Explain SAT GRAMMAR "Which"

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1

A soft lullaby and the drumroll of Thunder during a summer storm are but two of the diverse sounds (that can be perceived by the human ear.)

A. that can be perceived by the human ear.
D. in which the human ear can perceive.

Ans: A
Why not D when A is in passive voice?
Something wrong with “in which”?

During the Great Depression, Dorothea Lange’s (photographs brought public attention to the plight of farm workers, being distributed free of charge to newspaper.)

B: photographs brought public attention to the plight of farm workers, which were distributed free of charge to newspaper.
E: photographs, distributed free of charge to newspaper, brought public attention to the plight of farm workers.

Ans: E
**What’s going on with B? I understand E has non essential clause, but whats wrong with “which”

Running outdoors burns about five percent more calories that (if you are running on a treadmill, in part this is because there is) greater wind resistance outdoor.

D: running on a treadmill, which is in part because of the
E: running on a treadmill, in part because there is

Ans: E
** Why not “which is in part”?

The influence of Hermeto Pascoal was especially strong among young Jazz musicals of the 1900s, which admired his ability to conjure exquisite musical sounds from suchordinary objects as bottles and stones.

Ans: B
**What’s wrong? What should be replaced?

Is there something wrong overall with “Which” on the SAT?
Thank you.

2
  1. in which is used as a substitute for "where" or "when" only. Furthermore, you're referring to two things (soft lullaby & drumroll), you can use "which" (without in) only if preceded by a comma, only if you're making making a non essential clause. Alternatively, you can use "that" without the comma and that's the answer.
  2. B is ambiguous. You can't tell if the photographs or the attention is distributed free of charge. E is correct, removing the ambiguity by separating it with a non-essential clause.
  3. Again, which should be used for creating a non-essential clause, not as a conjunction. e.g. "Running burns calories, because of this." NOT "Running burns calories, which is because of this."
  4. I think you wrote that wrong... Did you mean "jazz musicians." In that case, "which" can't refer to a person. only "who" or "whom" can refer to people.