411 SAT essay prompts and writing questions

411 SAT
ESSAY PROMPTS
AND WRITING
QUESTIONS

®

NEW

YORK


Copyright © 2006 LearningExpress, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United
States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Catologing-in-Publication Data:
411 essay prompts and writing questions.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-57685-562-1 (alk. paper)
1. SAT (Educational test)—Study guides. 2. Universities and colleges—
United States—Entrance examinations—Study guides.
LB2353.57.A138 2006
378.1'662—dc22
2006012695
Printed in the United States of America
98765432
ISBN 978-1-57685-562-1
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Contents

INTRODUCTION

1

PRETEST

3

CHAPTER 1

Ready, Get Set . . .

15

CHAPTER 2

Recognizing Sentence Errors

25

CHAPTER 3

Improving Sentences Questions

49

CHAPTER 4

Improving Paragraphs Questions

93

CHAPTER 5

Responding to Quotation Prompts

117

CHAPTER 6

Responding to Idea Prompts

135

POSTTEST

155

v

411 SAT
ESSAY PROMPTS
AND WRITING QUESTIONS



Introduction
As any scary book or movie proves repeatedly, the most frightening thing anyone
usually has to face is the unknown or unexpected. If you know that you are going
to be attacked by a hostile alien from Pluto, you can prepare for it with the appropriate high-tech weaponry. If you know that a crazed former high school sweetheart
looking for revenge is waiting in the basement, you can call 911 and then run. It’s
the not knowing what is around the corner that is usually the most intimidating.

T

he same is true when it comes to taking the SAT. If you don’t know what the SAT is going to be like
or what questions it is going to ask, your imagination can really scare you into thinking it is much
worse than it is or lead you to believe it is something it isn’t. By taking the time to study and understand what actually is on the SAT (versus what you imagine might be), you will be prepared. You will know exactly
what to expect and thus, how to prepare (and how not to).
411 SAT Essay Prompts and Writing Questions will show you what is going to be in the SAT Writing section,
as well as what you need to know to ace it. It takes the mystery—and thus the fear—out of the whole study process
and gives you the information you need to get a stronger, higher score.

1


– INTRODUCTION –

Following that theme, let’s start off by removing the unknown from how this book is designed. Here is what
we are going to do:

■

■

■

■

take a look at some of the basic strategies of taking the SAT, such as using the process of elimination and
coping with test anxiety
explain in-depth each of the four different kinds of writing challenges the SAT gives you and how to address
each one, including the essay portion
give you hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of examples of the multiple-choice questions and writing prompts you
will find on the test and show you how to figure out the correct responses to them
discuss how the SAT is scored

With these tools, you can walk into the classroom and when you see the Writing section of the SAT, it will
be like seeing an old friend.
Ready? Don’t worry. This is much easier than facing an alien or former sweetheart.

2


Pretest

T

o find out how well you already know what you will be tested on, take a brief pretest. The following
25 questions will include:

■
■
■
■

9 identifying sentence errors questions
12 improving sentences questions
3 improving paragraphs questions
1 writing prompt

Without doing any more reading or studying, take this test and see how you do. After you have read the following chapters and have had the chance to learn the rules, there will be a posttest. It will be exciting to see what
improvements you have made!
Ready? Make sure you’ve already had a drink, gone to the bathroom, taken some deep breaths, and relaxed
yourself. Even though you won’t have to do this test on a time limit (like you will on the SAT), do it as fast as you
can. On the official test, you will only have 35 minutes to do 60 questions. At that rate, this one should only take
you about 15 minutes or less. Pick up that sharpened number two pencil and see how it goes. Good luck!

