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

1 2 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Two Answers an d Exp l anations
207
I
13. A
Difficu l ty: Low
Using a subjective pronoun when an objective pronoun
is required is a common error on the SAT Writing section.
When dealing with a compound object that contains a noun
and a pronoun, a simple way to test which one you need is
to eliminate the noun.
Choice (A) is a compound object using a noun, Hilary,
and a pronoun, /. Read the sentence without Hilary. You
would never say, "Dad asked I," so you need the objective
pronoun, me. Choice (B) uses the correct simple past
tense. Choice (C) uses the possessive correctly. Choice (D)
is correct, since the seasons are never capitalized unless
they begin a sentence.
14. D
Difficu l ty: Low
Modification issues show up with some frequency on the
SAT Writing section, so as you check the sentence for errors,
be sure that adverbs and adjectives are used correctly.
The adjective deep is incorrectly used to modify sleeping.
Remember, adjectives modify nouns, whereas adverbs
modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Choice (A) is an idiomatically correct prepositional phrase
that explains where the commotion took place. In (B), the
modifying form involving is correctly used to indicate that
the hens and the rooster were part of an ongoing ruckus.
In (C), the past-tense verb woke is correct here since the
sentence is explaining something that happened in the past.
15. c
Difficu l ty: Low
Your knowledge of verb tenses is often tested on the SAT
Writing section. A quick check of the sentence to ensure that
all verb tenses are written correctly will get you points. You
have a clear indication of time in this sentence-last month.
Make sure that the verb or verbs that refer to this event,
which was completed in the past, are written correctly in
the simple past tense. Choice (C) is in the progressive
past tense and needs to be changed to the simple pastgraduated.
Choice (A) uses the correct simple past-tense
form of the verb. Choice (B), younger, is the correct
comparative form of the adjective. Choice (D), from, is the
correct preposition to use with graduate.
16. c
Difficu l ty: Medium
Remember that comparative adjectives compare two
things. They are formed either by adding the suffix -er to
the adjective or by placing the word more in front of it. A
general rule for forming comparatives is to use more if the
adjective has more than one syllable and the suffix -er if
the adjective has one syllable. In this sentence, (C) does
both things-it places more in front of small and adds the
suffix -er to it. Since small has one syllable, the correct
comparative form is smaller.
Choice (A), when, is an adverb that answers the question,
"At what time?" It's used correctly in this sentence. Choice
(B) correctly uses the past-tense form of the verb to look.
Choice (D) is a good vocabulary word (not that you need
vocabulary for this section of the SAT). It means to come
forth. Here the progressive tense is correct. It indicates that
something was happening over a period of time.
17. D
Difficu l ty: Medium
Sometimes a sentence won't "sound" right. This might
mean that it contains an idiom error. Did efforts about
democracy sound correct when you read this sentence?
Probably not, since you wouldn't use the preposition
about in this context. What you would need is something
like efforts on behalf of or even, a little less elegantly,
efforts for.
In (A), the adverb when answers the question "At what
time?" and is correctly used here. In (B), the verb tense
is correct past perfect, which indicates that something
happened before something else happened. Simply put,
in this sentence Abadi got the Nobel Prize before her
colleagues praised her. In (C), the use of the simple past is
the correct tense for this sentence.
18. B
Difficu l ty: Medium
Be sure that the verbs in the sentence correctly express
the the time of the action. This sentence contains a clear
indication of time- 1 906-which is in the past. Anything that
happened in 1906 is done. The verb tenses should express
this completeness. Choice (B) should be in the simple past
tense-leveled. In (A), names of seasons should not be
capitalized. In (C), the singular pronoun is correct here since