Hi SAT aspirants, welcome to AKVTutorials. As you know that SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standard test, used for taking admission to undergraduate programs of universities or colleges of the United States. SAT is developed and published by the College Board, an organization in the United States, administered by the Educational Testing Service. In this article of you will get Ultimate Guide SAT Writing Grammar Rules Cheat Sheet Practice Online Test.
The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar Book
This article is the short conclusion of The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, written by Erica L. Meltzer. So let’s understand one by one guide how to solve SAT Writing and Language passage type comprehensive questions.
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The table of content of this book is as below.
- How To Use This Book
- SAT Writing Cheat Sheet
- Parts of Speech
- Preliminary Exercise
- 1. Is it Relevant? Adding, Deleting and Revising
- 2. Sentence and Paragraph Order
- 3. Infographics
- 4. Shorter is Better
- 5. Diction Idioms and Register
- 6. Sentences and Fragmentation
- 7. Combining & Separating Sentences
- 8. Transitions
- 9. Non Essential and Essential Clause
- 10. Additional Commas Uses and Missuses
- 11. Colons and Dashes
- 12. Questions Marks
- 13. Apostrophes Plural vs Possessive
- 14. Verbs Agreement and Tenses
- 15. Word Pairs and Comparison
- 16. Parallel Structure
- 17. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
- 18. Relative Pronouns
- SAT Reading and Writing Practice Test
- Answer Keys
SAT Writing Grammar Rules Cheat Sheet
There are following SAT Writing Grammar Cheat Sheet.
- Shorter is better.
- Comma +it, this, he, she, they usually (but not always) = comma splice = Wrong
- Period = Semicolon = Comma + and/but
- 2 commas = 2 dashes = 2 parenthesis = non essential clause If the information between these punctuation marks is crossed out, the sentences will make a sense. But commas, dashes and parenthesis cannot be mixed and matched.
- Its, their = possessive; it’s = it is, they’re = they are there = a place.
- Colon = List of explanation. A complete, standalone sentence is required before not after.
- All items in a list must match, e.g. noun, noun, noun, verb, verb, verb.
- Common before preposition = Wrong
- Being = Wrong
- Affect = Verb, Effect = Noun, Than = Comparison Then = next.
- Singular verbs end in -s, plural verbs do not end in -s e.g. it suggest, they suggest.
- Keep verb tense/form consistent. An underlined verb should stay parallel to the surroundings verb unless there is a clear reason for the tense to change. Check verbs in the sentence/paragraph for context.
- Add/Delete/Revise: Reread the surrounding sentences, and state the topic in your words before checking the answers. If the sentence is directly relevant to the topic, it belongs. If not, it does not belong.
- Transition questions: physically cross out the transition and determine the relationship (continue, contradict, cause and effect) between the two sentences/helves of a sentence before checking the answer. Eliminate synonyms + answer from incorrect transition categories.
- Infographics: Take a moment and determine the ‘point’ of the graphic before you start to answer the question. You can sometime eliminate answers based on a big-picture understanding.
- In Parts of Speech, there are eight parts. But for the SAT prep, only seven is most important. Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Preposition, Conjunction, Adverb, Adjective,
For more details of SAT Grammar Rules, you need to read the book The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, written by Erica L. Meltzer.
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SAT Grammar Rules
Before practicing SAT Writing section, you need to learn some SAT Writing Grammar Rules, which are given as below.
SAT Grammar Rule 1
A complete sentence (also known as an independent clause) must have a subject and a verb, and it must express complete thought. Independent clauses can stand on their own as a sentence. To function independently, they must have a subject and a verb, and they must express a complete thought.
For example:
INCORRECT: Because she ran.
CORRECT: Because she ran, she managed to catch the bus just in time.
SAT Grammar Rule 2
When combining two independent clauses, you must use either a semicolon or a comma with a coordinating conjunction. Otherwise, the sentence is run-on.
Therefore, there are two ways to combine independent clauses. You can link the clauses with a semicolon, or you can use a comma and coordinating conjunction are: “for”, “and”, “nor”, “but”, “or”, “yet”, “so”,.
To learn these coordinating conjunctions, you remember the acronym word as “FANBOYS“:
F for “for”,
A for “and”,
N for “nor”,
B for “but”,
O for “or”,
Y for “yet”,
S for “so”
For example:
INCORRECT: I love chicken I would eat them everyday if I could.
