Modifiers
Buffeted by strong, gusty winds, the skyscraper's tenants felt the building leaning to and fro.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. The skyscraper's tenants, buffeted by strong, gusty winds, felt the building
C. As the building was buffeted by strong, gusty winds, the skyscraper's tenants could feel it
D. When buffeted by strong, gusty winds, the skyscraper's tenants felt the building
C –What should be buffeted by strong winds - the people inside the skyscraper, or the building itself? Definitely the building, not the people! It's a Misplaced Modifier to describe the people as "buffeted by the winds" instead of the building.
A rural airstrip presents a pilot with two primary difficulties: to land on dirt, and avoiding dangerous crosswinds.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. landing on dirt and avoiding
C. landing on dirt and the avoidance of
D. the landing of the plane on dirt, and avoiding
B - We have a list of two piloting-related difficulties in this question – and any list of two or more items is a chance for a Parallelism error. Both items in the list should be verbs that take the same form: either "to land" and "to avoid," or "landing" and "avoiding," but we can't mix and match. Choice B repairs the Parallelism error in the original with a concise and elegant solution that pairs two "-ing" form verbs.
The safety of bridges, keeping them from becoming dangerous, is overseen by government departments, but unfortunately, the spans occasionally suffer abrupt structural failure and collapse.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Government departments oversee bridge safety, but
C. Bridge safety, being overseen by government departments, is crucial, but
D. The safety of bridges is being overseen by government departments, but
B – As written, the sentence is redundant and wordy: "keeping them from becoming dangerous" adds nothing to the sentence that the single word "safety" doesn't already convey. It also uses the Passive Voice: "The safety is overseen by…" Choices C and D both use the word "being," a classic no-no for the SAT and ACT if any other option is available. Choice D also uses the Passive Voice again: "Bridge safety is overseen by…"
The warm summer sun that radiated onto earth, and the birds sang while dragonflies hovered all around us.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. The warm summer sun radiated onto earth, and
C. The warm summer sun radiated onto earth; and
D. The summer sun, it radiated warmth onto the earth, and
B – The original sentence is incorrect because the first half is a Sentence Fragment ("The warm summer sun that radiated onto earth") which is missing a main verb. You can ignore the phrase "that radiated onto earth," by the way. This fragment is connected to a Dependent Clause - so there's no Independent Clause anywhere. Choice B correctly removes the subordinating word "that," allowing the subject ("sun") to connect to a main verb ("radiated").
The abilities of squirrels, running across power lines and racing up even the tallest trees, have always amazed me.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Running across power lines and racing up even the tallest trees, the abilities of squirrels have always amazed me.
C. Squirrels have always amazed me with their ability to run across power lines and race up even the tallest trees.
D. Running across power lines and racing up even the tallest trees, squirrels' abilities have always amazed me.
C – The modifying phrase "running across power lines and racing up even the tallest trees" should apply to squirrels, not to "the abilities of squirrels" (abilities can't climb trees!) Choices A, B, and D use a variety of Misplaced Modifier errors to incorrectly attach "running… and racing…" to the abilities of the squirrels, rather than the squirrels themselves.
As the crowd's favorite athlete, Janet Lynn's figure-skating earned cheers and applause that surely swayed the judge's opinion.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. As the crowd's favorite athlete, Janet Lynn figure-skating earned
C. As the crowd's favorite athlete, the figure skating of Janet Lynn earned
D. Janet Lynn's figure-skating, as the crowd's favorite athlete, earned
B - There's a Misplaced Modifier mistake in the original version and in Choices C and D: "Janet Lynn's figure-skating" can't be modified by "the crowd's favorite athlete." Notice the use of a possessive to seem like we're talking about a person, but actually it's an activity, "figure- skating," that's being mistakenly being modified and called an "athlete."
I prefer my Japanese history class to sitting and listening to American history.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. American history
C. my American history class
D. sitting in American history class
C – Choice C is the most logical and well-matched comparison ("class" to "class"), so it's the easy winner here. Notice the nice parallel structure: "[Country X history class]" to "[Country Y history class]". Choice B incorrectly compares a class to history, and Choices A and D make a Parallelism error by comparing a noun ("class") to a verb ("sitting").
This fine wool sweater was once being knitted by my grandmother, and it has always been among my favorite articles of clothing.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. My grandmother knitted this fine wool sweater, and it
C. This fine wool sweater was knitted by my grandmother, and she
D. This fine wool sweater was knitted and made by my grandmother, and it
B - As written, the sentence uses the no-no word "being" and uses the Passive Voice ("This sweater was knitted by…") Choice D features a redundant pairing of "knitted and made" - the word "knitted" already covers the meaning of the word "made." Choice B is clear, direct Active Voice, has no Redundancies, and avoids use of the word "being." Did you notice the Misplaced Modifier error (Lesson 11) in Choice C?With the details removed, this version would read: "My grandmother has always been among my favorite articles of clothing!"
The bicycle was pedaled by him furiously as he tried to catch up to the bus that had left without him.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Being pedaled furiously, the bicycle he rode was trying to catch up to the bus that had left without him.
