Correcting Ambiguity and Redundancy Errors - PSAT Writing
Card 1 of 300
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audience enjoying the show.
Inspired by storylines that would come to him in dreams, Lord Bennington would stage one-man plays, his audience enjoying the show.
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The original statement is grammatically incorrect because "audience" and "show" should be plural. Also, "his audience enjoying the show" makes the sentence into a run-on. The correct answer is concise and not awkward.
The original statement is grammatically incorrect because "audience" and "show" should be plural. Also, "his audience enjoying the show" makes the sentence into a run-on. The correct answer is concise and not awkward.
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Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
Every person in the room appreciating the jokes by the performers.
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The sentence as written is actually a fragment, as it does not contain a proper verb. The word "appreciating" in the sentence is a gerund, or a verb form that can function as anoun. The correct answer will use a full verb form, as "Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers" does.
The sentence as written is actually a fragment, as it does not contain a proper verb. The word "appreciating" in the sentence is a gerund, or a verb form that can function as anoun. The correct answer will use a full verb form, as "Every person in the room appreciated the jokes by the performers" does.
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Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.
Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.
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The underlined phrase in the sentence is awkwardly worded, which makes the sentence itself difficult to understand. The "religious texts" contain contradictions, a meaning not conveyed properly by the sentence. "Contradicting themselves" is the clearest, most appropriate choice among the answers.
The underlined phrase in the sentence is awkwardly worded, which makes the sentence itself difficult to understand. The "religious texts" contain contradictions, a meaning not conveyed properly by the sentence. "Contradicting themselves" is the clearest, most appropriate choice among the answers.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The boy having been the one who found the letter, received the reward.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The boy having been the one who found the letter, received the reward.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is convoluted and awkward, which makes its meaning difficult to understand. The same idea can be found in a much simpler form. "The boy who found the letter" is the best choice among the answers.
The underlined portion of the sentence is convoluted and awkward, which makes its meaning difficult to understand. The same idea can be found in a much simpler form. "The boy who found the letter" is the best choice among the answers.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Authors often find struggle when attempting to provide details of their characters' appearances.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Authors often find struggle when attempting to provide details of their characters' appearances.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is both awkwardly phrased and unclear in its meaning. The word choices need to be cleaned up to appropriately convey the meaning of the sentence. "Struggle when attempting to provide" gives the same meaning as "find struggle when attempting to provide" in a more straightforward manner, and is the best choice among the answers.
The underlined portion of the sentence is both awkwardly phrased and unclear in its meaning. The word choices need to be cleaned up to appropriately convey the meaning of the sentence. "Struggle when attempting to provide" gives the same meaning as "find struggle when attempting to provide" in a more straightforward manner, and is the best choice among the answers.
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River currents become stronger as a river grows wider, danger becoming more likely.
River currents become stronger as a river grows wider, danger becoming more likely.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is a referential phrase that does not clearly fit into the sentence's meaning. The same meaning to the sentence can be given with a more cohesive word choice. "Becoming more dangerous" is the only answer choice that appropriately refers to the preceding part of the sentence and is grammatically correct.
The underlined portion of the sentence is a referential phrase that does not clearly fit into the sentence's meaning. The same meaning to the sentence can be given with a more cohesive word choice. "Becoming more dangerous" is the only answer choice that appropriately refers to the preceding part of the sentence and is grammatically correct.
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All people choose their own religious denomination when they have been adults.
All people choose their own religious denomination when they have been adults.
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The underlined phrase is very awkwardly worded, and the use of the past perfect form "have been" is confusing. The phrase needs to be cleaned up for better clarity of meaning. "When they are adults" is the best choice among the answers.
The underlined phrase is very awkwardly worded, and the use of the past perfect form "have been" is confusing. The phrase needs to be cleaned up for better clarity of meaning. "When they are adults" is the best choice among the answers.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.
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The underlined phrase is extremely awkwardly worded, and can be cleaned up quite easily. "To find happiness" is the cleanest expression of the sentiment of the phrase's meaning.
The underlined phrase is extremely awkwardly worded, and can be cleaned up quite easily. "To find happiness" is the cleanest expression of the sentiment of the phrase's meaning.
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Few people understand the sheer work involved in having written of a novel.
Few people understand the sheer work involved in having written of a novel.
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The underlined phrase is awkwardly worded, and as such can lead to confusion. In order for the sentence to be improved, the words should be simplified and clarified. Making the final phrase of the sentence simply "writing a novel" is the best answer choice.
The underlined phrase is awkwardly worded, and as such can lead to confusion. In order for the sentence to be improved, the words should be simplified and clarified. Making the final phrase of the sentence simply "writing a novel" is the best answer choice.
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The children couldn't sleep, and the reason for this is that they were too excited about their upcoming vaction.
