SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #46 : Improving Paragraphs

1 As anyone who has tried it can tell you, Filipino food is an exciting intriguing blend of flavors. 2 Due to interaction with various nations and cultures, it’s cuisine is marked by influences from Austronesia, Spain, China, Malaysia, and the United States. 3 Some typical dishes including pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo. 4 For example, one could find everything from Spanish paella and Chinese spring rolls (locally called lumpia) if you walked into a Filipino restaurant.

5 Another important compound of Filipino cuisine is street food. 6 These street foods include many fried foods, such as bananas, plantains, dumplings, squid balls, battered quail eggs, and fruit or vegetable spring rolls.7 Taho, a warm street food, is composed of bean curd, a caramel syrup or arnibal, and tapioca pearls.8 Don’t forget dessert! 9 With such a variety of flavors, textures, and cooking styles, there’s certainly to be something for every gourmand.

How should Sentence 3 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

Some typical dishes; including pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo.

Some typical dishes, including: pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo.

Some typical dishes include: pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo.

Some typical dishes including pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo. (no change)

Some typical dishes include pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo.

Correct answer:

Some typical dishes include pancit, longganisa, lumpia, kare-kare, pinakbet, sinigang, and adobo.

Explanation:

The original sentence is a fragment, so we must simply alter the verb to make it a complete sentence. No additional punctuation is required.

Example Question #43 : Improving Paragraphs

1 While many people feel strongly about the genetic modification of foods. 2 Most do not understand the full nature of genetically modified (GM) plants and animals. 3 For example, did you even know that GM was the abbreviation for genetically modified? 4 Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a specie’s DNA usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value. 5 And did you know it has been going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

6 Today, however, having more sophisticated tools allow scientists to transfer genes from one organism with another, this purposely provokes better pest resistance and other desirable characteristics. 7 Opponents of genetic modification argue that the DNA modifications are unstable, undesirable, and unhealthy for the environment. 8 Additionally, some are also arguing that consuming GM foods is unsafe for humans, despite much scientific evidence to the contrary.

How should Sentence 5 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

And did you know it has been going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding? (no change)

Knowing this practice has been going on for millennia, is it clear that ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

This practice going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

This practice has been going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

This practice has been going on for millennia, with ancient farmers selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding.

Correct answer:

This practice has been going on for millennia, with ancient farmers selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding.

Explanation:

In this sentence, there is no need for the “did you know” construction or the cause and effect relationship indicated by the word “because.” Luckily, we can easily rewrite the sentence to make it informative rather than interrogative.

Example Question #48 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 While many people feel strongly about the genetic modification of foods. 2 Most do not understand the full nature of genetically modified (GM) plants and animals. 3 For example, did you even know that GM was the abbreviation for genetically modified? 4 Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a specie’s DNA usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value. 5 And did you know it has been going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

6 Today, however, having more sophisticated tools allow scientists to transfer genes from one organism with another, this purposely provokes better pest resistance and other desirable characteristics. 7 Opponents of genetic modification argue that the DNA modifications are unstable, undesirable, and unhealthy for the environment. 8 Additionally, some are also arguing that consuming GM foods is unsafe for humans, despite much scientific evidence to the contrary.

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 8

There are no comma splices in this passage.

Sentence 4

Sentence 6

Sentence 2

Correct answer:

Sentence 6

Explanation:

Sentence 6 contains two independent clauses incorrectly separated with a comma. The two options to correct this error are to add a conjunction after the comma or to replace the comma with a semicolon.

Example Question #44 : Improving Paragraphs

1 While many people feel strongly about the genetic modification of foods. 2 Most do not understand the full nature of genetically modified (GM) plants and animals. 3 For example, did you even know that GM was the abbreviation for genetically modified? 4 Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a specie’s DNA usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value. 5 And did you know it has been going on for millennia, because ancient farmers were selectively breeding foods to provide better flavor, produce smaller seeds, or withstand drought and flooding?

