SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Correcting Single Word Grammatical Errors

1 The tornado, a dreaded meteorological phenomena and a verifiable force of nature. 2 But what is it really? 3 Also known as a twister or a cyclone, tornadoes are rapidly rotating funnels of air linked between a cloud and either the surface of the earth or water. 4 They are caused by the creation of strong thunderstorms by rotating columns of air, resultantly increased rainfall causes increased downward air movement. 5 Rather than the Richter scale measures the strength of hurricanes the Fujita scale measures the strength of a tornado. 6 This natural disasters’ destructive mite is commemorated in such classic films as the 1996, movie, Twister. 7 And the 2014 “Into the Storm” and even the 2013 sparse “Sharknado.” 8 The Fujita scale, also called the F-scale, was named after an employee at the University of Chicago and originally had 13 different levels. 9 The thirteenth level of the scale is used to describe only the most awe inspiring of tornadoes.

Which of the following sentences contains an apostrophe error?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 1

Sentence 4

Sentence 2

no sentence contains an apostrophe error here

Sentence 6

Correct answer:

Sentence 6

Explanation:

The word “this” signals that “tornado” is singular in this sentence. To form a regular singular possessive, we place the apostrophe before and not after the ‘s.’

Example Question #3371 : Sat Writing

1 Think about medieval Christianity. 2 What do you see? 3 Likely you’re imagining monks, gloomy Gothic cathedrals with flying buttresses, or witches burned at the stake. 4 But what you may not be cognitive of is: the concept of the anchorite. 5 This is the moniker for a religious recluse who elects to be walled up in a small room inside a church. 6 The anchorite was not left to die, however, they were fed through small windows and used the imprisonment to participate more fully in the spiritual life of the community. 7 It is a spiritual calling that is now very rare; few if any anchorites still exist in the world today.

What word or phrase should be changed in Sentence 6?

Possible Answers:

spiritual life

they were

no word or phrase should be changed in this sentence

however

imprisonment

Correct answer:

they were

Explanation:

Here we have an incorrect pronoun referent. We’re talking about a single anchorite at the beginning of the sentence, so our pronoun and corresponding verb conjugation should be singular – “he or she was.”

Example Question #521 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 That’s why codes of discipline have arisen for raising factual or difficult children. 2 Some experts avow for strict authoritative castigation at all times while others argue for gentle or praise centric approaches. 3 Many parents find themselves confounded with the problem of unruly children. 4 Most adults however can agree that consistency and consequences are two key components of disciplining any child from the most pugilist to the most mild-mannered. 5 Being too permissive or too authoritarian can ultimately result with many instances of bad behavior.

In Sentence 1, what word should replace “factual”?

Possible Answers:

fractal

fractional

factional

fractious

factual (no change)

Correct answer:

fractious

Explanation:

Based on the context of the rest of the passage, we can conclude that we’re looking for a synonym for “unruly.” “Fractious,” which means troublesome, unruly, or hard to control, is the best choice.

Example Question #521 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 W. Somerset Maugham was a proliferate and English author of more than two dozen books. 2 Born in 1874 and orphaned at a young age, also working as an ambulance driver in World War I and studying medicine in London. 3 Among his life he traveled in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, within other places, these experiences were also reflected in his writing. 4 His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, drew on these real-life experiences and became an instant bestseller, when it was published, in 1897. 5 One of Maugham’s most famous works, the American writer Theodore Dreiser gave a glowing review to the 1915 novel Of Human Bondage. 6 His legacy includes many plays, film adaptations, a tumultuous love life, an epigrammatic British literary award (the Somerset Maugham Award), and a steady if unexperimental oeuvre of fiction.

In Sentence 3, what word should replace “within”?

Possible Answers:

about

around

except

within (no change)

among

Correct answer:

among

Explanation:

We can infer from the sentence that Maugham traveled to Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and other places. The only preposition that would suggest this meaning is “among.”

