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

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12 Practice <strong>Tests</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>SAT</strong><br />

Practice Test Seven Answers and Explanations 655<br />

I<br />

2. E<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

The original sentence is a comma splice-two complete<br />

ideas incorrectly joined by a comma. Only (E) presents<br />

an error-free sentence that shows <strong>the</strong> correct relationship<br />

between <strong>the</strong> two ideas. Choices (B) and (C) create an<br />

illogical connection between <strong>the</strong> two ideas-David's success<br />

in <strong>the</strong> field should be contrasted with his lack of <strong>for</strong>mal<br />

study. Choice (D) is unnecessarily wordy.<br />

3. A<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

To check <strong>for</strong> parallel structure, compare <strong>the</strong> simple verb<br />

<strong>for</strong>ms in <strong>the</strong> list. Here, writing, using, and omitting are all<br />

consistent in <strong>the</strong> original sentence. Choices (B), (C), and<br />

(E) all violate <strong>the</strong> rules of parallel structure. By changing<br />

needless to needlessly and reordering <strong>the</strong> words, (D) alters<br />

<strong>the</strong> meaning of <strong>the</strong> sentence.<br />

4. D<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

Choice (D) properly includes <strong>the</strong> preposition in to create a<br />

parallel between <strong>the</strong> objects being compared. Choices (A),<br />

(B), and (C) do not include <strong>the</strong> necessary preposition in.<br />

Choice (E) is unnecessarily wordy.<br />

5. B<br />

Difficulty: High<br />

As written, this is a run-on. Choice (B) is <strong>the</strong> most concise<br />

way to correct <strong>the</strong> sentence. Choices (C) and (D), while<br />

grammatically correct, are not as direct as (B).<br />

6. D<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

When possible, replace <strong>the</strong> passive voice with <strong>the</strong> active<br />

voice. The girl, not weight training, is <strong>the</strong> doer of <strong>the</strong> action,<br />

so she should be <strong>the</strong> subject of <strong>the</strong> sentence. Choices (D)<br />

and (E) use <strong>the</strong> active voice, but only (D) is in <strong>the</strong> correct<br />

tense. Choice (E) uses <strong>the</strong> past perfect (had begun), which<br />

would only be correct if <strong>the</strong> action of beginning weight<br />

training preceded some o<strong>the</strong>r past action.<br />

7. A<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

The sentence is correct as written; a semicolon connects<br />

two complete and closely related thoughts. Choice (B)<br />

creates a run-on sentence by joining <strong>the</strong> two sentences<br />

with a comma. Choices (C) and (E) fail to punctuate <strong>the</strong><br />

sentence properly. Choice (D) uses <strong>the</strong> wrong verb tense<br />

and mistakenly uses which ra<strong>the</strong>r than that.<br />

8. D<br />

Difficulty: Low<br />

As written, this is a run-on sentence. Only (D) correctly turns<br />

<strong>the</strong> second part of <strong>the</strong> sentence into a dependent clause:<br />

Pablo Picasso painted . . . Guernica, which conveys his<br />

abhorrence . .. Choice (B) uses <strong>the</strong> awkward construction<br />

being <strong>the</strong> conveyance of. Choice (C) is a comma splice.<br />

Choice (E) incorrectly uses <strong>the</strong> present verb tense.<br />

9. E<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

Choice (E) is <strong>the</strong> simplest way to express <strong>the</strong> meaning<br />

of <strong>the</strong> underlined portion. Choices (A) and (B) are both<br />

awkward and unnecessarily wordy. Choice (C) is more<br />

concise, but it presents an error in subject-verb agreement.<br />

The singular subject city needs a singular verb-has, not<br />

have. Choice (D) changes <strong>the</strong> tense and <strong>the</strong> meaning of<br />

<strong>the</strong> sentence.<br />

10. D<br />

Difficulty: High<br />

The subject must be adjacent to <strong>the</strong> phrase modifying<br />

it. Choice (D) places <strong>the</strong> subject next to <strong>the</strong> introductory<br />

phrase modifying it. Choices (A), (B), (C), and (E) all fail<br />

to place <strong>the</strong> subject and its modifying phrase next to each<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

11. B<br />

Difficulty: Medium<br />

Items in a list must be parallel in <strong>for</strong>m. The sentence lists<br />

three ways in which <strong>the</strong> singer could improve his vocal<br />

power. However, in <strong>the</strong> original sentence, <strong>the</strong> first two items<br />

(increased lung capacity and greater range) are not parallel<br />

to <strong>the</strong> third item (working on better breath contra{). Only<br />

(B) corrects this without introducing ano<strong>the</strong>r problem.<br />

12. B<br />

Difficulty: Low<br />

Keep track of verb tenses. Choice (B) incorrectly uses <strong>the</strong><br />

present tense of <strong>the</strong> verb to refer to <strong>the</strong> past. Choice (A)<br />

is idiomatically correct. Choice (C) tests <strong>the</strong> difference

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