Intermediate parallelism. 45 questions on parallelism in comparisons, correlative conjunctions, and parallel clauses.
What this test covers
- Parallelism in Comparisons
- Correlative Conjunctions
- Parallel Clauses and Phrases
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1The design of this car is superior to ___ of its predecessor.
Answer: B. that
In comparisons, we use 'that' as a pronoun to avoid repeating a singular noun like 'design'. 'Those' would be used for plural nouns, but since we are comparing one design to another, 'that' is the correct parallel choice.
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Q2Either you finish the report by Friday or you ___ it until next week.
Answer: A. postpone
The correlative conjunction 'either... or' connects two parallel clauses. Since the first part uses the present simple 'finish', the second part must also use the present simple 'postpone' to match the subject 'you'.
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Q3Our goal is to increase productivity and ___ waste.
Answer: A. reduce
This sentence uses parallel infinitives. The marker 'to' is often shared by both verbs: 'to increase... and (to) reduce'. 'Reduce' is the base form needed to maintain balance with 'increase'. Using 'reducing' would break the parallel structure.
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Q4The results of the experiment are more accurate than ___ of the previous study.
Answer: D. those
When comparing plural nouns like 'results', we use the pronoun 'those' to avoid repetition. 'That' is incorrect here because it refers to singular nouns. 'Those of' ensures a balanced, logical comparison between the current results and previous results.
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Q5Not only did the team win the match, but they also ___ the tournament.
Answer: D. won
The 'not only... but also' structure connects parallel ideas. The first clause describes a completed past action (did... win), so the second part should use the past simple 'won' to maintain the same time frame and grammatical form.
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Q6I believe that the meeting will be productive and that it ___ on time.
Answer: C. will finish
This sentence uses parallel 'that-clauses' as objects of the verb 'believe'. Since the first clause uses the future tense 'will be', the second clause should use the same future form 'will finish' to stay consistent.
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Q7Cooking a meal at home is often cheaper than ___ at a restaurant.
Answer: B. eating
When comparing activities using 'than', we must use the same grammatical form on both sides. Since the sentence starts with the gerund 'Cooking', we must complete the comparison with the gerund 'eating'.
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Q8Both the Marketing Director and ___ Sales Manager were present.
Answer: A. the
The correlative conjunction 'both... and' joins two parallel noun phrases. Because the first phrase uses the definite article 'the' (the Marketing Director), the second phrase should also include 'the' to maintain balance.
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Q9The workshop focuses on staff communicating and ___ effectively.
Answer: B. listening
The preposition 'on' is followed by a list of gerunds (verb + -ing). To be parallel with 'communicating', we must use 'listening'. Using a base form like 'listen' or an infinitive would break the pattern.
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Q10The population of Tokyo is larger than ___ of Osaka.
Answer: B. that
The singular noun 'population' is being compared. To avoid repetition, we use the singular pronoun 'that'. 'Those' is only used for plural comparisons, such as comparing 'the populations' of multiple cities.
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Q11Whether we decide to expand or ___ to downsize, we need a plan.
Answer: A. choose
The 'whether... or' structure connects two options. Both should use the same verb form. Since 'decide' is a present simple verb, 'choose' is the parallel match. 'Deciding' or 'to choose' would create an ungrammatical imbalance.
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Q12The policy that was drafted and that ___ approved is now effective.
Answer: A. was
The sentence contains two parallel relative clauses describing the 'policy'. Both should use the same passive voice structure in the past tense. 'Was drafted' is parallel with 'was approved'. 'Is' would be the wrong tense, and 'were' is plural.
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Q13Your presentation was better than ___ of the previous speaker.
Answer: D. that
We are comparing 'your presentation' (singular) to the presentation of another person. Use the singular pronoun 'that' to represent the noun 'presentation'. 'Those' would incorrectly imply multiple presentations.
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Q14Neither the students nor the teacher ___ aware of the change.
