SAT Writing : Improving Paragraphs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #321 : Improving Paragraphs

1 They will look hideous, but in some part of the world gooseneck barnacles are trendy delicacies. 2 They are harvested mainly in northern Spain and Portugal, where they are known as, percebes, and in California. 3 Barnacles can be cooked in a variety of ways including in boiling water and hot ash. 4 It is remarkable for its rubbery texture, ugly black color, and claw like shape. 5 Barnacles are also difficult to collect, living on cliff sides and rocks in tumid coastal zones. 6 They are commonly served with lemon, garlic aioli, parsley, and melted butter. 7 They are sometimes even eaten raw! 8 In medieval times people actually believed that gooseneck barnacles gave birth to a species of black goose, henceforth the name.

Which sentence needs a hyphen added to it?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 4

Sentence 2

Sentence 3

Sentence 1

None of these sentences requires a hyphen

Correct answer:

Sentence 4

Explanation:

In Sentence 4, we need a hyphen to connect “claw” and “like.” (Generally, any time a noun is being combined with the word “like” to create an adjective, hyphenation is called for.)

Example Question #322 : Improving Paragraphs

1 The job is similar to a music editor, who creates and merges songs, background music, and other sound effects to create a particular atmosphere. 2 While most Americans today are cognizant of film jobs such as director, producer, actor, and even screenwriter. 3 Few know much about the role of film editor. 4 This job involves mostly post-production work, with the editor choosing that parts of the raw footage to move, combine, or separate. 5 Without the film editor, there would only be a bewitching jumble of disordered chaotic images. 6 Sometimes more than ten times as much film is shot than is used in the final cut of the movie. 7 Film editors, also have the ability to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as he sees fit. 8 Film editing truly is a critical and undervalued art. 

What is the best title for the passage?

Possible Answers:

"Film Editors: From Traditional to Avant-Garde"

Film: A 21st-Century Revolution

Film: The Modern Medium

"Film and Its Editors: An Unlikely Duo"

"Film Editors: Obscure but Necessary"

Correct answer:

"Film Editors: Obscure but Necessary"

Explanation:

“Film Editors: Obscure but Necessary” correctly identifies that the focus of the passage is on film editors and not film. It also correctly imparts a main point in the passage: Film editors are often overlooked but always essential to the movie-making process. Because this is a short non-fiction passage, rather than a complete work, the title should be surrounded by quotation marks, not italicized.

Example Question #323 : Improving Paragraphs

1 Ethnography: sounds erogenous but is simply a study of a culture or group of people.2 Originating in the field of anthropology, later becoming popular in sociology and other disciplines. 3 Ethnographies typically include: descriptions of geography, religion, economy, social behaviors, rituals and histories. 4 Most early ethnographies were written by ex-patriot European explorers traveling outside their home continent; though by some standards the Greek historian Herodotus was producing protoplasmic ethnographies hundreds of years before the Age of Exploration. 5 Ethnographies can take forms ranging from the confessional, the feminist, the critical, and the realist but most are qualitative and descriptive rather than quantitative and statistical. 6 Some attempt to provide fairly objective observations of a group or society, others have the anterior motive of empowering marginalized or repressed cultures.7 This group or culture may include anything from a fraternity to a particular Uruguayan village. 8 Today ethnographers often immerse themselves fully in the lives of their subjects, be they powerful politicians and impoverished blue-collar workers.

What transitional word or phrase should begin Sentence 6?

Possible Answers:

Moreover

Meanwhile

Specifically

Notwithstanding

Subsequently

Correct answer:

Moreover

Explanation:

Since Sentence 6 is supporting the information in Sentence 5 and providing further information, we’re looking for a transitional word that indicates addition. “Moreover” is the only choice that does so.   

Example Question #324 : Improving Paragraphs

1 The job of the cryptozoologist is a taciturn one for sure. 2 Being unlike ordinary zoologists, that study the behaviors and lives of a cathartic variety of animals, cryptozoologists track down mythical animals whose existence has never or rarely been proven.

