writing questions

<p>A(Some) advanced math concepts B(are) difficult for students to understand because C(they) D(call for) students to think three-dimensionally. E(no error)</p>

<p>the answer give is C. Why?</p>

<p>Having planned the event far in advance, (that the weather forced its cancellation disappointed the reunion committee greatly.)
D. The reunion committee found the weather's forcing its cancellation greatly disappointing
E. The reunion committee was greatly disappointed in the weather forcing its cancellation.</p>

<p>The answer given in E. Why not D?
(Although Ireland's government censors had long stifled artistic expression, the country is now discovering the tremendous talents of its native poets and novelists.)</p>

<p>A. (same as above)
C. The government censors had long stifled artistic expression, but Ireland is now discovering the tremendous talents of their native poets and novelists.</p>

<p>The answer given is C. Whyy?</p>

<ol>
<li>Pronoun ambiguity; you may confuse students with concepts.</li>
<li>I think D is implying that the committee found the forcing of cancellation disappointing. But the sentence should say the committee found the weather disappointing. Which is what E says.</li>
</ol>

<p>These questions are poorly made in my opinion. I recommend that you use The Official SAT Study Guide, also known as the blue book, which is made by the same people who make the SAT.

The reason the given answer is C is that “they” seems ambiguous because it seems to be able to refer to the concepts and the students. However, “they” isn’t really ambiguous because it (a subject) is parallel to “some advanced math concepts” (also a subject), so the referent, the thing that is referred to, of “they” is clear. The objects of the two clauses are clearly “students,” so we can’t logically mix the subjects and the objects up. The issue of pronoun ambiguity is certainly on the SAT, but it would normally appear more obviously wrong (better constructed) on the test. In other words whichever company made this question didn’t make a very good question.
<a href=“Although%20Ireland’s%20government%20censors%20had%20long%20stifled%20artistic%20expression,%20the%20country%20is%20now%20discovering%20the%20tremendous%20talents%20of%20its%20native%20poets%20and%20novelists.”>quote</a></p>

<p>A. (same as above)
C. The government censors had long stifled artistic expression, but Ireland is now discovering the tremendous talents of their native poets and novelists.</p>

<p>The answer given is C. Whyy?

[/quote]

This question is problematic. A is correct; C is incorrect. The main difference between A and C is that A uses “its” to refer back to “country” while C uses “their” to refer back to “Ireland.” “Ireland” and “country” are singular, so you have to use “its,” not “their,” to refer back to either one of them.</p>

<p>ahh… ok that was the reason that I became iffy with the first question… thank you crazybandit :)</p>