NAME: ____________________ Class: _____

Intermediate Writing Revision

Review the following:

Unit 5 Description of a Process
 Study a Description of a Process (pages 446–447)
 Writing Application: Prewrite (pages 448–449)
 Write a Draft: Write a Description of a Process (pages 450–451)
 Revise Your Draft (pages 452–453)
 Edit and Proofread Your Draft (pages 456–457)
Vocabulary: Write the definitions of the following words and make sure that you understand them (Do
not memorize).
1. arrogant
2. encourage
3. somersault (v)
4. innocence
5. abandon (v)
6. misery
7. isolated
8. assumption
9. constituents
10. constitute
SAT Writing: Improving Sentences
In each of the sentences below, part or all of the sentence is underlined. The underlined text may
contain an error in sentence construction, grammar, word choice, or punctuation. Choice A repeats the
original underlined text. If there is no error in the underlined portion, choose A. If there is an error,
select the answer choice that most effectively expresses the meaning of the sentence without any
ambiguity or awkwardness.
Errors to anticipate:
- Run-on Sentences - Faulty Coordination and Subordination
- Sentence Fragments - Misplaced Modifier
- Faulty Parallelism - Dangling Modifier
- Lack of Conciseness - Passive Voice

1. When choosing a college, one should consider several factors, such as class size, teacher-to-student
ratio, and where the school is located.
A. such as class size, teacher-to-student ratio, and where the school is located
B. such as class size, the teacher-to-student ratio, and location
C. such as class size, teacher-to-student ratio, and location
D. such as class size, how many teachers to every student, and location
E. such as the class size, teacher-to-student ratio, and the location
2. In the 1950s, families that were lucky enough to have a television had three or four channels to
choose from, although today’s families may have three or four TVs and hundreds of channel choices.
A. although today’s families may have three or four TVs and hundreds of channel choices
B. while today’s families may have three or four TVs and hundreds of channel choices
C. however, today’s families may have three or four TVs and hundreds of channel choices
D. families today may have three or four TVs and hundreds of channels on them
E. although for today’s families, there may be three or four TVs and hundreds of channel choices
3. Children should avoid riding the bicycle before fully assembled.
A. before fully assembled.
B. while being assembled.
C. until they are assembled.
D. after it is fully assembled
E. until the bicycle is fully assembled.
4. The two company presidents were in conflict against each other over the terminology of their
agreement.
A. The two company presidents were in conflict against each other
B. The two company presidents were in conflict
C. In conflict and against each other, the two company presidents were
D. Against two president’s was the conflict over the terminology
E. Against and in conflict, the two company presidents were
SAT Writing: Improving Sentences
1. Answer – C. The original item lacks parallel structure. The clause where the school is located is not
in the same grammatical form as the other items in the series, which are both nouns. Only choice c
corrects the error. Choice b places the article the before only the second item in the series, and choice e
places the before only two items. The phrase how many teachers to every student in choice d is not
parallel to the two nouns in the series.
2. Answer – B. In choice a, although does not express the correct relationship between the two clauses.
In choice b, the subordinate conjunction while clearly and effectively expresses the right relationship.
Choice c’s use of however is correct, but it is preceded by a comma instead of a semicolon, creating a
run-on sentence. Choice d also creates a run-on sentence and does not offer a coordinating or
subordinating conjunction to express the contrast between the two clauses. Choice e repeats the error in
a and adds unnecessarily wordy constructions.
3. Answer E. This question is an amusing example of misplaced modifier. It is not the child who needs
to be assembled but the bicycle. Therefore, Choice E is the correct response. One does not want a child
on the bike until it is assembled.
4. Answer B. Two plus each other sounds like too much of the same thing. Therefore, this sentence
contains a redundancy that needs to be adjusted. This makes Choice B, “two company presidents,” the
cleanest choice for this question.