C. The bus, leaving without him, was trying to be caught up to by him as he pedaled the bicycle furiously.
D. He pedaled his bike furiously as he tried to catch up to the bus that had left without him.
D – In the original version, "the bicycle was pedaled by him" is a ridiculously Passive way of saying "He pedaled his bike." Notice how the original Passive form forces "the bicycle" to be the subject / "do-er" of action, while the improved Active Voice form puts "he" in the role of the subject and main character - this is more direct, clearer, and just plain better in English speech and writing. Choices B and C are just more variations on similar Passive Voice issues. Only Choice D simplifies and clarifies matters with an appropriate Active Voice version of the sentence.
Unlike the flu, people who suffer from the common cold may only have to deal with a headache and a congested nose for twenty-four hours.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. having the
C. people with the
D. when you have the
C – As written, the sentence illogically compares the flu, a virus, to people. Instead, compare people to people, like so: "Unlike people with the flu, people who suffer from the common cold…"
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 comforting.
B - There's a Misplaced Modifier mistake in the original version and in Choices C and D: "Janet Lynn's figure-skating" can't be modified by "the crowd's favorite athlete." Notice the use of a possessive to seem like we're talking about a person, but actually it's an activity, "figure- skating," that's being mistakenly being modified and called an "athlete."
Getting an article published can be quite tedious; once written, it must still be edited and reviewed before it is distributed.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. edited and pass review
C. reviewed and will be edited
D. reviewed and they will edit it
A - NO CHANGE. The two-item list in this sentence is already parallel the way it is: "edited" and "reviewed" are both past-tense verbs. All other options mismatch the verb tenses of these two items and so break the law of Parallelism.
There was an immediate and massive and tremendous public outcry against the dictator's proclamation.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. massive public outcry and popular complaint against the dictator's proclamation.
C. ferocious public outcry against the dictator's proclamation.
D. tremendous public outcry against the dictator's proclamation when he declared it.
C - As written, there is a significant bit of Redundancy: "massive and tremendous" step on each others' toes with nearly-identical meanings. Choice B has a similar problem: "public outcry" and "popular complaint" have identical meanings, and there's no need to use both phrases at once.
CAT scans are a medical procedure used to peer inside the human brain without surgery; they are commonly used to diagnose concussions.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. surgery; commonly
C. surgery, they are commonly
D. surgery and it is commonly
A – NO CHANGE. Nothing wrong with the original, which correctly uses a semicolon between two Independent Clauses (review the previous lesson on Punctuation Marks). Choice C is a Comma Splice, because it has two Independent Clauses connected by only a comma. In fact, a Comma Splice will always result if you replace a correctly-used semicolon with a comma. Notice that Choice D commits a Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement error (Lesson 5) by using the singular pronoun "it" to replace the plural antecedent "CAT scans."
The modern-day tennis player, who has access to rackets enhanced by technological innovations, and who is able to set new world records more easily than players of the past.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. and can
C. is able to
D. they can
B - This Objective Question is one of the most common types on the SAT and ACT: "effectively combining" two sentences. These questions can combine a variety of grammar subtopics, such as Punctuation Marks (Lesson 8), Sentence Structure (Lesson 9),Misplaced Modifiers (Lesson 11), Redundancy and Wordiness (Lesson 13), and more.
Standing in Northumberland County, invading armies were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Invading armies were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle, which stands in Northumberland County.
C. Invading armies, never breached the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle, standing in Northumberland County.
D. Invading armies, standing in Northumberland County, were never able to breach the thick stone walls of Warkworth Castle.
B – The modifying phrase "standing in Northumberland County" is clearly supposed to give details aboutWarkworth Castle, not about the "invading armies," who obviously don't just stand in one place the way that a castle does! Choice B correctly places the modifying phrase ("standing in Northumberland County") next to its intended target,"Warkworth Castle." Choice C also commits a Sentence Structure error (Lesson 9) with a Sentence Fragment arising from poor use of a comma (also see Lesson 8 on Punctuation Marks.)
To put berries in your breakfast cereal is one healthy idea; putting bananas in your oatmeal is another.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. To put berries in your breakfast cereal is one healthy idea;
C. Putting berries in one's breakfast cereal is one healthy idea;
D. Putting berries in your breakfast cereal is one healthy idea;
D - In Choices A and B, there is a Parallelism error: "to put" and "putting" are verbs in different forms. Choice D properly matches the first idea, "putting berries," with its -ing partner, "putting bananas." Choice C correctly follows Parallelism rules, but it creates a Pronoun- Antecedent Agreement mismatch (Lesson 5) between "one's breakfast cereal" and "your oatmeal."
Perhaps some superstitions arose from the belief that after a disaster first occurred, it would repeat itself under similar circumstances.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. a disaster first occurred, it would repeat itself again
C. an initial disaster first occurred, it would repeat itself
D. a troublesome disaster first occurred, it would repeat itself
A - NO CHANGE. There are no Redundancy,Wordiness, or Passive Voice errors in the original sentence. Notice in Choice B the Redundancy of "repeat itself again." Choice C has the Redundancy of "initial disaster first occurred." Choice D features an amusing Redundancy as well: "a troublesome disaster." What other kind of disaster could there be, exactly?