3



– LEARNINGEXPRESS ANSWER SHEET –

PRETEST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.

a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a

b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b

c
c
c

c
c
c
c
c
c
c

d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d

e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a

b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b

b
b

c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c

5

d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d

e
e
e

e
e
e
e
e
e
e

21.
22.
23.
24.

a
a
a
a

b
b
b
b

c
c
c
c

d
d

d
d

e
e
e
e



– PRETEST –



Questions

The following sentences test your knowledge of grammar, usage, diction, and idiom. Some sentences are correct
as is. No sentence has more than one error. You will find the error, if there is one, underlined and lettered. Elements of the sentence that are not underlined will not be changed. In choosing answers, follow the requirements
of standard written English. If there is an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the
sentence correct. If there is no error, select choice e.
1. According to the reporter, there is multiple political reasons behind the unexpected riot
a
b
c
going on downtown this afternoon. No error.
d
e
2. Televisions, which have been a part of American culture for half a century, is more prevalent in American
a
b

c
homes than functioning bathrooms. No error.
d
e
3. Although various fans seen the winning shot clearly, the referee still would not change his initial ruling and
a
b
c
the player was instantly put on the bench. No error.
d
e
4. At the local community library, patrons may check out an unlimited number of books, but the overdue
a
b
c
fines are much higher than other libraries. No error.
d
e
5. On the stage, the magician created an allusion that shocked the entire audience into total silence, followed
a
b
c
by thundering applause. No error.
d
e
6. Several award-winning authors publish only one book per year, but due to the ongoing media coverage,
a
b
c
appeared to write much more. No error.

d
e
7. A new homeowner commonly struggles to cope with a debt load that far exceeds their actual income.
a
b
c
d
No error.
e
7


– PRETEST –

8. One cannot get adequate physical rest if you continuously stay up too late, get up too early, and
a
b
c
skip meals too often. No error.
d
e
9. Studies have shown that the students who turn in careful prepared lab reports do extremely well in
a
b
c
science classes such as chemistry and physics. No error.
d
e

11. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created one of the most

well-known and admired detectives in literature,
Sherlock Holmes is recognized in virtually every
country of the world.
a. in literature, Sherlock Holmes is recognized
b. in literature Sherlock Holmes is recognized
c. in literature; Sherlock Holmes is recognized
d. in literature and Sherlock Holmes is recognized
e. in literature, however, Sherlock Holmes
is recognized

The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. In choosing answers, follow the
requirements of standard written English; in other
words, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, sentence construction, and punctuation. In each of the
following sentences, part of the sentence or the entire
sentence is underlined. Beneath each sentence, you will
find five options for phrasing that underlined part.
Choice a repeats the original, so if you believe it is correct as is, this is the correct answer. Your choice should
produce the most effective sentence—clear and precise,
without awkwardness or ambiguity.

12. The reluctant reporter asked the witnesses relevant questions from the local television station.
a. The reluctant reporter asked the witnesses relevant questions from the local television station.
b. The reluctant reporter asked the witnesses
relevant questions, from the local television
station.
c. From the local television station, witnesses
were asked relevant questions by the reluctant
reporter.
d. The witnesses were asked relevant questions by
the reluctant reporter since she was from the

local television station.
e. The reluctant reporter from the local television
station asked the witnesses relevant questions.

10. While multiple movie makers try to convince
filmgoers that global warming is just around the
corner, others, thanks to hard core research, not
so sure.
a. others, thanks to hard core research, not
so sure.
b. others; thanks to hard core research; not
so sure.
c. others, thanks to hard core research, are not
so sure.
d. others thanks to hard core research so not
so sure.
e. others, thanks to hard core research, however,
not so sure.

8


– PRETEST –

15. To qualify for the typical college scholarship, a
student must show financial need, have exemplary grades, or excelling in some kind of sport.
a. show financial need, have exemplary grades,
or excelling
b. show financial need, have exemplary grades,
or excel

c. show financial need, have exemplary grades,
or excelled
d. show financial need or have exemplary grades,
or excelling
e. show financial need, having exemplary grades,
or excelling

13. The laptop computer was stored safely in the
luggage compartment; there was no chance of it
falling out or getting lost.
a. luggage compartment; there was no chance
b. luggage compartment, there was no chance
c. luggage compartment because there was
no chance
d. luggage compartment; no chance
e. luggage compartment there was no chance
14. After studying for more than three hours, the
test went much better than the student could
have hoped.
a. After studying for more than three hours, the
test went much better than the student could
have hoped.
b. Studying for more than three hours, the test
went much better than the student could
have hoped.
c. The test went much better than the student
could have ever hoped, he had studied for
more than three hours.
d. After studying for more than three hours, the
student did much better on the test than he

could have hoped.
e. For more than three hours the student had
studied, the test went much better than he
could have hoped.