6 Today, however, having more sophisticated tools allow scientists to transfer genes from one organism with another, this purposely provokes better pest resistance and other desirable characteristics. 7 Opponents of genetic modification argue that the DNA modifications are unstable, undesirable, and unhealthy for the environment. 8 Additionally, some are also arguing that consuming GM foods is unsafe for humans, despite much scientific evidence to the contrary.

How should Sentence 4 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value. (no change)

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA, usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value.

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA; usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value.

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA, usually for the purpose, of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value.

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA, usually for the purpose of: improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value.

Correct answer:

Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA, usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value.

Explanation:

Here, we have an independent clause (“Genetic modification is defined as the artificial manipulation of a species' DNA”) and a dependent clause (“usually for the purpose of improving crop yield, resistance to disease, or nutritive value”) that must be separated with a comma.

Example Question #50 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 The lost-wax casting method may sound cryptic, but its really a fairly simple and comprehendible process. 2 It is also known as investment or precision casting. 3 It involves twelve steps in that an artist makes an original wax model; creates rubber and plaster molds from the model; fills the molds with wax; coats the new wax models with a ceramic material; and fires the wax-ceramic mixture into a kiln so that the outer layer becomes a reusable mold and the inner wax melts away. 4 Despite involves technical jingo such as spruing, metal-chasing, and burnout, it is a very versant process that can be applied to everything from jewelry making and sculpture, automobile and gun manufacturing.

5 Lost-wax has been used by sculptors from ancient Greece all the way to modern day Germany. 6 Lost-wax has even been applied to dentistry, it is most frequently used to make gold crowns and inlays.7 Why not give it a try? 

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 4

Sentence 1

Sentence 6

Sentence 2

None of the sentences contains a comma splice.

Correct answer:

Sentence 6

Explanation:

In Sentence 6, we have two independent clauses being incorrectly separated by a comma. Fix this problem by substituting a semicolon for the comma: “Lost-wax has even been applied to dentistry; it is most frequently used to make gold crowns and inlays.”

Example Question #51 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 The lost-wax casting method may sound cryptic, but its really a fairly simple and comprehendible process. 2 It is also known as investment or precision casting. 3 It involves twelve steps in that an artist makes an original wax model; creates rubber and plaster molds from the model; fills the molds with wax; coats the new wax models with a ceramic material; and fires the wax-ceramic mixture into a kiln so that the outer layer becomes a reusable mold and the inner wax melts away. 4 Despite involves technical jingo such as spruing, metal-chasing, and burnout, it is a very versant process that can be applied to everything from jewelry making and sculpture, automobile and gun manufacturing.

5 Lost-wax has been used by sculptors from ancient Greece all the way to modern day Germany. 6 Lost-wax has even been applied to dentistry, it is most frequently used to make gold crowns and inlays.7 Why not give it a try? 

In Sentence 3, what punctuation change should be made?

Possible Answers:

replace the semicolons with colons

no change should be made

add a colon after “steps”

delete the semicolons

replace the semicolons with commas

Correct answer:

replace the semicolons with commas

Explanation:

Semicolons are only used to separate items in a list if those items are complex and contain commas themselves. Since this is not the case in this list, standard commas should be used.

Example Question #52 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 The legend of Billy the Kid, one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West. 2 Allied Henry McCarty and William H. Bonney, Billy the Kid was a gunfighter who was rumored to have killed nearly two dozen men in 19th century America. 3 Friendly and charming, his status was relatively unknown until a price was put on his head in 1881 by the governor of New Mexico, than a territory. 4 He lived in New York City, Indiana, Kansas, and Arizona at various points within his life. 5 Billy the Kid’s various crimes include: murder, horse thievery, stealing firearms, and escaping from jail. 6 Many of these various crimes were committed as part of his membership in Old West gangs. 7 He was finally, captured and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in New Mexico in 1881.

