Hi everyone! Here is a sample SAT example complete with a thorough analysis. Feel free to ask us any questions you might have on the comment section below!
This is Question #7, Page 470, on the College Board SAT Practice book
Finding the Baltimore waterfront fascinating, all there was to see was thoroughly explored by Antonio.
Kind of makes sense right?
Kind of is not good enough however. Let’s analyze the various angles of this statement.
Before we give you the rest of the options to choose from we would like to refresh a helpful concept.
- Yes you are allowed to formulate sentences where the subject is not placed in the very beginning of the sentence (it becomes a clause) BUT you absolutely MUST place the subject after the comma that marks the end of the clause.
For example:
Knowing she had just won the lottery, WHO? WHO THE HECK JUST WON THE LOTTERY??
….Knowing she had just won the lottery, excitement invaded Jane’s heart!
…Now wait a minute… who won the lottery? Did excitement win the lottery? Not likely right?
Ok so what are our options?
- Jane’s heart was filled with excitement. Hmmm better but not quite…did Jane’s heart win the lottery? I didn’t think so either…
- it was to be expected that Jane would be excited. It? Did It win the lottery? NOPE, moving on…
- Jane’s excitement was evident. YES! Right? NOPE! Look out for this kind of SAT trick! Jane’s excitement did NOT win the lottery either…just because the name Jane is in there doesn’t mean it’s what you are looking for.
- Jane was evidently excited. There you go! Jane…Jane won the lottery and she is evidently excited, almost as much as you are to have reached the end of this example right?
- evidence of Jane’s excitement was in her heart. Oh please give us a break!
OK so back to question 7 in your book:
Finding the Baltimore waterfront fascinating, all there was to see was thoroughly explored by Antonio.
- Finding the Baltimore waterfront fascinating, all there was to see was thoroughly explored by Antonio.
- Antonio found the Baltimore waterfront fascinating, (look out for punctuation) he thoroughly explored all there was to see.
- Finding the Baltimore waterfront fascinating, Antonio explored all there was to see.
- The Baltimore waterfront is fascinating and is why Antonio thoroughly explored all there was to see. (Does this sentence flow?)
- The Baltimore waterfront can be found fascinating and this made Antonio explore all there was to see.
OK, so which of these sentences communicates the idea in the clearest most flowing manner?
If you said C you assumed correctly! Keep in mind that proper grammar facilitates your reader’s understanding. It helps you create clear and meaningful messages. A lot of it relies on common sense so get over your fear of grammar and remember that everything in SAT is made easier through practice, practice, practice!
