New SAT Writing and Language : New SAT

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for New SAT Writing and Language

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Organization Words

Niche constructors are particularly important in colonizing new environments. One of the easiest ways to measure this effect on evolution has been in the effect that the number of earthworms has on soil fertility, a measure of how hospitable an environment is to plant growth. Even the least fertile soil has around 62 worms per square meter, and as the number of worms increases so does soil fertility. As worms move through the different layers of soil, they eat, digest, and excrete massive amounts of organic matter. They leave their excretions behind in the form of nutrient-rich droppings known as casings. As these casings decompose, they release nutrients into the soil. This process not only moves nutrients from one layer of the soil to another but also converts the nutrients to forms that plants can absorb and process more easily. Because it is easier for plants to get the proper nutrients, plants don’t have to invest time and energy into making better root systems to gather nutrients. 1 Therefore, plants have, over time, lost some of these mechanisms – a form of evolution. 

Possible Answers:

In fact,

As a result,

NO CHANGE

Nevertheless,

Correct answer:

As a result,

Explanation:

As with the previous question, to pick the best transition you need to be able to understand the sentence before and the sentence you are transitioning to. The previous sentence states that plants don't have to work as hard to get nutrients because of changes to the soil. The current sentence states that plants have lost the ability to work hard. The second sentence is not just a continuation of the first - it's a consequence. The only answer that shows this relationship is, "as a result."

Example Question #5 : Organization Words

Since 1988, the mission of molecular gastronomy has shifted. Kurti and This originally sought to investigate “kitchen old wives’ tales,” invent new recipes, improve old ones, and make the case to the public that science was a useful part of everyday life. Even if their experiments weren’t intended to be replicated in home kitchens, they were intended to encourage home cooks to experiment. Today, molecular gastronomists seek to explore the social, artistic, and technical aspects of food preparation. Some have argued that this shift in focus, along with the fact that techniques in molecular gastronomy have so far surpassed what any home cook could do, means that molecular gastronomy has lost its ability to impact how the world cooks at home.

 To these ends, the belief in experimentation lives on outside the world of molecular gastronomy. Cooking magazines and websites now often have what are called “test kitchens” – departments dedicated not only to testing new recipes but also to improving techniques and testing uses for kitchen implements themselves. These test kitchens have taken the spirit of experimentation from Kurti and This’s early work and have applied it to everything from the best way to make fried chicken to the ideal temperature at which to bake chocolate chip cookies. While these experiments might not involve lab equipment, they have fulfilled one of Kurti and This’s early dreams: they show the importance of scientific thinking outside of the halls of science.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Despite this criticism,

 As a result,

In light of this criticism,

Correct answer:

Despite this criticism,

Explanation:

As with other transition phrases, you should look at the sentence before and the sentence containing the transition and determine their relationship in order to correctly answer this problem. The sentence before talks about the criticism that molecular gastronomy no longer affects how the world cooks at home. The sentence containing the transition states that experimentation lives on outside of molecular gastronomy. While this isn't a direct contrast, it is a contrast. The only transition that correctly indicates this contrast is answer choice "Despite this criticism."

Example Question #11 : Rhetoric: Words And Phrases

People looking to eat a healthy diet would be well advised to look beyond the advertised benefits of food products.  For example, most products labeled “fat free” or “low fat” contain large amounts of carbohydrates and starches, elements that don’t qualify as “fat” themselves but that nonetheless lead to weight gain and obesity.  For instance, ingredients like sugar and corn syrup are more likely to lead to weight gain than are many ingredients with large amounts of fat.  Accordingly, those people interested in eating “healthy” would be well advised to look more closely at all the ingredients and nutritional facts on a product’s packaging, not just at the advertising language that trumpets a particular attribute.​

Possible Answers:

As an illustration

Moreover

Therefore

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

Moreover

Explanation:

When looking to understand what type of transition terminology best fits in the underlined portion of the sentence, context should guide our analysis. Here, we begin the paragraph with a conclusion, followed by an example in support of the conclusion that begins “for example.” So, it would be illogical to continue the paragraph with another “for example.” We need a continuation term, rather than an initial example term. So, “for instance” and “as an illustration” can both be eliminated. It’s also worth keeping in mind that when two answers can be used in identically the same context, we should be suspicious of both answers, since they cannot both be correct, and it's way more likely that there's something wrong with both options. Here, example terminology does not fit the context, and nor does the conclusion language “therefore.” Our correct answer, “moreover” correctly expresses the continuation of the following sentence, and is the only appropriate option.

