All SAT Writing Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
During the "Great Famine" of the mid-1800s, many Irish citizens immigrated from Ireland to countries around the world in an effort to escape mass starvation. No error
Ireland
effort
No error
immigrated
starvation
immigrated
The correct verb to describe the process of people leaving their country is "emigrated," which means to have left one's own country to live in another, usually out of necessity. The verb "immigrate" means to permanently relocate to a foreign country. One might emigrate from Ireland, and immigrate to America. In this case, "emigrated" is the correct choice because the focus is on the Irish citizens moving from Ireland, rather than to a specific destination.
Example Question #12 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined portion of the sentence that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Only one state was added in the 1870s: Colorado, which became apart of the United States in August of 1876. No error
apart
:
No error
which
Only
apart
"Apart" is an adverb. "A part" is a noun, and, more importantly, the appropriate noun to use in this instance. "Apart" is usually used in the "apart from" construction, which is not relevant to this sentence.
Example Question #13 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Grace's little sister always depends to Grace for help on homework. No error
depends to
always
for help
Grace's
No error
depends to
In this context, "depends" is conventionally followed by "on," not "to." In this case the little sister "depends on Grace," so she should be "grateful to" her.
Example Question #14 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In order to do well on a standardied test, it helps for one to be familiar to the format of the test and with one's own testing tendencies. No error
do well
SAT,
familiar to
No error
one's
familiar to
This question is testing the idiom "familiar with," which means that "familiar to" is incorrect. An idiom is just a conventional way of saying something. Unfortuately, idioms do not follow distinct rules so they must just be memorized. A corrected sentence would look like this: In order to do well on the SAT, it helps for one to be familiar with the format of the test and with one's own testing tendencies.
Example Question #15 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error.
The late Maya Angelou is celebrated by her poems, novels, and collections of essays; her work has been and continues to be inspirational to many. No error
has been
by
No error
inspirational
essays;
by
This question tests knowledge of the idiom "celebrated for." This idiom indicates the reasons why someone is celebrated—in Maya Angelou's case, her writing. "Celebrated by," on the other hand, is used to explain who celebrates someone, which is not specifically discussed in this sentence.
A sample sentence using "celebrated by":
"The court decision was celebrated by many activists."
A sample sentence using "celebrated for":
"The late Maya Angelou is celebrated for her poems, novels, and collections of essays; her work has been and continues to be inspirational to many."
Example Question #16 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although the father loved his two children equally, the younger sibling expects to be bequeathed a grossly unequivocal portion of the inheritance. No error
No error
unequivocal
children equally, the
to be bequeathed
grossly
unequivocal
Although "unequivocal" appears to indicate the younger sibling expects an unequal or uneven split, that's not what "unequivocal" means. "Unequivocal" means to be unclear about something.
Example Question #17 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Compared next to her coworker, Sheila was always more polite and punctual, always on time and ready to lend a helping hand. No error
to lend
punctual,
was
Compared next to
No error
Compared next to
In English something is "compared to" something, not "compared next to something. Accordingly, the error lies in the usage of "with." While there are some idioms that do use a "alongside" construction, comparisons are made "to" other things.
Example Question #18 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. No error
older and younger
No error
purported
disseminate
unbiased in
disseminate
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
Example Question #19 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although I know I should enjoy it, dancing doesn't bring me no satisfaction. No error
no
me
No error
it,
Although
no
This sentence is incorrect because it contains a double negative ("doesn't bring me no satisfaction"), a construction English does not use. There are multiple ways the sentence could be corrected, but the only one offered would be to change "no" to a positive modifier: "dancing doesn't bring me any satisfaction," for example. The sentence could also be corrected by eliminating "doesn't" so that it simply reads, "dancing brings me no satisfaction."
Example Question #20 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Sarah told me that she didn't get the grades she wanted to get because she wasn't fully familiar on the material. No error
familiar on
to get
me that
No error
fully
familiar on
Although it is a purely idiomatic phrase, the correction to the sentence here should be "familiar with." No matter the topic, one becomes familiar with something, not familiar on it.
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