PSAT Writing : Correcting Ambiguity and Redundancy Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #2942 : Sat Writing
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 cellist was quite young to have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
have chosen that kind of honor.
having been chosen for that kind of an honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
being chosen for such an honor.
have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely confusing, and can be improved via simplification. Importantly, the simplification needs to convey the same intended meaning the sentence has as written. The answer choice that best simplifies while also keeping the sentence's meaning and being grammatically correct is "be chosen for such an honor."
Example Question #193 : 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.
That which was the point which was most contentious was strenuously avoided during the debates.
That which was most contentious
The point that was most contentious
That which was the point which was most contentious
The most contentious point
That was the point which was most contentious
The most contentious point
The underlined portion of the sentence is confusing, awkward, and overly wordy, meaning it can be simplified. In being simplified, though, the sentence needs to remain grammatically correct and retain its intended meaning. "The most contentious point" is the answer choice that does the best job of simplifying the sentence while retaining its intended meaning.
Example Question #52 : 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.
Before the passage of the bill, hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
almost no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
The original text contains a redundancy error. We don't need "currently" and "modern" because each implies the other, so any answer choices containing both of these words are incorrect.
The only other answer choices that get rid of the word "currently" are "hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system" and "hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system." Of those answer choices, however, only the one containing "could have foreseen" uses the correct tense.
Example Question #51 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
The children couldn't sleep, and the reason for this is that they were too excited about their upcoming vaction.
sleep, the reason being that
sleep, and the reason for this is that
sleep because
sleep, and therefore
sleep and so
sleep because
The children's excitement is the cause of their unability to sleep, not the other way around, so we can eliminate the answers containing "therefore" and "so." "Because" is the best of the remaining answers because it is more direct and less wordy than the others.
Example Question #52 : Correcting Ambiguity And Redundancy Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
The downpour of rain, soaking us all, was very sudden.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
We were all soaked by the downpour of rain, which was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain, which soaked us all.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
The best answer is the most concise, has no interrupting phrases, and uses the active voice.
Example Question #371 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
Many food products that are marketed as “natural” or “healthy,” which lures in health-conscious consumers, but these claims are meaningless because they do not reflect any standardized guidelines.
“healthy,” and these claims lure in
“healthy,” and these claims are luring in
“healthy” lure in
“healthy,” which lures in
“healthy,” luring in
“healthy” lure in
The best answer is the most concise and straightforward phrasing.
Example Question #533 : 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 boy having been the one who found the letter, received the reward.
The boy was one who found the letter,
The boy had been the one who found the letter
The boy having found the letter
The boy having been the one who found the letter,
The boy who found the letter
The boy who found the letter
The underlined portion of the sentence is convoluted and awkward, which makes its meaning difficult to understand. The same idea can be found in a much simpler form. "The boy who found the letter" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #56 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The museum specialized in the art which was the style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art which was the style most popular in the century that was earliest.
the art which was the style which was most popular in the earliest part of the century.
the art that was the style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century.
the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely convoluted and too wordy, meaning it desperately needs to be simplified. The goal of such a simplification, though, must be to keep the intended meaning of the sentence and be gramatically incorrect. The only answer choice that appropriately does both tasks is "the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century."
Example Question #534 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
He hung all of the data, maps, and photos of the key suspects on the wall with the purpose of being able to visualize any potential patterns.
purposefully being able to visualize
so he could visualize
with the purpose of being able to visualize
with the purpose of visualizing
so being able to visualize
so he could visualize
The best answer is the simplest and most concise.
Example Question #535 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The earliest known evidence for fermented drinks pre-dates the inventing by people of writing.
the inventing by people of writing.
people's invention of writing.
the inventing of people by writing.
the inventing of writing by people.
the invention by people of writing.
people's invention of writing.
The underlined portion of the sentence is written in a lengthy and confusing manner. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choices. The best answer choice is "people's invention of writing."
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