SAT Writing : SAT Writing
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #88 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 Whether or not you are superstitious. 2 Fortunetelling has played a major role in many cultures.3 Also known as divination. 4 Western fortunetelling arose from the Romani people and such as reading tea leaves’, gazing into crystal balls, tarot reading, palmistry, and observing the flights, innards, or eating patterns of birds. 5 In William Shakespeare’s famous play “Julius Caesar,” for example, a soothsayer warns the soon to be assassinated Caesar to beware the Ides of March. 6 Western fortunetelling has also been influenced by Eastern divination methods such as the I Ching and to read coffee beans. 7 Unfortunately several major religions prescribe fortunetelling with very degrees of severity. 8 Despite, fortunetelling still thrives in contemporary culture, psychics and Magic-8 balls are just two of many fun ways to attempt to see into the future.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 6 be rewritten?
such as to read the I Ching and read coffee beans
such as the I Ching and the reading of coffee beans
such as the I Ching and to read coffee beans
such as the I Ching and the reading coffee beans
such as the reading of the I Ching and to read coffee beans
such as the I Ching and the reading of coffee beans
The problem with the original phrase is its faulty parallelism. Since "such as the I Ching" sets up a "the"-based formation, this formulation should remain consistent in the second half of the construction.
Example Question #89 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 While maybe he wasn’t as well known as Bluebeard or Captain Kidd, Bill Johnston was still known as a feared pirate and river smuggler in his day.2 That day being the War of 1812. 3 You see, he came from a British Loyalist family and settled in Upper Canada before beginning a career as a Lake Ontario schooner captain, he carried legal cargo as well as smuggled tea and rum into Canada. 4 When the War of 1812 began he spied on the British for several years. 5 In 1838, his most famous escapade occurred: in the capture and burning of the enemy ship Sir Robert Peel. 6 Because Johnston was arrested many times during his life (including for this crime against the Sir Robert Peel), he always either escaped jail or was not convicted because of juries sympathetic view of his activities. 7 Many people do not know that another name for pirate is “corsair.” 8 Nevertheless, Johnston played many roles in his lifetime – everything from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 8 be rewritten?
everything from: fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.
everything from fugitive and corsair to criminal and hero.
everything from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero. (no change)
everything from: fugitive and corsair to criminal and hero.
everything, from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.
everything from fugitive and corsair to criminal and hero.
The correct construction is always “everything from __________ to __________” with no punctuation.
Example Question #514 : Improving Paragraphs
1 While maybe he wasn’t as well known as Bluebeard or Captain Kidd, Bill Johnston was still known as a feared pirate and river smuggler in his day.2 That day being the War of 1812. 3 You see, he came from a British Loyalist family and settled in Upper Canada before beginning a career as a Lake Ontario schooner captain, he carried legal cargo as well as smuggled tea and rum into Canada. 4 When the War of 1812 began he spied on the British for several years. 5 In 1838, his most famous escapade occurred: in the capture and burning of the enemy ship Sir Robert Peel. 6 Because Johnston was arrested many times during his life (including for this crime against the Sir Robert Peel), he always either escaped jail or was not convicted because of juries sympathetic view of his activities. 7 Many people do not know that another name for pirate is “corsair.” 8 Nevertheless, Johnston played many roles in his lifetime – everything from fugitive and corsair, criminal and hero.
In Sentence 8, what punctuation mark could not stand replace the em dash ( – )?
Colon
Semicolon
Em dash
All of these punctuation marks could be used.
Comma
Semicolon
Here, a colon, comma, and em dash would all be correct to separate the independent clause from the additional information at the end of the sentence. Because this end of the sentence is not another independent clause, however, the semicolon would not be correct.
Example Question #3061 : Sat Writing
1 No one wants to live in the swamp. 2 But swamps are an incredibly important part of the Earth’s ecosystem. 3 They are defined as forested wetlands and can be found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. 4 In fact: the only continent to not contained swamps is Antarctica. 5 Because swamps are rarely arid, meaning able to be farmed, and because it usually is not conducive to hunting, they are undervalued by human society. 6 In swamps, a portion of dry land that protects from the water is known as a “hammock.” 7 Moreover, swamps are actually integrity to our world, providing clean water and oxygen for people as well as breeding grounds for animals big and small.
In Sentence 4, what punctuation mark should replace the colon?
Question mark
Comma
Semicolon
Hyphen
It should not be replaced
Comma
Generally, we only use a colon if the part of the sentence preceding it is an independent clause. A comma would correctly separate this introductory phrase from the rest of its sentence.
Example Question #92 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 No one wants to live in the swamp. 2 But swamps are an incredibly important part of the Earth’s ecosystem. 3 They are defined as forested wetlands and can be found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. 4 In fact: the only continent to not contained swamps is Antarctica. 5 Because swamps are rarely arid, meaning able to be farmed, and because it usually is not conducive to hunting, they are undervalued by human society. 6 In swamps, a portion of dry land that protects from the water is known as a “hammock.” 7 Moreover, swamps are actually integrity to our world, providing clean water and oxygen for people as well as breeding grounds for animals big and small.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
found from Africa and Asia and in Europe and the Americas. (no change)
found from Africa and Asia, and into Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia, to Europe and the Americas.
found in Africa and Asia, to Europe and the Americas.
found from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Americas.
