SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

NEW SAT 2016

WRITING TEST
SOLUTIONS
Preview Quiz
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
places the unnecessarynonessentialphrase
they said in between commas, and it ends the
complete idea with a colon before stating the simple
reason. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
simply describes how they said it, not the reason
itself. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because it
does not put a comma before they to close off the
phrase they said, which ends with a comma.
Answer choice (D) is incorrect because simply
describes was, but this should be an adjective
(simple) to describe the reason.
2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because the
underlined sentence is not needed; it does not refer
to the specific ideas in the paragraph it is in or to the
specific ideas in the following paragraph. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because there is nothing to
connect the idea of jazz being an original American
art form to the rest of the passage. Answer choice
(B) is incorrect because the war in Vietnam is not a
main point of this passage. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because just naming two other jazz singers
does not provide any necessary information to the
paragraph, nor does it transition to the next
paragraph.

HH-1

3. (A) Answer choice (A) is correct because it is the

correct verb form to indicate that the jazz leaders
had already begun experimenting and were still in
the process of experimenting. Answer choice (B) is
incorrect because it indicates that the jazz leaders
had finished their experiments and had nothing
more to do. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
there is no verb to align with leaders. Answer
choice (D) is incorrect because it does not provide a
verb for the sentence.
4. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
literally and specifically addresses the needs of the
question: while also providing a specific time
reference. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
it does not give a specific time frame. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because it does not mention
an exact time. Answer choice (D) is incorrect
because a matter of years does not indicate
specifically how many years: this option is vague.
5. (A) Answer choice (A) is correct because a
comma should come before the unnecessary phrase
according to jazz performer Carmen McRae. This
phrase ends with a comma and should be separated
from the rest of the sentence by a comma at its
beginning in order to match the existing
punctuation. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because
it includes became in the unnecessary phrase
according toMcRae, and thus eliminates the

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

verb, creating the fragment Carter one of the great
jazz singers. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because it creates the phrase Carter became
according to, and separates Carmen McRae from
the rest of the sentence with commas, which means
that the name could be removed. Taking out
Carmen McRae would make the sentence
incorrectly say, Carter became according to one of
the great jazz singers. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it does not have the comma after
became which is needed to create the unnecessary
phrase according toMcRae.
6. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because
nonetheless indicates a contrast between this
sentence and the one before it. In the previous
sentence Carter was lauded, but in this sentence the
record companies continue to warn her to fear for
her career. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
the warnings of jeopardy to her career are not an
additional example of the praise she received from
other jazz performers. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because this sentence is not a consequence
of the sentence before it. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because this sentence is not extra
information on an idea that was introduced in the
previous sentence. The two sentences contrast each
other. Also, choices (A) and (C) are synonymous:
two answers cannot be selected, so both may be
eliminated.

I. Improving Passages
Passage Organization and
Development
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
addresses the main topic of the essay, which is the
protest of sexism and racism in the art world and in
society as a whole. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because it does not address the artists gender or
skin color, ideas which are integral to the passage.
Also, where their work was shown is irrelevant to
the topic of racism and sexism. Answer choice (C)
is incorrect because the focus of the passage is not
the number of Americans who display their art in
HH-2

exhibitions. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because

the focus of the passage is not the established
reputations of the artists, but the discrimination
women and non-white artists experienced and how
The Guerilla Girls addressed this issue.
5. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because the
passage indicates that the main purpose of the
Guerilla Girls protests was to address inequality
(to protest sexism and racism in the art world);
this is the only answer choice to address that idea.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because their
protests were not about encouraging people to
become artists. They wanted to highlight the
discrimination in the art world. Answer choice (C)
is incorrect because the styles of artists were not the
reason for the protests. This answer does not return
to the purpose behind the protests. Answer choice
(D) is incorrect because their protests were not
driven by becoming more sarcastic; this choice is
also fails to mention discrimination. The purpose
for their protests was to expose the exclusion of
women and people of color from art exhibitions.

