SAT Writing Answer Guide: Section 10 (Writing)

Answer Guide: Section 10 (Writing)

• The test is available here: http://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.org/
• Sentence Improvement
• Question 1:In everything from finding comets to spotting supernovae, amateur astronomers have become so accomplished, and professional astronomers sometimes seek their help.
• Your problem here is the use of the word “so”. It’s idiomatic in English that so + adjective must be followed by the word that.
• Only C adds that.
• Answer: C
• Question 2:Since scientific advances are central to progress, basic research deserving continuing support.
• This is an easy one. The verb should be in simple present tense, but instead it’s in gerund form.
• C fixes this problem.
• Answer: C
• Question 3:With Americans consuming sugar in record amounts, nutritionists are urging the public to reduce its consumption of sodas,which have largely replaced other, more healthful, beverages.
• There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this sentence.
• Answer: A
• Question 4:Experts disagree about what is the definition of intelligence and how to measure it.
• This sentence is wordy and awkward-sounding. Even changing “what is the definition” to “what the definition is” wouldn’t be much of an improvement.
• Because it’s a list (the scientists disagree about two things), both items on the list must be written in parallel form–either two verbs (defining and measuring) or two nouns (definition and measurement).
• Only C takes this approach (with two verbs).
• Answer: C
• Question 5:The charges against the organization are being investigated by a committee, it includesseveral senators.
• This sentence contains a comma splice–an entire sentence spliced onto another with a comma, not a semicolon or conjunction.
• The way to correct this problem is to turn the underlined portion into a nonrestrictive clause using “which.”
• E does this.
• Answer: E
• Question 6:Travel writing often describes a journey of exploration and endurance, a trip that is risky either because of natural hazards but also because of political unrest.
• This sentence has a problem with correlative conjunctions. When we contrast two options using the word “either,” the first option must follow “either and the second must follow “or”. We can’t combine either/or with not only/but also; we must choose.
• D changes but also to or.
• Answer: D
• Question 7:Though they had earlier indicated otherwise, it was eventually decided upon by the legislators to have the bill passed.
• This sentence contains an unnecessary use of the passive voice.
• Eputs the verb in the active voice. It’s also the shortest option.
• Answer: E
• Question 8:Spread by rat fleas, millions of people in medieval Europe were killed by bubonic plague.
• This sentence has two problems–a misplaced modifier (since when do rat fleas spread people?) and an unnecessary use of the passive voice.
• Choice E fixes both problems by making plague the subject of the sentence and putting the verb in the active voice.
• Answer: E
• Question 9:Traditional Jamaican music, enriched with rock, jazz, and other modern rhythms from America, were the basisfor reggae.
• The problem here is subject-verb agreement. (The underlined verb is a clue.) The subject “music” conflicts with the verb “were.”
• D changes “were” to “was” without adding new errors.
• Answer: D
• Question 10:James Barrie, the author of Peter Panand other plays, is noted for portraying adulthood as unpleasant and childhood is glorified.
• The problem here is non-parallel structure. Barrie portrays adulthood one way and childhood another–but the grammatical construction of the two portrayals should remain the same.
• C mirrors “adulthood as unpleasant” with “childhood as glorious.”
• Answer: C
• Question 11:Medical insurance coverage that requires high monthly premiums and that isbeyond the financial means of many people.
• This sentence has no main verb, thanks to the use of that.
• Option E removes that and otherwise leaves the sentence unchanged.
• Answer: E
• Question 12:Among the most flavorful cuisines in the United States, New Orleans has also becomeone of the most popular.
• Is New Orleans a cuisine? No, it’s a city!
• Only C corrects this without introducing new errors.
• Answer: C
• Question 13:Meals prepared by the Algonquin Indians, who were farmers as well as hunters, included more maize and pumpkin than other Indian tribes.
• This sentence actually compares the meals prepared by the Algonquins to other Indian tribes. It’s not comparing food with food–it’s comparing food with people!
• The correct answer must compare meals to meals. Only B does this without introducing new errors.
• Answer: B
• Question 14:Born of Ibuza parents in Nigeria, novelist Buchi Emecheta moved to England in 1962, since which she has lived in North London.
• If nothing else, which cannot be used to refer to a time.
• Both B and D sound promising, since both B and D use the construction “lived since then,” rightly putting the verb first. However, only B uses the present perfect verb “has lived,” which goes with the word “since” and indicates that Emecheta still lives in London.
• Answer: B
• Recommended supplementary material to view SAT questions featured in lesson answer guides: The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board.