Pronouns

Writing: Identifying Sentence Errors

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E. 

Read the entire sentence to yourself, listening for errors.  Then turn your focus to each underlined portion, using the Big 8 Grammar Rules to quickly check for errors.  If you think you have identified an error, mark it and quickly check the remaining choices.

Scientists Aresearching artificial intelligence have turned Bits attention to the biology of the human brain and Cits billions of neurons to get inspiration for the Dnext generation of computers. ENo error.

(A)  When an underlined portion of the sentence contains a word ending in “-ing,” always check to make sure that the “-ing” is necessary.  In this case, the words “researching artificial intelligence” are meant to describe which scientists the sentence concerns.  “Researching” is not the main verb in the sentence, and the “-ing” helps to show that.  There is no error here.

(B)  When a pronoun is underlined, make sure that you know what it refers to.  In this sentence, “its” seems to refer to the artificial intelligence, but that does not make sense.  It is the scientists who are paying attention to the brain and looking for inspiration.  Scientists are people, so the word “its” is an incorrect possessive pronoun.  The correct pronoun would be “their.”  Mark this error and quickly check your other options.

(C)  Here the possessive pronoun “its” refers to the human brain, so the antecedent matches the pronoun.  The word “of” is also the correct preposition to idiomatically express that there are “billions of” something.  There is no error.

(D)  The word “next” modifies “generation” and lets you know which generation the sentence is concerned about.  The modifying word is placed as close as possible to the word that it modifies, so there is no error here.

(E)  This cannot be the answer because you have already identified an error. 

The correct answer is (B).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 72% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT writing, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

Let's finish out 2012 on a positive note!  Here is a link to seven different news stories that are positive, ranging from how health is improving to how extreme poverty is declining.  Any one of these stories would make a great current event for your SAT essay.  They directly relate to one released essay topic: "Is the world changing for the better?"  However, in reading the details you will find themes in these stories that can relate to almost any topic.  Choose one or two of these stories to focus on as you prepare five current events as excellent examples before your testing date.

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Always cover up the answer choices before you read the sentence.  Then read the entire sentence carefully and predict the answer.  Match your prediction to the correct answer choice, eliminating answers that do not match.  Be sure to look at all five answer choices even if one seems to match your prediction exactly.

Although his close friends and colleagues see him as outgoing and -------, Milo usually feels shy and unsure of himself.

This question tests your ability to think logically.  The word “although” indicates that a contrast is coming between the way others see Milo and the way that he sees himself.  The contrast is between “outgoing and ---“ and “shy and unsure.”  The words outgoing and shy are clearly opposites, so you must find the opposite of the word “unsure.”  Predict the word “sure” and look down at your answer choices.

(A) cautious

(B) resigned

(C) confident

(D) generous

(E) patient

(A)  This is the opposite of what you need; it is how Milo sees himself, not how others see him.  Eliminate it.  (B)  This is a trait that makes a person seem passive, but Milo’s friends see him as outgoing.  Eliminate it.  (C)  This matches your prediction.  Keep it.  (D) Generous does not mean sure.  Eliminate it.  (E) Patient also does not mean sure.  Eliminate it.

The correct answer is (C).

Words used in this SC:

Cautious: careful, tentative

Resigned: accepting

Confident: very sure or positive about something, self-confident

Generous: kind and giving

Patient: willing to wait, composed

On sat.collegeboard.org, 87% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Equations

Algebra: Equations

Read the following SAT test question and then select the correct answer. 

You should read every math problem on the SAT carefully.  Identify your bottom line, assess your options for reaching it, and then select the most efficient method to attack the problem.  Once you have an answer, loop back to make sure that it matches your bottom line.

y = x² - 4x + c

In the quadratic equation above, c is a constant. The graph of the equation in the xy-plane contains the points (-2, 0) and (6,0). What is the value of c?

Bottom Line: c = ?

Assess your Options:  For this problem, you are given two points (x, y).  That means that you could plug in the x and y values for either point and solve for c (this is the method that most students will use):

(-2, 0)	(6, 0)
0 = (-2)² - 4(-2) + c	0 = (6)² - 4(6) + c
0 = 4 – (-8) + c	0 = 36 – 24 + c
0 = 12 + c	0 = 12 + c
-12 = c	-12 = c

Isolating the variable in either of these two equations will get you the correct value of c.  However, notice how many steps there are.  Can you just look at the two points and know the answer?  Yes!  Think about you find the roots of an equation.

Attack the Problem:  Your original equation is already set equal to zero.  You know this because both of the points have a y value of 0.  In order to factor a polynomial, you need two binomials.  Here you already know that x = -2 or 6.  That means that your two binomials are (x + 2) and (x – 6).  Now c is the last number that you would get in your polynomial if you multiplied (x + 2) by (x – 6).  What number is that? -12!  

