Proofread the given passage on ANSWER SHEET TWO as
instructed. ANSWER SHEET
TWO The passage contains TEN errors. Each
indicated line contains a maximum of ONE error. In each case, only ONE word is
involved. You should proofread the passage and correct it in the following
way: For a wrong word,
underline the wrong word and write the correct one in the blank provided
at the end of the line. For a missing word,
mark the position of the missing word with a "∧" sign and write the word
you believe to be missing in the blank provided at the end of the
line. For an unnecessary word, cross the
unnecessary word with a slash "—’ and put the word in the blank provided at the
end of the line.
A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a
necessity for the United States as settlement spread farther westward. For a
long time the railroad companies met with troubled mechanical problems. The
most (1) ______ serious were the
construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of the safe,
effective stopping system. Once these were solved, (2)
______ and the railroad was established as the best means of land
transportation. (3) ______ By 1860 they had built
thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and
reaching westward in the Mississippi. The high point in railroad
building came by the construction of the (4)
______ first transcontinental railroad. In 1862 Congress had authorized two
(5) ______ railroad companies to
build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting
point so as to complete a transcontinental system. The Central Pacific
Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, the Union Pacific
employed crews of Irish laborers.
(6) ______ The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each tried to
cover a (7)
______ greater distance than the other. In 1869, they met at a place
called Promontory. Many visitors came there for the great occasion.
There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and
the ringing of church bells honor the great achievement.
(8)
______ The railroad was very important in discouraging westward
movement. (9) ______ It also helped build
up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products
rapid to distant markets.
(10) ______