Improving Sentences and Identifying Sentence Errors

2007 SAT Practice Test 4

The requirements for raising a child according to a well-known psychologist is patience and loving discipline rather than uncontrolled anger and excessive punishment.

A. The requirements for raising a child according to a well-known psychologist isB. To raise a child, according to a well-known

psychologist, it requiresC. According to a well-known psychologist, raising a child requiresD. In raising a child is required, according to a well-known psychologist,E. As for raising a child according to a well-known psychologist,

Eighteen million courses or antibiotics are prescribed for the common cold in the U.S. per year; however, these prescriptions are unnecessary because colds are caused by viruses, which cannot be treated by antibiotics.

A. however, these prescriptions are unnecessary becauseB. therefore, these prescriptions are unnecessary becauseC. these prescriptions are unnecessary althoughD. consequently, these prescriptions are not necessary althoughE. because these prescriptions are not necessary,

Known for such musicals as Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music, more than twenty scores have been composed by Stephen Sondheim.

A. more than twenty scores have been composed by Stephen SondheimB. over twenty scores composed by Stephen

SondheimC. Stephen Sondheim has composed more than twenty scoresD. compositions by Stephen Sondheim have

been done over twenty scoresE. Stephen Sondheim’s compositions have

been in more than twenty scores

The rare-earth metal dysprosium, being a member of the lanthanide series, and is in group IIIb of the periodic table.

A. dysprosium, being a member of the lanthanide series, and is in group IIIb of the periodic tableB. dysprosium is a member of the lanthanide

series, it is in group IIIb of the periodic tableC. dysprosium, a member of the lanthanide

series, is in group IIIb of the periodic tableD. dysprosium is in group IIIb of the periodic

table being a member of the lanthanide seriesE. dysprosium, to be a member of the lanthanide series, is in group IIIb of the periodic table

The Kiwi, which is the national bird of New Zealand, cannot fly, lives in a hole in the ground, is almost blind, lays only one egg each year, and yet it has survived for 70 million years.

A. yet it has survived for 70 million yearsB. yet it survives for 70 million yearsC. yet, for 70 million years, they have survivedD. it has been surviving for 70 million yearsE. they have survived for 70 million years

Like Kate Sheppard campaigned for women’s suffrage in New Zealand, so too did Elizabeth Cady Stanton fight for many years for women’s suffrage in the United States.

A. Like Kate Sheppard campaignedB. Just as Kate Sheppard campaignedC. Just like Kate Sheppard, who campaignedD. As Kate Sheppard campaignedE. Just as the campaign of Kate Sheppard

No one reason given for the fall of Rome are adequate explanations on their own, but many reasons taken together provide a clear picture as to why the once might empire did not last.

A. are adequate explanations all on theirB. are an adequate explanation on itsC. adequately explain on theirD. offers an adequate explanation on theirE. is an adequate explanation on its

The organic molecule known as cyclohexane can be oriented not only in the form of a chair but it has a less common shape of a boat.

A. it has aB. as well in the muchC. also in theD. also theE. in the way of having a much

In 1932, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded by Sir Thomas Beecham, debuted in Queen’s Hall, it was intended to be a counterpart to the orchestras of Vienna and Berlin.

A. Hall, it was intended to beB. Hall with the intention of becomingC. Hall and it was intended to beD. Hall, but it was intended to beE. Hall; it was intended to be

At only four-feet-eight inches and ninety-four pounds, a small frame being necessary for a gymnast, Mary Lou Retton captured the hearts of the American people and won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games.

A. a small frame being necessary for a gymnastB. having a small frame necessary for a gymnastC. being small-framed necessarily for gymnastsD. a small frame necessary for gymnasticsE. because her small frame is necessarily for

gymnasts

Somebody, though I’m not sure who, (A) have been eating cookies I (B) spent all week (C) baking (D) for the school fund raiser. (E) No error.

(A) By order of the Board of Education, (B) the wearing of tank tops by (C) students in all city schools (D) have been completely banned. (E) No error.

(A) When he confronted the (B) teacher, as he did after almost every test, the student was (C) adamant that neither the questions nor the answer choices (D) was fair. (E) No error.

Only after he (A) had wrote the note (B) did Jason begin (C) to feel (D) remorse. (E) No error.

The old cliché, “Don’t’ put all your eggs in one basket,” which (A) makes little sense to people who (B) have never worked on a farm, might be restated in this way: those (C) wishing to maximize their business opportunities should take care to ensure that (D) he keeps several options open. (E) No error.

The members of the lacrosse team (A) took off their helmets and gloves and (B) sat down, (C) discouraged, to discuss the disappointing loss of (D) its archrival. (E) No error.

As the prime interest rate (A) offered by various banks (B) rises, the housing market (C) suffers, (D) despite some of the lowest housing prices in years. (E) No error.

The police officer (A) was unable to (B) have elicited information from the witnesses (C) regarding the fire, no matter how hard (D) he tried. (E) No error.

The goals of the scientists, (A) whose training (B) had afforded them extensive experience with cutting-edge methodologies, were to change the genetic components of the virus and (C) creating a new set of criteria (D) for analyzing the results. (E) No error.

(A) At large for (B) more than three weeks, the criminal (C) accused of armed robbery continues (D) to elude capture. (E) No error.

Despite recent (A) controversy over ballot-punching, which (B) has discovered some people (C) from voting in local elections, next year many U.S. citizens will attempt to elect a President who (D) will be representing their views on the issues. (E) No error.

(A) Afflicted from tuberculosis, the English poet John Keats (B) did not have long to live, so his doctors recommended that he (C) spend his last days in the more comfortable climate (D) of Rome. (E) No error.

Shawn prides himself (A) on his ability (B) to play the guitar, a (C) skill that he taught himself (D) while procrastinating. (E) No error.

(A) No matter how many times Julie hears her favorite song, whenever (B) it is played on the radio, she (C) will dance around the room (D) as if she has never heard the song before. (E) No error.

Although my grandmother (A) has spent much of the past five years (B) researching our family’s lineage, she simply cannot find any information about the Jebediah Putnam branch of our family tree; until she learns about (C) them, she (D) will not be able to make any further progress. (E) No error.

Because (A) it resolves many (B) apparent discrepancies in Darwin’s theory, some biologists now (C) consider genes the relevant (D) units of evolution. (E) No error.

(A) Some scholars argue (B) that Shakespeare’s collection of sonnets (C) were actually written for (D) his patron. (E) No errors.

(A) Often cited by the media (B) is the (C) right to freedom of speech and the claim that the public wants to know what celebrities do in (D) their off-time. (E) No error.

Everyone makes hundreds of simple, spontaneous decision daily. When the issues are not morally complex and the stakes are small, our normal instincts are sufficient. The problem comes when we don’t distinguish between minor and potentially major issues that demand a much more careful approach. But even with significant consideration, it can be very difficult to choose between two options that seem equally valuable.

What two options are the most difficult to choose between? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.