HELP on SAT Writing Question!!

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

BB, test #2, section 10, last question.

Researchers tend to praise students that agree with their own conclusions, and it is rare for kindness to be shown to contrary theories.

a) conclusions, and it is rare for kindness to be shown
b) conclusions, and kindness being rarely shown
c) conclusions, and they rarely show kindness
d) conclusions, they are rarely kind
e) conclusions, although rarely showing kindness

I chose (e) because it seems plausible as the last clause would be a dependent one. However, TCB says that the clause after although should be independent. At the same time, Purdue OWL says that although is a common dependent marker.

So why is (e) wrong and © right?

2

(E) isn’t a dependent clause–it’s a phrase (a modifier, even).

3
  1. "rarely showing kindness" is a participle, not a clause of any kind.
  2. "Although" is normally used to introduce contrast or discord of some kind. But in this sentence, the two halves are consistent with each other. I mean, they point to two aspects of the same idea. For that reason, "and" is more appropriate.

If you want to use “rarely showing,” get rid of “although.” The sentence actually makes more sense.

4

But couldn’t it be interpreted in the following way:

For their own research? Praise. However, for the others’ research? No praise.

To me, both and and although seamlessly work fine.

5

That’s a different sentence. But it doesn’t matter–(E) isn’t a clause.

6

I think what your missing here is the subject of the sentence is “researchers” not students.

which sounds correct to you
researchers praise students, and they rarely show kindness
or
researchers praise students, although rarely showing kindness

the 2nd one just doesn’t work.