SAT Writing : Rewriting a Single Word

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 All in all, aviation will likely continue to fascinate people for centuries to come. 2 Long before the famous Wright brothers humans were attempting to fly. 3 The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight. 4 With large kites’ in China may have been the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago. 5 Hundreds of years later and despite many hazings; the Montgolfier brothers and other pioneering aviators began experimenting with manned hot-air balloon flights. 6 Therefore, technology has advanced to the point of supersonic and hypersonic flight, but people are still trying to break new barriers and invent new methods of flight.

What would be the best transitional word to replace “Therefore” and begin Sentence 6?

Possible Answers:

To this end

Thus

Today

Thence 

Toward this

Correct answer:

Today

Explanation:

“Therefore” implies that a conclusion is being drawn in Sentence 6, but really the sentence is just discussing contemporary advances in aviation. “Today” would signify this contemporary focus without misleading readers, so it’s the best choice for the sentence.

Example Question #7 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 Visitors to Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, or other United States are often astounded when they encounter an Amish person. 2 To someone who is not familiar with this religious community, the lifestyle seems to harp back to a bygone era. 3 In particular the Amish are known for their plain garments, their eschewal of modern technology, their use of horses and buggies, and their exquisite handicrafts, including: wooden furniture, intricate quilts, and fruit pies. 4 Contact with the outside world is limited, and communities are often as insolent now as when they emigrated from Switzerland in the 1700s.

5 The people are governed strictly in their auspicious behavior, dress, and lifestyle by a set of rules known as Ordnung, and most speak both Pennsylvania Dutch and English. 6 Their religious beliefs are most closely related to Mennonites, and they observe many common Christian practices: baptism, marriage, and Sunday church services, for example. 7 Whereas, the Amish also practice rumspringa, a period of adolescent exploration, as well as excommunication and shunning to exclude those who do not conform to the community’s beliefs and practices. 8 What does life look like inside an Amish community? 9 Wherewithal, there seem to be both positive and negative aspects to this emphasis on family ties, manual labor, and religious belief.

In Sentence 7, what word would be a more effective transition than “Whereas”?

Possible Answers:

All things considered

With regards to this

Regardless

However

Contrary

Correct answer:

However

Explanation:

Based on the meanings of Sentences 6 and 7, we’re looking for a transitional word that indicates contrast between the more common Christian practices and the extreme Amish beliefs. Although “Whereas” indicates contrast, it doesn’t fit the grammatical structure of the sentence (helpful hint: “whereas” rarely begins a sentence), and “However” is the closest match.

Example Question #8 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 Visitors to Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, or other United States are often astounded when they encounter an Amish person. 2 To someone who is not familiar with this religious community, the lifestyle seems to harp back to a bygone era. 3 In particular the Amish are known for their plain garments, their eschewal of modern technology, their use of horses and buggies, and their exquisite handicrafts, including: wooden furniture, intricate quilts, and fruit pies. 4 Contact with the outside world is limited, and communities are often as insolent now as when they emigrated from Switzerland in the 1700s.

5 The people are governed strictly in their auspicious behavior, dress, and lifestyle by a set of rules known as Ordnung, and most speak both Pennsylvania Dutch and English. 6 Their religious beliefs are most closely related to Mennonites, and they observe many common Christian practices: baptism, marriage, and Sunday church services, for example. 7 Whereas, the Amish also practice rumspringa, a period of adolescent exploration, as well as excommunication and shunning to exclude those who do not conform to the community’s beliefs and practices. 8 What does life look like inside an Amish community? 9 Wherewithal, there seem to be both positive and negative aspects to this emphasis on family ties, manual labor, and religious belief.

What transitional phrase would be a good replacement for “Wherewithal” in Sentence 9?

Possible Answers:

Wherefore

All in all

Withal

Whereas

With all

Correct answer:

All in all

Explanation:

“Wherewithal” is a word that means that with or by which, and it doesn’t work well as a transition here. We’re looking for a word that indicates conclusion or summary, and “All in all” is the best choice to fit this meaning.

