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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Ten Answers and Explanations I
901
8. B
Difficulty: Medium
The writer used the phrase on site when what is meant is in
sight. Since the speaker walks several miles along the shore,
it is clear that no particular site is intended. Choice (B)
contains the correct idiomatic expression. The verb change
in (C) adds another problem. Choice (0) changes the
meaning of the phrase. Choice (E) changes the adjective for
no reason.
9. c
Difficulty: High
Some adjectives and adverbs are easy to confuse. The
underlined phrase uses the adverb well in place of the
adjective good to describe how Julia felt. As an adjective,
well relates to health, not happiness. Therefore, (C) is the
best revision. Choices (B) and (E), while adding an adjective
and changing the preposition, respectively, do not revise
the original mistake. Choice (0) incorrectly changes the
meaning of the sentence.
10. E
Difficulty: High
In the underlined passage, the subject and verb do not
agree, and the words that night tell us that the verb should
be in the past tense. Choice (E) corrects both errors. Choice
(B) changes the meaning of the phrase. Choice (C) corrects
the agreement problem, but not the tense. Choice (0) does
not work with the rest of the sentence.
11. c
Difficulty: High
Here you encounter another case of similar elements not
being expressed in similar form. The sentence talks about
the creation . .. establishing . .. and purchasing. In order to
make this list parallel, you need to replace the two gerunds
with nouns or the noun with a gerund. Look among the
choices for either of these two options. Choice (C) changes
everything to nouns-the creation . .. the establishment . ..
and the purchase. All the other choices maintain the
incorrect mix of nouns and gerunds.
12. E
Difficulty: High
In the opening clause, the underlined word because is used
correctly, and the verb tense had downed is also correct.
The phrase it appeared unlikely, (C), shows correct subjectverb
agreement, and it also makes sense within the context
of the sentence. Choice (0) also shows the correct usage of
the auxiliary verb would, so there is no error in the sentence.
13. c
Difficulty: Medium
Choice (C) is the past tense form of the verb distinguish,
which cannot be used with the auxiliary verb could,
and therefore (C) is the correct answer. Choice (A) is a
prepositional phrase in which both the preposition and the
verb tense are correct. Choice (B) is the adjective darkened,
an appropriate descriptive word for a stage. Choice (0)
includes an adjective and a noun that are both correct in
relation to each other and within the sentence.
14. D
Difficulty: Medium
Adjectives (including participles) can only be used to modify
nouns and pronouns; they cannot be used to modify other
adjectives. In (0), the participle verb form increasing is an
adjective modifying the adjective nervous, but it should be
the adverb increasingly. Choice (A) is the proper relative
pronoun to refer to a person. Choice (B) is correct use
of the infinitive. Choice (C) is appropriate use of the past
perfect tense, since it refers to an action completed before
another stated past action (grew . .. nervous).
15. D
Difficulty: Medium
Related nouns in a sentence must agree in number. A plural
number of dancers would have to take a plural number
of places; the error is in (0). Choice (A) properly uses an
adjective to modify a noun. Choice (B) is an appropriate
verb phrase in context. Choice (C) correctly uses the gerund
rustling and the preposition of.
16. D
Difficulty: Low
Choice (A) is in correct form for the subject of the sentence.
Choice (B) is idiomatically correct, with an adverb modifying
the verb. In (C), for is the correct preposition, and two
appropriate adjectives describe businesses. In (0), hardly
never is a double negative. Some people may speak this
way, but it is an error in diction, or choice of language.