<p>You have to clearly identify what is being compared. The first object of comparison begins with the first verb of the sentence:</p>
<p>“Twice as many bird species inhabit Ecuador as [second object of comparison].”</p>
<p>The answer must be parallel to “inhabit Ecuador.” </p>
<p>“in North America” has a preposition; the first object of comparison does not. Plus, the first object of comparison has a verb, whereas this does not.</p>
<p>“inhabit North America” fits perfectly.</p>
<p>“instead of in” has two problems: it has a preposition and doesn’t include “as,” which is necessary to make the comparison.</p>
<p>“when compared to” does not have “as.” Plus, “when compared to” implies that that the ratio of bird species changes when they are compared; rather, the ratio is merely revealed.</p>
<p>“than” doesn’t have “as” or the necessary verb “inhabit.”</p>
<p>As children mature, they develop “an independence” that their parents, who have been responsible for them since they were born, often find difficult to accept.</p>
<p>The sentence is suppose to be correct. But I have trouble with the “an independence” part, shouldn’t it say “independence” instead of “an independence” at least?</p>
<p>Ms. Kovak proudly displayed her research group’s most ingenious invention, a vacuum cleaner that empties its own dust bag when “pressing a button”.</p>
<p>So the “pressing a button” part is wrong; I don’t why it’s wrong.</p>
<p>" Ms. Kovak proudly displayed her research group’s most ingenious invention, a vacuum cleaner that empties its own dust bag when “pressing a button”.</p>
<p>So the “pressing a button” part is wrong; I don’t why it’s wrong. </p>
<p>It’s an ambiguous modifier. Who’s pressing the button? Logically, it’s clear. Grammatically, however, it isn’t. "</p>
<p>Wouldn’t “pressing the button” already be referred to the button pressed on the vacuum?</p>
<p>I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying, but the noun modified by the participle “pressing” is not grammatically clear. For example:</p>
<p>“After being covered in sugar, Bob found the candies to be too sweet.”</p>
<p>Grammatically, “being covered in sugar” modifies “Bob.” Logically, though, it’s clear that “candies” is the noun being modified. So, the sentence is ungrammatical.</p>
<p>“mistrust” is “the act of mistrusting.” You say that an act is OF X if X does the act, OR if X is being acted upon</p>
<p>“the running of John” -> John was running
“the eating of the apple” -> the apple was eaten
“mistrusting/mistrust of the results” -> the results were mistrusted</p>
<p>or you can think of the word “of” as “about”</p>
<p>mistrust = uncertainty</p>
<p>uncertainty of the findings = uncertain about the findings</p>
<p>Despite it’s cultural importance, The Daily Gazette lost 70 percent of its subscribers since 1920 and, by 1955, was losing as much as $200,000 per year. </p>
<p>a) Despite b) lost c) was losing d) as much as e) no error</p>
<p>The answer is d. Is the answer d because the correct phrase should be “much as” rather than “as much as?” What would be the error in this case?</p>
<p>Are you sure that you did not misread your answer key? Another poster recently brought up this question with the claim that choice (B) contained the error. I tend to agree: “lost” should be “has lost,” and “as much as” is fine.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that “These” can be used to refer to objects near to the speaker, and “Those” can be used to refer to objects farther away from the speaker.</p>
<p>Here’s the one question I got wrong on the 2008 PSAT Alternate test: </p>
<p>At one time, archaeologists believe, (the temple was topped by a platform whereby) chiefs and priests lived, worshipped, and governed.
A) same as above
B) there was a platform on the top of the temple whereby (the one i picked)
C) the temple was topped by a platform, which
D) on top of the temple it was a platform in which
E) the temple was topped by a platform on which (the answer)</p>
<p>These questions tend to trip me up because i can’t grasp the meaning of “whereby.” Can somebody give me tons of examples for “whereby.”<br>
Here’s my reasoning:
I quickly eliminated (C) and (D) because “which” was not properly used (“where” is needed) and “in which” would distort the meaning because the priests lived, worshipped, and governed on the platform, not in the platform.
I realize that (B) (even though i picked (B) as my answer) is just a longer version of (A), making (B) redundant and verbose. (A) and (E) are, at this point, equally likely because i don’t know when to use “whereby.”</p>