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Example Questions
Example Question #361 : Improving Paragraphs
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Most cacti are covered in sharp spikes, as my dog found out by attempting to sniffed one. No error
one
spikes, as my dog
to sniffed
Most cacti are
No error
to sniffed
The latter half of the sentence takes place in the past, as we can tell from the verb phrase "found out." However, that does not mean that all past-tense verbs are correctly used. In particular, "to sniffed" is incorrect in this sentence, as the verb following "attempting" needs to be an infinitive. Changing "to sniffed" to "to sniffing" would correct the sentence's error.
Example Question #2581 : Sat Writing
(1) In spite of the numerous museums and schools dedicated to its appreciation, modern art still has yet to achieve the level of popular appreciation that many other art forms experience. (2) Many remain critical of the so-called "non-figurative" turn of European art that occurred in the latter part of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century that has had such a profound impact on art production since. (3) Contributing artists Van Gogh, Cézanne and Kandinsky each experimented with constitutive aspects of art works. (4) That is to say, they focused on issues such as how light interacts with objects, how depictions of visual space in a work tease normal perceptual capacities, or how color induces emotional responses. (5) Although they didn't always focus on the "realistic" depiction of figures in a pictorial scene, they nevertheless made significant and lasting contributions to how we think about the techniques and aspects that make up art objects and practice.
How can the significance of the underlined sentence to the overall paragraph best be described?
The underlined sentence provides three reasons for which it makes little sense to talk of a consolidated and abstract notion such as "modern art."
The underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art.
The underlined sentence lists the contributions that museums and schools have since been dedicated to preserve and protect.
The underlined sentence explains why these figures of modern art have not received the appreciation that they so deserve.
The artistic approaches listed in the underlined sentence explain the necessity for the non-figurative turn in European art.
The underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art.
That "the underlined sentence illustrates the experimental contributions that each of the individual artists listed in the sentence before it made to modern art" is the best answer here because the other claims are either unjustified or inadequate.
Example Question #2582 : Sat Writing
[1] The Magna Carta was a charter issued in 1215 that limited a king’s power and said that no one, even a king, was above the law. [2] Before it was passed, the English people were upset that King John was ignoring their complaints. [3] They threatened King John and he agreed to sign the Magna Carta, limiting his powers and giving more to the lords. [4] The Magna Carta exemplified the political values of limited government and rule of law. [5] In fact, Magna Carta is Latin for "The Great Charter." [6] The Magna Carta affected the American political system because America ended up taking on those same values. [7] In America, the president can’t do whatever he or she wants; he or she has to work with Congress. [8] In addition, the president, like the king of England, is not above the law. [9] For example, if the president speeds then he or she will get a ticket, just like anyone else who speeds. [10] The Magna Carta could be the earliest influence on the American political system and the Constitution.
Which two sentences in the paragraph best show a cause-effect relationship?
Sentences 8 and 9
Sentences 2 and 3
Sentences 7 and 8
Sentences 9 and 10
Sentences 5 and 6
Sentences 2 and 3
Of the sentences in this paragraph, Sentences 2 and 3 most clearly show a cause-effect relationship. Sentence 2 is the cause ("the English people were upset that King John was ignoring their complaints") and Sentence 3 is the effect ("They threatened King John and he agreed to sign the Magna Carta.") Neither sentence would work without the other.
Example Question #11 : Analyzing Content
(1) During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave." (2) This period is often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema. (3) These films often used improvised dialogue rather than a script and featured many non-professional actors. (4) The directors from this period wished to capture the authentic experience of living in Czechoslovakia at the time. (5) However, a series of new censorship laws introduced by the Communist Party in 1968 halted the movement and motivated several of the key directors to flee to America.
How can the significance of Sentence 3 to the overall paragraph best be described?
The sentence explains what elements of Czechoslovak New Wave we might be able to observe in modern American films.
The sentence defends the elements of Czechoslovak New Wave that the Communist Party attempted to censor.
The sentence demonstrates the filmmaking methods used in Czechoslovak New Wave that set the movement apart in the history of cinema.
The sentence indicates which filmmakers in particular contributed the most significantly to Czechoslovak New Wave.
The sentence shows how Czechoslovak New Wave contributed to the political history of Czechoslovakia.
The sentence demonstrates the filmmaking methods used in Czechoslovak New Wave that set the movement apart in the history of cinema.