Insertion/Modification
2. (A) Answer choice (A) is correct because it links
why the Guerilla Girls had to change their
protesting methods with what those new methods
were. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because their
original protests were ignored, and continuing to do
the same thing does not introduce the idea in the
next paragraph of how the women call attention
more dramatically to issues of discrimination.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because, while their
protests did highlight racism and sexism in the art
world, that answer choice does not connect the
previous sentence (about people ignoring them)
with the next paragraph (about their protesting
methods). Answer choice (D) is incorrect because,
while their protests showed their irritation by the
exhibit, this choice does not connect the prior
sentence to the next paragraph.
4. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because
sentence one mentions the posters which are

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

referred to in the added sentence. The second
sentence shifts away from discussing the posters to
discussing the topics The Gorilla Girls materials
addressed, so the added sentence must go after
sentence one and before sentence two. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because one of the posters
indicates that posters have already been
mentioned in the paragraph. The transition For
example cannot begin this paragraph: posters
have not yet been referred to if the added sentence
is the first in the paragraph. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because the topic of the poster content is
not addressed in sentence two. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because sentence three shifts the
discussion to awards and honors for not just their
posters, but also for their books and performances:
the added sentence does not connect ideas logically
that late in the paragraph.

Sentence Combination
3. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it uses
a semicolon to separate the two combined
sentences, both of which are independent clauses.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because using a
comma before therefore creates a comma splice:
therefore is not a FANBOYS conjunction (for,
and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Answer choice (B) is
incorrect because it uses only a comma before
their, between the two sentences. This error
creates a comma splice. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because, while it uses a semicolon, it also
turns the second sentence into a fragment by
omitting the subject: semicolons should only be
used between two complete sentences.

II. Punctuation Errors

1. Comma Usage: Bob looked up at the bright sky,
and he blinked.
2. Dashes and Parentheses: The best advice for
taking tests (I mean SAT exams) is to study before
the exam.
3. Apostrophes: Im so happy to learn that those
chores are hers and not mine.
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4. Colons and Semicolons: I went shopping at the

grocery store to buy many things: milk, bread, and
cheese.
Problems:
1. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because of
Norway, as a necessary (essential) prepositional
phrase, does not require commas around it. To
further support this, there are no commas around
of Minnesota, which identifies Ann Bancrofts
home state. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
it uses a comma after of Norway, but there is no
comma later in the sentence after of Minnesota.
Answer choice (B) is incorrect because it needlessly
separates the prepositional phrase of Norway with
commas when it does not need them, and later in
the sentence, of Minnesota does not have commas
around it. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because it
places commas around of Norway and Anne
Bancroft, but doing so would separate these words
from the rest of the sentence; these words are
needed to understand the meaning of the entire
sentence and cannot be set apart with commas.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
removes it is from the sentence: the new sentence
now states, On November 13, 2000, the pair
boarded a small plane in South Africa and took a
six-hour flight to Blue One Runway, a solid-ice
airstrip on the Atlantic coast of Antarctica. The last
part of the sentence is now an appositive correctly
modifying Blue One Runway. Answer choice (A)
is incorrect because it is a comma splice: the parts
before and after the comma are two independent
clauses. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because the
phrase beginning with a solid ice strip, is just a
modifier, which should be preceded by a comma: it
is nonessential information for identifying the
subject. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because
being is redundant: the phrase already serves as a
modifier for the runway. Being is unnecessary
and incorrectly used in this context.
3. (A) Answer choice (A) is correct because the
sentence is fine as it is written. The night security

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

guard at the marina is an appositive that adds extra
information about Carney, but it is not essential to
the sentence. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because it places a comma at the beginning of the
nonessential phrase the night security guard at the
marina but does not close off the phrase with a
second comma. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because it only uses a comma at the end of the
phrase, and not one at the beginning. Answer choice
(D) is incorrect because commas are needed around
the phrase the night security guard at the marina;
this nonessential phrase is not needed to identify the
subject of the sentence.
4. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it uses
a colon to introduce the examples of the
misconceptions of bats, and the portion in front of it
is an independent clause that can stand on its own.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because what comes
after the semicolon is not a complete sentence.
Answer choice (B) is incorrect because a comma
should not be used to introduce the series of things
that define the misconceptions of bats. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because it uses no
punctuation to separate the examples from the
beginning of the sentence.
5. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it starts
the nonessential information or LED with a
comma, but fails to use a comma at the end of the
phrase. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because it
correctly uses dashes on either side of the phrase
LED for short. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because it correctly uses dashes to set apart LED
from the rest of the sentence. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it uses parentheses correctly to set
LED apart from the rest of the sentence.

