SAT Writing : SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #831 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The letter from the scholarship committee said that he had selected to be one of the recipients of the prestigious $10,000 scholarship because of his excellent grades and volunteer work. No error
one of the recipients of
from the scholarship committee
No error
because of his excellent grades and volunteer work
had selected
had selected
We say that someone “is selected” by a committee to be the recipient of an award. This is in the passive voice. This sentence instead uses the active voice to describe the student who has been selected for the scholarship. To correct this, we need to change “had selected,” which is active, to “had been selected,” which is passive.
Example Question #832 : Sat Writing
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
It took Donna many weeks to perfect her pirouette, but when she finally mastered it, she wouldn't stop being shown off in front of us. No error
wouldn't stop
No error
being shown off
It took
to perfect
being shown off
This sentence wants to say that when Donna learned how to do her pirouette, she kept showing off her pirouette to other people. The way the sentence is currently worded, it sounds like Donna is being shown off by another person. “Being shown off” is in the passive voice, but it should be changed to the active voice. So, “being shown off” should be changed to “showing off,” because Donna is the one doing the showing off, not being shown off by someone else.
Example Question #5 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences may contain no error at all.
Sheela and Shreya contacted him because they had heard he selled the best cakes in town. No error
heard
No error
because
selled
contacted
selled
The word "selled" is an incorrect formulation of the verb "sell." Since the cakes are bing sold on an ongoing basis the correct way to conjugate the sentence would be to replace "selled" with "sells."
Example Question #1 : Identifying Verb Errors
Please choose the part of the sentence that needs to be corrected. Some sentences may have no error at all.
The judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sang so beautifully. No error
amazed
sang
were
had
No error
sang
Because "the judges were amazed that Joe had been able to sing" the correct conjugation of the verb uses the present, rather than the past participle.
Example Question #11 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
That organization recommends that each person exercises for at least thirty minutes a day at least three days a week. No error
recommends
No error
at least thirty
at least three days a week
exercises
exercises
Subjunctive mood is used when a sentence is intended to express doubt or possibility (including recommendations and commands) rather than truth. In the sentence above, because the word the organization being discussed is making a recommendation, we know that subjunctive should be used. The correct subjunctive construction of the sentence above is "That organization recommends that each person exercise for at least thirty minutes a day, at least three days a week."
Example Question #12 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
New imaging techniques, which use improved technology in the detecting of deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives. No error
in the detecting
which use
may allow
no error
to save
in the detecting
When we want to show the purpose of the sentence’s subject (in this case, the purpose of improved imaging technology), we must use the infinitive form of the verb—detect. The sentence would read correctly as, “New imaging techniques, which use improved technology to detect deadly cancers, may allow doctors to save more lives.”
Example Question #6 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although he had never taken piano lessons, anytime that Jeff, who was unusually intelligent, sees a piano, he was able to play a song. No error
Although
able to play
No error
sees
who was
sees
The entire sentence refers to the past, as we can tell from the verb "was" in "who was unusually intelligent" and the verb "was" in "was able to play." Therefore, the verb "sees" should be in the past tense like the rest of the verbs in the sentence. To correct the sentence's error, we would need to change "sees" to "saw."
Example Question #141 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The revolutionary, having been the subject of abuse during his childhood, emphatically lead the uprising, fueled by both a desire for social justice, as well as a certain anger that he himself did not entirely understand. No error
lead
having been
fueled by both
No error
he himself
lead
"Lead" is in the present tense. Given that the rest of the sentence is in the past tense, this verb should also be in the past tense. Therefore, it should be "led," not "lead."
Example Question #142 : Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
As soon as I booked my flight to visit my friends in New York, I am finding that all the prices for plane tickets were plummeting. No error
to
prices for
As soon as
No error
I am finding
I am finding
This sentence written in the past tense, except for the phrase “I am finding.” In order to maintain proper verb tense, the underlined portion should be changed to “I found.”
Example Question #11 : Identifying Verb Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
While most species of monkeys live in tropical areas, there is a type of monkey that lives in northern Japan, where it has snowed. No error
most
in
has snowed
No error
there is
has snowed
Given that the rest of the sentence is in present tense, the underlined portion should be as well. "Has snowed" should be replaced by "snows."
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