All you had to do was multiply the last two numbers (2 × -6) because every other combination would have an x.  If you don’t see how that works, multiply out (x + 2)(x – 6):

Use FOIL (First, Inner, Outer, Last)

x² + 2x – 6x – 12 (combine like terms)

x² - 4x – 12

When you compare this equation to the original equation, you will see that in place of the c you now have a -12.

Loop Back:  During a test, you would never work through a problem three times (time waster!), so this is where you would check to make sure that you solved for the correct variable.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) -12

(B) -6

(C) 4

(D) 6

(E) 12

The correct answer is (A).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 51% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT math, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Idioms

Writing: Improving Sentences

Part or all of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.  

Read the whole sentence to yourself, listening for errors.  Then evaluate the underlined portion in terms of the Big 8 Grammar Rules.  Focus on the most glaring error that you find to quickly eliminate wrong answer choices.

The reason the film’s stream-of-consciousness imagery is so successful is because of its capture of the sensorial experience of childhood.

If you are just looking at the underlined portion of this sentence, you will notice that the word “of” is repeated.  That is a problem; however, there is a bigger problem.  Look at the phrase “is because.”  These two words are listed in your Knowsys book--they should never be next to each other.  They are redundant; you only need one or the other.  The word “is” is not underlined, so you know that you must delete the word “because.”  From here your goal is to select the most concise and clear wording to replace the rest of the underlined portion.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) because of its capture

(B) capturing of

(C) because of capturing

(D) that it captures

(E) for its capturing

(A) This choice matches the original sentence, so you can eliminate it without spending time reading it.

(B) This choice is not clearly worded because it lacks the pronoun “it” from the original phrase.  The Knowsys handbook also tells you to avoid introducing words that end in “-ing” unless they are needed for parallelism.

(C) This answer does not change the phrase “is because” that you identified as an error.

(D) This answer choice produces a sentence that is clear and concise.  Think about how natural it sounds to say “The reason is that,” and you will understand why this choice is idiomatically correct.

(E) This answer choice changes the meaning of the sentence when it inserts the word “for.”  It also introduces an unnecessary “-ing.”

The correct answer is (D).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 57% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT writing, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

SAT essay questions require you to think carefully about  a situation and take a stand.  Take a look at this current event that concerns the adoption of Russian children by American citizens.  What are the major issues at stake here?  How could this current event serve as an excellent example for SAT questions involving the relationship of the government to individuals, power, change, or the role of feelings in decision making?  All of these themes have been part of SAT questions before, so make sure to note the facts involved if this issue interests you.

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover the answer choices before you read the sentence so that you do not jump to an incorrect conclusion.  Read the sentence carefully and focus on the blank that seems easier.  Make a prediction for that blank, and then eliminate any answer choices that do not match that prediction.  Use the same process for the other blank. 

That the edelweiss appears to be ------- is an illusion: the flower actually is incredibly -------, able to survive in extreme temperatures.

The sentence defines the second blank after a comma.  You know that you are looking for a word that means “able to survive” in difficult circumstances.  If no word immediately comes to mind, use the words in the sentence as your prediction and look down at your answer choices.

(A) hardy . . malleable

(B) fragile . . resilient

(C) durable . . resistant

(D) stunning . . slight

(E) unique . . tenacious

(A)  Does malleable mean able to survive?  If you are not sure, keep this answer choice.  (B)  Resilient matches your prediction, so keep it.  (C) Resistant does not match even though it may seem to at first.  Resistant to what?  You would have to use the phrase “resistant to destruction” for this to match.  The single word alone does not express the meaning of your prediction, so eliminate this answer choice.  (D)  The word slight does not match your prediction.  Think of a slight difference.  That is not a very strong difference, so this word will not mean strong and able to survive.  Eliminate it.  (E)  The Latin root “ten” means hold.  Someone who is tenacious will hold on even in adverse circumstances.  This matches your prediction, so keep it. 

You are now ready to look at the first blank.  Paraphrase the sentence to make the logic clear to yourself:  “The flower appears one way, but it is actually able to survive.”  You need a word to contrast the second blank that meant “able to survive.”  Predict a word such as weak or frail and look down at the remaining answer choices.

(A) hardy . . malleable

(B) fragile . . resilient

(E) unique . . tenacious

(A) The word hardy is the opposite of weak, so eliminate this choice.  (B) Fragile matches your prediction.  (C) The word unique has nothing to do with the ability to survive.  It cannot contrast the ability to survive, and it does not mean weak.  Eliminate it.

The correct answer is (B).

