SAT Writing - Syntax and Modifier Placement (Khan Academy)

Between 1872 and 1900, mongooses were introduced into most Caribbean islands. They were introduced in order to protect sugar cane fields from pit vipers.

Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences?

• Between 1872 and 1900, mongooses were introduced into most Caribbean islands in order to protect sugar cane fields from pit vipers.

• Between 1872 and 1900, mongooses were introduced into most Caribbean islands; they were introduced to protect sugar cane fields from pit vipers.

• Between 1872 and 1900, mongooses were introduced into most Caribbean islands and the mongooses were introduced to protect sugar cane fields from pit vipers.

• Between 1872 and 1900, mongooses were introduced into most Caribbean islands, their introduction was to protect sugar cane fields from pit vipers.

Lars Kristofferson is the CEO of Kristoff Markets. He recently announced his plan to open a small chain of affordable health food stores.

Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences?

• Lars Kristofferson is the CEO of Kristoff Markets; Kristofferson recently announced his plan to open a small chain of affordable health food stores.

• As the CEO of Kristoff Markets, Lars Kristofferson made a recent proclamation: he recently announced his plan to open a small chain of affordable health food stores.

• In a recent announcement, Lars Kristofferson, the CEO of Kristoff Markets, recently announced his plan to open a small chain of affordable health food stores.

• Lars Kristofferson, CEO of Kristoff Markets, recently announced his plan to open a small chain of affordable health food stores.

Archaeologists have discovered that some Vikings deliberately carved grooves into their teeth. The reasons behind this dental decision remain unclear.

Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences?

• Archaeologists have discovered that some Vikings deliberately carved grooves into their teeth; the reasoning behind the decision to make this adjustment to their teeth is unclear.

• Archaeologists have discovered that some Vikings deliberately carved grooves into their teeth; consequently, the reasons behind this dental decision remain unclear.

• Archaeologists have discovered that some Vikings deliberately carved grooves into their teeth, but the reasons behind this dental decision remain unclear.

• Archaeologists have discovered that some Vikings deliberately carved grooves into their teeth; however, the reasons behind this dental decision remain unclear to archaeologists.

Urban environments and metropolitan areas are making gradual advances on natural wildlife habitats. These gradual advances have negative consequences: some animals are perishing from habitat loss.

Which choice most effectively combines the sentences?

• Urban environments and metropolitan areas are making gradual advances on natural wildlife habitats, and these gradual advances have negative consequences, because some animals are perishing from habitat loss.

• Urban environments and metropolitan areas are making gradual advances on natural wildlife habitats, resulting in negative consequences: some animals are perishing from habitat loss.

• Urban environments and metropolitan areas are making gradual advances on natural wildlife habitats; these advances have negative consequences: some animals are perishing from habitat loss.

• Urban environments and metropolitan areas are making gradual advances on natural wildlife habitats, and with negative consequences, because some animals are perishing from habitat loss.

Fans were very excited to see the final installment of the Royal Battleground trilogy. Hundreds of eager viewers lined up outside the movie theater days in advance.

Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences at the underlined portion?

• Fans were very excited to see the final installment of the Royal Battleground trilogy; in fact, these fans were so excited that they lined up outside the movie theater days in advance.

• In order to ensure their viewing ability for the final installment of the Royal Battleground trilogy, hundreds of eager viewers lined up outside the movie theater days in advance.

• Fans were so excited to see the final installment of the Royal Battleground trilogy that hundreds of eager viewers lined up outside the movie theater days in advance.

• Fans of the Royal Battleground trilogy, excited to see the final installment of it, numbered in the hundreds and lined up outside the movie theater days in advance.

The giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each day, often in tall, graceful intervals of just a few minutes.

• NO CHANGE

• tall, graceful giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each day, often in

• giraffes sleep for only a tall, graceful thirty minutes each day, often in

• giraffes sleep for only thirty minutes each tall, graceful day, often in

The ocean, a sea slug, contains the blue dragon nudibranch, which steals stinging cells from its prey.

• NO CHANGE

• ocean contains the blue dragon nudibranch, which steals stinging cells, a sea slug, from its prey.

• ocean contains the blue dragon nudibranch, a sea slug that steals stinging cells from its prey.

• ocean, which steals stinging cells from its prey, contains the blue dragon nudibranch, a sea slug.

When newborn parents or children find an animal stranded without its mother, they sometimes bring it home to take care of it.

• NO CHANGE

• parents or children find a newborn animal stranded without its

• parents or newborn children find an animal stranded without its

• parents or children find an animal stranded without its newborn

Students who fluently learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are granted high school diplomas.

• NO CHANGE

• learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are fluently granted

• learn to speak a second language fluently receive special honors when they are granted

• learn to speak a second language receive special honors when they are granted fluently

Although Felix did his best to train them as postal workers, deliveries were not completed by the cats.

• NO CHANGE

• the mail was misplaced by the cats.

• the cats did not complete their deliveries.

• orders were not completed by the cats.