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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
754 Practice Test Eight Answers and Explanations
clauses are appropriately connected by a semicolon and the
contrasting word however. Choice (C) incorrectly joins two
independent clauses with a semicolon and the coordinating
conjunction and. It also loses the logical sequence of tenses.
Choices (D) and (E) lose the logical sequence of tenses.
7. B
Difficulty: Medium
There are two problems in the original sentence: the
preposition through is idiomatically incorrect, and occupied
should be occupying. Choice (B) corrects both errors,
using the idiomatically correct in which. Choice (C) creates
an awkward sentence structure and unnecessarily turns
the verb occupying into the noun occupation. Choice (D)
creates problems in sentence structure and meaning. It
is unclear what the pronoun it refers to, the earth or the
sun. Choice (E), though the shortest answer, changes the
meaning of the sentence, suggesting that the earth circled,
not occupied, a central position in the universe.
8. A
Difficulty: Medium
The sentence is correct as written. The two adjectives
obtrusive and accurate are in parallel form. Choice (B) is
wordy and creates an error in parallelism. Choices (C) and
(E) incorrectly use the adverb accurately. Choice (D) is also
not parallel.
9. c
Difficulty: Medium
The original sentence, in addition to using the passive voice,
has an idiomatic error. The restaurant's success should
be credited to, not for, the chef. Choice (C) changes the
sentence to the active voice and is idiomatically correct with
receives credit for. Choice (B) incorrectly uses accredited
instead of credited. Choice (D) unnecessarily changes the
verb tense, making for an awkward sentence. Choice (E)
continues the use of the passive voice.
10. D
Difficulty: High
The opening phrase costing much less than imported
coffee modifies locally grown coffee, so locally grown
coffee needs to immediately follow that phrase. Only (D)
fixes the error.
11. E
Difficulty: Medium
The two clauses in this sentence don't contrast with each
other, so the conjunction but in the original sentence
is incorrect. Choice (E) is the best revision, using the
conjunction so to show the correct relationship between the
clauses and switching the object to the subject to make a
more clear and concise sentence. Choice (B) is awkward,
using the preposition of twice. Choice (C) creates a comma
splice. The pronoun they in (D) is ambiguous-it is not at all
clear to whom they refers.
12. c
Difficulty: High
As written, the sentence is a run-on. You need a conjunction
and the correct punctuation to connect the two clauses.
Choice (C) correctly uses a comma and the coordinating
conjunction yet to clearly express the contrasting
relationship between the two clauses. Choice (B) is a
run-on. Choice (D) incorrectly uses a semicolon instead
of a comma. Choice (E) incorrectly uses a semicolon and
but, a coordinating conjunction that should be used with a
comma.
13. D
Difficulty: High
Look for the clearest grammatically correct answer choice.
As written, this sentence is awkward. The clause after the
comma is meant to elaborate on the information provided
in the first clause; (D) is the clearest version. Choices
(B) and (C) are not as clear as (D). Choice (E) uses
grammatically incorrect structure.
14. A
Difficulty: Medium
Don't mistake complex or formal sentence structure for
a grammatical error. This sentence is correct as written.
Choices (B) and (E) are unnecessarily wordy. Choice (C)
creates a run-on sentence. Choice (D) introduces the
passive voice unnecessarily.