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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
206
Practice Test Two Answers an d Exp l anations
4. c
Difficu l ty: Medium
Always make sure that underlined verbs are in agreement
with their subjects. The singular verb is isn't correct with the
plural subject complaints. Choice (C) corrects this error.
Choices (B) and (E) are awkwardly worded. Choice (D)
does not address the subject-verb error.
5. E
Difficu l ty: Medium
Make sure the correct noun is placed after a modifying
phrase. Here, due to a misplaced modifier, it is the office
and not Boris that is returning to work. Only (E) corrects this
error without introducing additional errors. Choice (B) uses
the pronoun it without an antecedent. Choice (C) changes
the past-tense verb seemed to the present tense seems,
which is inappropriate in context Choice (D) is a run-on
sentence because two independent clauses cannot be
joined simply by a comma.
6. E
Difficu l ty: Medium
Items in a series, list, or compound must be in parallel form.
As well as in the original breaks the parallel form of the
items in the list. Only (E) uses correct parallel structure.
Choices (B), (C), and (D) do not address the error.
7. c
Difficu l ty: Medium
If you don't spot a grammatical error, look for errors in
style. The sentence as written is unnecessarily wordy, and
switching is redundant, since switched is already used in
the first part of the sentence. Choice (C) eliminates the
redundant word, is concise, and contains no additional
errors. Choice (B) creates a run-on sentence. Choices (D)
and (E) are both wordier than (C).
8. A
Difficu l ty: Medium
If you don't spot an error, don't be afraid to choose (A). The
sentence is correct as written. The transitions are correct,
and the sentence is concise. Choice (B) is unnecessarily
wordy and illogically compares efficient work to speed
Choice (C) introduces an inconsistent verb tense.
Choice (D) leaves the meaning of the second clause
incomplete. Choice (E) is wordy and unnecessarily
introduces the passive voice.
9. D
Difficu l ty: High
The passive voice will not always be wrong on the SAT, but
look for an answer choice that makes the sentence active.
As written, the sentence is unnecessarily in the passive
voice. Choice (D) corrects this with the pronoun subject
one. Choices (B) and (C) create sentence fragments
because a gerund (-ing) verb cannot be used as the main
verb of a sentence. Choice (E) is unnecessarily wordy and
uses the pronoun it with no antecedent.
10. c
Difficu l ty: High
In comparative structures like not only. .. but also, the items
compared must be parallel in form. As written, the sentence
violates the rules of parallelism. Only (C) corrects
this error without introducing additional issues. Choices
(B), (D), and (E) all fail to properly complete the idiom not
only. .. but also.
11. E
Difficu l ty: High
If a sentence begins with a modifying phrase, the word it
modifies must be the subject of the sentence. Exhaustion
was not hauling the laundry basket; the opening phrase is
meant to modify Maria. Both (D) and (E) make this change,
but (D) is a sentence fragment since it has no independent
clause. Choice (B) does not address the error. In (C), the
pronoun it has no antecedent and is incorrectly modified by
the opening phrase.
12. B
Difficu l ty: Low
In the phrase extreme cold air, an adjective is used to
modify another adjective. This is incorrect. The adjective
extreme should be an adverb, and the phrase should read
"extremely cold air'.' In (A), the infinitive to avoid correctly
completes the expression would have been able. In (C),
the verb had awoken is in the correct tense because it
happened before he would have been able. The word later,
(D), is idiomatically correct.