CORRECT (1st way): I love chicken; I would eat them everyday if I could.
CORRECT (2nd way): I love chicken, and I would eat them everyday if I could.
SAT Grammar Rule 3
When independent clauses are combined using a comma, a coordinating conjunction is also required. Otherwise, it is a comma splice.
For example:
INCORRECT: I love chicken, I would eat them everyday if I could.
CORRECT: I love chicken, and I would eat them everyday if I could.
SAT Grammar Rule 4
Coordinating conjunctions link an independent clause to another independent clause. Subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Dependent clause are a type of sentence fragment. They contain a subject and a verb but do not form a complete thought.
Therefore, dependent clause must be linked to independent clauses to form complete sentences. They can’t stand alone.
Subordinating conjunctions signal a cause and effect relationship between the two clauses, or they indicate a shift in time and place. Some examples of subordinating conjunctions are “Although”, “After”, “As”, “Before”, “Because”, “By the time”, “Even if”, “Even though”, “If” “Until”, “Unless”, “Since”, “Wherever”, “While”.
For example:
INCORRECT: Work on Sundays, and you’re hired.
CORRECT: If you can work on Sundays, you’re hired.
INCORRECT: Bobby always overslept, and he was late to class.
CORRECT: Bobby was late because he always overslept.
SAT Grammar Rule 5
Parallel structure means that element of a sentence that are alike in function must also be alike in structure.
For example:
INCORRECT: I love biking, hiking, to run, and swimming.
CORRECT: I love biking, hiking, running, and swimming.
INCORRECT: I like to bike more than running.
CORRECT: I love biking more than running.
SAT Grammar Rule 6
In order to avoid confusion, modifiers should be placed close to the noun they modify.
INCORRECT: We bought a cat for my sister named socks.
CORRECT: We bought a cat named socks for my sister.
SAT Grammar Rule 7
Dangling modifiers don’t actually describe any of the words or phrases in the sentences.
INCORRECT: We a sad sigh, the empty mailbox was closed.
CORRECT: Starving, the chicken wings were devoured in ten minutes or less.
SAT Grammar Rule 8
Verb tenses in a sentence must be logical and consistent.
INCORRECT: Although Jamie is once afraid to ride roller coasters, she loves them now.
CORRECT: Although Jamie was once afraid to ride roller coasters, she loves them now.
SAT Grammar Rule 9
Nouns and verbs must agree in number (singular or plural).
INCORRECT: The bathroom in most people homes are the smallest room.
CORRECT: The bathroom in most people’s homes is the smallest room.
SAT Grammar Rule 10
Pronouns must have clear antecedents.
INCORRECT: After the students brought the wrong forms to school, the teacher sent them back home.
CORRECT: After the students brought the wrong forms to school, the teacher sent the forms back home.
SAT Grammar Rule 11
You need to understand the difference between “Its” and “It’s”.
“It’s” with an apostrophe is a contradiction of “It is” or “It has”.
For example: “It’s time for school” means “It is time for school”.
INCORRECT: Florida is known as a great summer vacation spot, with it’s warm weather, beautiful beaches, and numerous theme parks.
CORRECT: Florida is known as a great summer vacation spot, with its warm weather, beautiful beaches, and numerous theme parks.
SAT Grammar Rule 12
You need to understand the difference between “Your” and “You’re”.
INCORRECT: Like many other high school students your excited to see what the future holds.
CORRECT: Like many other high school students you’re excited to see what the future holds.
SAT Grammar Rule 13
You need to understand the difference between “Their”, “There”, “They’re”.
INCORRECT: After a challenging day at school, all of the students were eager to get back to they’re own homes and relax.
CORRECT: After a challenging day at school, all of the students were eager to get back to their own homes and relax.
SAT Grammar Rule 14
You need to understand the difference between “Affect”, “Effect”.
INCORRECT: Pollen has a strong affect on my sinuses, causing my eyes to water and my nose to run.
CORRECT: Pollen has a strong effect on my sinuses, causing my eyes to water and my nose to run.
SAT Grammar Rule 15
You need to avoid illogical comparisons.
INCORRECT: In my family, we eat pizza more than any food.
CORRECT: In my family, we eat pizza more than any other food.
For more details of SAT Grammar Rules, you need to read the book The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, written by Erica L. Meltzer.
