PSAT Writing Questions

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I took the Diagnostic test in Barron’s PSAT book and I’m still confused on these 4 writing questions (all from the Improving Sentences section):</p>

<li>Having finished the marathon in record-breaking time, [the city awarded him its Citizen’s Outstanding Performance Medal.]
a) orig
b) the city awarded the COPM to him
c) he was awarded the COPM by the city
d) the COPM was awarded to him</li>
<li><p>Ans is (c). But I think all could work.</p></li>
<li><p>[The football team’s winning its first game of the season] excited the student body.
a) orig
c) Having won its first game of the season, the football team</p></li>
<li><p>Ans. is (a). Why? It doesn’t sound clear. I chose (c).</p></li>
<li><p>Anyone interested in the use of computers can learn much [if you have access to] a copy of PC Magazine or of MacUser.
b) if he or she has access to
d) by access to
e) from access to</p></li>
<li><p>Ans. was (a) and I said it was (d). But don’t they all make sense?</p></li>
<li><p>The climax [occurs when he asks who’s] in the closet.
a) orig
b) is when he asks who’s</p></li>
<li><p>Ans. was (a), I chose (b). I think both could work.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you so much for your time!!</p>

2

<ol>
<li>the win excited everyone, not the football team.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>I think 26 is wrong shouldn't it be B?</p>

4

<p>For 24, the first clause needs to describe what comes after it. The city is not what finished in record time.... so you cannot have the second clause start with the city. It has to start with "he" since "he" is the one who finished the marathon in record time.
Timmy explained 25 well....
26 i think is b... dont really get it</p>

5

<p>Ahh I'm sorry! 26 IS (b), not (a).</p>

6

<p>Then for 26 its a pronoun tense shift. Anyone is third person and you is second person. He or she is third person and is therefore correct.</p>

7

<p>meadow, but doesn't "Anyone interested in the use of computers can learn much from access to a copy of PC Magazine or of MacUser" make sense?</p>

8

<p>other than it sounds incredibly awkward I don't have a "real" reason to support it. B transitions in to the sentence much more fluidly. The "much from access" just sounds really strange.</p>

9

<p>Haha, it does sound awkward now that I reread it .. thanks meadow!</p>