一、改进句子(Improving Sentences)
这部分常见考察点:
1.支离破碎的句子。 例如: Although he studies hard.
2.没有用标点符号来分割句子。例如:In the past I worked at a language school in New Zealand now I am back in China.
3. 使用不正确的逗号切割句子。例如: Alex finished her homework early, after that she drove to Maria’s house.
4. 逻辑错误,如该使用but连接却使用了and。逻辑指代错误等。
5. 修饰词位置不当。
6. 结构不对称等。有些连接词后要对称,如: neither…nor…, either… or…, both… and…, the more… the more…, not only… but also… 特别是but also 部分经常容易有错误。还有使用and 连接两个没有直接关系的两个句子。请看如下几个例子:
1. Nineteenth-century nihilists were concerned with neither the origins of philosophical thought nor how societal laws developed. (x) (结构不对称)
Nineteenth-century nihilists were concerned with neither the origins of philosophical thought nor the development of societal laws. (√)
2. The junior class built a homecoming float, and it had lights and a sound system that worked amazingly well. (x) (使用and 连接两个没有直接关系的两个句子)
The junior class built a homecoming float. It had lights and a sound system that worked amazingly well. (√)
3. Ben Franklin was a respected and talented statesman, and he was most famous for his discovery of electricity. (x) (转折关系,连接词使用不当)
Ben Franklin was a respected and talented statesman, but he was most famous for his discovery of electricity. (√)
4. George and Liam argued about football while I tried to study loudly. (x) (修饰词位置不当)
George and Liam argued loudly about football while I tried to study. √
5. Wrapped in my towel, the sun was not a problem。(x) (逻辑错误)
Wrapped in my towel, I found that the sun was not a problem. √
例题分析:
Credulous people believe in the existence of extra-terrestrial beings, most scientists and other informed students of nature do not。
A. Credulous people believing
B. While credulous people believe
C. Credulous people are always believing
D. Since credulous people believe
E. Credulous people tend to believe
解析:本句划线部分为该句的主语和谓语,看完全句会发现这是个用逗号分隔的句子,显然不符合要求。但因标点处没有划线,所以不能改动。根据两句 的意思可以看出应该是转折关系,所以B既解决了逻辑问题,有避免了逗号切割句子的问题。A构成句子碎片,所以不正确。C和E没有解决逗号分隔句子的问题。 D逻辑关系不对。
二、改进段落(Improving Paragraphs)
改进段落的题型一般是一篇含有语法和逻辑错误,多由15个到20个句子组成的文章。一般这种题型有四大类问题:1. 改正句子中的语法错误,和改进句子题的考察点基本一致;2. 把两句句子结合成一个句子;3. 在段落中插入句子;4. 文章分析问题。后者多考察逻辑关系,即根据文章语境选择正确的句子。在做改进段落题时由于文章篇幅比较长,因此很多情况下,不需要通篇阅读。一般可以开始 的段落重点阅读,以便了解文章的大意,其它段落仅看首尾句即可。对于此类题型中的改正句子语法错误题,在多数情况下,可以不看原文即可做出正确判断。因 此,平时要多多注重语法技能和语感的培养,对解答此类题型颇有帮助。
总之,语法改错部分是SAT考试写作部分较为容易的部分,也是中国学生能够得高分的题型,它所涵盖的知识点很多在中学阶段都已有所接触,因此,只要掌握正确的解题要领,一定会轻而易举攻克此类题型,在实际考试当中考出高分来。