<p>Hi everyone, I have completed most of the SAT practice tests and I have compiled all the writing questions that I have doubts on. I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly provide some advice on some of them (especially the first ten). Thank you very very much!</p>
<ol>
<li>*Neither Ms Perez nor Ms Tanaka believes that watching as much television as her son Sam does will lead to anything productive. * 1a) In this case, the verb "believes" just has to agree with the noun after "nor" which is Ms Tanka, why doesn't the rest of the sentence including "her son" just follow and agree with Ms Tanka, but instead has to specify Ms Tanka or Ms Perez? 1b) If it was say "....Mr Perez nor Ms Tanaka..." could we then use "their son"?</li>
</ol>
<p>2a) Mr Lee and his grandchildren practiced traditional Chinese calligraphy together so that the children would know vs will know an art cherished by earlier generations of their family. When do you use "would" and when do you you use "will"? I thought that since this sentence is in the past tense with "practiced", it should be "would know"?</p>
<p>2b) Unfortunately, the opening of the new library complex, previously scheduled for next September, would be vs will be delayed for several months because of construction difficulties. Same situation here, when do you use "would" and when do you you use "will"? </p>
<p>3a) Researchers tend to praise studies that agree with their own conclusions, and they rarely show kindness to contrary theories. **VS Researchers tend to praise studies that agree with their own conclusions, and rarely show kindness to contrary theories.** Since the second clause shares the same subject (Researchers), would the latter option without "they" be more appropriate?</p>
<p>3b)*Many people think taxes are too high, and therefore they do not report what they earn. VS Many people think taxes are too high, and therefore do not report what they earn. * Same issue as 3a) here, do you need the "they" since 2nd clause shares the same subject?</p>
<p>4)** Driving less frequently is one way to save energy; turning off all appliance when they are not being used is another.** a)The 2nd part "turning off all appliance... another" is not an independent clause since it can't stand by itself, so why can the 2 clauses still be joined by ";" which is supposed to be used to join 2 independent clauses? b)Also, why the need for parallelism here? could "turn off" be used instead?</p>
<p>5a) *Finding a wide variety of financial services in a small city is usually not as easy as it is in metropolitan areas. * Isnt "it is" an ambiguous pronoun in this case? it could refer to the small city.</p>
<p>5b)Many changes occurred while she was president of the college, and they increased its educational equality as well as effectiveness. If in 5a) the "it is" can be said to refer to financial services, why is this sentence 5b) not valid? as "its" clearly refers to the college and "they refer to "many changes".</p>
<p>6) Some of the workers who resent the supervisors authority would probably feel uncomfortable if they were to acquire the independence they demand. I know that since there is an "if" clause, the clause has to be in past tense "they were" in this case, but where does past tense requirement end for subjunctive clause, why does it not extend to "they demanded"?</p>
<p>7) Mr Chung would like to retire, but he cannot afford to do so. When do you use "do so" and when do you use "do it"?</p>
<p>8)Some doctors believe that the types of injuries sustained in contact sports are no different for children than (for) young adults. Why is there a need for the "for" before young adults since both "children" and "young adults" share the same verb "no different for"?</p>
<p>9) *Many people think taxes are too high, therefore some do not report what they earn. VS Many people think taxes are too high, hence some do not report what they earn.
VS Many people think taxes are too high, thus some do not report what they earn. * Are all sentences invalid and require ";"? How do you differentiate between hence, thus and therefore?</p>
<p>10) When Catherine the Great had a magnificent dinner service of porcelain made for her, she was scandalized by its great cost, which became/therefore becoming the subject of prolonged controversy. In this case, I was struggling between these 2 options, how do you decide whether Catherine the Great became the subject of a controvesy or the cost?</p>
<p>11)** Scientists are seeking better ways to predict damage from earthquakes, and they are using supersensitive recorders to study how rock breaks and movies in an earthquake.
VS Scientists seeking better ways to predict damage from earthquakes are using supersensitive recorders to study how rock breaks and movies in an earthquake.
** I don't understand why the 2nd option is correct as it is devoid of any commas? isn't it kind of a run-on sentence?</p>
<p>12) Something of a phenomenon in the entertainment world, political satirists are admired by conservatives and radicals alike. Why is this sentence valid? Couldn't something refer to the political satirists?</p>
<p>13a) Many of the instruments used in early operations of the US Army, particularly the heliograph, were adaptations of the equipment by the Plain Indians.
VS Many of the instruments,particularly the heliograph, used in early operations of the US Army, were adaptations of the equipment by the Plain Indians.
VS Many of the instruments used in early operations of the US Army, were adaptations of the equipment by the Plain Indians, particularly the heliograph.
How do you decide where to place the clause "particularly the heliograph"?</p>
<p>13b) Through his novels Thomas Wolfe reveals to us both the pain and the beauty of his boyhood in the American South.
VS Thomas Wolfe, through his novels, reveals to us both the pain and the beauty of his boyhood in the American South.
VS Thomas Wolfe reveals to us, through his novels, both the pain and the beauty of his boyhood in the American South. Same case here, how do you decide where to place the clause "through his novels"?</p>
<p>14)a) **A recent version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet drew harsh reviews from purists, those who expect filmmakers to follow the original text exactly. **The clause "those who expect filmmakers to follow the original text exactly" modifies purists? Shouldn't the clause start with "who..." or under what circumstances then do we need "who,what or which" to start the modifying clause?</p>
<p>14b) Today the primary role of advertising may be to appeal and persuade rather than what it once was, to educate and inform.
vs Today the primary role of advertising may be to appeal and persuade rather than what it once was, which was to educate and inform. Same case here, do you need "which was...." for the modifier?</p>
<p>15) When using conjunctions like because, do we need both clauses before and after "because" to be independent clauses? Examples?</p>
<p>16) Available through the school's guidance office are a job directory and a list of job referral centers that provide information for students in need of employment. Usage question: Shouldn't it be "information to"?</p>
<p>17) Marathon racing, a challenging test of endurance, has become increasingly popular among amateur athletes in the last vs pastfew years. Shouldn't it be past in this case? or do both make sense in terms of usage?</p>
<p>18)The spring party at Lisa's house is both bigger and more fun than the party at Kevin's. When comparing, do we still need "house" after "Kevin's"? also can we replace "the party" with "the one"?</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>