The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold 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.

Clara Barton founded the American branch of the Red Cross, a nurse who was sometimes called the “angel of the battlefield.”

A. Clara Barton founded the American branch of the Red Cross,
B. The founder of the American branch of the Red Cross was Clara Barton,
C. It was Clara Barton founding the American branch of the Red Cross,
D. Clara Barton, who founded the American branch of the Red Cross, she was
E. In founding the American branch of the Red Cross, Clara Barton was

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the modification error of the original by placing the noun “Clara Barton” next to its appositive, “a nurse...battlefield.”


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

A remarkably ------- plant, the soybean yields not only dairylike products, but also flour, cooking oil, and sprouts.

A. imperishable
B. resistant
C. tedious
D. incessant
E. versatile

Answer is E.

Here's Why:

The information after the first comma actually explains the missing word. The fact that such a variety of products can be made from one plant indicates that the soybean is very “versatile”: it has many uses.


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Sentence Completions

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

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(A) of the world's sharks, living(B) in temperate and tropical regions, though(C) the Greenland shark lives in the cold Arctic waters, and the huge basking shark is at home in the seas around Antarctica(D). No error(E)


A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. (E)

Answer is B

Here's Why:

The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where an inappropriate verb form creates a sentence fragment. To fix this problem, the phrase “sharks, living” should be changed to “sharks live.”


Question Type: Identifying Sentence Errors

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Unlike the politician, who must spend his or her energy in public show or endless meetings, the artist needs ------- for significant efforts.

A. approval
B. prudence
C. motivation
D. solitude
E. perseverance

Answer is D

Here's Why:

The word “unlike” suggests that there is a key difference between politicians and artists. Since politicians must spend a good deal of time surrounded by other people, the missing term must contrast with this behavior. “Solitude” logically completes the sentence because it refers to the state of being alone.


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

Doctor Or Not

i feel so paranoid i do not want to talk to no one...texting is fine ...but no frigging talk...i make them nervous just b b b being there....i talk and they are on the defensive, I think....I get excited.... I talk loud and it gets into the .....

Now been observing myself, about my being, can be very wrong in the official levels, and I like to know how am I going to live like this. STOP THE ANALYSIS. IT IS ALWAYS WRONG. There is the inevitable solution.....

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold 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.

Chilean novelist and short-story writer María Luisa Bombal wrote innovative and influential stories featuring heroines which create fantasy worlds in order to escape from unfulfilling love relationships and restricted social roles.

A. heroines which create
B. heroines, they create
C. heroines, they created
D. heroines who create
E. heroines that were creating

Answer is D

Here's Why:

Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the pronoun error of the original by using an appropriate relative pronoun (“who”) to refer to people (“heroines”).


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

A ------- person, he found the training almost unbearably monotonous, but he resolved to check his ------- and perform the basic tasks required.

A. bitter . . submissiveness
B. reclusive . . reserve
C. dynamic . . restlessness
D. mercurial . . constancy
E. vivacious . . ambition

Answer is C

Here's Why:

It is logically consistent to say that someone who is “dynamic,” or energetic, would feel restless, or agitated, when faced with a boring task.


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one bold part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.

Besides conserving(A) forest resources, recycling produces fewer pollutants than does(B) the conventional pulping and bleaching processes that(C) are normally used to create(D) paper. No error(E)


A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. (E)

Answer is B

Here's Why:

The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there is subject-verb disagreement. The singular verb “does” does not agree with the plural noun “processes.” The plural verb “do” is needed instead.


Question Type: Identifying Sentence Errors

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Understandably, it is the ------- among theater critics who become most incensed when producers insist on ------- celebrated classic plays.

A. strategists . . discussing
B. mediators . . staging
C. conformists . . praising
D. traditionalists . . recognizing
E. purists . . reinterpreting

Answer is E

Here's Why:

It is logical to conclude that critics who are “purists” would be devoted to traditional ways of staging classic plays, and would get angry when these plays are presented in new ways.


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

For the function ƒ, y = ƒ(x) is inversely proportional to x, where x > 0. If ƒ(3) = 6, what is the value of ƒ(2)?

A. 4
B. 8
C. 9
D. 12
E. 18

Correct Answer: C

Here's Why:

Since y = ƒ(x) is inversely proportional to x, it follows that ƒ(x) = for some constant c. You can use ƒ(3) = 6 to find the value of c: = 6, so c = 18. Therefore, ƒ(2) = = 9.