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SAT Writing & Language Practice Test
Now, you need to practice on SAT writing and language section. So, in this article of to AKVTutorials, there are some SAT writing passages are given with questions.
SAT Writing & Language Section Practice Paper 1
SAT Writing Passage Title: Whey To Go.
Greek yogurt—a strained form of cultured yogurt—has grown enormously in popularity in the United States since it was first introduced in the country in the late 1980s.
From 2011 to 2012 alone, sales of Greek yogurt in the US increased by 50 percent. The resulting increase in Greek yogurt production has forced those involved in the business to address the detrimental effects that the yogurt-making process may be having on the environment. Fortunately, farmers and others in the Greek yogurt business have found many methods of controlling and eliminating most environmental threats. Given these solutions as well as the many health benefits of the food, the advantages of Greek yogurt 1 outdo the potential drawbacks of its production.
[1] The main environmental problem caused by the production of Greek yogurt is the creation of acid whey as a by-product. [2] Because it requires up to four times more milk to make than conventional yogurt does, Greek yogurt produces larger amounts of acid whey, which is difficult to dispose of. [3] To address the problem of disposal, farmers have found a number of uses for acid whey. [4] They can add it to livestock feed as a protein a protein 2 supplement, and people can make their own Greek-style yogurt at home by straining regular yogurt. [5] If it is improperly introduced into the environment, acid-whey runoff 3 can pollute waterways, depleting the oxygen content of streams and rivers as it decomposes. [6] Yogurt manufacturers, food 4 scientists; and government officials are also working together to develop additional solutions for reusing whey. 5 .
6 Though these conservation methods can be costly and time-consuming, they are well worth the effort. Nutritionists consider Greek yogurt to be a healthy food: it is an excellent source of calcium and protein, serves 7 to be a digestive aid, and 8 it contains few calories in its unsweetened low- and non-fat forms. Greek yogurt is slightly lower in sugar and carbohydrates than conventional yogurt is. 9 Also, because it is more concentrated, Greek yogurt contains slightly more protein per serving, thereby helping people stay 9 satiated for longer periods of time. These health benefits have prompted Greek yogurt’s recent surge in popularity. In fact, Greek yogurt can be found in an increasing number of products such as snack food and frozen desserts. Because consumers reap the nutritional benefits of Greek yogurt and support those who make and sell 11 it, therefore farmers and businesses should continue finding safe and effective methods of producing the food.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 1
Which choice provides the best transition to the information that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : defeat
Option C : outperform
Option D : outweigh
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
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Option D : outweigh
because “outweigh” is the only choice that appropriately reflects the relationship the sentence sets up between “advantages” and “drawbacks.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 2
Which choice provides the most relevant detail?
Option A : No Change
Option B : supplement and convert it into gas to use as fuel in electricity production
Option C : supplement, while sweet whey is more desirable as a food additive for humans.
Option D : supplement, which provides an important element of their diet.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : supplement and convert it into gas to use as fuel in electricity production
because it offers a second action that farmers can undertake to address the problem of acid whey disposal, thus supporting the claim made in the previous sentence (“To address the problem of disposal, farmers have found a number of uses for acid whey”).
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 3
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : can pollute waterway’s
Option C : could have polluted waterways,
Option D : has polluted waterway’s,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No Change
because it results in a sentence that is grammatically correct and coherent. In choice A, “waterways,” the correct plural
form of “waterway,” conveys the idea that acid whey could impact multiple bodies of water. Additionally, the compound verb “can pollute” suggests that acid whey presents an ongoing, potential problem.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 4
Which choice provides the best transition to the information that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : scientists: and
Option C : scientists, and
Option D : scientists, and,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : scientists, and
because it utilizes proper punctuation for items listed in a series. In this case those items are nouns: “Yogurt manufacturers, food scientists, and government officials.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 5
To make this paragraph most logical, sentence 5 should be placed.
Option A : where it is now
Option B : after sentence 1.
Option C : after sentence 2.
Option D : after sentence 3.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : after sentence 2.
because sentence 5 logically links sentence 2, which explains why Greek yogurt production yields large amounts of acid whey, and sentence 3, which mentions the need to dispose of acid whey properly.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 6
The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the writer do this?
Option A : Yes, because it does not provide a transition from the previous paragraph.
Option B : Yes, because it fails to support the main argument of the passage as introduced in the first paragraph.
