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kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
Review Time
SENTENCE COMPLETION OVERVIEW
You must use reasoning to determine the relationship between sentence parts
in the Sentence Completion subsections.
The skill lessons and accompanying quizzes that follow this overview are
designed to provide you with strategies, concepts, important signal
words, and practices before you take the SAT.
The review and practice sections that follow this overview contain the
four types of sentence completions found on the SAT: defmitional,
contrast, cause-effect, and synonym. In each of the four review lessons,
you will fmd important information related to one specific type of
sentence completion. You will also fmd links to all strategies you
should use for sentence completions and an extensive list of the most
frequently occurring vocabulary used on the SAT. You can also access
strategies from the Table of Contents, and be sure to review the allimportant SAT vocabulary.
When a sentence completion contains two blanks, you have to plug in the
words in the same order as they appear in the answer; the first word
goes in the first blank and the second word goes in the second
blank. You may not switch them around.
Now you are ready to dig into the actual lessons and take practice
quizzes on the four types of sentence completions.
Review Time
DEFINITION SENTENCES
Examples
Here are two more examples of defmition sentences that contain key
words to guide you to the correct answer. Before you look at the
solutions, try to fill in the blank with your own word choice.
Example 1
Explanation:
Example 2
She was honest, open, and frank during her testimony, so much so
that her - - - - helped solve the mystery.
(A) reservation
(B) blunder
(C) excitement
(D)
candor
(E) reluctance
Hint:
The key words that define the missing word are honest, open, and frank.
What word is defined by these key words?
Explanation:
If you are not familiar with the idea of mapping the direction of a
sentence, read the following information carefully.
When you map the direction of a sentence, what you are looking for is an
order within the flow of sentence parts. All sentences have this order.
Some move from positive (+) to negative (-); some move from positive
(+) to positive (+); some move from negative (-) to negative (-); some
move from negative (-) to positive (+). In other words, + to - means that
the sentence opens with a positive idea then shifts to a negative one.
Hint:
Study the prefixes used in the answer choices. What word uses a
prefix that means "many"?
Explanation:
The prefix poly means many. Because the ancient Greeks and Romans
worshipped many gods and goddesses, they are said to be
polytheistic. The worship of numerous gods and goddesses is the
definition of polytheistic.
10
Review Time
CONTRAST SENTENCES
but
despite this/the
even though
unless
nevertheless
11
The signal word instead establishes the sentence direction, and the
missing word will reverse that direction by creating a contrast to
the
key words wither and wilt. Consider the answer choices below. What
word is the best contrast to the key words wither and wilt?
(A) die (B) flourish (C) desiccate (D) terminate (E) resist
12
scornful
intrigued
baffled
impressed
harassed
Hint:
Notice the signal word however and the key word clarified. What
word will change the direction of the sentence and contrast with the key
word clarified ?
Explanation:
13
Example 2.
tempestuous...temperate
violent...turbulent
noisy...boisterous
irritating...lackluster
languid...sluggish
Tip: You will not find a signal word in this sentence. Not all
sentences have them; instead, you will find words that suggest one
of
the signal words. In this sentence, the words were replaced by take the
place of a signal word.
Hint:
The key words are storms, raged, warm, and cool. What set of
words best contrasts with these key words?
Explanation:
14
15
16
Review Time
CAUSE AND EFFECT SENTENCES
Always begin by looking for the signal word that helps to identify the
type of sentence completion. The list below contains the most common
signal words for cause and effect sentences.
because
as a result hence
since
thus
therefore
consequently if...then
in order to
so
Hint:
Notice the major signal word because is used to introduce the causeeffect relationship. Also, note the key words with tools and machines
andfor tuning engines effectively. What is the answer that best fits
the logic of the sentence?
Explanation:
The signal word because points to the cause, and the second part of the
sentence states the effect. She is adept, or skillful, so this results
in her earning a good reputation.
17
18
Because cause and effect sentence completions frequently use two blanks,
it is important to know a strategy that can help you eliminate incorrect
answers. Once again, the positive-and-negative-words strategy
comes to the rescue.
Step 1: Determine whether the blanks in the sentence require a
positive or a negative word. Place a + in the blank if you need a
positive word or a - in the blank if you need a negative word. Do
this for both
blanks. You now know the direction of the sentence.
Step 2: All you need to do is scan the first word of the pairs in each
answer. If the first word does not match the direction of the first
blank, eliminate the entire answer. With those answers that remain,
quickly scan in order to eliminate choices in which the second word
moves in a different direction from that of the second blank.
Result: You should be able to eliminate at least two answers very
quickly through simple connotations of + or -. In fact, you don't even
need to have a complete understanding of each word's meaning! Learn
to rely on your general feeling as to whether a word seems positive or
negative. You will be right far more times than wrong.
Tip: Follow the same directions for single blank sentences. In
this case you only have to fill one blank with a + or - !
Here are more examples for additional practice before you take the
first cause and effect quiz.
Remember:
1. Determine the signal word.
2. Locate the key words.
3. Use the positive-and-negative-word strategy.
4. Determine the degree of intensity of the word or words in the answer choices.
19
summary
accuracy
graciousness
gallantry
sparseness
Hint:
Notice the major signal word because and the key words can rely on,
witnesses' testimony, andsolved quickly. The blank also requires a +
word.
Explanation:
20
startled
humiliated
gratified
snubbed
polarized
Hint:
Notice the signal word so and the key words controversial, rift, and
divided. These words are negative (-) and require a negative word in the blank.
Explanation:
The answer is (E), polarized.
21
remote...observe
ominous...detect
predictable...foresee
ancient...determine
violent...disregard
Hint:
Explanation:
22
Review Time
SYNONYM SENTENCES
23
forgave
reprimanded
commended
appeased
apprehended
Hint:
The key word is scolded. What word is the best synonym for
the key word scolded?
Explanation:
Choice (B), reprimanded, is the correct answer.
If you reprimand someone, in effect, you scold that person. You can
quickly eliminate the words forgave, commended, and appeased
because they have opposite meanings from the key word scold. Choice
(E) cannot be correct because apprehend means to locate and take
someone into custody. Shanika knew where to fmd her brother!
24
additionally
as well as
moreover
indeed
in a like manner
just as
antagonize
ridicule
dominate
unwind
n u l l i fy
Hint:
Notice the signal word and along with the key word reverse.
What word is closely related to the key word reverse?
25
Explanation:
The correct answer is (E), nullify To nullify means to
void something. Reversing the Depression would help to nullify it. By
studying the other answer choices, you will see that the words have no
synonymous relationship to the key word reverse.
Use the Positive-and-Negative-Word Strategy
Remember that all sentences move in some specified direction. Another
strategy to help you select the correct answer in synonym sentence
completions, especially those answer choices containing challenging
vocabulary, is the use of the positive-and-negative-word strategy.
In a synonym sentence completion question, the nature of the
missing word will match the key word. If the key word is negative,
the missing word will be negative. If the key word is positive, the
missing word will be positive.
Study the following sentence and try using the positive-andnegative-word strategy to identify the correct answer.
The angry old hermit was notorious in his town for being spiteful and
(A) benevolent
(B) benign
(C) amicable
(D)
malevolent
(E) gregarious
Hint:
The key word spiteful is a negative (-) word. What word is
synonymous with spiteful and is also a negative word?
26
Explanation:
Did you select choice (D), malevolent, as the correct answer?
Malevolent means hateful. Both spiteful and malevolent
are
negative words. By using the positive-and-negative-word strategy,
you can see that the other answer choices are all positive and can
be quickly eliminated, even if you do not know the meaning of all of
them.
Hint: You will never see a positive (+) key word and a negative (-)
missing word. That kind of sentence direction would contradict the
27
28
29
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
agnostics
charlatans
monotheists
capricious
expatriates
Question 2.
affectations
courtesies
flummeries
segues
banalities
Question 3.
timorous...apathy
inflexible...blisters
resolute... calamity
notorious...clemency
relentless...acclaim
30
amiable
magnanimous
worldly
lax
miserly
Question 5.
assassins
quacks
toadies
juntas
prospectors
Question 6.
solitary
despondent
perfidious
furtive
gregarious
Question 7.
succinct
taciturn
despondent
apathetic
extroverted
31
32
(Definitional): The key words are withdrawn and shy. What word
describes a shy person confronted by strangers?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 1:
People who believe in one god are called monotheists. Remember from
vocabulary study that mono means one.
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
Only answer (C) follows the pattern of positive (+) and then negative (-).
Although answer (E) may appear correct, the second word choice is
positive instead of negative. To be resolute is a positive attribute
meaning to be strongly determined, and a calamity is a very strong
word to characterize some type of disaster. Falling from a sheer
granite
wall would be described as a calamity.
Question 4.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 4:
Only two words are negative, lax and miserly. Eliminate the other
answers. Someone who normally would not buy lunch for anyone must
want to hoard money, the definition of the word miserly. Eliminate lax
as a faulty definition.
34
Question 6.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 6:
Gregarious means to prefer the company of one's kind. Because cows
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
Taciturn means not inclined to talk. Someone who is normally
35
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
goodwill
expenses
publicity
revenues
c ommitme nts
Question 2.
When the fire bell rang, the new teacher followed the directions
specified in the faculty handbook: she calmly - - - - her fourthgraders to go quietly to the designated safety area.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
begged
berated
instructed
forced
enticed
Question 3.
important...degrees
conflicting... substance
inane...benefits
redundant... compensation
critical...tenure
36
deterrent... suffice
disservice... operate
function...serve
process...decry
job...officiate
Question 5.
ouster
promotion
mitigation
commendation
eulogizing
Question 6.
angry...inducing
pensive... inculcating
disgruntled... supplanting
mawkish presenting
captivated... superseding
37
Question 7.
Archeologists excavating the Meadowcroft Rock Shelter in
Pennsylvania have found numerous - - - - : arrowheads, spear points,
and
carving stones used for practical purposes in daily life by prehistoric
Native Americans.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
tools
artifacts
objects
discoveries
layers
39
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
(Definitional): Notice the key word performs. What word indicates the
correct movement of the sentence?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
Using the key words operating costs, only choice (D), revenues, is
correct. All other choices have nothing to do with paying bills.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 3:
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 4:
By using the key word performs, you will see that the only words that
will fit the sentence movement are those in choice (C), function...serve. The
sentence movement is from positive to positive. You cannot perform a
deterrent or a process. The word disservice is negative, so eliminate it.
Noise can perform a job, but it cannot officiate, so eliminate this
answer as well.
Question 6.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 6:
Eliminate choices (A), (B), (D), and (E) because the words do not
fit the negative-to-negative movement of the sentence. Only choice
(C), disgruntled... supplanting, follows this type of negative-tonegative sentence movement.
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
choices
denote the word artifact.
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
victual...raconteur
gourmand...glutton
chef...fishmonger
lummox...celebrity
bon vivant...egoist
Question 2.
vehemence...heat
ruination...chaos
excitement...strangeness
cacophony...dullness
vibrancy... tranquility
Question 3.
regaled
taunted
bemused
depressed
embarrassed
44
erroneous...disputed
authentic...understood
offensive... supported
objectionable...lambasted
accurate... applauded
Question 5.
While he - - - - the thought of daily medication, he realizes
that his ailment is a - - - - problem that will subside in a
few weeks.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
appreciates...permanent
opposes...irrevocable
comprehends...transitional
detests...temporary
relishes...transient
Question 6.
Unlike Senator Bartlett, who - - - - the new trade agreement as an
economic boon for both countries, Representative Oldakowski rarely
misses the opportunity to - - - - it.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
chastises...revoke
lauds...decry
assails...tout
extols...infuriate
assuage...oppose
Question 7.
After twenty years as director of the research project, he still
does not - - - - the fact that no definitive - - - - have been
reached.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
condone...questions
believe...obstacles
acknowledge...conclusions
comprehend... enigmas
deny...postulates
45
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
(Contrast): Notice the signal word but and the key phrase devour
any food. Which answer choice contains the best set of words to
contrast Henry's view of himself with that of his peers?
(Contrast): Notice the signal word although and the key phrases
big- city life and secluded mountain valley. What sort of
environmental qualities establish a contrast between big cities and
secluded mountain valleys?
(Contrast): Notice the signal word but and the key phrases shouted
barbs and prisoner's calm demeanor. Which word choice creates the best
contrast between the shouted barbs and the surprisingly calm demeanor
of the prisoner?
(Contrast): Notice the signal words even though. Which words best
establish a contrast between negative and positive?
Hint for Question 5:
(Contrast): Notice the signal word while and the key phrases daily
medication andsubside in a few weeks. Which answer choice contains
words that establish the best contrast between the man's attitude toward
daily medication and his understanding that the ailment will subside in
a few weeks?
46
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Gourmand...glutton. By using the contrast signal word but and the key
phrase devour any food, the best set of contrast words is choice (A),
gourmand...glutton. Someone who is a glutton will eat anything and
Question 2.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 2:
Vibrancy...tranquility. In this question, the best answer will use the
second word as an antonym for the first. Only choice (E) contains
words that establish a perfect contrast between big-city life and a
secluded mountain valley. Although choice (D) may appear correct,
only the first word could fit the sentence context. Dullness is not an
antonym for cacophony. Choices (A), (B), and (C) do not work in
the sentence context.
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 3:
Taunted. Although choice (A) may appear correct, regaled does not
have the negative meaning of taunted. Only choice (B) is correct.
Choices (C), (D), and (E) do not work in the sentence context.
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 4:
Question 7.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 7:
Acknowledge...conclusions. The end goal of research is to arrive at
49
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
joke...tolerant
repartee... churlish
discussion...reticent
treatise...loathsome
expression...difficult
Question 2.
furtive
amiable
menacing
exuberant
silky
Question 3.
u n a n t ic i pa t e d
accidental
predictable
costly
unhealthy
50
stoic
specific
debatable
conservative
strict
Question 5.
suppressed
valued
applauded
publicized
berated
Question 6.
beautiful
dangerous
u n r e m a r ka b le
unattractive
docile
Question 7.
Native Americans did not immediately become voting citizens of the United
States; on the contrary, full citizenship was a - - - - process that took
place over the course of many centuries.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
popular
quick
bold
gradual
superficial
51
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
(Contrast): This sentence has two blanks, so begin with the second
blank first. Notice the change in sentence direction created by the
signal
word even. What set of words shows how the comedian reversed the
attitude of even the worst heckler in the crowd?
Hint for Question 2:
(Contrast): Notice the signal word although. What word creates the best
contrast to the key word docile ?
(Contrast): Notice the signal word but. What word creates the best
contrast to the key word unexpected ?
(Contrast): Notice the signal word but. What word creates the best
contrast to the key word general ?
Hint for Question 5:
52
(Contrast): Notice the signal words on the contrary. What word best
contrasts with the key word immediately ?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Eliminate choices (A) and (C) because the second word does not
characterize a heckler. Eliminate choice (D) because the first word
is
not what comedians perform. Eliminate choice (E) because the words
are too vague. Choice (B) is correct because the brilliant repartee,
or
a quick and witty reply, was able to amuse even the most
churlish, or rude, heckler.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
Eliminate choices (A), (B), (D), and (E) because they do not
contrast with the key word docile. Something that looks menacing is
in sharp contrast to the docile behavior of the mantis.
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
The best contrast to the key word unexpected is choice (C), predictable.
Eliminate the other choices because they do not create the required
contrast.
Question 4.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 4:
Eliminate choices (A), (C), (D), and (E) because they do not
contrast with the key word general. Choice (B), specific, is
always
the correct contrast word to the word general.
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
Only choice (A), beautiful, contrasts with the key words exceedingly
ugly. The other choices do not establish such a clear reversal of the
sentence idea.
Question 7.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 7:
Only choice (D), gradual, contrasts with the key word immediate.
The other choices do not establish such a contrast.
55
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
appreciated
arbitrary
invasive
stable
authorized
Question 2.
The attorney for the defense will - - - - the decision and will
await his client's sentencing.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
repeal
conceal
abide by
confide in
appeal
Question 3.
credible... deceived
sworn...amused
fallacious...misled
antiquated... rebuked
symbolic... admonished
56
expropriated...leaving
stole...presenting
culled...rewarding
donated...rendering
acquired... entertaining
Question 5.
Because poor weather had greatly increased the potential for
disaster, the stunt pilot opted for - - - - over - - - - in planning his
maneuvers for the air show.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
tradition...custom
caution...daring
luck...logic
legerdemain skill
nuance...strategy
Question 6.
To - - - - their images as charitable enterprises, many
corporations have initiated - - - - programs to aid victims of
natural disasters.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
bolster...relief
magnify... educational
minimize...remuneration
deter...loan
ascertain... self-help
Question 7.
Because the dictator - - - - the citizenry's pleas for basic
freedoms, the populace believed it had no - - - - but to
revolt against the tyrant.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
heard...answer
renounced... incursion
dismissed...recourse
applauded... obligation
contemplated...response
57
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
58
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words
dictator, basic freedoms, and revolt. Which answer choice contains
a word associated with a dictator's typical behavior and a word to
indicate what the populace believed?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 1:
Authorized. The signal word therefore establishes a cause-effect
relationship, and the key phrase could not be endorsed requires the word
authorized for the correct cause-effect relationship. The other choices
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
Fallacious...misled. Only a fallacious statement could mislead the
detective and cause him to look for clues in all the wrong places.
