<p>Okay guys. To whoever answers these, thanks. I am posting all the hard level 5 writing questions (gathered from past PSAT's) that I have trouble with in the hope of getting diaphanous explanations. I'm sure that these will also encapsulate a suitable review for all december SAT takers for writing and will, I hope, solve some nitty-gritty issues for me and other CC'ers. Here they are.</p>
<p>1). (Fashion does not play the all-important role it once has played in the life of many people): more and more men and women are wearing what they find comfortable.</p>
<p>A). As it is
B). Fashion no longer plays the all-important role it once played in the lives of many people
D). Fewer people's life is influenced by fashion to the degree it once was</p>
<p>I chose B. But I only chose it because it sounded right to my "ear." I could not come up with a suitable explanation for this choice. For all I know, it could be wrong. Please help.</p>
<p>2). Had he lived (beyond) his twenty-eight years, Schiele would (have to) become a (very different) artist functioning (in) a very different world. (No error)</p>
<p>I put no error. Yet, I have a nagging feeling that "have to" should be changed to "have had to" or simply "have." Which one is right. Or is it no error. Does the extra "had" make any difference?</p>
<p>3). The ancient manuscript (was) a valuable find, (even though) the writing was difficult (to decipher) and the paper (had begun) to disintegrate. (No error)</p>
<p>I thought the error was at B, even though. Can the clause after the comma start with "Even though?" I thought it had to start with and, but, or, nor, etc. Aren't phrases such as "even though" only used at the beginning for subordinating clauses to make the clauses subordinate in the first place? Please clarify.</p>
<p>4). New Jersey had regulations governing sanitary (landfill, and so the result is to cover any dumped material) with six inches of clean soil.</p>
<p>A). As it is
B). landfill, thus resulting in the coverage of any dumped material
D). landfill that require any dumped material to be covered</p>
<p>Again, I used my ear and chose D. Is it right or wrong. What are the grammatical
reasons?</p>
<p>5). Some volcanoes (shoot) into the stratosphere huge volumes of dust and gas that (cause) far-reaching climatic changes (by forming) a barrier between the Sun and Earth. (No error)</p>
<p>I chose "By forming." The answer is "No error." Why? Couldn't "by forming" be "that form." Also, isn't it ambiguous as to what is the referent of "by forming?" This is because it could be the volcanoes or stratosphere right?</p>
<p>6). The enormous sums (bid) on Mary Cassatt's impressionist painting (demonstrates) the wealth of the bidders, (not necessarily) (their appreciation) of art. (No error)</p>
<p>While I realize that, ostentatiously, the above sentence seems a simply case of normal subject-verb agreement. Because "sums" is plural, "demonstrates" should be "demonstrate." But isn't it not clear as to what the referent of "demonstrates" is? This is because the referent could be the "sums" or the act of bidding. If it was the later, isn't "demonstrates" correct?</p>
<p>7). At the beginning of the new school year, the administration announced (that all students' backpacks must be kept in their lockers while attending classes).</p>
<p>A). As it is.
C). that all students must keep their backpacks in their lockers while attending classes</p>
<p>I chose A. Is this a simple case of active vs passive voice? Honestly, I think both sentences are wrong. After all, how can the students keep their backpacks in their lockers SIMULTANEOUSLY while attending classes?</p>
<p>8). Meteorites are of great interest to (astrophysicists, since this is how they obtain information) about the chemical composition of early solar systems.</p>
<p>A). As it is
B). astrophysicists, who obtain from them information</p>
<p>I chose B. This is because I thought for choice A, the pronoun "this" was ambiguous. Yet, B sounds so awkward: "who obtain from them?" Someone please clarify.</p>
<p>9). Although the guest list is (limited), (for the most part), to the immediate families, it will include Mary and (I), old friends (of both) the bride and the groom. No error</p>
<p>Now, I'm a little bemused whether "Mary and I" are both subjects are objects. This is because, they could be objects because it follows the clause "It will include"-include who? Mary and I." But then , the sentence also places them as subjects as they are "old friends." Therefore, is "I" and object or subject. I put "no error".</p>
<p>10). Early in her career, Diane Arbus photographed high-fashion (models, however she later found) the subjects who were to make her famous-rebels and social outcasts.</p>
<p>A). As it is
B). models; however, she later found</p>
<p>I chose B thinking that A was a run-on sentence. Is this reasoning correct. I was originally dubious about my reasoning because I thought "however" makes it a proper sentence. But I remember reading something on these forums that even with the inclusion of "however", the sentence is still a run-on because if "however" is removed, the run-on structure of the sentence becomes clear. Is this true. Also, they hyphen threw me off a little. Can it be used in the above manner?</p>
<p>11). According to no (lesser of an authority) than Parkman, the most momentous event in the history of colonial North America was the expulsion of the French.</p>
<p>A). As it is
C). less of an authority as
D). less of an authority than</p>
<p>I chose D because it just sounded idiomatic. But, I'm thinking there is a general rule for this. So what's the rule? How does one differentiate between "lesser" and "less" and "then" and "as?" </p>
<p>12). Although some of the victories of the civil rights movement of the 1960s were (only token gains), (many others were) definite steps (toward) social and political equality. (No error)</p>
<p>I put no error with reasonable confidence. However, not that I see it, I think it is important to pop the question. Is there any difference between "toward" and "towards." If there is, is it only in Europe or does it matter to collegeboard as well? If not, then jolly good (hey its almost christmas).</p>
<p>Well, those are all of the questions for now (I still have some PSAT's left). I am asking so many questions in the first place because the PSAT's that I have do not include any answers (bit of a let down to tell the truth) except for 1 (which question #5 came from). Hope to get answers soon. Thanks in advance to anyone that does answer.</p>