SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #382 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The three vegetables that you need to make a good broth are onions carrots and celery.
onions carrots, and celery.
onions carrots and celery.
onions: carrots: celery.
onions, carrots, and celery.
onions carrots and, celery.
onions, carrots, and celery.
When using a list of more than two things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item in the list. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "onions, carrots, and celery."
Example Question #383 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Running, jumping, and rock, climbing are all excellent ways to stay in shape.
Running, jumping and rock, climbing
Running, jumping, rock climbing
Running, jumping, and rock climbing
Running, jumping, and, rock, climbing,
Running, jumping, and rock, climbing
Running, jumping, and rock climbing
When using a list of three or more things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item of the list. Note that "rock climbing," even though it is comprised of two words, is only a single item in the list. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "Running, jumping, and rock climbing"
Example Question #384 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The Mongols, the Huns and, the Parthians are all peoples that used horse archers in warfare.
The Mongols, the Huns, and the Parthians
The Mongols or the Huns and the Parthians
The Mongols the Huns and the Parthians
The Mongols, the Huns and, the Parthians
The Mongols-the Huns-the Parthians
The Mongols, the Huns, and the Parthians
When using a list of three or more things in a sentence, a comma must be placed between each item of the list. Note that the comma near the conjunction should precede the conjunction, rather than following it. The best way to write the underlined portion of the above sentence is, "The Mongols, the Huns, and the Parthians."
Example Question #385 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
There are many kind of animals at the zoo including bears lions and tigers.
bears lions and tigers
bears lions, and tigers.
bears, lions, and tigers.
bears, lions, and tigers,
bears, lions, and, tigers.
bears, lions, and tigers.
Whenever a list of three or more things appears in a sentence, all three of the items must be separated from one another by commas or conjunctions. While lists are often preceded by colons this is not always the case, and is not the case here. Note that a comma must also precede "and" in this situation. The best choice to correct the underlined portion above is "bears, lions, and tigers."
Example Question #386 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Four things are important when you play board games: patience knowledge, of the rules, and generosity.
patience, knowledge of the rules, and generosity.
patience, knowledge, of the rules, and generosity.
patience, knowledge of the rules, and, generosity.
patience knowledge, of the rules, and generosity
patience knowledge, of, the, rules, and generosity.
patience, knowledge of the rules, and generosity.
Whenever a list of three or more things appears in a sentence, all three of the items must be separated from one another by commas or conjunctions. In this case, "knowledge of the rules" is a phrase which comprises a single item in the list. Note that the rules for comma usage in lists remain the same if the list follows a comma. The best choice to correct the underlined portion above is "patience, knowledge of the rules, and generosity."
Example Question #387 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Our math teacher has many great qualities: he is kind he is patient and he is extremely intelligent.
he is kind, he is patient and he is extremely intelligent.
he is kind he is patient and he is extremely intelligent.
he is kind, he is patient, and he is extremely, intelligent.
he is kind he is patient, and he is extremely intelligent.
he is kind, he is patient, and he is extremely intelligent.
he is kind, he is patient, and he is extremely intelligent.
Whenever a list of three or more things appears in a sentence, all three of the items must be separated from one another by commas or conjunctions. In the sentence above, each phrase near the end of the sentence constitutes an item in the list. The best choice to correct the underlined portion above is "he is kind, he is patient, and he is extremely intelligent."
Example Question #129 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Before dinner, we have to peel the potatoes, set the table, light the candles, and put the chicken in the oven.
peel, the potatoes, set, the table, light the, candles, and put, the chicken in the oven.
peel potatoes set the table light the candles and put the chicken in the oven.
peel the potatoes, set the table, light the candles, and, put the chicken in the oven.
peel the potatoes, set the table, light the candles, and put the chicken in the oven.
peel the potatoes; set the table light the candles, and put the chicken in the oven.
peel the potatoes, set the table, light the candles, and put the chicken in the oven.
Whenever a list of three or more things appears in a sentence, all three of the items must be separated from one another by commas or conjunctions. This sentence contains no errors, so the best choice is the one that reproduces the example sentence, "peel potatoes, set the table, light the candles, and put the chicken in the oven."
Example Question #388 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
If you go camping, be sure to bring excellent gear a good companion and something to read.
excellent gear a good companion, and something to read.
excellent gear a good companion and something to read.
excellent gear, a good companion, and something to read.
excellent gear or a good companion and something to read.
excellent gear with good companion and something to read.
excellent gear, a good companion, and something to read.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, the items in that list must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. In the sentence above, there are commas missing between items of the list. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is: "excellent gear, a good companion, and something to read."
Example Question #31 : Correcting Punctuation Errors: Commas In Lists
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
When I feel glum, I like to do the following things to take the edge off: go for a run make myself food and watch television.
edge off: go for a run, make myself food, and watch television.
edge off: go for a run make, myself food and watch television.
edge off go for a run make myself food and watch television.
edge off: go for a run make myself food and watch television.
edge off go for a run, make myself food and watch television.
edge off: go for a run, make myself food, and watch television.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. In the sentence above, there is a comma missing between the first two items of the list that follow the colon. The best way to correct the underlined portion is: "edge off: go for a run, make myself food, and watch television."
Example Question #392 : Correcting Punctuation Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The true problems that were facing our fast deteriorating project were as follows: we didn't have enough money we didn't have enough time and we didn't have the right people.
we didn't have money we didn't have time and we didn't have the right people.
we didn't have enough money, we didn't have enough time, and we didn't have the right people.
we did not have enough money, we didn't have enough time and we didn't have the right people.
we didn't have enough money we didn't have enough time and we didn't have the right people.
we didn't have enough money we didn't have enough time and we did not have the best people.
we didn't have enough money, we didn't have enough time, and we didn't have the right people.
Every time there is a list of three or more things in a sentence, those things must be separated by commas, conjunctions, or both. In the sentence above, the best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is:"we didn't have enough money, we didn't have enough time, and we didn't have the right people."
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