SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #112 : Analyzing, Combining, And Moving Content

1 Seaweed; a type of algae that’s a promising resource for the future. 2 It can be used with a fuel, medicine, fuel source, and even fertilizer. 3 Often being both farmed or foraged. 4 In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. 5 Medically, speaking derivatives of seaweed can be optimized in bandages, dental molds, and microbiology cultures. 6 Girls especially will squeal when they hear that seaweed’s components are used to make many pretty makeup products. 7 It should come as no surprise, then, that countries around the world are investing significant capital in seaweed research.

How should Sentence 4 be separated?

Possible Answers:

This sentence should not be separated.

In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines. Are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed. It is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert.

In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines – among the world’s largest producers of seaweed – from sushi and bread to dessert.

In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed. It is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert.

In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines. Are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert.

Correct answer:

In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed. It is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert.

Explanation:

Sentence 4 contains two independent clauses incorrectly separated with a comma, so the two clauses must be broken apart.

Example Question #1 : Separating Sentences

1 Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves but it is best known for its relation to audible sound. 2 Acoustics has been a branch of human impunity since ancient Greece, Pythagoras investigated musical harmonies.3 Concert halls, headphones, car speakers: all are things that employ acoustical studies to electrocute listeners’ experiences. 4 Sound is not important to just humans; it allows birds, elephants, elk, and other animals to attract mates and defend their territories.

5 It benefits to understand sound waves and their behaviors, when engineers have this knowledge everyone from Roman amphitheaters to modern day punk rockers can enjoy a better listening experience.

How should Sentence 1 be separated?

Possible Answers:

Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves but it is best known for its relation to audible sound. (no change)

Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves. But it has always best been known for its relation to audible sound.

Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves but it is best known for something else. That is to say, its relation to audible sound.

Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves. However, it is best known for its relation to audible sound.

Acoustics is a field of science. It refers to the study of mechanical waves but it is best known for its relation to audible sound.

Correct answer:

Acoustics is a field of science that refers to the study of mechanical waves. However, it is best known for its relation to audible sound.

Explanation:

Because Sentence 1 is both long and an introductory sentence, the best choice is to break it up into two shorter, easier to grasp sentences. All of the other options either create sentence fragments or awkward sentences that do not transition smoothly from one to the next.

Example Question #2 : Separating Sentences

1 Lemon juice with cayenne pepper, cabbage soup, cookies, grapefruit. 2 What do these have in common?3 They are all key ingredients in recent fad diets; since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.4 Some of the worst can even lead to health problems, such as, vitamin deficiencies or anemia. 5 Instead of being concerned with lasting weight loss, they are promoting radical changes that only last a short time. 6 Cutting out too many calories at once from your diet can lead to dizziness, heart palpitations, and even a slower metabolism.

7 Some thinkers suggest that fad diets are really a way for us to impose order on our chaotic world, hundreds of food choices, conflicting advice from various health experts. 8 So why diet at all?

How should Sentence 3 be separated?

Possible Answers:

All being key ingredients in recent fad diets. However, since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.

With them all being key ingredients in recent fad diets. These diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.

They are all key ingredients in recent fad diets; since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss. (no change)

They are all key ingredients in recent fad diets, since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.

They are all key ingredients in recent fad diets. Since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.

Correct answer:

They are all key ingredients in recent fad diets. Since these diets sound promising, few lead to any permanent weight loss.

Explanation:

The semicolon is already indicating that we have two independent clauses. Because the clauses are presenting fairly separate ideas, it’s best to break them apart even further and make them entirely distinct sentences.

Example Question #116 : New Sat

Are you trying to stick to a budget? Using coupons for purchases, also known as “couponing,” is a great way to save money on groceries. Coupons are a little piece of paper that can give you a discount on what you buy. You will be amazed at the great bargains and amazing savings you can get!

