SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #131 : 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.
Ancient Egyptian women used kohl to darken their eyes, much in the same way that many modern women use eyeliner. No error
Ancient Egyptian women used
much in the same way
to darken
that
No error
No error
This sentence is grammatically correct as it is written and needs no stylistic changes made to it.
Example Question #132 : Sat Writing
Select the transitive verb in the following sentence.
Lila was painting the walls for her mother, Rose, but struggled and nearly stopped when the vertical stripes she painted weren't exactly even.
painted
struggled
painting
was
stopped
painting
The transitive verb here is "painting" because it has a definite object on which the action is being performed, that is, the walls. Another way you can identify transitive and intransitive verbs is to see if the verb in question is asking the question "what?" and an object is answering that question; transitive verbs do this but intransitive verbs do not. For example, in the given sentence, one might ask, "Painting what?" and the answer would be "Painting the walls." So, "painting" is a transitive verb and "walls" is the object of that transitive verb. In the case of the sentence "The cat slept," however, asking the question "Slept what?" wouldn't make any sense—you don't "sleep" anything, so "sleep" is an intransitive verb.
Example Question #133 : Sat Writing
Identify the linking verb in the sentence.
John liked to run until he was drenched in sweat, which is nothing compared to the dedication of some of his track teammates.
of
is
drenched
liked
to run
is
"Is" is the only linking verb that appears in the sentence. The complement of the verb "is" in this sentence is "nothing."
Example Question #134 : Sat Writing
Which of the following words from this sentence is a verb?
We studied how the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment legitimized one way of knowing: empiricism.
legitimized
way
revolution
we
knowing
legitimized
"Legitimized" is a verb because it is an action. In this sentence, "knowing," which is a verb in other contexts, is a gerund, a type of verbal that ends in "-ing" and acts as a noun.
Example Question #135 : Sat Writing
Identify the underlined action verb in the following sentence.
George and I were engaged, but then he ran away to Panama a week before the wedding.
he
before
were
ran away
wedding
ran away
An action verb expresses an action, or something someone or something does. Here, George "ran away" before the wedding, so "ran away" is the correct answer. While "were" is a verb, it is a linking verb, not an action verb, because it does not convey what anyone or anything actively did, but merely connects the compound subject "George and I" to the adjective "engaged."
Example Question #136 : Sat Writing
Identify the underlined linking verb in the following sentence.
Going to the anniversary party last night was an excellent idea.
anniversary
last
Going
was
excellent
was
Linking verbs do not have any meaning, but they link together concepts. Here, "was" links "going to the anniversary party last night" and "an excellent idea."
Example Question #137 : Sat Writing
Identify the verb underlined in the following sentence.
I remain calm, even under pressure.
pressure
under
calm
I
remain
remain
"Remain" is the verb in this sentence. It is a linking verb. It connects the words "I" and "calm" and describes the speaker's state of being.
Example Question #138 : Sat Writing
Which of the following words best completes the sentence?
Thomas looked over his shoulder __________ ; either he had lost the monster, or it was hiding out of sight.
afraid
fearing
fear
fearfully
to fear
fearfully
The blank is a spot where a modifier goes to describe the verb "looked." The correct answer should therefore be an adverb: fearfully
Example Question #139 : Sat Writing
Identify the adverb in this sentence.
Although it fell slowly, the snow accumulated while we waited, making us look like big, white snowmen keeping watch on the top of the mountain.
white
big
top
slowly
watch
slowly
An adverb describes a verb. Here, the adverb "slowly" describes the way the snow fell.
Example Question #140 : Sat Writing
Select the incorrectly used underlined phrase or word, if any.
After I have finished this difficult test, I will drive home very quick and make myself a big lunch.
quick
myself
difficult
have finished
quick
Because the word "quick" is describing a verb, it needs to be used in its adverb form, "quickly."
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