Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

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SAT Writing › Correcting Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors

Questions 1 - 10
1

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."

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.

People spend a lifetime trying to finding happiness of life.

to find happiness.

to finding happiness of life.

to find happiness of life.

to finding happiness in life.

finding happiness of life

Explanation

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.

3

Religious texts often appear quite difficult to understand, being contradictions of themselves.

contradicting themselves.

being contradictions of themselves.

being contradictions of them.

contradicting them.

being contradicting them.

Explanation

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.

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.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project was taken away from the young associate.

Making plenty of mistakes so the project was taken away from the young associate.

Making plenty of mistakes, the project being taken away from the young associate.

The project was taken away from the young associate because it made plenty of mistakes.

Explanation

The sentence is written in such a way to make it seem like the "project" was "making plenty of mistakes." The sentence needs to be reworded and restructured to show that it was "the young associate" who was "making plenty of mistakes." The correct answer choice is the only answer choice that makes this clear, "The project was taken away from the young associate because he was making plenty of mistakes."

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.

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."

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.

Coming back to the farm, the gruesome scene was seen by everyone in the car.

everyone in the car saw the gruesome scene.

the gruesome scene was seen by everyone in the car.

the gruesome scene saw by everyone in the car.

the gruesome scene was seen by everyone at the car.

the gruesome scene being seen by everyone in the car.

Explanation

The sentence is written with a dangling modifier, which makes the sentence read as though the "gruesome scene" was what was "coming back to the farm." The sentence needs to be restructured to clarify this problem. The only answer choice that does this is "everyone in the car saw the gruesome scene."

7

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.

Moving into his new house, the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.

the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper.

the wallpaper were completely renovated by the homeowner.

the wallpaper was completely renovated by the homeowner.

the wallpaper were completely renovation by the homeowner.

the wallpaper completely renovated by the homeowner.

Explanation

The sentence is written in such a way that it makes it seem like "the wallpaper" was "moving into his new house." The sentence needs to be rearranged to show that the "homeowner" is actually the one doing the moving. The only answer choice that does this is "the homeowner completely renovated the wallpaper."

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.

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.

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.

Scientists have determined that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.

include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.

includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.

tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress.

include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress.

include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress.

Explanation

The answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" is correct because it contains appropriate parallelism—in this case, a list of three noun phrases.

The original text "include family history, poor diet, and having an excess of stress" and the answer choice "include family history, poor diet, and having an excessive amount of stress" contain faulty parallelism—the last item in the list includes the verb "having" whereas the first two items in the list do not employ verbs. These answers are therefore incorrect.

Answer choices "includes family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" and "tends to include family history, poor diet, and excessive stress" are incorrect because they both use singular predicates for the plural subject, "risk factors for cardiovascular disease."

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. One of the answer choices repeats the underlined portion as it is written.

Passing by the waterfront, the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.

spectators strolled as the ducks and geese floated around.

the ducks and geese were floating around as spectators strolled.

the ducks and geese and spectators floated around and strolled.

spectators strolled but the ducks and geese floated around.

the ducks and geese floated around as spectators strolled.

Explanation

The best answer fixes the dangling participle that starts the sentence (the subject of the main clause should be the one doing the action described in the opening phrase), and uses a logical coordinator.

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