SAT Everyday Questions

Sunday, December 7

The introduction of elevators in hotels meant that

A
previously undesirable rooms on the top floors,
B
away from the bustle and noise of the street,
C
became sought after and more expensive than

the lower floors. No error

D E

Here's Why:
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is an illogical comparison. It does not
make sense to compare rooms on the top floors with the lower floors.

Tuesday, December 9

A group of Black American fighter pilots known as the Red Tail Angels has the ------- of never
having lost any of the bombers it escorted on missions over Europe in the Second World War.

A. onus
B. distinction
C. imperative
D. potential
E. assignment

Here's Why:
Distinction most aptly describes the status of a group that enjoyed an unblemished record.

Wednesday, December 10

They determine the color and flavor of honey by the flowers from which the nectar is taken.

A. They determine the color and flavor of honey by the

B. Honey s color and flavor is determined by which
C. Honey s color and flavor determined by those
D. The color of honey, and its flavor, determined by the
E. The color and flavor of honey are determined by the

Here's Why:

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SAT Everyday Questions

Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by removing the unnecessary pronoun
They, and by using a well-constructed phrase, The color and flavor … are …

Saturday, December 13

Whether the Sumerians were the first people

A
to develop writing is uncertain, but theirs
B C D
is the oldest known writing system. No error
E
Here's Why:
There is no error in this sentence.

Monday, December 15

Although there is not a great deal we can do to prevent storage of information about
ourselves in computer data banks, we are not entirely ------- .

A. indispensable
B. anonymous
C. neglectful
D. helpless
E. remorseless

Here's Why:
Although is used to introduce two conflicting ideas in this sentence. Helpless is the only
choice that contrasts with the lack of control presented in the first clause of the sentence.

Difficulty: Medium

Tuesday, December 16

Though its early history is not fully known, origami, the art of folding objects out of paper
without cutting, pasting, or decorating, seems that it had developed from the older art of
folding cloth.

A. seems that it had developed from

B. seems to have developed from

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SAT Everyday Questions

C. seems to have been developed out of

D. had developed, it would seem, out of
E. developing, it seems, out of

Here's Why:
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by linking the subject of the sentence,
origami, with an appropriate verb form, seems to have developed.

Thursday, December 18

True to her altruistic beliefs, Natalie ------- the ------- attitude of her colleague that a client
represented nothing more than a source of income and an opportunity for advancing one s
professional reputation.

A. applauded . . conscientious
B. condoned . . aggressive
C. lamented . . mercenary
D. adopted . . egotistical
E. belittled . . magnanimous

Here's Why:
Natalie, an altruistic person, would lament the attitude of a greedy and ambitious colleague
whom she would describe as mercenary.

Friday, December 19

The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence
contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence
correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.

In 1828 Peter Cooper opened the Canton Iron

A B
Works in Baltimore, Maryland, there he built,
C
the country s first functional stram engine, the
D
Tom Thumb . No error.
E
Here's Why:
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where the use of there creates a comma splice.

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SAT Everyday Questions

Sunday, December 21

Scientists have discovered that our sense of smell is surprisingly ------- , capable of
distinguishing thousands of chemical odors.

A. rigid
B. inert
C. erratic
D. keen
E. innate

Here's Why:
One of the meanings of keen is acutely sensitive. Therefore, if our sense of smell is keen
or acutely sensitive, it is capable of distinguishing thousands of chemical odors.

Monday, December 22

According to the study, personality traits may vary as much from one dog to another as
from one person to another.

A. as
B. as it is
C. as when they are
D. than
E. than they do

Here's Why:
Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by using the idiomatic as to
complete the phrase as much … as.

Wednesday, December 24

Because he felt intimidated in his new position, he was ------- divulging his frank opinions of
company proposals.

A. scurrilous about
B. candid in

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SAT Everyday Questions

C. chary of
D. fervid about
E. precipitate in

Here's Why:
Someone who is initimidated by his position would be chary of, or cautious about,
expressing his honest opinion of company proposals.

Saturday, December 27

Even those who do not ------- Robinson s views ------- him as a candidate who has
courageously refused to compromise his convictions.

A. shrink from . . condemn

B. concur with . . recognize
C. profit from . . dismiss
D. disagree with . . envision
E. dissent from . . remember

Here's Why:
It makes sense to say that even those who do not concur with Robinson s views would
recognize him as someone who has refused to compromise his beliefs.

Sunday, December 28

The well-preserved, 121-million-year-old fossilized bird embryo on display at the museum has
several features that suggest that its young could move about and feed themselves very
soon after they hatched.

A. its
B. her
C. their
D. the species
E. for this species

Here's Why:

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SAT Everyday Questions

Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the pronoun reference error of the original by using the
species to indicate the kind of birds (birds of the same species) whose young could move
about … hatched.

Tuesday, December 30

To believe that social reforms can ------- evil altogether is to forget that evil is a protean
creature, forever assuming a new ------- when deprived of an old one.

A. rejuvenate . . allegiance
B. eradicate . . shape
C. mitigate . . providence
D. sustain . . episode
E. dissolve . . abstraction

Here's Why:
The phrase is to forget implies that the belief described in the first part of the sentence is
misguided or naïve. It makes sense to argue that the assumption that reforms can
eradicate, or eliminate, all societal evils is overly idealistic because evil is protean, or
capable of taking on a new shape.

Wednesday, December 31

Among the most widespread of marien animals,

A B
starfish and sea urchin inhabit all seas
C
except that of the polar regions. No error
D E

Here's Why:
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is improper pronoun use. The plural
pronoun those should be used to refer to the plural noun seas.