Editing for Textual Consistency

Question 1

A report reads: 'The team collects water samples from the river. Then it recorded the color of each sample.' Which revision keeps the tense consistent?

Accepted Answer

Then it records the color of each sample.

Answer

Then it had recorded the color of each sample.

Answer

Then it will record the color of each sample.

Answer

Then it was recording the color of each sample.

Question 2

An essay on waste sorting uses the third person all through, then says: 'You should rinse the bottles first.' What kind of unmotivated shift is this?

Accepted Answer

A shift from third person to second person

Answer

A shift from third person to first person

Answer

A shift from the past tense to the present tense

Answer

A shift from the present tense to the future tense

Question 3

An essay reads: 'Rizal wrote the novel in Europe. He finished it in 1887. The book angers many officials. Readers passed copies from hand to hand.' Which sentence breaks the essay's tense?

Accepted Answer

The book angers many officials.

Answer

Rizal wrote the novel in Europe.

Answer

He finished it in 1887.

Answer

Readers passed copies from hand to hand.

Question 4

A paragraph uses 'we' all through, then says: 'One must sort the waste before collection day.' Which revision keeps the person consistent?

Accepted Answer

We sort the waste before collection day.

Answer

You sort the waste before collection day.

Answer

They sort the waste before collection day.

Answer

A person sorts the waste before collection day.

Question 5

A draft describing a yearly routine reads: 'Farmers plant rice in June. They flooded the fields for two weeks. The plants grow tall by August. Harvest begins in October.' Which sentence shifts tense with no reason?

Accepted Answer

They flooded the fields for two weeks.

Answer

Farmers plant rice in June.

Answer

The plants grow tall by August.

Answer

Harvest begins in October.

Question 6

An essay explains how a barangay recycles, and every sentence in it uses the present tense. Which sentence fits that tense?

Accepted Answer

The workers sort the plastic on Monday.

Answer

The workers sorted the plastic on Monday.

Answer

The workers had sorted the plastic on Monday.

Answer

The workers will sort the plastic on Monday.

Question 7

In an essay written in the past tense, changing to the present tense for one sentence with no time signal is an unmotivated shift.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 8

A paragraph says: 'Students bring their own bags to the market. You save money that way.' Which revision keeps the person consistent?

Accepted Answer

They save money that way.

Answer

We save money that way.

Answer

One saves money that way.

Answer

I save money that way.

Question 9

A history essay written in the past tense says: 'The volcano erupts again in 1991.' What is wrong with this sentence?

Accepted Answer

It uses the present tense for an event the essay places in the past.

Answer

It uses the future tense for an event that already happened.

Answer

It uses the past perfect tense where the simple past belongs.

Answer

It uses the second person where the essay uses the third person.

Question 10

Which sentence changes person in the middle of itself?

Accepted Answer

If students want clean water, you must boil it first.

Answer

Students who want clean water must boil it first.

Answer

Whenever students want clean water, they boil it first.

Answer

Students boil the water first if they want it clean.

Question 11

A book review keeps the present tense for events in the story. Which sentence follows that rule?

Accepted Answer

The hero returns to his village at the end.

Answer

The hero returned to his village at the end.

Answer

The hero had returned to his village at the end.

Answer

The hero will return to his village at the end.

Question 12

An essay calls the writer 'the researcher' and stays in the third person. Which sentence keeps that person?

Accepted Answer

The researcher measured the rainfall each morning.

Answer

I measured the rainfall each morning.

Answer

We measured the rainfall each morning.

Answer

You measured the rainfall each morning.

Question 13

An essay reads: 'Volunteers clean the creek every Saturday. They bring gloves and sacks. You should arrive before seven. The work ends at noon.' Which sentence shifts person?

Accepted Answer

You should arrive before seven.

Answer

Volunteers clean the creek every Saturday.

Answer

They bring gloves and sacks.

Answer

The work ends at noon.

Question 14

A draft reads: 'The class lines up at the bell. The teacher checks the list. The monitor opened the windows. The lesson begins at eight.' Which revision fixes the tense?

Accepted Answer

Change 'opened' to 'opens'.

Answer

Change 'begins' to 'began'.

Answer

Change 'checks' to 'checked'.

Answer

Change 'lines up' to 'lined up'.

