New SAT Writing and Language : New SAT Writing and Language
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for New SAT Writing and Language
All New SAT Writing and Language Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Adding And Deleting Sentences
Evolutionary biologists have long believed that Canis lupus familiaris, the modern dog, is a direct evolutionary descendant of Canis lupus, the gray wolf. Recent developments in genomic sequencing have helped substantiate this belief, as the genetic differences which distinguish dogs from wolves can now be catalogued and studied at the smallest possible scale. [1] Data extrapolated from genomic sequencing now suggests that dogs were domesticated approximately 15,000 years ago.
At this point, the writer is considering adding the following sentence:
Archaeological evidence has long indicated that dogs, as we know them today, have existed for at least 14,000 years.
Should the writer make this addition here?
No, because it blurs the paragraph’s focus on the steps involved in genomic sequencing.
Yes, because it provides a further example of how existing beliefs about dogs have been supported by genomic sequencing.
No, because it undermines the paragraph’s claim that dogs have negligible genetic differences from wolves.
Yes, because it explains why humans were not involved in the domestication of wolves.
Yes, because it provides a further example of how existing beliefs about dogs have been supported by genomic sequencing.
With questions that ask about adding sentences, answers can be eliminated on two bases—incorrect decision, and incorrect reasoning. We need to decide whether the sentence should be added as well as why or why not. In this example, the “No” choice which mentions the “steps involved in genomic sequencing” is incorrect, as discussion of the details of the process is entirely absent from the paragraph. The remaining “No” answer, which alludes to a claim that dogs and wolves have “negligible genetic differences,” has no basis in evidence, as the paragraph mentions that these differences exist, but does not suggest that they are negligible. The “Yes” choice which mentions an explanation for why “humans were not involved in the domestication of wolves” can also be thrown out, as the information presented in the sentence has no connection to this claim, and the paragraph makes no mention of domestication. Accordingly, the “Yes” choice with which we’re left is correct, as it correctly identifies how the detail of “archaeological evidence” connects to the claim about genomic sequencing data which follows.
Example Question #11 : Adding And Deleting Sentences
With increasing frequency, those who hope to work professionally in computer science are forgoing the traditional route to a career in tech—enrolling at a university in hopes eventually of securing an internship—in favor of a more modern approach. [1] Much instructional material for computer science is available for free online, and several websites have emerged offering accelerated courses in coding at a fraction of the cost of a university education. A growing number of those hired by tech giants like Google and Facebook each year have no “formal” background in computer science, but nonetheless perform at or above the level of their college-educated coworkers.
At this point, the writer is considering adding the following sentence:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has one of the best computer science programs in the country, offering concentrations in a number of specific technical areas.
Should the writer make this addition here?
No, because it undermines the paragraph’s claim that universities should be free.
No, because it blurs the paragraph’s focus on alternatives to a traditional university education.
Yes, because it helps to explain why Google and Facebook employ graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Yes, because it provides a detail about modern trends in technology.
No, because it blurs the paragraph’s focus on alternatives to a traditional university education.
With questions that ask about adding sentences, answers can be eliminated on two bases—incorrect decision, and incorrect reasoning. We need to decide whether the sentence should be added as well as why or why not. In this example, the “Yes” choice which mentions “modern trends in technology” can be eliminated, as the paragraph focuses on trends in the path to a career in technology, but makes no mention of trends in technology itself. The remaining “Yes” choice which claims that the detail explains “Google and Facebook” employing graduates misunderstands a supporting detail in the paragraph, which actually claims that tech giants have begun hiring those without university educations with more frequency. The “No” choice which mentions a claim that “universities should be free” is entirely unsupported, as the paragraph does not advocate for free college, but rather explains that free alternatives to college are becoming increasingly popular. The remaining “No” choice correctly notes that the detail in the sentence is irrelevant and unnecessary to the paragraph’s claim about alternatives to a university education.
Example Question #444 : New Sat
[1] The job of CRM archaeologists is to identify the potential cultural significance of a site and then document and preserve any artifacts of historical or cultural significance. [2] The surplus of people who want to work in archaeology has meant that the majority of archaeologists aren’t employed by universities or museums, but by construction companies and the government. [3] Most archaeology positions in today’s economy are for what are referred to as a “cultural resource management” archaeologists, or CRM archaeologists, who are often involved in building projects as representatives of the state, Native American tribes, and historical societies. [4] While part of this analysis might involve starting a dig at the site in question to find relevant artifacts, much of this research process requires CRM archaeologists to consult historical records and talk to members of the community where the building process has been proposed. 1
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 1 should be placed
after sentence 2.
where it is now.
before sentence 4.
after sentence 4.
before sentence 4.
