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dd6a0326 | African American Percy Julian was a scientist and entrepreneur whose work helped people around the world to see. Named
in 1999 as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years, ______ led to the first mass-produced
treatment for glaucoma. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Julian synthesized the alkaloid physostigmine in 1935; it | in 1935 Julian synthesized the alkaloid physostigmine, which | Julian’s 1935 synthesis of the alkaloid physostigmine | the alkaloid physostigmine was synthesized by Julian in 1935 and | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase
“Julian’s 1935 synthesis” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “named…years.” In
doing so, this choice clearly establishes that Julian’s 1935 synthesis of the alkaloid physostigmine—and not another noun in
the sentence—was named in 1999 as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun “Julian” immediately after the
modifying phrase illogically suggests that Julian himself was named as one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in
the past hundred years. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the prepositional
phrase “in 1935” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically and confusingly suggests that “in 1935” was named as
one of the greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a
dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the alkaloid physostigmine” immediately after the modifying phrase
illogically and confusingly suggests that the alkaloid physostigmine itself (not the synthesis of it) was named as one of the
greatest achievements by a US chemist in the past hundred years. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
a8fa749a | Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta’s celebrated literary oeuvre includes The Joys of Motherhood, a novel about the changing
roles of women in 1950s ______ a television play about the private struggles of a newlywed couple in Nigeria; and Head
Above Water, her autobiography. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Lagos, A Kind of Marriage, | Lagos; A Kind of Marriage, | Lagos, A Kind of Marriage: | Lagos; A Kind of Marriage | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series (a series including
internal punctuation). In this choice, the semicolon after “Lagos” is conventionally used to separate the first item (“The Joys…
Lagos”) and the second item (“A Kind…Nigeria”) in the series. Further, the comma after “Marriage” correctly separates the
title “A Kind of Marriage” from the supplementary phrase (“a television…Nigeria”) that describes it.
Choice A is incorrect because the comma after “Lagos” doesn’t match the semicolon used later in the series to separate the
second item (“A Kind…Nigeria”) from the third item (“and…autobiography”). Choice C is incorrect because the comma after
“Lagos” doesn’t match the semicolon used later in the series to separate the second item (“A Kind…Nigeria”) from the third
item (“and…autobiography”). Additionally, a colon can’t be used in this way to separate the title “A Kind of Marriage” from the
supplementary phrase (“a television…Nigeria”) that describes it. Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate
punctuation to separate the title “A Kind of Marriage” from the supplementary phrase (“a television…Nigeria”) that describes
it. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
4c9a2aee | Wanda Diaz-Merced is an astrophysicist who lost her sight when she was young. Diaz-Merced’s condition inspired her to
develop software that can translate scientific data into sound. Sound-based tools ______ scientists to detect subtle patterns
in data. Such patterns may not be evident in traditional graphs. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | has enabled | enable | is enabling | enables | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The plural verb "enable" agrees in
number with the plural subject "sound-based tools."
Choice A is incorrect because the singular verb "has enabled" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject "sound-based
tools." Choice C is incorrect because the singular verb "is enabling" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject "sound-
based tools." Choice D is incorrect because the singular verb "enables" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject
"sound-based tools." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
e3b72630 | In the historical novel The Surrender Tree, Cuban American author Margarita Engle uses poetry rather than prose ______ the
true story of Cuban folk hero Rosa La Bayamesa. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | tells | told | is telling | to tell | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. The
nonfinite to-infinitive “to tell” is correctly used to form a nonfinite (infinitive) clause that explains the reason Engle uses
poetry in her novel.
Choice A is incorrect because the finite present tense verb “tells” can’t be used in this way to explain the reason that Engle
uses poetry in her novel. Choice B is incorrect because the finite past tense verb “told” can’t be used in this way to explain
the reason that Engle uses poetry in her novel. Choice C is incorrect because the finite present progressive tense verb “is
telling” can’t be used in this way to explain the reason that Engle uses poetry in her novel. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
8b46bb51 | A journalist and well-respected art critic of nineteenth-century Britain, Lady Elizabeth Rigby Eastlake did not hesitate to
publish reviews that went against popular opinion. One of her most divisive works was an essay questioning the idea of
photography as an emerging medium for fine art: in the essay, Eastlake ______ that the value of photographs was
informational rather than creative. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | exposed | asserted | discovered | doubted | B | Choice B is the best answer. "Asserted" means "stated confidently." Eastlake "did not hesitate to publish reviews going
against popular opinion," so we can assume that she was confident in sharing her opinions.
Choice A is incorrect. "Exposed" means "made visible by uncovering" and, when talking about ideas, tends to be used in
relation to uncovering the truth. Eastlake was sharing an opinion, not uncovering a truth. Choice C is incorrect. "Discovered"
means "found," but Eastlake was writing an opinion essay. She was writing her own opinion, not "discovering" a new universal
truth. Choice D is incorrect. "Doubted" means "didn’t believe in." We’re told that Eastlake "questioned" the idea that
photography could be fine art. Placing "doubted" in the blank would actually suggest that Eastlake argued that photos were
valuable for creativity and not for information, which is the opposite of what we were told she believes. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
4974b053 | Although science fiction was dominated mostly by white male authors when Octavia Butler, a Black woman, began writing,
she did not view the genre as ______: Butler broke into the field with the publication of several short stories and her 1976
novel Patternmaster, and she later became the first science fiction writer to win a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | legitimate | impenetrable | compelling | indecipherable | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the discussion of Octavia Butler’s career. In this context,
“impenetrable” means impossible to enter. The text indicates that the field of science fiction was dominated by white males
when Butler, a Black woman, started writing, but she published several science fiction short stories and a novel and later won
a prestigious award; that is, Butler pursued science fiction writing and had success. This context suggests that Butler didn’t
view the genre as impossible to enter.
Choice A is incorrect. In this context, “legitimate” would mean genuinely good or valid. Nothing in the text suggests that
Butler didn’t think the science fiction genre was good or valid; in fact, it indicates that she pursued and made a successful
career of publishing work in that field. Choice C is incorrect. In this context, “compelling” would mean attracting or
demanding attention. The text indicates that Butler chose to write science fiction, so it wouldn’t make sense to say that she
didn’t see the field as drawing her attention. Choice D is incorrect. To say that Butler didn’t consider science fiction
“indecipherable,” or impossible to understand, would suggest that Butler did understand it. However, the text doesn’t address
Butler’s ability to interpret works in the genre; rather, it focuses on Butler’s successful pursuit of writing science fiction. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
b0a525be | Santa Clara Pueblo artist Roxanne Swentzell’s sculpture Mud Woman Rolls On consists of five human figures made of clay
and plant fiber and arranged in descending size; each figure holds the smaller one in front of it. The arrangement of the
figures, according to ______ represents her idea that “we all come from the Earth, generation after generation.” | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Swentzell | Swentzell, | Swentzell: | Swentzell— | B | Choice B is the best answer. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that interrupts the flow of the sentence, so it
needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks: two commas, two dashes, or a pair of
parentheses. We already have a comma before “according,” so we must add a comma after “Swentzell.” .