3 There is the Congolese J'ba FoFi, an enormous spider with legs allegedly over three feet long, the mokèlé-mbèmbé, a deadly African water dinosaur, and the phantom cat, an abnormally large feline found in various improbably places. 4 The origins of the word “cryptozoologist” come from the ancient Greek, crypto meaning “hidden” and “zoo” meaning animal.5 Some of the most famous of these mythical animals or cryptids are Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, and Chupacabra. 6 Many denizens consider cryptozoologists to be pseudoscientists; but, they believe that the discipline’s reliance on anecdotal evidence does not exclude it from the world of serious science.

7 Many of these animals seem too incredible to be believed and yes evidence is often flimsy, but the existence of fossil records sometimes provide evidence to the contrary. 8 As such many doubters attempt to machinate the cryptids’ existence, but cryptozoologists aim to abolish their skepticism.

What transitional word or phrase should be added to the beginning of Sentence 3?

Possible Answers:

For example,

Traditionally,

Exemplified,

Likewise,

As such,

Correct answer:

For example,

Explanation:

Sentence 3 provides specific examples of subjects that a cryptozoologist might study, so the transitional word should reflect this focus.

Example Question #325 : Improving Paragraphs

1 Dream interpretation has a long and storied past. 2 Did you know that the ancient Egyptians were interpreting dreams thousands of years ago? 3 In ancient Greece, prophecies were often based off dreams; and in English literature including Shakespeare dreams have long held a significant role.

4 Common dream symbols include new rooms, which indicate new discoveries about the self, hair, which is purportedly related to sexuality, and forests, which alternately signal loss or variegated opportunities. 5 Books with titles ranging from The Lofty Principles of Dream Interpretation and Dream Alchemy offer advice, and opinions.6 More recently, psychologists have contributed their own analysis to the collaboration of interpretative literature. 7 What did you think your dreams mean?

Where should the following sentence be inserted in the passage? “However, many interpretative guides differ substantially in the ways they allocate meaning to symbols.” 

Possible Answers:

After Sentence 1

After Sentence 4

After Sentence 7

After Sentence 5

After Sentence 3

Correct answer:

After Sentence 4

Explanation:

Sentence 4 discusses several specific ways that people have allocated meaning to dream symbols, and the new sentence offers a subsequent cautionary point to qualify that discussion. 

Example Question #324 : Improving Paragraphs

1 The job of the cryptozoologist is a taciturn one for sure. 2 Being unlike ordinary zoologists, that study the behaviors and lives of a cathartic variety of animals, cryptozoologists track down mythical animals whose existence has never or rarely been proven.

3 There is the Congolese J'ba FoFi, an enormous spider with legs allegedly over three feet long, the mokèlé-mbèmbé, a deadly African water dinosaur, and the phantom cat, an abnormally large feline found in various improbably places. 4 The origins of the word “cryptozoologist” come from the ancient Greek, crypto meaning “hidden” and “zoo” meaning animal.5 Some of the most famous of these mythical animals or cryptids are Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, and Chupacabra. 6 Many denizens consider cryptozoologists to be pseudoscientists; but, they believe that the discipline’s reliance on anecdotal evidence does not exclude it from the world of serious science.

7 Many of these animals seem too incredible to be believed and yes evidence is often flimsy, but the existence of fossil records sometimes provide evidence to the contrary. 8 As such many doubters attempt to machinate the cryptids’ existence, but cryptozoologists aim to abolish their skepticism.

What is the best title for this passage?

Possible Answers:

"What is a Cryptozoologist?"

"Cryptozoos: True Occurrences?"

"Understanding the Cryptic"

"Cryptozoology: Fact or Fiction?"

"Cryptids Among Us"

Correct answer:

"What is a Cryptozoologist?"

Explanation:

While most of these titles touch on the main topic of the passage, the only one that gives an accurate sense of the text’s main purpose (to introduce readers to the profession of cryptozoology) is “What is a Cryptozoologist?”

