SAT Writing : Identifying No Errors or Other Errors
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Example Question #46 : 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.
Haiti, which suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010, is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, where nearly eighty percent of the population lives below the poverty line. No error
No error
where
in
lives
which
No error
This sentence is correct as written. None of the SAT's "go-to" errors are present in the sentence. Both the subject and verb of the sentence agree; "which" is used correctly; and the prepositions in the sentence are properly used as well.
Example Question #47 : 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 environmental activists successfully effected social change; the legislators decided to table the bill that would have allowed corporations to pollute local rivers with impunity. No error
effected
No error
to table
would have allowed
with
No error
The difference between "effect" and "affect" is tested routinely on the SAT. "Effect" is a noun meaning the result of an action; "affect" is a verb meaning change. However, "effect" can also be used as a verb that means cause, so it is used correctly in the sentence. There are no errors in the sentence, so "No error" is the best option.
Example Question #43 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Lindsey, Krista, and Whitney pooled their allowances to buy a new game for them to share. No error
and Whitney
No error
to buy
for them to share
their
No error
This sentence has no grammatical errors. It correctly utilizes the oxford comma to separate "Krista" from "Whitney" in the list of subjects, the plural pronoun "their," the infinitive "to buy," and the prepositional phrase "for them to share."
Example Question #44 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Charlie preferred tackling new and exciting challenges to repeating the same boring procedures. No error
the same boring procedures
No error
preferred
to
new and exciting
No error
The sentence is correct as written! "Preferred" is in the correct tense, "new and exciting" are adjectives modifying a noun, "to" is the correct word to make a comparison, and "the same boring procedures" is an appropriate noun phrase.
Example Question #45 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Joan always wanted to be a famous surgeon when she grew up, but my ambition was to be a landscape architect. No error
but
was to be a
famous
No error
she
No error
This sentence is correct as written! "Famous" is an adjective describing a noun, "she" is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent, "but" is the appropriate conjunction, and "was to be a" is a correct combination of verbs and an indefinite article.
Example Question #21 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Susan, a fabulous salsa dancer, is also a brilliant data analyst. No error
a fabulous salsa dancer
brilliant
No error
analyst
is
No error
This sentence contains no grammatical errors and needs to stylistic adjustments made to it.
Example Question #41 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Unfortunately, the organization suffered from poor governance at the national level. No error
poor
the national level
suffered from
Unfortunately
No error
No error
This sentence is correct as written. "Unfortunately" is an adverb modifying the sentence as a whole, "suffered from" uses the correct tense and preposition, "poor" is an adjective modifying a noun, and "the national level" is a correctly formed noun phrase.
Example Question #26 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Because of a severe drought in the western half of the country, produce prices skyrocketed. No error
No error
Because of
severe
western half
skyrocketed
No error
This sentence is correct as written! It's okay to start a sentence with "because" if you have a main clause after, "severe" is an adjective modifying a noun, "western half" is formatted correctly (no capitalization!), and "skyrocketed" is a verb in the correct tense.
Example Question #21 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Never one to turn down a challenge, Pablo decided that he was going to revolutionize the classic canvas tote bag. No error
turn down
was going to revolutionize
one
No error
that
No error
This sentence is correct as written! "One" is the appropriate pronoun, "turn down" is a verb in the correct tense, "that" is the correct relative pronoun, and "was going to revolutionize" is a correctly formed verb phrase.
Example Question #28 : Identifying No Errors Or Other Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Since he arrived in Minnesota two weeks ago, my uncle Ted has gone fishing at least ten times. No error
my
arrived in
No error
two weeks ago
has gone fishing
No error
This sentence is correct as written. “Arrived in” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “two weeks ago” is a correctly formed adverbial phrase, “my” is a pronoun used correctly, and “has gone fishing” is in the appropriate tense.
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