SAT Writing : SAT Writing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #421 : Sat Writing

     (1) The sport of lacrosse, while perhaps not as widely popular today in the United States as baseball or football, is far older. (2) These games served many important cultural functions. (3) They were used to settle disputes between tribes, as festival events, and to train young men to become warriors and hunters.

     (4) Hundreds of men and women from rival tribes or villages would gather to play at once. (5) The playing field was sometimes several miles long. (6) The original game was very different from the organized sport played today. (7) A single game would be played from dawn until sunset, and be followed by dancing and feasting.

     (8) Modern, standardized versions of lacrosse started to be played in the 1850s and soon became very popular throughout Canada and the United States. (9) For over a century, it has been one of the most widely played sports in high schools in both nations.

The author wishes to add a concluding sentence after Sentence 9 that relates to a statement made in the opening sentence. Which of the following sentences would achieve this most effectively?

Possible Answers:

If you haven't ever played lacrosse, you're missing out on a really fun game.

Lacrosse is a difficult sport to play because it requires much more physical endurance than baseball.

Though it may not be considered "America's pastime," lacrosse could certainly be called the original American team sport.

Changes to the game have been made to improve safety, such as the addition of helmets and padding for the players, and the use of a rubber ball.

Lacrosse has played an important role in North American culture for hundreds of years.

Correct answer:

Though it may not be considered "America's pastime," lacrosse could certainly be called the original American team sport.

Explanation:

The sentence "Though it may not be considered 'America's pastime,' lacrosse could certainly be called the original American team sport" is best because it echoes both the reference to baseball and the assertion of lacrosse's longevity made in Sentence 1.

Example Question #422 : Sat Writing

     (1) The sport of lacrosse, while perhaps not as widely popular today in the United States as baseball or football, is far older. (2) These games served many important cultural functions. (3) They were used to settle disputes between tribes, as festival events, and to train young men to become warriors and hunters.

     (4) Hundreds of men and women from rival tribes or villages would gather to play at once. (5) The playing field was sometimes several miles long. (6) The original game was very different from the organized sport played today. (7) A single game would be played from dawn until sunset, and be followed by dancing and feasting.

     (8) Modern, standardized versions of lacrosse started to be played in the 1850s and soon became very popular throughout Canada and the United States. (9) For over a century, it has been one of the most widely played sports in high schools in both nations.

What would be the best sentence to insert between Sentence 1 and Sentence 2?

Possible Answers:

However, the game has faced a lot of criticism over the years due to its violent nature.

The sport has quickly gained popularity in recent years.

The first modern lacrosse league was organized in Montreal in 1856.

Consequently, professional lacrosse players are not paid the same salaries as baseball players.

Numerous Native American tribes, including the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Onondaga have played versions of it for at least 400 years.

Correct answer:

Numerous Native American tribes, including the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Onondaga have played versions of it for at least 400 years.

Explanation:

The sentence "Numerous Native American tribes, including the Iroquois, Cherokee, and Onondaga have played versions of it for at least 400 years" creates the best transition between the two other sentences and adds key information which clarifies the passage, introducing where and when the game originated.

Example Question #3 : Inserting Or Deleting Content

(1) Cowboys have long been a symbol in American society. (2) On the one hand, they represent American strength, adventurousness, and indefatigability. (3) But they also call up images of oppression, racism, and exploitation. (4) However, both of these romanticized views of cowboys betray the dull routine and everyday realities of the lives that many cowboys lived.

(5) Some cowboys worked at the same farms for much of their lives, while others periodically moved cattle from place to place without ever participating in a gun fight or being harangued by unexpected or hidden enemies. (6) Today, their figurative descendants can still be found living in agricultural areas, working hard to ensure that steady supplies of milk, meat and other agricultural products find their ways to stores and your dining room table.

Which of the following would be the best spot to insert the sentence "Many times, they dealt with disease, hunger and loneliness."?

Possible Answers:

Between Sentence 3 and Sentence 4

Before Sentence 5

Between Sentence 5 and Sentence 6

Between Sentence 2 and Sentence 3

Before Sentence 1

Correct answer:

Between Sentence 5 and Sentence 6

Explanation:

"Between Sentences 5 and 6" is the best answer because Sentence 5 marks the beginning of the description of the real life of the cowboy, while Sentence 6 focuses more on the contemporary existence of people that fit the cowboy image. The clause being inserted refers to the past lives of the cowboys but is not necessarily part of the idealized image in the first paragraph, excluding this location as a possibility.

Example Question #2 : Inserting Or Deleting Content

[1] Modern ice hockey was developed in Canada during the nineteenth century. [2] Two students from McGill University came up with the first rules. [3] A couple of years later, the sport made its way to the United States. [4] The game became a part of the Olympics in 1924.

[5] I first learned about hockey during the sixth grade. [6] When I watched my first game on the television. [7] After that first game, I begged my parents to let me play. [8] They agreed, and I started playing on my first team later that year.

