PSAT Writing : Correcting Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : 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.
Sharks have been found by marine biologists in waters much farther north than their previous habitats.
Sharks have been found by marine biologists in waters much farther north
Sharks have been found in waters by marine biologists much farther north
Marine biologists have found sharks in waters much farther north
Marine biologists, in waters much farther north, have found sharks
Marine biologists have been finding sharks in waters much farther north
Marine biologists have found sharks in waters much farther north
The problem with the original sentence is that it is passive. It is often more direct and therefore better to use the subject who does the action as the subject of the sentence. The other answer choices that fix the passive problem either confuse the verb tense or the word order.
Example Question #682 : Sentence Correction
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 nation’s economy was growing rapidly for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
because a boom in foreign investment was what followed the discovery of vast natural resources.
as a result of booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
since the discovery of vast natural resources is what can cause a boom in foreign investment.
because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.
because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.
The initial sentence is wordy and in passive voice. The correct answer is concise and active.
Example Question #683 : Sentence Correction
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.
For his service in the war, the soldier was giving the country's highest honor by the President.
the soldier was giving that country's highest honor
the soldier was given the countries highest honor
the soldier is giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
the soldier was giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
The soldier would have trouble "giving" an award "by the President." The use of the final prepositional phrase "by the President" indicates that the soldier is receiving the award. The only answer choice that clarifies this point is "the soldier was given the country's highest honor," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Verb Errors
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
Hearing about the crisis in the developing country, a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
a campaign that raised $5,000 was organized by the class president.
the class president organized a campaign raising $5000.
an organized campaign by the class president raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
Figure out who is the subject of the first part of the sentence—the class president, rather than the campaign itself, heard about the crisis. Also, avoid passive voice ("the campaign was organized").
Example Question #81 : Correcting Usage 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.
After the novelist threw the draft into the trash, the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
retrieved by his concerned assistant, who crumpled the paper.
his concerned assistant, retrieving the crumpled paper.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
the crumpled paper had been retrieved by his concerned assistant.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
Avoid the passive voice of the original ("the crumbled paper was retrieved") and choose the simplest answer that preserves the original meaning of the text.
Example Question #3 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 new boss was eagerly anticipating by the employees, because no one in the office knew what to expect.
was eager anticipation
was anticipating eagerly
eagerly anticipated
was eagerly anticipated
was eagerly anticipating
was eagerly anticipated
The context of the underlined phrase show it is actually a use of the passive voice, with the anticipation done "by the employees," not the new boss. Thus, the correct answer must feature a passive construction. "Was eagerly anticipated" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #4 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 ancient texts are often confused to people who do not understand their full context.
are often confusing
are often confused
are confused often
often are confused
confusing often are
are often confusing
The sentence is written as to make the texts be "confused," when the latter part of the sentence makes clear the people reading them are "confused." The word needs to be changed to a form that properly conveys this. "Are often confusing" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #31 : Usage 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 the old regime, liberties curtailed greatly.
The old regime had liberties curtailing a great amount.
The old regime greatly curtailed liberties.
Under the old regime, liberties curtailed greatly.
Under the old regime, liberties being curtailed greatly.
The old regime's liberties were greatly curtailed.
The old regime greatly curtailed liberties.
The underlined portion of the sentence contains a flaw in word order. To have the sentence make sense, the government, and not liberties, must be doing the curtailing. The only answer choice that correctly indicates that "the old regime" is the thing doing the curtailing without introducing errors into the sentence is "The old regime greatly curtailed liberties."
Example Question #81 : Correcting Word Usage 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.
He is hindered by his deformities; he cannot speak to Josephine face-to-face, because he is ashamed of his appearance.
Hindering him were his deformities
His deformities hindering him
His deformities hindered him
His deformities hinder him
He is hindered by his deformities
His deformities hinder him
The phrase "his deformities hinder him" uses active voice, which is preferable over passive voice. The phrase "his deformities hindering him" makes a dependent clause, which is incorrect before a semicolon. The phrase "his deformities hindered him" is in the past tense, while the rest of the excerpt is in the present tense.
Example Question #11 : Correcting Verb 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 repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
Horses were domesticating by humans thousands of years ago.
were domesticating
were domesticated
domesticated taking place
domestication
domesticating
were domesticated
The sentence describes what humans did to horses in the past, a fact that needs to be reflected in the verb's tense and transitivity. The correct answer must indicate that the domesticating being discussed took place in the past and was done by humans to horses, leading to "were domesticated" as the only possible answer choice.
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