<p>1.) Some beaches are frequently contaminated by untreated sewage that flows into the ocean, which can last for several days.</p>
<p>(A) ocean, which can last for several days
(B) ocean that can last for several days
(C) ocean, it can last for several days
(D) ocean, while contamination can last several days
(E) ocean; the contamination can last for several days</p>
<p>Answer: E My Question: Why is B wrong? I understand why E is correct, but isn't B more concise?</p>
<p>2.) The same analysts who once favored public-opinion polls now see them as hampering representative government.</p>
<p>(A) The same analysts who once favored public-opinion polls now see them
**B-D were clearly wrong<a href="E">/i</a> Analysts once were in favor of public-opinion polls, which these same analysts now see</p>
<p>Answer: Correct as Written (A) My Question: Isn't the "them" ambiguous? Couldn't it refer to polls or analysts; therefore, the sentence should be more like E.</p>
<p>1) What exactly is ‘which’ referring to? The untreated sewage can last for several days? Or is it the flowing into the ocean that lasts for several days? Then again, it can be the contamination that lasts for several days…see where I’m going with this here? Why the ambiguity? It needs to be clarified. Therefore, it is infact choice E that is more concise, and conveys the message appropriately.</p>
<p>2) The same analysts who once favored public-opinion polls now see them -
How will analysts see themselves? “them” clearly referred to the only other logical object in the sentence, which is polls. It is not ambiguous whatsoever. However, if the sentence were structured as following “The same analysts who participated in debates and favored public opinion polls now seem them-”. See here, “them” can now refer to debates, or public-opinion polls. This is ambiguous. Our original sentence is concise as can be.</p>
<p>Overall, I have one word of advice for you. Don’t over complicate sentences. I used to suffer from this insecurity whilst solving questions, and it was affecting my score majorly. They say that your first notion towards a question, is almost always delivers the right answer. Scrutinizing your answer is a recipe for failure. You know that you’re going to answer a question wrong once you start doubting yourself. Don’t over-analyze the questions on the SAT.</p>
<p>The CollegeBoard does not like ambiguity. It thinks that the construction you suggest would be incorrect because it may be modifying the ocean, i.e., that the ocean is lasting for several days. This is obviously ludicrous, and for the most part nobody cares about such pedantic errors-- but the CollegeBoard is not nobody. Generally, good writers stay away from writing two "that"s in a row because it has very little style in that form, but it is also technically incorrect… </p>
<p>There isn’t a general rule I can explain for number one, and it’s not an interesting topic in grammar (at least, not for me). However, here’s an SAT hint. </p>
<p>(E) must definitely be correct. It has no error whatsoever, even if it’s hideous. Once you see that, you know that, even if (B) sounds like it may be right, it can’t be. (E) cannot be wrong, so even if (B) is better-sounding, it must be wrong. This happens a lot on the SAT, especially in the Critical Reading section. I had to discover this method independently, but it most definitely is the most useful one I found for tackling the SAT. Before, I’d waste time dilly-dallying over how stylistically ugly a construction like (E) is. But no. Irrelevant. </p>
<p>Number two is an easier one. “Them” is not ambiguous. There’s only one noun that it can be. If it were “they,” then it would be referring to the analysts. “Public opinion polls” is the only object you can refer to with “them,” as the other noun (“analysts”) is a subject.</p>
<p>My god, you explained my thought process in the last paragraph. I feel insecure whenever I get to the grammar section and I over analyze each word.</p>
<p>Thanks for answering! I hope I calm down before Saturday…</p>
<p>Haha, just keep in mind. Revising your answer quickly before moving on to the next question, in case you missed a word somewhere in the middle is perfectly fine; even advisable! But once you start with: then again…I think I might be wrong. I mean, what’s wrong with B? It looks just as fine. No, D looks better. It’s more general. But I already chose C, because it better answers the question…etc etc. Don’t do this. Really, don’t. </p>
<p>Look at the question, read it carefully, concentrate and focus. Cover the answer choices. Point out the error/answer the question/solve for x/go back to the passage to find the answer. Got your answer in your head? Reveal the answer choice. Choose one that fits the answer you thought of, or is relatively close to it. Mark it. Revise swiftly for any lack of concentration errors. Move on to the next question. This is how you solve questions on the SAT.</p>