16. Community libraries must continually strive for
the necessary funds to purchase contemporary
materials, implement up-to-date technology,
and continuously meeting the varying needs
of patrons.
a. implement up-to-date technology, and
continuously meeting
b. implementing up-to-date technology, and
continuously meeting
c. implement up-to-date technology, and
continuous meeting
d. implementation of up-to-date technology,
and continuously meeting
e. implement up-to-date technology, and
continuously meet

9


– PRETEST –

19. Since computers have become an integral part of
modern American culture, people of all ages and
backgrounds have had to adapt to new terminology as well as new skills.
a. people of all ages and backgrounds have

had to adapt to new terminology as well as
new skills.
b. because people of all ages and backgrounds
have had to adapt to new terminology as well
as new skills.
c. although people of all ages and backgrounds
have had to adapt to new terminology as well
as new skills.
d. however people of all ages and backgrounds
have had to adapt to new terminology as well
as new skills.
e. for people of all ages and backgrounds have
had to adapt to new terminology as well as
new skills.

17. Charles Dickens wrote multiple best-selling
novels in his lifetime, because A Christmas Carol
is the one the average person knows the best.
a. lifetime, because A Christmas Carol is the one
the average person knows the best.
b. lifetime, so A Christmas Carol is the one the
average person knows the best.
c. lifetime, but A Christmas Carol is the one the
average person knows the best.
d. lifetime, since A Christmas Carol is the one the
average person knows the best.
e. lifetime, A Christmas Carol is the one the
average person knows the best.
18. Although she helped support each one of her
brothers’ grand endeavors, but Orville and

Wilbur Wright’s sister Katherine was never truly
perceived as a hero.
a. but Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister Katherine was never truly perceived as a hero.
b. because Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister
Katherine was never truly perceived as a hero.
c. since Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister
Katherine was never truly perceived as a hero.
d. Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister Katherine
was never truly perceived as a hero.
e. and Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister Katherine was never truly perceived as a hero.

20. Various famous writers have included nonsensical
verse in their poetry, no one has ever been able to
do it as well as Lewis Carroll did in “Jabberwocky.”
a. Various famous writers have included
nonsensical verse in their poetry,
b. Although various famous writers have
included nonsensical verse in their poetry,
c. Because various famous writers have included
nonsensical verse in their poetry,
d. Since various famous writers have included
nonsensical verse in their poetry,
e. However, various famous writers have
included nonsensical verse in their poetry,

10


– PRETEST –

21. Reality television is a trend that highlighted
people’s fascination with coping with common
phobias, facing daunting challenges, and win
large amounts of money.
a. and win large amounts of money.
b. plus win large amounts of money.
c. and won large amounts of money.
d. and large amounts of money.
e. and winning large amounts of money.

(7) Best of all, souvenirs from nature are free,
bountiful, and inspirational for children. (8) Leaves,
flowers, seeds, weeds, acorns, bark, and twigs can be
brought home and used to create collages, scrapbooks, poems, or ballads, thus preserving nature’s
beauty indefinitely.
22. In this essay, the author does all of the following
EXCEPT
a. explain how the world of nature can be a
source of inspiration.
b. give multiple, clear examples of ideas for art
found in nature.
c. provide precise directions on how to create a
nature collage.
d. describe how souvenirs from nature can be
used for creativity.
e. discuss how parents sometimes overlook
artistic opportunities.

The following passage is an early draft of a student’s essay, and parts of it need to be rewritten. Read
the passage and answer the questions that follow it.

