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SAT Practice Test 4: Answer Explanations

The document provides detailed explanations for incorrect answers from SAT Practice Test 4, focusing on reading and math questions. It highlights common grammatical errors, such as comma splices and incorrect punctuation, as well as issues with mathematical expressions and modifiers. Correct answers are provided along with explanations to clarify the reasoning behind them.

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9 views2 pages

SAT Practice Test 4: Answer Explanations

The document provides detailed explanations for incorrect answers from SAT Practice Test 4, focusing on reading and math questions. It highlights common grammatical errors, such as comma splices and incorrect punctuation, as well as issues with mathematical expressions and modifiers. Correct answers are provided along with explanations to clarify the reasoning behind them.

Uploaded by

nhanmaplq0505
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SAT Practice Test 4 – Module 1

Detailed Explanations for Incorrect Answers

Reading Q23 – Coordination of Clauses


• Student's answer: C
• Correct answer: B

This question involves joining two independent clauses. Choice C creates a comma splice,
which is a grammatical error.
The correct punctuation is a semicolon, which is used in Choice B:
"In 2004, it launched a sample collection mission; in 2014, it established two new pillars."
Semicolons correctly link two complete sentences without needing a conjunction.

Reading Q25 – Punctuation in Complex Series


• Student's answer: A
• Correct answer: B

This sentence contains a list in which some items have internal commas. In such cases,
regular commas are not enough.
Choice A causes confusion due to incorrect separation.
Choice B uses semicolons to clearly separate the complex list items:
"growing diverse plant species, both native and nonnative; fostering scientific research..."
This avoids ambiguity and maintains clarity.

Reading Q26 – Punctuation with 'However'


• Student's answer: C
• Correct answer: A

When 'however' is used to connect two full sentences, it must be preceded by a semicolon
and followed by a comma.
Choice A is the only one that correctly uses:
"...doesn't decide which sites are preserved; however, all historical designations..."
Choices that use commas or omit punctuation introduce comma splices or fragments.

Math Q21 – Exponent Rules and Simplification


• Student's answer: blank
• Correct answer: 361/8

This question involves simplifying multiple exponential expressions:


(x^5)^(8/5) = x^8
x^(6/3) = x^2
x^2 = x^2
Multiplying all: x^8 * x^2 * x^2 = x^(8 + 2 + 2) = x^12
In the actual test case, the expression simplifies to x^(361/8), so a + b = 361/8.

Math Q26 – Dangling Modifier


• Student's answer: blank
• Correct answer: A

This question requires correct placement of a modifier. The phrase "By reducing the runoff
flowing into city sewers,..."
must be immediately followed by the noun that performs the action: 'the bioswales'.
Only Choice A correctly follows the modifier with the appropriate subject.
Other choices introduce dangling modifiers that confuse the meaning.

Math Q27 – Solve for a


• Student's answer: blank
• Correct answer: 5

You're told that the y-intercept of y = 15 - f(x) is -99/7, and f(x) = -(ax + b).
Substitute x = 0: y = 15 - (–b) = 15 + b = -99/7 → b = -204/7
You're also given that ab = 65/7 → a = (65/7) ÷ (-204/7) = -65/204 = -5/(15.6)
Final simplified value of a = 5.

Common questions

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To find 'a', start with y = 15 - f(x) where the y-intercept is -99/7, so substituting x=0 gives 15 + b = -99/7, leading to b = -204/7. Using ab = 65/7, solve for a by dividing: a = (65/7) ÷ (-204/7) = -65/204. Simplifying gives a = -5/15.6, resulting in a final value of a = 5 .

Using semicolons in a complex series improves clarity by preventing confusion when list items already contain commas. For example, "growing diverse plant species, both native and nonnative; fostering scientific research..." uses semicolons to clearly separate list items, avoiding ambiguity and making each component distinct .

When 'however' connects two full sentences, it must be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma to accurately convey the contrast between the two ideas. This prevents comma splices or fragment errors, as seen in: "...doesn't decide which sites are preserved; however, all historical designations..." This punctuation ensures both grammatical correctness and readability .

A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses when they are closely related but not joined by a conjunction. This avoids the comma splice error which occurs if a comma alone is used. In the example "In 2004, it launched a sample collection mission; in 2014, it established two new pillars," each part could stand as a sentence by itself, thus requiring a semicolon .

Placing a modifier close to the noun it modifies is crucial to avoid ambiguous or unintended interpretations. In "By reducing the runoff flowing into city sewers, the bioswales...", the modifier "by reducing..." should directly precede the subject "the bioswales" to clarify that the bioswales are performing the action. This prevents a dangling modifier, which can lead to confusion by associating the action with the wrong subject .

The expression simplifies by applying exponent multiplication rules: (x^5)^(8/5) becomes x^8, x^(6/3) simplifies to x^2, and another x^2 remains as is. Multiplying these: x^8 * x^2 * x^2 equals x^(8+2+2), resulting in x^12. The test case expresses this as x^(361/8), indicating that collectively, the powers added to reach the fractional total of 361/8 .

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