12.Practice.Tests.for.the.SAT_2015-2016_1128p

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12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test One Answers and Explanations
16. A
Difficulty: Low
All verbs within a sentence must agree in tense, unless a
verb is included in a phrase that implies a different time
from the rest of the sentence. In (A), the present tense
is incorrect for an action that has already taken place;
cracked would be the correct form here. In (B) and (D),
the prepositional phrases are correctly written and properly
used. Choice (C) incorrectly uses a contrast transition word;
there is no contrast in this sentence.
17. c
Difficulty: Medium
In a compound, verb forms must be in parallel form. In the
second clause of this sentence, the verb forms smothered
... and being topped violate the rules of parallel structure.
Choice (C) contains the error; it should read simply topped.
Choice (A) is the proper tense for an action that will occur in
the future. Choice (B) is a correctly structured prepositional
phrase. Choice (D) uses an adverb to modify a verb form.
18. D
Difficulty: Medium
Adjectives can only modify nouns or pronouns; to modify
any other part of speech, an adverb is needed. Although
the phrase unusual shaped is intended to modify the noun
cloud formations, within the phrase, the adjective unusual
is used to modify the verb form shaped. Choice (D) should
read unusually. Choice (A) is correct idiomatic usage.
Choices (B) and (C) use the proper prepositions in context.
19. B
Difficulty: Medium
The verb set requires an object; the verb sit does not. A
pond cannot set, since set is an action. Sits is the correct
verb in (B). The preposition beside, in (A), is appropriate in
context, and the adjective dusty properly modifies the noun
road. Choice (C) correctly uses as as a preposition. Choice
(D) uses a comparative adjective correctly.
20. B
Difficulty: Medium
Make sure verb tenses accurately represent the sequence
of events in the sentence. Here, the verbs find and was are
in different tenses. Since was is not underlined, find must
be changed to the past tense; the error is in (B). Choice (A)
correctly uses the gerund verb form as an adjective. In (C),
the adverb generally correctly modifies was. Choice (D)
uses the proper preposition in context.
21. A
Difficulty: Medium
When a pronoun is part of a compound subject, read the
sentence with the pronoun alone to make sure it's in the
proper case. Since you wouldn't say her felt unprepared,
(A) should be she. Choice (B) is the proper verb form in
context. Choice (C) correctly uses when in reference to
time, which is the only use of when that will be correct on
the SAT. Choice (D) is correct idiomatic usage.
22. B
Difficulty: Medium
Pronouns must have clear, unambiguous antecedents.
The pronoun they doesn't clearly refer to anything in the
sentence; a noun would be needed to clarify (B). Choice
(A) properly conveys the cause-and-effect relationship of
the ideas in the sentence. Choice (C) is correct idiomatic
usage. Choice (D) is an appropriate preposition in context.
23. c
Difficulty: Medium
Note that there is an intervening phrase between the subject
and the verb; read the sentence without it to check for
agreement. The plural subject voters does not agree with the
singular verb form includes; the error is in (C). Choice (A)
uses the correct relative pronoun referring to voters, and the
past-tense verb is appropriate in context. Choices (B) and
(D) are proper prepositional phrases.
24. c
Difficulty: Medium
Make sure all pronouns have clear, unambiguous
antecedents. The pronoun it in (C) could refer to either art
or funding; it would have to be replaced by the appropriate
noun for clarity. Choice (A) is correct use of the gerund
verb form to describe essayist. Than with, in (B), correctly
completes the comparative construction beginning with less
concerned with. Choice (D) correctly uses the adverb less
to modify the adjective popular.