None of the other choices works in the context of the sentence.
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 4:
Expropriated...leaving. The signal word thereby establishes the
cause- effect relationship, and the key word greedy establishes the
context focus for the first blank in the sentence. Eliminate choices
(C), (D),
and (E) because they do not work in the context of the sentence.
Although choice (B) may appear correct, only the first word in the pair
would be correct. Because the land barons were greedy, they
expropriated the tenants' land, thereby leaving them without a means to
60
support themselves.
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 5:
Caution...daring. The signal word because establishes the cause-effect
relationship, and the phrases poor weather andpotential for disaster
establish the context requirement for choice (B). Eliminate all other
choices because they do not work in the context of the sentence.
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
Bolster...relief Although choice (B) may seem correct, only the first
word could possibly work in the sentence context. Choices (C), (D),
and (E) can be eliminated because they do not work in the sentence
context. Bolster means to make stronger or support, and relief
programs aid victims of natural disasters.
Question 7.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 7:
Dismissed...recourse. Eliminate choices (A), (D), and (E) because
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
similar
divergent
confused
precise
blunt
Question 2.
perfect...ignore
foolproof...shun
infallible...follow
undependable... accept
unreliable... imitate
Question 3.
eloquence...comprehensible
ingenuity...clever
ambiguity...vague
economy... superfluous
arrogance...vain
63
f o r g o t a b ou t
tired of
lied about
reneged on
delivered on
Question 5.
The Pre-Clovis theory has presented scholars with new ideas on when
Native Americans first reached America because it - - - significant data that was previously - - - - .
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
explores...noticed
ignores... considered
examines...neglected
mocks...ridiculed
tolerates... supported
Question 6.
Because of the - - - - of the new video game, one store began
selling it at - - - - prices.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
dearth...reasonable
surplus...excessive
popularity...fair
obscurity...extravagant
scarcity... exorbitant
Question 7.
As a result of people continuing their exodus from America's big
cities, the amount of farmland continues to - - - -, thereby
- - - - agricultural productivity.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
diminish...protecting
dwindle... threatening
expand...exposing
shrink... shielding
flourish...endangering
64
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words
problems, consensus, and viewpoints. Which choice best
explains why the curriculum committee could not arrive at a
consensus?
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words
rarely made a mistake and without question. Which answer choice
contains the best word for rarely made a mistake ?
Hint for Question 3:
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words lost
confidence and repeatedly. Using the strategy of positive and negative
words, which answer choice best explains why we lost confidence in the
CEO's leadership?
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words new
ideas and significant data. What was the effect on scholars of
new ideas concerning when Native Americans first reached America?
(Cause-effect): Notice the signal word because and the key words
new video game andprices. If the video game just came out, what
might
a store do if the supply were not equal to the demand?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Divergent. Notice how the key words suggest the correct answer:
problems, consensus, viewpoints. Only choice (B) is the best word to
Question 5.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 5:
Examines...neglected. Only choice (C) is correct because the word
choices create the most logical cause and effect. The other choices all
contain at least one word that will not establish a logical cause and
effect.
Question 6.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 6:
Scarcity...exorbitant. Only choice (E) is correct because the word pair
explains why with a scarcity of new games a store might try to charge
exorbitant prices. Although choice (B) may appear correct, with a
surplus of games a store could not charge exorbitant prices. The
remaining choices contain at least one word in the pair that
contradicts the sentence context.
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
Dwindle...threatening. Only choice (B) is correct. As more and more people
leave America's big cities for the country, farmland will dwindle,
thereby threatening agricultural productivity. Although choice (D) may
appear correct because farmland will shrink but agricultural productivity
will not be shielded. Choice (D) does not make sense in the sentence
context. Eliminate the other choices because at least one of the words
clearly contradicts the sentence meaning.
68
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
rent
discharged
muted
ameliorated
imbued
Question 2.
decorous
fragile
calm
turbulent
tranquil
Question 3.
frivolous
flippant
unfettered
subdued
boisterous
69
Question 4.
praise
detail
boldness
allusion
paradox
Question 5.
The theory that the Greenhouse Effect will radically alter earth's
temperature and weather patterns has been met with skepticism
and - - - - on the part of some politicians.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
sarcasm
incredulity
encouragement
conformity
a
mity Question 6.
Farmers have been unable to plant this spring because the continual
rainfall has left the ground soggy and - - - - .
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
arid
abundant
sodden
placid
fragile
Question 7.
The Civil War took a terrible toll on the lives of both Southerners and
Northerners because it reduced and - - - - their families.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
subdued
decimated
exulted
unfettered
lauded
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word fissure.
What word is the best synonym for fissure?
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key words
dangerous weather conditions. What word is synonymous with dangerous
weather conditions?
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word serious.
What answer is the synonym for serious?
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word
indirection. What word is a synonym for indirection?
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word
skepticism. What word is a synonym for skepticism?
Hint for Question 6:
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word
soggy. What word is the best synonym for soggy?
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word
reduced. What word is a synonym for reduced?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 2:
Quickly eliminate choices (A), (C), and (E) because they are
opposites for dangerous weather conditions. Choice (B) does not
make sense.
Choice (D), turbulent, is correct because it is synonymous with dangerous
weather conditions.
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 3:
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 4:
Question 6.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
74
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1.
affable
reclusive
solitary
belligerent
deceptive
Question 2.
Neil Simon's plays are packed with characters who are charming as
well as - - - - .
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
bland
vivacious
lethargic
merciless
erratic
Question 3.
erratic
exuberant
pragmatic
apprehensive
predatory
75
ridicule
derision
encouragement
sarcasm
caricature
Question 5.
hedonism
self-denial
extravagance
revenge
dominance
Question 6.
nontoxic
refreshing
devastating
invigorating
healthy
Question 7.
discourteous
efficient
gracious
verbose
entertaining
76
Hints!
000050
Hint for Question 1:
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word outgoing.
What word is the best synonym for outgoing?
Hint for Question 2:
(Synonym): Notice the signal words as well as along with the key word
charming. What word is synonymous with charming?
Hint for Question 3:
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word
carnivorous. What word is the best synonym for carnivorous?
Hint for Question 4:
(Synonym): Notice the signal word and along with the key word praise.
What word is synonymous with praise?
77
Answers!
0000b
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
Choice (A) is correct because affable means pleasant and at ease when
talking to others. Quickly eliminate choices (B), (C), and (D)
because they are the opposite in meaning of outgoing. Choice (E) does
not make sense.
Question 2.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 3:
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 4:
By a quick process of elimination, choices (A), (B), (D), and (E) are
found to be opposite in meaning to the key wordpraise. Only choice
(C) can
be correct.
78
Question 6.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 6:
Choice (C), devastating, is synonymous with the key word harmful. All
of the other choices are opposite in meaning to harmful.
Question 7.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 7:
79
80
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
Although the recipe looked very tasty, the actual cake was very
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
palatable
unsavory
brusque
elusive
unorthodox
Question 2.
fragile
relevant
endangered
frantic
fugitive
Question 3.
proficient
inexperienced
specious
inept
practiced
81
daring...novel
innovative...repetitive
unique...special
commonplace...unusual
mundane...predictable
Question 5.
The multimillionaire was known for being a - - - who gave generously to support numerous social
causes.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
hypocrite
demagogue
philanthropist
loiterer
miscreant
Question 6.
incomprehensible to...obscure
insensitive to...obstinate
objectionable to...obsolete
supported by...obscene
denounced by...obvious
82
miser
dolt
sage
zealot
rogue
83
84
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
Use the signal word although and the key words very tasty to determine
the correct answer.
Use the signal words as a result of and the key words conservation efforts
to determine the correct answer.
Hint for Question 3:
Use the signal word and along with the key words unique and routine to
determine the correct answer.
Hint for Question 5:
Use the key words gave generously to support numerous social causes to
determine the correct answer. Also use the strategy of positive and
negative words.
Use the signal word because and the key words abstract symbols to
determine the correct answer. Try to fill the second blank first.
86
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
The signal word although indicates a contrast sentence. The correct answer
must be a contrast to the key words very tasty. Only choice (B) is a
contrast word for tasty.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
The key word expert indicates that you are looking for a definition. An
expert is someone who is proficient in a certain area. Only choice (A)
is correct. None of the other choices offers a correct definition.
Question 4.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 4:
The signal word and indicates a synonym sentence. You are looking for
synonyms for the key words unique and routine. Only choice (B) contains
correct synonyms for these key words.
The key words gave generously to support numerous social causes define
someone who is a philanthropist. In addition, these are positive words,
so the correct choice must also be a positive word. Only choice (C) is
correct. All of the other choices are negative words.
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 7:
88
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
The recently released movie was filled with scenes of - - - violence; consequently, it could not be given a G rating.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
supercilious
untenable
placid
specious
covert
Question 2.
resilience
diffidence
ambivalence
impulsiveness
deviousness
Question 3.
hybrids
misconceptions
toxins
frauds
convoluted
89
irregularity
animation
speculation
punctuality
empathy
Question 5.
diffidence
affability
dissension
tenaciousness
fraud
Question 6.
serenity...garish
extravagance...refined
tranquility... sedate
dignity...elegant
commotion...tawdry
90
sedate
benign
gregarious
affluent
banal
91
92
Hints!
0000-0
Use the signal word consequently and the key words could not be given a
G rating to determine the correct answer.
Hint for Question 2:
Use the signal word and along with the key word adaptability to
determine the correct answer.
Use the signal word because and the key words constantly kept waiting
to determine the correct answer.
Use the key words oasis andf lashing lights to determine the correct
answer. Try to fill the second blank first by using the positive-andnegative-word strategy.
Use the signal word although and the key words shy and preferred to be
alone to determine the correct answer.
94
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
The signal word and indicates that you are looking for a synonym or
synonymous idea. Only choice (A), resilience, is synonymous with
adaptability. The other choices contrast with the key word.
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
The key word variety signals that you are looking for a definition.
Only choice (A), hybrid, is correct. None of the other answer
choices offers a logical definition using the key word variety.
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 4:
Question 5.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 5:
The key word division indicates that you are looking for a definition.
Only choice (C), dissension, is defined by the key word division. None
of the other choices forms this definitional relationship.
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 7:
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
97
98
Review Time
CRITICAL READING OVERVIEW
99
Decide for yourself what symbols you wish to use to annotate the text:
underlining, stars, checkmarks, brackets, etc. The purpose of
annotations is to help you fmd information quickly. Your notations
should be made quickly and should highlight only what is most
important to
understanding the main idea and the structure (movement) of the passage,
and key phrases that you may want to return to. Be careful not to spend too
much time marking the passage: annotating is meant to save time in finding
information.
Practice annotating so that it becomes a mentally automatic
process. As you practice, you'll find it easier to focus and
concentrate on the passage.
Becoming engaged will get easierboth mentally and
physically with that pencil.
100
101
When Lincoln was voted President A the United States in 1860, South Carolina seceded
from the Union. Then Mississippi, Alabama and Florida did so, and Georgia followed
close behind on January 19, 1861.
Explanation:
"voted President": important event
"South Carolina seceded from the Union": may be a cause of the forming of the
Confederate States of America.
"Sadly": indicates author's opinion
"Delegates from these seven states formed the Confederate States of America": this
102
said those poems had been influenced by a gloomy ipoem he had read, and he never
showed them to anyone. He did, in fact,
destroy them.
Eliot went on to write poetry in high school and at Harvard, becoming editor of the
Harvard Advocate. He also told the interviewer that he had been heavily
Explanation:
"great": indicates author's opinion
"fourteen": notable because this is a very young age to start writing
"gloomy": suggests the reason that he destroyed his poems
"heavily influenced by Baudelaire and Laforgue": indicates one of the sources of
Eliot's inspiration
Sample Passage 3 : Learn to Drive in Your Living Room
Driver's education may undergo a radical change in the coming years. Instead of driving
around a parking lot, students may learn how to control a vehicle while sitting in a
classroom. Once they hit the road, they may have already logged several hours of
practice.
Virtual-reality computer programs can replicate thousands of a car's characteristics.
When combined with a steering wheel and brake and gas pedals, these driving
simulators can come so close to the real thing that playing games might someday
result in safer drivers.
can come so close to the real thing that playing games might someday result in safer
drivers.
Explanation:
Read the question and all of the answers carefully. Look back at the
passage to fmd pertinent information that will aid you in
answering the question. (Here's where your annotations will help you
quickly locate the information.)
Think about how that information aligns with the answer choices.
Eliminate those answers that do not fit. Select the best
answer, the one that can be supported by information from
the passage.
Remember, the passage will always provide support for the best
answer, so use the passage to verify your answer choice.
104
Review Time
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
The question stem will provide the line number where the word appears;
however, the contextual clues that suggest meaning may be in lines
above or below the given word.
Contextual Clues
There are four types of contextual clues that will help you decipher
vocabulary in context questions:
Definitions
Synonyms
Antonyms
Implied
Definitions
Definitions
105
Your clue should come from the paraphrase "as phony as they come."
Choice (A) is the correct answer.
Antonyms
By determining what a word does not mean, sometimes you can determine
what the word does mean.
Choose the best answer
My job was easyall I had to do was rake leaves. On the other hand, my
brother had the arduous task of mowing our three-acre lawn.
In the passage above the word "arduous" means:
(A) simple
( B ) burdensome
( C ) enjoyable
( D ) lofty
(E)
important
106
The words "on the other hand" provide a contrast between the two tasks.
Because one task was easy the other must be difficult, or burdensome.
(B) is the correct choice.
Implied Definitions
Blind people are able to read using the Braille alphabet, which is made
up of patterns of dots to represent letters. Stippled means made up of
dots.
(C) is the correct answer.
Another way the test makers might try to test your ability to
understand the meaning of words in context is to give
defmitions for similar sounding words.
Choose the best answer.
Because she had lied so often before, I was incredulous when I
heard she had won the lottery.
The word "incredulous" in this sentence means
(A) unbelievable
(B) astonishing
(C) disbelieving
(I)) bored
(E) free of guilt
107
Practice Exercise
Question 1.
108
Question 2.
The answer is E.
The fact that all three are "dealers" should clue you in to the
fact that they were somewhat alike.
109
110
Review Time
FINDING THE MAIN IDEA
Some questions ask you to state the main idea. You will not fmd this
stated verbatim in the passage, but that should be okay because you have
read the passage knowing that you would probably have to answer this
question. The main idea is a generalized statement that summarizes the
author's intent and what it is that he or she is trying to communicate
to you.
The main idea of a passage ties together most or all of its content.
Everything in the passage should relate in some way to the main idea.
If large sections of the passage don't relate to what you think is the
main idea, you have probably misunderstood something.
How Do I Find the Main Idea?
The main idea of a passage is often stated at or near the beginning. Look
for this statement, sometimes called the thesis statement , and underline it
with your pencil. You will then be able to refer to it later and will also
fix the main idea in your memory. Reading with a pencil in your hand is
always a good idea.
Main Ideas of Paragraphs
The main ideas of paragraphs are found in the topic sentence, typically
near the beginning of each paragraph. These secondary ideas help
support, explain, or develop the main idea. You might want to underline
these as well.
111
We have come now to the sober second thought. The scales of heedlessness
have fallen from our eyes. We have made up our minds to square every
process of our national life again with the standards we so proudly
set up at the beginning and have always carried at our hearts. Our
work is a work of restoration.
We have itemized with some degree of particularity the things that
ought to be altered and here are some of the chief items: A tariff which
cuts
us off from our proper part in the commerce of the world, violates the
just principles of taxation, and makes the Government a facile
instrument in the hands of private interest; a banking and currency
system based upon the necessity of the Government to sell its bonds
fifty years ago and
112
Here is a
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
113
Guilds were formed only for silk, wool, and spice dealers.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is B.
The first paragraph discusses the use of guilds to protect trades,
and the second discusses the training of apprentices through
guilds.
114
They train relentlessly from the time they are quite young.
Mushers get these dogs used to their harness and to pulling small
things like wooden boards. The dogs have heavy fur coats and
padded paws that protect them in the cold weather conditions under
which they work. Pulling sleds is their passion and their life.
These dogs spend their lives pulling sleds, sometimes in very harsh
conditions, and according to those involved in sleddingthe dogs
love their work. These beautiful, smart, strong, and loyal animals
consider their work play.
Question 2.
What is the main idea of the passage?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is A.
The passage emphasizes the hard work and the fact that the dogs love it.
115
116
Review Time
RECOGNIZING A PARAPHRASE
Example:
117
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is D.
The fact that the apprentices learned skills and worked with master
tradesmen tells you that this is training.
118
(B)
(C)
The answer is E.
The passage states that trade guilds began in about 1000 and had
grown in number by 1200.
