SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #1261 : Improving Sentences
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.
The new regulations prohibited various items from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and, lighters.
from the stadium, including knives scissors and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, lighters.
from the stadium which including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
from the stadium, including knives, scissors, and lighters.
The sentence is correct as written, with the dependent clause set apart from the sentence by a comma, and the list appropriately separated with commas between each of its items. All of the changes made in the answer choices introduce grammatical errors. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.
Example Question #1262 : Improving Sentences
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.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news in their long-lost child.
For years and years the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waits patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years the family waits patiently for news of their long-lost child.
For years and years, the family waited patiently for news of their long-lost child.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, all the other answer choices that do make a change to the sentence make it grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #50 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
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.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts' for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for there unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisast's for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for there unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisast's for their unique song.
This birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
This birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts' for their unique song.
These birds are well known among avian enthusisasts for their unique song.
The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. All of the answer choices that do make a change introduce grammatical errors into the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #1263 : Improving Sentences
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.
The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.
The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistake's in every part of the game.
The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part from the game.
The team played quite sloppily making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.
The team playing quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.
The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.
The team played quite sloppily, making a variety of mistakes in every part of the game.
The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, every answer choice that does make a change also makes the sentence grammatically incorrect in some way. The best choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #1264 : Improving Sentences
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 only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.
He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the similar industry.
He was only with the company for three months, before moving on to a different job, in the same industry.
He was only with the company for three-months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.
He was with only the company, for three months, before moving on to a different job in the same industry.
He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.
He was only with the company for three months before moving on to a different job in the same industry.
The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. All of the answer choices that change the sentence introduce errors, so the best answer choice is the one that keeps the sentence the same.
Example Question #1265 : Improving Sentences
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.
The conflict lasted for some twenty years, nine of which saw heavy fighting.
nine of which saw heavy fighting.
the nine of which saw heavy fighting.
nine of which see heavy fighting.
nine of which saw heavy of the fighting.
nine of them which saw heavy fighting.
nine of which saw heavy fighting.
The sentence is correct as written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, all the answer choice that do change the sentence make it grammatically incorrect.
Example Question #2782 : Sat Writing
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.
No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talented an athlete may be playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talented an athlete is being, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports, is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talent an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
No matter how talented an athlete may be, playing professional sports is an extremely difficult occupation in which success is rare.
The sentence is completely correct as it is written; no changes need to be made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is.
Example Question #1265 : Improving Sentences
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.
Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.
Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experiencing actor.
Unlike his competitors the student was already an experienced actor.
Unlike his competitors, the student already an experienced actor.
Unlike his competitors, the student, was already an experienced actor.
Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.
Unlike his competitors, the student was already an experienced actor.
The sentence is grammatically correct as it is written. Additionally, all the answer choices that do make some change to the sentence make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best choice is to leave the sentence as it is.
Example Question #45 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
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.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruling for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managing to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.
Louis XIV of France ruled for seventy-two years, and managed to outlive all his male heirs except his great-grandson, who became Louis XV.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, and needs no changes to make it grammatically correct. Every other answer choice actually makes the sentence in some way incorrect. The best choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1266 : Improving Sentences
For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same, lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years, humans in the region lived large the same lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years, humans in the region, lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.
For six thousand years, humans in the region lived largely the same lifestyle generation after generation.
The sentence is correct as written. Additionally, all of the other answer choices make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
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