Writing Section: Improving Paragraphs

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>(2)Although I’ve never seen one in our yard in the daytime, several times recently, around midnight, I have sniffed that familiar odor through the open bedroom window. (3) While usually unable to locate the source of it, even on a moonlit night. (4) However, twice, I got to the window in time to glimpse…</p>

<ol>
<li>In context, which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3?</li>
</ol>

<p>(While usually unable to locate the source of it,) even on a moonlit night.</p>

<p>A)As it is
B) Usually, however, I have been unable to locate its source
C)Usually, though, the source could not have been located
D)Having been unable, usually, to locate its source</p>

<p>The answer, is B), I put C). Doesn’t the ‘however’ in B) make it redundant because the next sentence also has ‘however’? I know that C) doesn’t use ‘you’ but I still think its the better answer.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>when it comes down to B and C, the SAT usually wants the answer that isn’t in the passive tone. also, “could not have been located” sounds like it’s in the wrong tense in comparison to the rest of the passage…</p>

3

<p>Choice C has no subject, who’s doing the locating?
And if you read the other sentences included, both sentences 2 and 4 have either a “although blah blah blah, I…” or “however, twice, i”
I’d pick B over C because it follows that particular structure, and also because C is in the passive voice like catcat18 mentioned.
Hope that helped</p>

4

<p>B for sure. It is in active voice</p>