Copyright © 1998 by the author.
May be reproduced, but only in its entirety
(including this copyright notice),
with no changes or omissions whatsoever.

For each pair of sentences below, both sentences have correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. But their meanings differ, so that each question has an unambiguous answer.

 

1)

Jill started the system shutdown this morning.
John started the system shut down this morning.

Who restarted the system, Jill or John?

 

2)

The employees of Alphatron who were recently hired have been laid off.
The employees of Omegatron, who were recently hired, have been laid off.

Which company is less stable, Alphatron or Omegatron?

 

3)

Speaker A: Welcome. My cousin Jesse will be here soon.
Speaker B: Welcome. My cousin, Jean will be here soon.

Which speaker's cousin is closer by?

 

4)

Speaker A: Have Chris and me take the next train.
Speaker B: Have Chris and I take the next train.

Which speaker is jealous?

 

5)

Speaker A: I trust it's beginning.
Speaker B: I trust its beginning.

Which speaker expects an imminent event?

 

6)

Kim was virtually scared shitless by the Republican convention.
Pat was literally scared shitless by the Republican convention.

Whom would you rather sit next to, Kim or Pat?

 

7)

Jane drives her mother's car.
Bob drives his mothers' car.

Whose family is more contemporary, Jane's or Bob's?

 

8)

Speaker A: I see the French pirates' treasure getting buried.
Speaker B: I see the English pirates treasure getting buried.

Which pirates are more peculiar, the French or the English?

 

9)

Bill just has no effect.
Mary just has no affect.

Who feels more frustration, Bill or Mary?

 

10)

Dr. Smith's treatment affected the patients' injuries.
Dr. Jones's treatment effected the patients' injuries.

Whom would you rather be treated by, Smith or Jones?

 

11)

Beth's hat is unique.
Tom's hat is extremely unusual.

Which hat is like more others, Beth's or Tom's?

 

12)

Jim's hat complements his shoes.
Ann's hat compliments her shoes.

Which hat is like more others, Jim's or Ann's?

 

13)

If they would have stolen Jane's car, the alarm would have sounded.
If they had stolen Bob's car, the alarm would have sounded.

Whose car alarm is more sophisticated, Jane's or Bob's?

 

[end of quiz]
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