119
120
Review Time
MAKING INFERENCES
Sometimes the answer won't be stated, but there will be one or more
hints for you. For example, if the author clearly dislikes modem
architecture, you could safely infer or conclude that the author would
prefer traditional wood furniture instead of metal and plastic furniture.
You have no way of knowing for sure, of course, but you could
logically infer that if you were asked. What you are essentially doing is
"reading between the lines" by making logical, intelligent
inferences about the author's preferences.
To infer means to deduce or conclude something based on facts. For example, if you
leave school early on Tuesday looking pale and weak and do not come to school at all on
Wednesday, your classmates can infer that you are at home with an illness. They put
the facts together and come to a logical conclusion based on those facts. You must
do the same when you are reading critically.
When reviewing the passage, a good question to ask yourself is, "What
reasonable assumptions can I make based on this passage?"
Something else to keep in mind when looking for inferences is the denotative or
connotative meaning of a word. Remember that writers use their words carefully
to
express exactly what they mean by using very particular words. Knowing this will
help you uncover an author's intents.
A denotation is the dictionary definition of a word; it is the thing or idea that
the word refers to literally. An example of denotation is found in the following
sentence.
"He carried a red book to school with him." The word "red" is used here in its literal,
denotative form. Sometimes, however, this same word implies anger or, when
associated with temperature, heat. Those are the connotative meanings of this word.
A connotation is the meaning, association, or emotion often implied by the word.
Certain words often bring agreed-upon associations and feelings with them. Use of these
words can convey an author's feeling about the topic without stating it outright.
Connotation is a tool that writers use skillfully. The strategic use of one word can
change the inference within a sentence.
121
122
123
Based on this passage, one can infer that one change the
Progressives did not advocate was
(A)
(B)
(C)
(I))
124
125
Question 2.
126
Jasmine squinted her eyes at the sun glistening on the surface of the river, adjusted her
goggles for the hundredth time, and tried to calm her breathing. It was a good day to
do this: though it was only ten o'clock, the temperature was already past eighty,
and climbing quickly. May in this part of the country could be unpredictable, with
highs ranging from the sixties to the nineties. She told herself that the generously
warm outside
air would warm the river, making it easier to maintain her body temperature and
spend her energy on stroking as quickly as possible toward the fmish.
Question 1.
Based on this passage, one can assume that Jasmine is getting ready to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Look for nouns and verbs that identify the activity Jasmine will take part in.
The answer is E.
The writer mentions adjusting goggles, maintaining body temperature in the water, and
stroking quickly toward the finish, all of which combined imply that Jasmine will be
competing in a swimming race.
Question 2.
frightened, jumpy
nervous, tense
strong, confident
detached, neutral
calm, relaxed
Look adjectives describing Jasmine: her behavior, attire, what she says and how she
says it.
The answer is B.
Jasmine adjusts her goggles for the hundredth time, calms her breathing, and tries to
convince herself that the water will be warm and that she will do well. These details
convey nervousness, but not fright or a desire to run away.
127
Have you ever heard sand sing? All over the world, it celebrates with song. Most
people aren't aware of that, unless they've wandered alone along certain beaches or
deserts and listened attentively.
Musical sand divides into two types: singing and booming. Singing sand is found along
shorelines, such as the Hebrides Islands above Scotland. Booming sand is found in desert
dunesin the Sahara Desert, for instance.
Singing sands' songs range from a rich and deep sound to a high and squeaky one. These
grains of sand don't sing solos, but when someone comes along and grains of sand
are sifted through fingers, or stepped on, a note is struck and the celebration begins.
Question 1.
Question 2.
128
Question 1.
129
Question 1.
Question 2.
130
Review Time
Recognizing Attitude, Mood, and Tone
132
133
134
Passage 2
I'd never seen a tree so lush and generous. It offered delicate
blossoms in the spring and summer, mouth-watering apples late
summer into fall, and a stark contrast to the white all around us in
winter.
To cut that tree down, to execute such a fine specimen, was a foolish
whim. The scent was enough to convince me of the tree's healing and
soothing powers. Sweet smells of blossoms awakened me on balmy spring
mornings, and apple scents lingered long past the first turned leaf of
autumn.
The tone of passage 2 is exactly the opposite: it is a tone of
respect and admiration. The author's appreciative attitude for
the trees is evident in the choice of positive words, such as
"delicate," "lush," and "mouth-watering." The word "execute," a
much stronger, more emotional version of the term "cut down,"
indicates that the writer has a protective attitude toward the tree.
Passage 2
I'd never seen a tree so lush and generous . It offered
delicate blossoms in the spring and summer, mouth-watering
apples late summer into fall, and a stark contrast to the white all
around us in winter. To cut that tree down, to execute such a fine
specimen , was foolish whim . The scent was enough to convince
me of the tree's healing and soothing powers. Sweet smells of
blossoms awakened me on balmy spring mornings, and apple scents
lingered long past the first turned leaf of autumn.
Practice Exercise
Alaskan sled dogs, known as Huskies, are some of the hardestworking dogs in the world. These are not your ordinary lap dogs. No
way! These dogs live in their own spacious quarters, not in the sled
driver'sor musher'shome.
They train relentlessly from the time they are quite young.
Mushers get these dogs used to their harness and to pulling small
things like wooden boards. The dogs have heavy fur coats and
padded paws that protect them in the cold weather conditions under
which they work. Pulling sleds is their passion and their life.
These dogs spend their lives pulling sleds, sometimes in very harsh
conditions, and according to those involved in sleddingthe dogs
love their work. These beautiful, smart, strong, and loyal animals
consider their work play.
135
Question 1.
The author's attitude toward sled dogs is generally
(A) neutral
( B ) mocking
( C ) fearful
( D ) admiring
(E) friendly
The answer is D.
These dogs are described as "beautiful, smart, strong, and loyal,"
implying that the author admires the dogs' many positive
traits.
Passage 1
Developers are trying to buy up all of the forestland at the edge
of our town. Not only will this become an eyesore of more houses,
apartments, and shopping centers, but it will also destroy the
homes of the beautiful animals that populate this ecosystem.
Where will they go? When we destroy these homes, we can never
replace them. Let's protect the land for our grandchildren by turning
it into a wilderness preserve.
Passage 2
City taxes keep rising, and our schools are not well funded.
Money from the sale of the forestland will help our community in
the form of a new roof for the high school, higher pay for teachers,
and new computers in our classrooms. I agree that a park would be
lovely. But unfortunately, we cannot afford it! A vote against the
park is a vote for your children's education.
136
Question 2.
What is the relationship of the writer's attitude in the first
passage to the writer's attitude in the second in the second
passage?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is D.
The first writer is against developing the site, while the
second feels it is necessary.
137
Review Time
TEXT DEVELOPMENT
These questions are designed to see if you understand the thought process
and techniques used by the writer. You will be asked to determine the
purpose or function of a portion of a passage, or you will need to determine
the relationship of one part of the passage to another.
It will help you to be familiar with the types of structures used in SAT
passages. There are six common structures used:
Contrast or Comparison
Main Idea Plus Examples
Main
Idea
Plus
Supporting
Arguments Several Different Aspects
of One Idea Pro and Con
Chronological
By identifying these structures, you will not only be able to answer text
development questions, but also have a better understanding of
the main ideas in the passage.
Contrast or Comparison
This type of passage usually starts with a main idea and then follows with
several examples to support and clarify the idea.
Main Idea Plus Supporting Arguments
This type also usually begins with the main idea and then develops
arguments and evidence to support the idea.
138
139
(B)
Question 2.
Which of the following is a simile?
140
(A)
(B)
The answer is B.
This is a comparison of unlike things (a baby's cry and a siren) using the word "like."
Choice A uses "like" to compare two similar things. This is not a simile.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things in which the author says that one
thing is another. The author does not use "like" or "as" in a metaphor. An example
is: "My uncle Jimmy is a bear." This comparison gives the reader the image of a
man with a large stature and features.
That metaphor was direct. Other metaphors might be implied. An example of an
implied metaphor occurs in the sentence, "She bloomed gracefully as she aged."
This does not actually say she is a flower; rather, it implies it, since we most often
think of flowers as blooming.
Practice Exercise
Question 1.
(B)
The answer is A.
In this sentence, silence is being compared to a blanket. In Choice B, the flower is not
being compared to something else. It is blooming, which is what flowers naturally do.
Question 2.
She rose to face them, a palace among cottages. They watched as she walked away,
raising their arms and bidding her farewell.
What is the purpose of the metaphor in the paragraph?
141
(A)
(B)
The answer is B. In this paragraph, the woman is compared to a palace, while the others are compared to
cottages. This emphasizes their differences in both stature and elegance.
Personification
Rising fuel costs are eating my money faster than I can make it.
(B)
(C)
Looking for the answer was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
(D)
The answer is A.
Answer A is the only sentence in which an idea (object) is treated as displaying human
characteristics. It "eats" money. The other choices are either similes or not figures of
speech.
142
(B)
The heavy-metal music burst forth angrily from beneath her door.
(C)
(D)
The answer is B.
In this sentence, music takes on the human characteristics of anger. The other choices
are either similes (A, C) or metaphors (D).
Practice Exercise
Alaskan sled dogs, known as Huskies, are some of the hardestworking dogs in the world. These are not your ordinary lap dogs. No
way! These dogs live in their own spacious quarters, not in the sled
driver'sor musher'shome.
They train relentlessly from the time they are quite young.
Mushers get these dogs used to their harness and to pulling small
things like wooden boards. The dogs have heavy fur coats and
padded paws that protect them in the cold weather conditions under
which they work. Pulling sleds is their passion and their life.
These dogs spend their lives pulling sleds, sometimes in very harsh
conditions, and according to those involved in sleddingthe dogs
love their work. These beautiful, smart, strong, and loyal animals
consider their work play.
143
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is D.
The main idea that the dogs are hard working is supported by their
lifestyles, their training, and the conditions under which they work.
Developers are trying to buy up all of the forestland at the edge
of our town. Not only will this become an eyesore of more houses,
apartments, and shopping centers, but it will also destroy the
homes of the beautiful animals that populate this ecosystem.
Where will they go? When we destroy these homes, we can never
replace them. Let's protect the land for our children by turning it
into a wilderness preserve.
City taxes keep rising, and our schools are not well funded.
Money from the sale of the forestland will help our community in
the form of a new roof for the high school, higher pay for teachers,
and new computers in our classrooms. I agree that a park would be
lovely. But unfortunately, we cannot afford it! A vote against the
park is a vote for your children's education.
144
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
The answer is B.
Each appeal mentions children, making the readers aware that the
decision they make with their vote will affect their families, as
well as their community.
145
146
147
148
149
150
150
iz Time!
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Question 1.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Summer Pastimes
Question 2.
Question 3.
(A)
sophomoric
(B)
intentional
(C)
juvenile
(D)
immature
(E)
impulsive
152
Question 4.
In the last paragraph, the author uses the word "ephemeral" in line 83 to express
(A)
(B)
(C)
how the fleeting circles dissipated and disappeared into the waves
))
Question 5.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
153
Question 7.
Question 8.
154
155
Hints!
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Hint for Question 1: Reread lines 1 and 59.
Hint for Question 2: Read the entire sentence.
6.
Hint
for
Question 7:
157
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 3:
158
Question 5.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 5:
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
159
160
161
162
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 3.
Question 4.
untainted
unmolested
impure
infected
untenable
Question 5.
secular sources
religious convictions
creative notions
historical documents
arts and letters from antiquity
Question 6.
Question 7.
essential
productive
diffident
sparse
energetic
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question
1: Read lines 40-45.
Hint for Question
2: Read line 33.
Hint for Question
3: Read lines 49-62.
Hint for Question 4:
Answers (C) and (D) are antonyms.
Hint for Question 5:
Read lines 14-19. Note the use of "rather than" to indicate opposites.
Hint for Question 6:
Read the last
paragraph. Hint for
Question 7:
The word "prolific" is a positive word. Two of the
answers are negatives. Use the remaining three
choices in the sentence from line 61.
167
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 3:
168
Question 5.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 5:
Question 6.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
169
170
171
172
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 2.
Question 3.
disappointment
support
optimism
relief
sarcasm
173
Question
4.
ascribing
characterizing
explaining
providing
gathering
Question 5.
Question 6.
Question 7.
amenable
apparent
avertable
preventable
arguable
174
Question
8.
intentionally
apathetically
vigorously
cravenly
thoroughly
175
176
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
Read the first sentence of the passage.
Hint for Question 2:
Read the last sentence of the passage.
Hint for Question 3:
Read the last
paragraph. Hint for
Question 4:
177
178
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
179
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
180
181
182
183
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Which of the following statements best represents the major idea of
the passage?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
The author uses the word, "indiscriminately," in line 30 to
express this approach to illuminating the stage:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
deliberately
irresponsibly
inaccurately
indiscreetly
unsystematically
Question 3.
In line 5, the word "subtle" most nearly means
(A)
(B )
(C )
(D)
(E)
184
subordi nat ed
artistic
inconspicuous
soft
artificial
Question 4.
Question 5.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
185
Question 7.
inadequate
unskilled
seasoned
unpretentious
novice
Question 8.
186
demanding job
artistic requirement
collaborative endeavor
laborious burden
complicated decision
187
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
The main idea covers the scope of the entire passage.
Eliminate answers that narrowly apply to only one
paragraph.
Hint for Question 2:
Answer (A) conveys a positive connotation.
Look for a negative word that best
means the same as "indiscriminately"
when used in the sentence.
Hint for Question 3:
Answers (B) and (C) are unrelated.
Hint for Question 4:
Read lines 25-28.
Hint for Question 5:
Answers (A) and (E) are too narrow.
Read lines 10-14.
Hint for Question 6:
Read the last
paragraph. Hint for
Question 7:
188
189
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
190
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 4:
Question 5.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 5:
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
191
Question 7.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 7:
Question 8.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 8:
192
193
These passages discuss the arrival of the first Americans on the North
American continent. The author of Passage 1 believes that the
Clovis people were the first to arrive. The author of Passage 2
explores recent advances in science to refute the "Clovis First" theory.
Passage 1
According to the "Clovis First" theory, the search for the first
Native Americans begins roughly c. 11,500 B.C. near the end of the
Pleistocene epoch. Around that time, those archaeologists and
paleoanthropologists who subscribe to this model for the peopling of the
(5) Americas believe that the earliest Paleo-Indian culture found in the
Americas, that of the fluted-point hunters, had made their way from
Asia across the Bering land bridge known as Beringia. Proponents of
this theory believe that these first migratory people arrived on the vast
North American continent and found it devoid of any other humans.
(10) Support for this arrival date is often based upon the extent of
glaciation during the Pleistocene epoch. Either these people had to
arrive before 30,000 B.C. or after 11,000 B.C. because between these
dates, the ice-free corridor along the Pacific coast was closed during the
height of glaciation.
(15) Since there is no concrete archaeological evidence to support
an arrival before 30,000 B.C., those who believe in the "Clovis First"
model state that these Asian migrants crossed the land bridge from
Siberia and began moving south some time after 11,000 B.C. along the
open Pacific coast, following game and gathering nuts and berries.
(20) Further, this theory promotes that the journey to the tip of South
America was accomplished by 9000-8500 B.C., this is in light of Clovis
people sites discovered there and dated to this period.
At the heart of this theory is the belief that what appears to be
archaeological evidence of a culture earlier than 11,500 B.C. has been
(25) misdated. This includes the discoveries at Meadowcroft Rock Shelter in
southwestern Pennsylvania, Saltville and Cactus Hill in Virginia, and
the Topper site in South Carolina. The dig at Meadowcroft Rock
Shelter revealed human remains dated to 14,500 B.C., but there
continues to be strong disagreement within the scientific community as
(30) to the validity of the data collected. The "Clovis First" proponents feel
certain that the exact date remains in serious question, thus giving
credence to their settlement timetable. In addition, the fmds in Virginia
and South Carolina, believed by some to be as old as 12,000 B.C., are
also viewed with a skeptical eye.
195
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 2.
Question 3.
arguments against
testimony for
advocates for
detractors of
supporters of
196
Question 4.
doubt
credibility
support
proof
foundation
Question 5.
Question 6.
197
Question 7.
Question 8.
tireless
loyal
stolid
stoic
unwavering
Question 9.
198
Question 10.
Question 11.
Question 12.
199
Hints!
0000.0
Hint for Question 1:
Review the passage for the main point of disagreement with pre-Clovis
theories.
Hint for Question 2: Reread
paragraph
2.
Hint
for
202
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
203
Question 4.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 4:
Question 5.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 5:
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 6:
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
204
Question 8.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 8:
Question 9.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 9:
Question 10.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 10:
205
Question 11.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 11:
The answer is (B).
Because the major point of disagreement between the two passages
involves the accuracy of pre-Clovis dates, it can be assumed that both
authors would agree that further, more accurate testing must be
conducted to authenticate the dates.
Question 12.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 12:
The answer is (D).
