idioms
The Great Wall might have been more effective ______ keeping people in than keeping invaders out.
choose: to / at / with / no word
no word
Correct or incorrect? "This plant is unique to the Amazon rainforest."
**Correct**
(Unique *to* = found only in)
Fill in: "The medicine had a positive ______ on her health."
effect
Complete: "In contrast ______ popular belief, the wall was not visible from space."
to
The politician’s speech was intended to inflame the audience’s enthusiasm for the new policy.
Which word would be more appropriate in a neutral/positive context?
(A) ignite
(B) arouse
(C) provoke
(D) inspire
(D) inspire
Complete the idiom: "She is curious ______ the origins of the universe."
about
"The Great Wall might have been more effective **to keep** people in." Is this correct?
**No** — should be "more effective **keeping** people in"
"I would of gone, but I was tired." Is the sentence ever correct?
no-----would have ggone
"I am unfamiliar ______ this author's work." (to / with / of)
with
The scientist claimed to have discovered a cure for the common cold.
The word claimed suggests:
(A) certainty and proof
(B) doubt or skepticism from the writer
(C) enthusiasm
(D) formal announcement
doubt or skepticism from the writer
Choose the correct form: "We refrained ______ asking too many questions." (from / to / of)
from
Some people claim the Great Wall was built to **amuse** the Emperor’s love of grandiose projects.
What is a better word here? (satisfy / please / comfort)
amuse
"First we mixed the batter, ______ we poured it into a pan." (than / then)
then
"The judge was biased ______ the defendant." (toward / against — which is correct for negative bias?)
toward
- Biased *toward* = favoring
- Biased *against* = disfavoring
The restaurant’s portions were generous, but the service was slow.
Does generous have a positive, negative, or neutral connotation here?
Positive
Fill in the preposition: "His success is dependent ______ hard work."
on
Globally, foods have become less diverse. Regional varieties have **hit the road**（disappeared）.
Is "hit the road" formal or informal?
informal/colloquial
Identify the register error: "The students were totally stoked about the exam results."
**"totally stoked"** is too informal/slangy for SAT formal tone
stoke：ignite/fire
"We need to draw ______ our savings to pay for the trip." (on / from / up)
on
The following sentence appears in an SAT passage about urban planning:
“The new traffic circle was a total mess during rush hour.”
Which replacement maintains formal tone?
(A) a total disaster
(B) chaotic
(C) a real headache
(D) a zoo
chaotic
"The two paintings are very similar ______ each other." (to / with / than)
to
Choose the correct word: "The new policy will ______ the company's profits." (affect / effect)
affect
"She takes pride ______ her accomplishments." (of / in / for)
in
Correct the error: "We must focus in the main issue."
Change **in** → **on**
Identify the word or phrase that is too informal for an SAT passage:
“The professor kicked off the lecture with a surprising statistic about climate change.”
kicked off (should be began or started)