SAT Writing : Correcting Other Usage Errors
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Example Question #51 : Correcting Other Usage 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 politicians couldn't hardly believe their luck.
couldn't hardly believe his or her luck.
would not hardly believe their luck.
could hardly believe their luck.
couldn't nearly believe their luck.
couldn't hardly believe their luck.
could hardly believe their luck.
We are looking for the answer choice without negation. "Could hardly believe their luck" is the only answer that does not contain a negative.
Example Question #51 : Correcting Other Usage 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 birdwatching guide gave us a brief demonstration on which kinds of calls we could potentially here hear.
hear here
hearing hearing
here hear
here here
hear hear
hear here
"Here" is the adverb; "hear" is the verb that has to do with ear. In this case, "hear here" is appropriate - the main verb "hear" follows the auxiliary verb "could," with the adverb "here" following that.
Example Question #52 : Correcting Other Usage Errors
1 If you’ve watched any environmental news reports in the last few years, it’s likely you’ve stumbled among the idea of fracking. 2 The word is short for “hydraulic fracturing” and involves injecting liquid into rock to create fractures and fractals, there allowing natural gas to be extracted more querulously.3 Proponents say the method facilitates oil drilling and allows countries, like the United States, to cut back on their foreign oil dependence. 4 Amateurs say that fracking, causes significant and sometimes irresponsible environmental damage.
5 Fracking can require sonorous quantities of water, and leach dangerous carcinogenic chemicals into the groundwater. 6 Some people have even inquired minor earthquakes to fracking: as the process thought to spurn tremors.7 Perhaps most worrisome, fracking allows governments to continue depending on fossil fuel rather than exploring renewable energy. 8 These sources could include wind turbines, solar panels, even hot springs and waterwheels.
In Sentence 1, what word should replace “among?”
around
among (no change)
within
between
across
across
One stumbles “across” an idea, not another preposition. This is an example of an idiom, the only correct way to describe "stumbling" in relation to an idea is to "stumble across" it.
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