Option C : No, because it continues the explanation of how acid whey can be disposed of safely
Option D : No, because it sets up the argument in the paragraph for the benefits of Greek yogurt
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : No, because it sets up the argument in the paragraph for the benefits of Greek yogurt
because the paragraph includes several benefits of consuming Greek yogurt, particularly in regard to nutrition and satisfying hunger, to support the sentence’s claim that the conservation efforts are “well worth the effort.” This transition echoes the passage’s earlier claim that “the advantages of Greek yogurt outweigh the potential drawbacks of its production.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 7
Which choice provides the most effectively transition to the information that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : as
Option C : like
Option D : for
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : as
because it provides a grammatically standard preposition that connects the verb “serves” and noun “digestive aid” and
accurately depicts their relationship.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 8
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No Change
Option B : containing
Option C : contains
Option D : will contain
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : contains
because e it presents a verb tense that is consistent in the context of the sentence. The choice is also free of the redundant “it.”.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 9
Which choice provides the best transition to the information that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : In other words,
Option C : Therefore,
Option D : For instance,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it properly introduces an additional health benefit in a series of sentences that list health benefits. “Also” is the
logical and coherent choice to communicate an addition.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 10
Which choice provides the best transition to the information that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : fulfilled
Option C : complacent
Option D : sufficient
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : outweigh
because “satiated” is the only choice that communicates effectively that Greek yogurt will satisfy hunger for a longer
period of time.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 11
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No Change
Option B : it, farmers
Option C : it, so farmers
Option D : it: farmers
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : it, farmers
because it provides a syntactically coherent and grammatically correct sentence.
SAT Writing & Language Section Practice Paper 2
SAT Writing Passage Title: Dark Snow.
Most of Greenland’s interior is covered by a thick layer of ice and compressed snow known as the Greenland Ice Sheet. The size of the ice sheet fluctuates seasonally: in summer, average daily high temperatures in Greenland can rise to slightly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, partially melting the ice; in the winter, the sheet thickens as additional snow falls, and average daily low temperatures can drop 12 to as low as 20 degrees.
Typically, the ice sheet begins to show evidence of thawing in late 13 summer. This follows several weeks of higher temperatures. 14 For example, in the summer of 2012, virtually the entire Greenland Ice Sheet underwent thawing at or near its surface by mid-July, the earliest date on record. Most scientists looking for the causes of the Great Melt of 2012 have focused exclusively on rising temperatures. The summer of 2012 was the warmest in 170 years, records show. But Jason 15 Box, an associate professor of geology at Ohio State believes that another factor added to the early 16 thaw; the “dark snow” problem.
[1] Box’s research is important because the fires of 2012 may not be a one-time phenomenon. [2] According to scientists, rising Arctic temperatures are making northern latitudes greener and thus more fire prone. [3] The pattern Box observed in 2012 may repeat 21 itself again, with harmful effects on the Arctic ecosystem. [4] Box is currently organizing an expedition to gather this crucial information. [5] The next step for Box and his team is to travel to Greenland to perform direct sampling of the ice in order to determine just how much the soot is contributing to the melting of the ice sheet. [6] Members of the public will be able to track his team’s progress—and even help fund the expedition—through a website Box has created. 22
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 12
Which choice most accurately and effectively represents the information in the graph?
Option A : No Change
Option B : to 12 degrees Fahrenheit
Option C : to their lowest point on December 13.
Option D : to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there for months.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : to 12 degrees Fahrenheit
because e the graph clearly indicates that, on March 5, average low temperatures are at their lowest point: 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 13
Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences at the underlined portion?
Option A : summer, following
Option B : summer, and this thawing follows
Option C : summer, and such thawing follows
Option D : summer and this evidence follows
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : summer, following
because it concisely combines the two sentences while maintaining the original meaning.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 14
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : However,
Option C : As such,
Option D : Moreover,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : summer, following
because it provides a conjunctive adverb that accurately represents the relationship between the two sentences. “However” signals an exception to a case stated in the preceding sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 15
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : Box an associate professor of geology at Ohio State,
Option C : Box, an associate professor of geology at Ohio State,
Option D : Box, an associate professor of geology, at Ohio State
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : Box, an associate professor of geology at Ohio State,
because it provides commas to offset the nonrestrictive modifying clause “an associate professor of geology at Ohio State.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 16
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : thaw; and it was
Option C : thaw:
Option D : thaw: being
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : thaw:
because the colon signals that the other factor that contributed to the early thaw is about to be provided.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 17
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : soot
Option C : of which
Option D : DELETE the underlined portion.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : of which
because it provides the correct preposition (“of ”) and relative pronoun (“which”) that together create a dependent
clause following the comma.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 18
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : falls
Option C : will falls
Option D : had fallen
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because the verb tense is consistent with the preceding past tense verbs in the sentence, specifically “produced” and
“drifted.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 19
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : its
Option C : there
Option D : their
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : their
because “their” is the possessive form of a plural noun. In this case, the noun is plural: “snow and ice.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 20
Which choice best completes the description of a self-reinforcing cycle?
