Parallel Structure Quiz

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Good writing uses parallel structure for clarity and rhythm. Can you spot and fix parallelism errors?

1.
Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
A
She likes hiking, swimming, and to ride bikes.
B
She likes to hike, swimming, and riding bikes.
C
She likes hiking, swimming, and riding bikes.
D
She likes hiking, to swim, and bike riding.
2.
What is parallel structure?
A
Repeating the same word for emphasis
B
Using the same grammatical form for similar ideas in a series
C
Using the same sentence length throughout
D
Writing two paragraphs with the same topic
3.
Which sentence has a parallelism error?
A
Both A and B are correct.
B
The coach told them to stretch, to run, and to cool down.
C
The coach told them to stretch, running, and cooling down.
D
The coach told them to stretch, run, and cool down.
4.
Fix the parallelism: 'He is smart, funny, and has ambition.'
A
He has smart, funny, and ambition.
B
He is smart, funny, and ambition.
C
He is smartly, funnily, and ambitiously.
D
He is smart, funny, and ambitious.
5.
Which sentence is parallel?
A
I came, I saw, I conquered.
B
I came, I was seeing, and conquering.
C
I came, seeing, and conquered.
D
Coming, I saw, and I conquered.
6.
Which list is parallel? 'For dinner, we had ___.'
A
a salad, chicken that was grilled, and lemonade to drink
B
salad, to grill chicken, and drinking lemonade
C
salad, grilled chicken, and we drank lemonade
D
salad, grilled chicken, and lemonade
7.
Fix: 'The project requires research, writing, and to present findings.'
A
The project requires research, writing, and presenting findings.
B
The project requires researching, to write, and presenting.
C
The project requires to research, writing, and presenting.
D
The project requires research, to write, and present.
8.
Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure with correlative conjunctions?
A
She not only singing but also dances.
B
She not only sings but also is dancing.
C
She not only sings but also dances.
D
Not only she sings but she also dances.
9.
Which is parallel? 'He likes either ___ or ___.'
A
reading / watching movies
B
reading / to watch movies
C
to read / watching movies
D
to read / movie watching
10.
Fix the error: 'The teacher asked students to study hard, arrive on time, and that they should participate.'
A
...study hard, to arrive on time, and participating.
B
...studying hard, arriving on time, and that they participate.
C
...to study hard, to arrive on time, and they should participate.
D
...to study hard, arrive on time, and participate.
11.
Which sentence is NOT parallel?
A
She is kind, generous, and thinks of others.
B
She is kind, generous, and thoughtful.
C
She is kind, generous, and compassionate.
D
She is kind, generous, and caring.
12.
Why is parallel structure important in writing?
A
It eliminates the need for punctuation.
B
It is only important in poetry.
C
It improves clarity, rhythm, and readability.
D
It makes sentences shorter.
13.
Which famous quote uses parallel structure? 'Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.'
A
Winston Churchill
B
John F. Kennedy
C
Abraham Lincoln
D
Theodore Roosevelt
14.
Fix: 'The best things in life are laughing with friends, good food, and to travel.'
A
...to laugh with friends, good food, and traveling.
B
...laughing with friends, eating good food, and traveling.
C
...laugh with friends, good food, and travel.
D
...laughing, food, and to travel.
15.
Which sentence pairs items in parallel form?
A
The old house was drafty, leaking, and it needed paint.
B
The old house drafts, leaks, and needing paint.
C
The old house was drafty, leaky, and shabby.
D
The old house was drafty, leaky, and needed painting.

Answer Key

Question 1

C. She likes hiking, swimming, and riding bikes.

Question 2

B. Using the same grammatical form for similar ideas in a series

Question 3

C. The coach told them to stretch, running, and cooling down.

Question 4

D. He is smart, funny, and ambitious.

Question 5

A. I came, I saw, I conquered.

Question 6

D. salad, grilled chicken, and lemonade

Question 7

A. The project requires research, writing, and presenting findings.

Question 8

C. She not only sings but also dances.

Question 9

A. reading / watching movies

Question 10

D. ...to study hard, arrive on time, and participate.

Question 11

A. She is kind, generous, and thinks of others.

Question 12

C. It improves clarity, rhythm, and readability.

Question 13

B. John F. Kennedy

Question 14

B. ...laughing with friends, eating good food, and traveling.

Question 15

C. The old house was drafty, leaky, and shabby.

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