It’s easy to get started. When you open up your daily newspaper, one might find a glossy insert full of coupons. Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, some will be for things you buy all the time. Go through the coupons and chop out the ones you can use.

The key to successful couponing is getting multiple copies of coupon circulars. Ask your friends, your neighbors, and family if they have any extras. Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their office to find more coupons! Have you ever heard of such a thing in your life! Completely devoted, these circulars help coupon users to get even more savings.

Couponing might sound like hard work, but for many people, it’s also a hobby. Not only does it help them save hundreds of dollars per year, but also it gives them a fun challenge every time they do their shopping. 

How can the underlined sentence be separated into two distinct and grammatically complete sentences?

Possible Answers:

Having had use of the coupons for purchases. "Couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries.

Using coupons for purchases; also known as “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries.

Also known as using coupons. For purchases, “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries.

Couponers use coupons for purchases. Having saved one's coupons, also known as "couponing."

These two clauses cannot be separated

Correct answer:

These two clauses cannot be separated

Explanation:

The underlined sentence includes a dependent introductory clause, and thus cannot be separated without significant alteration to the meaning and content of the sentence. All of the other answers either create a sentence fragment, or make the sentence too wordy while altering its meaning.

Example Question #121 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

The plot of modern political television usually revolves around several key themes. First, there is a political conflict at the national level between major parties. Second, there are emotional and practical concerns related to office politics; furthermore, there are a number of subplots that usually have to do with local politics and tit-for-tat agreements. Finally, things resolve themselves later on in the show because much television just works itself out.

 

Pick an appropriate revision for the underlined phrase below, taken from the first sentence in the passage: 

The plot of modern political television usually revolves around several key themes.

Possible Answers:

around several comedic and dramatic tropes that matter greatly

many key themes

No change

around nothing substantive

around ideas that surprise audiences

Correct answer:

No change

Explanation:

The phrasing offered here is good, useful, and direct. This opening thesis statement does not need to be complicated; "around nothing substantive" changes the meaning of the sentence; "many key themes" introduces a grammatical error, changing the verb "revolves" from instransitive to transitive; "around several comedic and dramatic tropes that matter greatly" is prolix (wordy); "around ideas that surprise audiences" again changes the intended meaning, as key themes need not be surprising.

Example Question #1 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment

1 All in all, aviation will likely continue to fascinate people for centuries to come. 2 Long before the famous Wright brothers humans were attempting to fly. 3 The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight. 4 With large kites’ in China may have been the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago. 5 Hundreds of years later and despite many hazings; the Montgolfier brothers and other pioneering aviators began experimenting with manned hot-air balloon flights. 6 Therefore, technology has advanced to the point of supersonic and hypersonic flight, but people are still trying to break new barriers and invent new methods of flight.

In Sentence 1, what transitional word or phrase could not replace “All in all”?

Possible Answers:

On balance

By and large

In the long run

All things considered

Where this will hold true

Correct answer:

Where this will hold true

Explanation:

“Whereas” is a word that indicates contrast and not conclusion, so “Whereas this will hold true” could not logically replace “All in all.” All the other choices indicate conclusion.

Example Question #121 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 The Moluccas is a chain, or archetype, of islands belonging to Indonesia. 2 Historically, these islands were known as the Spice Islands for their abundance of nutmeg, cloves, mace, and pepper, this profundity of spices eventually drew colonial attention. 3 Spices such as cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and pepper were particularly popular during the medieval times. 4 In the 1600s, the Spice Wars arose as a result of competing Portuguese and Dutch interest’s in the Spice Islands. 5 The bloody conflict ended in the deaths of many native Moluccans as well as European traders, wherefore both Portugal and the Netherlands gained and lost territories ranging from Africa and South America. 6 For this day, strife occasionally breaks out on the islands although it is now motivated by religious and not colonial disagreements.7 It is located just west of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean, and its more than 1,000 islands are home to more than 2 million people today.

