Idioms
Because he laughed when his friend fell down, Justin was accused of being ___________ sympathy
A. devoid at
B. devoid of
C. devoid on
B. devoid of
* For prepositional idioms, you must know which prepositions to use with a given word based on the context of the sentence. For example, you should say that you're "interested in" something, not "interested at" something. You "focus on" something, not "focus at" something. There is no rule to determine the correct preposition to use. You must be familiar with the phrase or rely on what you think "sounds right."
The expression "devoid of" means without.
The transportation planners job, might involve conducting a traffic count to determine the daily number of vehicles traveling on the road to the new factory.
A) NO CHANGE
B) planner’s job
C) planners' job
B
Choice B is the best answer because it correctly uses an apostrophe to indicate possession and does not introduce any unnecessary punctuation.
Coffee, a beverage that many entrepreneurs depend on, it is not only stimulating and delicious, but also comforting.
A. NO CHANGE
B. stimulating, delicious, and comforting.
C. is not only stimulating and delicious, but also comforting.
D. because it is not only stimulating and delicious, but also
C
Choice C is the best answer, because it removes the subject pronoun "it" from the Independent Clause at the end of the sentence. Now the subject "Coffee" can pair with the main verb "is" for a single Independent Clause.
What is 10% of 470?
A) 37
B) 47
C) 423
D) 460
B
10% of a quantity means 10/100 times the quantity.
Former astronaut Ellen Ochoa says that although she doesn’t have a definite idea of when it might happen, she _______ that humans will someday need to be able to live in other environments than those found on Earth. This conjecture informs her interest in future research missions to the moon. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) demands
B) speculates
C) doubts
D) establishes
B
is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ochoa’s prediction that humans will one day need to live in places other than Earth.
I struggle ___________ geometry
A. to do
B. doing
C. Both are correct
C. Both are correct
Idioms with Gerunds or Infinitives
Gerunds are verbs that are used as nouns and end in "ing." Examples of gerunds include running, jumping, and thinking. Infinitives are verbs used as nouns and are constructed by using the word "to" plus a verb. Examples of infinitives include to run, to jump, and to think.
Brett an avid scientist conducted some research over the summer.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Brett, an avid scientist, conducted some research over the summer.
C.Brett, an avid scientist conducted some research over the summer.
B
Appositives are clauses that follow a noun or noun phrase in order to further clarify or add information about them – think of them as little add-on helpers or supporters in sentences. The helpers add to the sentence but don’t necessarily need to be a part of it. That is, the sentence doesn’t lose its structure or meaning in their absence.
The people of Qalif frequently follow their family trade, they work mainly in fishing, oil, and education.
A. NO CHANGE
B. trade working
C. trade, working
C
As it stands, this sentence is a Comma Splice error, because it connects two Independent Clauses ("people follow" and "they work") with only a comma.
The total cost, in dollars, to rent a surfboard consists of a $25 service fee and a $10 per hour rental fee. A person rents a surfboard for t hours and intends to spend a maximum of $75 to rent the surfboard. Which inequality represents this situation?
A) 10t ≤ 75
B) 10 + 25t ≤ 75
C) 25t ≤ 75
D) 25 + 10t ≤ 75
D
The cost of the rental fee depends on the number of hours the surfboard is rented. Multiplying t hours by 10 dollars per hour yields a rental fee of 10t dollars. The total cost of the rental consists of the rental fee plus the 25 dollar service fee, which yields a total cost of 25 10 + t dollars. Since the person intends to spend a maximum of 75 dollars to rent the surfboard, the total cost must be at most 75 dollars.
The following text is from Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre.
Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall. I went on with my day’s business tranquilly; but ever and anon vague suggestions kept wandering across my brain of reasons why I should quit Thornfield; and I kept involuntarily framing advertisements and pondering conjectures about new situations: these thoughts I did not think to check; they might germinate and bear fruit if they could.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A) To convey a contrast between Jane’s outward calmness and internal restlessness
B) To emphasize Jane’s loyalty to the people she works for at Thornfield Hall
C) To demonstrate that Jane finds her situation both challenging and deeply fulfilling
D) To describe Jane’s determination to secure employment outside of Thornfield Hall
A
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to show that while Jane calmly goes about her daily tasks, she is experiencing internal agitation about possibly seeking a new job. At the start of the text, Jane says, “I went on with my day’s business tranquilly,” indicating that she is outwardly calm. This outward calmness is then contrasted with her intense internal restlessness, as Jane says that thoughts of leaving her job keep running through her mind, that she is “involuntarily framing advertisements” (meaning that she can’t stop herself from thinking up potential listings for jobs), and that she often wonders what new “situations” (or jobs) would be like.
Bob insists________ annoying.
A. at being
B. on being
C. both are correct
B. on being
Again, there is no rule to learn that lets you know that the phrase should be "insists on being" instead of "insists at being."
*Practice tips
Keep a list of idioms that appear on practice tests.
Review and familiarize yourself with the list of SAT idioms
Belinda’s favorite ice cream flavor is coffee, and her sister’s favorite is mint chip.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Belinda’s favorite ice cream flavor is coffee and her sister’s favorite is mint chip.
C. Belinda’s favorite ice cream flavor, is coffee and her sister’s favorite is mint chip.
A
A comma, followed by a coordinating conjunction, can be used to join two independent clauses.