We could rewrite this kind of phrase in two ways: either “found from __________ to __________” or “found in __________ and in __________.” Combining the two, however, will not work.
Example Question #3062 : Sat Writing
1 Many people have an imminent dislike of crows, few know much at all about the bird. 2 “Crow” actually refers to a genus not a species that includes jackdaws, ravens, rooks and other birds. 3 Their dark color, striated cries, and appearance in horror movies all make it seem very omnivorous. 4 The truth about this genus is that the birds in it are incredibly intelligent – often nearly so as some apes. 5 Appearing on all continents except South America and Antarctica. 6 These perspicacious birds were once thought to predict the future, including weather and war plans. 7 Today, they are used for scientific research, hunting, or even being kept as pets.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 4 be rewritten?
often, nearly so intelligent as much apes.
often nearly so much so as some apes.
often nearly so as some apes. (no change)
often much so as intelligent apes.
often nearly as intelligent as some apes.
often nearly as intelligent as some apes.
To improve the flow and clarity of the sentence, we need to add the adjective (“intelligent”) back into the comparison.
Example Question #3063 : Sat Writing
1 Many people have an imminent dislike of crows, few know much at all about the bird. 2 “Crow” actually refers to a genus not a species that includes jackdaws, ravens, rooks and other birds. 3 Their dark color, striated cries, and appearance in horror movies all make it seem very omnivorous. 4 The truth about this genus is that the birds in it are incredibly intelligent – often nearly so as some apes. 5 Appearing on all continents except South America and Antarctica. 6 These perspicacious birds were once thought to predict the future, including weather and war plans. 7 Today, they are used for scientific research, hunting, or even being kept as pets.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
all makes it seem very omnivorous
all make it seem, very omnivorous
all make it seem very omnivorous
all make them seem very omnivorous
all makes them seem, very omnivorous
all make them seem very omnivorous
In order to be grammatically correct, we need to make sure all our pronouns agree. Since the beginning of the sentence uses the plural pronoun “they,” we should use the corresponding pronoun “them” here.
Example Question #74 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 One of America’s most inflammatory early disasters, the Johnstown Flood. 2 It was occurring in 1889 after the collapse of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 3 Heavy rainfall invigorated a reservoir upriver, causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River. 4 The Johnstown Flood has been immortalized in poems, novels, songs, and films. 5 The committal flood killed more than 2,000 people and it required the attention of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and various lawsuits. 6 Compounding the disaster was the Stone Bridge, causing a fire that killed at least 80 people when burning debris caught fire. 7 Later people would fault the rich business tycoons who had weakened the reservoir for their own leisure, building cottages and a spillway along the dam to create the swarthy South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.8 Nearly $4 million would be donated to relief funds, for Pennsylvanians the true horror never preceded.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 5 be rewritten?
and it required the attention of the (no change)
and requiring the attention of the
and, requiring the attention of the
and, required the attention of the
and required the attention of the
and required the attention of the
Because there is no comma before this conjunction (“and”), we know that the part of the sentence following the conjunction must not be an independent clause. We must remove the subject (“it”) in order to keep it from being an independent clause. No comma is necessary after the conjunction.
Example Question #95 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment
1 One of America’s most inflammatory early disasters, the Johnstown Flood. 2 It was occurring in 1889 after the collapse of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 3 Heavy rainfall invigorated a reservoir upriver, causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River. 4 The Johnstown Flood has been immortalized in poems, novels, songs, and films. 5 The committal flood killed more than 2,000 people and it required the attention of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and various lawsuits. 6 Compounding the disaster was the Stone Bridge, causing a fire that killed at least 80 people when burning debris caught fire. 7 Later people would fault the rich business tycoons who had weakened the reservoir for their own leisure, building cottages and a spillway along the dam to create the swarthy South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club.8 Nearly $4 million would be donated to relief funds, for Pennsylvanians the true horror never preceded.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water poured down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water pouring down the Conemaugh River (no change)
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water to pour down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst, more than 20 million tons of water poured down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water came pouring down the Conemaugh River
causing the dam to burst and more than 20 million tons of water to pour down the Conemaugh River
In order to create proper parallelism, we must change “pouring” to “to pour” so that it matches the form of “to burst.”
Example Question #3064 : Sat Writing
1 Many cultures have a tradition of mythical creatures.2 Some malicious, others benefactors, with a variety of powers and special attributes. 3 The ancient Greeks had centaurs and harpies, the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German elves. 4 These creatures remain prevaricate today, to appear in fantasy novels, movies, and even university courses.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German elves. (no change)
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the Germans had elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids; the Germans, elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the German’s elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids; and the German elves.
the Assyrians had mermaids, and the Germans had elves.
In order to maintain parallelism in this list, we need to add a verb to “the German elves.”
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