Option A : No change
Option B : raises the surface temperature.
Option C : begins to cool at a certain point.
Option D : leads to additional melting.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : leads to additional melting.
The preceding sentences in the paragraph have established that a darker surface of soot-covered snow leads to more melting because this darker surface absorbs heat, whereas a whiter surface, free of soot, would deflect heat. As the passage points out, exposed land and water are also dark and cannot deflect heat the way ice and snow can.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 21
Which of the following options is the most effective?
Option A : No change
Option B : itself,
Option C : itself, with damage and
Option D : itself possibly,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : itself,
because it is free of redundancies.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 22
To make this paragraph most logical, sentence 4 should be placed
Option A : where it is now.
Option B : after sentence 1.
Option C : after sentence 2.
Option D : after sentence 5.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : after sentence 5.
because sentence 5 describes the information Box seeks: “to determine just how much the soot is contributing to the melting of the ice sheet.” Unless sentence 4 comes after sentence 5, readers will not know what the phrase “this crucial information” in sentence 4 refers to.
SAT Writing & Language Section Practice Paper 3
SAT Writing Passage Title: Coworking: A Creative Solution.
When I left my office job as a website developer at a small company for a position that allowed me to work full-time from home, I thought I had it made: I gleefully traded in my suits and dress shoes for sweatpants and slippers, my frantic early-morning bagged lunch packing for a leisurely midday trip to my refrigerator. The novelty of this comfortable work-from-home life, however, 23 soon got worn off quickly. Within a month, I found myself feeling isolated despite having frequent email and instant messaging contact with my colleagues. Having become frustrated trying to solve difficult problems, 24 no colleagues were nearby to share ideas. It was during this time that I read an article 25 into coworking spaces.
The article, published by Forbes magazine, explained that coworking spaces are designated locations that, for a fee, individuals can use to conduct their work. The spaces are usually stocked with standard office 26 equipment, such as photocopiers, printers, and fax machines. 27 In these locations, however, the spaces often include small meeting areas and larger rooms for hosting presentations. 28 The cost of launching a new coworking business in the United States is estimated to be approximately $58,000.
What most caught my interest, though, was a quotation from someone who described coworking spaces as “melting pots of creativity.” The article refers to a 2012 survey in which 29 64 percent of respondents noted that coworking spaces prevented them from completing tasks in a given time. The article goes on to suggest that the most valuable resources provided by coworking spaces are actually the people 30 whom use them.
[1] Thus, even though I already had all the equipment I needed in my home office, I decided to try using a coworking space in my city. [2] Because I was specifically interested in coworking’s reported benefits related to creativity, I chose a facility that offered a bright, open work area where I wouldn’t be isolated. [3] Throughout the morning, more people appeared. [4] Periods of quiet, during which everyone worked independently, were broken up occasionally with lively conversation. 31
I liked the experience so much that I now go to the coworking space a few times a week. Over time, I’ve gotten to know several of my coworking 32 colleagues: another website developer, a graphic designer, a freelance writer, and several mobile app coders. Even those of us who work in disparate fields are able to 33 share advice and help each other brainstorm. In fact, it’s the diversity of their talents and experiences that makes my coworking colleagues so valuable.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 23
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : was promptly worn
Option C : promptly wore
Option D : wore
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : wore
because it is free of redundancies and offers the correct form of the verb “wear” in this context.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 24
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : colleagues were important for sharing ideas.
Option C : ideas couldn’t be shared with colleagues.
