SAT Reading And Writing

Solution

Correct: B

The original sentence is a comma splice because it joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Using a semicolon followed by 'however' and a comma correctly separates and connects the two clauses. 'And' would need a coordinating conjunction and is semantically weaker. Removing the comma creates a run-on sentence. Moving the comma doesn't fix the fundamental issue.

Solution

Correct: B

Option B employs a metaphor ('like an island, adrift in a sea of faces') to create a vivid and evocative image of isolation. The other options are more literal and less impactful.

Solution

Correct: A

The pronoun 'their' is plural, but it refers to the singular antecedent 'each.' The sentence should read 'Each of the students wanted to present his or her research at the conference.' or 'All of the students wanted to present their research at the conference.'

Solution

Correct: B

Parallelism requires using the same grammatical structure for related items in a sentence. Option B uses gerunds (hiking, swimming, riding) consistently, making it the most effective.

Solution

Correct: B

'Transcend' means to rise above or go beyond, which fits the context of pushing the limits of traditional painting. 'Circumvent' means to avoid, 'obfuscate' means to confuse, and 'recapitulate' means to summarize, none of which are suitable in this context.

Solution

Correct: C

'Ubiquitous' means present, appearing, or found everywhere. The smartphone's widespread presence in modern society makes option C the correct usage.

Solution

Correct: C

The other sentences can be interpreted in multiple ways. For example, 'Visiting relatives can be tiresome' could mean that the act of visiting relatives is tiring, or that the relatives who are visiting are tiring. 'After painting the walls, they looked beautiful' is ambiguous as to whether 'they' refers to the walls or the painters. 'I saw her duck' could refer to the animal or the action of ducking.

Solution

Correct: A

Option A is the most concise and direct way to express the same information. It replaces the wordy phrase 'Due to the fact that' with 'Because of'. Options B, C, and D, while grammatically correct, are slightly less direct or involve more words.

Solution

Correct: C

Option C maintains a formal tone by using 'somewhat' to replace 'kinda' and omitting the informal phrase 'I guess'. 'Seemed interesting' is too vague. 'Quite interesting' and 'I suppose' retain some informality. 'In my opinion' is unnecessary and weakens the statement in academic writing.

Solution

Correct: B

'Imposing' best fits the context and mood of the passage. The descriptions of emptiness, rumors, and secrets suggest a sense of grandeur and mystery, which 'imposing' conveys. 'Welcoming' is the opposite of the mood. 'Rambunctious' suggests liveliness, which is not present. 'Insignificant' contradicts the idea of a 'silent sentinel'.

Solution

Correct: C

The correct answer is 'Neither the cat nor the dogs is allowed on the furniture.' When using 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. In this case, 'dogs' is plural, making 'are' seemingly correct; however, in this construction, the singular verb 'is' is required to maintain grammatical correctness. The phrase `Each of the participants` takes the singular verb, 'has.' 'The data' is plural, so 'are' is appropriate, but the 'was' is incorrect. 'There are many reasons' is correct.

Solution

Correct: C

The correct usage is 'I am going to lie down for a bit.' 'Lie' (to recline) does not take a direct object. 'Lay' (to place) takes a direct object. 'Laid' is the past tense of 'lay.' The past participle of 'lie' is 'lain.'

Solution

Correct: A

'Composed of' is the correct phrasing. 'Comprised' means 'to include' or 'to consist of,' not 'to be made up of.'

Solution

Correct: D

A semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related. 'He studied diligently; therefore, he aced the exam' correctly joins two independent clauses where the second clause is a result of the first. The semicolon replaces the comma and conjunction. Using 'and' after the semicolon is redundant. The other options do not use the semicolon correctly.

Solution

Correct: C

The correct answer is 'The city where I grew up is a bustling metropolis.' 'Where I grew up' is an adjective clause modifying 'city.' The other options either contain unnecessary pronouns or do not form correct clauses.

Solution

Correct: D

The sentence 'She is one of the most intelligent students in the class' is grammatically correct. 'Between you and me' is the correct phrase, not 'I.' 'They're' (they are) should be used instead of 'their'. 'Carefully' is an adverb and should be used instead of 'carefuly'.

Solution

Correct: B

The error is a dangling modifier. 'Having finished the race' is a participial phrase that should modify 'he.' As written, it appears to modify 'the medal,' which doesn't make logical sense.

Solution

Correct: D

'I can barely hear you' avoids a double negative. The other sentences use 'can't hardly,' 'didn't no,' and 'wasn't never,' all of which create double negatives.

Solution

Correct: C

'His decision did not affect my plans' is correct. 'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence), and 'effect' is usually a noun (a result).

Solution

Correct: A

'Absconded' implies a secretive and hurried departure, fitting the context of stealing loot. The other options are less precise and impactful.

Solution

Correct: D

The correct answer is 'The car's engine is making a strange noise.' This shows the possessive form of 'car'. 'Dogs'' indicates plural possessive, so needs a different structure if referring to a single dog. 'Its' without an apostrophe is possessive. 'Teachers'' lounge is correct because it is plural possessive.

Solution

Correct: B

The correct answer is 'My brother, who lives in Chicago, is a doctor.' The clause 'who lives in Chicago' provides additional information about the brother but is not essential to the main point of the sentence (that my brother is a doctor). Therefore, it should be set off with commas.

Solution

Correct: B

'Boring' is the simplest and most parallel adjective to 'lengthy', creating a balanced structure. 'It was also boring' is too wordy. 'Tediously boring' adds unnecessary complexity. 'Boring and tedious' disrupts the balance and is somewhat redundant.

Solution

Correct: D

The correct answer is 'My friend, a talented musician, plays the guitar.' The phrase 'a talented musician' is an appositive that renames or explains 'my friend.' It should be set off by commas.

Solution

Correct: B

The correct use of a colon is in the sentence 'There are three things I need from the store: milk, bread, and eggs.' A colon is used to introduce an explanation or a list after an independent clause. The clause prior to the colon has to be able to stand on its own.

Solution

Correct: A

The sentence 'She decided quickly to accept the job offer' contains a squinting modifier. The adverb 'quickly' is positioned in such a way that it's unclear whether it modifies 'decided' or 'to accept.' It squints at both. To correct it, it should be placed before 'decided' ('She quickly decided...') or before 'to accept' ('She decided to quickly accept...').