SAT grammar ambiguity

<p>Take the following two questions.</p>

<ol>
<li>When we read, we first form innumerable (impressions and then those impressions are evaluated) as we read on.</li>
</ol>

<p>a) impressions and then those impressions are evaluated
b) impressions and then evaluate those impressions
c) impressions, evaluating those impressions
d) impressions, then we evaluate those impressions
e) impressions, we evaluate those impressions</p>

<p>The official answer here is given as A, not D, because D is said to join two independent clauses with only a comma.</p>

<p>Now take a look at this question.</p>

<p>Students in the origami class selected colorful sheets of paper, (creased and folded it carefully, and thus had created) fanciful animal shapes.</p>

<p>a) creased and folded it carefully, and thus had created
b) then creased and folded them carefully to create
c) they creased and folded it carefully to create
d) creasing and folding it carefully to create
e) creased and folded them carefully, thus they created</p>

<p>Here the answer is given as B, which I do not understand, because it involves the same situation.</p>

<p>Advice is earnestly sought and appreciated</p>

<p>what makes the second clause in the first item an independent clause is the fact that it has a subject (we). in the second item, the second clause does not have a subject. if it did, it’d say “then /they/ creased and folded…” and it would then be a comma splice.</p>

<p>I’m not sure about the exact rules but that is the one clear difference between the two. hope this helps!</p>

<p>The correct answer to the first one is B, not A. It’s not A because A doesn’t parallel the structure of the first part of the sentence (“we first form” is active voice but “those impressions are evaluated” is passive voice). C is wrong because “first” indicates a sequence of events, so we need “then” to indicate the second action. D is a comma splice. E is a comma splice. B is right because it maintains active voice and correctly indicates the second action in a sequence. I don’t think “then evaluate those impressions” is an independent clause because it has no subject (it uses the “we” from “we form”). At least those are my opinions on why the answers are right and wrong.</p>

<p>For the second one, A is wrong because “it” does not agree with the plural “sheets of paper” and “had created” is past perfect while selected is simple past. “Had created” would indicate they made the animal shapes first, then selected the paper." C and D are wrong because “it” doesn’t agree with the plural “sheets of paper.” E is a comma splice. B is correct because it maintains the same tense throughout the sentence, “them” is plural, and it uses “then” to indicate a subsequent action. Again, “then creased and folded…” is NOT an independent clause (as scodesario said).</p>

<p>Hopefully those are correct explanations, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.</p>

<p>@PlayerZero, I thought the same about B being the answer for #1, but OP said A is the official answer. is it possible the book is wrong?</p>

<p>I don’t think so, A sounds horrendous</p>

<p>B is correct.</p>

<p>I agree with others: B is the correct answer for the first question. If a printed source says A, it’s a typo.</p>

<p>First of all,</p>

<p>i think A is wrong because the and join two independent clauses meaning there should be a comma.</p>

<p>personally i think both B and C work</p>

<p>can anybody tell me why C is incorrect?</p>

<p>and for the love of god, will people just stop practicing writing questions from “unofficial” sources? I mean, if you really trust the source, sure, but I feel like a lot of these prep books are sketchy…</p>

<p>I only practice questions written by my SAT tutoring center and the blue book.</p>