SAT Writing : Identifying No Errors or Other Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Experts agree that one's likelihood of developing heart disease is proportionate to the amount of cholesterol one ingests in one's food. No error
developing
ingests
one's
No error
proportionate
No error
There are no mistakes in this sentence.
Example Question #91 : 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.
Spinning around to face the intruder, Jack stifled a cry of recognition. No error
a cry of recognition
to face
No error
Spinning
stifled
No error
This sentence is correct as written! "Spinning", "to face," and "stifled" are all the correct forms of the verbs, and "a cry of recognition" is a well-formed noun phrase.
Example Question #72 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No 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 already bought tickets to the upcoming football game, I suddenly fell ill this afternoon, and will have to miss the game. No error
suddenly fell ill
will have to
bought
Although
No error
No error
This sentence correctly uses verb tenses. The speaker describes previously purchasing tickets, and "bought" correctly conveys that event as taking place in the past. In the present, the speaker gets sick, which "suddenly fell ill" indicates. Finally, the speaker states he or she will have to miss the game in the future, as "will have to" correctly conveys.
Example Question #73 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My family has had a long and storied history in this country, living off the land before eventually moving to the big city. No error
has had
No error
storied
to the big city
off the land
No error
Although "has had" may catch your eye because it is the same verb in two different tenses, it is actually correctly used in this sentence. Likewise, the word "storied" is being correctly used to modify the word "past"—although it may sound like a verb, "storied" is an adjective. There are actually no errors in this sentence.
Example Question #913 : 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.
Were it the case that the two political parties could set aside their differences, actual reforms would be sure to follow. No error
No error
reforms
could set aside
Were it the case
their
No error
Although it might sound odd, "Were it the case" is indeed grammatically correct; it is an inversion of the phrasing "If it were the case" in the subjunctive mood. Since the sentence refers to both political parties, it is appropriate to say "their" differences rather than "its" differences, since it is referring to both of them together rather than each separately. There are no grammatical problems in this sentence.
Example Question #74 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No 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 penguins failed to understand that the trainer wanted them to twirl around in circles, so they continued to swim around their tank as usual. No error
No error
failed to understand
as usual
them
around
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #75 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Karen, who had been quiet for the entire meeting, suddenly perked up when someone mentioned the idea of bringing puppies into the office for a stress relief day. No error
who
No error
when someone mentioned
meeting,
of bringing
No error
There is no error in this sentence. The verbs are in appropriate forms, the prepositions are correct, and the punctuation is appropriate and logical.
Example Question #76 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed in order to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
With their star player injured for the rest of the season, the team was despondent; nobody was willing to step up into the vacant leadership role. No error
nobody
their
despondent;
No error
with
No error
This sentence contains no error. There are no word usage errors, and the semicolon and comma use is appropriate. Note that, in this case, the two independent clauses could stand on their own as sentences, but since the content of these sentences is so clearly connected a semicolon or a comma with a conjunction are both better choices than a period stylistically.
Example Question #77 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No 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 as long as David has gone to school, he should be smarter than I. No error
has gone
than I
No error
For
should be
No error
Everything in the sentence is correct. The verbs agree, "For" introduces the sentences, and "than I" is correct instead of "than me" because it really translates as "than I am smart," but the "I am smart" is understood.
Example Question #78 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Persistent as its efforts were, the team's hopes had been crushed by the devastating performance of the opposing team's pitcher. No error
No error
were
its
team's hopes had been crushed
opposing team's
No error
"Its" is proper because it refers to the singular team, "were" is proper because it is the verb of the subject "efforts," and "team's hopes" and "team's pitcher" both use "team" as a possessive properly. Thus, this sentence contains no error. "Its" is the correct possessive singular; "it's" is a contraction of "it is."
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