What would be a better transitional phrase to begin Sentence 6?

Possible Answers:

After these days

While those days

To this day

For this day (no change)

In those days

Correct answer:

To this day

Explanation:

The sentence is explaining that a conflict still exists in the Moluccas up to and including the present day. The proper phrase to indicate this kind of temporal relationship is “To this day.” 

Example Question #1 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment

1 The purpose of this agricultural practice is to produce large amounts of meat, milk, eggs, and textiles, such as wool and leather, at low costs. 2 It has many negative consequences; however, and many activists have raised concerns about sustainability, environmental risks, and ethics. 3 Factory farming, sometimes known euphonically as intensive animal farming, or industrial farming, is the practice of raising livestock at very high densities in order to decrease the costs of production. 4 On most factory farms, animals are reduced to commodities: bred unnaturally, confined in uncomfortably small cages, and dosed with high strength antibiotics to reduce concomitant infections. 5 Although, the livestock suffers considerately, drug-resistant bacteria become more common, and significant environmental hazards arise from the high quantities of animal waste. 6 Does the phrase manure lagoons sound familiar? 7 As a light of this issue, many people choose to become vegetarian or join anti-factory farming campaigns. 8 What will you do?

What would be a better transition to begin Sentence 5?

Possible Answers:

Effectively

Even though

All things considered

As a result

In this way

Correct answer:

As a result

Explanation:

Sentence 5 discusses consequences of Sentence 4, so “As a result” is the best transition to indicate this relationship.

Example Question #121 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 The purpose of this agricultural practice is to produce large amounts of meat, milk, eggs, and textiles, such as wool and leather, at low costs. 2 It has many negative consequences; however, and many activists have raised concerns about sustainability, environmental risks, and ethics. 3 Factory farming, sometimes known euphonically as intensive animal farming, or industrial farming, is the practice of raising livestock at very high densities in order to decrease the costs of production. 4 On most factory farms, animals are reduced to commodities: bred unnaturally, confined in uncomfortably small cages, and dosed with high strength antibiotics to reduce concomitant infections. 5 Although, the livestock suffers considerately, drug-resistant bacteria become more common, and significant environmental hazards arise from the high quantities of animal waste. 6 Does the phrase manure lagoons sound familiar? 7 As a light of this issue, many people choose to become vegetarian or join anti-factory farming campaigns. 8 What will you do?

How should the underlined portion of Sentence 7 be rewritten? 

Possible Answers:

As a light

In the light of these issues

In lighting of

As a light of this issue (no change)

In light of this issue

Correct answer:

In light of this issue

Explanation:

The standard phrase is “In light of.” There are no variants to it.

Example Question #121 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 E.J. Bellocq, who was he? 2 Those outside the photography coterie may not have heard of him, but his life’s work inspired innumerable films and works of literature. 3 Born into a rich family in the French Quarter of New Orleans Bellocq made a living, taking official photographs of ships, machinery, and other commercial items for local companies. 4 As a result, he became known for his portraits of Chinatown opium dens, and prostitutes in Storyville, one of the seediest districts of early 20th century New Orleans.

5 Bellocq’s work is categorized by its attention to detail and its rich aesthetic sensibility. 6 In his personal life, he was known for being eccentric, unfriendly, partially crippled, and possibly insane. 7 In his veritable Storyville portraits, the women are nude or clothed, looking at or away from the camera, and posed reclining or standing up, revealing great versatility on Bellocq’s part. 8 Tragically many of his negatives and prints were destroyed or damaged by an uncertain hand (mostly likely his or his Jesuit brother).

In Sentence 4, what transitional word or phrase should replace “As a result”?

Possible Answers:

Arguably

Wherefore

However

Henceforth

Today

Correct answer:

However

Explanation:

The sense of Sentence 4 is that, despite Bellocq’s official line of work, he became famous for a different kind of photography although. “However” is the only transitional word on the list that indicates that contrast satisfactorily.

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