Improving Sentences

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PSAT Writing › Improving Sentences

Questions 1 - 10
1

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.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is learned by children.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.

Explanation

With the sentence phrased the way it is, the thing that is "caring for a pet" appears to be "responsibility." This dangling modifier needs to be changed to make it clear that "children" are "caring for a pet." The correct answer choice is "Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet."

2

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 new bylaws of the organization was ratified by a unanimous vote yesterday.

The new bylaws of the organization were

The new bylaws of the organization was

The new bylaws for the organization was

The new bylaws from the organization was

The newer bylaws of the organization was

Explanation

While the singular verb "was" is next to the singular noun "organization," the subject of the sentence is the plural noun "bylaws." This means that the verb "was" needs to be changed to a plural form; therefore, "The new bylaws of the organization were" is the correct answer choice.

3

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 many problems accruing in the project seeming to get worse over time.

seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to get worse over time.

have seeming to get worse over time.

have been seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to getting worse over time.

Explanation

The use of the verb "seeming" in the sentence makes the sentence incomplete. As "seeming" is a gerund, or a verb form that functions as a noun, there is actually no verb in the sentence. The correct answer is "seemed to get worse over time."

4

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.

An individual's optimal pulse rate, the study shows, depends on their weight, height, and age.

depends on his or her weight, height, and age

depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are

have depended on their weight, height, and age

has depended on their weight, height, and age

depends on their weight, height, and age

Explanation

The original text contains a pronoun agreement error. The possessive pronoun "their" is plural, but it is intended to refer to the singular noun "individual." We must use singular possessive pronouns instead, such as "his or her."

Only answer choices "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" and "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" correctly use "his or her" instead of "their," but answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" does not use correct parallel structure. Therefore, the answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" is correct.

5

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.

Due to the elliptical shape of celestial orbits, the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time.

the distance between the sun with the planets vary over time.

the distance of the sun to the planets vary over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets have varied over time.

the distance between the sun and the planets vary over time.

Explanation

The answer choice "the distance between the sun and the planets varies over time" is correct. It correctly uses a singular verb—"varies"—to match the singular subject, "distance."

All of the other answer choices are incorrect because they contain a subject-verb number agreement error. They use plural verb forms when they should use singular verb forms instead.

6

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.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet responsibility is something children can learn.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is learned by children.

Caring for a pet, responsibility is something children learn.

Explanation

With the sentence phrased the way it is, the thing that is "caring for a pet" appears to be "responsibility." This dangling modifier needs to be changed to make it clear that "children" are "caring for a pet." The correct answer choice is "Responsibility is something children can learn by caring for a pet."

7

Ascertaining the meaning of ancient writing is often beyond the reach of even the most learning scholars.

even the most learned scholars.

even the most learning scholars.

the most learning scholars.

even scholars most learning.

even the most learning of scholars.

Explanation

The underlined phrase has a problem with the phrase "most learning." The phrase is describing the word "scholars." While the scholars might have "the most learning," this would make them "the most learned." The correct answer is "even the most learned of scholars."

8

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.

An individual's optimal pulse rate, the study shows, depends on their weight, height, and age.

depends on his or her weight, height, and age

depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are

have depended on their weight, height, and age

has depended on their weight, height, and age

depends on their weight, height, and age

Explanation

The original text contains a pronoun agreement error. The possessive pronoun "their" is plural, but it is intended to refer to the singular noun "individual." We must use singular possessive pronouns instead, such as "his or her."

Only answer choices "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" and "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" correctly use "his or her" instead of "their," but answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and how old they are" does not use correct parallel structure. Therefore, the answer choice "depends on his or her weight, height, and age" is correct.

9

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 many problems accruing in the project seeming to get worse over time.

seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to get worse over time.

have seeming to get worse over time.

have been seemed to get worse over time.

seeming to getting worse over time.

Explanation

The use of the verb "seeming" in the sentence makes the sentence incomplete. As "seeming" is a gerund, or a verb form that functions as a noun, there is actually no verb in the sentence. The correct answer is "seemed to get worse over time."

10

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.

Waiting for the crucial trial to begin, the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.

Neil felt almost overwhelmed with anxiety.

the anxiety Neil felt was almost overwhelming.

the anxiety almost overwhelmed Neil.

the anxiety being felt by Neil was almost overwhelming.

Neil's anxiety felt almost overwhelming.

Explanation

When a sentence begins with a dangling participle or descriptive phrase, the person or thing described in that phrase (in this case, "Neil") must immediately follow it. Only one answer choice does this correctly. The answer choice that begins "Neil's anxiety" may appear to do so, but it does not, because the possessive "Neil's" is no longer the subject, but is describing the anxiety.

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