PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #542 : 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.

Many students have trouble learning the order of operations in math, which have led to the creation of many mnemonic devices to help them remember it. No error

Possible Answers:

many mnemonic devices

Many students have

math, which

No error

have led to

Correct answer:

have led to

Explanation:

"Have led" refers to "the order of operations," or more specifically, "order," a singular noun. "Have" is a verb that is used with plural nouns, so it does not agree with the singular "order." To fix the sentence, "have" would need to be changed to "has."

Example Question #612 : 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.

We have all been taught that dinosaurs is a types of reptile that went extinct a long time ago. No error

Possible Answers:

that

is a

have all been

dinosaurs

No error

Correct answer:

is a

Explanation:

"Dinosaurs" is in its plural form, and needs to be accompanied by a verb also in the plural form. Thus, "is a" contains the sentence's error, and should be changed to "are."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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 woolly mammoth, a relative of the elephant, roamed through northern Eurasia and North America before their extinctionNo error.

Possible Answers:

and

No error.

their extinction

roamed through

a relative of the elephant

Correct answer:

their extinction

Explanation:

In this sentence, the plural pronoun “their” does not agree with its singular antecedent, “the woolly mammoth.” The corrected sentence reads, "The woolly mammoth, a relative of the elephant, roamed through northern Eurasia and North America before its extinction."

Example Question #1 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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 ruby-tailed tree crawler is a rare species of caterpillar; they only live in isolated sections of the Amazon jungle. No error.

Possible Answers:

a rare species

No error.

they

live in

isolated sections

Correct answer:

they

Explanation:

In this sentence, the pronoun “they” does not agree in number with its singular antecedent, “the ruby-tailed tree crawler.” The corrected sentence reads, "The ruby-tailed tree crawler is a rare species of caterpillar; it only lives in isolated sections of the Amazon jungle."

Example Question #551 : 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.

Modern-day chickens did not evolve from prehistoric dinosaurs, but it does share a common ancestor. No error.

Possible Answers:

did not evolve from

No error.

dinosaurs, but

Modern-day

it does

Correct answer:

it does

Explanation:

This sentence has a pronoun that does not agree with its antecedent. “It” is singular, but it refers to the plural “chickens” and “dinosaurs.” The corrected sentence reads, "Modern-day chickens did not evolve from prehistoric dinosaurs, but they do share a common ancestor."

Example Question #4 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement 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 tree-toothed spider is migrating north from the Amazon, where they made their home previouslyNo error.

Possible Answers:

from the Amazon

they made their home

previously

No error.

is migrating

Correct answer:

they made their home

Explanation:

The first part of the sentence introduces the spider as a singular noun. The second part, where the sentence uses pronouns, should match this by referring to the spider using singular pronouns. The corrected sentence reads, "The tree-toothed spider is migrating north from the Amazon, where it made its home previously."

Example Question #2 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Little Amy beamed proudly as she described every detail of the model rocket her father and her had builtNo error.

Possible Answers:

her father and her

described

proudly

No error.

had built

Correct answer:

her father and her

Explanation:

This sentence contains an error in pronoun case. "Her father and her" is incorrect because "her" is an objective pronoun, whereas a subjective pronoun is needed because Amy performed the action "had built," along with "her father." If you find it hard to see why the sentence's use of "her" is incorrect, try taking out the phrase "her father and"; you wouldn't say "Little Amy beamed proudly as she described every detail of the model rocket her had built." So, "her father and her" is the part of the sentence that contains an error.

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

For people living in extremely cold climates, putting on warm mittens and boots just to cross the street is a necessary precaution to protect yourself from the cold. No error.

Possible Answers:

No error.

and boots

For people living in

to protect yourself

putting on

Correct answer:

to protect yourself

Explanation:

This sentence uses the pronoun “yourself,” even though it is talking about “people living in cold and snowy climates” in the third person. One way to correct this is, "For people living in extremely cold climates, putting on warm mittens and boots just to cross the street is a necessary precaution for protection from the cold."

Example Question #2 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Contrary to popular belief, the most dangerous pirates were often the ones which had two wooden legs. No error.

Possible Answers:

were the ones

most dangerous

which

No error.

Contrary to

Correct answer:

which

Explanation:

This sentence uses the relative pronoun “which” to describe people. The personal version “who” is better: "Contrary to popular belief, the most dangerous pirates were often the ones who had two wooden legs."

Example Question #3 : Identifying Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I hate having to go to the doctor because they always ask very invasive questions that make me uncomfortable. No error

Possible Answers:

having to 

No error

ask 

they

make me 

Correct answer:

they

Explanation:

The word, "doctor" is singular. Therefore, pronouns that refer back to the doctor should also be singular. "They" is plural and therefore is incorrect; the phrase "he or she" should be used in the sentence, as we do not know the doctor's gender.

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