This SAT writing question

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1

<p>The newspaper reported (A) that despite the increase </p>

<p>in (B) the minimum wage, many people are (C) still having (D) </p>

<p>trouble making ends meet. No error (E) </p>

<p>A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. (E) (Correct answer)</p>

<p>Why isn't "are still ..." (C) wrong? I thought it should agree with "Newspaper reported...", -past tense. I vaguely remember something being said if it is an absolute truth then it should be in present tense, but not sure. Can someone explain? Thank you!</p>

2

<p>That’s no rule I ever heard of. It looks like No Error to me…can you put – between the choices so we can see what they are?</p>

3

<p>Both C and D can’t be wrong, only one of them can be. If C is wrong, then D is also wrong, and if D is wrong then C would also be wrong, therefore we can assume neither of them are wrong.</p>

<p>Also, the second part of the sentence doesn’t have to be past tense, the newspaper could’ve reported a present phenomena.</p>

4

<p>Seems to me like the answer is (E). Where did you get this question?</p>

5

<p>I saw the same question from SAT Q of the day. If I were to write this sentence, it’d be: </p>

<p>The newspaper reported (A) that despite the increase </p>

<p>in (B) the minimum wage, many people were (C) still having (D) </p>

<p>trouble making ends meet. No error (E) </p>

<p>What is wrong with my sentence? In my sentence, (c) “were” has the same tense (past tense) with (A) “reported” . Is my sentence wrong?</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>I can’t see anything wrong with it…</p>

7

<p>so that’s why in the OP’s question, I had chosen (C), not (E). But the correct answer is (E). In my opinion, the correct answer should be (C). (in other words, (C) is wrong) because “are” does not agree with the tense of (A) “reported.” Can somebody explain please!</p>

8

<p>when you see “that” it kind of indicates that a new tense can be used, so long as it is logical </p>

<p>I >am< happy THAT she >ate< her meal
I >am< happy THAT she >eats< her meal</p>

<p>the second has the same tense, but both are correct.</p>

<p>They were driving a car THAT had crashed many times</p>

<p>I golfed in a place THAT sells lollipops.
(simple past, then simple present)</p>

<p>sorry for the weird sentences lol</p>

9

<p>Oh I never knew that. I thought the tense should always agree. Thank you RAlec.</p>

10

<p>actually, the answer is B, i am sure of that cuz i have a secret book which including this queation and the answer is B…</p>

11

<p>E, the sentence is flawless. People is plural. The Newspaper that…is fine. Having and Making are parallel terms. Why would newspaper go along with are still? lmaoo.</p>

12

<p>MattNC, shmluza is referring to to the past and present tense contradiction of the verbs. but i think the poll reported that a current trend (hence the present “are”) is still going on. so even though the poll was conducted in the past, what it proves is an event that is still continuing presently, so the verb has to be in the present tense. it seems confusing at first but if you read it out loud in your head, it sounds perfectly reasonable</p>

13

<p>so its as if someone is saying “hey did you see this? This newspaper said (past) that people aren’t (present) making end meet.”</p>

14

<p>pretty much just backing up RAlec114’s point</p>

15

<p>The confusion is very reasonable. But one should be sure to say that there is a mistake. That is the key, I guess.</p>

<p>Now consider the example</p>

<p>He said " The sun rises in the east" - Direct speach</p>

<p>He said that the sun rises in the east - Indirect speach.</p>

<p>Even though the rule normally says that you change the tense to match the “said” , it makes sense to keep it present tense “rises” as we all know it happens and it is a fact that is continuing. It does not make sense to make this in the past tense.</p>

<p>In this contentious example without the context that now people are having lobsters for dinner one can not conclude that the troubles have gone away; or for that matter the troubles still persist.</p>

<p>Since we can not decide one way or another - it is best to leave it as it is. May be that is collegeboard rule.</p>

16

<p>Thank you for explaining it to me. yeah I think I understand now.</p>

17

<p>Thanks … now consider the following examples</p>

<p>John said " I will go home" - Direct speech</p>

<p>John said that he would go home - Indirect speech</p>

<p>Here "will"have to be changed into “would” and by this the reporter for John does not assert that John indeed went home. He just reports and it is still supposition. </p>

<p>The above cases are clear. The sicientific truth and facts need to be left in the present tense and also is clear. </p>

<p>I have to agree that the example you quoted is weird and should ask Collegeboard for guidance. When not sure - it can go either way - keep it as it is . But verify</p>