Difficulty: Hard
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold 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.
For both his shorter and longer works of fiction, Gabriel García Márquez achieves the rare feat of being accessible to the common reader while satisfying the most demanding of sophisticated critics.

A. For both his shorter and longer
B. For both his shorter, and in his longer,
C. In both his shorter and his longer
D. Both in his shorter and his longer
E. Both his shorter and longer

Answer is C

Here's Why:

Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by following both parts of the “both … and” construction with the pronoun “his” (“In both his … and his … ”).


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
He maintains that ethnic and cultural ------- are generalizations no more related to what an individual is actually like than are the ------- representations of constellations to the actual nature of a star.

A. traditions . . chemical
B. stereotypes . . pictorial
C. details . . figurative
D. heritages . . prophetic
E. specimens . . graphic

Correct Answer: B

Here's Why:

The terms in choice (B) logically complete the sentence’s comparison between ethnic and cultural “generalizations” and certain “representations of constellations.” “Stereotypes” are oversimplified generalizations that do not necessarily describe what a particular person is actually like—just as “pictorial,” or picture-based, representations of constellations cannot accurately describe a star’s “actual nature.”


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

A gasoline tank on a certain tractor holds 16 gallons of gasoline. If the tractor requires 7 gallons to plow 3 acres, how many acres can the tractor plow with a tankful of gasoline?

A. 6 6/7
B. 7 1/6
C. 7 1/3
D. 10 2/3
E. 37 1/3

Answer is A

Here's Why:

In the question, you are told that 7 gallons of gasoline can plow 3 acres and you are asked to find how many acres, call it x, can be plowed by 16 gallons. You can set up a ratio of the number of gallons of gasoline used to the number of acres plowed. Therefore, you have = . Cross-multiplying and solving for x gives you the answer of x = acres, or 6 acres.


Difficulty: Easy
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
With the retirement of his ailing uncle, John realized the ------- was now on him to restore the family business to ------- after years of losses.

A. focus . . bankruptcy
B. prospect . . complacency
C. onus . . profitability
D. responsibility . . achievement
E. charge . . respectfulness


Answer is C

Here's Why:

Choice (C) is correct. It makes sense that a man taking over a family business that had suffered years of losses would feel the “onus,” or burden, of returning the business to “profitability.”


Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold 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.

Reading maps involve several abilities, including the ability to locate places, to ascertain directions, to measure distances, and to interpret the mapmaker’s symbols.

A. involve
B. involves
C. will involve
D. has involved
E. have involved

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the subject-verb agreement error of the original by providing a singular verb, “involves,” for the singular subject, “Reading.”


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Tantra paintings from India are not only beautiful but -------: in addition to their aesthetic value, they are used to facilitate meditation.

A. garish
B. valuable
C. numerous
D. ornate
E. functional

Answer is E

Here's Why:

Choice (E) is correct. Facilitating meditation is a function—something valuable about tantra paintings in addition to their beauty.


Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer



The least number of marbles one would need in order to place 4 marbles on each line of the figure above is

A. 5
B. 10
C. 14
D. 15
E. 20

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Since a point that is located where two lines intersect is considered to lie on both of those lines, you want to put marbles on as many intersection points of the lines in the figure as possible in order to minimize the number of marbles needed. There are 10 points where two lines intersect. With a marble at each of these 10 locations, there are then exactly 4 marbles on each line of the figure. Thus, the least number of marbles needed is 10.


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

(Mathematics)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one bold part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.
Once(A) the suspension bridge replaced the cantilever, the United States becomes(B) the world leader in this new(C) type of(D) long-span bridge building. No error(E)


A. (A)
B. (B)
C. (C)
D. (D)
E. (E)

Answer is B

Here's Why:

The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there is an inappropriate verb form. To match the past tense established and used elsewhere in the sentence (“Once,” “replaced”), the past-tense “became” is needed.


Question Type: Identifying Sentence Errors

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer.


A, B, C, and D are points on a line, with D the midpoint of segment . The lengths of segments AB, AC, and BC are 10, 2, and 12, respectively. What is the length of segment ?

A 2
B 4
C 6
D 10
E 12

Answer is B

Here's Why:

The key to this question lies in not jumping to incorrect conclusions. The question names the points on a line. It gives you a variety of information about the points. The one thing it does not do is tell you the order in which the points fall.

Many students assume that the order of the points is A, then B, then C, then D. As you will see, if you try to locate the points in this order, you will be unable to answer the question.

What Is the Question Asking?

The question asks for the length of line segment AD. In order to find this length, you have to establish the relative positions of the four points on the line.