Fundamental to all scientific investigation is the use of the
scientific method, founded on the principle that testing and
retesting using all currently available scientific methods is the best
way to certify the validity of an original hypothesis. Only choice (D)
recognizes the importance of all methods of analysis.
206
207
208
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 2.
Question 3.
Question 4.
Planck's
reputation
(A)
(B)
(C)
Question 5.
ideal
accepted
steady
controlling
convincing
Question 6.
paragons
events
qualities
p e c ul i a r i ti e s
mysteries
Answers!
ocpoob
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Question 2.
The answer is (B).
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Question 6.
The answer is (B).
212
Passage 1
The Impressionists were the first generation of painters to
treat the eye as an instrument--as an apparatus--and to take its
strengths and weaknesses consciously into account. There were
two chief results. In the first place, they broke down mixed
(5) colors into their primary tones and communicated them in this
way to the eye. Thus the eye itself does the mixing, and hence
the quite unique freshness of the Impressionists' color effects.
(It should be remembered, though, that individual artists
handled this technique of color separation in a variety of ways
(10) and degrees--no real principle was established until Georges
Seurat [1859-91] introduced his Pointillism.) Secondly, in
scientific spirit, they considered the eye as an impartial
instrument, receptive to colors, lines, and dots, but in no way
judging what it sees, either morally or by any other criteria. The
(15) Impressionists' aim is to be only an eye, and for them the
highest praise was: "Seulement un oeil, mais quel oeil!" ("Only
an eye, but what an eye!")
In line with these two tenets, the Impressionist artist
looked for particular subject matter: it must have potential for
(20) exploitation of color and light; and it must be as far as possible
neutral and impartial, having nothing to do with the old scale of
values, either religious or social. For Claude Monet, for
example, an appropriate subject was the Gare St-Lazare, a new
building at the time and therefore free of traditional
(25) preconceptions, seen as a secular "study of morning." The artist
was obviously drawn to the power and splendor of the new
form of transport, but he was elated even more by his
experience of color, particularly by his exploration of color
where previously none would have been expected or noticed.
(30) The cloud billowing forth from the locomotive, bluish in the
shadow of the station, white in the open light, is the main
theme. The purely visual is the basis of this art, possibly
precisely because no meaning is implied.
213
214
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 2.
Question 3.
a church
a new locomotive train
a train station
an office building
an art museum dedicated to nontraditional art
215
Question 4.
The author of Passage 1 would most likely agree with
which of the following statements?
(A)
Question 5.
In line 25, the word "secular" most nearly means
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
traditional
spiritual
colorful
worldly
artistic
Question 6.
The tone of Passage 2 is best described as
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
heroic
complimentary
disparaging
dated
allegorical
216
Question
7.
(E)
Question 8.
Question 9.
217
Question
10.
Question 11.
Question 12.
218
Answers!
ocpoob
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Question 5.
The answer is (D).
Question 6.
The answer is (B).
Question 7.
The answer is (E).
Question 8.
The answer is (C).
Question 9.
The answer is (D).
Question 10.
The answer is (A).
Question 11.
The answer is (C).
Question 12.
The answer is (D).
219
220
Passage 1
As far as getting things done is concerned,
experience does not seem to differ at all from art; in fact, we
observe that those who have experience meet with more
success than those who have grasped the principles of the
subject without having
(5) any experience. The reason for this is that experience is
knowledge of individuals, whereas art is knowledge of
universals, and all activities and processes have to do with
individuals.
The doctor does not treat "man" except accidentally; he
(10) treats Callias or Socrates, or someone else described in this
way, who is accidentally "man " So, if someone has
grasped the principles of the subject without having any
experience, and thus knows the universal without knowing
the individuals contained in it, he will often fail in his
treatment; for it is the
(15) individual that has standing as belonging more to art than to
experience; and we regard those who possess an art as
wiser than those who just have experience, on the grounds
that in every case wisdom follows on knowledge. We
have this attitude because those who possess art know
causes, whereas
(20) the others do not. Men who have experience know that a
thing is so, but not why it is so; those who know why a
thing is so also know its cause.
This is why we regard the master craftsmen in any
field as more deserving of respect, more knowledgeable,
and wiser
(25) than manual workers: because they know the causes of
the things being done; the manual workers are like certain
inanimate objects in that they do things without knowing
what they are doing--fire, for instance, bums in this way;
however, whereas inanimate objects do all of these things
somehow by
(30) nature, manual workers do them by habit. Thus it is not on the
grounds of their greater success in doing things that we
judge some people to be wiser than others, but because of
their grasp of principles and knowledge of causes.
In general, too, what distinguishes the man who has
(35) knowledge from the man who does not is the ability to
teach, and this is why we regard art as being more truly
knowledge than experience: those who possess art teach, those
who do not cannot.
221
222
223
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Passage 1 indicates that
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
It can be inferred from Passage 1 that
(A)
Question 3.
The author of Passage 1 maintains that
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
@Copyright 2009, TCA, LLC.
224
Question 4.
Question 5.
Question 6.
225
a sexist
an opponent of guardian class equality
a proponent of socialization
the first philosopher-advocate of equality for
males and females
the father of material compensation
Question 7.
Question 8.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
hire
marry
entangle
secure
work
Question 9.
226
Question 10.
227
Answers!
ocpoob
Question 1.
The answer is (E).
Question 2.
The answer is (B).
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Question 5.
The answer is (E).
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Question 7.
The answer is (A).
Question 8.
The answer is (E).
Question 9.
The answer is (D).
Question 10.
The answer is (A).
228
229
230
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Question 2.
Question 3.
subjective
instruc tiona l
intuitive
pedantic
pre c a utiona ry
Question 4.
Question 5.
organized
ma nufa c ture d
destroyed
detected
organic
Question 6.
Question 7.
40
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Question 2.
The answer is (B).
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
235
236
237
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Which of the following best expresses the main idea of this passage?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
You can infer from the passage that the author MOST wants people to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
save time
save money
help the environment
build things
paint things
Question 3.
238
Question 4.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
lying
likely
thin
inclined
horizontal
Question 5.
239
c onde sc e nding
angry
pedantic
evangelical
informative
240
Question 6.
Moorish traditionalists
Mediterranean fundamentalists
unused land at crossroads in small towns
railway depot restaurants
big-city eateries
Question 7.
Question 8.
You can infer from the passage that the author considers diners
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 9.
241
242
Question 10.
243
soliciting
informing
betting
advertising
voting
244
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
The best answer is B. Read the hint if you don't see why.
245
246
Question 5.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 5:
Answer ANo, the author does not "talk down" to the reader.
Answer BNo, there is no apparent emotion expressed in the passage.
Answer CNo, the passage offer suggestions, not detailed step-by-step
lessons, which is what pedantic suggests.
Answer DNot really. Although we can assume that the author feels
strongly that recycling is important, the tone of the passage is not
"crusading" or "devout," which are two other words for
evangelical.
Answer EYes.
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Question 7.
The answer is (E).
Question 8.
The answer is (E).
Question 9.
The answer is (B).
Question 10.
The answer is (D).
247
248
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
249
250
Review Time
First the bad news: your vocabulary cannot be improved with a simple
one-night crash course. The good news: you can boost your vocabulary
in the next few weeks, if you follow our student-tested advice.
Every week, for the next three to five weeks (depending upon how much time you
have before your SAT) you should do the following:
* Review your flashcards at least once a day. Do a few at a
time whenever you have a spare moment, such as on the bus, in line at
the cafeteria, when you get to class a minute early, etc.
* After you have mastered the words on your flashcards start taking the
vocabulary skill quizzes, to test how well you know each word.
When you miss a word, put an asterisk next to the word on your flashcard so
you'll be sure to review that word a little harder.
Using Flashcards
251
Obviously, the only truly "complete" list of words that might appear on
the SAT is a very thick dictionary. And who has time to learn 2,000 new
words?
However, we HAVE narrowed the list down to
* The words that have a 25%-50% chance of
appearing on any given SAT, plus
* Common prefixes and roots you should know.
We find that our students benefit dramatically from reviewing these
word lists. Don't try to memorize the entire listbut do scan the lists
for words you don't know and add at least 50 to 100 additional words
to your vocabulary.
The complete vocabulary list is divided into two parts. One part lists the
common prefixes, roots, and suffixes you should know. The other lists the
words most likely to appear on the SAT.
Even if you don't have time to learn all these words and word
parts, you can significantly improve your vocabulary by learning just
40 new prefixes and roots and the most commonly tested words.
252
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
The Golden Dozen
1.
aesthetic appealing to the sense of beauty Some cell phones are designed more
for their aesthetic appeal than for their functionality.
2.
3.
4.
5.
caustic; vitriolic biting; stinging; cutting; scathing Simon is famous for his
caustic and vitriolic criticism of "American Idol" contestants.
6.
7.
reprimand; castigate to scold sharply In the movie Billy Madison, Ms. Vaughn
castigates Billy for making fun of a third- grade student who was having trouble reading.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
brusque; curt blunt in manner or speech, often to the point of being rude On the
show "The Apprentice," Donald Trump is curt and even brusque when he tells each
week's losing apprentice, "YOU'RE FIRED!"
253
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
You Meet the Most Interesting People on the SAT
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
swindler a person who elicits trust and then betrays that trust; a con man or con woman;
someone who defrauds
In the movie Thelma and Louise, Brad Pitt plays the character of swindler JD., who
befriends the women and then steals their money.
21.
254
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
22.
23.
24
25.
26.
pragmatist a person who is practical and thus not given to flights of fancy A
pragmatic senior should always have a "safety school" when applying to college.
27.
28.
29.
30.
charlatan a fake; fraud; cheat In The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard turns
out to be a charlatan, not a real wizard.
31.
32.
255
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
"Lack of Words
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
256
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
258
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
The Mighty Prefix De- (De is going down!)
52.
53.
54.
55.
despondent; dejected; depressed all mean feeling very down and discouraged
In the movie The Lion King Simba is despondent when he is unable to save his father.
56.
deleterious things are going down in the sense of being harmful, hurtful and detrimental
Smoking cigarettes is deleterious to your health.
Be- (Really Important Prefix)
57.
belittle to make someone feel really little; to put someone down; to disparage
Simon often belittles contestants on "American Idol" if they sing poorly.
58.
259
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
Law and Order
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
260
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
Degree
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
trepidation great fear Dorothy and her friends are filled with trepidation as they
approach the Wizard of Oz.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
261
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
unctuous too smooth; too suave and thus giving a false sense of earnestness In
the movie School of Rock, the unctuous Dewey Finn tries to persuade his principal to
give him permission to take his class on a 'field trip."
91.
sanctimonious making a show of being devout and thus giving a sense of false
piousness
A sanctimonious person comes across as being "holier than thou." In School of Rock,
Patty (Ned's wife) is a sanctimonious busybody, who reveals Dewey's true identity.
92.
93.
94.
262
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
95.
97.
98.
99.
100.
104.
105. autonomy self-rule; independence In the movie Men in Black, the MIB is
an autonomous government organization.
263
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
106. manifesto a public declaration of beliefs
Published in 1848, the Communist Manifesto publicly declared the radical economic
beliefs of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
107. dovish favoring peace
During the Vietnam War, America was divided between Hawks who supported the war
and Doves who opposed it.
108. enfranchise to grant voting rights The Voting Rights Act
of 1965 enfranchised African-Americans.
109. potentate any powerful ruler; sovereign
Hitler was a brutal potentate.
Science
110. astral; celestial pertaining to the stars
The Hubble Telescope enables astronomers to view celestial bodies over 12 billion light
years away.
111. arboreal pertaining to trees
Arbor Day is tree appreciation day.
112. catalyst an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
Gasoline can act as a catalyst for spreading fire.
113. osmosis movement of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane
Osmosis is a process of gradual absorption. It would be easy if students could learn SAT
vocabulary words through osmosis instead of diligent studying.
114. synthesis; amalgam; conglomeration combination or fusion of different elements
The scientist synthesized the new medication in the laboratory.
115. hermetic airtight Be sure to create a hermetic seal
when storing food in the freezer.
116. indigenous native to an area
Cardinals are indigenous to the East Coast. The buffalo is indigenous to the Great
Plains.
117. archipelago a chain of islands
Hawaii is an archipelago.
118. rivulet a small stream Several rivulets
feed into the Potomac River.
264
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
Language Arts
122. satire a literary work that ridicules and derides human vices and weaknesses
Authors use satire to make fun of situations they feel are unjust.
124. epic a lengthy story about the heroic deeds of a legendary hero
Compared with Homer's epic poem The Iliad, Wolfgang Petersen's movie Troy seems to
be more like a vignette.
125.
265
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
The Toughest Words on the SAT
130. vacillate to waver; hesitate; swing back and forth; be indecisive Hamlet
vacillates over which course of action to follow: "To be, or not to be."
135. supplant to take the place of Happy Gilmore supplants Shooter McGavin
as the biggest star on the golf tour.
138. archaic obsolete; old-fashioned; out-of-date and thus not "in," "with it," or
contemporary
The students felt that their school's dress code was archaic and outdated.
266
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
141. implacable incapable of being appeased In the movie Rocky III,
Rocky and Clubber Lang are implacable enemies.
145. arcane obscure; mysterious; esoteric Shania Twain sings about being
unimpressed with men who bore her with arcane facts.
267
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
154.
prevaricate to lie
In the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Will thinks Jack is
prevaricating when he tells him that Will's father was a pirate.
156. synergy the positive energy that results when two different elements are
combined
There was surprising synergy when Aerosmith and Run DMC combined to perform the
song "Walk This Way."
268
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
166. aplomb poise; confidence; self-assurance
Kelly, Reuben, and Clay all became American Idols because they had talent and
performed with aplomb.
269
Studyquide for the SAT Vocabulary: 192 Words You Need to Know
ified by the Rebel Alliance in the Star Wars movies.
186. improvised; impromptu done on the spur of the moment without preparation
In the beginning of School of Rock, Dewey's lessons were all improvised; they
lacked preparation.
270
debacle
decry
demolish
deplete
deplorable
depreciate
derogatory
despondent
devoid
a blessing
one who has given help, especially financial
inclined to do good, kind
good natured, kindly, favorable, not malignant
271
abdicate
aberration
abhor
amorphous
anarchy
PREFIX: A (no,not)
anomaly
atheist
PREFIX: RE (back,again)
redundant
refurbish
rejuvenate
repatriate
resilient
revitalize
revoke
repetitive
to make new again, renovate
to make young again
to return to one's country of origin
able to bounce back from adversity or change
to give new life to
to take back
272
an evildoer or criminal
a curse
wishing evil or harm to others
causing pain, injury, or distress to another
having an evil influence, very harmful
not favorable
without material form or substance
incapable of being reformed
incapable of being fatigued, having great stamina
unchanging
unbiased, treating all equally
lacking reverence, disrespectful
incapable of being satisfied
having no fear, dauntless
secure and thus unable to be violated
to, toward
before
against
water
self
two
around
with, together
against
not, apart
in
end, limit
birth, kind, origin
under, beneath, less than
admit, adjoin
antediluvian, antedate
antibiotic, antifreeze
aquarium, aqueduct
autocrat, autograph
bisect, bipartisan
circumlocution, circumspect
convene, convention
contradict, contraband
discharge, disarm
engulf, endanger, enfeeble
final, indefinite
generation, gender
hypodermic, hypocrite
273
intermononeononparapolypostpreproretrosemisubtranstdultrauni-
between
one
new
not
beside, beyond
many
after, behind
before
before, forward,
acting for
backward
half, partly
under
across, beyond
three
beyond
one
interdisciplinary, intercede
monorail, monologue
neoclassic, neolithic
nondescript, nonbeliever
parallel, paradox
polygon, polysyllabic
postwar, postscript
preclude, precedent
progress, pronoun, prognosis
retroactive, retrorocket
semicircle, semiprecious
subhuman, subordinate
transcontinental, transport
triathlon, trimester
ultraviolet, ultrasound
unicycle, universe
Common Suffixes
-able, -ible
-al, -ial
capable
like, having nature of,
act of
-ance, -ence act, quality
-ant
being
state of being
-ary
relating to
-ate
to cause to become
-en
little, made of
-er doer, maker
ful full of
ic
dealing with, caused by,
showing, person or thing
-ion, -tion,
-ation
act or state of being
-ity, -ty
state or quality of being
-ive
relating to
-less
without
-ly
used to form adverbs
-ment
from adjectives
-ness
result, action
quality,
-ous, -ose
condition of being
-y
abounding in
full of, containing
comfortable, edible
refusal, congenial
subsistence, existence, defiance
attendant, servant
temporary, legendary
invalidate, sublimate
kitten, earthen, golden
batter, logger, complainer
boastful, cheerful
photographic, symphonic, manic, heretic
subtraction, addition, valuation
activity, entity
legislative, communicative
guiltless, sugarless
abstractly, slowly
improvement, pavement
preparedness, willingness
voluminous, verbose
soupy, sticky
hear
short, brief
belief, trust
people
to lead
wander, stray
write, writing
talk, speech
new
phil
phon
prim
scrib
secut, sequ
ten
tract
ver
like, love
sound
first, early
write
follow
hold
draw, pull
true
life
vita
straight, correct
foot
auditorium, audible
brevity, abbreviation
credibility, incredible
democracy, demagogue
induct, conduct
erratic, aberration
telegram, grammatical
locution, colloquial
novel, novice
orthopedic, orthodox
pedestrian, pedal
philanthropy, philosophy
phonograph, telephone
primary, primitive
scribble, inscribe
sequential, persecute
tenacious, tenant, tenure
tractor, distraction
verify, verisimilitude
vital, vitamin
Writing Lesson #1
Grammar Usage and Mechanics
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
278
279
Review Time
GRAMMAR, USAGE, AND MECHANICS
These are the principal ways the SAT tests to see if you can recognize when
sentences are grammatically correct:
Verb Tense
Subject-Verb Agreement
Noun/Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun Reference
Ambiguous
Reference
Adjective/Adverb convention
Possessive
Form Double
Negative
Diction
280
281
This type of error occurs when pronouns shift from one form to
another.
