Improving Sentences - SAT Writing
Card 0 of 5973
Rita began work on the project last year, but she has yet to reach completion_._
Rita began work on the project last year, but she has yet to reach completion_._
The original sentence is wordy and awkward. The correct answer is concise, active, and clear.
The original sentence is wordy and awkward. The correct answer is concise, active, and clear.
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Being that he passed the driver’s test, Timothy was looking forward to getting his license.
Being that he passed the driver’s test, Timothy was looking forward to getting his license.
Sentences rarely start with “being.” Furthermore, "having passed" conveys the timing and cause of events with more precision.
Sentences rarely start with “being.” Furthermore, "having passed" conveys the timing and cause of events with more precision.
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The boy, among many friends, celebrate his birthday in lavish style.
The boy, among many friends, celebrate his birthday in lavish style.
The subject of the sentence is singular, "the boy," and not the plural "many friends," meaning the verb needs to be singular as well. Additionally, the sentence must keep the same meaning, that they boy is doing the celebrating. "Celebrates" is the correct answer choice.
The subject of the sentence is singular, "the boy," and not the plural "many friends," meaning the verb needs to be singular as well. Additionally, the sentence must keep the same meaning, that they boy is doing the celebrating. "Celebrates" is the correct answer choice.
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The supplies were immediately brought to myself as soon as they were purchased.
The supplies were immediately brought to myself as soon as they were purchased.
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.
The use of "myself" in the sentence is incorrect. "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun, meaning it needs an earlier first person pronoun to refer back to. The appropriate word in this situation is just "me," and that is the only issue with the sentence; therefore, "brought to me" is the correct answer.
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The information needs to be reviewed by yourself before it is sent out.
The information needs to be reviewed by yourself before it is sent out.
The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous "you" to refer back to. "Yourself" needs to simply be replaced by "you," making "reviewed by you" the correct answer choice.
The use of the reflexive pronoun "yourself" is incorrect in this sentence, as it has no previous "you" to refer back to. "Yourself" needs to simply be replaced by "you," making "reviewed by you" the correct answer choice.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
After the team had them first big victory, the coach decided to go out for a celebration pizza dinner.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
After the team had them first big victory, the coach decided to go out for a celebration pizza dinner.
"Team" is a singular word, so "them" must be replaced by a singular possessive pronoun.
"Team" is a singular word, so "them" must be replaced by a singular possessive pronoun.
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The nervous woman making mistakes every time she tried to make cupcakes.
The nervous woman making mistakes every time she tried to make cupcakes.
The use of "making," a participle means the sentence has no verb, as a participle needs some form of "to be" to function as a full verb; therefore, a complete verb form needs to be used, and has to match the past tense usage of "tried." This makes the correct answer choice "made mistakes."
The use of "making," a participle means the sentence has no verb, as a participle needs some form of "to be" to function as a full verb; therefore, a complete verb form needs to be used, and has to match the past tense usage of "tried." This makes the correct answer choice "made mistakes."
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The identity of the killer remained a mystery for the next fifty years.
The identity of the killer remained a mystery for the next fifty years.
The "identity of the killer" was unknown a while, so the use of the preposition "for" is correct, as it indicates the length of time was fully taken by the mystery of the killer's identity. The sentence is correct as written.
The "identity of the killer" was unknown a while, so the use of the preposition "for" is correct, as it indicates the length of time was fully taken by the mystery of the killer's identity. The sentence is correct as written.
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No one will come to our defense but ourselves in our time of need.
No one will come to our defense but ourselves in our time of need.
The use of "ourselves" is actually correct in the sentence, as it refers to the previous use of "our" in the phrase "our defense;" therefore, the correct answer is to keep the word as "ourselves."
The use of "ourselves" is actually correct in the sentence, as it refers to the previous use of "our" in the phrase "our defense;" therefore, the correct answer is to keep the word as "ourselves."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
When you go to a buffet, one should make sure that you do not overeat.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.
When you go to a buffet, one should make sure that you do not overeat.
The sentence begins by using the pronoun "you," but then switches to using the pronoun "one." These should be kept consistent.
The sentence begins by using the pronoun "you," but then switches to using the pronoun "one." These should be kept consistent.
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For a long time, the man having issues with his wife that they could not resolve.
For a long time, the man having issues with his wife that they could not resolve.
The use of the patriciple form "having" is incorrect in the sentence, as the participle cannot stand on its own as the verb of the sentence. The word needs to be changed, and must match the later use of the past tense construction "that they could not." The correct answer, therefore, is "the man had issues."
The use of the patriciple form "having" is incorrect in the sentence, as the participle cannot stand on its own as the verb of the sentence. The word needs to be changed, and must match the later use of the past tense construction "that they could not." The correct answer, therefore, is "the man had issues."
