SAT Writing Questions

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hey guys! I rose my writing score up with the help of silverturtle's guide! (I read only like 8 pages out of the 30 haha) and i have a 610 in writing instead of a 570. But these questions are hard. Can you explain to me why its right?</p>

<p>This liberal arts college has
A
decided (requiring B)</p>

<p>all students to (study C)
at least one D
non-European
language. No error</p>

<p>Why is it b, requiring and not E no error?</p>

<ol>
<li>The African tsetse fly does not need a (brain, everything)
it has to do in life is programmed into its nervous
system.
(A) brain, everything
(B) brain due to everything which
(C) brain, for everything
(D) brain; since, everything
(E) brain whereas everything </li>
</ol>

<p>Why is it C? does for mean because in this case?</p>

<p>In the 1980’s, the median price of a house more than
doubled, (generally outdistancing the rate of inflation).
(A) generally outdistancing the rate of inflation
(B) generally this outdistanced the rate of inflation
(C) and the result was the general outdistancing of
inflation
(D) the general rate of inflation was thus outdistanced
(E) thus generally inflation had been outdistanced </p>

<p>Why is it A? how do you know what they mean by that?</p>

<p>Of A
the two options,<br>
neither B
the system of appointing
judges to the bench nor the process<br>
of electing C
judges
are D
entirely satisfactory.
No error E</p>

<p>Why is it D, isn't are correct because it is neither?</p>

<p>Norwegian writer Sigrid Undset<br>
is like A
the novelist Sir
Walter Scott<br>
in B
her use of historical backgrounds, but
unlike<br>
his books C
, she dwells on the psychological
aspects
of D
her characters. No error</p>

<p>Why is C, his books? I cant even tell that its supposed to be singular?</p>

<p>The relationship between goby fish and striped shrimp
are truly A
symbiotic,
for neither B
can survive C
without D
the other. No error</p>

<p>Why is it A? Should it be is? why?</p>

2

<p>The famous filmmaker
had a tendency A
of changing B
his recollections, perhaps<br>
out of boredom C
at having D
to tell interviewers the same story over and over.
No error</p>

<p>Why is it B?</p>

3

<ol>
<li>It should be “to require”</li>
<li>A is a comma splice, B is awkward and wordy, D has a dependent clause after a semicolon and E uses an illogical conjunction</li>
<li>A is the least wordy and least awkward; to outdistance means to surpass</li>
<li>When using neither…nor, the verb must agree with the closest noun, so it should be singular</li>
<li>That current sentence is comparing Undset to Scott’s Books; tis is an invalid comparison</li>
<li>It should be is, because relationship is singular</li>
</ol>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>It should be to require, not requiring, as they decided that in the past. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>A needs a semicolon. B is unnecessarily wordy. C is correct, and yes, “because” may be substituted for “for”. D is awkward in context. E offers a contrast, not a reason. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Look at clauses to find the answer. The first section is an independent clause followed by a clause, so the second half must be dependent. A is dependent. B is independent. C is unnecessarily wordy. D is independent. E offers poor coherency.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>D is incorrect because instead of “are”, the answer should be “is”. Neither is singular, so is each and every. (Each one of my kids is fond of icecream. Neither one of my kids is fond of icecream. Every one of my kids is fond of icecream.) It may be plural though. (Neither his kids nor my kids are fond of icecream.)</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This one is actually pretty simply if you think about the sentence as a whole. If C stays like it is, then the author of this sentence is saying that Sigrid Undset is not like her books. That is just plain silly, it should be that her writing is not like his books, or something of the same suit. If you still don’t see it, rephrase “her use of historical backgrounds” as simply the word “this”. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes, it should be is. The sentence is referring to the relationship between the fish, not the fish themselves. Relationship is singular.</p>

<p>EDIT:

It should be the infinitive, to change.</p>

5

<p>Why is it to require? Isnt requiring future tense as well?</p>

6

<p>It’s requiring “to change” because he “had” a tendency. </p>

<p>Say it like this, “He had a tendency to change…”
vs. “He had a tendency of changing”</p>

<p>It would be appropriate to say, “He has a tendency of changing” though.</p>

7

<p>^
The sentence is in the past tense. To require sounds better</p>

8

<p>Thanks so much guys! Makes so much more sense now</p>

9

<p>If you read all of silverturtle’s grammar guide, it should really help</p>

10

<p>I have a question about writing. </p>

<p>Barron’s big book says that (it makes sense to me) compound subjects thought of as a unit need singular verbs such as “green eggs and ham is…” and “pride and joy is…” What are some other examples of these types on “units?”</p>

11

<p>^
Barron’s doesn’t know the SAT. I have never seen a question like that on any of my 6 practice tests.</p>

12

<p>OK well I think it is still good to know.
If I knew everything about writing, then I wouldn’t have to worry about this being a question.</p>

<p>Can you think of any examples where a compound subject is used with a singular verb, anyone?</p>

13

<p>The only time is when the compound subject is the title of something or a quote.</p>

14

<p>There are phrases that are more commonly thought of as a single thing. (peanut butter and jelly, rock and roll, etc.) Even so, the question of whether or not to use plural or singular verb forms comes from their purpose in any individual sentence. So, ‘Peanut butter and jelly is not my favorite lunch’ is correct as is ‘Peanut butter and jelly are both on our shopping list.’</p>