Identifying Other Errors or No Error - PSAT Writing

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I would rather run an entire marathon than spend one more day sitting at that table nibbling crumpets. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Entire” is an adjective that modifies a noun, “than spend one more day” is a logical comparison, “that” is a demonstrative pronoun used correctly, and “nibbling” is a present progressive verb that describes a concurrent action.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

I found it bothersome that the saleswoman said the cheetah-print ottoman did not come in purple, especially since we special ordered one to match our living room’s color palette. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Bothersome” is an adjective that describes a pronoun, “said” is a verb in the correct tense, “especially” is an adverb that is used appropriately, and “one” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Stooping down to tie her shoe, Margaret saw a tiny note scribbled onto the wall only a few inches above the floor. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Stooping down” uses a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “saw” is in the correct tense, “scribbled” is also in the correct tense, and “above the floor” is an appropriate prepositional phrase.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Despite her insistence that Halloween was her favorite holiday, Melanie could never remember whether it was the 30th or 31st. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Her” is a pronoun that agrees with “Melanie,” “was” is a verb in the correct tense, “could never remember” is an appropriate combination of verb and adverb, and “it” is a pronoun that agrees with “Halloween.”

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Upon the discovery that she couldn’t completely open her right eye, Joanna decided it was finally time to visit a doctor. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Upon the discovery” is an appropriate idiomatic use of a preposition, “completely” is an adverb that modifies a verb, the comma between “eye” and “Joanna” is grammatical, and “was” is a verb in the correct tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Henry was a fiercely stubborn child; he would carry out incredibly successful hunger strikes if he was not served macaroni and cheese for dinner. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. The semi-colon between “child” and “he” is grammatical, “incredibly successful” uses adverbs and adjectives to modify the appropriate words, “was” is in the correct tense, and “for dinner” is an acceptable prepositional phrase.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Seeking radical change in the way his second grade classroom was run, Joey tried to mobilize the students and motivate them to form a student union. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Seeking” is a gerund verb that starts a correct modifying phrase, “in the way” is a conventional prepositional phrase, “was run” is an appropriate use of the passive voice, and “them” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “the students.”

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Margaret was full of nagging doubts; she couldn’t remember if Wednesday or Thursday was the last time she had seen her pet tarantula. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Full of” is a conventional combination of adjective and preposition, the semi-colon between “doubts” and “she” is grammatical, “Wednesday or Thursday” is coordinated correctly, and “had seen” is in the correct tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

She found the cheerful, busy atmosphere of the café to be energizing, but her favorite place to spend time remained the reading room of the library. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Cheerful, busy” is a correct combination of adjectives modifying a noun, “to be” is a conventional way to follow the very “found,” “but” is a logical conjunction, and “remained” is a verb in the correct tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Thomas invited us over for a home-cooked meal at his place, but I doubt he could so much as scramble an egg. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Invited us over for” is a conventional use of prepositions, “his” is a pronoun that agrees with “Thomas,” “but” is the appropriate conjunction, and “doubt” is a verb in the correct tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Since he arrived in Minnesota two weeks ago, my uncle Ted has gone fishing at least ten times. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Arrived in” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “two weeks ago” is a correctly formed adverbial phrase, “my” is a pronoun used correctly, and “has gone fishing” is in the appropriate tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

She wrote all day and all night, and she only stopped when she had run out of words. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “All day and all night” are correctly coordinated adverbial phrases, “she” is a pronoun that agrees with the previous pronoun, “stopped” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had run out” is a correct combination of verb and preposition.

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Question

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

With excitement sparkling behind the tears in her eyes, Mary announced that her poodle, the pride and joy of her life, had just won the regional dog show.

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Behind” is the appropriate use of a preposition, the comma between “eyes” and “Mary” is grammatical, “announced” is a verb in the correct tense, and “had just won” is an appropriate combination of verb and adverb.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Joey chose to eat ice cream for every meal for a week, and now he is complaining that he feels ill. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “For every meal” is an appropriate prepositional phrase, the comma between “week” and “and” is grammatical, “he” is a pronoun that agrees with “Joey,” and “feels” is a verb in the correct tense.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Melissa and Tom dream of becoming owners of a gourmet ice cream shop when they grow up, and they are already creating their flavor list. No error

Answer

This sentence is correct as written. “Dream of” is a conventional combination of verb and preposition, “owners” is a noun that agrees in number with the subject, “when they grow up” is an acceptable adverbial phrase, and “their” is a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent “Melissa and Tom.”

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Question

When I get home from school, I like to relax by playing my guitar, eating a snack, watching a television show, and taking a nap.

Answer

There is no error in the original sentence.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

"Don't speak to me like that ever again," Connie warned. "I'll tell on you next time." The boy, once so antogonistic, backed off immediately. No error

Answer

There are no errors in the sentence, all the subjects agree with their verbs, and the tenses line up. The commas are in their correct places as well.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

She leapt over tables, wiggled through corridors, sprinted around three, tall tree trunks, and finally sat down in a heap to catch her breath. No error

Answer

Normally you'd want to separate a list with commas, but that's not the case here. To know why, imagine that each comma in a list is the word "and." You'd never say "three and tall tree trunks" here.

Numbers will commonly do this in English; thus "I saw four red birds," etc.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Whether my aunt or uncle is arriving, it shouldn't matter—I really enjoy when either of them visit. No error

Answer

There is no error here. If you chose "is arriving," it's actually grammatically correct: two singular subjects connected by "or" require a singular verb.

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Question

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Every single dollar has been spent on candy; the children ought to be taught about saving their money. No error

Answer

There is no error. In particular, "every single dollar has been spent" is correct: "every" is a singular subject requiring a singular verb.

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