SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTESIdentify the errors in the following sentences.

1. He is not sure ifA he shouldB buy the new computer now orCwait until

he receivesD his next bonus. No errorE.

2. Mark scored poorlyA on the test, whichB is not surprisingsinceC he did

not prepare adequatelyD. No error.E

3. I preferA Marlene to anyB hairdresser I have visitedC in the past because

she has such a good understanding of her clients'Dneeds. No errorE.

4. The archivist hadA not onlyB a deep interestC but also a clear

understanding of the historical documents inD the museum. No error.E

5. With skill and surprisingA gentleness the fireman managed toBlower the

injured cat downC from the top ofD the tree. No errorE.

6. Was the woman whoA you think you sawB leaving the building

wearingC a nurse'sD uniform? No errorE.

7. As he held openA the door for her, she could not ignore the look on his face,B a look that aggravatedC her self-consciousness as they proceededD along the street. No errorE.

8. Many people genuinely want to beA fitter, but fewB have the tenacity for

stickingC to a suitable regimeD of diet and exercise.No errorE.

9. Safety precautions and emergency exits, matters of great concern

forA builders of commercial establishments, areB often

overlookedC when designingD a new home. No errorE.

10. From the time he took upA his new position asB head of the

department, he has beenC concerned aboutD the legitimacy of his

appointment. No errorE.

Identify the best expression for the underlined sentences:

1. It is highly desirable that you furnish evidence of your expenses before you submit your final accounts.

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTES

A. It is highly desirable that you furnish evidence of your expenses  B. It is highly desirable that you should furnish evidence of your

expenses  C. It is highly to be desired that you furnish evidences of your

expenses  D. You must furnish evidence of your expenses  E. You should have to supply evidence of your expenses

2. The population of tigers in the National Park is increasing steadily, and this is a source of encouragement to those who have worked so hard to fund the conservation effort.

A. steadily, and this  B. steadily: which  C. steadily; this trend  D. steadily, this increase  E. steady, and this

3. In the fine print at the end of the document lies the clauses that make us liable for any expenses that result from civil unrest.

A. lies the clauses that make us liable for any expenses that  B. lies the clauses that make us liable for any expenses which  C. lies the clause that make us liable for any expenses that  D. lie the clauses that makes us liable for any expenses which  E. lie the clauses that make us liable for any expenses that

4. The administration discussed whether the number of students studying European languages was likely to decline when the senior lecturer retired.

A. whether the number of students studying European languages was likely 

B. whether the number of students studying European languages were likely 

C. if the students studying European languages were likely  D. if the number of European language students were likely  E. whether the number of students studying European languages was

liable

5. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden, he might get a better display of flowers.

A. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden 

B. If the gardener sowed the seeds in the greenhouse rather than the garden 

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTES

C. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden 

D. If the gardener were to sow the seeds in the greenhouse rather than in the garden 

E. If the gardener would sow the seeds in the greenhouse instead of the garden

6. On Discovery channel last night they showed an informative program about new innovations in medical imaging, which you would have found interesting.

A. they showed an informative program about new innovations in medical imaging, which you would have found interesting. 

B. they showed an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, which you would have found interesting. 

C. they showed an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, that you would have found interesting. 

D. there was an informative program about new innovations in medical imaging, that you would have found interesting. 

E. there was an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, a program you would have found interesting.

7. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope that he might finish before the deadline.

A. After working for two hours, the essay started to take shape, and he began to hope 

B. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he began to hope 

C. When the essay started to take shape after he had worked on it for two hours, he begun to hope 

D. When the essay started to take shape after working on it for two hours, he began to hope 

E. After working for two hours, the student's essay started to take shape, and he began to hope

8. The young man was surprised to find that his experience as a tutor had been used as the basis for the protagonist in a short story written by a former girlfriend.

A. that his experience as a tutor had been used as the basis for the protagonist in 

B. his experience as a tutor having been used as the protagonist in  C. his experience as a tutor had been used as the basis for the

protagonist's in  D. his experience as a tutor being used as the basis for the protagonist

of 

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTES

E. that his experience as a tutor had been used as the basis for events in the life of the protagonist in

9. In the engineering sector at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we recent graduates to get started on our careers.

A. at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for we 

B. at the moment there are no jobs for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us 

C. there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact that makes it difficult for us 

D. there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, which makes it difficult for us 

E. there are no jobs at the moment for those without experience, a fact which makes it difficult for we

10. The mole is a nocturnal insectivorous mammal regarded as pests by gardeners because of their burrowing activity spoilinglawns and gardens.

A. regarded as pests by gardeners because of their burrowing activity spoiling 

B. regarded to be pests by gardeners because of their burrowing activity's spoiling 

C. regarded as a pest by gardeners because of burrowing activity spoiling 

D. considered as a pest by gardeners because of its burrowing activity spoiling 

E. regarded as a pest by gardeners because its burrowing activity spoils lawns and gardens.

Questions 1-6 refer to the following passage, which is a draft of an essay:(1)I recently revisited the city which I was born in, which is a place well known for a castle built on a rock overlooking the surrounding plains, and even better known for a legendary figure who robbed the rich to give to the poor. (2)As I toured the castle and its museum, visited the town center, and roamed around old haunts, I reflected on how the buildings that people of different eras build reflect their central preoccupations.

(3)The castle was originally built in the eleventh century, and remained important for several centuries. (4)Throughout the medieval period castles and fortified houses were built. (5)The powerful landowners surveyed and dominated the surrounding lands, the source of their wealth and prestige.

