Writing Question

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Page 417 Blue Book Question number 29</p>

<p>[Contrasting with]A [most other]B fifteenth-century rulers, Portuguese kings [could count on]C the support of the aristocracy [in any]D overseas ventures.
[no error] E</p>

<p>THe correct answer is A and I chose A because the participle 'contrasting' needs to agree in tense with the phrase 'could count on' which is past tense. So, i thought the sentence should read: Having contrasted with most other ....</p>

<p>Using that logic here's another sentence from the June 1995 SAT II Writing test:
[Working with]A consummate skill, Picasso sketched a [portrait of]B the youthful [but]C experienced dancer who was [posing for]D him.
[no error] E</p>

<p>I picked A because the participle 'working with' has to agree in tense with the main verb 'sketched' again in past tense. So i thought the sentence should read : Having worked with consummate skill, Picasso...
However the answer is E, no error. Can anyone explain this? What's the difference between the two sentences??? I'm pretty sure 'with' is the correct preposition.</p>

2

<p>for the 1st question, the answer is contrasted becuase the kings were not doing the work, it is us that doing the comparison, so it should be changed to a participle.</p>

<p>working isokay in the 2nd questio becuase the icasso is actually doing the work</p>

3

<p>yup exactly.. nash got it</p>