SAT Writing Test - 1

Instructions: Read the entire sentence carefully but quickly, paying attention to underlined choices (A) through (E). Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

1. Even if child care centers follow state regulations to the letter of the law, it doesn't guarantee an efficient, engaging, well-trained staff and learning environment on hand.
A) it doesn't guarantee an efficient, engaging, well-trained staff and learning environment on hand.
B) they don't guarantee either the efficiency and good training of its staff nor the engagement of its learning environment.
C) they can't guarantee an efficient, well-trained staff or an engaging learning environment.
D) it doesn't guarantee neither an efficient, well-trained staff nor learning environment on hand.
E) there's no guarantees of an efficient, well-trained staff or engaging learning environment.

2. When building the subway, the plan was to connect all the major residential and business districts in the city
A) When building the subway,
B) When the subway was built,
C) While the building of the subway was under construction,
D) Because of building the subway,
E) In planning to build the subway,

3. My uncle is the kind of a man that works long hours simply to help those in need.
A) My uncle is the kind of a man that works
B) My uncle, the kind of a man that works
C) My uncle is a man, the type of which works
D) My uncle is the kind of man who works
E) My uncle is the sort of a man that would work

Instructions: The underlined and lettered sections of each sentence below may contain an error in grammar, usage, word choice (diction), or expression (idiom). Read each sentence carefully, and identify the item that contains the error. Indicate your choice by selecting the corresponding choice. Only the underlined parts contain errors. Assume that the rest of each sentence is correct. No sentence contains more than one error. Some sentences may contain no error, in which case the correct answer will be (E) (No error).

4. People who work (A) as census takers are an employee (B) of the U.S. government, but they receive (C) none of the health benefits that others get because they are merely temporary workers (D).
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error

5. As a child (A), I used to (B) argue with my sister, but (C) now we get along well (D).
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error

6. Politicians, who are elected (A) to represent we (B) citizens, feel nothing but contempt for (C) those who elected them (D).
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error.

7. Since (A) the development of antitoxins and serums, there have been (B) hardly no (C) cases of yellow fever or smallpox anywhere (D) in the world.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

8. The person to whom (A) you need to speak has been (B) attending (C) a symposium all week long (D), he will return tomorrow morning.
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error

9. If one is determined (A) to become truly knowledgeable about foreign cultures, you (B) should spend time (C) living abroad (D) as well as study textbooks.
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error

10. Many of the people which (A) voted in last year's (B) election thought the central issue so trivial that they were (C) nearly indifferent (D) to the outcome.
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) No error