SAT Writing : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy had an artistic bent that his parents looked down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy had an artistic bent and his parents looked down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy having an artistic bent that his parents looked down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy had an artistic bent that his parents looked down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings the young boy had an artistic bent that his parents looked down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy had an artistic bent that his parents looking down upon.
Unlike all of his siblings, the young boy had an artistic bent that his parents looked down upon.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs nothing done to improve it. Additionally, all of the other answer choices that do make a change also make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #32 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
As for myself, I never trust what the newspaper says the day after news breaks.
From myself,
As for me,
For my own self,
As for myself,
From me,
As for myself,
The sentence is perfectly correct as written and needs no changes. The use of the reflexive pronoun does happen before the use of the simple pronoun, but because it is in an introductory phrase, the subject of the sentence is the simple pronoun, and can be referred to by "myself."
Example Question #33 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing No 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.
The few people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it had been canceled.
The few people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find which it had been canceled.
The fewer people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it had been canceled.
The few people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it will have been canceled.
The fewest people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it had been canceled.
The few people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it had been canceled.
The few people who did show up for the concert in the middle of the blizzard were not surprised to find that it had been canceled.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, all the answer choices that do make a change make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as is.
Example Question #33 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the best answer from the choices given.
The reason the soccer match was cancelled was not so much the incoming storm but the lack of competitors.
but rather the lack of competitors
as it was lacking competitors
but the lack of competitors
than the lack of competitors
than because of the lack of competitors
but the lack of competitors
The original sentence is the most concise and effective.
Example Question #34 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus, artichokes, or spinach.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus, artichokes, or spinach.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus artichokes and spinach.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus, artichokes, and also spinach.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus artichokes, and spinach.
For his entire life he never liked asparagus, artichokes, or spinach.
For his entire life, he never liked asparagus, artichokes, or spinach.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Every answer choice that does make a change actually introduces an error. The best choice is to leave the sentence as is.
Example Question #35 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
The metal was designed to be able to resist water, fire, and rust.
The metal was designed to be able to resist water fire and rust.
The metal was designed to be able to resist water, fire, and rust.
The metal was designing to be able to resist water, fire, and rust.
The metal was designed able to be to resist water, fire, and rust.
The metal was designed to be able to resist watering, fire, and rusting.
The metal was designed to be able to resist water, fire, and rust.
The sentence is correct as written and no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, all the changes that are made in the answer choices make the sentence incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #36 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
The boy was never very kind to himself when times got rough.
never much kind to himself
never very kind to him
never very kind from himself
never very kind to he
never very kind to himself
never very kind to himself
The sentence is correct as written, as the use of the reflexive pronoun "himself" is necessary, as it needs to refer to the subject of the sentence. With a simple pronoun, the sentence would be confusing, as "him" could refer to another male person who is not "the boy." The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #37 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
The new regulations prohibited various items from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium which including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and, lighters.
from the stadium, including knives scissors and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
The sentence is correct as written, with the dependent clause set apart from the sentence by a comma, and the list appropriately separated with commas between each of its items. All of the changes made in the answer choices introduce grammatical errors. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.
Example Question #38 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years the family waits patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news in their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waits patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, all the other answer choices that do make a change to the sentence make it grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #50 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No 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.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts' for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for there unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisast's for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for there unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisast's for their unique song.
This birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
This birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts' for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. All of the answer choices that do make a change introduce grammatical errors into the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
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