Some questions are about individual sentences or parts
of sentences. Here, you are asked to select the choice
that will improve the sentence structure and word
choice. Other questions refer to parts of the essay or
even the entire essay and ask you to look carefully at its
organization and development. You should follow the
conventions of standard written English in answering
the questions.

23. In context, which is the best revision of the underlined part of sentence 1 (reproduced below)?

(1) One of the most beautiful resources to inspire
any young artist can be found right outside your
own front door. (2) The world of nature offers limitless ideas for all the arts—from the beauty of a
sunset and the lilting notes of birdsong to the
graceful lines of an animal in motion or the starkness of tree limbs against a winter sky. (3) Many of
the art’s most famous masters turned to the world
surrounding them to find the inspiration for their
masterpieces.
(4) Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty. (5) Parents, usually wrapped up in
maintaining the daily routine, may not recognize
their children’s fascination and hurry them along.
(6) The cognizant parent can capitalize on these
moments and show their children how the purity
of a dandelion or the chattering of squirrels can be
turned into anything from a sonnet to a sketch to
a song.

One of the most beautiful resources to inspire any

young artist can be found right outside your own
front door.
a. as it is now
b. can be found right outside a child’s own
front door.
c. can be found right outside their own
front door.
d. can be found right outside hers own front door.
e. can be found right outside my own front door.

11


– PRETEST –

25. Some people believe that success comes through
sheer drive and determination, while others think
that it comes from natural and developed talents.
Actress Sophia Loren once stated, “Getting ahead
in a difficult profession requires avid faith in
yourself. That is why some people with mediocre
talent, but with great inner drive, go much further
than people with vastly superior talent.”

24. Which of the following is the best way to
combine sentences 4 and 5 (reproduced below)?
Children can easily become absorbed by nature’s
beauty. Parents, usually wrapped up in maintaining the daily routine, may not recognize their children’s fascination and hurry them along.
a. Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty, but parents, usually wrapped

up in maintaining the daily routine, may not
recognize their children’s fascination and
hurry them along.
b. Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty, parents, usually wrapped up
in maintaining the daily routine, may not recognize their children’s fascination and hurry
them along.
c. Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty because parents, usually
wrapped up in maintaining the daily routine,
may not recognize their children’s fascination
and hurry them along.
d. Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty, furthermore, parents, usually
wrapped up in maintaining the daily routine,
may not recognize their children’s fascination
and hurry them along.
e. Children can easily become absorbed by
nature’s beauty and parents, usually wrapped
up in maintaining the daily routine, may not
recognize their children’s fascination and
hurry them along.

Assignment: What do you think is more
important to success—talent or drive? Plan
your response and write an essay in which
you develop your point of view on this issue.
Support your position with reasoning and
examples taken from your reading, studies,
experiences, or observations.

12


– PRETEST –



Answers
10. c. This is an example of a fragment. There is
no verb in this sentence. Only choice c adds a
verb (are) to make it a complete sentence. The
other options add coordinating conjunctions,
which does not repair the fragment.
11. c. This is an example of a run-on sentence. To
repair it, you need to either insert a semicolon
between the sentences or break them into two
separate sentences. Choice c is the only one to
do this.
12. e. This question tests your ability to spot a
misplaced modifier. The phrase from the
local television station modifies reporter, but
because of its placement, it appears to modify
the witnesses. It needs to be moved next to
what it is supposed to modify, as shown in
choice e. Choice d moves it closer but is
wordy and redundant.
13. a. There is no error in this statement. It is an
example of two complete sentences, which
have been properly joined by a semicolon.