Whenever you are looking to rearrange a paragraph, you should look at the content of the sentence that you're moving and see if it provides any information that either must be preceded by information in the passage in order to make sense or must come before other information in the passage in order to adequately explain it. In this case, you are told that a CRM archaeologist's job is to look at the potential historical significance of different sites. However, you don't yet know what a CRM archaeologist is, so the sentence has to come after the term is defined in sentence 3. This means that the sentence must come either before or after sentence 4. And since you need some sort of explanation as to what the "analysis" means in sentence 4, sentence 1 must be placed before sentence 4.
Example Question #1 : Ordering Sentences
The Sagrada Familia has stood, incomplete, as part of the Barcelona skyline since the early phases of its construction in 1882. The project, originally intended to be a cathedral in the gothic style, was begun by the bookseller Joseph Maria Bocabella under the direction of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. Del Villar and Bocabella imagined a basilica modeled on the Gothic revival churches Bocabella had seen on trips to Italy. However, Bocabella’s ideal basilica never came to be. In 1883 del Villar resigned from the project, and 30-year old Antoni Gaudi, a young but already well known architect from Catalonia, took over as lead architect.
[1] By the time Gaudi died in 1926, the basilica was only somewhere between 15 and 20 percent complete. [2] Gaudi decided to depart from del Villar’s original Gothic design in favor of a more modern design. [3] The new design was ambitious, featuring eighteen tall spires and four different facades on different sides of the basilica. [4] But work on the new building was slow. [5] Decades passed, and the work was still incomplete. [6] In 1915, Gaudi - now 63 years old - abandoned all other work in favor of dedicating himself to the completion of the monumental church, but progress on the building was still slow. [7] When pressured to speed up work on the monumental building, Gaudi was said to have replied, “My client is not in a hurry.”
To make this paragraph as logical as possible, sentence 1 should be placed
where it is now.
after sentence 4.
after sentence 7.
before sentence 5.
after sentence 7.
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Since this paragraph is about Gaudi's work on the Sagrada Familia, a sentence about Gaudi's death should be the last sentence that talks about Gaudi's work. The last sentence that talks about Gaudi's work on the basilica is sentence 7, which talks about Gaudi's response to the criticism that the work was too slow. The sentence about his death must come after that, making, "after sentence 7", the only logical answer.
Example Question #1 : Ordering Sentences
[1] The first video game was created in a lab by scientists in the early 1950s. [2] British professor A. S. Douglas created a virtual tic-tac-toe as part of his doctoral dissertation in 1952. [3] Later, in 1958, William Higinbotham created “Tennis for Two” on a very large computer, completely different from what we are used to today. [4] In 1967, the first multiplayer game that could be played on a television was created, called “The Brown Box.” [5] In 1962, Steve Russell created “Spacewar!” which was a computer-based combat game.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 5 should be placed
After sentence 1
After sentence 3
Where it is now
After sentence 2
After sentence 3
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Since this paragraph is about the history of video games, The years are specifically listed, and chronologically speaking, sentence 5 would be best after sentence 3 and before sentence 4. Sentence 4 discusses the year 1967, while sentence 5 discusses the year 1962.
Example Question #2 : Ordering Sentences
[1] Renewable energy is said to be the way of the future. [2] Many different forms of renewable energy are currently being researched and implemented, including wind power, solar power, and hydroelectric power. [3] Solar energy is most commonly collected through photovoltaic solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into usable electricity. [4] Wind power, or wind energy, creates electricity through the wind that occurs naturally in the earth’s atmosphere. [5] Hydroelectric power, or water power, allows us to collect water energy through propellers, such as turbines, which turns a metal shaft in an electric generator, producing electricity.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 3 should be placed
After sentence 5
After sentence 4
Where it is now
After sentence 1
After sentence 4
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in sequential order. The passage lists the sources of renewable energy in the order of “wind power, solar power, and hydroelectric power,” therefore, for the sake of coherence, the details regarding the listed sources should follow the same order. Sentence 3 further elaborates on solar power, while sentence 4 elaborates on wind power. Since wind power was the first item in the list, the explanations must also follow the same order.
