SAT Writing : Improving Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #66 : 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.
The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.
The young boy never standing a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.
The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.
The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still giving a full effort on the field.
The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, and he still gave a full effort on the field.
The young boy never stands a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.
The young boy never stood a chance against his older classmates, but he still gave a full effort on the field.
The sentence has no grammatical issues or usage problems, and needs no improvements made to it. The answer choices that do make a change to the sentence make it grammatically incorrect or create a usage issue. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #59 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing 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.
The crowd had never quite seen anything like the magician's trick, causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.
causing the sustained ovation under the end of the show.
causing the sustained ovation at the end the show.
causing the sustaining ovation at the end of the show.
caused the sustained ovation at the end of the show.
causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.
causing the sustained ovation at the end of the show.
The underlined phrase has no issues, and needs nothing done to it. The answer choices that make changes actually create a problem in the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #69 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct 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 woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days in receiving them.
The woman was never satisfied on her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usual returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The woman was never satisfying with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The woman was never satisfied with her husband's gifts, usually returning them within a few days of receiving them.
The sentence is perfectly correct as it is presented in the question, and needs no improvements made to it. Additionally, the answer choices that do make a change turn the sentence into a grammatically incorrect one. The correct answer is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1831 : Gmat Verbal
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.
Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.
Confusingly the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting bewilderment for its readers.
Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time resulting in bewilderment for its readers.
Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for it's readers.
Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.
Confusingly the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time resulting in bewilderment for its readers.
Confusingly, the novel tried to tell two separate stories at the same time, resulting in bewilderment for its readers.
There are no improvements that need to be made to the sentence, as it is perfectly grammatically correct as written. All of the answer choices that do make a change actually create a grammatical issue in the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1281 : 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.
Working hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.
The college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company that was working hard as an intern.
Working hard as an intern, the full time job was hoped by the college student from the company.
Working hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.
Working hard as an intern for the company hoping for a full time job was the college student.
Working hard as an intern, the company hoping the college student earning a full time job.
Working hard as an intern, the college student was hoping to earn a full time job from the company.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with no grammatical, usage, or reasoning problems. In fact, all of the answer choices that do make a change introduce some error into the sentence. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1631 : Sentence Correction
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.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes, of stalling their work.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away, from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
All of the information including interviews and recordings was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
All of the information, including interviews and recordings, was kept away from the investigators, in the hopes of stalling their work.
The sentence is perfectly corrrect as written. All of the answer choices that change the punctuation in the sentence create a punctuation error. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #71 : Correcting Other Errors And Recognizing Correct 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.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent; transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, and transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent and transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
Mongol invasions greatly reshaped the entire history of the Asian continent, transforming the boundaries and nations being invaded.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written, with a comma separating a dependent clause from the main body of the sentence. All of the answer choices that treat the sentence like a compound sentence make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The best answer choice is to leave the sentence as it is written.
Example Question #1282 : 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 always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.
He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him staying at work for even longer hours.
He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work on even longer hours.
He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.
He was always a hard worker, but his new job making him stay at work for even longer hours.
He was always a harder worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.
He was always a hard worker, but his new job made him stay at work for even longer hours.
The sentence is perfectly correct as written and needs no changes made to improve it. The answer choices that do make some change actually create a grammar or usage issue. The best choice is to leave the sentence completely alone.
Example Question #1283 : 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 always checking the work he did, to make sure every step was correct.
He was always checking the work he done, to make sure every step was correct.
He was always checking the work he did, to making sure every step was correct.
He was always checking the work he did, to make sure every step was correct.
He was always checking the work he did, to make sure every step was correctly.
He always checking the work he did, to make sure every step was correct.
He was always checking the work he did, to make sure every step was correct.
The sentence needs no improvements, as it is written with proper grammar and usage. All of the answer choices that do make a change introduce an error to the sentence. The correct answer choice is to leave the sentence alone.
Example Question #74 : Recognizing 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.
Julie is so ungrateful that even if she got the birthday gift she had asked for, she would not have appreciated it. No error
ungrateful
not have
even if
No error
had asked for
No error
There is no error in this sentence.
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