PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #185 : 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.
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 that which was the sole thing that was the subject of discussion,
That sole thing which was being discussed,
Being the sole subject of discussion,
Being which was the sole subject of discussion,
Being that which was under 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 #186 : 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.
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.
That being most important
Being was most important
That being what was was most important
That being what was the thing that was most important
Being the most important thing
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 #187 : 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.
The new minister was exactly that which was what was being desired by the whole congregation.
that which was being desired by the whole congregation.
that the whole congregation desiring.
what the whole congregation desired.
that which was what was being desired by the whole congregation.
that was what being desired by the whole congregation.
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 #188 : 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.
Having been seen to be somewhat near the celebrity, the young woman become a tabloid sensation.
Having been seen to be somewhat near the celebrity
Having been seen to be somewhat near celebrity
Being seen 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
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 #189 : 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.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
to finding happiness in life.
to find happiness.
finding happiness of life
to finding happiness of life.
to find 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 #190 : 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. 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 were negotiated were at the table,
Under agreements that were negotiating by those that were being 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,
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 #1201 : Psat Writing Skills
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 attempting to provide
find a struggle of attempting providing
struggles when attempting to provide
struggle when attempting to provide
find struggle when 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 #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 cellist was quite young to have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
have chosen that kind of honor.
being chosen for such an honor.
have been chosen as such for that kind of an honor.
be chosen for such an honor.
having been chosen for that kind of 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 #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.
That which was the point which was most contentious was strenuously avoided during the debates.
The point that was most contentious
That which was most contentious
That which was the point which was most contentious
The most contentious point
That was the point which 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.
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.
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