Here are some examples:
If you want a good reading score on your SAT, one
should read more books. (Incorrect)
If you want a good reading score on your SAT, you
should read more books. (Correct)
Senior citizens like the governor's style of campaigning, but
younger voters have no opinion of him. (Incorrect)
Senior citizens like the governor's style of campaigning, but
younger voters have no opinion of it. (Correct)
The pronoun "it" refers to the governor's style not the governor.
Subject-Verb Agreement
282
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
283
284
Question 2.
(A)
285
Ambiguous: Joe told Bill that he was lucky. (he" could refer
to either Joe or Bill.)
Clear: Joe told Bill that Bill was lucky. (the pronoun has been
replaced by a noun.)
Clear: Joe said to Bill, "You are lucky." (The sentence is
constructed as dialogue.)
Ambiguous: Sue saw Sally when she was waiting for the bus.
("she" could refer to either Sue or Sally.)
Clear: While Sue was waiting for the bus, she saw Sally. (The
pronoun and its antecedent have been moved to make their
relationship clear.)
Practice Exercise:
(A)
(A)
(B)
286
First Person
Second Person
Third Person
Singular
Plural
my, mine
your, yours
his, her, hers,
our, ours
your, yours
its their, theirs
287
Pay particular attention to its and their. These two confuse many
students. Its is a possessive pronoun.
Do not confuse it with the contraction it's (which means it is).
Incorrect: Its a beautiful day
today. Correct: It's a beautiful
day today.
Incorrect: The kitten opened it's
eyes. Correct: The kitten opened
its eyes.
Their is a possessive pronoun.
Do not confuse it with the contraction they're (which means there are) or the
adverb there (which shows location).
Incorrect: There hoping to move they're offices their.
Correct: They're hoping to move their offices
there.
Practice Exercise
Question 1.
(A)
(B)
Question 2.
(A)
288
Examples:
Incorrect: We drove cautious because the roads were wet.
("drove" is a verb and must be modified by an adverb, while
"cautious" is an adjective.)
Correct: We drove cautiously because the roads were wet.
("cautiously" is an adverb.)
Example:
Correct: To get a good grade you must do well on your tests.
The adjective "good" modifies the noun "grade," and the adverb "well"
modifies the verb "do."
289
(A)
(B)
Question 2.
(A)
(B)
You probably won't see the double negative "not no" on the SAT.
But you will see errors using the phrases "hardly no," "barely
no," "scarcely no," and "couldn't hardly."
Examples:
290
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
291
The SAT tests your ability to choose the correct word for a given
context. Words that are commonly misused and confused will show up
several times in each SAT.
Examples:
accept, except (Accept means "receive." Except means
"exclude" or "excluding.")
The local college accepted everyone's application except his.
time.)
He went to the library rather than the mall and then drove home.
Make sure you know the meanings of these words and how to use them
correctly.
292
(A)
(B)
Question 2.
(A)
(B)
Verbs in the active voice make sentences more effective and emphatic.
My skin was punctured by a nail.
(Passive) A nail punctured my skin
(Active)
Global warming is being studied by climatologists. (Passive)
Climatologists are studying global warming. (Active)
Three bears were seen by Joe near the lake.
(Passive) Joe saw three bears near the lake.
(Active)
The movie will be seen by only a few of her fans.
(Passive) Only a few of her fans will see the movie.
(Active)
293
294
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
We've collected several items to auction: Rick's watch, Tony's bike, and
Ross's A
B
golf clubs, but most of the merchandise is your's . No error
CD
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
I love to cook Italian dishes made from scratch , but my specialty are pasta
dishes A
B
C
with a variety of sauces. No error
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
Danielle stayed late and practiced reading Macbeth with Kathy because
she A
B
wanted to make sure their performance would be flawless. No
error C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
295
Question 4.
My plate came with two enchiladas; however , I could not eat both, so I had
the A
B
C
waiter wrap one and took them home to eat later. No error
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 5.
The mayor, along with several prominent businesses and council members, have
A
B
given a generous contribution to local artists . No error
C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
296
Question 7.
John, Heather, and Kim got into an inane argument because they did
not agree on who is the funniest comedian : Buster Keaton or Jerry
Lewis.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
comedian Question 8.
By the time I wash the car, walk the dog, and drop off my little
brother at his friend's sleepover party, my friends will have
already left on their camping trip.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
297
Question 9.
The fog was so thick that Monica couldn't hardly see anything;
nevertheless, she was driving too quickly and ran into a parked
vehicle.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
298
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
One apostrophe is not needed.
Hint for Question 2: What is
the
specialty?
Hint
for
300
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is D.
Possessive pronouns do not need apostrophes.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is C.
The verb should agree with the subject: "specialty is."
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is B.
"She" could refer to Danielle or Kathy. The pronoun should be
replaced with one of the girls' names.
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is D.
Only one enchilada gets wrapped, so the writer took it home.
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is B.
A phrase will not change the number of the verb. The mayor has donated money.
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 6:
The answer is D.
The verb "wrote" should be "write" to keep the verb tense
The answer is E.
"Funnier" compares two things, while "funniest" compares three or more.
Question 8.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is A.
The sentence is correct as it is.
Question 9.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is C.
This is a double negative. Try "Monica could hardly see anything" or
"Monica couldn't see anything."
Question 10.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is A.
The sentence is correct as it is.
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
By next semester, all seniors will have been send several entrance applications
A
B
to colleges of their choice . No error
C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
Before takeoff, the flight attendant asked each passenger to read the brochure
for A
B
their safety in the event of an emergency . No error
C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
After the principal announced that several cars in the parking lot had their
lights A
B
on, Alice told the teacher that her car lights were still on. No
error C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 4.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 5.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
Yesterday, my brother learns that he is not required to wear a suit and tie to
his job interview next week.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Before obtaining your driver's license, you must take driver education, get your
learner's permit, and the rules of the road must be learned.
(A)
you must take driver education, get your learner's permit, and the rules
of the road must be learned.
(B)
you must take driver education, get your learner's permit, and learn
the rules of the road.
(C)
(D)
(E)
you must take driver education, get your learner's permit, and
learning the rules of the road.
Question 8.
The method by which the party control the actions of its members is known as
political influence.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
I was supposed to take Mandy and Lisa to the beach in my car, but they refused,
claiming that I desperately needed to wash it.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Failing the reach the summit, morale of the hikers was low.
(A)
Failing the reach the summit, morale of the hikers was low.
(B)
(C)
The morale of the hikers was low when they failed to reach the summit.
(D)
(E)
When the summit could not reach reached by them, the hiker's morale
was low.
Hints!
0000.0
Hint for Question 1:
Does the first part of the sentence correctly modify the subject?
Copyright 2009, TCA, LLC.
308
309
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is A.
All seniors "will have sent" would be correct. The action will end before the end of the semester.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is C.
The pronoun "their" is plural; "each passenger" is singular. The pronoun should be singular: "his or her
safety" is correct.
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is D.
It is difficult to know whose car lights are still onAlice's or the teacher's.
Question 4.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is B.
When a singular and a plural subject are joined by "or," the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.
Question 5.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is C.
"Hardly" and "no" are both negative words. "Hardly any damage" corrects this double negative.
310
The answer is E.
The event happened yesterday. The correct verb should be "learned."
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is B.
In order to make all three phrases parallel, change the passive "the rules of the road must be learned" to
"learn the rules of the road." Answer D makes it parallel, but it contains a comma splice.
Question 8.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is D.
The singular "party" takes the singular verb "controls." Answer D also uses the correct possessive
pronoun "its."
Question 9.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is A.
"Desperately" should modify "needed." It should not modify "wash" or "claiming."
Question 10.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is C.
As it is written, "morale" failed to reach the summit. Answer C corrects this dangling modifier.
311
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
(B)
(C)
Question 3.
People would be more careful with their money, if they knew
A
its the principal reason that couples
B
C
D
argue. No error
E
(A)
(C)
(B)
(D)
(E)
(D)
(E)
Question 4.
312
(B)
(C)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
Please be careful with that china, because it could very easily get busted .
(A)
(B)
(C)
easily Question 7.
The Senate will be considering a bill to protect the environment.
313
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(B)
(C)
Question 9.
(B)
(C)
(D)
314
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
315
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
One of the words is not quite right.
Hint for Question 2:
Look for an incorrectly used "their."
Hint for Question 3:
The wrong answer? It's a pronoun.
Hint for Question 4:
One of the words is not acceptable.
Hint for Question 5:
How will you be affected if you miss this one?
Hint for Question 6:
Which is the most concise answer?
Hint for Question 7: Avoid
passive
voice.
Hint
for
316
317
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
(C) "their" is
incorrect. They're is the
correct form.
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 3:
(C) is incorrect.
"Effected" means "caused"; "affected" means "influenced" or "changed." If a
person is affected by an event, that event had an effect on the person.
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 6:
318
319
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
Writing Lesson #2
Sentence Contruction
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
321
322
Review Time
Sentence Construction
The SAT test will test your ability to recognize errors in standard
English conventions and sentence construction. These will include:
Parallel Structure
Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers
Sentence Fragments Run-ons
and Comma Splices
Idioms
Faulty Comparisons
Wordiness
Parallel Structure
323
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
324
(A)
(B)
(A)
325
326
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
327
328
Examples:
Run-on: The wind died the kite could not fly. (Two sentences have
been joined with no punctuation or conjunctions.)
Correct: The wind died, so the kite could not fly. (The two
clauses have been joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.)
Correct: The wind died; the kite could not fly. (The two
clauses have been joined with a semicolon.)
Correct: When the wind died, the kite could not fly.
(Two clauses have been joined by adding a subordinating conjunction
before the first clause and a comma after it.)
A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence in which two sentences are
joined with only a comma.
Comma Splice: Sarah invited me to dinner, she made lasagna.
Correct: Sarah invited me to dinner, and she made
lasagna. (The two sentences are joined with a comma and a
coordinating conjunction.)
329
(A)
(A)
(B)
There are many idiomatic and informal expressions that are considered
unacceptable in academic writing. Here is a short list of some
expressions and constructions that you should avoid.
Incorrect Substitution
"of' for "have"
"on" for "for"
"being as" for "because"
"suspicion" for "suspect"
Examples
would of, could of
a protest on civil rights
being as I was late
I suspicioned he was guilty.
330
Non-idiomatic
(incorrect)
angry at (a person)
authority about
capable to
compare against
different than
doubt if
in accordance to
independent from
intend on
plan on
prior than
similar than
superior than
try and
Idiomatic
(correct)
angry with
authority on
capable of
compare to or with
different from
doubt that
in accordance with
independent of
intend to
plan to
prior to
similar to
superior to
try to
Practice Exercise:
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
331
Examples:
Wordy
at the present time
easily broken
not very long after that
the reason being
living in poverty
Better
now
fragile
soon
because
poor
Practice Exercise:
(A)
(B)
The answer is B.
Question 2.
(A)
(B)
The answer is B.
332
iz Time!
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Question 1.
After the legislators met for a special session, they fmally voted on,
approved, and passing an important amendment to the law.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
333
One of the worst catastrophes in space travel, the science class read about
the Space Shuttle explosion.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
334
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
game. Question 5.
Most people in Latin America speak Spanish, some also speak a native Indian
language.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
335
(B)
(C)
Question 7.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
336
Although many workers ride the commuter train to work and taking buses ,
the city still has inadequate parking facilities.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 9.
We determined how much money we made from the concession sales twenty
percent of the proceeds will finance the band trip to Washington D.C.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
337
Stuffing them with meat and rice, green peppers can make a complete
and tasty meal.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
338
Hints!
Hint for Question 1:
Find the answer choice that has parallel structure.
340
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is B.
The verbs "voted," "approved," and "passed" all need to have parallel structure.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is C.
It corrects the misplaced modifier by moving it to the end of the sentence.
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is D. Adding subject and verb ("it was") creates a complete
sentence, which can then be separated from the first sentence by a semicolon.
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is C.
People may use idioms in daily speech, but they are not permitted in writing.
Question 5.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is D.
By adding a subordinating conjunction and punctuation, the comma splice is
corrected.
341
The answer is A. More than two tomatoes are being compared. "Most juicy" in
not the correct superlative of the word "juicy."
Question 7.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is C.
It eliminates the wordiness.
Question 8.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is E.
"Ride the commuter train" and "take buses" have parallel structure.
Question 9.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 9:
Question 10.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is B.
The dangling modifier is now an introductory clause.
342
iz Time!
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Question 1.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 4.
343
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 7.
Although the sequel to the movie was much different than what
A
B
she had expected , she enjoyed it nonetheless . No error.
C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 8.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 9.
344
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
345
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
346
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
How do you join two independent clauses?
punctuation.
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is C.
The comma splice is corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction.
Question 2.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is D.
To maintain parallel structure, "to receive" should be written as "receiving." All three
phrases must be in the same form.
Question 3.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is D.
The misplaced modifier "during her lunch hour" should be placed before "Donna."
Otherwise, the sentence would mean that she visited Italy during her lunch hour. .z
Question 4.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is C.
This sentence contains a comma splice. You cannot join two complete sentences
with only a comma.
Question 5.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is C.
When comparing two things, use "better."
The answer is D. The sentence contains a faulty comparison. It should be "more than any other place."
Otherwise, the sentence says that she likes Tahiti better than any place, which includes
Tahiti.
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is B.
The correct idiomatic expression is "different from," not "different than "
Question 8.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is C.
"To take" should be changed to "taking" to be parallel with "climbing."
Question 9.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is E.
This sentence contains no error. Don't assume that just because the sentence is
long that it contains an error.
Question 10.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is B.
This sentence contains a comma splice. You cannot join two complete sentences
with only a comma.
iz Time!
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Question 1.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 2.
It seems that each one of the ten manufacturers claims that it has
A
B
the better quality product on the market . No error
C
D
E
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 4.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 6.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 8.
Most hiring managers are now taking flexible positions on benefits; the reason
being to allow them to draw from a wide segment of the working
population.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(C)
Because of cleverness,
Question 10.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
Look for redundancy.
357
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is D.
The phrase "aid and help" is redundant; both words mean the same thing.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is C.
There are more than two companies; therefore, "best" should be used in place of
"better."
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is A.
A semicolon between the two independent clauses corrects this comma splice.
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is A.
The verb "increasing" should be changed to "increase" to put it in the same form as
the verb "speed."
Question 5.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is A.
"Listening carefully" is a dangling modifier. It is meant to modify the jury, who are
listening to the judge, but as it is written, it incorrectly says that the judge was listening.
Question 6.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 6:
The answer is D.
358
359
Only
The answer is B.
"Hoping to win the contest" is a dangling modifier. It is meant to modify Robert, but as
written, it means the pie was hoping to win the contest.
Question 8.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is B You must have a complete sentence on both sides of a semicolon. The second part of this
question is a fragment. The phrase "in order to draw" concisely corrects this error.
Question 9.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is B
"Using them correctly" is a dangling modifier. It is meant to modify the implied word
"people," but as it is written, it means that the screwdrivers are the ones doing the
"using."
Question 10.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is E.
The phrase "went and drove" is redundant. Also note that "fewer" is correct. Use "fewer"
with numbers and "less" with amounts fewer sugar cubes, less sugar ).
360
Writing Lesson #3
Organization and Development
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
361
362
Review Time
ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
There are two ways the SAT tests whether or not you can recognize that
sentences or paragraphs are logical and consistent:
Faulty Logic or Structure within a Sentence
Lack of Continuity between Sentences and Paragraphs
363
Choose the sentence in each pair that best combines two ideas.
Question 1.
(A)
(B)
The correct answer is B. The introductory phrase links the two ideas.
Question 2.
(A)
(B)
364
(A)
(B)
The correct answer is A. Sentence A links the discovery of vitamins with the current
naming convention.
Elaboration
facts and statistics (who, what, when, where, why, how, how many, etc.)
sensory details (sights, sounds, smells, etc.)
examples and anecdotes
definitions
quotations
reasons and explanations
analyses (comparisons, contrasts, causes, effects, etc.)
