<p>This writing problems seem ambiguous to me. Please help with explanations.</p>
<li>(Although the candidate promised both to cut taxes and
improve services, he) failed to keep either of them after
the election.
(A) Although the candidate promised both to cut taxes
and improve services, he
(B) The candidate, having promised both to cut taxes
and improve services,
(C) Although the candidate made promises both to cut
taxes and improve services, he
(D) Having promised, first, to cut taxes and, second,
to improve services, the candidate
(E) The candidates promises were both to cut taxes
and improve services, he</li>
</ol>
<p>Answer is C. why is A incorrect?</p>
<li>Chess players find that playing against a computer is helpful (to improve)(A) (their)(B) skills, (even though)(C) no chess-playing computer has yet (won)(D) any championship.</li>
</ol>
<p>Answer is A. why is A incorrect?</p>
<li>Now that Michiko (finished)(A) the research, she feels (reasonably confident)(B) (about writing)(C) her paper on the (rise of)(D) the progressive movement in the
United States.</li>
</ol>
<p>Answer is A. Why again?</p>
<li>The condition known as laryngitis (usually causes)(A) the vocal cords and surrounding tissue to swell, (thus)(B) preventing the cords (to move)(C) (freely)(D) .</li>
</ol>
<p>Answer is C. Can’t understand. How do you tackle these difficult problems in exam? </p>
<p>I have some answers that are a bit helpful...I'd like it if someone else too with a higher grammar score could add/revise my explanations:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>(A) is incorrect because the pronoun "them" has no antecedent.Although C doesn't really solve the problem either but I guess them can refer to promises =/</p></li>
<li><p>(A) is incorrect because "is helpful to improve" makes no sense. It should read something like is helpful in improving their skills-but im not completely sure about this one.</p></li>
<li><p>(A) is incorrect because finished can't be used with Now that...and afterwards the present tense feels. It should read has finished.</p></li>
<li><p>(C) is incorrect because of an idiom error I think...preventing the cords from moving freely, not the infinitive to move. Maybe it's not an idiom error and more like a parallelism one I'm not sure but I know you can't use to move in that instance.</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>It would be promised them in A. That makes no sense. In C, it's made promises, promises referring to them. This flows.</li>
<li>You just have to get a feel, the helpful to improve should jump out immediately because it sounds awkard. It could've been helpful to improving or helpful in improving. </li>
<li>Whatiscollegeok has the perfect explanation. </li>
<li>It should be preventing the cords FROM moving.</li>
</ol>
<p>But college board sometimes intentionally gives awkward sentences which are actually correct=(
How many writing questions do u miss on average? I still miss 6-8</p>