Example Question #1 : Organization Words

“Scientists who study fluids know that they produce fractal patterns,” said Taylor. Once he confirmed that they were fractals, he ran a test that enabled him to quantify how complicated the fractal patterns were—1 is a not-very-complex fractal and 2 is highly complex. He did this because his team had a wealth of historic data from when Rorschach tests were used to as a psychological exam—they could compare the fractal complexity of a Rorschach blot with the number of images people tended to see in them. What they found was that the more fractal complexity an image had, the fewer images people claimed to spot.


This matters because fractals are all over nature: trees, coastlines, clouds are all fractal. Conversely, when a Rorschach blot has a simple fractal pattern, it could look like a lot of different things that we see in the natural world. As the image gets increasingly complex, the number of things it might resemble goes down. But what’s puzzling is the fact that our brain does this at all.

Possible Answers:

However

Alternatively

NO CHANGE

Consequently

Correct answer:

Consequently

Explanation:

In this example, we’re being tested on meaning and the use of an appropriate transition word to convey a meaning that is logical. Here, the portion before the underline serves as evidence or cause for the portion after the underline. So, “consequently” is the appropriate term, as it expresses the cause-effect relationship between the fact that “fractals are all over nature: trees, coastlines, clouds are all fractal” and that “when a Rorschach blot has a simple fractal pattern, it could look like a lot of different things that we see in the natural world.” All other answers seem to present a point of contrast. This should immediately throw a red flag in this question, as two or more answers cannot both/all be correct, so if they seem to play the same role, there’s a far better chance that there’s something problematic with both/all of them - as is the case here.

Example Question #171 : New Sat Writing And Language

Despite the warnings of environmental scientists, the waterfront building project has not yet had an adverse effect on the riverbed ecosystem.​

Possible Answers:

Taking into account

Against​

NO CHANGE

Because of

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

In this example, we’re being tested on meaning and the use of an appropriate transition word to convey a meaning that is logical. Since the fact that the waterfront building project hasn’t had an adverse effect seems to be countering the warnings of environmental scientists, we need a contrast term, and can thus eliminate “because of” and “taking into account.” Additionally, both “taking into account” and “against” seem to attribute agency to the waterfront building project and suggest that it is choosing not to have an adverse effect - an illogical construction. Our correct answer and original construction “despite” effectively expresses the necessary contrast without falsely attributing agency to the building project, and is thus logical.

Example Question #3 : Organization Words

Studies have linked literacy to a variety of both individual and societal benefits. However, in an increasingly digital and fast-paced world, emphasis on and access to literacy and literary-building resources have decreased over the past several years. Additionally, to combat this important issue, we should reallocate public funds to resources such as the public library and school reading clubs and competitions.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

However

Therefore

Nonetheless

Correct answer:

Therefore

Explanation:

In this example, we’re being tested on meaning and the use of an appropriate transition word to convey a meaning that is logical. If we utilize the surrounding context, we can see that the author presents a call to action in the sentence introduced by the transition in our underlined portion. So, we need conclusion language to introduce this call to action. Only “therefore,” our correct answer, provides us with this conclusion language. Our original construction falsely suggests that the sentence that follows provides additional support/evidence, and both “however” and “nonetheless” present a contrast term that doesn’t fit our context. It’s also worth noting that if two answer choices seem to play the same role, they cannot feasibly both be correct - so there’s a good chance there’s something wrong with both, and we’ll want to be suspicious of cases where two answer choices seem identical in application.