This explanation is the best because the others are illogical or insufficient.
Example Question #362 : Improving Paragraphs
The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements. It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.
What is the relationship between the two underlined sentences?
The first sentence outlines the reason for modern conflicts in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of historical, colonial conflicts fought in the same area
Both sentences discuss historical conflicts in the island related to colonialism
The first sentence introduces the idea of conflict, and what might motivate it, and the second elaborates on the actual conflicts that have, in fact, occurred
The two sentences are not related, the second sentence should be moved
The first sentence provides historical context about conflict in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of modern conflict on the islands, and the way in which the motivations for such conflict differ
The first sentence provides historical context about conflict in the islands, the second transitions into a discussion of modern conflict on the islands, and the way in which the motivations for such conflict differ
These two sentences are, obviously, grammatically independent from one another, but in terms of the context and logical flow of the paragraph, the first outlines historical conflicts, and then discusses modern conflicts. The two sentences thus, taken in concert, outline the history of conflict (and the motivations thereof) in the islands. This question required an accurate reading of both sentences, and an understanding of their overall role in the paragraph. The key thing to note is that the historical context is established prior to a discussion of the modern motivations for conflict in the area.
Example Question #1 : Deleting Content
[1] The contemporary feminist movement had its origins more than two thousand years ago. [2] Because many people don’t realize it, some of the first feminists were men. [3] Early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were most concerned in achieving education and legal recognition such as property and voting rights. [4] Other early feminists avidly rejected society’s narrow domestic vision for women. [5] These feminists ranged from Jane Austen to George Eliot.
[6] Still other feminists were concerned with obtaining equal educational and employment opportunities for women. [7] In the field of medicine, there was Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Margaret Sanger, in the field of education there was Virginia Woolf and Mary Wollstonecraft. [8] During the twentieth century, issues such as reproductive rights, pay equality, and protection against sexual harassment would arise. [9] Recently, men’s rights activists have been opposing the work of contemporary feminists, claiming that the movement seeks to divest men of power and oppress them for the benefit of women. [10] Thanks largely to the efforts of these courageous early feminists, women today enjoy more equal rights than at any other time in Western history.
Which of the following sentences should be omitted from the passage?
Sentence 9
Sentence 5
Sentence 7
Sentence 3
Sentence 8
Sentence 9
While the rest of the passage is focused on early feminist reformers, Sentence 9 digresses into a discussion of opposition faced by contemporary feminists. Because it is less relevant to the matter at hand, it should be omitted.
Example Question #1 : Deleting Content
1 Although vegetarianism is sometimes considered a recent phenomenon, the practice actually has roots in both ancient India and ancient Greece. 2 In Greece, being vegetarian was a way to abstain from eating ‘beings with souls,’ and vegetarianism was primarily practiced by small religious sects or certain philosophical thinkers. 3 Ancient Indian vegetarianism may have been more widespread, as it was mandatory for many Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists. 4 Buddhist scholars argue whether Gautama Buddha ever ate meat. 5 Obviously, vegetarianism is a constantly evolution practice that has changed considerably over the past several thousand years.
6 During the Middle Ages, vegetarianism remained largely outside the cultural milieu in Europe. 7 Certain aseptic religious sects may have avoided eating meat, but the practice didn’t truly gain ground in Western Europe until the Age of Enlightenment. 8 During and before that time, many people still argued that animals existed only for the benefit of humankind. 9 They were opposed by other people who thought that that was an anthropocentric viewpoint.
10 Over time, vegetarianism gradually gained diction with influential thinkers and by the twentieth century, organizations such as the International Vegetarian Union, the North American Vegetarian Society, and the Animal Aid were appearing. 11 What new form will vegetarianism take in the future?
Which sentence should be deleted from the passage?
Sentence 10
Sentence 1
Sentence 7
Sentence 4
Sentence 5
Sentence 4
Sentence 4 digresses from the main topic of the reading – vegetarianism’s history – and is too specific to match the scope of the rest of the passage, for instance, no specific figures in Medieval history are mentioned. Also, the fundamental topic of this sentence is actually a scholarly religious debate, as opposed to a debate about vegetarianism as a practice.
