<p>These are two writing questions from the SAT test pamphlet. I believe it was also the first “new” SAT administered.</p>
<li> Many ancient Eastern rulers favored drinking vessels made of celadon porcelain (because of supposedly revealing the presence of poison) by cracking.</li>
</ol>
<p>A. (as it is now)
B. for being supposed that it would reveal the presence of poison
C. because of being supposed to reveal poison in it
D. for it was supposed to reveal that there is poison
E. because it was supposed to reveal the presence of poison</p>
<p>Correct answer: E (difficulty: 1)-- but I can’t see how “it” is being used correctly. Shouldn’t the “it” be plural because it refers to the “drinking vessels”?</p>
<li> The filmmaker (had a tendency) (of changing) his recollections, perhaps (out of boredom) (at having) to tell interviewers the same story over and over. (no error)</li>
</ol>
<p>correct answer: (of changing) - can anyone tell me why?</p>
<p>The subject of sentence 1 is 'porcelain', not 'vessels', therefore the pronoun is singular. Also keep in mind that every single option has the word 'it' in it, rather than 'they', so 'it' is more than likeley the correct pronoun in this instance. And keep in mind that E is also the only option that doesn't suck hardcore.</p>
<p>The second sentence is incorrectly using a gerund (I think). The answer would be 'to change'. I think it's kind of idiomatic, but people usually have a tendency 'to' do something. That seems kind of tricky because I'd be tempted to choose 'at having'.</p>
<p>Thanks Murasaki. I agree that E seems like the best choice for the first problem, but I really don't see why celedon porcelain is the subject.</p>
<p>Doesn't this look more correct:</p>
<ol>
<li>Many ancient Eastern rulers favored drinking vessels made of celadon porcelain because THEY WERE supposed to reveal the presence of poison by cracking.</li>
</ol>