SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #233 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The writing tutor noticed that her student's writing skills had significantly improved since their first session. No error
No error
student's
that
had significantly improved
their
had significantly improved
The sentence's error is a split verb phrase. Verb phrases, like "had improved," should be kept together and not split by adverbs, like "significantly." To correct the split verb phrase, the verb and adverb should be rewritten as "had improved significantly."
Example Question #41 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Despite the poor weather, I was planning on attending the festival with her. No error
No error
her
on attending
was planning
Despite
on attending
The proper idiom for planning an action is planning to do something, not planning on something. Thus, the clause should be "I was planning to attend the festival with him."
Example Question #234 : Identifying Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Margo was upset how the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure. No error
needed
how
No error
was wasting
moving sidewalks
how
This sentence uses the wrong relative pronoun after the adjective "upset." Usually, "that" is used. The corrected sentence reads, "Margo was upset that the zoo was wasting valuable resources on moving sidewalks when the lions needed a new enclosure."
Example Question #43 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While computers maybe an integral part of modern life, they cause problems as well as provide benefits. No error
While
life, they
as well as
No error
maybe
maybe
"Maybe" is an adverb that means perhaps and is incorrectly used in this sentence. To correct the sentence's error, "maybe" needs to be changed to "may be."
Example Question #6 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Given the disproportionate amount of deaths caused by drunk drivers, most states have passed strict legislation against individuals who choose to operate vehicles while inebriated. No error
No error
amount of deaths
have passed
inebriated
who choose
amount of deaths
"Amount of" refers to something that is not necessarily measured numerically, while "number of" refers to something that is measured numerically. Given that deaths incurred by drunk drivers is something that can be measured numerically, "number of" would be appropriate, not "amount of." If the sentence was "Given the disproportionate amount of heartache caused by drunk drivers . . .", the sentence would have been properly constructed because heartache generally cannot be measured numerically.
Example Question #44 : Identifying Other Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Even though Joseph is a big fan of cooking shows, he hasn't never cooked in his entire life. No error
No error
his
cooked
hasn't
Even though
hasn't
Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard written English, so instead of saying "hasn't never cooked," one should say "has never cooked."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every year, thousands of tourists swarm to New York City to view the impressive, timeless monument known as the Statue Of Liberty. No error
thousands of tourists
No error
the impressive, timeless, monument
to New York City
the Statue Of Liberty
the Statue Of Liberty
The preposition “of” in the title “Statue of Liberty” does not need to be—and should not be—capitalized.
Example Question #541 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The jury, despite hours of deliberation, is not able to resolve the issue; in the end, they cannot determine whose responsible for the crime. No error
jury, despite
issue; in the end
deliberation, is
determine whose
No error
determine whose
"Who is" and "who's" is not interchangeable with "whose": here the correct sentence is: "they cannot determine who is (who's) respsonsible ..."
Example Question #542 : Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The Odyssey is a very long epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the long journey he undertakes to try to return to his home. No error
he undertakes
to try and return to his home
The Odyssey is a long epic poem
that
No error
The Odyssey is a long epic poem
The sentence tells us (correctly) that the Odyssey is "a long epic poem," so as a long poem, its title should be italicized as "The Odyssey."
Example Question #11 : Identifying Conventional And Idiomatic Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
During the "Great Famine" of the mid-1800s, many Irish citizens immigrated from Ireland to countries around the world in an effort to escape mass starvation. No error
No error
Ireland
effort
starvation
immigrated
immigrated
The correct verb to describe the process of people leaving their country is "emigrated," which means to have left one's own country to live in another, usually out of necessity. The verb "immigrate" means to permanently relocate to a foreign country. One might emigrate from Ireland, and immigrate to America. In this case, "emigrated" is the correct choice because the focus is on the Irish citizens moving from Ireland, rather than to a specific destination.
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