Example Question #1 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 Many painters have strong sediments about whether oil or acrylic paints produce the best results. 2 On the one hand, oil paints take longer to dry and are therefore more conductive to slow painstaking work and careful blending. 3 While, they also require the use of more toxic chemicals such as turpentine and mineral spirits. 4 Professional artists are often meritorious about the materials they use. 5 Acrylic paints are now favored by more and more artists, not only because they are odorless and nontoxic and also because their colors are not effervescent, they don’t fade when exposed to light. 6 However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints. 7 With some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.

In Sentence 3, what word or phrase would best replace “While”?

Possible Answers:

Nevertheless

Others would argue that

While (no change)

On the other hand

Whereas

Correct answer:

On the other hand

Explanation:

Although “While” does correctly indicate a contrasting relationship, it is not syntactically appropriate. Also, we want to observe parallelism in the passage. Because the preceding sentence begins with “On the one hand,” it makes sense for this sentence to begin with “On the other hand.”

Example Question #10 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 One such example of regional cooking could be found in the American South. 2 Wherefore foods such as gumbo, barbecue, fried chicken, and watermelons can now be found all across the country, it was once specific to states south of the Mason-Dixon line. 3 And while Southern cuisine has been influenced by Native American tribes, Scottish immigrants, and Cajun settlers, one of the most significant culinary inspirations came from the South’s black population. 4 Dishes such as cornbread, succotash, collard or turnip greens, pimento cheese, crawfish, and sweet tea all hale from the South, as well. 5 For example, okra, black-eyed peas, and sorghum are all foods brought to America and cultivated by African slaves. 6 Soon, soul food (a sometimes contentious term among black chefs) began to be served in black-owned restaurants in the South. 7 Borne out of competing cultural influences and not-infrequent strife, it should be no surprise that Southern food remains a complex delicious cuisine to this day.

In Sentence 2, what word should replace “Wherefore”?

Possible Answers:

Whence

While

Wherever

Wherewithal

Wherefore (no change)

Correct answer:

While

Explanation:

“Wherefore” is an old-fashioned word meaning “why,” so it doesn’t make sense as a conjunction here. We’re looking for a word that indicates contrast, and “While” functions well in this sense.

Example Question #11 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 One such example of regional cooking could be found in the American South. 2 Wherefore foods such as gumbo, barbecue, fried chicken, and watermelons can now be found all across the country, it was once specific to states south of the Mason-Dixon line. 3 And while Southern cuisine has been influenced by Native American tribes, Scottish immigrants, and Cajun settlers, one of the most significant culinary inspirations came from the South’s black population. 4 Dishes such as cornbread, succotash, collard or turnip greens, pimento cheese, crawfish, and sweet tea all hale from the South, as well. 5 For example, okra, black-eyed peas, and sorghum are all foods brought to America and cultivated by African slaves. 6 Soon, soul food (a sometimes contentious term among black chefs) began to be served in black-owned restaurants in the South. 7 Borne out of competing cultural influences and not-infrequent strife, it should be no surprise that Southern food remains a complex delicious cuisine to this day.

How should the underlined beginning of Sentence 3 be revised?

Possible Answers:

And while

While

However

And wherever

Because

Correct answer:

And while

Explanation:

Here, no change is necessary. Although it may not always be the best practice to begin sentences with “And,” it’s grammatically acceptable. Moreover, the previous sentence, once corrected, will also begin with “While,” so the “And” that begins Sentence 3 actually serves an important transitional role.