Question 15

An essay calls the storm a 'typhoon' in its first half and a 'tropical cyclone' in its second half, with no explanation. What is the best fix?

Accepted Answer

Choose one term, define it once, and use it for the rest of the essay.

Answer

Keep both terms and alternate them so the writing is not repetitive.

Answer

Delete every sentence that uses the second term.

Answer

Move all sentences using the second term to the end of the essay.

Question 16

An essay says: 'The barangay built a materials recovery facility. The sorting center opened in May. It takes plastic, glass and paper.' Which two terms name one thing?

Accepted Answer

'materials recovery facility' and 'sorting center'

Answer

'materials recovery facility' and 'plastic'

Answer

'sorting center' and 'glass'

Answer

'plastic' and 'paper'

Question 17

An essay defines 'operational definition' early on, then later calls the same idea a 'working meaning'. Which revision is best?

Accepted Answer

Replace 'working meaning' with 'operational definition'.

Answer

Add a second definition for 'working meaning'.

Answer

Delete the definition given early in the essay.

Answer

Put 'working meaning' in quotation marks each time.

Question 18

A science essay uses 'water vapor' in one paragraph and 'gaseous water' in the next for the same thing. What problem does this create?

Accepted Answer

Readers may think the essay describes two different substances.

Answer

Readers may think the essay is quoting another writer.

Answer

Readers may think the paragraphs are in the wrong order.

Answer

Readers may think the essay has changed its tense.

Question 19

Which pair of words in one essay counts as inconsistent terminology for a single concept?

Accepted Answer

'jeepney' and 'passenger jeep' used for the same vehicle

Answer

'jeepney' and 'tricycle' used for two vehicles

Answer

'jeepney' and 'driver' used in the same sentence

Answer

'jeepney' and 'fare' used in the same paragraph

Question 20

An essay writes 'Grade 7' in one heading and 'GRADE SEVEN' in the next. Which fix keeps the format consistent?

Accepted Answer

Write both headings the same way, such as 'Grade 7'.

Answer

Make every heading longer than the section it introduces.

Answer

Remove the headings and run the sections together.

Answer

Give each heading a different style to tell them apart.

Question 21

An essay writes 'twelve barangays' in one paragraph and '12 barangays' in another. What should the editor do?

Accepted Answer

Pick one style for numbers and use it throughout.

Answer

Use words in short paragraphs and figures in long ones.

Answer

Use figures only inside the essay's thesis.

Answer

Leave both, since the two paragraphs are separate.

Question 22

An essay defines 'expository essay' in its opening, then later paragraphs call it an 'explaining paper'. Which revision fixes the terminology?

Accepted Answer

Use 'expository essay' in the later paragraphs too.

Answer

Remove the opening definition and keep 'explaining paper'.

Answer

Use 'explaining paper' first and 'expository essay' later.

Answer

Put both names side by side in every paragraph.

Question 23

Changing from 'we' to 'you' partway through a paragraph, with no reason, is an unmotivated shift in person.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 24

An essay about cohesion uses 'linking word' and 'transition device' for the same tool, and defines only the second. Which revision repairs it?

Accepted Answer

Replace every 'linking word' with 'transition device'.

Answer

Replace every 'transition device' with 'linking device'.

Answer

Delete the paragraph that uses 'linking word'.

Answer

Explain both names in a note and keep alternating them.

Question 25

A technical essay defines 'coherence' and also calls the same idea 'flow'. Which term should the finished essay keep?

Accepted Answer

'coherence', the term the essay defined

Answer

'flow', because it is the shorter word

Answer

'flow', because readers know it better

Answer

both, so the essay does not repeat one word

Question 26

A student's essay names its main idea 'the thesis' in the introduction and 'the big claim' in the conclusion. What should the editor change?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion, so it also says 'the thesis'.

Answer

The order of the introduction and conclusion.

Answer

The tense of the conclusion.

Answer

The person used in the introduction.

Question 27

An essay uses 'informant' and 'interviewee' for the same person throughout. What is the strongest reason to fix this?

Accepted Answer

Readers may count two people instead of one.

Answer

The essay would take up less space with one term.

Answer

The two words come from different languages.

Answer

One of the two words is not a real English word.

Question 28

An essay reads: 'For many years the town burned its trash. Today it sorts the waste instead.' Is the tense change an error?

