Pre Tests

Short Answer

Identifying Common and Proper Nouns
Identify each noun in the sentences. Tell if each is a common noun or a proper noun.

1. Mount Fuji is a beautiful volcano in Japan.

2. The mountain stands in the province of Honshu, a short distance from the Pacific Ocean.

3. The Japanese admire its almost perfect shape and consider its silhouette the ultimate symbol of beauty.

4. A volcanic peak, Fuji is covered with snow for a good part of the year.

5. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered in lush vegetation.

6. An English traveler named John Morris visited Mount Fuji some time ago.

7. The Englishman was there just before the start of World War II.

8. At that time, he said that the peak was best seen from the sea at dawn.

9. Mr. Morris spoke of "its perfect snow-capped cone."

10. In the light of early morning, said Morris, Fuji appears suspended in the sky.

Identifying Compound and Collective Nouns
Identify the compound and collective nouns in the sentences. Tell whether each one is compound or collective.

11. A group of sightseers, accompanied by two guides, approached Mount Fuji.

12. "I have seen a couple of volcanoes before," said one tourist, "but you could search a lifetime and never see one as beautiful as this."

13. "Have you ever seen this view at sunrise?" asked one of the guides on the team.

14. A large crowd of tourists walked through the countryside, admiring the volcano.

15. Our class found out that Mount Fuji was probably formed after a massive earthquake.

16. Outpourings from several cones helped form Fuji’s present shape, the pair of guides said.

17. Jeff’s family owns a painting of Mount Fuji originally bought by his great-grandmother.

18. The painting shows the mountain in the background and a herd of cattle in the foreground.

19. A committee of art critics said it was an exceptional landscape.

20. From the top of Mount Fuji, our hiking club admired the sunset.

Identifying Pronouns
Write each underlined pronoun. Tell whether the pronoun is personal, demonstrative, interrogative, or indefinite. For personal, demonstrative, and indefinite pronouns, indicate whether the pronoun is singular or plural. For personal pronouns, also indicate whether the pronoun is first person, second person, or third person.

21. Which of these two pictures of Mount Fuji looks better?

22. Mount Fuji is currently dormant; it last erupted in 1707.

23. "If we could go to Japan, would you like to see Mount Fuji?" asked Sam.

24. "Well, wouldn’t you put a trip to Mount Fuji at the top of your list?" said Judy to Sam.

25. "Who gave the volcano the name Fuji?" Sam asked.

26. Have you heard about the ancient Ainu tribes of Japan? It was they who named the snow-capped peak.

27. This happened centuries before the Japanese colonized the country about two thousand years ago.

28. These are facts I read about in a history book.

29. Here is something you may not know: five paths lead to the top of Mount Fuji.

30. Anybody who wants to climb the mountain can do so.

Identifying Pronouns and Antecedents
Identify the pronoun or pronouns in each sentence below. Then, identify each antecedent. You may need to go to previous sentences to find the antecedent.

(31) Sharon pointed to a beautiful picture and said, "This shows Mount Fuji. (32) It was created by the great Japanese painter Katsushika Hokusai. (33) He lived from 1760 to 1849."

(34) "How do you know this information?" asked Spencer. (35) "We went to the same classes, and I don’t remember learning this."

(36) "Well," Sharon told him, "I did my most recent term paper on Japanese art. (37) On what subject was yours?"

(38) "Mine was on volcanoes," Spencer told her. (39) "My partner was Harry, and we learned a great deal about Mount Fuji. (40) However, we didn’t learn about the art inspired by the beautiful sight."

31. Refer to Sentence 31.

32. Refer to Sentence 32.

33. Refer to Sentence 33.

34. Refer to Sentence 34.

35. Refer to Sentence 35.

36. Refer to Sentence 36.

37. Refer to Sentence 37.

38. Refer to Sentence 38.

39. Refer to Sentence 39.

40. Refer to Sentence 40.

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Standardized Test Practice
Read the paragraph.  Choose the pronoun that correctly completes each sentence.  Identify the letter for your answer.

Diane was one of (41) who climbed Mount Fuji last summer.  (42) planned well for her trip.  She consulted with Brian, who is a travel consultant.  (43) described the best bargains he could find for (44).  Then Diane spoke to her parents.  (45) had made the trip many years ago.  "(46) is what you must do," they told her.  "(47) must get a good pair of hiking boots.  After you do (48), you'll be all set."

Brian handed Diane a pile of travel brochures.  "Read (49)," he said.  "(50) will tell you all you need to know."

____ 41. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (41).
a. these c. whom
b. many d. either


____ 42. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (42).
a. She c. It
b. He d. They


____ 43. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (43).
a. She c. He
b. Them d. Several


____ 44. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (44).
a. me c. what
b. nobody d. her


____ 45. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (45).
a. They c. Somebody
b. Them d. Those


____ 46. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (46).
a. Which c. This
b. Nothing d. These


____ 47. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (47).
a. That c. We
b. He d. You


____ 48. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (48).
a. those c. something
b. that d. theirs


____ 49. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (49).
a. these c. ours
b. it d. anything


____ 50. Refer to Mount Fuji Climb (50).
a. She c. It
b. We d. They