III. Incorrect Transitionals

Illogical Divider: Devon talks in a monotone, so
some people find him boring.
The temperatures were below freezing everyday
during the winter; however (or nonetheless),
Daniel wore shorts all the time.
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Problems:
1. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because
however is needed; the sentence implies that it
was expected that the pair sail more than 34 miles.
However highlights the contrast between the two
sentences. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
accordingly does not show contrast between the
two sentences: accordingly means in an
appropriate, suitable way, or consequently, or
harmoniously. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because otherwise does not show the difference
between the first and second sentences: otherwise
means as an alternative or in another way.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because the slow
travel over the second set of five days was not a
consequence (result) of the first day. Also, choices
(A) and (C) are synonymous: two answers cannot
be selected, so both may be eliminated.
2. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because it
correctly uses a comma and a FANBOYS
conjunction to separate the two independent
clauses. But is also the correct transition word to
show contrast. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because, as it stands now, the sentence has a comma
splice. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because
however cannot be used with just a comma: it is
not a FANBOYS conjunction. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it creates a run on sentence: it
fails to use any correct punctuation or a FANBOYS
conjunction between two independent clauses.

IV. Pronoun Errors

Examples:
1. Pronoun Number: Everyone is the stands is
throwing her (or his) hat high into the air. (Pick
one or the other as context demandsnot both.
Avoid his or her, unless it is the only possible
alternative. The phrase his or her is sexist: it puts
his before her. This phrase also appears
primarily in wrong answers. )
2. Pronoun Case: Jennifer and he are going to see a
movie.

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

3. Pronoun Ambiguous Reference: Gustavo and
Chris were holding hands during the movie, and
Chris (or Gustavo or they or Roger) looked
very worried. (Pick a name, or specify both, or
introduce a new person, as context demands.)
4. Pronoun Vague Reference: In Sweden, the
natives (or people) eat pickled herring.
Problems
1. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because it uses
a plural pronoun to refer to the plural subject,
kayaks. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
it is singular and kayaks (the antecedent) is
plural. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because
one is a third person singular pronoun, but
kayaks is a plural noun. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it makes the second sentence a
fragment beginning with which. Which are
creates a modifying phrase adding detail to the
antecedent for which.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because who
refers to the subject of the sentence, Bannekers
grandmother. Who should be used because it
replaces the subject: it is the nominative form of the
pronoun. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
whom is objective case, but it replaces the subject
grandmother: she is the one doing the action of
buying land. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
which is only used for objects and not for people.
Answer choice (D) is incorrect because omitting the
underlined portion eliminates the logical timeline:
...grandmother was an indentured servant after
completing the term of her contract.
3. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it is the
only answer that uses the correct singular
possessive pronoun to refer to the field. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because its means it is.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because their is a
plural pronoun, and the subject is a singular subject,
the field. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because
its does not exist.

HH-5

4. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because one

cannot mount two horses at the same time, and
using a pronoun would be vague. Replacing them
with Stormy makes it clear onto which horse the
narrator climbed. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because them is plural but illogical: a person
cannot ride two horses at the same time. Answer
choice (B) is incorrect because her is vague. It
could refer to either Stormy or Morgan, and
mares, by definition, are female horses. Answer
choice (D) is incorrect because horse is vague:
both Stormy and Morgan are horses.

V. Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
1. Subject Identification: Rogers biography with its
numerous beautiful pictures is amazing to study.
2. Inverted Sentence: If there is a computer near
magnets, the computer may become damaged.
3. Single Entity: The murder jury is about to
announce its unanimous decision.
Problems:
1. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because refer
is the correct plural verb to agree with the plural
subject the terms, and to is the correct
preposition in this context. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because refers is a singular verb, which
does not agree with the plural subject. Answer
choice (B) is incorrect because refers is a singular
verb and that is an incorrect pronoun to use with
refers in this context. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because that is an incorrect pronoun to
use with refer in this context.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because the
subject of the sentence, trend, is singular and the
verb involves is also singular. Answer choice (A)
is incorrect because involve is a plural verb which
does not agree with the singular subject. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because theyre means
they are: the answer should be the possessive
pronoun their. Answer choice (D) is incorrect

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

because theyre means they are and is not the
possessive pronoun needed for the sentence.