[9] For the first year, I was not very good. [10] I could barely skate! [11] However, after years of practicing, I finally made it on to my high school varsity team. [12] Ice hockey was first played in the United States by universities. [13] Now, as I start applying to colleges, I hope to be able to play for my college. [14] I want to continue playing to achieve my dream of playing for the United States Olympic ice hockey team.

Which of the following is the best place to insert the following sentence?

"I started playing as a forward, but eventually, I became a goalie."

Possible Answers:

After sentence 8

After sentence 5

After sentence 13

After sentence 14

After sentence 11

Correct answer:

After sentence 8

Explanation:

The given sentence deals with the writer's start with playing ice hockey. Thus, it must be in the second paragraph because that paragraph describes how the author started playing ice hockey.

The sentence does not make much sense if it is inserted after Sentence 5 because at that point in the essay, the writer has not made it clear that he or she started playing ice hockey.

Example Question #3 : Inserting Content

[1] American architecture has many distinctive styles and signature elements. [2] While perhaps newer than its counterparts, Southwestern architecture draws on Spanish and Native American influences that are hundreds or thousands of years old. [3] These influences can be seen in the use of native building materials such as adobe and pine timber, both easily found in the Southwest, and in the use of a central plaza or veranda. [4] Traditional building elements include walls with rounded corners, exposed timber beams, flat roofs, and a simple, uncluttered aesthetic. [5] Some houses are built around a central courtyard; while others open onto a patio flanked by ornate grillwork. 

[6] Pueblo Revival buildings are dignified by their vigas, which are roof beams that extend beyond the outer edge of walls. [7] Recessed windows and doorways with arched tops are also very common in this style of architecture. [8] Some famous examples of Pueblo Revival buildings include the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Painted Desert Inn, and various edifices at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

The sentence “For example, the Southern plantation home is characterized by neoclassical proportions and exterior columns, while the New England saltbox has a long, slanting roof and a flat façade.” would best be inserted between which two sentences?

Possible Answers:

Sentences 4 and 5

Sentences 1 and 2

Sentences 5 and 6

Sentences 7 and 8

Sentences 3 and 4

Correct answer:

Sentences 1 and 2

Explanation:

This sentence elaborates upon an idea introduced in Sentence 1 (the variety of American architectural styles) and provides a seamless transition to Sentence 2.

Example Question #4 : Inserting Content

[1] American architecture has many distinctive styles and signature elements. [2] While perhaps newer than its counterparts, Southwestern architecture draws on Spanish and Native American influences that are hundreds or thousands of years old. [3] These influences can be seen in the use of native building materials such as adobe and pine timber, both easily found in the Southwest, and in the use of a central plaza or veranda. [4] Traditional building elements include walls with rounded corners, exposed timber beams, flat roofs, and a simple, uncluttered aesthetic. [5] Some houses are built around a central courtyard; while others open onto a patio flanked by ornate grillwork. 

[6] Pueblo Revival buildings are dignified by their vigas, which are roof beams that extend beyond the outer edge of walls. [7] Recessed windows and doorways with arched tops are also very common in this style of architecture. [8] Some famous examples of Pueblo Revival buildings include the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Painted Desert Inn, and various edifices at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

The sentence “One particular category of Southwestern architecture is the Pueblo Revival style, first popularized in the early 1900s.” would fit best before which sentence?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 1

Sentence 3

Sentence 6

Sentence 8

Sentence 5

Correct answer:

Sentence 6

Explanation:

This sentence is an excellent topic sentence for the paragraph’s second passage, which discusses in detail some traits of Pueblo Revival architecture. For this reason, it belongs at the very beginning of the second paragraph.

Example Question #5 : Inserting Content

[1] American architecture has many distinctive styles and signature elements. [2] While perhaps newer than its counterparts, Southwestern architecture draws on Spanish and Native American influences that are hundreds or thousands of years old. [3] These influences can be seen in the use of native building materials such as adobe and pine timber, both easily found in the Southwest, and in the use of a central plaza or veranda. [4] Traditional building elements include walls with rounded corners, exposed timber beams, flat roofs, and a simple, uncluttered aesthetic. [5] Some houses are built around a central courtyard; while others open onto a patio flanked by ornate grillwork. 

[6] Pueblo Revival buildings are dignified by their vigas, which are roof beams that extend beyond the outer edge of walls. [7] Recessed windows and doorways with arched tops are also very common in this style of architecture. [8] Some famous examples of Pueblo Revival buildings include the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Painted Desert Inn, and various edifices at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

What would be the best title for this passage?

Possible Answers:

"Fading Fast: The Architectural Legacy of the Spanish Colonists"

"The Modernization of the Pueblo Home"

"Adobe and Vigas: Environmentally Friendly Building Alternatives"

"Southwestern Architecture: Multicultural and Multifaceted"

"Southwestern Versus Pueblo Revival Architecture"

Correct answer:

"Southwestern Architecture: Multicultural and Multifaceted"

Explanation:

The passage is primarily about the various influences, styles, and elements of Southwestern architecture, so “Southwestern Architecture: Multicultural and Multifaceted” would be the best fit. While all of the other titles allude to topics discussed in the passage, none of them encompass the overall topic.