(6)Once the industrial era began, castles were sidelined. (7)The merchants and factory owners built town halls, churches, factories and imposing

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTESoffice buildings. (7)The town center reflects this era. (8)An imposing town hall, complete with massive pillars and monumental lions, overlooks the town square. (9)The square is surrounded by equally massive blocks of shops, banks and offices, built to reflect the power of trade in the heyday of the British Empire.

(10)Most people who enter the city today never visit the castle or the old market square, they head for the two shopping malls situated at either end of the city center. (11)Here the visitor can shop to their hearts content in an environment of glass and polished chrome. (12)Modern man is no longer a warrior defending his land, or a builder of churches, or a governor of people: he is primarily a consumer. (13)The buildings our generation leaves to posterity will reflect our predominant interest – shopping.  

1. The author's approach to the topic can best be described as A. rhetorical  B. a reminiscence  C. a specific example to illustrate a general point  D. personal narrative  E. several examples used to contradict a viewpoint

2. The sentence (or sentences) which most clearly expresses the author's primary purpose is

A. (1)  B. (2)  C. (12)  D. (13)  E. (1) and (13)

3. Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence (1), (reproduced below)? I recently revisited the city which I was born in, which is a placewell known for a castle built on a rock overlooking the surrounding plains, and even better known for a legendary figure who robbed the rich to give to the poor.

A. I recently revisited the city which I was born in, which is a place  B. I recently revisited the city in which I was born in, which is  C. I recently revisited the city in which I was born, a city  D. Recently I revisited the place which I was born in, which is a city  E. Recently I revisited the city which I was born in, which is

4. The best way to rewrite the underlined parts of sentences 4 and 5 (reproduced below) in order to combine the sentences is: Throughout the medieval period castles and fortified houses were built.

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTESThe powerful landowners surveyed and dominated the surrounding lands, the source of their wealth and prestige.

A. Throughout the medieval period castles and fortified houses were built from which powerful landowners surveyed and dominated 

B. Castles and fortified houses were built throughout the medieval period, from which powerful landowners surveyed and dominated 

C. Castles and fortified houses were built throughout the medieval period, when powerful landowners surveyed and dominated 

D. Throughout the medieval period, powerful landowners built castles and fortified houses from which to survey and dominate 

E. Throughout the medieval period, powerful landowners built castles and fortified houses from which they would have surveyed and dominated

5. The change most needed in sentence 10 is A. change or to nor  B. change “either end” to “both ends”  C. change the comma to a semicolon  D. avoid the repetition of the word “city”  E. change people to persons

6. Sentence 11 has faulty A. pronoun usage  B. parallelism  C. verb tenses  D. diction  E. verb agreement

Questions 7-12 refer to the following passage, which is a draft of an essay:(1)Nowadays we tend to use the expression “plain vanilla” in a derogatory sense for something simple and unadorned. (2)But have you ever thought about the ways in which the vanilla bean has improved the taste of what we eat?

(3)One of the most used, and presumably, most appreciated, flavors known to man, worldwide we use more than one thousand tons of vanilla beans every year, mainly to flavor ice cream, cakes and confectionery. (4)Since the 1930s chemical companies have also been making huge amounts of synthetic vanilla essence mainly from the byproducts of the paper pulp industry. (5)In fact, most of the “vanilla flavor” products on the supermarket shelves have never seen a vanilla pod. (6)However, good cooks keep real vanilla pods in their sugar to enhance the taste of their cakes and cookies and would not buy synthetic vanilla.

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTES(7)Natural vanilla is the product of a creeper that grows best in hot wet climates. (8)It requires hand pollinating and the growing, harvesting and curing need skill and are labor intensive. (9)With the advent of biotechnology it remains to be seen how long the traditional growing and production methods would survive.

(10)But whatever the source, vanilla has become essential to the human palate. (11)Think about it: do you even know what “plain” ice cream would taste like without vanilla?

7. The writer uses all of the following techniques except A. rhetorical questions  B. statement of facts  C. speculation  D. address to the reader  E. personal experience

8. Which version of the underlined part best corrects and improves sentence 3 (reproduced below)? One of the most used, and presumably, most appreciated, flavors known to man, worldwide we use more than one thousand tons of vanilla beans every year, mainly to flavor ice cream, cakes and confectionery.

A. Vanilla is certainly one of the most used, and presumably most appreciated, flavors known to man. Worldwide 

B. Vanilla is certainly one of the most used, and presumably most appreciated, flavors known to man, worldwide 

C. Vanilla is certainly one of the most used, and presumably most appreciated, flavors known to man worldwide: 

D. One of the most used, and presumably most appreciated, flavors known to man worldwide, vanilla 

E. Worldwide vanilla is certainly one of the most used, and presumably most appreciated, flavors known to man.

9. The best replacement for the word “it” in sentence 8 is A. vanilla  B. the pod  C. vanilla flowers  D. the plant  E. pods

10. The change most needed in sentence 9 is A. change “would” to “will”  B. change “methods” to “method”  C. rewrite to avoid “to be” 

SAT A WRITING TEST TIME: 40 MINUTES

D. insert “for” in front of “how”  E. substitute “arrival” for “advent”

11. One reason the writer uses the word “plain” in the last sentence is probably

A. to contrast with “vanilla”  B. to link to the use of the same word in the first sentence  C. to emphasis an opposite  D. to clarify what is meant by flavor  E. to add more force to the argument

12. Which sentence best states the author's contention about vanilla? A. 1  B. 2  C. 9  D. 10  E. 11