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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
566 Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations
As written, this sentence is a fragment, since neither of the
clauses is independent. Choice (E) corrects this without
introducing other errors. Choice (B) does not address the
error. Choice (C) is incorrect grammatical structure. Choice
(D) creates a run-on sentence.
4. D
Difficulty: Medium
A verb must agree with its subject noun, which may not be
the noun closest to it in the sentence.
The subject of this sentence is some, which is grammatically
plural, so the verb must also be in the plural form. Choice
(D) changes the singular was to the plural were without
introducing any new errors. Choices (B) and (E) correct the
agreement error, but (B) misuses the semicolon splice, which
is only correct when used to combine independent clauses,
and (E) changes the verb in the second clause so it no longer
agrees with its singular subject, project. Choice (C) does not
address the error.
5. E
Difficulty: Low
Although the shortest answer will not always be correct on the
SAT, it's a good place to start, especially in wordiness questions.
A greater amount of is just a wordier way of saying more; (E)
is concise while still maintaining the meaning of the original
sentence. Choice (B) changes the meaning of the sentence
slightly (greater money is not the same thing as more
money) and introduces the passive voice unnecessarily.
Choices (C) and (D) are wordier than they need to be.
6. E
Difficulty: Medium
When a sentence contains a comparison, make sure that
the elements presented can logically be compared.
As written, this sentence presents a comparison between
frozen water and the rest of the world. Both (B) and (E)
correct the comparison, but (B) is unnecessarily wordy.
Choice (C) is incorrect grammatical structure. Choice (D) is
incorrect idiomatic usage.
7. A
Difficulty: High
When all of the other answer choices are longer than the
original, consider the possibility that the sentence is correct
as written.
Such is the case here. Choice (B) is unnecessarily wordy.
Choices (C), (D), and (E) all compare Roy's novels to
Rushdie rather than comparing Roy herself to Rushdie;
additionally, all three say that Roy's novels . .. have been
labeled a magical realist.
8. D
Difficulty: High
Comparisons must be structured so that logical things are
compared.
Here, Amanda's time is being compared to either Gwen
or Christine. Choice (D) makes the comparison between
the times of the three runners. Choice (B) does not address
the error. Choice (C) compares the times of Amanda and
Christine to Gwen, rather than her time. Choice (E) is
unnecessarily wordy.
9. B
Difficulty: Medium
Correct answer choices on the SAT will not contain
redundancies.
Since and is why both set up a cause-and-effect relationship
between clauses, so using them in the same sentence is
redundant. Choice (B) eliminates the redundancy. The
other choices are all unnecessarily wordy.
10. A
Difficulty: High
Don't mistake formal or complex sentence structure for
grammatical error.
This sentence is correct as written. Choices (B) and (C)
are awkward and unnecessarily wordy. Choice (D) is
incorrect grammatical structure. Choice (E) creates a run-on
sentence.
11. E
Difficulty: Medium
Although there are a number of ways to correct a runon
sentence, only one answer choice will do so without
introducing any additional errors.
As written, this sentence is a run-on: two independent
clauses joined by a comma splice. Choice (E) corrects this
by making the second clause subordinate. Neither (B), (C),
nor (D) addresses the error.