Answer: B. was
With correlative conjunctions like 'neither... nor', the verb follows the 'proximity rule', meaning it agrees with the subject closest to it. 'The teacher' is singular, so the singular verb 'was' is the correct choice.
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Q15We enjoy learning coding and ___ new software.
Answer: C. designing
The verb 'enjoy' is followed by gerunds. To maintain parallelism with 'learning', we must use the gerund 'designing'. Choice 'to design' (infinitive) or 'design' (base form) would break the required pattern.
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Q16The software is as user-friendly as it is ___.
Answer: A. powerful
The 'as... as' structure compares two qualities of the software. Both must be adjectives. 'User-friendly' is an adjective, so it must be paired with the adjective 'powerful'. The adverb 'powerfully' would be grammatically incorrect here.
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Q17Not only is the hotel luxurious, but it is also ___.
Answer: B. affordable
The 'not only... but also' structure requires parallel parts of speech. 'Luxurious' is an adjective, so the second part must also be an adjective: 'affordable'. 'Affordability' is a noun and does not fit the pattern.
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Q18The report that we received and that we ___ was incomplete.
Answer: D. reviewed
The sentence uses two parallel relative clauses ('that we received' and 'that we reviewed'). Both clauses describe events in the past, so the second verb must be in the past simple 'reviewed' to match 'received'.
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Q19Comparing living in the city to ___ in the suburbs reveals many differences.
Answer: B. working
Parallelism requires matching forms in a comparison. Since the first item is the gerund 'living', the second item must also be a gerund. 'Working' is the only gerund provided in the options.
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Q20The committee finished analyzing the data and ___ the results.
Answer: A. publishing
The verb 'finished' is followed by a gerund 'analyzing'. To maintain parallelism for the second action performed by the committee, we must also use the gerund 'publishing'.
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Q21Either the manager or the supervisor ___ to approve the request.
Answer: A. has
In an 'either... or' construction, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since 'the supervisor' is singular, we use the singular verb 'has'. 'Have' would only be used if the second subject were plural.
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Q22The sales figures for this quarter are higher than ___ of the previous year.
Answer: A. those
The word 'figures' is plural. To avoid repetition in a comparison, we use the plural pronoun 'those'. 'That' would be used for a singular noun like 'revenue' or 'total'.
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Q23Both the CEO and the board members ___ the proposal.
Answer: B. approved
A compound subject joined by 'both... and' is always plural. In this context, we need a finite verb to complete the sentence. 'Approved' functions as a past simple verb that correctly follows the subjects.
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Q24She stated that the project was urgent and that it ___ be finished quickly.
Answer: C. must
The sentence uses parallel 'that-clauses' as reported speech. The first clause uses 'was' (past), and the second needs a modal to maintain the report's structure. 'Must' functions as the auxiliary for 'be finished'.
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Q25Exercising regularly is just as important as ___ enough sleep.
Answer: A. getting
This comparison uses the 'as... as' structure. Since the subject of the sentence is the gerund 'Exercising', the second part of the comparison must also be a gerund: 'getting'.
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Q26Whether you agree or ___, the policy remains.
Answer: B. disagree
The 'whether... or' construction connects two alternatives. Since 'agree' is the base form of the verb (following 'you'), the parallel alternative must also be the base form 'disagree'.
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Q27The project that was proposed and that was ___ failed.
Answer: D. accepted
The sentence contains parallel relative clauses in the passive voice. 'That was proposed' uses the past participle 'proposed', so 'that was accepted' uses the past participle 'accepted'.
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Q28Her performance was better than ___ of her peers.
Answer: D. that
We are comparing 'performance' (a singular noun). The pronoun 'that' is used to represent the singular noun to avoid repetition. 'Those' would be used if the noun were plural, like 'results'.
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Q29Neither the client nor the consultant ___ happy with the outcome.
Answer: A. was
When subjects are joined by 'neither... nor', the verb must agree with the closer subject. 'The consultant' is singular, so the singular verb 'was' is required. 'Were' and 'are' are plural forms.
