PSAT Writing : Identifying Usage Errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #201 :Psat Writing Skills
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jessica and Theresa hated doingherhomework; however, oncethey were done they wereallowedto playin the yard.No error
No error
her
allowed
homework; however, once
in the yard
her
The pronoun "her" does not agree in number with the plural subject, "Jessica and Theresa." It should be "their."
Example Question #42 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Little did he know thathis two best friends,whichhad mistakenly thought it was his birthday,were waitingin the next roomto surprise him.No error
were waiting
Little did he know that
which
to surprise him
No error
which
Since his friends are people, the relative pronoun “who” is more appropriate than “which.” The corrected sentence reads, "Little did he know that his two best friends, who had mistakenly thought it was his birthday, were waiting in the next room to surprise him."
Example Question #43 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Studentswhichtake too much initiative and participateintoo many afterschool activitiescansometimes stressthemselvesout to the point of exhaustion.No error
which
can
No error
themselves
in
which
Students are not things or concepts; they are people! When people are referenced, the word "who" or "whom" is used. Since the students are the subject, the word "which" should be replaced with "who."
Example Question #241 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
An anthropologist always needs to ensure thattheirnotes are meticulous andorganized; detailedand accessible recordsarekey tosuccessfulfieldwork.No error
organized; detailed
No error
are
their
successful
their
In this sentence, the pronoun “their” does not correspond in number with its antecedent “an anthropologist.” “Their” is plural, but there is only one anthropologist. The corrected sentence reads, "An anthropologist always needs to ensure that his or her notes are meticulous and organized; detailed and accessible records are key to successful fieldwork."
Example Question #52 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
一个政治家choosetheirwordscarefully; political opponents and the mediaarealwayseager fora compromising quote.No error
carefully
are
eager for
their
No error
their
In this sentence, the pronoun “their” does not match in number with its antecedent “a politician.” The pronoun is plural and the antecedent is singular. The corrected sentence would read:一个政治家choose his or her words carefully; political opponents and the media are always eager for a compromising quote.
Example Question #53 :Identifying Word Usage Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Hehad wantedto uproot the weeds in the backyardandplant a realgarden, buthe never seemed to have timeto do it.No error
and
to do it
had wanted
garden, but
No error
to do it
这句话使用介词“它”来引用to the actions of uprooting weeds and planting a garden. “It” should refer to a thing, not an action. A more appropriate choice would be “so”: "He had wanted to uproot the weeds in the backyard and plant a real garden, but he never seemed to have time to do so."
Example Question #251 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Rita tries to arriveten minutesearly to every meeting,butsometimes the rush hour traffic makes itimpossibletodo it.No error
but
ten minutes
impossible
do it
No error
do it
In this sentence, the pronoun “it” refers to the action of arriving ten minutes early. Since that is a verb, the better phrase would be “do so.” The corrected sentence reads, "Rita tries to arrive ten minutes early to every meeting, but sometimes the rush hour traffic makes it impossible to do so."
Example Question #252 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Eachof the studentsis requiredto come to the stage to readtheir essays,in order topractice public speaking.No error
their essays
is required
No error
Each
in order to
their essays
Look for pronoun agreement: "each" is a similiar subject, and cannot be paired with "their," a plural pronoun.
Example Question #253 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
No oneknows whathis or herfutureholds:everyone'sdestiny is unwritten.No error
everyone's
No one
No error
holds
his or her
No error
There is no error. The pronouns are correct: "no one" is singular, and is correctly matched with "his or her."
Example Question #254 :Identifying Sentence Errors
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Each of the scientists on the team came totheir ownconclusion; in the end, therewasno clear conclusionto the study.No error
No error
was
their own
conclusion
to the study
their own
Look here for pronoun agreement: "each" is a singular subject and requires a corresponding singular pronoun. The correct pronoun would be "his," "her," or "his or her," rather than "their."
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