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that interrupts
the flow of the sentence, so it needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks: one
before and one after the phrase. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The arrangement of the
figures, according to Swentzell” is not an independent clause, so it can’t come before a colon. Choice D is incorrect. This
choice creates a punctuation error. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that interrupts the flow of the sentence,
so it needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a comma at the
beginning, so we have to use another comma here to match. We can’t just switch to a dash! . | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
cd2443c0 | A pioneer in the field of taphonomy (the study of how organic remains become fossils), ______ may be just as prevalent in the
fossil record as those of thick-shelled organisms. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | fossils of thin-shelled organisms, Anna Behrensmeyer demonstrated in a 2005 analysis, | Anna Behrensmeyer demonstrated in a 2005 analysis that fossils of thin-shelled organisms | it was demonstrated in a 2005 analysis by Anna Behrensmeyer that fossils of thin-shelled organisms | a 2005 analysis—by Anna Behrensmeyer—demonstrated that fossils of thin-shelled organisms | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase
“Anna Behrensmeyer” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “a pioneer…fossils.”
In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that Anna Behrensmeyer—and not another noun in the sentence—is a pioneer in
the field of taphonomy.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “fossils of thin-shelled
organisms” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “fossils” are a pioneer in the field of
taphonomy. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the pronoun “it” immediately
after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that “it” is a pioneer in the field of taphonomy. Choice D is incorrect because it
results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “a 2005 analysis” immediately after the modifying phrase
illogically suggests that “a 2005 analysis” is a pioneer in the field of taphonomy. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
428cd2c1 | Some people have speculated that two helmets with attached horns discovered in Denmark in 1942 belonged to Vikings, but
scholars have long been skeptical. Archaeologist Helle Vandkilde and colleagues recently provided radiocarbon dates for the
helmets, and their findings ______ scholars’ skepticism: the helmets date to the Nordic Bronze Age, centuries before the
Vikings existed. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | anticipate | inspect | reveal | justify | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the helmets found in Denmark. In
this context, “justify” means confirm or give reasons for. The text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical about the
supposed Viking origin of two helmets found in Denmark. The radiocarbon dating of the helmets conducted by Vandkilde
and colleagues demonstrates that the helmets date from the Nordic Bronze Age, making the helmets too old to have
belonged to Vikings. This context supports the idea that the scholars’ skepticism is justified.
Choice A is incorrect because “anticipate” means expect or come before, neither of which would make sense in context. The
text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical of the idea that the helmets belonged to Vikings. Because the
skepticism has existed for a long time, Vandkilde and colleagues’ research couldn’t be said to anticipate it. Instead, the
radiocarbon dating results justify or confirm the scholar’s skepticism. Choice B is incorrect because “inspect” means
examine or review, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. Research findings are inanimate and therefore unable to
inspect scholars’ skepticism. The text focuses on the origin of two helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings.
Vandkilde and colleagues found that the helmets are from the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore much older than the Vikings.
This context suggests that the researchers’ findings justify, not inspect, the scholars’ skepticism. Choice C is incorrect
because “reveal” means uncover or report, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the origin of two
helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings. Vandkilde and colleagues tested the helmets and found that they
date to the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore are much older than the Vikings. This context suggests that the researchers’
findings confirm or justify the scholars’ skepticism, which was already known so didn’t need to be revealed. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
2aaee77f | Some bird species don’t raise their own chicks. Instead, adult females lay their eggs in other nests, next to another bird
species’ own eggs. Female cuckoos have been seen quickly laying eggs in the nests of other bird species when those birds
are out looking for food. After the eggs hatch, the noncuckoo parents will typically raise the cuckoo chicks as if they were
their own offspring, even if the cuckoos look very different from the other chicks. | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? | It introduces a physical feature of female cuckoos that is described later in the text. | It describes the appearance of the cuckoo nests mentioned earlier in the text. | It offers a detail about how female cuckoos carry out the behavior discussed in the text. | It explains how other birds react to the female cuckoo behavior discussed in the text. | C | Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
two sentences establish that birds of some species don’t raise their own young; instead, they lay their eggs in the nests of
birds of other species. The underlined sentence then states that female cuckoo birds engage in this behavior, having been
observed specifically laying their eggs in other nests while the other birds are out finding food. According to the text, the
cuckoo chicks are then raised by the other birds. Thus, the underlined sentence provides a particular detail about how female
cuckoos carry out the behavior of laying eggs for other birds to raise.
Choice A is incorrect. Rather than mentioning a physical feature of female cuckoos, the underlined sentence introduces a
specific behavior of female cuckoos: laying eggs in the nests of birds of other species when the other birds are away. The
only reference to physical features is the last sentence’s general mention of cuckoo chicks looking different from chicks of
other species. Choice B is incorrect because the underlined sentence refers to the nests of birds other than cuckoos and
doesn’t describe how any nests look, cuckoo or otherwise. Instead, the sentence addresses how female cuckoos use other
birds’ nests. Choice D is incorrect because the underlined sentence describes only female cuckoo behavior (laying eggs in
the nests of birds of other species when the other birds are away); it’s the last sentence of the text that addresses the other
birds’ reaction, indicating that those birds usually raise the cuckoo chicks once they’ve hatched. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
898f182c | Richard Spikes was a prolific African American inventor known for his contributions to automotive engineering. Between
1907 and 1946, he patented many inventions, ______ an automobile turn signal, a safety brake, and—most famously—the first
automatic gearshift. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | included | includes | including | will include | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite
present participle "including" is correctly used to form a participial phrase that supplements the main clause "he patented
many inventions," listing several of Spikes’s patented inventions.
Choice A is incorrect because the finite past tense verb "included" can’t be used in this way to supplement the main clause
"he patented many inventions." Choice B is incorrect because the finite present tense verb "includes" can’t be used in this
way to supplement the main clause "he patented many inventions." Choice D is incorrect because the finite future tense verb
"will include" can’t be used in this way to supplement the main clause "he patented many inventions." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
594b4a94 | The field of geological oceanography owes much to American ______ Marie Tharp, a pioneering oceanographic cartographer
whose detailed topographical maps of the ocean floor and its multiple rift valleys helped garner acceptance for the theories
of plate tectonics and continental drift. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | geologist, | geologist | geologist; | geologist: | B | Choice B is the best answer. “Marie tharp” is essential information that completes the first clause — the first clause doesn’t
function without it. So we don’t want to separate it with punctuation.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The field of geological oceanography owes much to
American geologist” is unclear: which geologist are we talking about? We need the “Marie Tharp” for clarity, which means it’s
essential information and should not be separated by a comma. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation
error. “The field of geological oceanography owes much to American geologist” is unclear: which geologist are we talking
about? We need the “Marie Tharp” for clarity, which means it’s essential information and should not be separated by a
semicolon. Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The field of geological oceanography owes much
to American geologist” is unclear: which geologist are we talking about? We need the “Marie Tharp” for clarity, which means
it’s essential information and should not be separated by a colon. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
c5b1afe5 | Bicycle sharing systems allow users to rent a bicycle at one location within a city and return it to any other designated
location in that city, which can cause serious problems of bicycle supply and user demand within the city’s system. Tohru
Ikeguchi uses open-source data and statistical modeling to identify when a high number of users making one-way trips is
likely to leave some locations within the system ______ bicycles and other areas with insufficient supply. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | susceptible to | contingent on | saturated with | depleted of | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ikeguchi’s model of bicycle supply.
In this context, “saturated with” means thoroughly or completely supplied with. The text explains a problem encountered by
some bicycle-sharing programs: users can return bicycles to different locations than where the users picked up the bicycles
to start, which can result in a mismatch between bicycle supply (that is, where the bicycles are currently located) and user
demand (that is, the locations where users are hoping to pick up bicycles). The text goes on to explain that Ikeguchi
developed a way to identify when this mismatch is likely to occur. This context suggests that Ikeguchi’s method will show
when it is likely that some locations have an insufficient supply and other locations, by implicit contrast, are saturated with
bicycles.
Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that some locations are “susceptible to,” or sensitive to or easily
influenced by, bicycles. The text describes the phenomenon of bicycles being redistributed away from locations where users
want them, not anything about those locations being influenced by the bicycles. Choice B is incorrect because the text
describes situations in which some locations have an insufficient supply of bicycles because the bicycles have been
relocated elsewhere, which suggests that the other locations have many bicycles, not that the other locations are “contingent
on,” or dependent on, the bicycles. Nothing in the text suggests that the locations themselves depend on the bicycles for
anything. Choice D is incorrect because it would not make sense in context to say that some locations are “depleted of,” or
empty of, bicycles while others have an insufficient supply. The text describes situations in which bicycles have been
relocated such that there is a mismatch between bicycle supply and user demand—the bicycles are no longer at the
locations where users want to pick them up. This means that some locations do not have enough bicycles, while other
locations must have many bicycles, not be depleted of bicycles. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
81ac953e | In 1899, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius developed an equation to answer a long-standing question: why do chemical
reactions speed up at higher temperatures? The Arrhenius equation, named for its creator, ______ an important concept in
modern chemistry. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | have remained | remain | remains | are remaining | C | Choice C is the best answer. This choice uses the singular verb "remains" to match the singular subject "equation."
Choice A is incorrect. The singular noun "equation" doesn’t match with the plural verb conjugation "have remained." Choice B
is incorrect. The singular noun "equation" doesn’t match with the plural verb conjugation "remain." Choice D is incorrect. The
singular noun "equation" doesn’t match with the plural verb conjugation "are remaining." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
f2eaaf5d | At eight paragraphs long, the preamble to the constitution of ______ country in Western Asia—is much longer than the one-
paragraph preamble to the United States Constitution. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Bahrain—a | Bahrain, a | Bahrain a | Bahrain: a | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The dash after “Bahrain” pairs with the dash after “Asia” to separate the supplementary element “a country in Western Asia”
from the rest of the sentence.
Choice B is incorrect because a comma can’t be paired with a dash in this way to separate the supplementary element from
the rest of the sentence. Choice C is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary
element from the rest of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because a colon can’t be paired with a dash in this way to
separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
a2be625e | The following text is from Sarah Orne Jewett’s 1899 short story “Martha’s Lady.” Martha is employed by Miss Pyne as a
maid.
Miss Pyne sat by the window watching, in her best dress, looking stately and calm; she seldom went out now, and it was
almost time for the carriage. Martha was just coming in from the garden with the strawberries, and with more flowers in
her apron. It was a bright cool evening in June, the golden robins sang in the elms, and the sun was going down behind the
apple-trees at the foot of the garden. The beautiful old house stood wide open to the long-expected guest. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To convey the worries brought about by a new guest | To describe how the characters have changed over time | To contrast the activity indoors with the stillness outside | To depict the setting as the characters await a visitor’s arrival | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately reflects the main purpose of the text. The text portrays Miss Pyne as
awaiting the arrival of a carriage while Martha brings strawberries and flowers from the garden into the house. The text also
describes the surroundings of the scene, stating that Miss Pyne looks “stately and calm,” the evening is bright and cool, and
birds are singing in the garden as the sun sets. Then the last sentence states that the house was “wide open to the long-
expected guest,” which strongly suggests that Miss Pyne’s anticipation and Martha’s activities were in preparation for the
guest who is expected to arrive in the carriage. Thus, the text depicts the setting and conveys what these characters are
doing as they await the arrival of their visitor.
Choice A is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that the characters feel any worry about the guest’s
arrival. The text indicates that the guest was “long-expected,“ but characterizing Miss Pyne as “stately and calm” conflicts
with the idea that the characters are worried about the guest. Choice B is incorrect because the text describes a moment in
time when two characters are awaiting the arrival of a visitor rather than an extended period over which characters could be
seen changing. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text describes the activity indoors (Miss Pyne sitting calmly), it describes
a higher level of activity, not stillness, outside (Martha bringing fruit and flowers and birds singing). | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
8d579825 | The printing of Virginia Woolf’s novels featured a creative ______ between Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell: a talented
painter, Bell worked closely with Woolf to create original cover art for most of the novels. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | rebellion | partnership | discovery | disagreement | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the cover art of Virginia Woolf’s
novels. In this context, “partnership” means collaboration or joint effort. The text states that Woolf’s sister Vanessa Bell was
a talented painter and that Bell worked with Woolf to provide the cover art for most of Woolf’s novels. Thus, this context
suggests that Woolf and Bell pursued a creative partnership in order to produce several of Woolf’s novels.
Choice A is incorrect because there is no indication that Woolf or Bell were undergoing a “rebellion,” or revolt, against
anything in particular. Instead, the text focuses on how they worked together in some aspects of the production of Woolf’s
novels. Choice C is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that Woolf or Bell made a “discovery,” or
encountered anything new for the first time as they worked together. The text suggests that Woolf had already written her
novels and that Bell then assisted Woolf with the cover art for many of them. Choice D is incorrect because the text implies
that Woolf and Bell had a positive relationship. According to the text, the sisters “worked closely” together to produce the
cover art for many of Woolf’s novels; the text doesn’t mention whether while working together, Woolf and Bell had a
“disagreement,” or conflict. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
5aae2475 | Stomata, tiny pore structures in a leaf that absorb gases needed for plant growth, open when guard cells surrounding each
pore swell with water. In a pivotal 2007 article, plant cell ______ showed that lipid molecules called phosphatidylinositol
phosphates are responsible for signaling guard cells to open stomata. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | biologist, Yuree Lee | biologist Yuree Lee, | biologist Yuree Lee | biologist, Yuree Lee, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No
punctuation is needed to offset the proper noun “Yuree Lee” form the title “plant cell biologist” that describes Lee.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice D
is incorrect because no punctuation is needed around the proper noun “Yuree Lee.” Setting the phrase off with punctuation
suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the case. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
870ae7ec | Detroit natives Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey have combined their two passions, Detroit and beekeeping, to improve the
health of their city’s flowers and other vegetation. In 2017, the couple converted a vacant lot in the city into an ______ in the
years that followed they acquired nine additional lots and established more than 35 hives. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | apiary, | apiary, and | apiary and | apiary | B | Choice B is the best answer. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they are
both independent clauses. This choice uses a comma plus a coordinating conjunction to link them together, which is one of
the correct ways to link two independent clauses.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence error. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as
complete sentences, which means they are both independent clauses. A comma by itself is not enough punctuation to link
two independent clauses. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence error. Both clauses in this sentence
could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they are both independent clauses. Independent clauses can only
be linked in a few ways, including with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. This choice uses the coordinating
conjunction “and,” but it is missing the comma beforehand. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence
error. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they are both independent
clauses. Independent clauses need to have certain kinds of punctuation marks between them. This choice doesn’t use any
punctuation between the two clauses. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
5cc85f01 | A conceptual artist and designer embraced by both the art world and the fashion ______ Mary Ping was chosen to curate the
exhibition Front Row: Chinese American Designers for the Museum of Chinese in America. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | world | world: | world; | world, | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a supplementary phrase and a main
clause. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist…
world”), which describes Mary Ping, and the main clause (“Mary…America”).
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist…world”)
and the main clause (“Mary…America”) with appropriate punctuation. Choice B is incorrect because a colon can’t be used in
this way to join the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist…world”) and the main clause (“Mary…America”). In this
context, the colon incorrectly suggests that the information in the supplementary phrase is an explanation or amplification of
the information in the main clause (Mary Ping being chosen to curate the exhibition), which isn’t the case. Choice C is
incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join the supplementary phrase (“A conceptual artist…world”) and
the main clause (“Mary…America”). Semicolons are conventionally used to separate two main clauses or to separate items in
a complex series. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
6f08641e | On April 5, 1977, Kitty Cone and 150 other disability rights activists entered a San Francisco federal building. After pleading
for years—to no effect—for the passage of key antidiscrimination legislation, ______ until their demands were addressed.
Finally, on April 28, the legislation was signed. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | pressure on lawmakers increased when the activists staged a sit-in protest | a sit-in protest staged by the activists increased pressure on lawmakers | lawmakers came under increased pressure when the activists staged a sit-in protest | the activists increased pressure on lawmakers by staging a sit-in protest | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase
“the activists” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “after...legislation.” In doing
so, this choice clearly establishes that the activists—and not another noun in the sentence—were pleading for the passage of
antidiscrimination legislation.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “pressure on lawmakers”
immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “pressure” was pleading for the passage of
antidiscrimination legislation. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun
phrase “a sit-in protest” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “protest” was pleading for the
passage of antidiscrimination legislation. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of
the noun phrase “lawmakers” immediately after the modifying phrase suggests that “lawmakers” were pleading for the
passage of antidiscrimination legislation. While it’s possible for lawmakers to plead for the passage of legislation, the
context strongly suggests that it’s the activists who pleaded for years for the passage of antidiscrimination legislation. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
01a32c84 | The first computerized spreadsheet, Dan Bricklin’s VisiCalc, improved financial recordkeeping not only by providing users
with an easy means of adjusting data in spreadsheets but also by automatically updating all calculations that were
dependent on these ______ to VisiCalc’s release, changing a paper spreadsheet often required redoing the entire sheet by
hand, a process that could take days. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | adjustments prior | adjustments, prior | adjustments. Prior | adjustments and prior | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is
used correctly to mark the boundary between the first sentence (“The...adjustments”) and the second sentence
(“Prior...days”). Because the adverbial phrase beginning with “prior” indicates when changing a spreadsheet required redoing
the sheet by hand, that phrase belongs with the second sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. Two sentences are fused without punctuation and/or a
conjunction. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the
boundary between sentences. Choice D is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction “and” can’t be used in
this way to join the sentences. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
e929fe98 | Composer Florence Price won first place for her score Symphony in E Minor at the 1932 Wanamaker Foundation Awards.
The piece was performed the following year by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a significant recognition of its quality.
Price continued to compose many musical pieces throughout her career, blending traditional Black spirituals with classical
European Romantic musical traditions. In recent years, Price’s concertos and symphonies have been performed and
recorded by several major orchestras, further preserving her work for others to enjoy. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To provide examples of Price’s importance as a composer | To argue that more major orchestras should perform Price’s compositions | To describe the musical styles that inspired many of Price’s symphonies | To compare Price’s scores with those of classical European composers | A | Choice A is the best answer. The text provides an overview of Florence Price’s importance by describing her success at the
1932 Wanamaker Foundation Awards, her blending of Black spirituals and classical European Romantic musical traditions,
and the recent performances and recordings of her concertos and symphonies by major orchestras.
Choice B is incorrect. The text does mention that Price’s compositions have been performed and recorded by major
orchestras, but it doesn’t argue that more orchestras should do so. Choice C is incorrect. The text does mention the blending
of Black spirituals and classical European Romantic musical traditions, but only briefly, as part of a broader overview of
Price’s career. Choice D is incorrect. The text mentions Price’s blending of Black spirituals with classical European Romantic
musical traditions, but it doesn’t directly compare Price’s scores with those of classical European composers. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
17bf10de | Text 1
Despite its beautiful prose, The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman’s 1962 analysis of the start of World War I, has certain
weaknesses as a work of history. It fails to address events in Eastern Europe just before the outbreak of hostilities, thereby
giving the impression that Germany was the war’s principal instigator. Had Tuchman consulted secondary works available to
her by scholars such as Luigi Albertini, she would not have neglected the influence of events in Eastern Europe on Germany’s
actions.
Text 2
Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August is an engrossing if dated introduction to World War I. Tuchman’s analysis of primary
documents is laudable, but her main thesis that European powers committed themselves to a catastrophic outcome by
refusing to deviate from military plans developed prior to the conflict is implausibly reductive. | Which choice best describes a difference in how the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 view Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of
August? | The author of Text 1 argues that Tuchman should have relied more on the work of other historians, while the author of
Text 2 implies that Tuchman’s most interesting claims result from her original research. | The author of Text 1 believes that the scope of Tuchman’s research led her to an incorrect interpretation, while the author
of Text 2 believes that Tuchman’s central argument is overly simplistic. | The author of Text 1 asserts that the writing style of The Guns of August makes it worthwhile to read despite any
perceived deficiency in Tuchman’s research, while the author of Text 2 focuses exclusively on the weakness of Tuchman’s
interpretation of events. | The author of Text 1 claims that Tuchman would agree that World War I was largely due to events in Eastern Europe, | B | Choice B is the best answer. Both texts are critical of The Guns of August, but for different reasons: the author of Text 1
argues that Tuchman missed an important factor leading up to the war because she didn’t consult secondary sources, and
the author of Text 2 argues that Tuchman’s main thesis is "reductive," which is a close synonym for "overly simplistic."
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t accurately describe the difference. This choice’s summary of Text 1 is accurate, but Text 2
never says that Tuchman’s most interesting claims result from her original research. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t
accurately describe the difference. Text 1 never says that The Guns of August is worthwhile to read despite its research | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
f6352bd3 | Many archaeologists assume that large-scale engineering projects in ancient societies required an elite class to plan and
direct the necessary labor. However, recent discoveries, such as the excavation of an ancient canal near the Gulf Coast of
Alabama, have complicated this picture. Using radiocarbon dating, a team of researchers concluded that the 1.39-kilometer-
long canal was most likely constructed between 576 and 650 CE by an Indigenous society that was relatively free of social
classes. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It describes a common view among archaeologists, then discusses a recent finding that challenges that view. | It outlines a method used in some archaeological fieldwork, then explains why an alternative method is superior to it. | It presents contradictory conclusions drawn by archaeologists, then evaluates a study that has apparently resolved that
contradiction. | It identifies a gap in scientific research, then presents a strategy used by some archaeologists to remedy that gap. | A | Choice A is the best answer. The text starts by introducing a common view among archaeologists about the need for an elite
class to direct large-scale engineering projects. Then, it discusses the discovery of a large canal most likely built by a society
without an elite class, which challenges the first view.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the text discusses carbon dating as an archaeological method, it doesn’t compare it to any
other alternative methods. Choice C is incorrect. The study doesn’t resolve any contradictions—rather, it introduces a
contradiction to the one view presented at the beginning of the text. Choice D is incorrect. The text never identifies any gaps
in scientific research. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
42cc9236 | If you try on one of artist Nick Cave’s signature Soundsuits, you can expect to swish, rustle, or clang every time you move.
Cave makes his suits out of found objects, everything from ceramic birds to broken record players. He carefully considers
the sound an object makes before using ______ in a suit. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | this | that | these | it | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested here is pronoun-antecedent agreement. The singular pronoun "it"
agrees in number with the singular antecedent "object."
Choice A is incorrect. The singular pronoun "this" is used to refer to a specific thing, but here there is no specific object being
referred to. Instead, the sentence is referring back to a hypothetical object that Cave might use in a Soundsuit. Choice B is
incorrect. The singular pronoun "that" is used to refer to a specific thing, but here there is no specific object being referred to.
Instead, the sentence is referring back to a hypothetical object that Cave might use in a Soundsuit. Choice C is incorrect
because the plural pronoun "these" doesn’t agree in number with the singular antecedent "object." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
1b97cce9 | Hegra is an archaeological site in present-day Saudi Arabia and was the second largest city of the Nabataean Kingdom
(fourth century BCE to first century CE). Archaeologist Laila Nehmé recently traveled to Hegra to study its ancient ______ into
the rocky outcrops of a vast desert, these burial chambers seem to blend seamlessly with nature. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | tombs. Built | tombs, built | tombs and built | tombs built | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period
after “tombs” is used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence (“Archaeologist...tombs”) and another
(“Built...nature”).
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary between
sentences. Choice C is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to join the
two sentences. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences (“Archaeologist...tombs” and
“Built...nature”) are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
52b61716 | Formed in 1967 to foster political and economic stability within the Asia-Pacific region, the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations was originally made up of five members: Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. By the end of
the 1990s, the organization ______ its initial membership. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | has doubled | had doubled | doubles | will double | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense. In this choice, the past perfect
verb “had doubled” properly indicates that the doubling of the organization’s initial membership occurred during a specific
period before the present (between the organization’s founding in 1967 and the end of the 1990s).
Choice A is incorrect because the present perfect verb “has doubled” doesn’t indicate that the organization’s doubling of its
initial membership occurred during a specific period in the past. Choice C is incorrect because the present tense verb
“doubles” doesn’t indicate that the organization’s doubling of its initial membership occurred during a specific period in the
past. Choice D is incorrect because the future tense verb “will double” doesn’t indicate that the organization’s doubling of its
initial membership occurred during a specific period in the past. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
c5d39bc7 | Scientists believe that, unlike most other species of barnacle, turtle barnacles (Chelonibia testudinari) can dissolve the
cement-like secretions they use to attach ______ to a sea turtle shell, enabling the barnacles to move short distances across
the shell’s surface. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | it | themselves | them | itself | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is pronoun-antecedent agreement. The plural reflexive pronoun
“themselves” agrees in number with the plural antecedent “turtle barnacles,” correctly indicating what is attached to a sea
turtle shell.
Choice A is incorrect because the singular pronoun “it” doesn’t agree in number with the plural antecedent “turtle barnacles.”
Choice C is incorrect because it results in an unclear and confusing sentence. In this context, it’s unclear what the plural
pronoun “them” refers to. Choice D is incorrect because the singular reflexive pronoun “itself” doesn’t agree in number with
the plural antecedent “turtle barnacles.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
e8c26398 | To develop a method for measuring snow depth with laser beams, NASA physicist Yongxiang Hu relied on ______; identifying
broad similarities between two seemingly different phenomena, Hu used information about how ants move inside colonies
to calculate how the particles of light that make up laser beams travel through snow. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | a collaboration | an accessory | a contradiction | an analogy | D | Choice D is the best answer. The text after the semicolon tells us that Hu "identif[ied] broad similarities between two
seemingly different phenomena," comparing ants with light particles. Since an analogy seeks similarities between seemingly
unrelated phenomena, this fits the context perfectly.
Choice A is incorrect. "A collaboration" refers to "an act of working with others," but what comes after the semicolon doesn’t
describe collaboration with other researchers. Instead, it shows a comparison between two different (but ultimately similar)
scientific phenomena. Choice B is incorrect. "An accessory" can refer to "something added to increase attractiveness or
usefulness." No accessories are described in this text. Choice C is incorrect. "A contradiction" means "a set of ideas or things
that are opposed to or inconsistent with each other." The text describes how Hu used the similarity between ant and light
particle movement to develop his method, so a word that refers to difference would not make sense here. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
b411eb09 | New and interesting research conducted by Suleiman A. Al-Sweedan and Moath Alhaj is inspired by their observation that
though there have been many studies of the effect of high altitude on blood chemistry, there is a ______ studies of the effect
on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level, such as the California towns of Salton City and Seeley. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | quarrel about | paucity of | profusion of | verisimilitude in | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of studies of altitude’s
effect on blood chemistry. In this context, “paucity of” means lack of. In describing the inspiration behind Al-Sweedan and
Alhaj’s research, the text uses the word “though” to suggest a contrasting relationship between two types of studies: those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of
living in locations below sea level. This contrasting relationship and the text’s use of the word “many” provide context
suggesting that there are few, if any, examples of the second type of study, whereas there are numerous examples of the first
type.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “quarrel about,” or open disagreement
about, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and
“many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on
blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea
level. There’s nothing in the text to suggest that the contrast between the two types of studies involves the extent to which
researchers broadly agree or disagree about the contents of either type. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make
sense in context for there to be a “profusion of,” or great abundance of, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in
locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of
amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. Rather than logically completing this contrast,
“profusion of” would indicate that the two types of studies are similar in terms of amount, with many examples existing of
both types. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “verisimilitude in,” or
appearance of truth in, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the
words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
2ee50d41 | The classic children’s board game Chutes and Ladders is a version of an ancient Nepalese game, Paramapada Sopanapata.
In both games, players encounter “good” or “bad” spaces while traveling along a path; landing on one of the good spaces
______ a player to skip ahead and arrive closer to the end goal. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | allows | are allowing | have allowed | allow | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject–verb agreement. The singular verb “allows” agrees in
number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “are allowing” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb “have allowed” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb “allow” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
960dec02 | A recent study tracked the number of bee species present in twenty-seven New York apple orchards over a ten-year period.
______ found that when wild growth near an orchard was cleared, the number of different bee species visiting the orchard
decreased. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Entomologist Heather Grab: | Entomologist, Heather Grab, | Entomologist Heather Grab | Entomologist Heather Grab, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a name and title and between a
subject and a verb. No punctuation is needed between the proper noun “Heather Grab” and “entomologist,” the title that
describes Grab. Additionally, no punctuation is needed between the sentence’s subject (“Entomologist Heather Grab”) and
the main verb (“found”) that indicates what Grab did.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb. Choice B is incorrect because no
punctuation is needed. Setting the entomologist’s name off with commas suggests that it could be removed without
affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the case. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed
between the subject and the verb. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
6d44060a | Works of moral philosophy, such as Plato’s Republic or Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, are partly concerned with how to live
a morally good life. But philosopher Jonathan Barnes argues that works that present a method of living such a life without
also supplying a motive are inherently useful only to those already wishing to be morally good—those with no desire for
moral goodness will not choose to follow their rules. However, some works of moral philosophy attempt to describe what
constitutes a morally good life while also proposing reasons for living one. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It provides a characterization about a field of thought by noting two works in it and then details a way in which some
works in that field are more comprehensive than others. | It mentions two renowned works and then claims that despite their popularity it is impossible for these works to serve
the purpose their authors intended. | It summarizes the history of a field of thought by discussing two works and then proposes a topic of further research for
specialists in that field. | It describes two influential works and then explains why one is more widely read than the other. | A | Choice A is the best answer. The text starts by stating what moral philosophy is concerned with and naming two examples
of works in the field. Then it describes a shortcoming of some works in that field (they say how but not why), and finally it
states that other works try to avoid that shortcoming (by including both how and why to live a morally good life).
Choice B is incorrect. This is too extreme. The text never mentions whether the two works are popular or not, and it never
argues that these works don’t serve their intended purpose of describing how to live a morally good life. Rather, the text
claims that works of moral philosophy that don’t include both how and why to be moral are not useful to readers who don’t
already want to be moral. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text never discusses the history of moral
philosophy at all, and it doesn’t propose any topic for further research. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure.
The text never discusses which of the two works is more widely read. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
e2759b92 | Occupying a significant part of modern-day Nigeria, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the major powers in West Africa
between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries. It ______ ruled by Oba Ewuare I from 1440 to 1473. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | is | will be | has been | was | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense in a sentence. In this choice,
the past tense verb “was ruled” correctly indicates that Oba Ewuare I ruled the Kingdom of Benin in the distant past (from
1440 to 1473). This past tense verb choice is consistent with the other past tense verb (“was”) used to describe the Kingdom
of Benin.
Choice A is incorrect because the present tense verb “is ruled” doesn’t indicate that Oba Ewuare I ruled the Kingdom of Benin
in the distant past. Choice B is incorrect because the future tense verb “will be ruled” doesn’t indicate that Oba Ewuare I ruled
the Kingdom of Benin in the distant past. Choice C is incorrect because the present perfect tense verb “has been ruled”
doesn’t indicate that Oba Ewuare I ruled the Kingdom of Benin in the distant past. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
bce627d9 | Mineralogical differences are detectable in samples collected from two locations on the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, but such
differences may not indicate substantial compositional variations in the asteroid. Cosmochemist Kazuhide Nagashima and
colleagues note that at the small scale of the samples, the distribution of minerals is unlikely to be ______. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | neglected | redundant | ongoing | uniform | D | Choice D is the best answer. The text tells us that the samples are too "small scale" to reflect the composition of the
asteroid, which probably doesn’t show the same variation on a large scale. This suggests that the mineral composition of the
samples are unlikely to be exactly the same from sample to sample.
Choice A is incorrect. "Neglected" means "suffering a lack of proper care" or "abandoned," which doesn’t work here. The text
never suggests that the distribution of minerals in the samples would be neglected, so this statement doesn’t logically
follow. Choice B is incorrect. "Redundant" means "not or no longer useful or needed," which is too strong. The text doesn’t
suggest that the variation between the samples isn’t a useful finding at all—just that we can’t assume that the large-scale
composition of the asteroid will show the same variation. But the composition of the samples might be useful for something
else. Choice C is incorrect. "Ongoing" means "still in progress," which doesn’t make sense: the distribution of minerals in a
sample can’t be "ongoing." | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
db24ecc9 | The Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden in Norway and the Jardim Botânico of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil are two of many botanical
gardens around the world dedicated to growing diverse plant ______ fostering scientific research; and educating the public
about plant conservation. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | species, both native and nonnative, | species, both native and nonnative; | species; both native and nonnative, | species both native and nonnative, | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series (a series including
internal punctuation). The semicolon after “nonnative” is correctly used to separate the first item (“growing diverse plant
species, both native and nonnative”) and the second item (“fostering scientific research”) in the series of things that
botanical gardens are dedicated to. Further, the comma after “species” is correctly used to separate the noun phrase “diverse
plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies it.
Choice A is incorrect because a comma (specifically, the comma after “nonnative”) can’t be used in this way to separate
items in a complex series. Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to separate the noun phrase
“diverse plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies it. Further, a comma can’t be
used in this way to separate items in a complex series. Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation
to separate the noun phrase “diverse plant species” and the supplementary phrase “both native and nonnative” that modifies
it. Further, a comma can’t be used in this way to separate items in a complex series. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
6bc0ba75 | The mimosa tree evolved in East Asia, where the beetle Bruchidius terrenus preys on its seeds. In 1785, mimosa trees were
introduced to North America, far from any B. terrenus. But evolutionary links between predators and their prey can persist
across centuries and continents. Around 2001, B. terrenus was introduced in southeastern North America near where
botanist Shu-Mei Chang and colleagues had been monitoring mimosa trees. Within a year, 93 percent of the trees had been
attacked by the beetles. | Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the overall structure of the text? | It states the hypothesis that Chang and colleagues had set out to investigate using mimosa trees and B. terrenus. | It presents a generalization that is exemplified by the discussion of the mimosa trees and B. terrenus. | It provides context that clarifies why the species mentioned spread to new locations. | It offers an alternative explanation for the findings of Chang and colleagues. | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the third sentence within the overall
structure of the text. The third sentence makes a generalization, asserting that evolutionary links between predators and prey
can persist across great expanses of time and distance. This generalization is exemplified by the text’s discussion of the
relationship between mimosa trees and B. terrenus beetles. When mimosa trees were introduced to North America in 1785,
no B. terrenus beetles were present, so the relationship between the trees and the beetles that exists in their native East Asia
was disrupted. When the beetles were introduced to North America more than 200 years later, however, they quickly attacked
mimosa trees, illustrating the generalization that links between predators and prey "can persist across centuries and
continents."
Choice A is incorrect because the third sentence doesn’t indicate that Chang and colleagues were investigating any
hypothesis. According to the text, Chang and colleagues were simply monitoring mimosa trees when the beetles happened
to be introduced to the area. Choice C is incorrect because the third sentence doesn’t discuss any particular species, let
alone the species mentioned elsewhere in the text, nor does the sentence explain why species spread to new locations.
Choice D is incorrect because the third sentence offers a generalization about the relationship between predators and prey,
not an explanation for the findings by Chang and colleagues that’s an "alternative" to an explanation presented elsewhere in
the text. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
e44db0a0 | Because a cycle of lunar phases ______ 29.5 days to complete, it’s possible to observe two full moons in a single month, one
at the beginning and one at the end. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | are taking | have taken | take | takes | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "takes" agrees in
number with the singular subject "a cycle of lunar phases."
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb "are taking" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "a cycle of lunar
phases." Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb "have taken" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "a cycle
of lunar phases." Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "take" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "a
cycle of lunar phases." | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
983d33fa | In 1637, the price of tulips skyrocketed in Amsterdam, with single bulbs of rare varieties selling for up to the equivalent of
$200,000 in today’s US dollars. Some historians ______ that this “tulip mania” was the first historical instance of an asset
bubble, which occurs when investors drive prices to highs not supported by actual demand. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | claiming | claim | having claimed | to claim | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. A
main clause requires a finite verb to perform the action of the subject (in this case, “some historians”), and this choice
supplies the finite present tense verb “claim” to indicate what some historians do.
Choice A is incorrect because the nonfinite participle “claiming” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice C is
incorrect because the nonfinite participle “having claimed” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice D is
incorrect because the nonfinite to-infinitive “to claim” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
dc645172 | The artistic talents of Barbara Chase-Riboud, most known for her 1979 historical novel Sally Hemings and the conversation it
inspired, ______ limited to the realm of prose: she first excelled in sculpture, where her affinity for bronze—a material she
described as “timeless” due to its use across eras and cultures—became part of her artistic identity. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | hasn’t been | wasn’t | isn’t | aren’t | D | Choice D is the best answer. The subject "talents" is plural, and so is the verb "aren’t": "the artistic talents…aren’t limited."
Choice A is incorrect. The subject "talents" is plural, but the verb "hasn’t been" is singular. Choice B is incorrect. The subject
"talents" is plural, but the verb "wasn’t" is singular. Choice C is incorrect. The subject "talents" is plural, but the verb "isn’t" is
singular. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
2b512e65 | Eli Eisenberg, a genetics expert at Tel Aviv University in Israel, recently discovered that ______ have a special genetic ability
called RNA editing that confers evolutionary advantages. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish | cephalopods—ocean dwellers—that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish, | cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include: the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish, | cephalopods—ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish— | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
In this choice, the dash after “cephalopods” pairs with the dash after “cuttlefish” to clearly separate the supplementary
element “ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish” from the rest of the sentence. This
supplementary element functions to explain what cephalopds are, and the pair of dashes indicates that this element could
be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element that explains
what cephalopods are from the rest of the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to
separate the supplementary element that explains what cephalopods are from the rest of the sentence. Choice C is incorrect
because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element that explains what cephalopods are
from the rest of the sentence. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
aab78b25 | Psychophysicist Howard Moskowitz was hired by a soda company to determine how much artificial sweetener ______ After
conducting consumer taste tests, he found that no such ideal existed: participants expressed a wide range of preferences
for different blends of sweetener, carbonization, and flavoring. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | do most people prefer in a diet drink? | do most people prefer in a diet drink. | most people prefer in a diet drink? | most people prefer in a diet drink. | D | Choice D is the best answer. This sentence is a statement: “Moskowitz was hired by a soda company to determine how
much artificial sweetener most people prefer in a diet drink.” So a period is the most appropriate punctuation mark.
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. This
sentence is not a question—it’s a statement. So a question mark is not the appropriate punctuation. Choice B is incorrect.
This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. We already have the verbs
“was hired…to determine” in this sentence. The verb “do” is not needed and results in a confusing, ungrammatical
sentence. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard
English. This sentence is not a question—it’s a statement. So a question mark is not the appropriate punctuation. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
1724dac2 | A subseasonal weather forecast attempts to predict weather conditions three to four weeks in ______ its predictions are
therefore more short-term than those of the seasonal forecast, which attempts to predict the weather more than a month in
advance. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | advance, | advance | advance; | advance and | C | Choice C is the best answer. The clause “A subseasonal…advance” and the clause “its predictions…forecast” are both
independent clauses, so using a semicolon to separate them is grammatically correct.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “A subseasonal…advance” and the clause “its
predictions…forecast” are both independent clauses, so a comma is not enough to separate them. Choice B is incorrect. This
choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “A subseasonal…advance” and the clause “its predictions…forecast” are
both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with specific punctuation (a period, a semi-colon, a colon, a dash, or
a comma + a coordinating conjunction). Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “A
subseasonal…advance” and the clause “its predictions…forecast” are both independent clauses, so the word “and” by itself is
not enough to separate them. There would need to be a comma before “and” for this choice to work. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
f40ca576 | Each year in the fall, when the weather starts to cool in the northern hemisphere, millions of North American monarch
butterflies journey south. Searching for food and warmer habitats, they ______ thousands of miles—from as far north as
Canada all the way down to Mexico—on this annual migration. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | flew | were flying | had flown | fly | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense. In this choice, the present
tense verb “fly” is consistent with the other present tense verb ( “journey”) used to describe the butterflies’ yearly migration.
Together, these simple present tense verbs correctly indicate that the migration is a current, yearly occurrence.
Choice A is incorrect. The simple past tense verb “flew” isn’t consistent with the other present tense verb used to describe
the butterflies’ yearly migration. Choice B is incorrect. The past progressive tense verb “were flying” isn’t consistent with the
other present tense verb used to describe the butterflies’ yearly migration. Choice C is incorrect. The past perfect tense verb
“had flown” isn’t consistent with the other present tense verb used to describe the butterflies’ yearly migration. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
e7d37666 | It is by no means ______ to recognize the influence of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch on Ali Banisadr’s paintings; indeed,
Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an inspiration. However, some scholars have suggested that the ancient Mesopotamian
poem Epic of Gilgamesh may have had a far greater impact on Banisadr’s work. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | substantial | satisfying | unimportant | appropriate | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the sentence about the influences on Banisadr’s work. In
context, “It is by no means” followed by “unimportant” conveys how it is relevant to recognize Bosch’s influence on Banisadr.
The text points out that the artist himself cites Bosch as an inspiration, and then goes on to claim that The Epic of Gilgamesh
has had a more significant influence than Bosch.