VI. Style Problems

Problems:
1. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it is the
only succinct answer. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because live and reside mean the
same thing and make this sentence redundant.
Answer choice (B) is incorrect because a habitat,
by definition, is a place where something lives,
making this a redundant answer choice. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because living and
habitat make it a redundant answer; this choice
also creates a fragment.
2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it is the
most concise answer choice, and it does not change
the meaning of the sentence. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because superb and excellent have
close definitions, which makes this a redundant
option. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because
superbly excellent is redundant. Answer choice
(C) is incorrect because excellently superb is also
redundant.

VII. Idiom Errors

Examples:
1. Incorrect Preposition: Maxwell Starkleys essay
on democracy creates an insight into the
contributions of the Founding Fathers.
2. Word Choice (Diction): You irritate (or annoy
or piss off or etc.) your mom when you do not
listen to her.
3. Word Choice (Based on Passage Tone): I was
preparing (or getting ready or etc.) to go to the
store. (Or I was going to the store.)

or more things. Answer choice (C) is incorrect

because among is used with three or more things.
Answer choice (D) is incorrect because for in this
context would mean intended to belong to, as in
the correspondence intended to belong to the two
people: this choice is illogical. Also, choices (A)
and (C) are synonymous: two answers cannot be
selected, so both may be eliminated.
2. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because a
connection is with someone. Answer choice (A)
is incorrect because along with means that
someone is doing something alongside or next to
someone else, but that is not what the sentence
describes. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because a
connection is not for something. Answer choice
(D) is incorrect because of is the incorrect
preposition to use with connection. In this
context, of implies the possessive case: The
connection of my phone.
3. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because share
advice is a means of helping others while adhering
to the correctness of the idiom. Answer choice (A)
is incorrect because the adjective some is illogical
and unnecessary. Wisdom cannot be apportioned or
subdivided as it is not a quantity: share wisdom or
give wisdom would have been appropriate.
Likewise, share advice or give advice would
have been appropriate. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because opine means to give an opinion,
but there is nothing mentioned in the sentence about
which Those who work give their opinions.
Answer choice (D) is incorrect because proclaim
our opinions is wordy. Also, choices (A) and (D)
are synonymous: two answers cannot be selected, so
both may be eliminated.

VIII. Conjunction Errors

Examples:
1. Comma Splice: John when to a movie today and
said it was a poor show. (No commas.)

Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because
between is used with two people. Answer choice
(A) is incorrect because amid is used with three
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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

2. Run-on: The new kite was quite large, had a long
tail, and flew high. (No pronouns, one conjunction,
two commas, three predicates in a list.)
Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
separates the two independent clauses into two
separate sentences. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because it is a run-on. Answer choice (C) is
incorrect because it is also a run-on. Answer choice
(D) is incorrect because because is the wrong
transition to use as we werent playing to win,
was not caused by the previous sentence.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it uses a
FANBOYS conjunction after a comma to separate
two independent clauses. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because that is not a FANBOYS
conjunction to use after a comma and between two
independent clauses. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because which should only be used to introduce
relevant or modifying information to the sentence,
but the fish will never notice the difference is not
related to such tactics. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because as if is not a FANBOYS
conjunction to use after a comma between two
complete ideas. Also, as if means as though or
as would be the case if and thus creates an
illogical statement: People may scornas would
be the case if the fish will never notice.

IX. Interpreting Graphs

Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is the only correct answer
because, according to the graph, the loss in 20112012 was below 25%: answer choice (A) cannot be
correct. The changes were measurable from year to
year, eliminating answer choice (C), but the overall
trend has not been a steady decrease: answer choice
(D) cannot be correct either. Answer choice (B) is
the only answer option left, and also the only option
to accurately describe the graphs data.

HH-7

2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because,

comparing 2012-2013 with the previous winter, the
change was a rise of almost 10 percentage points.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because the
percentage never fell into an acceptable range in
any of the years. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because the percentage did not double from the
previous year, which was around 21 percent.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect since the loss rate
increased, not fell, from 2011-2012 to the following
year 2012-2013.

