SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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.
She aspired to someday live in Barcelona, learn Spanish, and traveling through the country. No error
traveling
someday
No error
through
live in
traveling
This sentence has a problem with parallelism. The items in the list should be formatted the same. The corrected sentence reads, "She aspired to someday live in Barcelona, learn Spanish, and travel through the country."
Example Question #31 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
When I was much younger I was very energetic, but now I nap often, watch a lot of television, tired, and rarely work out. No error
much younger
tired
often
No error
rarely
tired
All of the items in this poor tired fellow's list of activities need to be in the same form. Yet we find three verbs ("nap," "watch," and "work out") and one adjective ("tired"). Thus, the adjective is the odd one out and needs to be changed (to something like "am always tired").
Example Question #31 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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.
That performance has been seen by more people than any musical made in the past decade. No error
any musical
than
in
has been seen
No error
any musical
The word "other" should be included in a comparison of one thing with a group, so the correct phrase is "any other musical" and "any musical" contains the sentence's error.
Example Question #1281 : 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.
The class project consisted of forming groups, discussing questions about the novel, and give a presentation in front of the class. No error
No error
consisted of
groups
in front of
give
give
"Give" is the wrong verb tense. To achieve parallelism, it should be "giving."
Example Question #33 : Identifying Phrase, Clause, And 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 town fell into chaos and confusion; people fled from their homes and running blindly into obstacles. No error
fell into
No error
their
confusion; people
running
running
This sentence has a problem with verb tense and parallelism. Since the “fled” and “running” are coordinated with a conjunction, they should be formatted in the same way. The corrected sentence reads, "The town fell into chaos and confusion; people fled from their homes and ran blindly into obstacles."
Example Question #61 : Identifying Other Phrase, Clause, And 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.
Ultimately, he concluded that having a surprise party on a gloomy day was better than his birthday. No error
on
No error
concluded that having
gloomy
than his birthday
than his birthday
This sentence does not compare between two like things. The two sides of the comparison should be formatted in a parallel way. The corrected sentence reads, "Ultimately, he concluded that having a surprise party on a gloomy day was better than one on his birthday."
Example Question #161 : Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Having my uncle over for dinner is never much fun; he talks loudly, makes rude comments, and, although the food is always delicious, complaining is constant about the quality of what we eat. No error
what we eat
Having
talks loudly
complaining is constant
No error
complaining is constant
The clause "although the food is always delicious" might distract some people into missing the paralellism used, because it is set apart by commas. Considering "talks" and "makes," we see the present form of some verbs used in succession. For the best sentence structure, the final action should also follow the normal present verb form, like "talks" and "makes." "Complaining is constant" does not follow this, and so (C) contains the error. It would be best to say "complains constantly" or something similar.
Example Question #142 : 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.
It will rain tomorrow, so I will jog in the park, practice soccer, and playing baseball in my backyard today. No error
will rain tomorrow
I
playing
No error
will
playing
This is a parallelism error. The verbs "jog" and "practice" begin the parallel elements in the sentence, and they are each in present tense. The verb "playing" should also be in present tense so that it matches "jog" and "practice." So, "playing" should be "play."
Example Question #1285 : 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.
There are two things Jean knows how to do well: how to cook and mountain-climbing. No error
are
knows
No error
mountain-climbing
how to
mountain-climbing
The sentence needs to remain parallel. If it had said "cooking," "mountain-climbing" would be ok.
Example Question #32 : Identifying Parallel Structure Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
At the deli, the sandwiches are very similar to the cafeteria, except they are slightly larger and contain less fat. No error
slightly larger
less fat
except
similar to the cafeteria
No error
similar to the cafeteria
This is a faulty comparison. "Sandwiches" cannot be compared to a cafeteria. Use "similar to those at the cafeteria" or something like that instead to correct the sentence's error.
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