Example Question #522 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 W. Somerset Maugham was a proliferate and English author of more than two dozen books. 2 Born in 1874 and orphaned at a young age, also working as an ambulance driver in World War I and studying medicine in London. 3 Among his life he traveled in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, within other places, these experiences were also reflected in his writing. 4 His first novel, Liza of Lambeth, drew on these real-life experiences and became an instant bestseller, when it was published, in 1897. 5 One of Maugham’s most famous works, the American writer Theodore Dreiser gave a glowing review to the 1915 novel Of Human Bondage. 6 His legacy includes many plays, film adaptations, a tumultuous love life, an epigrammatic British literary award (the Somerset Maugham Award), and a steady if unexperimental oeuvre of fiction.

In Sentence 3, what word should replace “Among”?

Possible Answers:

Within

During

Between

Among (no change)

Throughout

Correct answer:

During

Explanation:

Events typically happen “during” (not “among” or some other preposition) a span of time.

Example Question #523 : Improving And Correcting Sentences

1 Generally, a person will tell you they prefer not to have their food burned. 2 Because caramel: a delicious sticky dessert, is actually made by slowly burning sugar. 3 A copper saucepan, a candy thermometer, and sugar and water are all you need to make this lascivious treat. 4 Although some chefs prefer to use their eyes and nose rather than a thermometer. 5 Desserts that will be made from caramel, including ice cream, pies, crème brûlée, candy apples, nougats, flan, and pralines. 6 However it may take many disastrous attempts and scorched pans while the amateur caramel maker achieves the golden, buttery perfection of this tasty dessert.

What word should be changed in Sentence 4?

Possible Answers:

no words should be changed

prefer

chefs

thermometer

nose

Correct answer:

nose

Explanation:

Presumably the multiple chefs do not just have a single “nose,” so we need to change the sentence accordingly: “eyes and noses.”

Example Question #3372 : Sat Writing

1 Generally, a person will tell you they prefer not to have their food burned. 2 Because caramel: a delicious sticky dessert, is actually made by slowly burning sugar. 3 A copper saucepan, a candy thermometer, and sugar and water are all you need to make this lascivious treat. 4 Although some chefs prefer to use their eyes and nose rather than a thermometer. 5 Desserts that will be made from caramel, including ice cream, pies, crème brûlée, candy apples, nougats, flan, and pralines. 6 However it may take many disastrous attempts and scorched pans while the amateur caramel maker achieves the golden, buttery perfection of this tasty dessert.

In Sentence 2, what word should replace “Because”?

Possible Answers:

But

Through

Where

Because (no change)

Moreover

Correct answer:

But

Explanation:

Based on the context of Sentences 1 and 2, we’re looking for a word that indicates contrast, and “But” is the only one of the provided options that does so.

Example Question #3373 : Sat Writing

1 Generally, a person will tell you they prefer not to have their food burned. 2 Because caramel: a delicious sticky dessert, is actually made by slowly burning sugar. 3 A copper saucepan, a candy thermometer, and sugar and water are all you need to make this lascivious treat. 4 Although some chefs prefer to use their eyes and nose rather than a thermometer. 5 Desserts that will be made from caramel, including ice cream, pies, crème brûlée, candy apples, nougats, flan, and pralines. 6 However it may take many disastrous attempts and scorched pans while the amateur caramel maker achieves the golden, buttery perfection of this tasty dessert.

In Sentence 5, what word should replace “will”?

Possible Answers:

should

would

were

will (no change)

can

Correct answer:

can

Explanation:

“Will” is the future tense and implies a level of certainty that the passage doesn’t support. “Can,” a present tense verb that indicates possibility, is the best choice for the sentence.

Example Question #228 : Rewriting A Single Word

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.

In Sentence 4, how should “to appear” be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

appeared

to be appearing

to have appeared

appearing

to appear (no change)

Correct answer:

appearing

Explanation:

In order to make the second part of Sentence 4 a proper dependent clause, we need to change the infinitive “to appear” to the gerund “appearing.”

Example Question #3374 : Sat Writing

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.

In Sentence 2, what word should replace “with”?

Possible Answers:

among

by

as

with (no change)

in

Correct answer:

as

Explanation:

The preposition that makes most sense in the context of the passage is “as”: Seaweed can be used in a number of different applications.

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