Remember FANBOYS: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
The Trenton Thunder is a Minor League baseball team, it is from Trenton, New Jersey.
A. NO CHANGE
B. baseball team, they are
C. baseball team
C
The sentence begins as a Comma Splice error with two Independent Clauses connected by only a comma
Each year, the value of an investment increases by 0.49% of its value the previous year. Which of the following functions best models how the value of the investment changes over time?
A) Decreasing exponential
B) Decreasing linear
C) Increasing exponential
D) Increasing linear
Choice C is correct. Because the value of the investment increases each year, the function that best models how the value of the investment changes over time is an increasing function. It′s given that each year, the value of the investment increases by 0.49% of its value the previous year. Since the value of the investment changes by a fixed percentage each year, the function that best models how the value of the investment changes over time is an exponential function. Therefore, the function that best models how the value of the investment changes over time is an increasing exponential function.
The following text is adapted from William Shakespeare’s 1609 poem “Sonnet 27.” The poem is addressed to a close friend as if he were physically present.
Weary with toil, I [hurry] to my bed, The dear repose for limbs with travel tired; But then begins a journey in my head To work my mind, when body’s work’s expired: For then my thoughts—from far where I abide— [Begin] a zealous pilgrimage to thee, And keep my drooping eyelids open wide
What is the main idea of the text?
A) The speaker is asleep and dreaming about traveling to see the friend.
B) The speaker is planning an upcoming trip to the friend’s house.
C) The speaker is too fatigued to continue a discussion with the friend.
D) The speaker is thinking about the friend instead of immediately falling asleep
D
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately states the main idea of the text. The speaker describes the experience of being “weary” and “tired” and going to bed to seek “dear repose” (that is, sleep), but instead of sleeping, the speaker is kept awake (“keep my drooping eyelids open wide”) by thoughts of a friend (“my thoughts... [Begin] a zealous pilgrimage to thee”).
Diligent research performed by education scholars indicates that more time spent studying correlates from better educational outcomes.
A. NO CHANGE
B. of
C. with
C. with
Reya enjoys playing sports; because her favorite is basketball.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Reya enjoys playing sports; her favorite is basketball.
B
Semicolons are primarily used to join two independent clauses. Usually, the two independent clauses are related, and the second emphasizes, clarifies, or follows from the first. Unlike commas, semicolons don’t need to be used with a coordinating conjunction.
In 1686, at the age of only eight, Heinrich Gustav was appointed captain in the German army, he was a prince and was therefore required to serve in the armed forces.
A. NO CHANGE
B. army; he was
C. army, who was
B
The sentence as written has two Independent Clauses glued together with only a comma to connect them – the classic Comma Splice error.
Choice B correctly uses a semicolon to separate two Independent Clauses
Bacteria are growing in a liquid growth medium. There were 300,000 cells per milliliter during an initial observation. The number of cells per milliliter doubles every 3 hours. How many cells per milliliter will there be 15 hours after the initial observation?
A) 1,500,000
B) 2,400,000
C) 4,500,000
D) 9,600,000
D
Following the principles of community-based participatory research, tribal nations and research institutions are equal partners in health studies conducted on reservations. A collaboration between the Crow Tribe and Montana State University _______ this model: tribal citizens worked alongside scientists to design the methodology and continue to assist in data collection. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) circumvents
B) eclipses
C) fabricates
D) exemplifies
D
is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the collaboration between the Crow Tribe and Montana State University. As used in this context, “exemplifies” means demonstrates.
After being interrogated by the police for five hours, Ken admitted to being guilty of racketeering and money laundering.
A. NO CHANGE
B. to be
C. to having
D. is
A. NO CHANGE
There are many items you’ll need to pack if you decide to go skiing, gloves, a jacket, and a beanie.
A. NO CHANGE
B. There are many items you’ll need to pack if you decide to go skiing: gloves, a jacket, and a beanie.
C. There are many items you’ll need to pack if you decide to go skiing gloves, a jacket, and a beanie.
B
The first and foremost rule is that a colon must be preceded by an independent clause. Like commas, colons have multiple uses:
I one met a Harvard math professor, considered preeminent in his field; and at the forefront of economic analysis.
A. NO CHANGE
B. field who was
C. field, who was
C
It turns the second half of the sentence into a Parenthetical Clause.
A certain town has an area of 4.36 square miles. What is the area, in square yards, of this town? (1 mile = 1,760 yards)
A) 404
B) 7,674
C) 710,459
D) 13,505,536
D
Scholarly discussions of gender in Shakespeare’s comedies often celebrate the rebellion of the playwright’s characters against the rigid expectations _______ by Elizabethan society. Most of the comedies end in marriage, with characters returning to their socially dictated gender roles after previously defying them, but there are some notable exceptions. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) interjected
B) committed
C) illustrated
D) prescribed
D
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of gender roles in Shakespeare’s comedies. As used in this context, “prescribed” would mean laid down as rules. The text indicates that the characters in the comedies often defy gender roles that are “socially dictated” (even if most characters do return to those roles eventually) and that scholars have been very interested in these acts of defiance. This context indicates that what the characters are rebelling against are standards of behavior prescribed by the society of the time.