What Do You Know?

Try to draw the figure. You might be tempted to locate point A first. Unfortunately, you don't have enough information about A, yet, to place it.

You can place B, C, and D because D is the midpoint of BC.



You know the lengths of three of the line segments:

AB = 10

AC = 2

BC = 12

Because you know where BC is, you can label the length of BC.



Build the Figure, Adding What You Know and What You Can Figure Out

Because D is the midpoint of BC, you know that BD and DC are each 6 units long.



Where can you place point A?

It has to be 2 units from C, because AC = 2.
It also has to be 10 units from B, because AB = 10.
So the only location for A is between B and C, but closer to C.

Place point A and mark the distances.

It is now an easy matter to figure out the answer to the question:

DC is 6 units.
A is 2 units closer to D than C, so AD is 4 units.



Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

(Mathematics)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; 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.


Africa is not nearly so mountainous as in Asia.

A so mountainous as in
B that mountainous as
C equally mountainous to
D as mountainous as
E that mountainous as in

Answer is D

Here's Why:

Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the awkwardness of the original by using the idiomatic “as … as” construction to compare “Africa” with “Asia.”


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.


The play, which features ------ mix of comedy, pathos, and music, was correctly described by one honest critic as a ------.

A a seamless . . debacle
B an ungainly . . hodgepodge
C an unfortunate . . masterpiece
D an inappropriate . . success
E a harmonious . . failure

Correct Answer: B

Here's Why:

Choice (B) is correct. If the play is an “ungainly,” or clumsy, mixture of different elements, an honest critic would justifiably describe it as a “hodgepodge,” or a disorganized jumble.


Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer.



In the figure above, what is the value of x + y?

A 90
B 95
C 100
D 105
E 110

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Label the remaining angles as shown in the figure below.



Since the sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is 180°, it follows that a + 75 + 20 = 180. Thus, a = 85. Furthermore, vertical angles have the same measure, so z = a = 85. Then, from the triangle on the left, x + y + z = 180, or x + y = 180 – z. Since z = 85, it follows that x + y = 95.


Difficulty: Easy
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one bold part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.


Encouraged from(A) her teacher, Vanessa decided to enter(B) the short story contest with(C) a story about her experience growing up in Haiti(D). No error(E)

A (A)
B (B)
C (C)
D (D)
E (E)

Answer is A

Here's Why:

The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where there is an improper idiom. The idiom is “Encouraged by,” not “Encouraged from.”


Question Type: Identifying Sentence Errors

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.


Although Kareem’s contributions to the discussion initially seemed -------, they were not ------- and the committee eventually chose to disregard them.

A correct . . contradictory
B appropriate . . avoidable
C believable . . muddled
D promising . . relevant
E helpful . . inconclusive

Answer is D

Here's Why:

Choice (D) is correct. The term “Although” at the beginning of the sentence signals that how “Kareem’s contributions” initially seemed to the committee contrasts with the committee’s eventual decision to “disregard” them. The committee would likely disregard contributions to the discussion that were not “relevant,” even if the comments initially seemed “promising.”


Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading

Champions TV Episodes

If you are brought up in a society where you see these drama you get acclamatised to it and become an active part in it. When you grow up the emotional side of you is affected by this. It is called mind washing. We have been doing it for millenia?

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer.


If ƒ(x) = x + ax, and a = 7/2, what is ƒ(3/2) ?

A 1/3
B 3/2
C 7/2
D 21/4
E 27/4

Answer is E

Here's Why:

If ƒ(x) = x + ax, and a = 7/2 , then ƒ(x) = x +7/2 x =9/2 x. Therefore, ƒ (3/2)= (9/2)(3/2) = 27/4 .


Difficulty: Medium
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

(Mathematics)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Part of the following sentence is bold; 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.


Ancient Greeks believed in giants—mythic heroes and semihuman creatures, they are many times the size of ordinary folk.

A creatures, they are
B creatures, and they were
C creatures, and
D creatures;
E creatures


Correct Answer: E

Here's Why:

Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the comma splice error of the original by removing unnecessary words and punctuation.


Question Type: Improving Sentences

(Writing)

The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.


Cecily is worried that, with all the recent innovations in computing, her five-year-old laptop and its software will soon be -------.

A redundant
B obsolete
C unnecessary
D renewable
E valuable

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Choice (B) is correct. It is logical that the owner of a five-year-old computer would be concerned that her machine would soon be “obsolete,” or no longer useful, given the recent changes in computing.


Question Type: Sentence Completions

(Critical Reading