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His father was usually ready telling a joke to lighten the mood.
His father was usually ready telling a joke to lighten the mood.
The use of "telling" in the sentence is strange and confusing, as the participle form appears to modify "ready." To appropriately explain what the father was "ready" for, an infinitive, which gives a sense of action; therefore, the correct answer choice is "to tell a joke."
The use of "telling" in the sentence is strange and confusing, as the participle form appears to modify "ready." To appropriately explain what the father was "ready" for, an infinitive, which gives a sense of action; therefore, the correct answer choice is "to tell a joke."
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As they walked into the wind, the girls all pulled their jackets tighter.
As they walked into the wind, the girls all pulled their jackets tighter.
The sentence is structurally and grammatically correct just as it is. Every other answer choice actually makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
The sentence is structurally and grammatically correct just as it is. Every other answer choice actually makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
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In a prolonged effort to curb abuses, the governments reduce the amount in bonuses for arrests.
In a prolonged effort to curb abuses, the governments reduce the amount in bonuses for arrests.
The opening clause of the sentence notes a "prolonged effort," which indicates the government action has taken place over a long time period. The proper verb will either be in the past tense or show a long amount of time. "The governments reduced" is the best choice among the answers.
The opening clause of the sentence notes a "prolonged effort," which indicates the government action has taken place over a long time period. The proper verb will either be in the past tense or show a long amount of time. "The governments reduced" is the best choice among the answers.
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John and Michael both made good points, but in the end, I had to side with him.
John and Michael both made good points, but in the end, I had to side with him.
It is unclear if the “him” refers to John or Michael. The correct answer makes it clear with whom I side.
It is unclear if the “him” refers to John or Michael. The correct answer makes it clear with whom I side.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Yesterday, you asked me whether I agree more with John F. Kennedy or Richard Nixon; after reading about their policies, I realize that I agree more with him.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Yesterday, you asked me whether I agree more with John F. Kennedy or Richard Nixon; after reading about their policies, I realize that I agree more with him.
It is unclear if the “him” refers to Kennedy or Nixon. The correct answer makes it clear with whom I agree.
It is unclear if the “him” refers to Kennedy or Nixon. The correct answer makes it clear with whom I agree.
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The old man was extremely reclusive, never allowing them to see him.
The old man was extremely reclusive, never allowing them to see him.
The use of the pronoun "them" in this sentence is confusing, as it is unclear who "them" is referring. "Them" needs to be changed to something more concrete. Only one answer choice, "never allowing people to see him," does this, which makes it the correct answer choice.
The use of the pronoun "them" in this sentence is confusing, as it is unclear who "them" is referring. "Them" needs to be changed to something more concrete. Only one answer choice, "never allowing people to see him," does this, which makes it the correct answer choice.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He always tried to send a copy of each newsletter to him for his records before he sent it to the rest of his colleagues.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He always tried to send a copy of each newsletter to him for his records before he sent it to the rest of his colleagues.
The use of the simple objective pronoun "him" in the sentence is odd and confusing, as it is unclear who exactly that usage is referring to. The pronoun should be changed to the reflexive pronoun, "himself." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "He always tried to send a copy of each newsletter to himself for his records before he sent it to the rest of his colleagues."
The use of the simple objective pronoun "him" in the sentence is odd and confusing, as it is unclear who exactly that usage is referring to. The pronoun should be changed to the reflexive pronoun, "himself." Therefore, the correct answer choice is "He always tried to send a copy of each newsletter to himself for his records before he sent it to the rest of his colleagues."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Under the influence of the guru, the man began to improve him.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Under the influence of the guru, the man began to improve him.
The use of "him" as the object of the sentence is extremely confusing, as it could refer to the subject or the "guru." To clarify this issue, the reflexive pronoun can be used to refer back to the subject of the sentence. The answer choice that appropriately uses the reflexive pronoun is "began to make improvements in himself."
The use of "him" as the object of the sentence is extremely confusing, as it could refer to the subject or the "guru." To clarify this issue, the reflexive pronoun can be used to refer back to the subject of the sentence. The answer choice that appropriately uses the reflexive pronoun is "began to make improvements in himself."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He was always generous to others, to the point of ignoring him.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He was always generous to others, to the point of ignoring him.
The use of "him" at the end of the sentence is confusing. With the subject of the sentence being the third person pronoun, the object can be the reflexive pronoun and refer back to the subject. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "to the point of ignoring himself."
The use of "him" at the end of the sentence is confusing. With the subject of the sentence being the third person pronoun, the object can be the reflexive pronoun and refer back to the subject. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "to the point of ignoring himself."
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