PSAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #192 : 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.
Before the passage of the bill, hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
almost no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that currently characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly no one could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system.
The original text contains a redundancy error. We don't need "currently" and "modern" because each implies the other, so any answer choices containing both of these words are incorrect.
The only other answer choices that get rid of the word "currently" are "hardly anyone could have foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system" and "hardly anyone has foreseen the economic reforms that characterize the modern financial system." Of those answer choices, however, only the one containing "could have foreseen" uses the correct tense.
Example Question #358 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The children couldn't sleep, and the reason for this is that they were too excited about their upcoming vaction.
sleep because
sleep, the reason being that
sleep, and the reason for this is that
sleep and so
sleep, and therefore
sleep because
The children's excitement is the cause of their unability to sleep, not the other way around, so we can eliminate the answers containing "therefore" and "so." "Because" is the best of the remaining answers because it is more direct and less wordy than the others.
Example Question #352 : Correcting Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain, which soaked us all.
The downpour of rain, soaking us all, was very sudden.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
We were all soaked by the downpour of rain, which was very sudden.
The sudden downpour of rain soaked us all.
The best answer is the most concise, has no interrupting phrases, and uses the active voice.
Example Question #192 : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
Many food products that are marketed as “natural” or “healthy,” which lures in health-conscious consumers, but these claims are meaningless because they do not reflect any standardized guidelines.
“healthy” lure in
“healthy,” and these claims lure in
“healthy,” and these claims are luring in
“healthy,” luring in
“healthy,” which lures in
“healthy” lure in
The best answer is the most concise and straightforward phrasing.
Example Question #201 : 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 boy having been the one who found the letter, received the reward.
The boy was one who found the letter,
The boy had been the one who found the letter
The boy having been the one who found the letter,
The boy who found the letter
The boy having found the letter
The boy who found the letter
The underlined portion of the sentence is convoluted and awkward, which makes its meaning difficult to understand. The same idea can be found in a much simpler form. "The boy who found the letter" is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #531 : 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.
The museum specialized in the art which was the style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art which was the style which was most popular in the earliest part of the century.
the art that was the style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art style which was most popular in the part of the century that was earliest.
the art which was the style most popular in the century that was earliest.
the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century.
the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century.
The underlined portion of the sentence is extremely convoluted and too wordy, meaning it desperately needs to be simplified. The goal of such a simplification, though, must be to keep the intended meaning of the sentence and be gramatically incorrect. The only answer choice that appropriately does both tasks is "the art style that was most popular in the early part of the century."
Example Question #211 : 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
He hung all of the data, maps, and photos of the key suspects on the wall with the purpose of being able to visualize any potential patterns.
with the purpose of being able to visualize
so being able to visualize
purposefully being able to visualize
so he could visualize
with the purpose of visualizing
so he could visualize
The best answer is the simplest and most concise.
Example Question #532 : 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.
The earliest known evidence for fermented drinks pre-dates the inventing by people of writing.
people's invention of writing.
the inventing of writing by people.
the inventing of people by writing.
the inventing by people of writing.
the invention by people of writing.
people's invention of writing.
The underlined portion of the sentence is written in a lengthy and confusing manner. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choices. The best answer choice is "people's invention of writing."
Example Question #533 : 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.
No one understands Jeremy; he claims to be a vegetarian, but yet he sometimes eats chicken.
he claims being a vegetarian yet sometimes eats chicken.
he claims to be a vegetarian, but yet he sometimes eats chicken.
he claims he is a vegetarian, but yet he sometimes eats chicken.
he claims to be a vegetarian, yet he sometimes eats chicken.
he claims to be a vegetarian but yet he sometimes eats chicken.
he claims to be a vegetarian, yet he sometimes eats chicken.
“But yet” is redundant. “But” and “yet” mean the same thing, so one must choose one or the other. The comma, though, is mandatory.
Example Question #534 : 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.
Petting a friendly animal, such as like a pet dog or cat, has been shown to reduce blood pressure.
Petting an animal that is friendly such as like a pet dog or cat
Petting a friendly animal, such as like a pet dog or cat,
To pet a friendly animal, such as like a pet dog or cat,
Petting a friendly animal, such as like a pet dog or perhaps a cat,
Petting a friendly animal, such as a pet dog or cat,
Petting a friendly animal, such as a pet dog or cat,
As written, the sentence uses both "such as" and "like" to introduce "a pet dog or cat" as representing examples of "a friendly animal." Using both "such as" and "like" in this context is redundant, so omitting one of these fixes the sentence's error. This means that the correct answer is "Petting a friendly animal, such as a pet dog or cat, has been shown to reduce blood pressure."
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