Word Choice

The biggest challenge for patrol horses is staying sane when faced with distractions and disturbances
Sane is not the best word choice in the previous sentence. Which of the following would be a more effective word to use in this sentence?

• calm
• friendly
• reasonable
• open

(1)Stubby, the dog, was never rattled by gunfire and explosions.(2) It seemed that he could even recognize the German language, once identifying him by biting the seat of the man’s pants. 
Sentence 2 lacks clarity. What is the most effective change to make to improve the clarity of this sentence?

• Change recognize to know
• Change the German language to it
• Change him to a German spy
• Change the man’s to his

(29) They have also expressed concern about the current middle school schedule. (30) Its lack of flexibility means that there isn’t much time for working with students who need extra help. 
The meaning of sentence 29 is unclear. What is the BEST change to make in this sentence to improve its clarity?

• Change They to Some teachers
• Change expressed to shared
• Change concern to worry
• Change the current middle school schedule to it

Confidently approaching the board, I said the word entomology allowed and wrote its definition in big, bold letters. 
What change needs to be made to the previous sentence?

• Change Confidently to Confidentally
• Change approaching to approach
• Change the first comma to a period
• Change allowed to aloud

(6) Certainly, most people would agree that electronic communication has its profits. (7) It enhances safety and helps people convey messages quickly. 
Sentence 6 is unclear because Kayla has chosen an inappropriate word. What change should Kayla make to improve this sentence?

• Change Certainly to Surely
• Change most to many
• Change agree to think
• Change profits to benefits

 (22) We should all choose one day a week to take a break and disconnect from technology. (23) Spending a day focusing on the people around you will help you build stronger relationships. (24) This hiatus will also serve as a reminder that you can survive without it. 
What is the most effective way to clarify the meaning of sentence 24?

• Change that you to that people
• Change that you to that those you truly care about
• Change it to all that stuff
• Change it to the constant interruption of a phone or a computer

(18) Eventually you’ll begin to get close to your destination, and the responsibility for your plane will be handed back over to a local control tower. (19) There, controllers will be ready to make sure that our plane lands in an orderly fashion.
What change should be made in sentence 19?

• Change controllers to guys
• Change ready to prepared
• Change our to your
• Change orderly to good

(20) Our neighborhood is composed of people from various ethnic backgrounds and with different lifestyles. (21) The commercial district near our apartment offers restaurants featuring foods from around the world. (22) Although my apartment home is smaller than the country house, it has expanded in new ways.
Justin can improve the clarity of sentence 22 by changing it to —

• my house
• my world
• the yard
• the food

(23) Granted, I’ve missed my weekend horseback rides and the freedom to roam the meadows and hills. (24) City life, however, offers other stuff.

Justin has used a poor choice of words in sentence 24. He should change stuff to —

• rituals 
• items 
• opportunities 
• places

(23) All this sorting and repurposing isn’t easy or cheap, but it’s important. (24) Items that aren’t recycled usually end up in a landfill and are left to crumble. (25) Many will take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down. 
Miles did not choose the most effective words in sentence 24. What is the BEST change for him to make in this sentence?

• Change Items to Things
• Change usually to often
• Change end up to wind up
• Change crumble to decompose