Writers choose the kinds of details that best clarify and support their ideas.
365
Examples:
Practice
Exercise: correct
answer.
Question 1.
Idea: When the New York Yankees have a losing streak, many fans of other
teams are guilty of schadenfreude .
(A)
(B)
366
(B)
367
368
iz Time!
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369
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
Question 4.
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
Sentence 5
Sentence 6
370
Question 5.
(E)
371
372
Hints!
0000.0
Hint for Question 1:
373
374
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
(B) is the best choice; the word impartial means "not judging."
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
375
376
iz Time!
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Question 1.
Which of the following would be most suitable to insert between sentences 2 and 3?
(A)
(B)
(C)
))
377
Question 2.
following best
improves the underlined portion of sentence 3?
ar,
was used A submarine
nf
and the Co
successfully in combat during the American Civil W ederate submarine Hunley sank the Union
ship Housatonic.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Question 3.
Which of the following sentences should be deleted to improve the focus of the
paragraph?
(A) Sentence 1
(B) Sentence 2
(C) Sentence 3
(D) Sentence 4
(E) Sentence 5
378
(A)
(B)
(C)
))
Question 5.
379
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
380
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
Which sentence provides details about the information presented in sentence 2?
381
382
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is C.
This sentence elaborates on the previous sentence, providing more details about the
test in England.
Question 2.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is B.
The second part of the sentence is added information to the main idea; therefore
the second part makes more sense as a subordinate clause. The word when in
answer B shows the correct relationship.
Question 3.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 3:
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 4:
383
Question 5.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is D.
This detail supports the idea that technological advancements made submarines faster.
384
iz Time!
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385
(A)
Leave it as it is.
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(A) Sentence 1
(B) Sentence 2
(C) Sentence 4
(D) Sentence 6
(E) Sentence 8
Question 3.
What would be the best place to insert the following sentence?
"In Shakespeare's time, only the nobility could afford tickets to
the Gallery; even hard, wooden benches were considered a luxury in
those days."
386
(A)
(B)
Before sentence 5
(C)
(D)
(E)
After sentence 8
(A ) Le a ve it a s it is.
(B)
We had decided to save our money and buy passes to the Groundling area.
We were located on the ground between the stage and the Gallery.
(C ) We had decided to save our money and buy passes to the Groundling area,
and as Groundlings, we were located on the ground between the stage and the
Gallery.
(D) We had decided to save our money and buy passes to the
Groundling area, a spot located on the ground between the stage and the
Gallery.
(E ) We had decided to save our money and buy passes to the Groundling area, as
Groundlings, we were located on the ground between the stage and the
Gallery.
Question 5.
387
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
388
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
How are the thoughts in the sentence related?
389
390
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is A.
The original sentence correctly separates the general idea from its explanation
by using a colon.
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
Question 3.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is C.
This sentence elaborates on the previous sentence about the Gallery and sets up
the next sentence about opting for cheaper tickets.
Question 4.
The answer is (D).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is D.
Answer D effectively combines these two sentences by deleting unnecessary words.
Answer B is choppy, answer C is wordy, and answer E contains a comma splice.
Question 5.
The answer is (E).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is E. The first part of the sentence lays out the good part of being
a Groundling, and the second part states the big drawback. That contrast is best
represented with "but."
391
392
Writing Lesson #4
Essay Overview
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
393
394
Review Time
OVERVIEW OF THE NEW SAT ESSAY
395
Score of 6
The essay effectively and insightfully develops a position on the
subject that is supported by clearly relevant examples, evidence, and
logic. The writer uses excellent critical thinking, and the central
idea is clearly defined and developed.
The essay is well-organized and stays focused on the topic. Ideas are
logically and clearly developed, and paragraphs are carefully
constructed and organized. The essay is a unified presentation of the
theses and has a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
The writer has versatility and mastery in use of the language and a
comprehensive vocabulary. Words are well chosen, and transitional
devices create a smooth flow from sentence to sentence.
The writer uses variety in sentence structure to enhance communication.
The essay has no serious errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics Accepted
conventions are followed.
396
Score of 5
The essay effectively develops a position on the subject that is
supported by good and appropriate examples, evidence and reasons. The essay
demonstrates strong critical thinking, and the central idea is welldeveloped.
The essay is well-organized and focused. Ideas are logically developed.
Paragraphs are well-developed and unified. The essay has good
development and closure.
The essay demonstrates ease and comfort using language, with the
appropriate vocabulary.
The essay has a good variety of sentence structure.
The essay has only a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation. Accepted
conventions are followed.
Score of 4
The essay develops a position on the issue, and competent critical
thinking is used. The writer uses generally appropriate examples,
evidence and reasoning. The central idea is developed adequately
but may be too general.
397
Score of 3
The essay develops a position on the subject and shows critical
thinking skills, but may be inconsistent in logic or lack
adequate
examples, reasons and details. The central idea is developed too
generally or vaguely.
The essay may be somewhat arbitrarily organized or lack focus. Some
ideas may be irrelevant or not adequately developed.
The essay shows a growing understanding of the use of language, but may
indicate a weak vocabulary. Word choice may be inappropriate.
There are some problems with sentence structure, and only a limited
variety in sentence structure is used.
The essay contains some serious errors in grammar or punctuation and a
number of less serious errors.
Score of 2
The essay's position is unclear or limited. The critical thinking in
the essay is weak and not supported by sufficient or relevant examples
and details. The central idea is poorly defined.
The essay is poorly organized and focused. Extraneous information may be
included; the essay lacks coherence. Ideas are not well developed.
The essay shows little command of the language. The vocabulary is
limited, and the word choice is often incorrect.
Sentence structure is frequently problematic.
The essay contains enough serious errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
to make some parts of the essay unclear.
398
Score of 1
There is either no sustainable position on the subject or a lack of
examples or reasoning to support the position.
The essay is unfocused, arbitrarily organized, and lacks continuity. Ideas
presented in the essay are often not related or developed.
The essay contains serious errors in word usage. Word choice is generally
incorrect or unidiomatic.
There are fundamental flaws in sentence structure.
The essay contains numerous mistakes in grammar, usage, or mechanics
that often interfere with meaning.
The All-Important Point of View
The scoring guide gives the impression that readers will
carefully study and debate your essay. They won't. Believe it or
not, readers will spend no more than two minutes on your essay. In
fact, they are specifically instructed not to reread or analyze an
essay.
When College Board readers evaluate your essay, the first and most
important element they will look for is your point of view.
Readers don't care what point of view you take as long as you have
one. Your point of view will then guide your selection of
examples.
Essay Length Counts
We've analyzed a large number of essays and have found that the
length of your essay does matter. Your essay sheet will contain 46
lines, 22
on the front and 24 on the back. Students who write 22 lines or
less will most likely receive scores of 1 to 3. In contrast, students
who write 35-46 lines will most likely receive scores of 4-6.
There is a good reason for this: the College Board readers reward
your ability to develop your point of view. A well-developed essay
will be given a high score, while a poorly developed essay will be
penalized.
399
Once you have answered these questions, jot down a brief outline
to guide your writing. The importance of a brief outline cannot be
overemphasized. Students who fail to do this often lose their
focus and digress from their point of view. A lack of focus is one
of the leading reasons essays receive scores of 1, 2, or 3.
Sample Essays with Commentary
Level 6 Essay
Topic: Good choices can be costly.
Essay:
"Promise, promise me that you won't tell anyone!" Amanda's plea
pounded on my conscience. "I knew what I did was wrong," Amanda
continued. "But the exam was right there on the teacher's desk. I
need a good grade. I made a copy and then returned it. No one
knows." My hands gripped the quilt on my bed as I listened intently
to Amanda imploring for my support and for my silence. What
could I do? What
should I do? Somehow I managed to be calm and composed, even as she
placed our friendship in jeopardy, even as she asked me to
compromise my integrity, even as I wanted to reach across my bed
and shake her, screaming "Why did you do it?"
@Copyright 2009, TCA, LLC.
400
401
Level 6 Commentary
1. Point of view on the issue
2. Organization
The essay is well organized, clearly focused and provides the reader with a
smooth progression of ideas. Paragraphs 1 and 2 grab the reader's
attention. The author has a difficult problem. What will she do? In
paragraphs 3 and 4 the author goes back and fills in the gaps in her
story. We learn details about the author that help us understand why
she is so conflicted. In paragraph 5 the author reaches a final, irrevocable
decision. And fmally, in paragraph 6 the author describes the
consequences of her decision.
402
3. Language
A. Skillful use of language
1. Quotes: The author does an outstanding job of integrating
quotes into her essay. The essay begins with a vivid, attentiongrabbing quote. In the final paragraph, the author once again uses a quote
to start a paragraph, and once again it is appropriate and effective.
2. Parallel structure: The author does a particularly outstanding job of
using parallel structure. In paragraph 2, sentence 4 she vividly conveys her
growing sense of urgency by using a series of phrases all starting with the word
"even."
3. Placement of modifiers: Look closely at sentence 5 in paragraph 3. In the
last three words of the sentence ("heavy and oppressive") the author once
again displays sophistication in the use of language by placing her modifiers
after the word they are modifying. The placement of "heavy and
oppressive" helps to paint an image for the reader that conveys her
conflicting emotions.
403
4.
Meaningful variety in sentence structure
Level 5 Essay
404
I thought my life was perfect. Scott was my boyfriend and Jen was
my best girlfriend. But I was mistaken. Scott suddenly broke up with
me.
I was devastated. But the worst was yet to come.
Heartbroken, I shared my pain with Jen. At first she seemed
empathetic. I cried and she listened. Yet somehow I sensed
something was not quite right. One day I went to the mall. Imagine
my shock when I saw Jen hanging out with Scott. I felt hurt and
even worse I felt betrayed. When I confronted her, Jen said that
their relationship
"just happened." She thought it would be alright for her to go
out with Scott. After all Scott and I were no longer a couple.
But, it wasn't alright. It was all wrong!
Level 5 Commentary
1. Point of view on the issue
A. Effectively developed versus Fully developed: This essay
presents an effectively developed discussion on the author's belief
that
"wisdom means learning from mistakes." Like the Level 6 essay.
The author never digresses from her topic. Each detail contributes
to the overall narration. While the passage is "effectively
developed," it is not fully developed. For example, additional
details about her
confrontation with Jen would have strengthened the essay by helping us
understand the basis for her conclusion.
405
B
. Strong Critical Thinking versus Insight: The author
2. Organization
The essay is well organized, focused, and demonstrates coherence and
progression of ideas. Paragraph 1 clearly states the author's
viewpoint and introduces Jen. Paragraph 2 deepens the relationship
between the author and Jen and introduces Scott. Paragraph 3
describes the breakup between the author and Scott while also
foreshadowing trouble between the author and Jen. Paragraph 4
describes the author's reaction to her breakup with Scott and to Jen's
betrayal. And finally, paragraph 5 exp lairs the author's mistake and
what she learned from it.
3. Language
A. Facility in the use of language
The author does an effective job of using parallel structure. For
example, in the last sentence of paragraph 1 she writes that, "We
played together, danced together, and our families even vacationed
together." She also does an effective job of conveying her
emotions when she writes (paragraph 4): "I felt hurt and even
worse I felt betrayed."
406
B. Appropriate vocabulary
1. Nave and duped: "Nave" means innocent and "duped" means easily
fooled. In the second sentence of her concluding paragraph, the
author does a very nice job of correctly using both words to
describe her mistake.
2. Duplicitous: "Duplicitous " means to be dishonest,
deceitful. Using this excellent descriptive word strengthens the
author's link between her view of people and her conclusion about
the nature of friendship.
407
Level 4 Essay
Topic: The wisest person is someone who________
Essay:
There are many people in the world who are wise. However, to
me the wisest person is someone who is always prepared. People
have to deal with everyday situations a lot, and yet often fmd
themselves unprepared unprepared for school, for sports,
almost anything. A
wise person to me is someone who is always prepared for something,
and if they aren't they can make a quick adjustment to their plans.
A prepared student is a wise student. If you study for a test,
then you don't have to worry as much if you're going to pass it or
not, or if you do your homework and are prepared for class then
you'll get a good grade. Sometimes, though, people forget things, as
everyone makes mistakes, but often times the student can work
themselves out of the problem. For example, once I forgot to do my
history homework and didn't have my book so I borrowed a book
from a friend and did my homework at lunch, It was a wise choice
because our homework was checked that day, and I was glad I was
prepared.
408
Level 4
Commentary 1.
Point of View
A.Develops a point of view versus Effectively develops a point of
view This essay argues that "the wisest person is someone who is
always prepared." The author develops this point of view by presenting
three examples. However, at the same time, the author also notes
that if a wise person is not prepared then he/she should demonstrate
the ability to "make a quick adjustment to their plans." This
exception detracts from the author's primary thesis and prevents
him from fully or effectively developing a point of view.
B.Competent critical thinking versus Strong critical
thinking The author demonstrates competent critical thinking by
presenting a thesis and then supporting it with adequate
examples. While the examples are adequate, they are overly
generalized. Compare these examples with the focused example
in the Level 5 essay and the insightful examples in the Level 6
essay.
409
2.
rganization
This essay is generally well organized. The first paragraph states the
author's thesis. The author then provides three examples to
illustrate his thesis. The final paragraph restates the author's
position and summarizes the supporting examples. Although this
organization is competent, it is flawed by examples in paragraphs
2 and 4 of improvised work. This prevents a smooth and
therefore effective progression of ideas.
3. Language
410
Level 3 Essay
Topic: Good choices can be costly.
Essay:
Every human being has their own history filled with choices of
all sorts. The outcome of their decision may better them or hurt
them. Not every choice is easy to make, and many of the most
important ones are costly. We can see this in history during the
Civil War and many times we see it in our own lives.
Robert E. Lee's decision to attack the North on its own soil and
seize Harrisburg was brilliant in theory and with the South
dominating the Eastern theater of the war he expected a decisive
victory and an end to the war. He couldn't have been more wrong.
His forces met General Meade's forces at Gettysburg and defeated
his army soundly in a battle that changed the tide of the war. With
heavy casualties sustained to his already thin ranks he was forced
to fight a defensive war the rest of the way. Lee's decision worked on
paper, but ended up having costly consequences for the Southern
effort.
411
Level 3
Commentary
1. Point of View
A.
Weak development
The author begins by stating that every human being makes choices
that may be costly. While this point of view is on topic, it is very
general. This lack of focus results in an inadequate level of
development.
B.
Weak examples
The author presents two very different examples to support his thesis.
Taken separately each example is interesting and capable of being
expanded. However, the two examples are completely unrelated. This
creates a lack of focus and coherence that weakens the essay.
2. Limited organization
The organization of this essay is limited. The first paragraph
presents a very general thesis. The author then presents two unrelated
examples. The concluding paragraph briefly restates the
author's thesis. This limited organization prevents a smooth and
coherent presentation of ideas that is one of the key
characteristics of level
4, 5, and 6 essays.
3. Language
The essay displays weak vocabulary and inappropriate word choice. For
example, in paragraph 2, the author states that Lee's defeat had
"costly consequences" for the South. A stronger choice and more apt
choice of words would be to write that Lee's defeat had disastrous
consequences for the South. The author also displays
inappropriate word choice in the third paragraph when he writes:
"Being a rather assiduous student I declined." Assiduous means
hardworking, diligent. "Rather" is a poor choice because it weakens
the meaning of assiduous. A more forceful statement would be:
"Since I take pride in being an assiduous student, I firmly declined."
412
4.
roblems in sentence structure
Level 2 Essay
413
Level 2
Commentary
1. Vague point of view
Reread the first and the last paragraphs in the essay. What do
you think the topic is? Is the topic, "decisions aren't always
hard to make?" Or is the topic, "Not all decisions are easy?" In
reality the topic of this essay is supposed to be: "Good choices
can be costly." The author's failure to stick to the topic results in a
vague point of view and thus a seriously limited essay.
2. Poor organization
The author uses weak, choppy sentences at the end of the third
paragraph. A better sentence structure would be, "This good
decision led to American independence; however, freedom is neither
easy nor inexpensive. The colonists paid a heavy price in lives for
their independence."
5. Serious errors in grammar
Look at the last sentence in the second paragraph. Can you spot the
grammatical error? The subject and verb must agree. The sentence
should read: "This decision costs (not cost) you friends...."
414
Level 1 Essay
Topic: Good choices can be costly.
Essay:
I decided to bring a puzzle up here to school one day to let my fellow
classmates try and solve it. It was a good idea because its funny
watching them try and solve it and fail. But it was also bad
because people did not wish to part with it and would try anything
to keep it longer. Also some teacher got upset when they saw
students trying so hard to solve it and not on the class,
Level 1 Commentary
1. No viable point of view
This one-paragraph essay lacks a viable point of view. Short, oneparagraph essays almost always receive a score of 1. The reasons are
obvious. It is impossible to state a point of view, illustrate it
and draw conclusions in one short paragraph.
2. Absence of organization
The essay is unfocused. There is no introduction or conclusion. The author
simply provides a brief vignette.
