Writing Section MCs.. Why wrong?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<li>Thomas Edison was one of this century’s most notable inventors, this includes the creation of the electric light bulb and the telegraph.
A) inventors, this includes the creation of
B) inventors, which includes the creation of
C) inventors, whose creations include
D) inventors; his creations include
E) inventors; this creation includes</li>
</ol>

<p>I put C but answer is D… Why? </p>

<li>Although Ireland’s government censors had long stifled artistic expression, the country is now discovery the tremendous talents of its native poets and novelist.
A) Although Ireland’s government censors had long stifled artistic expression, the country is now discovery the tremendous talents of its native poets and novelists.
B) Artistic expression that was once being stifled by Ireland’s government censors, but now they are discovering the tremendous talents of their native poets and novelists
C) The government censors had long stifled artistic expression, but Ireland is now discovering the tremendous talents of their native poets and novelists
D) Artistic expression was long stifled by Ireland’s government censors, and so now they are discovering the tremendous talents of their native poets and novelists
E) Now discovering the tremendous talents of its native poets and novelists, Ireland’s government censors had stifled artistic expression for a long time.</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is C. I thought it was A because in C, I thought it was wrong to say “their native…” since Ireland is “it.” Hmm… Not sure.</p>

<p>Now comes Identifying Sentence Error Part… I can’t seem to get them right most of the time! Argghh… This one was harder than real SAT’s though.</p>

<li>Now that Siena won first place in several regional tournaments, she appears somewhat excited about traveling to the capital to compete in the tennis finals. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is A but why…? Is it because the sentence has “now” and verb tense must be present? But it “sounds” better with Siena won…</p>

<li>The remarkable leadership skills exercised by General Grant in the Battle of Fort Donelson were attributable to his military experience. No error.</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is E. But I thought for B would be wrong because I thought idiomatically, it’s correct to say “someone AT the Battle of…” </p>

<li>On hockey teams, players are asked to determine which of their peers seems most capable to be captain. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is D. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s better to say “capable of becoming.” I don’t know when’s you can’t use infinitives like here.</p>

<li>Public speaking often causes a political candidate’s stomach to turn, thereby preventing him or her to speak clearly. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is D. Again, similar reason as #3? And I thought using “thereby” sounded awkward. Hmm… Not sure</p>

<li>The Supreme Court Justice began to question his stance on burning flags in public when he discussed them with veterans of the armed forces. No error.</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is D… Why?</p>

<li>Dogs are such loyal creatures that it is not uncommon for them to travel many miles home after separating from their owners. No error</li>
</ol>

<p>Answer is D… Why?</p>

<p>Sorry for long questions… Thanks for any help to any question!</p>

2

<p>improving sentences: </p>

<ol>
<li>could be a typo in the answers?</li>
<li>a has no verb</li>
</ol>

<p>ID errors: </p>

<ol>
<li>has won</li>
<li>no error</li>
<li>as</li>
<li>from speaking</li>
<li>burning is singular</li>
<li>being separated from</li>
</ol>

3

<ol>
<li>has won sounds right… Hmm but how can you tell that this is present participle (I think that’s what it’s called…?)</li>
<li>So I guess you can use “in” the battle…?</li>
<li>Ah… another idiom!</li>
<li>OK.</li>
<li>OH CRAP… I thought “flags” were subjects… BLAH. Stupid of me.</li>
<li>Hmm… I like what you have there but I thought that we were supposed to avoid using “being”?</li>
</ol>

4

<p>3= idiomatic. I’ve always thought those were a bit odd; it seems that we should be looking for reasons answers are incorrect because of grammar, not idiomatic expressions. Go figure, at least a couple come up every test. You are correct in your guess as to what the answer should be.</p>

5

<p>whoa… is this from the Jan SATs??? HOw’d you get these!</p>

6

<p>I don’t know all these funny names for sentence parts you’re using, but I think I can explain some of this.</p>

<ol>
<li>on C: notable inventors, whose creations include the electric lightbulb and the telegraph. This implies that the lightbulb and telegraph were creations of the notable inventors, not of Edison</li>
</ol>

<p>Correct: Thomas Edison, whose creations include the electric lightbulb and the telegraph, was one of this century’s most notable inventors. It goes right next to Thomas Edison.</p>

<p>So D is the only one that maintains the meaning of the sentence.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>What a778999 said</p></li>
<li><p>What a778999 said, because Siene isn’t winning right now (it says “now” at the beginning of the sentence), she won before now… so it’s has won</p></li>
<li><p>“In” has a different meaning than “at.” It’s not particularly noticable in that sentence, but here’s a better example:</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I was at the soccer game.
I was in the soccer game.</p>

<p>You can see the difference… at means you were there, in means you participated.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Just sounds wrong, apparently you know why now though.</p></li>
<li><p>What a778999 said</p></li>
<li><p>What a778999 said</p></li>
<li><p>It says the dogs are loyal. “Separating from” implies that the dogs intended to get away from their owners, and that wouldn’t be loyal. “Being separated from” implies that it was accidental.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry if my explanations don’t make sense, but that’s my logic…</p>