EASY

1. Sheila is a successful business pioneer, who attempted at creating her own company at a very young age.

a) who attempted at creating
b) and she attempted at creating
c) who has attempted to be creating
d) who attempted to create
e) and she attempted to be creating

 

Explanation: This question tests idiom usage. Because the proper expression is attempt to, (A),(B), and (C) are incorrect. With the use of has attempted to be creating, choice (E) is wordy, and a confusing mix of past and present tenses. (D) is grammatically correct and is also the most concise way to convey the sentence’s meaning.


HARD

2. In 1904, the Abbey Theatre of Dublin, Ireland, was founded by theater supporters who were concerned at reviving appreciation for Irish culture through playwriting and literature.

a) was founded by theater supporters who were concerned at
b) became founded by theater supporters who were concerned at
c) was founded by theater supporters who were concerned with
d) had been founded by theater supporters who had to become concerned with
e) was founded by theater supporters who have concerns about

Explanation: This question tests idiom, as well as tense and wordiness. (A) contains the incorrect concerned at. The verb concerned takes with or about. Therefore, (B) is also incorrect. (D) is confusing. Had been founded is unnecessarily in the past perfect, while had to become indicates that the founders were forced into feeling concerned, changing the meaning of the sentence. (E) uses the present have concerns to continue a description of people from the past. Only (C) is in the past tense throughout, is clear in meaning and uses a proper idiom.

B. List of Idioms

VI. SAMPLE QUESTIONS