How should Sentence 1 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

The legend of Billy the Kid, one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West. (no change)

The legendary Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West.

The legend of Billy the Kid, one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West, was legendary.

The legendary Billy the Kid, one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West.

The legend of Billy the Kid, was one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West.

Correct answer:

The legendary Billy the Kid was one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West.

Explanation:

Some rewriting is necessary to change Sentence 1 from a fragment into a complete sentence. Since the subject of the sentence is clearly "one of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West" not  a story of "legend," the use of "legend" in the introductory clause creates a dangling modifier.

Example Question #53 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 If you’re wearing clothes right now you’re likely wearing something a sewing machine has produced. 2 But what you may not know is the history of the sewing machine that made your clothes. 3 The device was invented in England during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th-century. 4 Greatly increasing efficiency by mechanizing the process. 5 Early machines were often used for stitching leather and canvas for various purposes including, horse tack, sails, and shoes. 6 Gradually, other machines emerged that were superior in Europe and America. 7 Famous brands today; include those by 19th century inventor Isaac Singer. 8 As the 1800s progressed sewing machines became purchases for not just clothing manufacturers but individuals. 

How should the underlined portion of Sentence 5 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

leather and canvas for various purposes including horse tack, sails, and shoes.

leather, and canvas for various purposes including horse tack, sails, and shoes.

leather and canvas for various purposes, including, horse tack, sails, and shoes.

leather, and canvas for various purposes including, horse tack, sails, and shoes.

leather and canvas for various purposes including, horse tack, sails, and shoes.  (no change)

Correct answer:

leather and canvas for various purposes, including, horse tack, sails, and shoes.

Explanation:

“… including horse tack, sails, and shoes” is a dependent clause, so we need a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence. No comma is necessary after “including” (that word rarely has a comma immediately after it) or “leather” (commas only precede conjunctions when the conjunctions are separating two independent clauses).

Example Question #54 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Full Sentence

1 If you’re wearing clothes right now you’re likely wearing something a sewing machine has produced. 2 But what you may not know is the history of the sewing machine that made your clothes. 3 The device was invented in England during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th-century. 4 Greatly increasing efficiency by mechanizing the process. 5 Early machines were often used for stitching leather and canvas for various purposes including, horse tack, sails, and shoes. 6 Gradually, other machines emerged that were superior in Europe and America. 7 Famous brands today; include those by 19th century inventor Isaac Singer. 8 As the 1800s progressed sewing machines became purchases for not just clothing manufacturers but individuals. 

How should Sentence 6 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

Gradually other machines emerged that were being superior, in Europe and America.

Gradually, superior machines emerged in Europe and America.

Gradually, other machines emerged that were superior in Europe and America. (no change)

Gradually other superior machines emerged in Europe and America.

Gradually, in Europe and America other machines emerged that were being superior.

Correct answer:

Gradually, superior machines emerged in Europe and America.

Explanation:

The machines weren’t superior in America and Europe; they were superior machines that appeared in America and Europe. Since the original sentence contains a misplaced modifier, we need to rewrite it to clarify the meaning.

Example Question #51 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 If you’re wearing clothes right now you’re likely wearing something a sewing machine has produced. 2 But what you may not know is the history of the sewing machine that made your clothes. 3 The device was invented in England during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th-century. 4 Greatly increasing efficiency by mechanizing the process. 5 Early machines were often used for stitching leather and canvas for various purposes including, horse tack, sails, and shoes. 6 Gradually, other machines emerged that were superior in Europe and America. 7 Famous brands today; include those by 19th century inventor Isaac Singer. 8 As the 1800s progressed sewing machines became purchases for not just clothing manufacturers but individuals. 

Which sentence contains a semicolon error?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 3

Sentence 1

None of the sentences in the passage.

Sentence 5

Sentence 7

Correct answer:

Sentence 7

Explanation:

Sentence 7 is a straightforward independent clause, so there is no need for a semicolon or any other punctuation in the middle of it.

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