3. Absence of vocabulary
The passage lacks descriptive vocabulary. For example, the author tells
us that "some teachers got upset." Upset is a vague descriptive word.
Other word choices that would better describe the teacher's reaction could
include "frustrated," "aggravated", and "exasperated."
415
Can you spot the grammatical errors in the final sentence? First, the
author uses the plural pronoun they to refer to the singular subject
teacher. This
part of the sentence should read, "In addition, some teachers got upset when they
saw..." The same sentence contains a second serious error. The phrase "and
not on the class" is too vague. It should read: "when they should have been
paying attention to the lesson."
416
Writing Lesson #5
Point of View
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these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
417
418
Review Time
Point of View and Critical Thinking
Point of View
A point of view is a standpoint on an issue or problem. Your point of
view is your own opinion. Consider these sentences.
"Michelangelo's paintings and sculptures had a profound
impact on Renaissance art."
"Donatello created sculptures during the Renaissance period of art."
Both sentences above discuss Renaissance-period artists. The
difference between them, however, is that the first sentence states
the author's point of view, while the second sentence merely states a
well-known fact that has been known for centuries.
A clearly stated point of view tells the reader exactly what you think
about an issue. Your point of view cannot be right or wrongit is
your own opinion.
To create a point of view, you must have strong convictions about your
statement. By truly believing in what you have written, your statement
is much easier to write about and your argument will be much more
convincing. The key to writing a good point of view essay for the SAT
is to support your statement with examples from:
Personal experience
Literature
Historical events
These sources help provide insight into the topic you are writing
about. By providing insightful examples, you are strengthening your
argument and making your point of view seem more convincing.
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420
Sample Prompts
1. Carefully consider your point of view in response to the
quotation and assignment below:
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the
overcoming of it." Helen Keller
Assignment:
Can people overcome suffering to choose their own destiny? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly
defined. Support your point of view with examples and reasoning
taken from your studies, personal experience, or observations.
What is your point of view on this issue?
Sample:
Our destiny is not something that happens to us despite our
actions and attitudes. Everything we do(the way we interact with
people, the way we view obligations to family, friends, work, and
ourselves, and the way we react to adversity and obstacles thrown
in our path is within our ability to change. If we take the time to
look around us,
we see that people can and do overcome suffering to choose their own
destiny.
Note: This sample response is NOT an introduction. It is simply an
example of the "mental conversation" taking place in the writer's
head while attempting to choose a point of view on the subject.
421
Assignment:
Is slander (lie intended to damage a person's reputation) ever
justified? Write and develop an essay in which your point of view
on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal
experience, and observations.
What is your point of view on this issue?
Sample:
Slander is an action that, more often than not, comes back to hurt its
originator more than it hurts its intended target. Slander can ruin
careers, reputations, and even entire lives. The cost of such an
action is far greater than anything that can be gained from it;
people who use slander to attack another person have no
justification for doing so.
422
Assignment:
Should wrongdoings always be forgiven? Write and develop an essay in
which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support
your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations
Sample:
Life is far too short for every person to dwell on the mistakes and
misdeeds of the people they interact with. If everybody carried
around all of the anger and resentment they've ever felt, they
wouldn't be
able to forge new relationships and make old ones continue to work.
People make mistakes and do others wrong; it is up to each
individual to forgive and forget.
423
Assignment:
Can books teach you everything you need to know? Write and develop
an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations.
What is your point of view on this issue?
Sample:
Books can teach us many things and are a useful tool in disseminating
information to many people across many generations. However, books are no
substitute for experience, emotion, and imagination. Without these things,
humankind would never have reached the point we are at today. Books only
provide us with a very limited view of our world.
424
Assignment:
Is patience the greatest human virtue? Write and develop an essay
in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken
from your studies, personal experience, and observations.
Sample:
While patience is indeed a great virtue, it is not the greatest.
Patience is essentially a passive act in order to be patient, a
person must sit still without acting. Far greater virtues are the
ability to use foresight to predict the future and motivation to
manipulate the future.
425
Assignment:
Can people overcome suffering to choose their own destiny? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly
defined. Support your point of view with examples and reasoning
taken from your studies, personal experience, or observations.
Which thesis statement would work best in stating a point of view?
(A)
(B)
(C)
426
"A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue
you may never get over." Benjamin Franklin
"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is
putting on its shoes." Mark Twain
Assignment:
Is slander (lie intended to damage a person's reputation) ever
justified? Write and develop an essay in which your point of view
on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal
experience, and observations.
(C)
427
Assignment:
Should wrongdoings always be forgiven? Write and develop an essay in
which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support
your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations
(B)
(C)
428
Assignment:
Can books teach you everything you need to know? Write and develop
an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations.
(B)
(C)
429
Assignment:
Is patience the greatest human virtue? Write and develop an essay
in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken
from your studies, personal experience, and observations.
(A)
(B)
(C)
430
When you create your own point of view and thesis statement
concerning an issue, you have to provide examples to back up your
point of view. Examples strengthen your argument and enable the
reader to see why your point of view is correct. To persuade readers to
consider your viewpoint, you most prove your point of view.
Examples can be taken from personal experience, literature,
or historical events. The primary role of examples in your essay
is to show that you are able to think critically about the issue
presented and relate the issue to different sources of
information.
You demonstrate critical thinking and insight in your essay by
showing that you have a deep, clear understanding of the topic
and have reflected on it from different perspectives in developing
your own point of view. When choosing your examples, try to be
as fresh and original as you can. Remember, the readers are scoring
hundreds of essays, and you want yours to stand out (in a good
way!).
431
Assignment:
Can people overcome suffering to choose their own destiny? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly
defined. Support your point of view with examples and reasoning
taken from your studies, personal experience, or observations.
Which of the following examples shows the best use of critical
thinking and insight?
(A)
(B)
(C)
432
Assignment:
Is slander (lie intended to damage a person's reputation) ever
justified? Write and develop an essay in which your point of view
on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal
experience, and observations.
Which of the following examples shows the best use of critical
thinking and insight?
(A)
(B)
(C)
433
Assignment:
Should wrongdoings always be forgiven? Write and develop an essay in
which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support
your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations
Which of the following examples shows the best use of critical
thinking and insight?
(A)
(B)
(C)
434
Assignment:
Can books teach you everything you need to know? Write and develop
an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your
studies, personal experience, and observations.
Which of the following examples shows the best use of critical
thinking and insight?
(A)
(B)
(C)
435
Assignment:
Is patience the greatest human virtue? Write and develop an essay
in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken
from your studies, personal experience, and observations.
(B)
(C)
436
Writing Lesson #6
Organization and Focus
kill Lesson
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*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
437
438
Review Time
Organization and Focus
It's getting down to the last couple minutes of the SAT essay, and
you've only written two paragraphs. Your heart is racing, and your
hand is cramped from scribbling down a confusing mess of words. "I
could have avoided this, if only I'd practiced managing my time
better," you think
Managing time is as important as writing an organized essay. You can
have the best ideas in the world, but if you can't transfer those
ideas to paper, you won't score well on the SAT essay. The good news
is that you can learn to manage your time wisely. There are three main
categories to managing your time wisely: preparing to write, writing
the essay, and editing your work.
Preparing to Write (5 minutes maximum)
You must choose a viewpoint and stick to it! Even if you change your
mind halfway through writing, stay with your original thought. Scores
for the essay will be based on how well you defend your point of view,
not whether or not your opinion agrees with that of the scorer.
3. Write down your thesis statement.
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440
Abraham Lincoln
Assignment:
What is your view on the idea that people should speak their
mind, even if they look foolish to others? Write and develop an
essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly
defined. Support your point of view with examples and
reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, or
observations.
441
442
transitions.
The above exercise may initially take you 10-15 minutes, but once
you get the hang of it, you should be able to complete the thesis
statement and supporting examples within 3 minutes. Practice this
exercise well before the SAT testing date.
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444
Thesis:
A person's value is defined by his or her actions, not by thoughts or words.
Which outline would work best with this topic?
(A)
(B)
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446
Thesis:
Even in the direst of circumstances, people can choose how they feel about their
current situation.
Which outline would work best with this topic?
(A)
I. Even in the direst of circumstances, people can choose how they feel about their
current situation.
A. War veterans
1. Some are never able to regain life after war
2. Others come home and move on to other things
B. My friend with a terminal cancer
1. Happiest person I've ever met
2. Focuses on acceptance and a sense of humor
3. Is happy for each day she is granted(chooses to focus on the
small things
C. The Secret Life of Bees
1. Lily grew up in bad family situation, but she had hope
2. Never gave up on the possibilities(imagination
(B)
447
I. People can choose how they feel about their current situation
A. The Diary of Anne Frank
1. Jewish girl during Holocaust
2. She was hidden from the Nazis in a family's attic
3. In order to pass the time and keep a record of her life, Anne
wrote in a diary
a. Diary is still read worldwide
b. She is a symbol of strength and courage during a
trying time
c. Diary gives insight into the strength and character of a
Jewish girl during the Holocaust
d. Anne was eventually found
The best choice is A. The outline shows main points to support the
thesis, from history, literature, and the student's personal
experience. The main points are supported with details, creating
a well-supported thesis statement.
The second outline shows only the author's personal experience.
In order to have a strong essay, you need to have supporting points
from at least two outside sources. The third outline is too
specific. It focuses just on The Diary of Anne Frank, and does
not provide other examples to support the thesis. While The
Diary of Anne Frank is a good source to use, it should not be the
only evidence
used to support the thesis statement.
448
Assignment:
Is education the key to freedom? Write and develop an essay in which your point
of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Thesis: Well-educated people have more freedoms than non-educated people.
Which outline would work best with this topic?
(A)
(B)
449
(C)
The best outline for this thesis is C. Examples are taken from the
student's observations of his or her family. The student also cites
statistics that enable solid support of the thesis.
Outline A is too general, and focuses on different types of jobs, of
which there is a wide range. The second outline is too specific,
because it focuses only on the benefits that college offers, not
on the freedom of the individual to choose a job that they enjoy.
450
Is there ever justification for feeling envious of another person? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Thesis: There are times when feelings of envy can yield positive results.
Which outline would work best with this topic?
(A)
I. There are times when feelings of envy can yield positive results
A. Jacob Have I Loved
1. Two sisters: Caroline pretty and musically gifted, Louise
plainer and envious of sister
2. Louise fmds talent as doctor to escape sister's shadow
3. Envy caused Louise to strive for greatness
B. Scientific competition
1. Scientists who are close to a discovery compete to be the first
2. They want to be remembered
3. Result is scientific advancements
C. Basketball team tryouts
1. My twin brother made the varsity basketball team and I was
still on junior varsity
2. Began jogging and practicing more
3. I made the varsity team in the middle of last year
(B)
I. There are times when feelings of envy can yield positive results.
A. My brother and I compete constantly
1. Sports
2. Grades
3. End result: We do better in school and on sports teams
B. Competing for attention from parents
1. Do more chores for higher allowance
2. Time spent volunteering in mom's office
3. Time spent with dad mowing lawn
4. End result: better relationship with parents
C. Competing for more freedoms
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452
I. There are times when feelings of envy can yield positive results.
A. Envy leads to feelings of insecurity
1. Insecurity can make a person work harder to be accepted
2. A person who works harder can accomplish more
B. Feeling envious can affect a person's social life
1. Can make a person more self-aware
2. Can make a person work harder to make and keep friends
C. Feeling envious can cause tension in relationships
1. Envy may initially cause problems
2. A smart person learns from those problems and works to change
3. End result: Better person who has learned from his or her
mistakes
453
(A)
I. Anyone who is given too much power can become a danger to others
A. Power causes people to feel superior to others
1. They begin making rules without regard for other people
2. They begin to judge people based on their personal preferences
B. People forget their family and friends
1. They put their own needs before those of others
2. They imagine that their success was achieved without any help or
support
C. People are never satisfied with the amount of power they have
1. Power makes people feel entitled
2. There is never enough power for people who crave it
(B)
I. Anyone who is given too much power can become a danger to others
A. Joseph Stalin
1. Executed thousands of his citizens
2. Caused thousands of people to starve
3. Kept his citizens under Communist rule
B. Communist rule led to uniformity of thought
1. No room for individuality
2. People who did not follow government rule were executed
454
I. Anyone who is given too much power can become a danger to others
A. Napoleon Bonaparte
1. Took over many countries as his craving for power expanded
2. Ruled Europe with unlimited power as he spread east to Russia
3. Armies only stopped by the Russian winter
B. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
1. Boys living on island with no rules or laws
2. Gradually become more savage and violent
3. Human nature is base; those with power don't have to obey rules
that keep that nature in check
C. My junior-high gymnastics instructor
1. Thought only about his own reputation, not what was best for the
health of his athletes
2. Led to athletes getting hurt
3. Lasting damage to his athletes' careers and his own
Outline C is the best option. It shows specific examples of how
power has led to corruption through a historical figure, literary
figures
and figure in the athletic community.
Outline A focuses on power in general, and does not give specific
examples of how too much power results in dangerous behavior and
corruption. Outline B talks specifically about Joseph Stalin and
Communism, but does not give other examples in relation to the thesis
statement.
455
An introduction should draw the reader into the essay and make him
or her want to read more. It should also contain your thesis
statement. The introduction should be briefone short paragraph.
It can start with a quotation, anecdote, question, or analogy.
However you start your essay, it should always lead up to the
essay's thesis statement. The thesis statement should be visible and
easy for the reader to
fmd.
Practice Exercise
Read the following prompts and sample introductions. Choose the best
introduction out of the three choices.
Question 1.
Are people's actions more important than their words or thoughts? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Which introduction would be most effective?
(A) I was backing slowly away from the dog, whose teeth were
bared in anger. My friend Manny and I were delivering the newspaper
to Mrs. Waterhouse, who had left my weekly check on her back
porch. The dog lunged at me and bit down on my forearm. In a
moment, Manny was wrestling the dog to the ground and seconds later,
the dog had run away. To say that courage is important is one thing;
to face danger courageously is another. This is an example of how
actions are more important than words or thoughts.
456
457
(A) For me, the carnival is the happiest place in the world.
When I go to the town carnival each October, I feel a sense of joy
when riding the Ferris wheel, eating candied apples, and seeing
all of the animals at the 4H center. I have attended the carnival
every year since I was five years old, and plan to continue
attending it for as long as I can. The carnival has the unique
ability to make me feel as wondrous and excited as a five-year-old
again.
(B) People can choose to be happy, no matter what their
circumstances. Many people, when faced with adversity, succumb to
depression or a feeling of helplessness. There are many people,
however, who live in dire circumstances but find a way to get by.
Happiness is a choice, not something that requires money or a good
situation to create.
(C) My grandmother took pride in being a tailor for four
decades. She worked until crippling arthritis in her hands forced
her to retire. We worried that she would become depressed, but
Grandmother immediately started volunteering at a local homeless
shelter. She says that keeps her busy and gives her all the pride she
needs. My grandmother's shift in attitude demonstrates that people can
choose to be happy, regardless of what is happening in their lives.
458
459
Assignment:
Is education the key to freedom? Write and develop an essay in which your point
of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Which introduction would be most effective?
460
Question 4.
Is there ever justification for feeling envious of another person? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Which introduction would be most effective?
461
462
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's
character, give him power."
Abraham Lincoln
Assignment:
Does power change people fundamentally? Write and develop an essay in which your
point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Which introduction would be most effective?
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464
least significantly
more significantly
more significantly
most significantly
for one reason
next
even more
last
465
in the course of
while
in the meantime
last
later
long ago
meanwhile
moments later
next
presently
since
soon
until
when
466
467
Are people's actions more important than their words or thoughts? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is indeed famous for his actions. For
most of his life, he took part in rallies for Civil Rights across the
South. He marched and picketed and demonstrated with thousands
of others to make his visions for America known.
Many people still live today who heard Dr. King speak and who remember
clearly the strength of his words and the conviction with which he
delivered them. His "I Have a Dream" speech is still held up as an
example of brilliant oratory that drives home a powerful message.
heard Dr. King speak and who remember clearly the strength of his
words and the conviction with which he delivered them. His "I Have a
Dream" speech is still held up as an example of brilliant oratory that
drives home a powerful message.
468
A sample
A sample
transition sentence is shown underlined below:
The link between circumstance and sadness is also the subject of
one of the best-known biblical stories. The book of Job is the
story
of a good man who God decides to test by slowly taking away
everything that is important to him, including wealth and then family.
Job
responds by grieving and complaining bitterly that he is a good
person and does not deserve to suffer in such a way.
469
Assignment:
Is education the key to freedom? Write and develop an essay in which your point
of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Mobabai lived in a small village in Nigeria. No one in his village
had ever traveled more than thirty miles outside of the village.
Mobabai was the first from his village to attend a university.
Upon
graduating, Mobabai returned to find that wealthy poachers
were killing valuable livestock that belonged to the villagers.