Example Question #12 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 One such example of regional cooking could be found in the American South. 2 Wherefore foods such as gumbo, barbecue, fried chicken, and watermelons can now be found all across the country, it was once specific to states south of the Mason-Dixon line. 3 And while Southern cuisine has been influenced by Native American tribes, Scottish immigrants, and Cajun settlers, one of the most significant culinary inspirations came from the South’s black population. 4 Dishes such as cornbread, succotash, collard or turnip greens, pimento cheese, crawfish, and sweet tea all hale from the South, as well. 5 For example, okra, black-eyed peas, and sorghum are all foods brought to America and cultivated by African slaves. 6 Soon, soul food (a sometimes contentious term among black chefs) began to be served in black-owned restaurants in the South. 7 Borne out of competing cultural influences and not-infrequent strife, it should be no surprise that Southern food remains a complex delicious cuisine to this day.

In Sentence 6, what transitional word or phrase should replace “Soon”?

Possible Answers:

Precipitously

Gradually

Later

Soon (no change)

Henceforth

Correct answer:

Later

Explanation:

Sentence 6 discusses a development that occurred after the events of Sentence 5, so “Later” is the best word to signify this chronological relationship.

Example Question #11 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 Glass; a material most people take for granted, is an essential constitute of modern life. 2 Most glass throughout history have been made of silicon dioxide; which is found in sand. 3 Typically glass is made by melting down and refining raw materials in processes that remove bubbles, improve strength, and augur durability. 4 This process can be tailored to create the desired end product, be that stained glass windows for a church and glass fibers for thermal insulation. 5 Because glass blowing can be used to create fanciful shapes and delicate figurines, most glass today is made more quickly and cheaply in factories. 6 These factories can produce everything. 7 From windshields and sterile medical equipment.

In Sentence 5, what transitional word should replace “Because”?

Possible Answers:

Indeed

Further

Because (no change)

Notably

Although

Correct answer:

Although

Explanation:

The relationship indicated by the content of the sentence isn’t one of cause and effect; it’s one of contrast. For this reason, we need a contrasting transition: although.

Example Question #14 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 Unlike most languages, Esperanto was created artificially and not arrived naturally from other language’s evolution. 2 If you’ve ever traveled in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, you’ll be familiar with the motives of the creators of Esperanto; a universal language constructed in 1887. 3 It was invented by the linguist L.L. Zamenhof, its name translating roughly to “the hopeful one,” and it was intended as a simple, neutral language that could transfer national differences and promote international harmony.

4 Implementing Esperanto, although, was more difficult than anticipated. 5 Yet more than two million people world-wide are fluent in Esperanto, far more are fluent in so-called global languages, such as English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and Hindi. 6 Linguistically, Esperanto relies within a Latin alphabet and a grammar and vocabulary based primarily on Indo-European languages. 7 Luckily, free online resources, local clubs, and interminable school-sponsored instruction have kept this valuable linguistic experiment from dying out altogether.

In Sentence 5, what transitional word should replace “Yet”?

Possible Answers:

Concomitantly

Although

Despite

Wherever

Because

Correct answer:

Although

Explanation:

The only grammatically correct option on this list that also indicates the correct contrasting relationship between clauses in Sentence 5 is “Although.”

Example Question #11 : Revising A Single Word Of Introductions And Transitions

1 While maybe he wasn’t as well known as Bluebeard or Captain Kidd, Bill Johnston was still known as a feared pirate and river smuggler in his day.2 That day being the War of 1812. 3 You see, he came from a British Loyalist family and settled in Upper Canada before beginning a career as a Lake Ontario schooner captain, he carried legal cargo as well as smuggled tea and rum into Canada. 4 When the War of 1812 began he spied on the British for several years. 5 In 1838, his most famous escapade occurred: in the capture and burning of the enemy ship Sir Robert Peel. 6 Because Johnston was arrested many times during his life (including for this crime against the Sir Robert Peel), he always either escaped jail or was not convicted because of juries sympathetic view of his activities. 7 Many people do not know that another name for pirate is “corsair.” 8 Nevertheless, Johnston played many roles in his lifetime – everything from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.

In Sentence 5, what word should replace “Because”?

Possible Answers:

Although

Because (no change)

However

Despite

Yet

Correct answer:

Although

Explanation:

We need a word that indicates contrast and fits the grammatical construction of the sentence.

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