SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #1041 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined portion of the sentence that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Only one state was added in the 1870s: Colorado, which became apart of the United States in August of 1876. No error
Only
No error
apart
:
which
apart
"Apart" is an adverb. "A part" is a noun, and, more importantly, the appropriate noun to use in this instance. "Apart" is usually used in the "apart from" construction, which is not relevant to this sentence.
Example Question #1042 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Grace's little sister always depends to Grace for help on homework. No error
for help
Grace's
No error
always
depends to
depends to
In this context, "depends" is conventionally followed by "on," not "to." In this case the little sister "depends on Grace," so she should be "grateful to" her.
Example Question #1043 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
In order to do well on a standardied test, it helps for one to be familiar to the format of the test and with one's own testing tendencies. No error
No error
one's
SAT,
familiar to
do well
familiar to
This question is testing the idiom "familiar with," which means that "familiar to" is incorrect. An idiom is just a conventional way of saying something. Unfortuately, idioms do not follow distinct rules so they must just be memorized. A corrected sentence would look like this: In order to do well on the SAT, it helps for one to be familiar with the format of the test and with one's own testing tendencies.
Example Question #351 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error.
The late Maya Angelou is celebrated by her poems, novels, and collections of essays; her work has been and continues to be inspirational to many. No error
inspirational
No error
essays;
by
has been
by
This question tests knowledge of the idiom "celebrated for." This idiom indicates the reasons why someone is celebrated—in Maya Angelou's case, her writing. "Celebrated by," on the other hand, is used to explain who celebrates someone, which is not specifically discussed in this sentence.
A sample sentence using "celebrated by":
"The court decision was celebrated by many activists."
A sample sentence using "celebrated for":
"The late Maya Angelou is celebrated for her poems, novels, and collections of essays; her work has been and continues to be inspirational to many."
Example Question #352 : Identifying Word 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.
Although the father loved his two children equally, the younger sibling expects to be bequeathed a grossly unequivocal portion of the inheritance. No error
to be bequeathed
grossly
No error
unequivocal
children equally, the
unequivocal
Although "unequivocal" appears to indicate the younger sibling expects an unequal or uneven split, that's not what "unequivocal" means. "Unequivocal" means to be unclear about something.
Example Question #353 : Identifying Word 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.
Compared next to her coworker, Sheila was always more polite and punctual, always on time and ready to lend a helping hand. No error
to lend
punctual,
was
No error
Compared next to
Compared next to
In English something is "compared to" something, not "compared next to something. Accordingly, the error lies in the usage of "with." While there are some idioms that do use a "alongside" construction, comparisons are made "to" other things.
Example Question #551 : 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.
Although he purported to be unbiased in his hiring practices, the boss tended to disseminate between older and younger applicants. No error
unbiased in
older and younger
disseminate
purported
No error
disseminate
The issue here is the use of the word "disseminate." To disseminate is to spread something -typically information- on a large scale. The sentence calls for the word "discriminate" instead, which means to recognize a distinction between two entities. Because the boss judges younger and older applicants differently, she discriminates between them.
Example Question #1044 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although I know I should enjoy it, dancing doesn't bring me no satisfaction. No error
no
Although
it,
No error
me
no
This sentence is incorrect because it contains a double negative ("doesn't bring me no satisfaction"), a construction English does not use. There are multiple ways the sentence could be corrected, but the only one offered would be to change "no" to a positive modifier: "dancing doesn't bring me any satisfaction," for example. The sentence could also be corrected by eliminating "doesn't" so that it simply reads, "dancing brings me no satisfaction."
Example Question #553 : 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.
Sarah told me that she didn't get the grades she wanted to get because she wasn't fully familiar on the material. No error
familiar on
me that
to get
fully
No error
familiar on
Although it is a purely idiomatic phrase, the correction to the sentence here should be "familiar with." No matter the topic, one becomes familiar with something, not familiar on it.
Example Question #354 : Identifying Word 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.
To be honest, I've never shot a gun in my life; I'm just not very well versed at outdoor skills. No error
No error
at
well versed
honest,
life;
at
The error here is a common English idiom: "well versed" should nearly always be followed with "in," not "at." The corrected phrase reads, "I'm just not very well versed in outdoor skills."
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