The government banned the poachers from entering village lands. This illustrates how
education led to
great poverty for the
small Nigerian village.
freedom from
people of a
A sample
transition sentence is shown underlined below::
Since Mobabai had gone to a university and had experience
working with the law in his classes at the university, he was able
to enlist
the help of the Nigerian government to stop the poachers. The
government banned the poachers from entering village lands. This
illustrates how education led to freedom from great poverty for
the people of a small Nigerian village.
470
Is there ever justification for feeling envious of another person? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Envy is a useless emotion that causes people to lose sight of their
goals. Envy is all too common among adolescents and teens in our
schools. There is often so much focus on the latest fashions and
technology that students sometimes forget the greater goal of
getting a quality education. Unfortunately, kids tend to accept or
reject others based on their material possessions, creating a
culture of haves and have-nots and creating the impression that a
person's value is based on the t-shirt they're wearing to school.
Rather than
focusing on upcoming tests, students instead obsess over whether their
jeans are "too blue" or if they're faded just right.
and Cassius.
471
472
Question 5.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's
character, give him power."
Abraham Lincoln
Assignment:
Does power change people fundamentally? Write and develop an essay in which your
point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Power does not make good people bad or make bad people good; rather,
power makes a person's goodness or badness much clearer. For example,
Eleanor Roosevelt was a powerful first lady with much more
influence than any first lady had ever had in history. She used that
influence strategically to make people's lives better. She pursued
women's
rights by helping female journalists get stories published at a
time when women were at a severe disadvantage in the field. She
brought attention to the issues of Civil Rights, joblessness, and
poverty.
Last week, my sister and I were walking our dog in the park and
found a car with the rear door left open. It looked like the owner
had forgotten to close it. Inside, clearly visible, were some CDs
and
other things. It would have been the easiest thing to reach in and
take something and nobody would have caught us, but instead, my sister
walked straight to the car, pushed the lock on the inside down, and
slammed the door shut.
A sample
transition sentence is shown underlined below:
But the term "power" doesn't necessarily have to mean power over a
lot of people; it could be the opportunity, or power, to do something
bad without the risk of being caught.
473
You're almost there! A conclusion should wrap up the essay and make the
reader want to read more. An effective conclusion will leave the reader
thinking about your ideas and deciding that your thesis was correct
and well defended. The conclusion should summarize the main idea
of the essay, and can point the reader to further resources for more
information.
There are two ways to write an effective conclusion. The first way is to
remind the reader of the main idea of your essay (your point of
view), and to review what you covered in the essay, all of which can be
done in one short paragraph. The second effective method is to create an
insight paragraph that states what you learned from a personal or
observational experience. This type of concluding paragraph can
receive a higher score if it shows depth of understanding on your part.
474
Are people's actions more important than their words or thoughts? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Which conclusion would be most effective?
475
(A) Once I was able to accept that I could not force the
admissions committee to admit me to the university, I felt a sense of
calm and happiness about my circumstances. This caused all my worries to
disappear.
(B) Happiness is therefore something that people can choose
to feel, not something that is based on circumstance. Even though
the Olivers in the above example were very poor, they bonded together
as a family and showed that happiness could be achieved through
conscious effort.
(C) The last time Daniel felt happy was when he lived in
Ohio. In Ohio, all of his family lived in the same house, and he did
not feel a sense of separation from the core of his life.
476
Assignment:
Is education the key to freedom? Write and develop an essay in which your point
of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Which conclusion would be most effective?
477
Is there ever justification for feeling envious of another person? Write and
develop an essay in which your point of view on this issue is clearly defined.
Support your point of view with examples and reasoning taken from your studies,
personal experience, and observations.
Which conclusion would be most effective?
(A) The argument with Carla taught me that envy itself isn't
necessarily bad, but what a person does with it can be bad or good. My
envy of Carla's position on the soccer team drove me to look closer at
myself and decide whether I really wanted to play soccer. Carla and I
talked it out and our friendship survived, but it was tough facing my
own envy head-on.
478
Question 5.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's
character, give him power."
Abraham Lincoln
Assignment:
Does power change people fundamentally? Write and develop an essay in which your
point of view on this issue is clearly defined. Support your point of view with
examples and reasoning taken from your studies, personal experience, and
observations.
Which conclusion would be most effective?
479
Writing Lesson #7
Use of Language
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
480
481
Review Time
USE OF LANGUAGE AND VOCABULARY
College Board essay readers are trained to reward students who use a
"varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary." With so many words to choose
from, which are the best? In theory your vocabulary choices are almost
limitless. In practice, however, there is a relatively small group of
words that lend themselves to the type of essay you will be writing
for the SAT. Because these words are descriptive and precise, they
will help make your writing clear and authoritative. It is important,
though, to use such words correctly. Essay readers will not be
impressed by essays sprinkled with sophisticated words that are used
incorrectly. Learn their exact meanings, and use them correctly in
your essay.
482
Words to describe people who can and cannot make up their minds
18. DECISIVE able to reach a firm decision
19. RESOLUTE very determined
20. VACILLATE to waver back and forth
21. AMBIVALENT to have mixed feelings
483
484
485
iz Time!
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Question 1
(A) apathetic
(B) a f f a b l e
( C ) clandestine
( D ) despondent
Question 2
(A) lethargic
(B) pessimistic
(C ) perfidious
( D ) s u p e r c i li o u s
Question 3
(A) persuasive
(B) audacious
(C) e c s t a t i c
(D) loquacious
486
(A) ambivalent
(B) r e so lu t e
(C) i n t re p id
(D) despondent
Question 5
Which of the following words
means a self-centered person ?
(A) altruist
(B) egotist
(C ) extrovert
(D) introvert
Question 6
Which of the following words
means delirious with joy ?
(A) ecstatic
(B) vivacious
(C) zealous
(D) lucid
487
(A) ardent
( B ) venal
( C ) lethargic
( D ) lucid
Question 8
(A) venal
( B ) virtuous
( C ) prudent
( D ) intrepid
Question 9
(A)
gregarious
(B)
timorous
(C)
nefarious
(D)
zealous
488
489
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 2.
The answer is (C).
Explanation for Question 2:
490
491
492
493
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1
Which of the following words
means able to make a firm
choice ?
(A) ambivalent
(B) d e c i s i v e
(C) optimistic
(D) p r u d e n t
Question 2
Which of the following words
means very friendly and
pleasant?
( A ) s u p e r c i li o u s
(B) a p a t h e t i c
(C) c a l l o w
(D) a f f a b l e
Question 3
Which of the following words
means a practical person ?
(A) pragmatist
(B) extrovert
(C) a l t r u i s t
(D) stratagem
494
el
(A) gregarious
(B) nefarious
(C) e c s t a t i c
(D) eloquent
Question 5
(A) callow
( B ) prudent
( C ) intrepid
( D ) resolute
Question 6
(A)
resolute
(B)
clandestine
(C)
exasperati
ng D)
vacillate
495
(A)
supercilious
(B)
cantankerous
(C)
convoluted
(D)
loquacious
Question 8
(A) lucid
( B ) affable
(C ) ardent
( D ) optimistic
Question 9
(A) lucid
( B ) zealous
( C ) lethargic
(D) vigorous
496
497
(A)
n e f a r i ou s
(B)
venal
(C)
dejected
(D)
unscrupulous
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
498
499
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501
iz Time!
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Question 1
(A) extrovert
(B) a l tru i st
(C) e g o t i s t
(D) c a n d i d
Question 2
(A) callow
(B) craven
( C ) unsc rupulous
( D ) sophomoric
Question 3
(A) craven
(B) candid
(C) ardent
(D) intrepid
502
(A) lucid
( B ) eloquent
( C ) vivacious
( D ) loquacious
Question 5
(A) animosity
(B) empathy
(C) c a l l o w
(D) stratagem
Question 6
503
(A) nefarious
(B) timorous
(C) audacious
(D) ambivalent
Question 8
Question 9
apathetic
(C ) v i v a c i o u s
(D) l e t h a r g i c
504
505
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
506
507
508
509
iz Time!
c000fo
Question 1
Which of the following words
means juvenile or childish ?
(A) prudent
( B ) sophomoric
( C ) optimistic
(D) craven
Question 2
Which of the following words
means very bold?
(A) audacious
(B) timorous
(C) vigorous
(D) virtuous
Question 3
Which of the following words
means very determined ?
(A) ambivalent
(B) pessimistic
(C) r e so lu t e
(D) apathetic
510
el
(A) candid
(B) callow
( C ) convoluted
( D ) clandestine
Question 5
Which of the following words means
filled with anxiety or very worried
?
(A)
apathetic
(B)
distraught
(C)
perfidious
(D)
ambivalent
Question 6
Which of the following words means
having a hopeful outlook on life ?
(A) optimistic
(B) e l a t e d
(C) e c s t a t i c
(D) vivacious
511
(A) timorous
(B) intrepid
( C ) exasperating
(D) a f f a b l e
Question 8
(A) extrovert
(B) e g o t i s t
(C) a ltrui st
(D) stratagem
Question 9
512
craven
(A) unscrupulous
(B)
sophomoric
(C)
affable
03 ) persuasive
513
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
514
515
516
517
iz Time!
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Question 1
(A) eloquent
(B) l u c i d
(C) a r d e n t
(D) decisive
Question 2
Question 3
518
el
(A)
zealous
(B)
vivacious
(C)
supercilio
us D)
cantankerous
Question 5
(A) resolute
(B) distraught
( C ) ambivalent
(D) timorous
Question 6
(A) callow
(B) craven
(C) venal
(D) affable
519
(A)
apathetic
(B)
resolute
(C)
pessimistic
(D)
cantankerous
Question 8
(A) vivacious
(B) gregarious
(C) loquacious
(D) virtuous
Question 9
520
lucid
(B)
pragmatist
(C)
stratage
m D)
clandestine
521
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
522
523
524
525
Writing Lesson #8
Sentence Structure
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
526
527
Review Time
SENTENCE STRUCTURE VARIETY
Your essay for the New SAT will be judged on much more than your
use of vocabulary, of course. The sentence structure you use must
be as varied and as interesting as your vocabulary.
The four sentence structures are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
You should use all of these sentence structures to give your writing
variety and clarity.
Exercise:
In the box provided, rewrite the following sentences as instructed.
answer.
Question 1
528
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
529
Question 5
530
531
iz Time!
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Question 1
(A)
(B)
Question 2
(A)
(B)
532
Question 3
(A)
(B)
Question 4
(A)
(B)
533
Question 5
(A)
The bison was nearly extinct at one time, they are no longer
endangered, today most bison live in national parks or on privately owned
land.
(B) Although the bison was nearly extinct at one time, it is no
longer endangered, and today it lives mainly in national parks or on
privately owned land.
Question 6
(A)
(B)
534
Question 7
(A)
(B)
(A)
(B)
Question 9
(A)
(B)
535
Question 10
(A)
(B)
536
537
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
What word could you use to make the second sentence a dependent clause?
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is A.
The American bison is a member of the bovid family, which also includes cattle,
sheep, and goats.
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is A.
The bison is the largest land animal in North America, but females are considerably
smaller than males.
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is B.
One large, free-ranging herd of bison lives in Yellowstone National Park, where
visitors can see them grazing on the open plains.
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is A.
A bison's horns are permanent, bony growths, unlike a deer's antlers, and both
male and female bison have them.
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is B.
The bison was nearly extinct at one time, and while they are no longer
endangered, today most bison live in national parks or on privately owned land.
540
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
The answer is A.
Privately owned bison herds are found in nearly every state, although
historically, their natural range was more limited.
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is B.
A female bison usually has just one calf at a time, but occasionally two calves
are born at the same time. (coordinating conjunction; compound sentence)
Question 8.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is B.
Bison are massive and heavy, yet they are excellent swimmers because they are very
buoyant. (1 dependent and 2 independent clauses; compound-complex sentence)
Question 9.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is B.
Bison can survive in snowy conditions, since they use their hooves and heads to
scrape snow off of vegetation. (subordinating conjunction; complex
sentence)
Question 10.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is A.
Bison most often live on plains, but they sometimes live in wooded areas, where
one sign of them is tree bark worn smooth by a bison's rubbing. (1 dependent and
2 independent clauses; compound-complex sentence)
541
iz Time!
el
c000fo
Question 1
(A)
(B)
Riding the subway is fast and inexpensive, but it is not always pleasant.
Question 2
(A)
I take the subway to school since there is a stop right across the street.
(B)
I take the subway to school, and there is a stop right across the street.
Question 3
(A)
(B)
542
Question 4
(A)
(B)
Question 5
(A) Next year I hope to get my driver's license, and I plan to take
driver's education first to lower my insurance rate.
(B)
543
Question 6
(A)
(B)
Question 7
(A)
(B)
544
Question 8
Which of the following most effectively combines these sentences?
I may major in political science. I may pursue a double major in political
science and business.
(A)
(B)
Question 9
Which of the following most effectively combines these sentences?
I was a volunteer for a political campaign last year. That experience will
strengthen my application.
(A)
(B)
545
Question 10
(A)
(B)
546
547
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
Which coordinating conjunction could best join these two sentences?
549
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is B.
Riding the subway is fast and inexpensive, but it is not always pleasant.
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is A.
I take the subway to school since there is a stop right across the street.
Question 3.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is B.
If I stay after school, I take a cab or a bus home.
Question 4.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is A.
Yesterday it was raining hard, so my friend's dad drove us both to school.
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is B.
Next year I hope to get my driver's license, and I plan to take driver's education first
because it will lower my insurance rate.
550
Question 6.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 6:
The answer is B.
If I pass driver's education, my mom will let me use her car, and my dad will pay
for my insurance.
Question 7.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is B.
I hope to go to the University of Chicago because my mom went there loved it. (1
dependent and 2 independent clauses; compound-complex sentence)
Question 8.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is A.
I may major in political science, or I may pursue a double major in political
science and business. (coordinating conjunction; compound sentence)
Question 9.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is A.
I was a volunteer for a political campaign last year, an experience which will
strengthen my application. (relative pronoun; complex sentence)
Question 10.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is B.
Last summer I met a business school graduate, who told me that he had four job
offers. (relative pronoun; complex sentence)
iz Time!
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Question 1
(A)
(B)
Question 2
(A)
(B)
552
Question 3
Which of the following combines these sentences to make a complex sentence?
In the spring, I attended a game at the stadium. Then I applied for the job.
(A)
I applied for the job after I attended a game at the stadium in the spring.
(B)
I applied for the job and then attended a game at the stadium in the spring.
Question 4
Which of the following combines these sentences to make a compound-complex
sentence?
Sometimes there was nothing for me to do. I watched security officers
monitor the cameras. I learned the codes for security alerts.
(A)
(B)
Question 5
Which of the following combines these sentences to make a complex sentence?
I plan to major in law enforcement. I will write about the job in my college
application essay.
(A)
(B)
553
554
Question 6
(A)
(B)
Question 7
(A)
(B)
555
Question 8
(A)
(B)
Question 9
(A)
(B)
556
Question 10
(A)
(B)
557
558
Hints!
000do
Hint for Question 1:
What subordinating conjunction could be used to combine the sentences?
560
Answers!
Question 1.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 1:
The answer is A.
Last summer I worked at a stadium, where I learned about security procedures.
Question 2.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 2:
The answer is A.
A security consultant gave a seminar for employees, and I was allowed to attend.
Question 3.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 3:
The answer is A.
I applied for the job after I attended a game at the stadium in the spring.
Question 4.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 4:
The answer is B.
When there was nothing for me to do, I watched security officers monitor the
cameras, and I learned the codes for security alerts.
Question 5.
The answer is (B).
Explanation for Question 5:
The answer is B.
Since I plan to major in law enforcement, I will write about the job in my college
application essay.
561
Question 6.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 6:
The answer is A.
I may specialize in electronic security, or I may discover a different area that
interests me even more.
Question 7.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 7:
The answer is A.
My uncle works for the FBI, and my mom is a sheriffs deputy. (coordinating
conjunction; compound sentence)
Question 8.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 8:
The answer is A.
I hope to do internships before graduation, because experience is a big help in
getting a job. (subordinating conjunction; complex sentence)
Question 9.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 9:
The answer is A.
Law enforcement depends on technology, which is changing rapidly, so I will
continue to learn throughout my career. (1 dependent and 2 independent clauses;
compound-complex sentence)
Question 10.
The answer is (A).
Explanation for Question 10:
The answer is A.
My parents support my plans to enter law enforcement, although they are concerned
about my safety. (subordinating conjunction; complex sentence)
562
Writing Lesson #9
Grammar, Usage and Mechanics
kill Lesson
0000
Quiz Time!
e/,
Hints!
000,0
Answers!
0011ab
*Throughout this documentation, and the software: "College Board" and "SAT" are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.
"PSAT/NMSQT" is a trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. "ACT" is a trademark of ACT, Inc. None of
these entities are affiliated with the production of, nor endorse these materials.
563
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Review Time
Because your SAT essay will be a draft, it will probably not be
completely free of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. You
should, however, try to avoid the types of errors that can make your
writing less clear and lower your score. These include the following:
Sentence fragments
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