Example Question #6 : Inserting Content

[1] American architecture has many distinctive styles and signature elements. [2] While perhaps newer than its counterparts, Southwestern architecture draws on Spanish and Native American influences that are hundreds or thousands of years old. [3] These influences can be seen in the use of native building materials such as adobe and pine timber, both easily found in the Southwest, and in the use of a central plaza or veranda. [4] Traditional building elements include walls with rounded corners, exposed timber beams, flat roofs, and a simple, uncluttered aesthetic. [5] Some houses are built around a central courtyard; while others open onto a patio flanked by ornate grillwork. 

[6] Pueblo Revival buildings are dignified by their vigas, which are roof beams that extend beyond the outer edge of walls. [7] Recessed windows and doorways with arched tops are also very common in this style of architecture. [8] Some famous examples of Pueblo Revival buildings include the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Painted Desert Inn, and various edifices at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

What sentence would best conclude this passage?

Possible Answers:

Luckily, the style is now seen as archaic, and its many flaws are being replaced by exciting new innovations.

This, however, should not be confused with the Mission Revival Style, which is a different movement altogether.

While mainly restricted to the Arizona, New Mexico, and California, this movement has made valuable contributions to American architecture as we know it today.

Recently, architects have been wondering if this style could be adapted to Northeastern climates.

Although aesthetically pleasing, buildings made in this style are ecological disasters.

Correct answer:

While mainly restricted to the Arizona, New Mexico, and California, this movement has made valuable contributions to American architecture as we know it today.

Explanation:

The sentence that best wraps up the passage and underscores the importance of the author’s discussion is this one: “While mainly restricted to the Arizona, New Mexico, and California, this movement has made valuable contributions to American architecture as we know it today.” All of the other options introduce brand-new ideas, which is a good strategy for beginning but not ending a passage.

Example Question #7 : Inserting Content

[1] The contemporary feminist movement had its origins more than two thousand years ago. [2] Because many people don’t realize it, some of the first feminists were men. [3] Early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were most concerned in achieving education and legal recognition such as property and voting rights. [4] Other early feminists avidly rejected society’s narrow domestic vision for women. [5] These feminists ranged from Jane Austen to George Eliot.

[6] Still other feminists were concerned with obtaining equal educational and employment opportunities for women. [7] In the field of medicine, there was Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Margaret Sanger, in the field of education there was Virginia Woolf and Mary Wollstonecraft. [8] During the twentieth century, issues such as reproductive rights, pay equality, and protection against sexual harassment would arise. [9] Recently, men’s rights activists have been opposing the work of contemporary feminists, claiming that the movement seeks to divest men of power and oppress them for the benefit of women. [10] Thanks largely to the efforts of these courageous early feminists, women today enjoy more equal rights than at any other time in Western history.

Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

Possible Answers:

"History: An Early Feminist Critique"

"Contemporary Feminism’s Perfidious Roots"

"Early Feminism: A Brief Overview"

"Feminism: Its Detractors and Proponents"

"Perfunctory Modern Feminists: An Investigation"

Correct answer:

"Early Feminism: A Brief Overview"

Explanation:

The passage is primarily concerned with outlining the origins and evolution of feminism, so “The History of Feminism: A Brief Overview” is the best title choice.

Example Question #8 : Inserting Content

[1] The contemporary feminist movement had its origins more than two thousand years ago. [2] Because many people don’t realize it, some of the first feminists were men. [3] Early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were most concerned in achieving education and legal recognition such as property and voting rights. [4] Other early feminists avidly rejected society’s narrow domestic vision for women. [5] These feminists ranged from Jane Austen to George Eliot.

[6] Still other feminists were concerned with obtaining equal educational and employment opportunities for women. [7] In the field of medicine, there was Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Margaret Sanger, in the field of education there was Virginia Woolf and Mary Wollstonecraft. [8] During the twentieth century, issues such as reproductive rights, pay equality, and protection against sexual harassment would arise. [9] Recently, men’s rights activists have been opposing the work of contemporary feminists, claiming that the movement seeks to divest men of power and oppress them for the benefit of women. [10] Thanks largely to the efforts of these courageous early feminists, women today enjoy more equal rights than at any other time in Western history.

The sentence “Plato and other ancient Greeks were arguing for political parity between the genders long before the twentieth-century feminists, and Jeremy Bentham and Henrik Ibsen also spoke out against the unequal treatment of women.” would best fit between which two sentences?

Possible Answers:

Sentences 3 and 4

Sentences 2 and 3

Sentences 4 and 5

Sentences 1 and 2

Sentences 5 and 6

Correct answer:

Sentences 2 and 3

Explanation:

This sentence elaborates upon a point introduced in Sentence 2 (“some of the first feminists were men”) and should therefore appear immediately after Sentence 2 and before Sentence 3.

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