Example Question #21 : Rhetoric: Sentences: Paragraphs
[1] Goosebumps are a trait inherited from our animal ancestors many generations ago. [2] They are a physiological reaction in which small muscles attached to body hair contract, causing the hair to stand up. [3] The coat of body hair rises to expand the layer of air that serves as insulation. [4] However, the name comes from the way the skin resembles that of a goose after the feathers have been plucked. [5] Goosebumps can be caused whenever the body feels cold or in many animals when they feel threatened.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 5 should be placed
After sentence 2
After sentence 1
After sentence 3
Where it is now
After sentence 3
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always looks for a logical flow of ideas. Sentences 2 and 3 discuss what goosebumps are - a physiological reaction that helps insulate - and sentence 5 continues on that, listing possible causes for goosebumps. Sentence 4 has a transition that provides a detail regarding the origin of the name, no longer discussing the causes of goosebumps.
Example Question #211 : New Sat Writing And Language
[1] Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Physics, and years later, her second award in Chemistry made her the first person to win two Nobel Prizes. [2] Madame Curie worked endlessly with her husband, Pierre, discovering polonium and radium together, landing them the Nobel Prize shortly after in 1903. [3] Following Pierre’s death in 1911, Madame Curie went on to develop X-rays. [4] Pierre and Marie’s eldest daughter, Irène, followed in their footsteps, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935. [5] Marie Curie passed away in 1934, caused by prolonged exposure to radiation through her work.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 5 should be placed
After sentence 1
After sentence 2
After sentence 3
Where it is now
After sentence 3
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Sentence 5 discusses Marie Curie’s passing in 1934, while sentence 4 discusses Irène’s success in 1935. Since the paragraph should be in chronological order, 1934 came before 1935, therefore sentence 5 should be placed before sentence 4.
Example Question #451 : New Sat
[1] In 2013, British scientists conducted an experiment to see the effects of how chewing bubble gum helps keep focus on tasks longer with both visual and auditory memory tasks. [2] In a study of 38 participants split into two groups, completing a 30 minute audio task involving numbers. [3] The groups were scored on their ability to accurately and quickly detect a sequence of even and odd numbers. [4] One group completed the task while chewing gum, while the other group did not chew gum at any time during the experiment. [5] The results showed that those who chewed gum while completing the task had quicker reaction times, more accurate results, and longer stamina than the participants who did not chew gum.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 3 should be placed
After sentence 4
After sentence 5
After sentence 1
Where it is now
After sentence 4
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always looks for a logical flow of the ordering of the sentences. Sentence 2 discusses what the tasks were, sentence 3 talks about the basis of the groups scores, while sentence 4 discusses how the tasks were completed, which should follow sentence 2. Sentence 3 shows how each group was scored and sentence 5 explains the results, therefore sentence 3 should follow sentence 4 and come before sentence 5 in this context.
Example Question #212 : New Sat Writing And Language
[1] Nintendo is a Japanese Company that took over the American gaming market, introducing games with memorable characters such as Super Mario Brothers, Pokemon, and more. [2] Nintendo was the first major company to introduce a handheld system: the Gameboy. [3] Prior to the Gameboy, Nintendo had released the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, as console systems. [4] Following Nintendo’s release of the innovative console and handheld systems, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo 64, Nintendo Gamecube, and upgraded the Gameboy to the Gameboy Color, and later, the Gameboy Advanced in the mid-1990s to early 2000s. [5] Nintendo continued to break barriers in the mid-to-late 2000s and 2010s with the introduction of the DS (or duel screen), the first handheld system with a touch screen; the Wii, the first console with motion sensors and more active games; and the Nintendo Switch, the first system to be both handheld and console-based, allowing users to switch between the two at their leisure.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 5 should be placed
After sentence 2
After sentence 3
Where it is now
After sentence 1
Where it is now
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Sentence 4 discusses the console and handheld systems of the mid-1990s. Sentence 5 discusses the innovative consoles of the mid-to-late 2000s, thus following the chronological order of the passage.
All New SAT Writing and Language Resources