The children couldn't sleep, and the reason for this is that they were too excited about their upcoming vaction.
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The children's excitement is the cause of their unability to sleep, not the other way around, so we can eliminate the answers containing "therefore" and "so." "Because" is the best of the remaining answers because it is more direct and less wordy than the others.
The children's excitement is the cause of their unability to sleep, not the other way around, so we can eliminate the answers containing "therefore" and "so." "Because" is the best of the remaining answers because it is more direct and less wordy than the others.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Rarely does a teacher want to publicly humiliate a student in front of students making the rest of the class.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Rarely does a teacher want to publicly humiliate a student in front of students making the rest of the class.
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The sentence as written is poorly worded, and slightly confusing because of it. The underlined portion in particular can be cleaned up to mean the same thing as it does in the sentence already. The best answer choice, therefore, is "in fornt of the rest of the students in the class."
The sentence as written is poorly worded, and slightly confusing because of it. The underlined portion in particular can be cleaned up to mean the same thing as it does in the sentence already. The best answer choice, therefore, is "in fornt of the rest of the students in the class."
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Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
The downpour of rain, which soaked us all, was very sudden.
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The best answer is the most concise, has no interrupting phrases, and uses the active voice.
The best answer is the most concise, has no interrupting phrases, and uses the active voice.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
He hung all of the data, maps, and photos of the key suspects on the wall with the purpose of being able to visualize any potential patterns.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
He hung all of the data, maps, and photos of the key suspects on the wall with the purpose of being able to visualize any potential patterns.
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The best answer is the simplest and most concise.
The best answer is the simplest and most concise.
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Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
Many food products that are marketed as “natural” or “healthy,” which lures in health-conscious consumers, but these claims are meaningless because they do not reflect any standardized guidelines.
Choose the best way to rephrase the underlined portion of the sentence. One of the answer choices repeats the original phrasing.
Many food products that are marketed as “natural” or “healthy,” which lures in health-conscious consumers, but these claims are meaningless because they do not reflect any standardized guidelines.
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The best answer is the most concise and straightforward phrasing.
The best answer is the most concise and straightforward phrasing.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Under condition of anonymity, the informant gave the testimony against the people that were once his former employers.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
Under condition of anonymity, the informant gave the testimony against the people that were once his former employers.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is oddly constructed and poorly worded, although there are no grammatical problems. This portion of the sentence needs to be simplified. "Against his former employees" is the best choice among the answers.
The underlined portion of the sentence is oddly constructed and poorly worded, although there are no grammatical problems. This portion of the sentence needs to be simplified. "Against his former employees" is the best choice among the answers.
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Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final. She didn't realize only a few had cheated.
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The teacher reprimanded all the students after the final. She didn't realize only a few had cheated.
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In this case, the original is the best choice. It separates independent clauses with a comma, and avoid the passive voice.
In this case, the original is the best choice. It separates independent clauses with a comma, and avoid the passive voice.
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Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The artist depicted the responses of farmers to industrialization: this was a perspective rarely seen at the time.
Select the answer that produces the most effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, without awkwardness or ambiguity.
The artist depicted the responses of farmers to industrialization: this was a perspective rarely seen at the time.
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Here the original sentence is the best option: it is simple and uses correct punctuation.
Here the original sentence is the best option: it is simple and uses correct punctuation.
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The most shocking element of the film was its frank depiction of Medieval Europe violence.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The most shocking element of the film was its frank depiction of Medieval Europe violence.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is oddly worded and unwieldy. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choice and making the meaning more clear. The best answer choice is "the violence that took place in Medieval Europe."
The underlined portion of the sentence is oddly worded and unwieldy. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choice and making the meaning more clear. The best answer choice is "the violence that took place in Medieval Europe."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The earliest known evidence for fermented drinks pre-dates the inventing by people of writing.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
The earliest known evidence for fermented drinks pre-dates the inventing by people of writing.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is written in a lengthy and confusing manner. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choices. The best answer choice is "people's invention of writing."
The underlined portion of the sentence is written in a lengthy and confusing manner. The sentence can be greatly improved by simplifying the word choices. The best answer choice is "people's invention of writing."
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Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
To make the groups all undertake to get equal funding, the accountant had to perform careful calculations and negotiations.
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.
To make the groups all undertake to get equal funding, the accountant had to perform careful calculations and negotiations.
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The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy and confusing, with a passive construction and two verbs, "make" and "undertake," being at odds with each other. This phrase needs to be greatly simplified to be improved. "So that the groups would all seek equal funding," is the best choice among the answers.
The underlined portion of the sentence is overly wordy and confusing, with a passive construction and two verbs, "make" and "undertake," being at odds with each other. This phrase needs to be greatly simplified to be improved. "So that the groups would all seek equal funding," is the best choice among the answers.
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