Example Question #326 : Improving Paragraphs

1 Dream interpretation has a long and storied past. 2 Did you know that the ancient Egyptians were interpreting dreams thousands of years ago? 3 In ancient Greece, prophecies were often based off dreams; and in English literature including Shakespeare dreams have long held a significant role.

4 Common dream symbols include new rooms, which indicate new discoveries about the self, hair, which is purportedly related to sexuality, and forests, which alternately signal loss or variegated opportunities. 5 Books with titles ranging from The Lofty Principles of Dream Interpretation and Dream Alchemy offer advice, and opinions.6 More recently, psychologists have contributed their own analysis to the collaboration of interpretative literature. 7 What did you think your dreams mean?

What is the best title for this passage?

Possible Answers:

"Ways Your Dreams May Be Warning You"

"To Dream: Historical Dangers"

"Dreams: An Interpretative Overview"

"Dreams: A How-To Interpretation Guide"

"Dreams: What They Mean and How to Read Them"

Correct answer:

"Dreams: An Interpretative Overview"

Explanation:

Only “Dreams: An Interpretative Overview” does not give the false impression that the passage will either teach readers how to interpret dreams or discuss hazardous aspects of dreaming.

Example Question #327 : Improving Paragraphs

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.

What transitional word or phrase should begin Sentence 5?

Possible Answers:

On the other hand,

Moreover,

Therefore,

In conclusion,

To elaborate,

Correct answer:

To elaborate,

Explanation:

Sentence 5 provides more information about a claim made in Sentence 4; in other words, it’s elaborating upon Sentence 4.

Example Question #328 : Improving Paragraphs

1 You may not know Gerard Manley Hopkins was a famous English poet. 2 Hopkins led a complicated life as a Jesuit priest, converting to Roman Catholicism in 1866. 3 Born in 1844 the poet was excellent at sketching from an early age and attended the University of Oxford from 1863 to 1867, where he met poets Christina Rossetti, Robert Bridges, and others. 4 According to his personal diaries, Hopkins frequently struggled to repress homoerotic urges, adopting an ascetic lifestyle, many believing that this contributed to his writing. 5 His work itself is characterized by an escarpment of conventional poetic meter, the use of sprung rhythm, frequent vivid imagery, and a careful and creative use of language.6 Sprung rhythm is a particular poetic rhythm that is intended to mimic natural speech and is distinguished by its irregular patterns although it is distinct from free verse.

7 Hopkins died when he was only in his forties, but his contributions to poetry – particularly his experimentation and his use of sprung rhythm – continue to obscure today.

What is the best title for this passage?

Possible Answers:

"Hopkins’ Unusual Conversion"

"Hopkins’ Unique Prosody"

"Hopkins’ Tormented Life"

"The Life and Work of Gerard Manley Hopkins"

"Catholicism and Poetry: Unlikely Bedfellows"

Correct answer:

"The Life and Work of Gerard Manley Hopkins"

Explanation:

The passage gives a brief synopsis of the life and work of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and the correct title reflects this focus exactly.  All the other titles focus too narrowly on one specific element of the passage.

Example Question #328 : Improving Paragraphs

1 By now it’s common knowledge that a food may be considered unctuous in one culture may be gleaned repulsive in another. 2 Octopus is one such food. 3 It valorizes its audiences, with some gourmands claiming its rubbery texture is unpalatable, others enjoying the unusual taste. 4 It’s cousin, squid, is known as “calamari,” and is also popular in many countries.5 Octopus can be fried in batter, roasted with herbs, steamed and sprinkled with paprika, serve it raw in sushi, or even eat it alive. 6 But be careful: The head of the octopus’ can be poisonous!

What is the best title for this passage?

Possible Answers:

"Delicious or Disgusting?"

"Cultural Foods"

"Consequences of Cultural Eating"

"Delicious or Nutritious?"

"Eating Octopus"

Correct answer:

"Eating Octopus"

Explanation:

All the titles except “Eating Octopus” are too vague. The best title will point the reader in the right direction toward the main idea of the passage.

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