SAT writing section

*Television shows such as MASH and All in the Family took* months or even years to build a large audience, most new series today never get that chance.

*Although television shows such as MASH and All in the Family took* months or even years to build a large audience, most new series today never get that chance.

*If Churchill sent planes to defend Coventry* from the German air raid, the Nazis would have realized that their secret code had been broken by the Allies.

*Had Churchill sent planes to defend Coventry* from the German air raid, the Nazis would have realized that their secret code had been broken by the Allies.

Hopefully, it is not too late to reverse the damage that years of neglect and harsh weather have wrought on the beautiful old mansion.

*In standard written English, it is unacceptable to use hopefully as a shorthand substitute for "I hope," even though we frequently use it in this way in casual conversation.*

Some squirrel species almost seem to anticipate when the seed yields of local spruce trees *will be* unusually high.

*NOT WRONG*

The aurora borealis is a dazzling *phenomena* that occurs when the earth's magnetic field interacts with the solar wind, producing ionized atoms and molecules.

*Phenomena is the plural form of phenomenon, which would be the correct word here. *

*Once an enclave of privileged white males, the Wodehouse Club's directors have* now decided to adopt a more inclusive membership policy.

*The Wodehouse Club's directors, which was once an enclave of privileged white males, have* now decided to adopt a more inclusive membership policy.

The castaways' situation was beginning to look desperate: They had *drank* the last of their water the night before.

*The past participle of drink is drunk, so the sentence should read they had drunk the last of the water. Drank is the simple past tense. "They drank the water".*

Raoul gave Frederick very little warning before striking a match and setting fire *to his* entire collection of documents, which had been painstakingly compiled over the course of several decades.

*Whose collection of documents was it? It is not clear from the sentence whether his refers to Raoul or to Frederick; hence this is a case of vague pronoun reference.*

A discovery in New Jersey actually contributed to the early economic development of *America and, in 1714, a worker uncovered* a green rock containing copper.

A discovery in New Jersey actually contributed to the early economic development of *America, thus, in 1714, a worker uncovered* a green rock containing copper.

Bats and mosquitoes come out at twilight, *and the bats would look look for mosquitoes and the mosquitoes would look for people.*

Bats and mosquitoes come out at twilight, *the bats to look for mosquitoes and the mosquitoes to look for people.*

Carlos cherished the memory of the day when *him* and his sister Rosa were presented with awards in recognition of meritorious service to the community.

Carlos cherished the memory of the day when *he* and his sister Rosa were presented with awards in recognition of meritorious service to the community. *"he" because it is followed by an action! DUHH"

In retrospect, one can see the folly of trying to unite a region containing some 400 distinct ethnic groups, *each with their own language, laws, and traditions*

In retrospect, one can see the folly of trying to unite a region containing some 400 distinct ethnic groups, *each with its own language, laws, and traditions* *using "each" signifies that it is singular*

Winston Churchill, unlike many English prime ministers before him, had deep insight *into* the workings of the human mind.

No Error though I thought insight "into" was a idiomatically incorrect

In a move that distressed the clergy as much as it delighted the barons, King Arnulf named one of his illegitimate sons as heir and successor to the throne.

No Error!

Lacking an objective standard *by which* to judge the contestants, the sponsors of the pageant finally resorted to drawing a name at random from a hat.

No Error!

Native to New Zealand, the kiwi has few natural predators but *is* currently endangered by deforestation and human encroachment.

No error!

The much-publicized study was deemed unscientific because it failed to take into account *such variables as heredity and income.*

No error!

*Not many* authors *have described* the effects of environment pollution *as effective as* Rachel Carson, whose work is still *a model for* nature writers.

Not many authors have described the effects of environment pollution *as effectively as* Rachel Carson, whose work is still a model for nature writers.

Physicists working in Russia created a new element atomic number 117, *who bombarded atoms of the radioactive element berkelium* with calcium ions.

Physicists working in Russia created a new element atomic number 117, *when they bombarded atoms of the radioactive element berkelium* with calcium ions.

Some beaches are frequently contaminated by untreated sewage that flows into the *ocean, which can last for several days. *

Some beaches are frequently contaminated by untreated sewage that flows into the *ocean; the contamination can last for several days *

Supporters of the Eighteenth Amendment thought that banning alcohol would improve citizens' morals and enhance their quality of life by removing the temptation to drink; *national prohibition* ushered in 13 years of bootlegging, speakeasies, and violent gangster crime.

Supporters of the Eighteenth Amendment thought that banning alcohol would improve citizens' morals and enhance their quality of life by removing the temptation to drink; *in fact, national prohibition* ushered in 13 years of bootlegging, speakeasies, and violent gangster crime. *"but" cannot be used if a semi-colon or a full-stop is behind*

The African tsetse fly does not need a *brain, everything* it has to do in life is programmed into its nervous system

The African tsetse fly does not need a *brain, for everything* it has to do in life is programmed into its nervous system

The book is useful because it offers not just philosophy and theory *but also tells you what and how to live every day.*

The book is useful because it offers not just philosophy and theory *but also advice for everyday living.*

The consultant recommended that after cleaning the painting, *it would also need to be reframed by the museum's conservation staff.*

The consultant recommended that after cleaning the painting, *the museum's conservation staff also reframe it*.

The famous filmmaker had a tendency *of changing* his recollections, perhaps out of boredom at having to tell interviewers the same story over and over.

The famous filmmaker had a tendency *to change* his recollections, perhaps out of boredom at having to tell interviewers the same story over and over. *tendancy..."to"....vb.*

The iris, the colored part of the eye, *contains* delicate patterns that *are unique to each person*, *offering* a powerful means of identification.

The iris, the colored part of the eye, contains delicate patterns that are unique to each person, of a powerful means of identification.

The opposing opinions expressed *were that the school should be torn down and, on the other hand, to keep it as a historical landmark.*

The opposing opinions expressed *were that the school should be torn down and that it should be kept.*

Thirty years ago, once could say that those *who* the president nominated to serve on the Supreme Court were chosen not because of their political leanings, but because of their fine legal minds and their judicial expertise.

The pronoun should be whom rather than who, because it is the object of the verb nominated. Who should only be used when the pronoun is the verb's subject. If in doubt, about whether to use who or whom, try reversing the sentence: You'd say the president nominated him, not the president nominated he.

The television station has received many complaints about the clothing advertisements, which some viewers condemn *to be* tasteless.

The television station has received many complaints about the clothing advertisements, which some viewers condemn *as being* tasteless. *condemn someone/something as something*

When the Berlin Wall, long a symbol of the Cold War, began to be torn down in 1989, five million people went to Berlin *to celebrate that.*

When the Berlin Wall, long a symbol of the Cold War, began to be torn down in 1989, five million people went to Berlin *to celebrate.*