PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #344 : 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.
That which was what was having been agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
That which was what was having been agreed upon was acted by both sides.
That was having been agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
That which was having been agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
What was agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
That which was what was having been agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
What was agreed upon was then acted out by both sides.
The sentence is overwrought and awkwardly worded, and it needs to be simplified. Any simplification, though, must retain the sentence's intended meaning and be grammatically correct. The answer choice which best simplifies the sentence is "What was agreed upon was then acted out by both sides."
Example Question #345 : 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 sole thing that was the subject of discussion, that issue took up most of the meeting as people debated it.
Being which was the sole subject of discussion,
That sole thing which was being discussed,
Being the sole subject of discussion,
Being that which was under discussion,
Being that which was the sole thing that was the subject of discussion,
Being the sole subject of discussion,
The underlined portion of the sentence is extrmely overwrought, meaning it desperately needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence still needs to have its original intended meaning and be grammatically correct. The only answer choice that correctly does both while simplifying is "Being the sole subject of discussion."
Example Question #521 : 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.
That being what was the thing that was most important, a discussion of fiscal policy took up most of the meeting and allowed no time for the discussion of other topics.
Being was most important
Being the most important thing
That being what was was most important
That being what was the thing that was most important
That being most important
Being the most important thing
The sentence is overly wordy and confusing, and should be simplified to clarify its meaning. A simplification, though, needs to both be grammatically correct and retain the sentence's intended meaning. The answer choice that best accomplishes both goals while simplifying the sentence is "Being the most important thing."
Example Question #522 : 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 new minister was exactly that which was what was being desired by the whole congregation.
that the whole congregation desiring.
that which was being desired by the whole congregation.
that was what being desired by the whole congregation.
that which was what was being desired by the whole congregation.
what the whole congregation desired.
what the whole congregation desired.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extrmely overwrought an confusing, meaning it needs to be simplified. A simplification needs to retain the sentence's intended meaning and be grammatically correct. The answer choice which best simplifes the sentence is "what the whole congregation desired."
Example Question #523 : 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.
Having been seen to be somewhat near the celebrity, the young woman become a tabloid sensation.
Having been seen to be somewhat near celebrity
Having been seen to be somewhat near the celebrity
Having been seen somewhat near the celebrity
Having being seen to be somewhat near the celebrity
Being seen somewhat near the celebrity
Being seen somewhat near the celebrity
The underlined phrase is repetitive and confusing, and needs to be simplified. While being simplified, however, the sentence still needs to be grammatically correct and retain its intended meaning. "Being seen somewhat near celebrity" is the only answer choice that correctly simplifies the sentence while meeting both of these conditions.
Example Question #351 : 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.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
to find happiness.
to find happiness of life.
to finding happiness in life.
finding happiness of life
to finding happiness of life.
to find happiness.
The underlined phrase is extremely awkwardly worded, and can be cleaned up quite easily. "To find happiness" is the cleanest expression of the sentiment of the phrase's meaning.
Example Question #524 : 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.
Under agreements that were negotiated by those that were at the table, all parties had to give something up in the deal.
Under agreements negotiated by those at the table,
Under agreements that were negotiating by those that were being at the table,
Under agreements were negotiated were at the table,
Under the agreements negotiated by those that were at the table,
Under agreements that were negotiated by those that were at the table,
Under agreements negotiated by those at the table,
The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy and strangely complicated, and the sentence must be simplified. While being simplified, though, the sentence should keep its same meaning and remain grammatically correct. "Under agreements negotiated by those at the table" is the answer choice that best accomplishes both of these tasks.
Example Question #521 : 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.
Authors often find struggle when attempting to provide details of their characters' appearances.
find struggle when attempting to provide
struggles when attempting to provide
find a struggle of attempting providing
struggle when attempting to provide
find struggle attempting to provide
struggle when attempting to provide
The underlined portion of the sentence is both awkwardly phrased and unclear in its meaning. The word choices need to be cleaned up to appropriately convey the meaning of the sentence. "Struggle when attempting to provide" gives the same meaning as "find struggle when attempting to provide" in a more straightforward manner, and is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #356 : 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.
The cellist was quite young to have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
being chosen for such an honor.
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.
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 #357 : 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.
That which was the point which was most contentious was strenuously avoided during the debates.
The most contentious point
That which was most contentious
That which was the point which was most contentious
That was the point which was most contentious
The point that 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.
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