subject, requiring the plural verb 'understand' rather than 'understands.' The corrected sentence reads, 'but few truly understand the essay.' Choice A, 'pretends,' is used correctly in the sentence. Choice B, 'truly,' is also used appropriately. Choice D, 'essay,' is also correctly used in the sentence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct preposition to use in this sentence to indicate the position of the fountain in relation to the driveway and the main entrance is 'between.' 'Between' conveys that the fountain is positioned centrally or in the middle of the driveway and the main entrance, making it the most suitable phrase to complete the sentence correctly. The other options do not accurately describe the fountain's position between two distinct locations, making them grammatically incorrect choices for this sentence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The sentence requires an infinitive form of the verb 'to conduct' after the verb 'promised.' This structure is commonly used in English grammar, where the main verb 'promised' is followed by an infinitive verb form. Therefore, the sentence should read: 'The students promised to conduct themselves with quiet dignity.' Choice A ('conduct') is incorrect as it is not in the infinitive form required after 'promised.' Choice B ('conducting') is incorrect as a gerund does not fit the grammatical structure of the sentence. Choice D ('to be conducted') is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence, suggesting that someone else will conduct the students, rather than the students conducting themselves.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The word 'his' is the possessive form of the pronoun 'Mr. Menotti,' indicating that the belongings belong to him. Using 'her,' 'him,' or 'he' would not be grammatically correct in this context as they do not reflect the possession by Mr. Menotti. 'Her' would imply the belongings belong to his wife, 'him' is an objective pronoun, and 'he' is a subject pronoun, neither of which correctly shows possession.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In the sentence 'One out of four doctors,' the subject is 'One,' which is singular. Therefore, the verb that follows should also be singular. The correct verb form in this case is 'subscribes,' not 'subscribe' or any other form. This subject-verb agreement rule ensures that the sentence is grammatically correct. Choice A 'subscribe' is incorrect as it is in the plural form and does not agree with the singular subject. Choice C 'subscribing' is in the gerund form and does not function as the main verb of the sentence. Choice D 'are subscribed' is in the passive voice and does not match the active voice required in this sentence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'lead.' The correct spelling should be 'led' in the context of the sentence. 'Lead' is a present tense verb, while 'led' is the past tense of 'lead' when used in the sense of guiding or showing the way. Choice A, 'attending,' is spelled correctly. Choice C, 'entourage,' is spelled correctly. Choice D, 'interns,' is spelled correctly. The error lies in the verb 'lead' being used incorrectly in the past tense form.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'A - spoke to the patient's parents.' In this sentence, the past tense 'spoke' should be used to match the past tense 'had,' indicating an action that already took place. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they use present or future tenses, which do not match the past tense 'had' in the sentence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In this sentence, we are looking for a pronoun that refers to more than one person. The children and 'them' performed a skit for the elderly patients. 'Them' is the correct pronoun to use in this context to indicate a group of people, which is the plural form of the pronoun. Choice A, 'he,' is singular and would not match the plural subject. Choice B, 'me,' is an object pronoun and does not fit the subject position. Choice D, 'her,' is singular and does not agree with the plural subject 'children and them.' Therefore, the correct answer is 'C: them.'