<p>Some might argue that it is not grammatically ambiguous because “they” can refer only to a plural antecedent (“parents” here) and it cannot refer to the phrase “the parents and children” because that phrase does not explicitly appear in the sentence. Are they right? Again, there is unfortunately no objective guideline there.</p>
<p>However, in most cases on the SAT, the ambiguity will be apparent. For example: “I gave Bob and Joe the sandwich. He didn’t like it, though”; the latter pronoun is unambiguously ambiguous (i.e., it’s wrong). Carefully taking and reviewing a good amount of Writing practice sections should yield a very accurate idea of what the College Board is looking for.</p>
<p>“recovery” works better than “progression.” “recovery” means that he may reach his previous condition of health, which is logical as an object of hope. “progression” merely means that his condition will improve. Most people who are afflicted with weakness would find it reasonable to expect to improve somewhat even if the doctors had not yet given them reason to believe so.</p>
<p>“explaining” is a participle here and, thus, should function as an adjective, which implies that it will modify a noun. The noun that it would modify is the subject of the clause to which it is adjacent: “High school graduates.” Do the high school graduates explain “why so many high school students go on to pursue college degrees”? No, the entire clause explains that fact.</p>
<p>It’s good that you’re on the lookout for disconcordance in number. However, “Something of a” is an idiomatic phrase that means, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of Iidioms, “To some extent.”</p>
<p>There are three problems with the original sentence: “nor,” “profiting,” and “designed.” In general, “nor” is used only in the correlative conjunction “neither…nor” or when it is introducing a new clause, as in:</p>
<p>I am neither a fish nor a chicken.</p>
<p>I am not fishy, nor am I chicken.</p>
<p>Neither of these uses applies here. Also, “profiting” is not parallel with “to accept.” Finally, “designed,” which is in the simple past tense, should be in the past perfect tense because the designing of the plans took place before the likewise past action of refusing to accept praise for those plans.</p>
<p>Indeed, (B) results in a faulty comparison: you cannot logically compare their being soaked to the phrase “having marched.” One would not say, “I am as soaked as having marched,” which is just as wrong as the original sentence would be if (B) were applied to it.</p>
<p>(D) is correct because we are comparing their being soaked in reality to their being soaked in a rainstorm through which they elected to march. When we make comparisons of this sort, we often make some of the verb phrase implicit, which is acceptable:</p>
<p>After marching for four hours in temperatures exceeding ninety degrees, the band members were as soaked as [they would have been] if they had marched through a rainstorm.</p>
<p>^ lol here, I got a simple little quote for you.
“Excuse me, but I politely ask you to cease your torpid attempts at manifesting versimilitude through your crude preferences of internet lexicon. My comprehension of the English language is brobdingnagian, effortlessly micrifying your picayune and odious disposition, of which has already saturated me with a pullulating impression of ennui coupled with execration. Good day.”</p>
<p>No thanks; I already asked you and failed to receive a relevant response. I am not responsible for the acts of others. To accuse me of things without taking that into account is to commit the logical fallacy of guilt by association, which I have repeatedly indicated to you but to no avail. </p>
<p>Because you have a readily apparent tendency to attack others personally even when they are not insulting you in any way, I will no longer be communicating with you. I do, however, hope that others stop insulting you; perhaps that will make you less hostile. Best of luck with your English studies.</p>
<p>As Silverturtle mentioned, we did have to remove a vast number of posts that did not benefit this community. We ask everyone who is reading this guide to maintain a positive and helpful attitude. Clutter and irrelevant posts simply undermine the objective of this thread. </p>
<p>Silverturtle - the links you have in post #8 for the Direct Hits vocabulary books are for the 2010 editions. The 2011 editions have more words and new examples. </p>
<p>Thank you for the time and effort you have put into this guide. It has been very helpful. </p>
<p>Trinity - Thank you for deleting the posts that had gotten so far off intent of Silverturtle’s Guide.</p>
<p>^ “In addition to studying Direct Hits, you might also check out “Silverturtle’s Guide to SAT and Admissions Success” at CollegeConfidential.com. Silverturtle does a great job of crystallizing valuable information.”</p>
<p>EDIT: Can someone delete my post #1139, please? (I do not see the edit button for my own post, unlike this one.)</p>
