SAT

Critical Reading

100

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Because she has a great need for ------- , she loathes the public appearances demanded of her as a leading literary figure. A. luxury B. privacy C. reward D. devotion E. distraction

privacy  Here's Why: The first part of the sentence describes a cause and the second part describes resulting behavior. The literary figure desires “privacy” and so she finds public appearances loathsome.  Difficulty: Easy

Sentence Completion

100

Hoping to ------- the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be ------- to both labor and management. (A) enforce . . useful (B) end . . divisive (C) overcome . . unattractive (D) extend . . satisfactory (E) resolve . . acceptable

 Always check your answer by reading the entire sentence with your choice filled in. Does it make sense to say "Hoping to resolve the dispute, the negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be acceptable to both labor and management"? Yes. Correct answer: (E)

200

Because King Philip's desire to make Spain the dominant power in sixteenth-century Europe ran counter to Queen Elizabeth's insistence on autonomy for England, ------- was -------. (A) reconciliation . . assured (B) warfare . . avoidable (C) ruination . . impossible (D) conflict . . inevitable (E) diplomacy . . simple

Correct Answer: D Explanation: The word "because" indicates that the information in the first part of the sentence (the part before the comma) explains the reason for the situation described in the second part. The first part states that what King Philip wanted (domination for Spain) "ran counter to" what Queen Elizabeth wanted (independence for England). Choice (D) logically completes the sentence: Given that there was such a fundamental disagreement between the two monarchs, "conflict" would likely be "inevitable," or unavoidable.

Improving Sentences

100

Part of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A. The gong, believed to have originated in Western Asia, reached China in the sixth century, where it continues to be used for a wide range of purposes, including as a military signal, a rhythmic accompaniment for vocal performance, and a ritual instrument. A. including as B. which include C. which includes D. including E. they include as

Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by correctly using the preposition “as” to introduce the “wide range of purposes” for which the gong is used.

200

Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book and she was sixty-five years old then. (A) and she was sixty-five years old then (B) when she was sixty-five (C) at age sixty-five years old (D) upon the reaching of sixty-five years (E) at the time when she was sixty-five

Correct answer is B

300

Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans, which are realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner. (A) Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans, which are realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner. (B) Scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans being realistically depicted in the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner. (C) The paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner realistically depict scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans. (D) Henry Ossawa Tanner, in his realistic paintings, depicting scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans. (E) Henry Ossawa Tanner, whose paintings realistically depict scenes from the everyday lives of African Americans.

Correct Answer: C Explanation: For a sentence to be grammatically complete, it must include both a subject and a main verb. When a sentence lacks either a subject or a main verb, the result is a sentence fragment. In this example all options but (C) are sentence fragments.  In (A), the phrase "Scenes... Americans " is modified by the dependent clause "which... Tanner," but there is no main verb.  In (B), the phrase "Scenes ... Tanner" contains no main verb.  In (D), the noun "Henry Ossawa Tanner " is modified by "depicting " but is not combined with a main verb.  And in (E), the noun "Henry Ossawa Tanner" is modified by the dependent clause "whose ... Americans " but not combined with a main verb.  (C) is correct. It is the only choice in which a subject ("The paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner") is combined with a verb ("depict") to express a complete thought.

400

Looking up from the base of the mountain, the trail seemed more treacherous than it really was. (A) Looking up (B) While looking up (C) By looking up (D) Viewing (E) Viewed

Correct Answer: E Explanation: When a modifying phrase begins a sentence, it must logically modify the sentence's subject; otherwise, it is a dangling modifier. In this example, every option except (E) is a dangling modifier.  (E) is correct. Although a trail cannot itself look up from the base of a mountain, a trail can be viewed by someone looking up from the base of a mountain, so the phrase "Viewed from the base of the mountain" logically modifies the subject "the trail."

500

One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms, another that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment. (A) symptoms, another that occurs (B) symptoms; another one that occurs (C) symptoms, the other, and it occurs (D) symptoms; another one which is occurring (E) symptoms and also occurring

Correct Answer: B Explanation: This sentence illustrates a comma splice, the incorrect use of a comma to connect two complete sentences. Choice B correctly uses a semicolon to coordinate two independent clauses and form a compound sentence (while at the same time keeping verb tenses parallel). The correct sentence reads: One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms; another one that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment.  (A) symptoms, another that occurs  (B) symptoms; another one that occurs  (C) symptoms, the other, and it occurs  (D) symptoms; another one which is occurring  (E) symptoms and also occurring

ID Sentence Errors

100

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E. Most saxophones, except for the straight-bodied A sopranino and soprano models, with an upturned B C lower end and a detachable crook, or neck , at the D upper end. No error E

A. (A) B. (B) C. (C) D. (D) E. (E) Correct! Answer C  Here's Why: The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where a sentence fragment is created. To fix this problem, use “have” as the main verb of the sentence.

200

The students have discoveredA that theyB can address issues more effectively throughC letter-writing campaigns and notD through public demonstrations. No errorE

Correct Answer: D Explanation:  The error in this sentence occurs at (D). When a comparison is introduced by the adverb "more," as in "more effectively," the second part of the comparison must be introduced by the conjunction "than" rather than "and not."  The other options contain no errors. In (A), the plural verb "have discovered" agrees with the plural subject "students." In (B), the plural pronoun "they" correctly refers to the plural noun "students." In (C), the preposition "through" appropriately expresses the means by which issues are addressed.  The sentence may be corrected as follows: The students have discovered that they can address issues more effectively through letter-writing campaigns than through public demonstrations.

300

AfterA hours of futile debate, the committee has decided to postponeB further discussion of the resolutionC until theirD next meeting. No errorE

Correct Answer: D Explanation:  The error in this sentence occurs at (D). A pronoun must agree in number (singular or plural) with the noun to which it refers. Here, the plural pronoun "their" incorrectly refers to the singular noun "committee."  The other options contain no errors. In (A), the preposition "After" appropriately introduces a phrase that indicates when the committee made its decision. In (B), "to postpone" is the verb form needed to complete the description of the committee's decision. In (C), the prepositional phrase "of the resolution" appropriately specifies the subject of the postponed discussion.  The sentence may be corrected as follows: After hours of futile debate, the committee has decided to postpone further discussion of the resolution until its next meeting.

400

After the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listeningA to her friend Mohammed's insightful interpretation, which sheB thought was more sophisticatedC than the other performers.D No errorE

Correct Answer: D Explanation: The problem in this sentence is one of illogical comparison. Alexandra is said to consider Mohammed's insightful interpretation more sophisticated than the other performers, improperly comparing his interpretation to other performers, rather than to interpretations of other performers. The correct sentence reads: At the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listening to her friend Mohammed's insightful interpretation, which she thought was more sophisticated than the interpretations of the other performers

500

Originally a protest onA conventionalB painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exertedC great influence on the art of itsD time. No errorE

Correct Answer: A Explanation: The error in this sentence is (A): the phrase "protest on" is not idiomatic in standard written English. The verb "protest" takes the preposition "against." The correct sentence reads: Originally a protest against conventional painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exerted great influence on the art of its time.