Accepted Answer

No, 'for many years' and 'today' signal a real change of time.

Answer

Yes, both sentences must use the past tense.

Answer

Yes, both sentences must use the present tense.

Answer

No, tense may change freely inside a paragraph.

Question 29

Which tense change inside one paragraph is deliberate rather than an error?

Accepted Answer

'Before 2020 the river flooded yearly. Now the dike holds the water.'

Answer

'The river floods each June. The dike held the water.'

Answer

'The river flooded each June. The dike holds the water.'

Answer

'Before 2020 the river floods yearly. Now the dike held the water.'

Question 30

An essay written in the present tense includes: 'Last June our class visited the plant and saw the sorting line.' Why is the past tense acceptable here?

Accepted Answer

It reports one past event, and 'last June' signals the time change.

Answer

It quotes another writer word for word.

Answer

It changes the person as well as the tense.

Answer

The past tense is always allowed in the middle of an essay.

Question 31

An essay written in the third person quotes a farmer: 'I plant before the rains come.' Should the editor fix this person shift?

Accepted Answer

No, the first person belongs to the speaker inside the quotation.

Answer

Yes, quoted words must match the essay's person.

Answer

Yes, the quotation must be rewritten in the third person.

Answer

No, person may change anywhere in an essay.

Question 32

Which sentence pair contains a genuine tense inconsistency?

Accepted Answer

'The center opens at eight. The staff greeted each visitor.'

Answer

'The center opened in 2019. It now serves twenty schools.'

Answer

'The center opens at eight. It closed early last Friday.'

Answer

'The center opens at eight. It will close for repairs in May.'

Question 33

An essay reads: 'The barangay collects trash on Mondays. Until 2018, trucks came only twice a month.' Which phrase makes the tense change acceptable?

Accepted Answer

'Until 2018'

Answer

'on Mondays'

Answer

'only twice a month'

Answer

'the barangay'

Question 34

Every change of tense inside an expository essay is an error that the editor must remove.

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 35

An editor is checking a present-tense essay and finds several past-tense sentences. Which one should stay in the past tense?

Accepted Answer

'In 1991 the volcano buried the town in ash.'

Answer

'The museum opened at nine each morning.'

Answer

'The guide gave the same talk to every group.'

Answer

'Visitors paid the fee at the gate before entering.'

Question 36

An essay states: 'This paper says typhoon for the storm, and tropical cyclone only inside quotations from scientists.' It then follows that rule. Is its terminology inconsistent?

Accepted Answer

No, the essay states a rule and keeps to it.

Answer

Yes, an essay may use only one term for a concept in every case.

Answer

Yes, quotations must be reworded to use the essay's term.

Answer

No, terminology may change whenever the writer prefers.

Question 37

Four drafts describe the same boat trip. Which one needs editing for consistency?

Accepted Answer

'We reach the port at dawn. The boat left an hour later.'

Answer

'We reached the port at dawn. The boat left an hour later.'

Answer

'We reach the port at dawn. The boat leaves an hour later.'

Answer

'We reached the port at dawn, though the boat now leaves at noon.'

Question 38

An essay about a novel keeps the present tense for events in the story and the past tense for the author's life. Is this acceptable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the two tenses describe two different kinds of time.

Answer

No, the whole essay must stay in the present tense.

Answer

No, the whole essay must stay in the past tense.

Answer

Yes, tense may change from sentence to sentence for variety.

Question 39

An essay writes: 'The barangay built a materials recovery facility, or MRF.' It then uses 'MRF' everywhere after that. Is this inconsistent terminology?

Accepted Answer

No, the short form was introduced once and then kept.

Answer

Yes, an abbreviation counts as a second name for the concept.

Answer

Yes, the full term must appear in every paragraph.

Answer

No, any number of names may be used once one is defined.

Question 40

An editor is removing unmotivated shifts from a present-tense essay. Which change should be left in place?

Accepted Answer

A past-tense sentence that begins 'In 2015' about a finished event.

Answer

A second-person sentence inside a third-person paragraph.

Answer

A second name for a concept the essay has already defined.

Answer

A past-tense sentence about a routine the essay states in the present.

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

Editing for Textual Consistency

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

Editing for Textual Consistency

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner