C) blank space
D) departureD is the best choice. While two words like departure and evacuation might seem
similar out of context, in the context of this particular sentence departure more
precisely articulates the idea that T-Swift ditched country music to become a
global pop superstar. (The College Board sample that we based this question on
describes a landscape painter whom you have probably never heard of, nor care
about. Unfortunately, SAT passages are more likely to be about landscape
painters than pop stars.)
Concision questions ask you to choose the most efficient, least redundant
way of expressing an idea. Oftentimes an author of an SAT passage will repeat
herself unnecessarily at some point. Case in point:
Vin Diesel’s new contract gives him the lead role in ten Fast and
Furious films to be released in the upcoming future.
A) NO CHANGE
B) ten Fast and Furious films in the upcoming future.
C) ten Fast and Furious films yet to be released in the future.
D) ten forthcoming Fast and Furious films.Besides D, all of the options express the idea that the movies are “yet to be
released” multiple times. So D is the most succinct (and correct!) answer.
“Fast and Furious”: a tale of a student who realizes she has eleven reading comprehension questions left and only four minutes andtwenty-nine seconds to answer them.
—Samantha
Style and Tone
You will also encounter questions asking which, if any, revision will make a
sentence fit better with the style and tone of the essay. These questions require
that you read the passage thoroughly to get a sense of its flavor. Is it formal or
informal? Funny or serious? Drenched in academic words, or easy to read? Trust
your gut instinct here.
Read the passage. Do not lick the passage.
—Samantha