Words used in this SC:

Hardy: having rugged physical strength

Malleable: able to be shaped, flexible

Fragile: easily broken or destroyed

Resilient: able to endure adversity

Durable: able to resist decay

Resistant: one who resists or counters

Stunning: shocking or exceptionally beautiful

Slight: small, weak, gentle, or insignificant

Unique: one of a kind, unparalleled

Tenacious: persistent, holding fast, tough

On sat.collegeboard.org, 74% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Multiple Figures

Geometry: Multiple Figures

Read the following SAT test question and then select the correct answer. 

Use the same steps for every math problem.  First, read the question carefully and identify the bottom line.  Next, assess your options and choose the most efficient method to attack the problem.  Finally, loop back to verify that your answer addresses the bottom line.

In the figure above, if PQRS is a quadrilateral and TUV is a triangle, what is the sum of the degree measures of the marked angles?

Bottom Line:  Sum of degrees of the marked angles = ? (Write Sd = ?)

Assess your Options:  You could try to find the individual angles, but you don’t have enough information to do this.  Instead, use the rules you have memorized about each shape.

Attack the Problem:  You know that TUV is a triangle.  All the angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees.  You know that PQRS is a quadrilateral.  All the angles of a quadrilateral add up to 360 degrees.  In the image, you can see that all of these angles in each of these two shapes are marked, and you know that you are looking for a sum, so add them together.  180 + 360 = 540.

Loop back: Your answer is in degrees and you have found the total of all the marked angles.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) 420

(B) 490

(C) 540

(D) 560

(E) 580

The correct answer is (C).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 77% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT writing, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Subject Verb Agreement

Writing: Identifying Sentence Errors

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E. 

Read the entire sentence to yourself, listening for errors.  Then quickly check each of the underlined portions against the Big 8 Grammar Rules. 

The Sundance Film Festival, Awhich is located in Park City, Utah, and Bwas founded by actor and director Robert Redford, Chave introduced audiences to some of the Dmost acclaimed and popular independent films of the last thirty years. ENo error.

(A)  This underlined portion tests whether you know the difference between “which” and “that.”  The word “which” must come after a comma because the following information is not essential to the sentence.  The word “that” needs no comma because the following information is vital to the sentence.  This sentence requires the word “which.”  Also, notice that the festival is singular so the verb “is” is correct.  There is no error here.

(B)   Whenever you see a tense change, make sure that it is necessary.  This sentence changes from “is located” to “was founded.”  It does not make sense to say “is founded” because a festival can only be founded once; it is not an ongoing process but an event that happened in the past.  The change is correct.  There is no error here.

(C)  This underlined portion says “have introduced.”  Whenever you have a verb separated from its subject, be especially careful to make sure that the subject and verb match.  You already noted that the film festival is singular, so would it make sense to write, “the festival have introduced?”  No.  You need the word “has.”  Mark this error and quickly look at your other choices.

(D)  The word “most” modifies the word “acclaimed” and is placed as close as possible to the word it modifies.  Notice that the word “most” is appropriate rather than the word “more” because this sentence is comparing all of the films of the last thirty years.  One thing is “more acclaimed” than another if you are comparing only two things.  There is no error here.

(E)  This cannot be the answer because you already found an error.

The correct answer is (C).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 67% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT writing, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Always cover your answer choices before reading the sentence.  Then read the entire sentence carefully.  Use the context clues in the sentence to predict what belongs in the blank.  Compare your prediction to each answer choice, asking yourself whether the choice matches your prediction.  If the answer is no, eliminate that choice.  Be sure to look at all the answer choices before selecting your answer.

Cormac McCarthy has a reputation for being one of the most ------- figures in literature; for many years, few people knew what the writer looked like or where he lived.

The definition of the word that belongs in the blank is in this sentence right after the semi-colon.  What word would you use to describe someone who few recognize or know much about?  There are many words that might come to mind: unsociable, solitary, withdrawn.  Use the word that comes to mind as your prediction and look down at your answer choices.

(A) overbearing

(B) sedate

(C) sociable

(D) celebrated

(E) reclusive

(A)  This does not match your prediction.  You know nothing about how this person interacts with others because he doesn’t interact with others.  Eliminate this choice.  (B)  This answer is meant to distract you because the Latin root “sed” can mean “apart.”  However, another meaning of the Latin root, the one that is used here is “calm.”  This does not match your prediction, so you can eliminate it.  (C)  This is the opposite of your prediction!  Eliminate it!  (D)  This answer may be tempting because the author is described as “most” something and people seem to want to know him.  Still, there is no indication that people appreciate this person’s writing.  Stick to your original prediction.  The sentence clearly indicates that this person is unsociable, so the word celebrated will not be the answer.  Eliminate it.  (E)  You may know the related word “recluse.”  This answer matches perfectly.