Example Question #13 : Rhetoric: Words And Phrases

Video games are commonly associated with addictive and potentially violent tendencies in young children. However, there is far more evidence to suggest that video games, in moderation, help children to develop cognitive and social skills.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Furthermore

Hence

Additionally

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

In this example, we’re being tested on meaning and the use of an appropriate transition word to convey a meaning that is logical. In order to do so, we’ll want to look at the relationship between the sentence before the transition word at hand and the sentence that follows. In this case, the fact that “video games are commonly associated with addictive and potentially violent tendencies in young children” seems to contrast with the following sentence suggesting that “there is far more evidence to suggest that video games, in moderation, help children to develop cognitive and social skills.” So, we need a contrast term to address this connection. “Additionally” and “furthermore” both provide a continuation term, which would not be appropriate in this context. “Hence” suggests that what follows is a conclusion based on the earlier sentence, which would also be illogical. In this case, the original construction, “however” is the only option that appropriately expresses the contrast between the perceived negative impacts of video games and the evidence provided about the potential positive factors.

Example Question #1 : Redundancy

After Gaudi’s death, work stalled between 1936 and 1940 when Civil War broke out in Spain and again as World War II began, leaving the project years behind schedule. During the wars, Catalan anarchists destroyed part of the basilica and the models and designs Gaudi left for the builders, 1 who disagreed with the direction the building should take. It took years for the project to get back on track; once it was, it was impossible to know whether additional construction would match Gaudi’s vision.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

who were still years behind schedule in finishing the basilica.

who were forced to reconstruct what plans they could, an arduous and time-consuming process.

although later some of the original work would be rediscovered.

Correct answer:

who were forced to reconstruct what plans they could, an arduous and time-consuming process.

Explanation:

Whenever the SAT presents you with answer choices that are all grammatically correct but that have different meanings, they are looking for you to pick the answer that logically completes the sentence but that is not redundant. You are told that the builders were years behind schedule, meaning that it is unnecessary to repeat this information in the following sentence, allowing you to eliminate "who were still years behind schedule in finishing the basilica." Choice "although later some of the original work would be rediscovered." doesn't fit with the information given in the following sentence. If some of the original work could be rediscovered, that doesn't have any effect on how long the project took to get back on track. Similarly, NO CHANGE doesn't explain why it took years for the project to get back on track. Only "who were forced to reconstruct what plans they could, an arduous and time-consuming process." explains this delay. The builders had to reconstruct the plan, which cost them time, logically linking one sentence to another.

Example Question #1 : Redundancy

The Sagrada Familia, one of the most iconic structures in Barcelona, remains unfinished, a constant work-in-progress in the Barcelona skyline. Despite these setbacks, it is open to the public for both religious services and tourism, attracting over three million visitors a year. In fact, tourist entrance fees now pay for annual construction costs 1 each year now that it is open to the public

Possible Answers:

each year, now that it is open to the public

because it is now open to the public

NO CHANGE

DELETE the underlined portion

Correct answer:

DELETE the underlined portion

Explanation:

Whenever you have the option to delete the underlined portion, the first thing you should look for is redundancy. Does the underlined portion give information that is also given elsewhere in the sentence or that is given nearby? The previous sentence gives the information that the Sagrada Familia is open to the public. All of the choices repeat this information and can be eliminated, leaving you with "DELETE the underlined portion".

Example Question #2 : Redundancy

United States presidents William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, both originally natives of Charles City County, Virginia, share a unique place in American history.

Possible Answers:

originally native

NO CHANGE

natives

natives, originally,

Correct answer:

natives

Explanation:

In this example, it’s important to note that the term “native” means “originally from.” If we keep this in mind, we can begin to see the redundancy involved in any example that utilizes both the term “originally” and the term “native.” With this noted, the only option that eliminates this redundancy is “natives.” Whenever one of our answer options chose to simply eliminate a portion of the phrase, we want to consider the possibility that redundancy is being tested and ensure that each term adds unique value in the sentence.

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