Option D : I missed having colleagues nearby to consult.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : I missed having colleagues nearby to consult.
because it is the only choice that provides a grammatically standard and coherent sentence. The participial phrase “Having become frustrated. . .” functions as an adjective modifying “I,” the writer.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 25
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : about
Option C : upon
Option D : for
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : I missed having colleagues nearby to consult.
because it provides the correct preposition in this context, “about.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 26
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : equipment, such as:
Option C : equipment such as:
Option D : equipment, such as,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it provides the correct punctuation for the dependent clause that begins with the phrase “such as.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 27
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : colleagues were important for sharing ideas.
Option C : ideas couldn’t be shared with colleagues.
Option D : I missed having colleagues nearby to consult.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : colleagues were important for sharing ideas.
because it provides a transitional phrase, “In addition to equipment,” that accurately represents the relationship between
the two sentences connected by the transitional phrase. Together, the sentences describe the key features of coworking spaces, focusing on what the spaces offer (equipment and meeting rooms).
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 28
The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?
Option A : Kept, because it provides a detail that supports the main topic of the paragraph.
Option B : Kept, because it sets up the main topic of the paragraph that follows.
Option C : Deleted, because it blurs the paragraph’s main focus with a loosely related detail.
Option D : Deleted, because it repeats information that has been provided in an earlier paragraph.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : Deleted, because it blurs the paragraph’s main focus with a loosely related detail.
because the sentence is a distraction from the paragraph’s focus. Nothing in the paragraph suggests that the cost of setting up a coworking business is relevant here.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 29
At this point, the writer wants to add specific information that supports the main topic of the paragraph.
Which choice most effectively completes the sentence with relevant and accurate information based on the graph above?
Option A : No Change
Option B : 71 percent of respondents indicated that using a coworking space increased their creativity.
Option C : respondents credited coworking spaces with giving them 74 percent of their ideas relating to business.
Option D : respondents revealed that their ability to focus on their work improved by 12 percent in a coworking space.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : 71 percent of respondents indicated that using a coworking space increased their creativity.
because it logically follows the writer’s preceding statement about creativity and accurately represents the information in
the graph.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 30
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : whom uses
Option C : who uses
Option D : who use
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : who use
because it provides a relative pronoun and verb that create a standard and coherent sentence. The relative pronoun “who” refers to the subject “the people,” and the plural verb “use” corresponds grammatically with the plural noun people.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 31
The writer wants to add the following sentence to the paragraph.
After filling out a simple registration form and taking a quick tour of the facility, I took a seat at a table and got right to work on my laptop.
The best placement for the sentence is immediately
Option A : before sentence 1.
Option B : after sentence 1.
Option C : after sentence 2.
Option D : after sentence 3.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : after sentence 2.
because the proposed sentence offers a necessary and logical transition between sentence 2, which introduces the facility
the writer chose, and sentence 3, which tells what happened at the facility “Throughout the morning.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 32
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : colleagues;
Option C : colleagues,
Option D : colleagues
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because the punctuation it provides results in a grammatically standard and coherent sentence. When an independent
clause is followed by a list, a colon is used to link the two.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 33
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : give some wisdom
Option C : proclaim our opinions
Option D : opine
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it provides a phrase that is consistent with standard English usage and also maintains the tone and style of the
passage.
SAT Writing & Language Section Practice Paper 4
SAT Writing Passage Title: The Consolations of Philosophy
Long viewed by many as the stereotypical useless major, philosophy is now being seen by many students and prospective employers as in fact a very useful and practical major, offering students a host of transferable skills with relevance to the modern workplace. 34 In broad terms, philosophy is the study of meaning and the values underlying thought and behavior. But 35 more pragmatically, the discipline encourages students to analyze complex material, question conventional beliefs, and express thoughts in a concise manner.
Because philosophy 36 teaching students not what to think but how to think, the age-old discipline offers consistently useful tools for academic and professional achievement. 37 A 1994 survey concluded that only 18 percent of American colleges required at least one philosophy course. 38 Therefore, between 1992 and 1996, more than 400 independent philosophy departments were eliminated from institutions.
More recently, colleges have recognized the practicality and increasing popularity of studying philosophy and have markedly increased the number of philosophy programs offered. By 2008 there were 817 programs, up from 765 a decade before. In addition, the number of four-year graduates in philosophy has grown 46 percent in a decade. Also, studies have found that those students who major in philosophy often do better than students from other majors in both verbal reasoning and analytical 39 writing. These results can be measured by standardized test scores. On the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), for example, students intending to study philosophy in graduate school 40 has scored higher than students in all but four other majors.