The correct answer is (E).

Words used in this SC:

Overbearing: demanding, bossy

Sedate: calm, composed

Sociable: friendly, congenial

Celebrated: famous, widely praised

Reclusive: preferring privacy and isolation

On sat.collegeboard.org, 77% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Rates

Arithmetic: Rates

Read the following SAT test question and then select the correct answer. 

Using the same method with every math problem to minimize mistakes.  Read the question carefully.  Identify the bottom line and assess your options for finding it.  Choose the most efficient method to attack the problem.  Once you have an answer, loop back to make sure it addresses the bottom line.

A woman drove to work at an average speed of 40 miles per hour and returned along the same route at 30 miles per hour. If her total traveling time was 1 hour, what was the total number of miles in the round trip?

Bottom Line: Td = ?  (Total distance)

Assess your Options: Remember that speed is really a rate.  There are 4 key rate scenarios: separation, overtake, round trip, and meet in between--this one is a round trip.  You can figure all of these out by using the distance formula (rate × time = distance), but it can be difficult to keep track of which scenario you have unless you treat all of them the same way.  Knowsys recommends that you use a chart to quickly organize your thoughts so that you can be sure that you accounted for all of the information in the problem. (Spoiler: many students make mistakes on these types of problems!  You do not get any extra points for ignoring the chart, so use it!)  

Attack the Problem:  Here is the chart that you should use with all rate scenarios:

	1	2	Total
Rate
Time
Distance

Start filling in the information that you know.  The first trip was at a rate of 40 miles per hour and the second trip was at a rate of 30 miles per hour.  The total time was 1 hour. 

	Trip 1	Trip 2	Total
Rate	40	30
Time			1
Distance

If you don’t know the time for the first trip, choose a variable to represent the unknown.  Put an “x” in that box.  You know that the time for the trips together must total 1 hour (x + ? = 1).  Therefore, the second trip is equal to 1 minus x. 

	Trip 1	Trip 2	Total
Rate	40	30
Time	x	1 – x	1
Distance

You already know that rate × time = distance, so multiply the two columns representing the trips. 

	Trip 1	Trip 2	Total
Rate	40	30
Time	x	1 – x	1
Distance	40x	30(1 – x)

Before you start worrying about the total number of miles, remember that this person is using the same route each time.  That means the distance traveled each time is an equal length.  Set the distances equal to each other.

40x = 30(1 – x)

40x = 30 – 30x

70x = 30

If you know x, you can now find a number value for each part of your chart.  What was the bottom line?  You need to find the total number of hours.  You could plug x into both distances and add them up; however, there is an even faster method.  Take the first distance and multiply it by 2.  (Remember that the distances are the same.)

Loop Back:  You solved for your bottom line, so look down at your answer choices.

(A) 30

(B) 

(C) 

(D) 35

(E) 40

The correct answer is (C).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 38% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT math, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Idioms

Writing: Improving Sentences

Part or all of the following sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.  

Read the entire original sentence to yourself, listening for errors.  Then evaluate the underlined portion of the sentence using the Big 8 Grammar Rules.  Focus on the first error that you find to quickly eliminate wrong answer choices.

Being that she has a gift for comic timing, Esmeralda is a natural when it comes to storytelling.

The Knowsys handbook advises you to avoid the word “being” because it implies an ongoing action, which generally doesn't make sense in written sentences.  In order to improve this sentence, you will need to replace the “being that” with an idiomatically correct expression.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) Being that she has a gift for comic timing

(B) In having a gift for comic timing

(C) With her gift for comic timing

(D) Although she has a gift for comic timing

(E) Comically timed

(A) You can eliminate this choice without reading it because it matches the original sentence.

(B) The words “in having” do not improve the original sentence.  The Knowsys handbook advises you to avoid answer choices that add words that end in “–ing,” unless those words are necessary for parallelism.  There is no parallel verb with an “-ing” in this sentence, so you can eliminate this choice.

(C) This is an idiomatically correct and concise way to express the idea that Esmeralda has been gifted with comic timing.  The word “with” lets you know that this gift is something that she possesses now.  Keep this answer choice.

(D) This answer choice includes an “although.”  This incorrectly expresses the relationship between the two sentence parts.  There is no contrast between these two ideas; they are logically linked with one as the function of the other.  Eliminate this choice.

(E) This answer choice is too short to convey all of the meaning of the original sentence, and it is awkward to describe a person as “comically timed.”  Eliminate this choice.

The correct answer is (C).

On sat.collegeboard.org, 66% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT writing, visit www.myknowsys.com!