PSAT Writing : PSAT Writing Skills
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #53 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jean’s favorite activities are playing with her dog, visiting her grandmother, and going to the library. No error
visiting
going
favorite
activities
No error
No error
This sentence is completely parallel. If it had said "to visit" instead of "visiting", that would have been incorrect.
Example Question #54 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Whether my aunt or uncle is arriving, it shouldn't matter—I really enjoy when either of them visit. No error
No error
when either
Whether
is arriving
or
No error
There is no error here. If you chose "is arriving," it's actually grammatically correct: two singular subjects connected by "or" require a singular verb.
Example Question #61 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Every single dollar has been spent on candy; the children ought to be taught about saving their money. No error
candy; the
No error
Every
their money
dollar has been
No error
There is no error. In particular, "every single dollar has been spent" is correct: "every" is a singular subject requiring a singular verb.
Example Question #62 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
After hiking for three full days, the team of hikers arrived at the summit of the peak. No error
at the summit
Hiking
the team of hikers
No error
of the peak
No error
This sentence contains no errors.
Example Question #63 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Making a quilt by hand takes a tremendous amount of planning, time, and effort, so should you ever be lucky enough to receive a handmade quilt, be sure to thank the person who made it for you! No error
be sure to thank the person who made it for you
a tremendous amount of planning, time, and effort
Making a quilt by hand
should you ever be lucky enough
No error
No error
This sentence is grammatically correct as written and needs no stylistic revisions: "Making a quilt by hand" is a noun phrase based on a gerund that functions as the subject of the sentence; "a tremendous amount of planning, time, and effort" correctly uses parallel structure and the Oxford comma; "should you ever be lucky enough" correctly uses the present tense and subjunctive mood, and "be sure to thank to person who made it for you" is a correct imperative statement.
Example Question #64 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
A group of leading experts in entomology, the study of insects, is coming to speak to my biology class about career opportunities in that exciting field. No error
in
in that
about
No error
is
No error
Make sure that you identify the proper subject in this sentence. Many students are fooled by collective singulars: "a group of experts," "a team of players," "a school of fish," "a murder of crows," and so forth. In all of these cases, even though we are talking about many individual things, we are conceiving of them as single entities. As you may have noticed, the little word "of" will frequently alert you to the presence of a collective singluar in this kind of construction. This type of sentence can also confuse the eye, as there are two plural nouns ("experts" and "insects") between the subject ("group") and the main verb ("is").
Example Question #65 : Identifying Sentences That Contain No Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Either house will do, but neither of the two is perfect. No error
Either
is
will
No error
neither
No error
There is no error. "Neither" uses the correct verb (singular) and "either" is used properly.
Example Question #91 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
The Statue of Liberty, perhaps the most recognizable symbol of American freedom, was actually constructed in France and given to the United States as a gift of friendship between the two nations. No error
No error
was
given to
a gift of friendship.
Liberty, perhaps
No error
There is no error in the sentence. Verb tenses are consistent for the timeline, and the descriptive—or interrupting—phrase is correctly separated by two commas.
Example Question #92 : Identifying Other Errors Or No Error
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One brave woman surreptitiously entered the aliens’ spaceship, hoping to discover their weaknesses and use the information to aid the defense. No error
their weaknesses
hoping
No error
brave
surreptitiously
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
Example Question #93 : Identifying No Error Questions
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
One must not fault them for mistaking the date; it was, after all, leap year.
mistaking
it was
No error
fault them for
One
No error
This sentence is correct as written.
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