14. d. The way this is written, the test is what studied
for three hours, instead of the student. The
modifier needs to be placed next to what it is
describing, as in choice d. Although it is moved
in choice e as well, it is awkward and wordy.
15. b. This statement has an error called faulty
parallelism. It has three verbs (show, have,
and excelling), and they are not in the same
tense. The way to correct this is to make
excelling match the others, as in choice b.
16. e. This statement also has the error of faulty parallelism. There are four verbs (strive, purchase,
implement, and meeting). The last one ends in
-ing, and so it doesn’t fit with the others. The
correction is found in choice e where the last
verb is changed to meet.
17. c. This type of question is testing whether or not
you can recognize that you need to join two
clauses correctly and show their relationship

1. b. In this question, the subject of the sentence
(reasons) follows the verb (is). Plural subjects
need plural verbs, so the sentence error is in
choice b. Instead of is, the verb should be are
in order to have subject-verb agreement.
2. c. In this question, the subject (televisions) has
been separated from the verb (is) by a dependent clause (which have been a part of American
culture for half a century). When you put them
next to each other, you can see that the error is
in c; it should read are more prevalent.
3. a. This question is testing your understanding

of the past participle. In this example, the verb
(seen) is a past participle and requires a helping verb (have or be). The way to correct
choice a is to change seen to saw.
4. e. There is no error in this example. Remember
that correct sentences will also be on the test.
5. b. At first glance, this sentence may seem
correct. The error is in using the wrong word.
It should not be allusion, which means to
allude to something. It should be illusion.
6. d. There are two verbs in this sentence, and they
must be in the same tense. The first verb
(publish) is present, but the second one
(appeared) is past. The error is in choice d
where the verb should be changed to appear.
7. d. This is an example of using a pronoun in the
wrong number. The subject (homeowner) is
singular, and so the pronoun (their) should
be singular also. It would be correct to say
far exceeds his or her actual income.
8. b. This is an example of pronoun shift. The
sentence begins with a noun (one) and then
shifts to the wrong pronoun (you). When the
noun one is used, he, she, one, or a person
must follow it later.
9. b. This question is an example of a misuse of an
adverb (careful). It is modifying the verb prepared and should have an -ly ending (carefully).

13

– PRETEST –

18. d.

19. a.

20. b.

21. e.

22. c. This question is looking at the essay’s general
organization or meaning. It wants to know if
you understood what the author did—and
did not do—in the essay. The essay did discuss
how nature is a source of inspiration, where
ideas can be found, what kind of souvenirs
can be used, and how parents sometimes
overlook opportunities. Although the essay
did mention a collage, it did not provide
directions on how to make one.
23. b. This is a question that focuses on revising or
improving a sentence within the essay. In this
example, the pronoun your is incorrect, as the
rest of the essay is written in the third person.
Their does not agree with artist because it is
plural. Hers is a possessive pronoun and my is
in the first person, so neither of these choices
works, either. The only correct choice is b,
which matches child to artist.
24. a. This question is asking you to combine two

of the essay’s sentences into one. This is a
common SAT question. It is important that
no meaning is lost and that the punctuation
and grammar are correct in the answer
choice you choose. It is also important that
the right coordinating conjunction is used to
fit the sentence’s meaning. Choice b connects
the sentences with a comma, creating a runon sentence. Choices c and d use the wrong
conjunction for the meaning of the sentence.
Choice e adds and, which does not emphasize
the correct meaning of the sentence.
25. Answers will vary.

to each other. Here the two clauses (Charles
Dickens wrote multiple best-selling novels in
his lifetime and A Christmas Carol is the one
the average person knows the best) are joined
by because, but that does not show the correct
relationship between the clauses. Instead, it
should be but.
In this sentence, you have a dependent clause
(Although she helped support each one of
her brothers’ grand endeavors), followed by
another dependent clause (but Orville and
Wilbur Wright’s sister Katherine was never
truly perceived as a hero). Whenever a sentence
starts with a dependent clause (your clue is it
cannot stand alone and starts with although),
it must be followed by an independent clause
(a statement that grammatically can stand on

its own). If it doesn’t, this is called faulty
subordination. By removing the but, as in
choice d, your second clause becomes
dependent, and the sentence is correct.
There are no errors in this sentence. A dependent clause is followed by an independent one,
and the statement is grammatically correct.
This question is testing you on recognizing a
run-on sentence. Choice b turns the first sentence into a dependent clause, thus making
the sentence correct.
This is another example of faulty parallelism.
There are three verbs in the sentence (coping,
facing, and win), and to be parallel, win needs
to be changed to winning.

14