Which of the following choices most effectively combines the two underlined sentences below?
Alan Dinehart was an American actor and director who initially studied to be a priest.
He entered the film industry and eventually appeared in over eighty-eight films.
A. Alan Dinehart was an American actor and director who initially studied to be a priest, who entered the film industry, and eventually appeared in over eight-eight films.
B. Alan Dinehart was an American actor and director who initially studied to be a priest, but entered the film industry instead, eventually appearing in over eighty-eight films.
C. Entering the film industry, Alan Dinehart was an American actor and director who initially studied to be a priest, and eventually appeared in over eighty-eight films.
D. Alan Dinehart, entering the film industry, an American actor and director, initially studied to be a priest, and eventually appeared in over eight-eight films.
B - This Objective Question is one of the most common types on the SAT and ACT: "effectively combining" two sentences. These questions can combine a variety of grammar subtopics, such as Punctuation Marks (Lesson 8), Sentence Structure (Lesson 9),Misplaced Modifiers (Lesson 11), Redundancy and Wordiness (Lesson 13), and more.
I one met a Harvard math professor, considered preeminent in his field; and at the forefront of economic analysis.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. field, and was
C. field, who was
D. field, he was
C - The current situation is misusing a semicolon, a PunctuationMark (Lesson 8) which can only be placed between two Independent Clauses. The second half of this sentence is not Independent ("and at the forefront of economic analysis" cannot stand on its own) Choice D would work, except that the semicolon has now been changed to a comma, which creates a Comma Splice error between two Independent Clauses.
Finding contemporary classical music "arrogant," Lutz Glandien's music embraces rock influences and older styles alike.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Lutz Glandien's music is influenced by both rock and older styles.
C. Lutz Glandien embraces rock influences and older styles alike in his music.
D. rock influences and older styles alike are embraced by Lutz Glandien's music.
C - Here's another attempt to use a possessive form to conceal a Misplaced Modifier error. "Lutz Glandien's music" wouldn't "find contemporary music arrogant"; that is a judgment that only a person - not music - could make. Choice B makes the same mistake as Choice A. Choice D also contains a similar Misplaced Modifier mistake to the first two choices, although in this case it's the "rock music" that "finds contemporary music arrogant."
Though wax candles pose a risk of fire hazard, due to their open flames, they generate a light that is more relaxing than electric candles.Lamps & Lighting
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. electric ones
C. an electric candle
D. that of electric candles
A – NO CHANGE. The original version of the sentence is clear and correct. Some of the other options are worth laughing at - imagine an annoyed person, with a fly holding a clipboard and wearing glasses and work clothes buzzing behind that person's ear. After all, Choices B and C state that the fly is trying to work! Choice D incorrectly uses a colon, a punctuation mark which must be preceded by a complete sentence. Review both Punctuation Marks (Lesson 8) and Sentence Structure (Lesson 9) for more information.
The masterful fresco painting, unmatched by any other artwork in its genre, was extremely unique.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. painting was extremely unique.
C. painting, unmatched by any other artwork in its genre, was one-of-a-kind.
D. painting was unique.
A - NO CHANGE. There are no Redundancy,Wordiness, or Passive Voice errors in the original sentence. Notice in Choice B the Redundancy of "repeat itself again." Choice C has the Redundancy of "initial disaster first occurred." Choice D features an amusing Redundancy as well: "a troublesome disaster." What other kind of disaster could there be, exactly?
Amidst the majestic hills of South Dakota, where iron ore was once mined, that young sparrows once frolicked.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. Amidst the majestic hills of South Dakota; iron ore was once mined and young sparrows once frolicked.
C. Where iron ore was once mined amidst the majestic hills of South Dakota: now young sparrows frolic.
D. Young sparrows once frolicked, and iron ore was once mined, amidst the majestic hills of South Dakota.
D - The original "sentence" is actually composed of three fragments (a prepositional phrase and two Parenthetical Clauses), none of which have the subject/main verb pair that we so desperately need for an Independent Clause. Choice D, although it may sound a little clumsy, correctly produces an Independent Clause ("Young sparrows once frolicked") with a Dependent Clause ("and iron ore was once mined") followed by a prepositional phrase ("amidst the majestic hills of South Dakota.") Choice B incorrectly uses a semicolon, and Choice C incorrectly uses a colon (review the previous lesson on PunctuationMarks).
Songbirds often have to defend their nests from intruders that might prey on their eggs, so sometimes the birds will share nesting grounds with other woodland creatures such as squirrels or opossums.
A. [NO CHANGE]
B. eggs; in addition,
C. eggs, while sometimes
D. eggs; nevertheless, sometimes
D – This sentence is a bit subtle in its meaning, but the main idea is that songbirds are at risk of having their eggs stolen by other animals. The more animals nearby, the more risk to the birds, so it's surprising (notice a divergence!) to learn in the second half of the sentence that the birds will still live among squirrels and other critters.