SAT Reading/Writing {PART 2}

Free Comic Book Day is [mine] favorite day of the entire year. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) my (C) me (D) it's

(B) my

Before you cross the street, [one] should always look both ways. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) you (C) he or she (D) they

(B) you

The Supreme Court justices will rule later today, but for now, [their] decision is pending. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) they're (C) there (D) theirs

(A) NO CHANGE

The underlined portion makes the sentence unclear. Replace it with the choice that best reduces that confusion. The yellow duck and the black duck dove deep into the dark water, but [the yellow duck] did not come up with a fish. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) it (C) he (D) the duck

(A) NO CHANGE

The Whitney Footbridge in Minneapolis features an engraving of a John Ashbery poem; pedestrians can read the poem as they walk. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) was featuring (C) was featured by (D) would be featuring

(A) NO CHANGE {This choice matches the present tense of "can read" and "walk".}

"[Your] only as sick as your skin is slick," the doctor said, which I thought was a terrible diagnosis. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) Their (C) You're (D) There

(C) You're

Students who [fluently learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are granted] high school diplomas. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are fluently granted (C) learn to speak a second language fluently receive special honors when they are granted (D) learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are granted fluently

(C) learn to speak a second language fluently receive special honors when they are granted

The [ocean, a sea slug, contains the blue dragon nudibranch, which steals stinging cells from its prey.] : (A) NO CHANGE (B) ocean contains the blue dragon nudibranch, which steals stinging cells, a sea slug, from its prey. (C) ocean contains the blue dragon nudibranch, a sea slug that steals stinging cells from its prey. (D) ocean, which steals stinging cells from its prey, contains the blue dragon nudibranch, a sea slug.

(C) ocean contains the blue dragon nudibranch, a sea slug that steals stinging cells from its prey.

Although Felix did his best to train them as postal workers, [deliveries were not completed by the cats.] : (A) NO CHANGE (B) the mail was misplaced by the cats. (C) the cats did not complete their deliveries. (D) orders were not completed by the cats.

(C) the cats did not complete their deliveries.

When the professor introduced himself on the first day, Molly and Harriet realized with embarrassment that he was speaking Spanish and that [she was] in the wrong class. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) Harriett's (C) they were (D) DELETE the underlined portion

(C) they were

The underlined pronoun makes the sentence unclear. Replace it with the choice that best reduces that confusion. Paula and Mildred laughed it off when they both showed up at the office Halloween party as the villainous Queen of Snows from their favorite video game series. However, [she] told her family later that her costume had been more accurate. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) one (C) the woman (D) Paula

(D) Paula {This choice clarifies who thought her costume was more accurate.}

"We only have three weeks until our fall issue goes to print," [say] Elena as a reminder to the Life and Art Magazine editors who lagged on deadlines. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) were saying (C) have said (D) said

(D) said

The underlined pronoun makes the sentence unclear. Replace it with the choice that best reduces that confusion. Although vacuuming and skydiving burn an equal number of calories, [it] is arguably more fun. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) the activity (C) that one (D) skydiving

(D) skydiving

Motorcyclists should inspect their helmets and check the motorcycle's tires before [you ride.] : (A) NO CHANGE (B) he rides. (C) it rides. (D) they ride.

(D) they ride.

At a public school called Quest to Learn in New York, teachers use [video games] to teach because students love playing them. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) a video game (C) an electric game (D) DELETE the underlined portion

(A) NO CHANGE {This choice maintains agreement between the plural pronoun "them" and its plural antecedent "video games".}

The underlined pronoun makes the sentence unclear. Replace it with the choice that best reduces that confusion. Cameron and his half brother looked very different; [he] had much higher cheekbones. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) Cameron (C) the boy (D) a brother

(B) Cameron

Everyone in the seminar [believe] that meditation relieves stress and promotes overall well-being. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) believes (C) have believed (D) were believing

(B) believes

It is a surprise that the American rapper Vanilla Ice [was not owning] a personal ice cream brand. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) does not own (C) is not owned by (D) is not owning

(B) does not own {This choice remains consistent with the present tense verb "is", which appears earlier in the sentence.}

Before our conversation yesterday, Paul [has never heard] the word "brouhaha." Now he hears it everywhere he goes. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) had never heard (C) was never heard by (D) was never hearing

(B) had never heard {This choice corrects the error by changing to the past perfect tense.}

Alma and her brother Jose [has won] the state robotics competition for high school students. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) have won (C) is winning (D) was winning

(B) have won

Ellen DeGeneres, who had her first major debut in 1986, recently [was launching] a new lifestyle brand. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) launched (C) was launched by (D) is launching

(B) launched {This choice correctly uses the past tense verb "launched", which logically follows the timeline set up in the adverb "recently".}

When [newborn parents or children find an animal stranded without its] mother, they sometimes bring it home to take care of it. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) parents or children find a newborn animal stranded without its (C) parents or newborn children find an animal stranded without its (D) parents or children find an animal stranded without its newborn

(B) parents or children find a newborn animal stranded without its

The [giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each day, often in tall, graceful] intervals of just a few minutes. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) tall, graceful giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each day, often in (C) giraffes sleep for only a tall, graceful thirty minutes each day, often in (D) giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each tall, graceful day, often in

(B) tall, graceful giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each day, often in

Basketball players are known for [they're] agility and hand-eye coordination. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) their (C) its (D) there

(B) their

Anyone who has traveled to foreign countries [understand] the importance of getting immunization shots. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) understands (C) have understood (D) were understanding

(B) understands

Despite being raised in a time and place in which black students were prevented or discouraged from attaining higher education, Percy Julian went on to become a PhD and a successful chemist. His most famous invention [were] Aero-Foam, a soy protein fire extinguisher used in World War II. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) was (C) would be (D) was by

(B) was {This choice corrects the error: "was" agrees with the singular subject "invention" and maintains the past tense established by the context of World War II and the previous use of the past tense verbs "raised", "discouraged", and "went".}

A career in engineering can be very exciting. You may not enjoy the many hours of working on fine details, but [it gets] the satisfaction of seeing your bridge constructed. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) you get (C) it's (D) they get

(B) you get

Whether or not you care about the babies of celebrities and royalty is [yours] choice. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) your (C) you've (D) you

(B) your

Abdullah [were] pumping the brakes gingerly, as if it were raining. "Maybe I should reconsider this exit," he said under his breath. : (A) NO CHANGE (B) have been (C) are (D) was

(D) was {This choice maintains agreement between the singular subject "Abdullah" and the plural verb "was".}