SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #731 : Improving Sentences
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.
Do you know what you'll be doing for the springtime?
on
from
in
while
for
in
For specific dates or times, you typically want to use the prepositions "for" or "on." For general measurements of times, such as parts of the year or seasons, you use "in" instead. The preposition in the sentence above should be "in."
Example Question #732 : Improving Sentences
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.
What are you and your dogs doing in the Fourth of July?
on
over
under
in
while
on
For specific dates or times, you typically want to use the prepositions "for" or "on." For general measurements of times, such as parts of the year or seasons, you use "in" instead. The preposition in the sentence above should be "for" or "on," and "on" is the only option listed in the answers above.
Example Question #733 : Improving Sentences
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.
My family and I always have these discussions in ourselves.
at
in
against
from
among
among
The use of "in" is incorrect here. The correct preposition for this situation is "among." Discussions, since they involve other people, are usually held "by" or "among" groups of people. In this case the conversation is obviously being held "among ourselves."
Example Question #734 : Improving Sentences
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.
I always have a great time in the summer, because school is out and it's nice outside.
on
for
while
in
with
in
For specific dates or times, you typically want to use the prepositions "for" or "on." For general measurements of times, such as parts of the year or seasons, you use "in" instead. The preposition in the sentence above is correct as written, so the right answer is the one which reproduces the example sentence.
Example Question #735 : Improving Sentences
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.
The senator's speech, aimed to her colleagues, was a harsh criticism of recent voting patterns.
aimed at
aiming her
The senator's speech, aimed with her colleagues, was a harsh criticism of recent voting patterns.
aimed to
aimed on
aimed at
"Aim to" is a synonym for "try" or "attempt." This meaning doesn't make sense in this instance; "aim at" is the appropriate verb-preposition pairing here, the one that properly conveys the message of the sentence.
Example Question #736 : Improving Sentences
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.
My favorite restaurant in all of Chicago is in State Street.
upon
with
on
for
in
on
When discussing a location that is on a particular street, the correct preposition to use is always, "on." In the sentence above, "in" should be changed out for "on."
Example Question #737 : Improving Sentences
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 construction workers were digging holes by steam shovels.
under
with
on
in
by
with
When describing an instrument that is used to accomplish a particular task, the correct preposition is "with." In the sentence above, "by" should be replaced by "with."
Example Question #738 : Improving Sentences
Choose the answer below which best replaces the underlined section of the following sentence. This should result in a sentence that meets all of the rules of standard written English:
The ants marched along the picnic blanket one for one.
no error
on
by
in
to
by
In the sentence above, the author is clearly trying to convey that the ants are moving along the picnic blanket one at a time. The correct phrase to indicate this meaning is "one by one." Therefore, "by" is the best choice to correct the underlined section above.
Example Question #739 : Improving Sentences
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.
I went to Minnesota last month for see my grandmother.
to
or
but
for
with
to
In the sentence above, the preposition "for" is clearly being incorrectly used. When one is doing something in order to perform another task, "to" is the right word. "To" is the best correction in the sentence as a whole: "I went to Minnesota last month to see my Grandmother."
Example Question #740 : Improving Sentences
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 very old man rested his cane in his legs.
for
with
in
inside
on
on
The preposition "in" in the sentence above is erroneous—there is no way for a man to rest a cane inside his legs (barring some very unfortunate circumstances). The best choice of the other answers is "on," a preposition that indicates that the old man is reting his cane on top of his legs: "The very old man rested his cane on his legs."
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