These days, many 41 student’s majoring in philosophy have no intention of becoming philosophers; instead they plan to apply those skills to other disciplines. Law and business specifically benefit from the complicated theoretical issues raised in the study of philosophy, but philosophy can be just as useful in engineering or any field requiring complex analytic skills. 42 That these skills are transferable across professions.
43 which makes them especially beneficial to twenty-first-century students. Because today’s students can expect to hold multiple jobs—some of which may not even exist yet—during 44 our lifetime, studying philosophy allows them to be flexible and adaptable. High demand, advanced exam scores, and varied professional skills all argue for maintaining and enhancing philosophy courses and majors within academic institutions.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 34
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : For example,
Option C : In contrast,
Option D : Nevertheless,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it offers a phrase that introduces a basic definition of philosophy and thereby fits the sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 35
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : speaking in a more pragmatic way,
Option C : speaking in a way more pragmatically
Option D : in a more pragmatic-speaking way,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it offers the most succinct comparison between the basic definition of philosophy and the fact that students can gain specific, practical skills from the study of philosophy. There is no need to include the participle “speaking” in this sentence, as it is clear from context that the writer is offering a different perspective.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 36
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : teaches
Option C : to teach
Option D : and teaching
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : No change
because it provides a verb that creates a grammatically complete, standard, and coherent sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 37
Which choice most effectively sets up the information that follows?
Option A : Consequently, philosophy students have been receiving an increasing number of job offers.
Option B : Therefore, because of the evidence, colleges increased their offerings in philosophy.
Option C : Notwithstanding the attractiveness of this course of study, students have resisted majoring in philosophy.
Option D : However, despite its many utilitarian benefits, colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : However, despite its many utilitarian benefits, colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy.
because it most effectively sets up the information in the following sentences, which state that (according to information
from the 1990s) “only 18 percent of American colleges required at least one philosophy course,” and “more than 400 independent philosophy departments were eliminated” from colleges. These details are most logically linked to the claim that “colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 38
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : Thus,
Option C : Moreover,
Option D : However,
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : Moreover
because it provides a transition that logically connects the information in the previous sentence to the information in this
one. Both sentences provide evidence of colleges’ lack of support of philosophy programs, so the adverb “Moreover,” which means “In addition,” accurately captures the relationship between the two sentences
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 39
Which choice most effectively combines the sentences at the underlined portion?
Option A : writing as
Option B : writing, and these results can be
Option C : writing, which can also be
Option D : writing when the results are
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option A : writing as
because it succinctly expresses the idea that “students who major in philosophy often do better . . . as measured by standardized test scores.”
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 40
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : have scored
Option C : scores
Option D : scoring
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : have scored
because it provides subject-verb agreement and thus creates a grammatically correct and coherent sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 41
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : students majoring
Option C : students major
Option D : student’s majors
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option B : students majoring
because it provides a coherent and grammatically standard sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 42
At this point, the writer is considering adding the following sentence.
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, wrote many of his works in the form of dialogues.
Should the writer make this addition here?
Option A : Yes, because it reinforces the passage’s main point about the employability of philosophy majors.
Option B : Yes, because it acknowledges a common counterargument to the passage’s central claim.
Option C : No, because it blurs the paragraph’s focus by introducing a new idea that goes unexplained.
Option D : No, because it undermines the passage’s claim about the employability of philosophy majors.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option C : No, because it blurs the paragraph’s focus by introducing a new idea that goes unexplained.
because it accurately depicts how inserting this sentence would affect the overall paragraph. The fact that Plato used the dialogue form has little relevance to the preceding claim about the usefulness of a philosophy background.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 43
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : that
Option C : and
Option D : DELETE the underlined portion.
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : DELETE the underlined portion.
because it creates a complete and coherent sentence.
SAT Writing Practice Test Question No 44
Which choice most effectively sets up the example that follows?
Option A : No Change
Option B : one’s
Option C : his or her
Option D : their
SAT Writing Practice Test Answer
Show/Hide Answer
Option D : their
because it provides a possessive pronoun that is consistent with the sentence’s plural subject “students,” thus creating a grammatically sound sentence.
For improving your SAT writing sections, you must read the SAT Grammar Rules book known as The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar, written by Erica L. Meltzer.
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