X. Lack of Parallelism
Examples:
1. Infinitive-Gerund: She likes to hunt and fish (or
to hunt and to fish or hunting and fishing).
(Pick one, not bothdont mixnmatch. Be
consistent.)
2. Misplaced Correlatives: Virginia Woolf is
famous not only in England but also in America.
(Dont add words.)
Problems:
1. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it
creates parallelism with just as dear. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because than is not parallel
with just as dear. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because like is not in line with held just as dear.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because there is no
if after as earlier in the sentence: held just as
dear. Also, as if is contextually inappropriate by
definition.
2. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because it uses
the correct parallel structure of X is as ____ as Y
is. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because the
underlined portion should replaced more with
as to indicate that none of his other works were
comparable to the success of the Oz novel. Answer
choice (B) is incorrect because than is the wrong
word to use at the end of the parallel structure X is
as ______ as Y is. Answer choice (D) is incorrect
because it should have as at the beginning of the

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

underlined portion to align with the parallel
structure X is as ____ as Y is. This choice also
alters the meaning of the sentence by omitting the
comparison: for example, He was not successful as
a chef.

XI. Modifier Errors

Examples:
1. Dangling Participle: Coming across the campus, I
gazed at the library.
2. Misplaced Phrase: I saw an advertisement in the
subway for a man who can sell insurance. (Or, In
the subway, I saw an advertisement.)
Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it
changes the last item in the list to a bucket, and
this change makes the list parallel (uniform): all
items in the list begin with a and are a noun.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because the sentence
now literally states that the reel is carrying its
bucket of live bait. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because with its bucket of live bait states that the
reel has the bucket. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because carrying has nothing after it to
indicate whose bucket has the live bait; this choice
also breaks the parallelism of the list.
2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because my
friend is next to chuckling at my apprehension,
indicating that the friend was laughing. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because my friend is next
to following her, indicating that the friend was
following someone; this choice does not specify to
whom her refers. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because motioning for me is before I, stating
illogically that the narrator is motioning to herself.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because a motion
is placed next to chuckling at my apprehension,
stating that the motion chuckled.

XII. Sentence Shifts

Examples: Answers in book
HH-8

Problems:
1. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because it uses
you, the subject earlier in the sentence. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because it shifts from you
to one and from present to past tense. Answer
choice (B) is incorrect because it shifts the subject
from you to they. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it shifts from you to tourists.
2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it
maintains the same subject I throughout the
sentence. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because it
shifts from I to one. Answer choice (B) is
incorrect because it shifts from I to one.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because it shifts
from I to you.

XIII. Incorrect Verb Tense

Examples:
1. Perfect Needed: After Ellen had graduated from
college, she applied for a job.
2. Unnecessary Perfect: The car
interstate.

stalled near the

3. Avoid Passive Voice: I ate the pizza.

Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because the past
form of to lead is needed: the event occurred in
the past. Also, to is the correct preposition to use
after led. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
lead is present tense, and the verb should be past
tense; also, into is an incorrect preposition for this
context. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
lead is the wrong verb form to use in this past
tense sentence. Answer choice (D) is incorrect
because off is the incorrect preposition to use
after led.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it is the
only past tense and active voice option, and
maintains a consistent subject. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because it is passive and shifts the subject

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

to her first plane. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because it is present tense, but the beginning of the
sentence is in the past tense. Answer choice (D) is
incorrect because it, too, is passive and shifts the
subject to her first plane.

XIV. Adjective Errors

Examples:
1. Adjective Instead of Adverb: Tom smiled happily
as he received his award.
2. Words Commonly Confused: The judge
sentenced him to jail for an indefinite (or
undefined) period.
Problems:
1. (C) Answer choice (C) is correct because this is
the correct adjective to use to describe the day.
Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
winteringly is not a word. Answer choice (B) is
incorrect because it is a gerund (present participle)
meaning to spend winter in a place. Answer
choice (D) is incorrect because winterishly is not
a word.
2. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because
horribly is the adverb to describe the adjective
depressing. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because horrific is an adjective, but it must be an
adverb to describe the adjective depressing.
Answer choice (B) is incorrect because horrified,
in this context, is an adjective that means
frightened or overcome with horror, and cannot
describe a sight: a horrified sight is illogical
modification. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because horrible is an adjective, when the
sentence requires an adverb to describe the
depressing sight.

