SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #1811 : Sat Writing
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
You must stop being so petulant with the housekeeping; such behavior does not become one.
such behavior does not become you.
such behavior does not become them.
and such behavior does not become everyone.
such behavior does not become one.
because such behavior does not become one.
such behavior does not become you.
The pronoun in the portion of the sentence above that is in the first part of the sentence is "you," and to avoid any inconsistency errors, this pronoun should be used throughout the sentence. The best way to correct the underlined portion of the sentence above is, "You must stop being so petulant with the housekeeping; such behavior does not become you."
Example Question #1812 : Sat Writing
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to I.
I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me.
I'm having a really bad day; please be a little nicer to I.
I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to I.
I'm having a really bad day please be a little nicer to I.
I'm having a really bad day, please be a little nicer to I.
I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me.
The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "I" in the second part of the sentence should be "me" as the pronoun is the object of that clause, rather than its subject. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I'm having a really bad day: please be a little nicer to me."
Example Question #1813 : Sat Writing
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.
Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately, I hope they can work it out.
Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.
She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.
Her and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately I hope they can work it out.
She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately I hope they can work it out.
She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out.
The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "her" in the first part of the sentence should be "she" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "She and her boyfriend are having a rough go of things lately; I hope they can work it out."
Note also that a semicolon is correctly used to connect these two independent clauses into one compound sentence.
Example Question #1814 : Sat Writing
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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; them have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers them have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers, they have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; them have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers they have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time.
I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time.
The sentence above contains a pronoun case error. The "them" in the second part of the sentence should be "they" as the pronoun is the subject of that clause, rather than its object. The best way to correct the sentence above is, "I need you to bring the doughnuts over to those police officers; they have been waiting for a long time."
Note also that a semicolon correctly connects the two independent clauses in this sentence.
Example Question #12 : Verb Formation 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists, in a break with their predecessors.
Scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists, in a break with their predecessors.
Breaking from their predecessors, scenes from daily life were painted by the French Impressionists.
The French Impressionists broke from their predecessors who painted scenes from daily life.
The French Impressionists’ scenes from daily life were painted in a break with their predecessors.
In a break with their predecessors, the French Impressionists painted scenes from daily life.
In a break with their predecessors, the French Impressionists painted scenes from daily life.
The initial sentence is in passive voice. The correct answer conveys the proper meaning while changing it to active voice.
Example Question #13 : Verb Formation 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Very few animals in the world were actually able to domesticate by human beings.
to domesticated
to be domesticating
to be domesticated
to domesticating
to domesticate
to be domesticated
The central problem with the underlined words in the sentence is that the animals seem to be the ones doing the domesticating—at least until the reader gets to the phrase "by human beings," and the sentence becomes confusing. The underlined words need to convey that human beings are the ones doing the domesticating, and that the animals are the objects of that domestication. Since "Very few animals in the world" is the subject of the sentence and cannot be changed here, we need to use the passive voice to describe that domestication is the thing being done to the animals. "To be domesticated" is the correct answer choice, as it is the only answer that correctly uses passive voice and avoids introducing additional errors (like "to be domesticating," which uses present progressive tense unnecessarily and doesn't agree with the previous past-tense verb "were . . . able."
Example Question #11 : Verb Formation 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. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The nation’s economy was growing rapidly for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.
because a boom in foreign investment was what followed the discovery of vast natural resources.
since the discovery of vast natural resources is what can cause a boom in foreign investment.
for reasons having to do with booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
as a result of booming foreign investment following the discovery of vast natural resources.
because the discovery of vast natural resources led to a boom in foreign investment.
The initial sentence is wordy and in passive voice. The correct answer is concise and active.
Example Question #6 : Correcting Verb Voice 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 service in the war, the soldier was giving the country's highest honor by the President.
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the countries highest honor
the soldier was giving that country's highest honor
the soldier is giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was giving the country's highest honor
the soldier was given the country's highest honor
The soldier would have trouble "giving" an award "by the President." The use of the final prepositional phrase "by the President" indicates that the soldier is receiving the award. The only answer choice that clarifies this point is "the soldier was given the country's highest honor," making it the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Verb Voice Errors
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
Hearing about the crisis in the developing country, a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign raising $5000.
a campaign was organized by the class president and raised $5,000.
a campaign that raised $5,000 was organized by the class president.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
an organized campaign by the class president raised $5,000.
the class president organized a campaign, which raised $5,000.
Figure out who is the subject of the first part of the sentence—the class president, rather than the campaign itself, heard about the crisis. Also, avoid passive voice ("the campaign was organized").
Example Question #14 : Verb Formation 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.
After the novelist threw the draft into the trash, the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
the crumpled paper had been retrieved by his concerned assistant.
retrieved by his concerned assistant, who crumpled the paper.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
the crumpled paper was retrieved by his concerned assistant.
his concerned assistant, retrieving the crumpled paper.
his concerned assistant retrieved the crumpled paper.
Avoid the passive voice of the original ("the crumbled paper was retrieved") and choose the simplest answer that preserves the original meaning of the text.
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