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Q30Our goal involves streamlining operations and ___ costs.
Answer: A. cutting
The verb 'involves' is followed by gerunds. 'Streamlining' is a gerund, so the second object in the list must also be the gerund 'cutting' to maintain a parallel structure.
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Q31The prices of the flights are higher than ___ of the train tickets.
Answer: C. those
The plural noun 'prices' is being compared. We use the plural pronoun 'those' to refer back to it. 'That' is incorrect because it is singular, and 'these' is used for things physically or temporally closer.
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Q32Either call the office or ___ a message.
Answer: B. leave
This sentence uses the 'either... or' correlative conjunction to give two imperative commands. Since 'call' is the base form used for imperatives, 'leave' must also be in the base form.
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Q33He plans to study law and ___ a career in politics.
Answer: B. pursue
This is a parallel infinitive structure. The 'to' from 'to study' also applies to the second verb. Therefore, we use the base form 'pursue'. Using 'pursues' or 'pursuing' would break the link to the infinitive marker.
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Q34The revenue this year is lower than ___ of last year.
Answer: C. that
Revenue is a singular (uncountable) noun. In a comparison, we use the singular pronoun 'that' to refer back to 'the revenue'. 'Those' is incorrect because it only refers to plural nouns.
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Q35Not only did she write the report, but she also ___ it.
Answer: A. presented
The 'not only... but also' structure must balance two past actions. The first part (did... write) indicates the past, so the second part should use the past simple 'presented' for consistency.
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Q36They confirmed that the site is secure and that it ___ open to the public.
Answer: C. is
This sentence contains parallel 'that-clauses'. The first clause uses the present simple 'is secure'. To be parallel, the second clause should also use the present simple 'is open'.
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Q37Writing an email is faster than ___ a letter by hand.
Answer: C. writing
Comparisons using 'than' require parallel grammar. Since 'Writing' (a gerund) is the subject of the comparison, we must use the gerund 'writing' after 'than' as well.
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Q38Both the equipment and ___ software are outdated.
Answer: D. the software
The 'both... and' structure joins two noun phrases. Since the first phrase is 'the equipment' (noun with definite article), the second should be 'the software' to remain parallel.
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Q39The goal is to maximize profit and ___ waste.
Answer: A. minimize
This is a parallel infinitive structure: 'to maximize... and (to) minimize'. We use the base form 'minimize' because it shares the infinitive marker 'to' with the first verb.
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Q40The exports of this country are higher than ___ of its neighbors.
Answer: B. those
The plural noun 'exports' is the subject of the comparison. We use the plural pronoun 'those' to refer back to 'the exports' of the neighbors. 'That' would be singular.
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Q41Whether we stay or ___, we will be fine.
Answer: D. go
The 'whether... or' construction connects two parallel choices. Since 'stay' is a present simple base form verb, the parallel choice must also be the base form 'go'.
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Q42The book that I borrowed and that I ___ was excellent.
Answer: D. read
The sentence uses two parallel relative clauses to describe 'the book'. Both describe past actions performed by 'I'. 'Read' (the past simple form) is parallel with the past simple 'borrowed'.
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Q43Your car is faster than ___ of my friend.
Answer: B. that
We are comparing 'your car' (singular) to the car of a friend. Use the singular pronoun 'that' to replace the repeated noun 'car'. 'Those' would only be correct for plural items like 'cars'.
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Q44Neither the flight nor the hotel ___ confirmed.
Answer: B. was
With 'neither... nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the proximity rule). 'Hotel' is singular, so we use the singular verb 'was'. 'Were' and 'are' are plural forms.
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Q45The aim is to improve quality and ___ service levels.
Answer: C. raise
This sentence uses a parallel infinitive structure: 'to improve... and (to) raise'. The base form 'raise' is required to match 'improve' after the shared infinitive marker 'to'.
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