Example Question #2587 : Sat Writing
1 French high-wire artist Philippe Petit has a long history of daredevil and breathtaking performances. 2 Although none are so well known as his 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in New York City. 3 Petit made more than two hundred trips to the Twin Towers in surrogate preparation for the eminent walk. 4 Supposedly, he spent more than six years practicing on a low wire at a property in upstate New York and laying his plans. 5 He first read an article about the Twin Towers in his dentist’s office while they were still being built.
6 On August 7, 1974 Philippe Petit made the walk. 7 With the help of his tepid friends, he snuck into the buildings, strung a cable more than a quarter mile above the ground, and began the walk. 8 The buildings were still under construction. 9 The performance lasted for more than half an hour and included Petit walking, running, and even lying down on the rope. 10 Whereas Petit was arrested when he returned to the ground, the judge only sentenced him to perform for city children in Central Park. 11 After the Twin Tower walk, Petit continues to give lectures, write books, and perform everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to Niagara Falls.
Which sentence should be deleted from the passage?
Sentence 4
Sentence 6
Sentence 7
Sentence 3
Sentence 5
Sentence 5
Sentence 5 is too specific in scope to fit with the rest of the passage. It digresses into a minor and relatively unimportant detail about where Petit learned about the Twin Towers, but it has nothing to do with the tightrope walk, or the direct preparation for the walk. While Sentence 5 is not, necessarily, completely incorrect, it is not connected to any other part of the passage with a transitional phrase, and it can more easily be removed without altering the fundamental focus of the rest of the passage than any of the other choices provided.
Example Question #361 : Improving Paragraphs
1 The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded to writers in the United States for nearly one hundred years. 2 It is one of twenty-one different categories of the Pulitzer Prize, that is named after newspaper baron Joseph Pulitzer and admonished by Columbia University. 3 Each year, the Pulitzer Prize Board generally chooses more than 100 judges to serve on 20 different juries, and each jury nominates three finalists for its respectful category.
4 Because the fiction award is usually given annually, there have also been years when it was not given to anyone. 5 This occurred when no winner was chosen from the three finalists (Denis Johnson’s collection Train Dreams, Karen Russell’s novel Swamplandia!, and David Foster Wallace’s unfinished The Pale King) in 2012. 6 As could be expected there was general outcry in the literary community following the announcement that no award would be given that year. 7 The Pulitzer Prize in Fiction was also not awarded to anyone in 1920, 1946, 1956, or 1971.
8 While some authors believe that winning the Pulitzer is up to random luck or connections in the publishing world, others think that the judges consistently choose exemplifies of American fiction. 9 In their minds, the Pulitzer recognizes and honors literature’s greatest powers; to entertain, enlighten, instruct, transcend, and astonish.
Which of the following sentences should be omitted from the passage?
Sentence 3
Sentence 2
Sentence 4
Sentence 1
Sentence 3
While Sentence 3 does provide interesting information about the Pulitzer Prize selection process, this passage is primarily concerned with the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, and the details about the jury and finalists are not directly relevant to the overall topic of the reading.
Example Question #2589 : Sat Writing
1 The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded to writers in the United States for nearly one hundred years. 2 It is one of twenty-one different categories of the Pulitzer Prize, that is named after newspaper baron Joseph Pulitzer and admonished by Columbia University. 3 Each year, the Pulitzer Prize Board generally chooses more than 100 judges to serve on 20 different juries, and each jury nominates three finalists for its respectful category.
4 Because the fiction award is usually given annually, there have also been years when it was not given to anyone. 5 This occurred when no winner was chosen from the three finalists (Denis Johnson’s collection Train Dreams, Karen Russell’s novel Swamplandia!, and David Foster Wallace’s unfinished The Pale King) in 2012. 6 As could be expected there was general outcry in the literary community following the announcement that no award would be given that year. 7 The Pulitzer Prize in Fiction was also not awarded to anyone in 1920, 1946, 1956, or 1971.
8 While some authors believe that winning the Pulitzer is up to random luck or connections in the publishing world, others think that the judges consistently choose exemplifies of American fiction. 9 In their minds, the Pulitzer recognizes and honors literature’s greatest powers; to entertain, enlighten, instruct, transcend, and astonish.
Which of the following sentences should be omitted from the passage?
Sentence 8
Sentence 7
Sentence 5
Sentence 9
Sentence 6
Sentence 7
While Sentence 7 does elaborate upon a relevant point in the passage, it gives too much unnecessary detail. Readers don’t need to know what other years the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction was not awarded, and this sentence slows down the flow of the passage.