Part of the following sentence is italics; 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 problem of antibiotic resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries because the sale and use of antibiotics are not tightly controlled.
(A) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries because
(B) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries and
(C) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries when
(D) resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries where
(E) resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries and
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
This sentence is a fragment as written; there is no verb in the main clause. Of the choices offered, only (C) and (D) correct this problem. (D) is the best choice because the adverb "where" connects the second part of the sentence in a way that clarifies the relationship between the two parts of the sentence. The correct sentence reads: The problem of antibiotic resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries where the sale and use of antibiotics are not tightly controlled.
(A) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries because
(B) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries and
(C) resistance, frequently compounded in certain countries when
(D) resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries where
(E) resistance is frequently compounded in certain countries and
Thursday, 8 May 2008
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
Many of the instruments used in early operations of the United States Army Signal Corps were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians, particularly that of the heliograph.
(A) Corps were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians, particularly that of the heliograph
(B) Corps, there were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians, particularly the heliograph
(C) Corps, and in particular the heliograph, was an adaptation of equipment used by the Plains Indians
(D) Corps, and in particular the heliograph, were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians
(E) Corps being adaptations, the heliograph in particular, of those used by Plains Indians
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Correcting the error in this sentence requires moving the information about the heliograph closer to "instruments," which is the material it relates to. Only choice D accomplishes this without introducing an error in subject-verb agreement (as in C) or producing a sentence fragment (as in E). The correct sentence reads: Many of the instruments used in early operations of the United States Army Signal Corps, and in particular the heliograph, were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians.
(A) Corps were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians, particularly that of the heliograph
(B) Corps, there were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians, particularly the heliograph
(C) Corps, and in particular the heliograph, was an adaptation of equipment used by the Plains Indians
(D) Corps, and in particular the heliograph, were adaptations of equipment used by the Plains Indians
(E) Corps being adaptations, the heliograph in particular, of those used by Plains Indians
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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 revolt against Victorianism was perhaps even more marked in poetry than either fiction or drama.
(A) either fiction or drama
(B) either fiction or in drama
(C) either in fiction or drama
(D) in either fiction or drama
(E) in either fiction or in drama
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Correcting the error in this sentence requires close attention to the need for parallelism. The structure of the underlined portion should match the structure of the phrase "in poetry" that appears earlier in the sentence. Neither choice (A) nor choice (B) includes the preposition "in." Among the remaining choices, only choice (D) has the preposition "in" appropriately located in the phrase. The correct sentence reads: The revolt against Victorianism was perhaps even more marked in poetry than in either fiction or drama.
(A) either fiction or drama
(B) either fiction or in drama
(C) either in fiction or drama
(D) in either fiction or drama
(E) in either fiction or in drama
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people which have a belief in finding the treasure in them.
(A) which have a belief in finding the treasure in them
(B) that belief there is treasure to be found in them
(C) who believe they hold treasure and that they can find it
(D) who believe that there is treasure to be found in them
(E) who believe about treasure to be found in them
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
This sentence is awkward as written, and the pronoun "which" is the wrong relative pronoun to refer to "people" (the antecedent of the pronoun in this sentence). Choice (D) uses the correct pronoun "who" and more effectively than the other choices states the characteristics of people who are fascinated by shipwrecks. The correct sentence reads: Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people who believe that there is treasure to be found in them.
(A) which have a belief in finding the treasure in them
(B) that belief there is treasure to be found in them
(C) who believe they hold treasure and that they can find it
(D) who believe that there is treasure to be found in them
(E) who believe about treasure to be found in them
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people which have a belief in finding the treasure in them.
(A) which have a belief in finding the treasure in them
(B) that belief there is treasure to be found in them
(C) who believe they hold treasure and that they can find it
(D) who believe that there is treasure to be found in them
(E) who believe about treasure to be found in them
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
This sentence is awkward as written, and the pronoun "which" is the wrong relative pronoun to refer to "people" (the antecedent of the pronoun in this sentence). Choice (D) uses the correct pronoun "who" and more effectively than the other choices states the characteristics of people who are fascinated by shipwrecks. The correct sentence reads: Certain shipwrecks have a particular fascination for those people who believe that there is treasure to be found in them.
(A) which have a belief in finding the treasure in them
(B) that belief there is treasure to be found in them
(C) who believe they hold treasure and that they can find it
(D) who believe that there is treasure to be found in them
(E) who believe about treasure to be found in them
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
Underestimating its value, breakfast is a meal many people skip.
(A) Underestimating its value, breakfast is a meal many people skip.
(B) Breakfast is skipped by many people because of their underestimating its value.
(C) Many people, underestimating the value of breakfast, and skipping it.
(D) Many people skip breakfast because they underestimate its value.
(E) A meal skipped by many people underestimating its value is breakfast.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
The problem with this sentence is that the opening phrase "underestimating its value" modifies "breakfast," not "people." The order of the words in the sentence in choice (D) does not have this problem of a misplaced modifying phrase. Choice (D) also clarifies the causal relationship between the two clauses in the sentence. None of the other choices conveys the information presented in the sentence as effectively and directly as choice (D).
(A) Underestimating its value, breakfast is a meal many people skip.
(B) Breakfast is skipped by many people because of their underestimating its value.
(C) Many people, underestimating the value of breakfast, and skipping it.
(D) Many people skip breakfast because they underestimate its value.
(E) A meal skipped by many people underestimating its value is breakfast.
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
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
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
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.
In (A), the phrase "Looking up from the base of the mountain" does not logically modify the subject "the trail." A person might stand at the base of a mountain and look up at a trail, but it is illogical to suggest that a trail looks up from the base of a mountain.
(B), (C), and (D) are simply variations of the error found in (A). Each results in a sentence that illogically suggests that a trail was looking up from the base of a mountain.
(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."
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
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.
The Official SAT Question of the Day™
Part of the following sentence is italics; 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.
Woody Guthrie wrote and adapted more than a thousand songs, many of them are about the struggles of workers and the poor in the United States.
A many of them are
B many of which are
C many are
D which are, many of them,
E and many of them that are
Hint
Remember that two independent clauses cannot be joined with only a comma.
Correct Answer: B
Here's Why:
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the comma-splice error of the original by using the pronoun “which” in place of the pronoun “them,” thereby turning what was originally an independent clause (“many of them are … United States”) into a relative clause that modifies “songs.”