All PSAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #163 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thinks longingly of prime rib. No error
himself
for the rest of
thinks
No error
of
thinks
This sentence switches tense from past ("as he resigned") to present ("thinks") in the middle of the sentence. In the logical timeline of events, these should both be in the past: "As he resigned himself to eating instant noodles for the rest of the month, Alex thought longingly of prime rib."
Example Question #362 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jose did not understand how a lecture on sea turtles is relevant to a course on the politics of the Middle East. No error
how
No error
lecture on
relevant to
is
is
This sentence uses inconsistent verb tenses. It starts out in the past ("did not understand") and switches to the present ("is relevant"). Changing "is" to "was" corrects the sentence's error. The corrected sentence reads, "Jose did not understand how a lecture on sea turtles was relevant to a course on Middle-Eastern politics."
Example Question #363 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was being a rainy day. No error
Testing
was being
No error
since
would not
was being
The second phrase of this sentence is needlessly in the progressive tense. It sounds clearer and more concise to put this in the simple past: "Testing the new model rocket would not be possible since it was a rainy day."
Example Question #364 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising being fascinating, informative, and inspirational. No error
Despite
being
the conference on
and inspirational
No error
being
This sentence uses the wrong form of the verb “to be.” Since "being" follows another verb, "raising," it needs to be in the infintive form, "to be." The corrected sentence reads: "Despite his initial skepticism, Rory found the conference on urban chicken raising to be fascinating, informative, and inspirational."
Example Question #365 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers are declaring the trip a disaster. No error
the canoe
are declaring
lost
and
No error
are declaring
This sentence has a problem with verb tense. Since the first part of the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost," uses two past-tense verbs ("flipped" and "were"), the rest of the sentence needs to be in past tense too, since it is describing events that took place at the same time as those described earlier in the sentence. "Are declaring" is in the present progressive tense, so it contains the sentence's error. You could correct the sentence by changing "are declaring" to "declared," yielding the sentence, "After the canoe flipped over and the provisions were lost, the campers declared the trip a disaster."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It can be difficult to hear the approaching of cars running on electric engines. No error
approaching
to hear
No error
running on
It can be difficult
approaching
This sentence uses the gerund "approaching" when the noun "approach" already exists. Changing "approaching" to "approach" clarifies the sentence. The corrected sentence reads, "It can be difficult to hear the approach of cars running on electric engines."
Example Question #366 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe brings edible works of art to every family gathering. No error
every
a workshop on
gathering
No error
brings
brings
The timeline of verb tenses in this sentence doesn’t quite make sense. Read it out loud and you will probably hear that something is wrong. Since the first half is in the past, the second half should be too. The corrected sentence reads: After attending a workshop on cake decorating, Joe has brought edible works of art to every family gathering.
Example Question #367 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
How did she made that cake so moist and fluffy without using an electric beater or any eggs? No error
No error
how
any eggs
made
without
made
The correct verb tense would be "make," since the sentence is phrased as a question and is not a declarative statement about something in the past.
Example Question #291 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It’s a miserable rainy day outside, so many folks have chose, with good reason, to curl up cozily in their homes by the fireplace. No error
to curl up cozily
It's
No error
have chose
their
have chose
“Have chose” should be written as “have chosen.” The past participle of “to choose” is irregular.
Example Question #304 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I am finding them on clearance everywhere. No error
everywhere
expensive
No error
As soon as
am finding
am finding
This sentence has a problem with the timeline of verb tenses. Since the first half of the sentence is in the past, the second half has to be too. The corrected sentence reads, "As soon as I bought an expensive patio umbrella I found them on clearance everywhere."
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