PSAT Writing : Correcting Ambiguity and Redundancy Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #491 : Improving Sentences
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The day's events made many people question the things with which they had previously held quite dear.
the things with which they had previously held quite dear.
the things which they had previously held quite dear.
the things they having had previously held quite dear.
the things they previously held quite dear.
the things with they previously held quite dear.
the things they previously held quite dear.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely overwrought and fairly unclear. Specifically, "had" and "held" make two verbs in the dependent clause, and a sense of repetition permeates the phrase. The best simplification that also keeps the intended meaning of the sentence is "the things they previously held quite dear."
Example Question #21 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
That which was the element that had been debated in the session was set aside for further discussion during the next session.
The element debated in the session
That which was the element that had been debated in the session
That element that had been debates in the session
The element which being debated
Element debated in session
The element debated in the session
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and overwrought, and needs to be greatly simplified. The simplification should not change the sentence's intended meaning or introduce any grammatical errors. "The element debated in the session" is the answer choice that does this best.
Example Question #22 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolved, no one may leave the room.
Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolving,
Until the issue which is being discussed previously is resolved,
Until the previous issue which has been discussed is being resolved,
Until the issue which has been discussed previously is resolved,
Until the previously discussed issue is resolved,
Until the previously discussed issue is resolved,
The underlined phrase is strangely written, with an uneccessary use of the passive voice and some overwrought phrasing. The sentence can be improved by rewording and simplifying the phrase, but any simplification needs to keep the sentence's meaning intact. "Until the previously discussed issue is resolved," is the answer choice that best simplifies the sentence.
Example Question #23 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Being that which had been the one that had made the mistake, the oldest child was brought to task for it.
Having made the mistake,
Having been the one that had made the mistake,
Being the one that had made the mistake,
Being one that made the mistake,
Being that which had been the one that had made the mistake,
Having made the mistake,
The underlined portion of the sentence is much too complicated and confusing, and needs to be simplified. Almost all of the confusing and redundant phrases can be taken out of the underlined portion while keeping the meaning of the sentence intact, leaving "Having made the mistake," as the best answer choice.
Example Question #24 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Having been that which was questioned by everyone who was in attendance, the song was taken out of the show after previews.
Having been questioned by everyone in attendance,
Having been that questioned by everyone in attendance,
Being questioned by everyone who was in attendance,
Being that which was questioned by everyone in attendance,
Having which questioned by everyone who was in attendance,
Having been questioned by everyone in attendance,
The underlined portion of the sentence is wordy and needs to be simplified. The sentence also needs to retain its intended meaning and be grammatically correct after being simplified. "Having been questioned by everyone in attendance," is the only answer choice that appropriately achieves all of this.
Example Question #25 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Having been suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time, the woman avoided discussing the past.
Having been suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time,
Suffering from pain and indignity for which is a long time,
Suffering from pain and indignity for that which was a long time,
Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time,
Having been suffering from pain and indignity that was a long time,
Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time,
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely overwrought and confusingly long. The sentence needs to be simplified while retaining the same meaning and remaining grammatically correct. "Having been suffering from pain and indignity for a long time," is the answer choice which best achieves both goals.
Example Question #26 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Having been that which was the thing that everyone wanted, the toy flew off the shelves.
Being what everyone wanted,
Having been that which everyone wanted,
Being the thing that which everyone wanted,
Having been that which was the thing that everyone wanted,
Having been that was everyone wanted,
Being what everyone wanted,
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and needs to be simplified. When it is being simplified, though, the original intended meaning of the sentence must be preserved, and the correct answer choice must also be grammatically correct. Thus, "Being what everyone wanted" is the best answer choice.
Example Question #161 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Being that which was the thing which he had sought, the man bought the ring immediately.
Being that thing which he had sought,
Being that which he had sought,
Being what he sought,
Being that which was the thing which he had sought,
Being the thing which he had sought,
Being what he sought,
The sentence, as it is written, is extremely overwrought and too wordy, meaning it needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence needs to retain its intended meaning and be grammatically correct. "Being what he sought," is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #28 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The shopkeeper made sure to keep those which were the things which the customers most requested.
the things customers most requested.
those which things customers most requested.
those which were the things which the customers most requested.
those were things customers most requested.
those which were things customers most requested.
the things customers most requested.
The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy, and needs its repetitive and unnecessary parts excised. While being simplified, however, the sentence needs to remain grammatically correct and keep its intended meaning. The answer choice that best does this is "the things customers most requested."
Example Question #29 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the troops was now missing.
That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the troops
The thing guarded closely by most troops
That thing which was most closely guarded by the troops
That which had been the thing most closely guarded by the troops
The thing most closely guarded by the troops
The thing most closely guarded by the troops
The sentence is extremely overwrought and excessively wordy, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence also needs to remain grammatically correct and keep the same intended meaning. "The thing most closely guarded by the troops" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both of these goals.
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