PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Sentence Relationships
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Most cacti are covered in sharp spikes, as my dog found out by attempting to sniffed one. No error
spikes, as my dog
one
No error
Most cacti are
to sniffed
to sniffed
The latter half of the sentence takes place in the past, as we can tell from the verb phrase "found out." However, that does not mean that all past-tense verbs are correctly used. In particular, "to sniffed" is incorrect in this sentence, as the verb following "attempting" needs to be an infinitive. Changing "to sniffed" to "to sniffing" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #10 : Analyzing Content
(1) In spite of the numerous museums and schools dedicated to its appreciation, modern art still has yet to achieve the level of popular appreciation that many other art forms experience. (2) Many remain critical of the so-called "non-figurative" turn of European art that occurred in the latter part of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century that has had such a profound impact on art production since. (3) Contributing artists Van Gogh, Cézanne and Kandinsky each experimented with constitutive aspects of art works. (4) That is to say, they focused on issues such as how light interacts with objects, how depictions of visual space in a work tease normal perceptual capacities, or how color induces emotional responses. (5) Although they didn't always focus on the "realistic" depiction of figures in a pictorial scene, they nevertheless made significant and lasting contributions to how we think about the techniques and aspects that make up art objects and practice.
How can the significance of the underlined sentence to the overall paragraph best be described?
The underlined sentence provides three reasons for which it makes little sense to talk of a consolidated and abstract notion such as "modern art."
The underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art.
The underlined sentence lists the contributions that museums and schools have since been dedicated to preserve and protect.
The underlined sentence explains why these figures of modern art have not received the appreciation that they so deserve.
The artistic approaches listed in the underlined sentence explain the necessity for the non-figurative turn in European art.
The underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art.
That "the underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art" is the best answer here because the other claims are either unjustified or inadequate.
Example Question #1 : 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.
The ancient Sumerians are credited with the invention of beer and cuneiform, and organized government.
inventions of beer, cuneiform, and organized government too
invention of beer, cuneiform, and organized government
the invention of beer and cuneiform, and organized government
invention of the beer, the cuneiform, and the organized government
inventions of beer, cuneiform, and also organized government
invention of beer, cuneiform, and organized government
The original sentence does not employ correct parallel structure; it is imbalanced. The shortest and most straightforward of the sentences is most desirable. The repetition of the article in “the beer, the cuneiform . . .” sounds awkward.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Quotation Mark Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Liam told his study group that "he needed to take a break from studying," so the group's members all decided to get sandwiches before beginning to take notes on the textbook's next chapter. No error
No error
"he needed to take a break from studying,"
the group's members
before beginning to take notes on
the textbook's
"he needed to take a break from studying,"
This sentence incorrectly uses quotation marks to set off an indirect quotation from the sentence when no quotation marks are needed. If the sentence said "Liam told his study group, 'I need to take a break from studying,'" then quotation marks would be necessary. However, because the sentence is indirectly telling us what Liam said, and not giving us his exact words, no quotation marks are needed. Removing the quotation marks around "he needed to take a break from studying" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Quotation Mark Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
"Help me lift this", she whispered, knowing the request would be her last if she were overheard. No error
me
this", she
were
No error
would be
this", she
Punctuation always goes inside the quotation marks in American English.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Punctuation Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor. No error
vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry
another flavor.
your favorite flavor of ice cream
do you prefer
No error
another flavor.
The issue here has to do with punctuation. This sentence needs to end with a question mark because it is a question. The corrected sentence reads, "Is vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry your favorite flavor of ice cream, or do you prefer another flavor?"
Example Question #1 : 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 Bosco the chihuahua get her name. The story begins with an act of heroism, a great surprise, and a feast of tamales. No error
, and
No error
tamales.
name.
The
name.
"How did Bosco the chihuahua get her name?" is a rhetorical question and must be punctuated with a question mark. The rest of the sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #1 : 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.
The movement to build a community garden in the empty lot was slowly gaining momentum, and Mrs. Higgins was already excitedly asking nurseries to donate plants. No error.
was
in the empty lot
to build
No error.
excitedly
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! The verb “to build” is correct in the infinitive, “in the empty lot” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, “was” is a verb in the correct tense, and “excitedly” is an adverb that modifies a verb.
Example Question #2 : 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.
The bright red of a matador’s cape does not incite bulls to charge; cattle do not perceive red as a bright color. No error.
perceive
does not incite
bright red
as a bright color
No error.
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Bright red” works here as a noun, “does not incite” is a verb that matches its subject, “perceive” is a verb that is correctly formed, and “as a bright color” is an appropriate prepositional phrase.
Example Question #1 : Identifying No Error Questions
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The general blatantly ignored the lessons of history and commanded his army to invade Russia in the winter. No error.
to invade
in the winter
blatantly
No error.
and commanded
No error.
This sentence is correct as written! “Blatantly” is an adverb that modifies a verb, “and commanded” uses parallel structure, “to invade” is correct as an infinitive, and “in the winter” is a correctly formed prepositional phrase.
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