Chapter Eight

English Practice Set V

Practice Set

2. Directions

   In the following passage, certain words and phrases have been underlined and numbered. You will find alternatives for each underlined portion in the column to the right. Select the one that best expresses the idea, that makes the statement acceptable in standard written English, or that is phrased most consistently with the style and tone of the entire passage. If you feel that the original version is best, select “NO CHANGE.” You will also find questions asking about a section of the passage or about the entire passage. For these questions, decide which choice gives the most appropriate response to the given question. For each question in the test, select the best choice. You may wish to read each passage through before you begin to answer the questions associated with it. Most answers cannot be determined without reading several sentences around the phrases in question. Make sure to read far enough ahead each time you choose an alternative.

3. In recent years, however, a number of psychologists have turned there attention away from illness and depression, choosing to focus instead on health and happiness. Their work has gained the attention of that group of people we call the public. Kay Redfield Jamison, in Exuberance: The Passion for Life, describes exuberance as a temperamental trait. Through a series of biographical sketches of both famous and less well-known figures, Jamison explores the nature of exuberance. Her subjects, what they have in common being energy, passion, and a sense of play and joy that guide their work and even recreation throughout their lives.

   At one time, the word psychologist may have evoked an image of a bespectacled and bearded doctor encouraging a reclining patient to explore her deepest fears, desires that felt most repressed, and darkest dreams. The groundbreaking work of Dr. Sigmund Freud did indeed have a negative orientation, focused on treating patients who’s behavior showed symptoms of emotional or mental illness. This orientation toward pathology directed the work of psychologists for many decades.

   Another investigating psychologist, who finds value in healthy mental states, Martin Selig man is one. Seligman’s work is guided by the idea that the role of the psychologist is not simply to help people in the effort of avoiding pain and pathology, but to help them attain feelings of happiness, engagement, and fulfillment. Seligman has encouraged his colleagues in academic psychology to focus research on these areas. He has also written books accessible to a wide audience of readers, including Authentic Happiness, Learned Optimism, and The Optimistic Child.

   Academic interest in happiness continues to grow, not only for those, in the field of psychology, but, also for students in other fields. Recently, a course that students have called “Positive Psychology,” taught by Harvard Professor Tal-Ben Shahar, has drawn more students than a popularly perennial economics introduction class. Shahar’s class, while grounded in rigorous research; encourages students to reflect on their own assumptions about happiness.

4. 1. New Development in Psychology

   2. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. turning their
      3. have turned their
      4. who have turned there
   3. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. people known as
      3. those we call
      4. OMIT the underlined portion.
   4. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. sketches of both famous, and, less well-known figures, Jamison
      3. sketches of both famous and less well-known figures, Jamison,
      4. sketches, of both famous, and less well-known, figures Jamison
   5. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. What her subjects have in common are
      3. The common thing for her subjects is
      4. Having this in common, her subjects are
   6. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. had been evoking
      3. may have been evoking
      4. is evoking
   7. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. most repressed desires
      3. those desires that had been most repressed
      4. desires that she had been most repressing
   8. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. patients’ who’s
      3. patients whose
      4. patient’s whose
   9. 1. NO CHANGE
      2. Martin Seligman, also finding value in healthy mental state investigation, is another psychologist.
      3. Another psychologist, Martin Seligman, is one who finds value in investigating healthy mental states.
      4. Another psychologist who finds value in investigating healthy mental states is Martin Seligman.
   10. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. avoid
       3. who need to avoid
       4. in the avoidance of
   11. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. which has encouraged
       3. who has encouraged
       4. encouraging

   12. Which of the following alternatives to the underlined phrase would NOT be acceptable?

       1. accessible on
       2. that are accessible to
       3. available to
       4. that can be understood by

   13. At this point the writer is considering adding the following sentence:

       • In fact, it was a casual remark by a child that inspired Seligman to write The Optimistic Child.

       Assuming this statement is true, would it be a relevant and appropriate addition to the essay?

       1. Yes, because it explains where Seligman got the title for The Optimistic Child.
       2. Yes, because child development is an important branch of psychology.
       3. No, because casual remarks are not mentioned anywhere else in the essay.
       4. No, because it distracts from the focus of the paragraph.
   14. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. grow not only, for those in the field of psychology, but
       3. grow, not only for those in the field of psychology but
       4. grow not only, for those in the field of psychology but,
   15. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. that is
       3. that some have
       4. OMIT the underlined portion.
   16. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. perennially popular introductory economics
       3. economically popular perennially introductory
       4. popular perennial and introductory economics
   17. 1. NO CHANGE
       2. research: is encouraging
       3. research, encourages
       4. research—encourages

   18. Question 17 asks about the preceding passage as a whole.

   19. 2. For the sake of logic and coherence, the best order for the paragraphs in this essay is:

          1. as they are now.
          2. 2, 1, 3, 4.
          3. 1, 4, 2, 3.
          4. 3, 2, 1, 4.