SAT Writing : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas in Lists
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Example Questions
Example Question #3821 : Sat Writing
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.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you; drink water; eat fruit; and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you; drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts.
Items in lists of three or greater be separated from each other by commas, conjunctions, or both. The items in the list above are, "drink water," "eat well," and "think positive thoughts." These items are correctly phrased using a parallel structure, but are not correctly separated with commas.
The best way to correct the example sentence is, "Getting through a long day is a lot easier if you drink water, eat fruit, and think positive thoughts."
Example Question #51 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
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 typical advice to the screenwriter is to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert but interested.
to keep an audience engaged alerted and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert and interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged alert, and interested.
to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested.
The list that finishes the sentence needs to have its three parts, "engaged" and "alert" and "interested," separated by commas. There are no other corrections that need to happen in the sentence. This makes the correct answer choice "to keep an audience engaged, alert, and interested."
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