Question

directions: in the passage below, certain words and phrases have been underlined or numbered. for each underlined word or number, in the right - hand column, you will find alternatives. if you think the original version is best, choose no change. be sure to read the entire sentence before making a selection. one - note wonder there was absolutely no reason to be nervous. he had performed \carnival of venice\ many times. 1. a. no change b. nervous be c. nervous, like d. nervous. he nevertheless, it was an easy piece to play. it sounded 2. f. no change g. besides, h. however j. on the other hand difficult, but that was an illusion. actually, any piece he played, on the trumpet, was easy for him, if the notes 3. a. no change b. played on the trumpet was c. played, on the trumpet was d. played on the trumpet, was flew by with blinding speed. the hard selections, those that really made him sweat: was the slow pieces like 4. f. no change g. sweat, was h. sweat were j. sweat, were aaron coplands \quiet city.\ anyone whom had tried 5. a. no change b. whoever c. whomever d. who to play that deceptively, difficult, devilish opus had 6. f. no change g. deceptively, difficult, devilish h. deceptively difficult, devilish j. deceptively difficult, devilish consciously courted big trouble. because each note was 7. a. no change b. trouble because c. trouble; because d. trouble, because closed and transparent. one tiny error, was all that was 8. f. no change g. error: was h. error was j. error. was needed to ruin the performance.

Explanation:

1. "There was absolutely no reason to be nervous. He had performed..." is grammatically correct as - is. "NO CHANGE" is the best option.
2. "Nevertheless" implies a contrast, but the previous and next sentences are more in - addition relationship. "Besides" is more appropriate to show an additional point.
3. "played on the trumpet" is a non - essential modifier, and the subject "any piece" is singular, so "was" is the correct verb form. The correct form is "played on the trumpet was".
4. The subject "the hard selections" is plural, so the verb should be "were". "sweat, were" is the correct option.
5. "Anyone" is the subject of the clause, and the relative pronoun should be "who" as it is the subject of the verb "had tried".
6. "deceptively difficult" is a compound adjective modifying "opus", and the comma between "difficult" and "devilish" is correct for listing adjectives. "deceptively difficult, devilish" is correct.
7. "Because" starts a dependent clause, and it should not be separated from the main clause by a period. "trouble because" is the correct option to connect the two parts.
8. "One tiny error was all that was needed" is a complete sentence without the comma after "error". "error was" is the correct option.

Answer:

1. A. NO CHANGE
2. G. Besides,
3. B. played on the trumpet was
4. J. sweat, were
5. D. who
6. J. deceptively difficult, devilish
7. B. trouble because
8. H. error was