PSAT Writing : Correcting Ambiguity and Redundancy Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #201 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Having been seen to be a figure like a prophet, his writings were well preserved by his followers.
Having seen a figure like a prophet
Being seen like prophet figure
Being seen as a prophet-like figure
Having been seen to be a figure like a prophet
Having been seen as a prophet-like
Being seen as a prophet-like figure
The underlined portion of the sentence is awkwardly worded and confusing. Rge entire phrase needs to be cleaned up and simplified. "Being seen as a prophet-like figure" is the answer choice that best simplifies the wording without changing its meaning.
Example Question #201 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Under condition of anonymity, the informant gave the testimony against the people that were once his former employers.
against the people that were his once former employers.
against the people that once were his former employers.
against people that once were former employers.
against the people that were once his former employers.
against his former employers.
against his former employers.
The underlined portion of the sentence is oddly constructed and poorly worded, although there are no grammatical problems. This portion of the sentence needs to be simplified. "Against his former employees" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #201 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Rarely does a teacher want to publicly humiliate a student in front of students making the rest of the class.
in front the students make the class for the rest.
in front of the students making the rest of the class.
in front of students making the rest of the class.
in front of students making up for the rest of the class.
in front of the rest of the students in the class.
in front of the rest of the students in the class.
The sentence as written is poorly worded, and slightly confusing because of it. The underlined portion in particular can be cleaned up to mean the same thing as it does in the sentence already. The best answer choice, therefore, is "in fornt of the rest of the students in the class."
Example Question #202 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
To make the groups all undertake to get equal funding, the accountant had to perform careful calculations and negotiations.
To make groups undertake equal funding
So that the groups would all seek equal funding
To make the groups all undertake equal funding
So the groups all undertake to get equal funding
To make the groups all undertake to get equal funding
So that the groups would all seek equal funding
The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy and confusing, with a passive construction and two verbs, "make" and "undertake," being at odds with each other. This phrase needs to be greatly simplified to be improved. "So that the groups would all seek equal funding," is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #2962 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Politicians and their aides are so often stuck in their own bubble not aware of the concerns of their constituents.
unaware of the concerns of there constituents.
that they are unaware of their constituents concerns.
not aware of the concerns of their constituents.
that they are unaware of their constituents' concerns.
unaware their constituents' concerns.
that they are unaware of their constituents' concerns.
The underlined portion of the sentence is both awkwardly worded and is oddly connected to the rest of the sentence. The phrase can be improved by simplifying the word order and connecting it more definitely to the rest of the sentence; therefore, the correct answer choice is "that they are unaware of their constituents' concerns."
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