XV. Illogical Comparison

Examples:
1. Apples to Apples: Beethovens later
symphonies are far more highly developed than
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those of Mozart (or Mozarts symphonies or

Mozarts).
2. Group Inclusion: New York City is larger than
any other city in the United States.
3. Comparative/Superlative: Of the two teams
competing for the 2010 NBA Championship, the
Rockets are the better.
Problems:
1. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because the
concoction is being compared to everything else the
narrator has had, which would make it the most
complex of all. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because more is used to compare only two things.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because more
compares only two things, not more than two
things. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because the
sentence needs a comparison word to indicate
where the concoction was on the scale of those the
narrator has seen.
2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because the
desert is the roughest, hottest the narrator had
ever experienced, thus ranking it the worst of all:
the superlative (-est) form is needed. Answer choice
(A) is incorrect because rougher, hotter are in the
comparative (-er) form, which is only used to
compare two things: the sentence has no such
comparison. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
hot is just a single adjective and roughest is a
superlative: this choice is not uniform or parallel.
Answer choice (D) is incorrect because rough is
an adjective and hottest is a superlative: this
choice is not uniform or parallel.

Practice Quiz
1. (A) Answer choice (A) is correct because the
previous sentence is in the present tense: become
should be used here since it, too, is in the present
tense. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because
have should not be used with became:
became does not need a helper verb. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because had should not be

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SECTION HH: Solutions for SAT Writing Test

used with became. Answer choice (D) is incorrect
because there is no such word as becomed.

it uses a random it in the sentence, which makes

this a wordy answer option.

2. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it

correctly explains how the suggested change
connects logically the example of
mournfulmusic to the paragraphs topic,
Rather than just accompanyactionhis work
also illuminates characters and ideas. Answer
choice (A) is incorrect because the paragraph does
not focus on key scenes from the series. Answer
choice (C) is incorrect because the original version
is not as clear or as specific as the suggested
revision: the sentence as it stands is less
informative. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because
the focus of the paragraph emphasizes why certain
pieces of music would be used with various
characters.

5. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it

begins the phrase in this episode and others with a
comma which is needed: the phrase ends with a
comma. Answer choice (A) is incorrect because
there is no comma after result: the comma is
needed to introduce the phrase beginning with in
this episode. Without the comma, the subject of
the sentence becomes The resultand others.
Also, the subject is now separated from the verb by
the existing comma (The result, is): a subject and
its verb must not be separated by a comma. Answer
choice (B) is incorrect because it adds a second verb
to the sentence, but both verbs are used with the
subject the result. Answer choice (C) is incorrect
because a dash should not be used to introduce the
phrase in this episode and others: this phrase ends
with a comma, and a dash and comma should not be
combined to indicate a nonessential modifying
phrase.

3. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because it is the

only answer that is not redundant, and it does not
change the meaning of the sentence. Answer choice
(A) is redundant because visuals are naturally
things that one sees. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because it is too wordy: aspects that are visual in
nature may be replaced with one word, visuals.
Answer choice (C) is incorrect because visuals
are, by definition, seen: this is a redundant answer
choice.
4. (D) Answer choice (D) is correct because the
noun The piece needs a verb to complete the
sentence, The pieceis named for a type of
composition. The other sentences in this
paragraph are in the present tense, so the verb in
this underlined portion should likewise be in the
present tense. Answer choice (A) is incorrect
because named is either a past participle or a past
tense verb. As a past participle, named creates a
fragment containing a noun and a description but no
verb; as a past tense verb, named creates an
illogical statement: The piecenamed.... Pieces
cannot assign names. Answer choice (B) is incorrect
because being named fails to complete the
sentence and only maintains a fragmentary
description. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
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6. (B) Answer choice (B) is correct because it is the

only present tense verb to match the rest of the
sentence and paragraph. Answer choice (A) is
incorrect because told is past tense, but the
present tense is needed: is was used earlier in the
sentence. Answer choice (C) is incorrect because
telling is not the correct form to align with
enriches. Answer choice (D) is incorrect because
had told is past perfect, but the rest of the
sentence is present tense.

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