PSAT Writing : Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #181 : Correcting 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 what he sought,
Being that which was the thing which he had sought,
Being that which he had sought,
Being the thing which he had sought,
Being that 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 #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.
The shopkeeper made sure to keep those which were the things which the customers most requested.
those were things customers most requested.
those which were the things which the customers most requested.
the things customers most requested.
those which 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 #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.
That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the troops was now missing.
The thing most closely guarded by the troops
That which had been the thing which was most closely guarded by the 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 guarded closely by most 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.
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.
That topic which was the one that was being debated was extremely complex.
The topic being the one that was debated
The topic being debated
That topic which being debated
That topic was the one that was being debated
That topic which was the one that was being debated
The topic being debated
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy, repetitive, and confusingly constructed, meaning it must be simplified. A simplification, though, needs to be grammatically correct and keep the sentence's intended meaning. "The topic being debated" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both goals.
Example Question #31 : 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 undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.
The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.
The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing he had seen was actually true.
The undercover agent began to have doubts that the thing which he had seen was actually true.
The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true.
The undercover agent began to have doubts the thing which he had seen was actually true.
The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true.
The sentence is extremely wordy and complex, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, the sentence needs to still be correct grammatically and retain its intended meaning. The answer choice which best accomplishes both these goals is "The undercover agent began to doubt that what he had seen was true."
Example Question #32 : 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 was the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group, the topic took prominence inside the association.
Being that which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,
Being that which was the thing which most debated inside the meetings of the group,
Being that which was the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,
Being the thing which was most debated inside the meetings of the group,
Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings,
Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings,
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and confusing, and needs to be simplified. The simplification needs to also keep the sentence's intended meaning intact, and the revised sentence must also be grammatically correct. "Being the most debated thing inside the groups' meetings," is the only answer choice that best accomplishes both.
Example Question #33 : 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 school journal is self-governing and makes its own bylaws to be indicated the proper protocol for voting on who will be the next editor-in-chief.
indicating
when they indicate
that are indicating
that indicate
to be indicated
indicating
Here, "indicating" is being used as a participle, modifying "bylaws." The other answer choices introduce "indicate" as a verb, which causes the sentence to be more complex than it otherwise has to be.
Example Question #34 : 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.
Leonardo da Vinci is seen by many having been the most well-known painter in Italy, if not all of Europe.
having been
for being
as
to be
that he was
as
"As" is the most efficient, and therefore the most grammatically correct answer choice.
Example Question #35 : 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 the one which was that which had been lost, the jewelry's discovery was considered a miracle.
Having been lost,
That was the one that had been lost,
Having been the one which was that which had been lost,
That which was the one which was lost,
That which had been lost,
Having been lost,
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely long, confusing, and wordy, meaning that it needs to be simplified. The simplification still needs to be grammatically correct and retain the sentence's intended meaning, however. "Having been lost," is the answer choice that is both simplest and correct gramatically.
Example Question #36 : 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 thing that he did not want to do was his assignment from the officer.
That which was the thing that he did not want to do
That thing he not want to do
That which was that which he did not want to do
That thing that he did not want to do
The thing he did not want to do
The thing he did not want to do
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely wordy and confusing, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, the sentence must be kept grammatically correct, and it needs to retain its intended meaning. "The thing he most did not want to do" is the answer choice that best simplifies the sentence.
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