SAT Questions

Improving Sentences

As part of the new Writing Section, this type of question tests a student's knowledge of grammar, sentence construction, and punctuation. But that is not all. The student is also expected to recognize and eliminate awkwardness or ambiguity.

Directions: Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined: beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select A; if not, select one of other choices.

1. Evidence from surveys and interviews show friendships made in high school tend to last longer than those made in college.

1. show friendships made in high school tend to last
2. show high school friendships that tend to last
3. is showing high school friendships tending to last
4. shows that friendships made in high school tend to last
5. shows friendships in high school tends to last

• Did you realize that "evidence" is the singular subject and should therefore take a singular verb?
• Do you know when a verb is singular?
• Did you also notice that the addition of "that" properly introduces the subordinate clause?

2. The city is populated by many people who, although their common language is English,
the languages at home range from speaking Armenian to Zapotec.

1. the languages at home range from speaking Armenian to Zapotec
2. speaking at home is in languages ranging from Armenian to Zapotec
3. the languages range from Armenian to Zapotec at home
4. speak languages at home that range from Armenian to Zapotec
5. they are speaking languages at home ranging from Armenian to Zapotec

• Did you realize that the underlined portion of the sentence is a run-on?
• Did you realize that choice D begins with the verb "speak" which "who" requires?