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SAT Sentence Improvement Practice

The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. 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 choice (A); if not, select one of the other choices.

In making your selection, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of
words, sentence construction, and punctuation. Your selection should result in the most effective sentence—clear and
precise, without awkwardness or ambiguity.

1. Due to last year’s active hurricane season, the 4. Unlike Freud’s belief that the unconscious was
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration solely a storehouse of repressed memories, Jung
has urged coastal residents to develop a family asserted that the unconscious also contained creative
evacuation plan, organize important documents and reservoirs.
valuables, creating a disaster supply kit for use in
the car and at the evacuation destination. (A) Freud’s belief that the unconscious was solely a
storehouse of repressed memories
(A) creating a disaster supply kit for use (B) Freud and his belief that the unconscious was
(B) to create a disaster supply kit for use solely a storehouse of repressed memories
(C) creating a disaster supply kit for using (C) the belief of Freud that states the unconscious is
(D) and create a disaster supply kit for using solely a storehouse of repressed memories
(E) and create a disaster supply kit for use (D) Freud, who believed that the unconscious was
solely a storehouse of repressed memories
(E) Freud and the belief that the unconscious solely
2. While global warming has already made the Hudson stores of repressed memories
River a seeming fragile ecosystem, the introduction
of invasive species has the potential to destroy
nearly all of the aquatic plants and animals that 5. The blue whale was thriving in all of the world’s
inhabit the river. oceans until the turn of the century, at which time
they became hunted to the point of extinction.
(A) While global warming has already made the
Hudson River a seeming fragile ecosystem (A) The blue whale was thriving in all of the
(B) While global warming has already made the world’s oceans until the turn of the century
Hudson River a seemingly fragile ecosystem (B) Blue whales were thriving in all of the world’s
(C) Global warming has already made the Hudson oceans until the turn of the century
River a seemingly fragile ecosystem (C) The blue whale had been thriving in all of the
(D) Global warming has already made the Hudson world’s oceans until the turn of the century
River a seeming fragile ecosystem; (D) At the turn of the century, blue whales were
(E) Although global warming has made the Hudson thriving in all of the world’s oceans
River a seemingly fragile ecosystem (E) Blue whales had been thriving in all of the
world’s oceans up until the turn of the century

3. Reports from New York and Paris indicate that this

season’s style is an eclectic mix of fashions from 6. Scientists believe that all domestic dogs originally
past decades, ranging from the empire-waist dresses have descended from three dogs that lived in China
of the relaxed and liberated 1960s and the over 15,000 years ago.
legwarmers of the excessive and indulgent 1980s.
(A) have descended from three dogs that lived in
(A) and China
(B) with (B) descended by three dogs that lived in China
(C) to (C) descended from three dogs that lived in China
(D) and to (D) have descended from three dogs living in China
(E) from (E) descended from three dogs that had lived in
China

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 PowerScore
SAT Sentence Improvement Practice

ANSWER KEY
1. E 4. D

In this sentence, NOAA has urged residents to do three Just as verbs have to be parallel, two or more items being
things using three verbs: to develop, to organize, and compared must be parallel, meaning they must be in
creating. When three verbs are listed this way, they must similar form. Currently, this sentence is comparing
be parallel, meaning they are composed in similar form. Freud’s belief to Jung. To correct it, we must compare
Therefore, the list should read to develop, to organize, Freud’s belief to Jung’s belief (thing to thing) OR Freud
and to create. When three are more verbs are listed, to to Jung (person to person).
can be used with just the first verb, or all three verbs.
Thus, to develop, organize, and create is also correct. Choice (B) compares Freud (person) and his belief
(thing) to Jung (person). Choice (C) compares the belief
Choice (B) omits the essential conjunction and. Choice of Freud (thing) to Jung (person). Choice (D) correctly
(C) fails to use the infinitive form of to create, and compares Freud (person) to Jung (person). Choice (E)
illegally changes use from a noun (use) to a verb (using). compares Freud (person) and his belief (thing) to Jung
Choice (D) also changes use to using. Only (E) is (person).
correct.

5. B
2. B
In the beginning of this sentence, the blue whale is
Adjectives modify nouns, and adverbs modify verbs, mentioned as a singular object. However, it is later
adjectives, and other adverbs. The error in this sentence referred to as they, meaning more than one. Pronouns
occurs in the word seeming. Seeming is an adjective, must agree in number to the noun referent. Because the
meaning the same thing as apparent: his seeming blue whale is in the underlined portion of the sentence, it
honesty, the report’s seeming inaccuracies. However, in must be changed to blue whales. If they had been
this sentence, seeming is modifying fragile, an adjective. underlined, it could have been changed to it.
Therefore, seeming should be the adverb, seemingly.
Choice (B) correctly changes the blue whale to blue
Choice (B) is correct. Choice (C) has lost its whales. Choice (C) does not make this change. Choice
subordinating conjunction (while), creating two complete (D) moves at the turn of century, leaving at which time
sentences separated by a comma (a common error called to incorrectly modify oceans. Choice (E) changes the
a comma splice). Choice (D) does not correct seeming. verb and adds the redundant up.
Choice (E) uses the subordinating conjunction although,
changing meaning of the sentence. The reader now
expects a reverse effect on the river. 6. C

The use of has or have with a verb (has watched, have

3. C spoken) indicate events that started in the past, continued
until the present, and may continue into the future. This
The correct idiom is ranging from x to y, rather than the sentence requires a simple past tense (descended) to
current use of ranging from x and y. The current style is show that the event took place in the past.
ranging from the empire-waist dresses (x) to the
legwarmer (y). Choice (B) corrects the verb descended, but changes the
preposition to by. Correct idiom is descended from x,
Only Choice (C) makes this correction. rather than descended by x. Choice (C) is correct. Choice
(D) does not remove have from the verb, and changes
the past tense of lived to the present tense living. Choice
(E) adds had to the verb lived. Had is only used to show
a past event that occurred before another event in the
sentence. It is unnecessary here.

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