14 - ] Model SAT Tests - Test Fourteen

14 - ] Model SAT Tests

Test Fourteen

The passage below is the unedited draft of a student’s essay . Parts of the essay need to be rewritten to make the meaning clearer and more precise . Read the essay carefully .

The essay is followed by six questions about changes that might improve all or part of the organization , development , sentence structure , use of language , appropriateness to the audience ,or use of standard written English . In each case , choose the answer that most clearly and effectively expresses the student’s intended meaning . Indicate your choice by blackening the corresponding space on the answer sheet .

            [1]It is difficult to deny that the world of music has changed greatly in the past thirty years . [2] The style , sound , technology , and lyrics of music have been altered greatly . [3] In the last three decades , several new categories of music have come into being.

            [4] One reason why music has changed so greatly is that artists use music as a tool to publicize certain social messages . [5] Although many artists of the 1970s used this method as well , their issues were not as severe that banning their album was possible . [6] For example , one rap-singer , Ice-T , used his album to promote “cop-killing.” [7] The idea was so offensive that many believed the album should be banned .[8] The controversy caused by Ice-T made the Arista record company refuse to continue production of the album .

            [9] Another was in which music has changed is lyrics . [10] When you listen to certain heavy metal or rap groups one may notice foul and obscene language used . [11] Some of the references to sex are shocking .[12] In past eras , such language in recorded music was unheard of .

            [13] Technological changes in music have occurred . [14] With the advent of highly advanced musical devices and many digital effects , the sounds of music have been completely altered . [15] Rock and roll was invented in early 1950s . [16] When you listen to heavy metal , you hear more distorted guitar sounds than in music of the 60s and 70s . [17] In the era of electronic instruments , the variety of possible sounds is incredible . [18] Present day sounds could never have been achieved in previous years because the technology was not at hand .[19] New music utilizes electronically produced sounds never heard before . [20] Computers generate everything from the human voice under water to the sound of whales .[21] There are no limits to what the music of the future will sound like.                  

1 .Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined segment of sentence 5 below?

Although many artists of the 1970s used this method as well , their issues were not as severe that banning their album was possible .

(A)the issues were less severe than those which caused banning their album to be possible. (B) their issues were not as severe that their albums were in danger of being banned .

(C) they never raised issues that could have caused their album to be banned .

(D)the issues they raised were not serious enough that banning their album was a possibility .

(E) they raised less serious issues and banning their albums was not likely

2 . In view of the sentences that precede and follow sentence 10 , which is the most effective revision of sentence 10 ?

(A) Listening to certain heavy metal or rap groups , lyrics containing obscenities are often heard .

(B) Obscene language is common in the songs of heavy metal and rap groups .

(C) Certain heavy metal and rap groups use foul and obscene language .

(D) Obscenities are often heard when one listens to the lyrics of certain heavy metal or rap groups .

(E) Listening to obscene language and listening to the lyrics of certain heavy metal and rap groups .

3 . In the context of the entire essay , which revision of sentence 13 provides the most effective transition between paragraphs 3 and 4 ?

(A) Technological changes in music also have occurred .

(B) Also , technology has changed musical sounds .

(C) Noticeable changes in music’s sounds have come about through technological changes

(D) Changes in musical technology has changed musical sound , too .

(E) But the most noticeable change in music has been its sound .

4 . In a revision of the entire essay , which of the following sentences most needs further development ?  

(A) sentence 3 (B) Sentence 7 (C) Sentence 8 (D) Sentence 19  (E) Sentence 20

5 . Which of the following sentences should be deleted to improve the unit and coherence of paragraph 4 ? 

(A) Sentences 14 (B) Sentence 15  (C) Sentence 16 (D) Sentence 17 (E) Sentence 18

6 . With regard to the organization of the entire essay , which is the best revision of sentence 2 in the introductory paragraph ?  

(A) In the past thirty years , not only the style , sound , and technology has changed , but the lyrics have , too .

(B) Having undergone a change in the style , sound , and technology , musical lyrics have altered , also .

(C) Changes in musical sound have occurred , while the technology and lyrics have tremendously altered the style of music .

(D) Musicians have transformed today’s music in style and sound , creating new lyrics and using new technology .

(E) Along with changes in sound and technology , the lyrics of music have changed , too .

Essay

The excerpt appearing below makes a point about a particular topic .Read the sentence carefully , and think about the assignment that follows .

The novelist John Hersey wrote , “Learning starts with failure : the failure is the beginning og education .”

ASSIGNMENT : What are your thoughts on the idea that failure is necessary for education to take place ? Compose an essay in which you express your views on this topic . Your essay may support , refute , or qualify the views expressed in the excerpt . What you write , however , must be relevant to the topic under discussion . Additionally , you must support your viewpoint , indicating your reasoning and providing examples based on your studies and / or experience .