SAT Writing : Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Errors
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穰mple Questions
穰mple Question #5 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
纳帕谷的葡萄园breathlessly vibrant, symmetrical,and the green is profound.
and profoundly green.
and so profound green.
and the green is profound.
and its green is quite profound.
and it is profoundly green.
and profoundly green.
This sentence requires parallelism across all elements. Only "profoundly green" matches "breathlessly vibrant" and "symmetrical."
穰mple Question #6 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The kids took too much time cleaning their rooms,left little time to do outdoor chores.
leaving little time to doing outdoor chores.
left little time to do outdoor chores.
leaving little time to do outdoor chores.
left little time to had done outdoor chores.
left few times to do outdoor chores.
leaving little time to do outdoor chores.
The underlined phrase in the sentence, being the second part of a complex sentence, needs to have a parallel structure to the phrase in the first half of the sentence; therefore, "leaving little time to do outdoor chores," is the best choice among the answers.
穰mple Question #7 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
In the following question, please choose the best sentence improvement.
When choosing a sport, youths are encouraged to consider its difficulty, its required skills, its necessary equipment, andits overall cost.
the cost of it.
if it costs money.
the money needed for it.
how much it costs overall.
its overall cost.
its overall cost.
In this question, only the original sentence shows parallelism. Any choice other than "its overall cost" would not exhibit parallel structure with the sentence's other elements.
穰mple Question #8 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The teacher sought new ways of teaching, believing her students would get more from lessonsfeaturing playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring play, act, and creativity.
featuring playing, acting, and creative things.
featuring playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring the playing, acting, and creativity.
featuring playing, acting, and creating.
featuring playing, acting, and creating.
The underlined portion of the sentence features a list of verbs, but they are not all in a parallel form. All such lists must feature a parallel structure for the verbs listed; therefore, the correct answer is "featuring playing, acting, and creating."
穰mple Question #9 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Stretching before physical workoutsis important to improve flexibility and avoiding injury.
is important to improve flexibility and avoid injury.
are important to improve flexibility and avoiding injury.
is important to improve flexibility and in the avoidance of injury.
is important to both improve flexibility and also avoid injury.
is important to improve flexibility and being injured less.
is important to improve flexibility and avoid injury.
Paralellism: in a list of two or more items in a sentence, each should be worded in the same manner for consistency. One choice changes "is" to "are," which is incorrect because the subject is the singular "stretching," not the plural "workouts," which is part of a prepositional phrase.
穰mple Question #11 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Writing an additional sentence for each paragraph you have is easier thanthe writing ofa brand new paragraph altogether.
one's writing of
writing
when you must write
when one has to write
the writing of
writing
It is not a parallel comparison. The comparison should match, and state thatwritingsomething is easier thanwritingsomething.
穰mple Question #12 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
More than other children, he struggled adapting to middle schoolboth academically and in his social life.
both for academics and in socially.
both academcially and in his social life.
academically and in his social life.
both academically and socially.
academics and in his social life.
both academically and socially.
The two items in the underlined portion are paried together, and as such should have a parallel structure. The only answer choice that has such a structure is "both academically and socially."
穰mple Question #13 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
She loved a number of creative activities as a child,always trying painting, singing, or to dance.
always trying to paint, to sing, or to dance.
always trying painting, singing, or to dance.
always tries painting, singing, or to dance.
always try to paint, to sing, or to dance.
always painting, singing, or to dance.
always trying to paint, to sing, or to dance.
The list in the underlined portion needs a parallel structure in its items, but does not, with "to dance" being different in structure. Of all the answer choices, "always trying to paint, to sing, or to dance" features a correct parallel structure.
穰mple Question #14 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
The entertainer viewed himself as a multifaceted performer who excelled在表演,唱歌,和跳舞的能力。
在表演,唱歌,和跳舞的能力。
at acting, singing, and the ability to dance.
in acting, singing, and an ability to dance.
at acting, singing, and dancing.
at acting, singing, and to dance.
at acting, singing, and dancing.
The list in the underlined portion of the sentence does not feature a parallel structure among the listed items, which makes it confusing and strange. The list needs to have a parallel structure, with all elements featuring the same form. The only answer choice with a parallel structure is "at acting, singing, and dancing."
穰mple Question #15 :Correcting Other Phrase, Clause, And Sentence Errors
Young children need equal time during the day to devoteto playing, learning, and to relax.
to playing, learning, to relax.
to play, to learn, and to relax.
to playing, learning, and relax.
to playing, learning, and to relax.
to playing, to learning, and to relax.
to play, to learn, and to relax.
The list of verbs in the underlined portion of the sentence, as in any such list, all need to follow a parallel form. In the sentence as written, they do not have a parallel structure. Of all the answer choices, the only that does have a parallel structure is "to play, to learn, and to relax."
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