Choice A is incorrect because “substantial,” which means weighty or meaningful, incorrectly suggests that it wouldn’t be
meaningful to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed, Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an
inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion. Choice B is incorrect because “satisfying,” which means pleasing, incorrectly
suggests that it wouldn’t be pleasing to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed, Banisadr himself
cites Bosch as an inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion. Choice D is incorrect because “appropriate,” which means
suitable, incorrectly suggests that it wouldn’t be proper to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed,
Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
c61a7c4a | Some studies have suggested that posture can influence cognition, but we should not overstate this phenomenon. A case in
point: In a 2014 study, Megan O’Brien and Alaa Ahmed had subjects stand or sit while making risky simulated economic
decisions. Standing is more physically unstable and cognitively demanding than sitting; accordingly, O’Brien and Ahmed
hypothesized that standing subjects would display more risk aversion during the decision-making tasks than sitting subjects
did, since they would want to avoid further feelings of discomfort and complicated risk evaluations. But O’Brien and Ahmed
actually found no difference in the groups’ performance. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | It argues that research findings about the effects of posture on cognition are often misunderstood, as in the case of
O’Brien and Ahmed’s study. | It presents the study by O’Brien and Ahmed to critique the methods and results reported in previous studies of the effects
of posture on cognition. | It explains a significant problem in the emerging understanding of posture’s effects on cognition and how O’Brien and
Ahmed tried to solve that problem. | It discusses the study by O’Brien and Ahmed to illustrate why caution is needed when making claims about the effects of | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text notes that although
some studies have suggested that posture may have an effect on cognition, this phenomenon should not be overstated. In
other words, the text begins by urging caution and restraint when discussing the effects of posture on cognition, implying
that even though some studies have shown posture to affect cognition, we should not assume that posture always affects
cognition or does so in a strong way. The text goes on to discuss O’Brien and Ahmed’s study as a "case in point" (that is, as
an example of the point made previously). According to the text, O’Brien and Ahmed hypothesized that since standing is
more cognitively demanding than sitting, standing subjects in their experiment would respond differently to decision-making
tasks than sitting subjects would, which would show an effect of posture on cognition. What the researchers actually found,
however, was that the standing and sitting subjects performed the same—posture did not affect cognition. By presenting a
circumstance in which posture does not appear to affect cognition, the discussion of O’Brien and Ahmed’s study shows why
it is important not to overstate the phenomenon. The purpose of the text, therefore, is to discuss O’Brien and Ahmed’s study
to illustrate why caution is needed when making claims about posture’s effects on cognition.
Choice A is incorrect because the text discusses O’Brien and Ahmed’s study as an example of why caution is needed when
discussing posture’s effects on cognition, not as an example of how research findings related to posture and cognition are | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
843f92af | The sun never sets during the Arctic summer in the Far North. In response, reindeer in this region must change their sleep
habits. Instead of resting when it gets dark, they rest when they need ______ their food. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | digest | will digest | to digest | digesting | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. Working
together with the finite verb "need," the nonfinite to-infinitive verb "to digest" is correctly used to form a subordinate clause
that describes what the reindeer need.
Choice A is incorrect because the verb "digest" (in either its finite or nonfinite form) can’t be used in this way with the finite
verb "need." Choice B is incorrect because the finite verb "will digest" can’t be used in this way with the finite verb "need."
Choice D is incorrect because the nonfinite participle "digesting" can’t be used in this way with the finite verb "need." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
3ed5ebb4 | In her analysis of Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth (1905), scholar Candace Waid observes that the novel depicts the
upper classes of New York society as “consumed by the appetite of a soulless ______ an apt assessment given that The
House of Mirth is set during the Gilded Age, a period marked by rapid industrialization, economic greed, and widening wealth
disparities. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | materialism”; and | materialism” and | materialism,” | materialism” | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a main clause and a supplementary noun
phrase. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause (“scholar…materialism”) and the
supplementary noun phrase (“an apt assessment”) that describes Waid’s observation about how The House of Mirth depicts
the upper classes of New York society.
Choice A is incorrect because a semicolon and the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary
between a main clause and a supplementary noun phrase. Choice B is incorrect. Joining the main clause (“scholar…
materialism”) and the following noun phrase with the conjunction “and” results in a confusing and illogical sentence that
suggests that the novel depicts the upper classes of New York society as “an apt assessment,” which doesn’t make sense in
this context. Choice D is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the main clause and the supplementary
noun phrase with appropriate punctuation. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
9c759a09 | The following text is from Georgia Douglas Johnson’s 1922 poem “Benediction.”
Go forth, my son,
Winged by my heart’s desire!
Great reaches, yet unknown,
Await
For your possession.
I may not, if I would,
Retrace the way with you,
My pilgrimage is through,
But life is calling you! | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To express hope that a child will have the same accomplishments as his parent did | To suggest that raising a child involves many struggles | To warn a child that he will face many challenges throughout his life | To encourage a child to embrace the experiences life will offer | D | Choice D is the best answer because it accurately states the text’s main purpose. The poem begins with the speaker urging a
child to “go forth” with her encouragement (“my heart’s desire”). The speaker goes on to suggest that new experiences
(“Great reaches, yet unknown”) lie ahead for the son that “life is calling” him to seek out. Thus, the main purpose is to
encourage a child to embrace the experiences available to him in his life.
Choice A is incorrect because the speaker encourages the child to pursue new experiences (“Great reaches”) without
knowing exactly what those experiences will be (“yet unknown”) or suggesting that they should match the speaker’s own
accomplishments. Choice B is incorrect because the speaker focuses on positive possibilities for her son (“Great reaches,
yet unknown”) and her enthusiastic encouragement to embrace those possibilities (“life is calling you!”), while there is no
mention of raising a child or associated struggles. Choice C is incorrect because the speaker frames the possibilities for her
son in a positive light when she says that “great reaches, yet unknown” are waiting for him, and this positive outlook for the
son is consistent throughout the text. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
145d5ca7 | Gathering accurate data on water flow in the United States is challenging because of the country’s millions of miles of ______
the volume and speed of water at any given location can vary drastically over time. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | waterways and the fact that, | waterways, and the fact that, | waterways, and, the fact that | waterways and the fact that | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation within two coordinated noun phrases. When, as in
this case, a noun phrase (“the country’s millions of miles of waterways”) is coordinated with another noun phrase (“the fact”)
followed by an integrated relative clause (“that the volume...time”), no punctuation is needed.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice C
is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
d3ca5d59 | Stephen Hannock’s luminous landscape paintings are appealing to viewers but have elicited little commentary from
contemporary critics, a phenomenon that may be due to the very fact that the paintings seem so ______. Many critics focus
their attention on art that is cryptic or overtly challenging. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | innovative | subversive | profound | accessible | D | Choice D is the best answer. When talking about a thing, “accessible” means “easy to understand.” This sets up the contrast
in the next sentence, which tells us that critics mostly focus on art that is “cryptic or challenging” (meaning not easy to
understand).
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The next sentence tells us that critics focus on art that is
mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “innovative” (meaning advanced and original), then critics probably
would comment on them. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The next sentence tells us that critics
focus on art that is mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “subversive” (meaning disruptive and
revolutionary), then critics probably would comment on them. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The
next sentence tells us that critics focus on art that is mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “profound”
(meaning very deep and insightful), then critics probably would comment on them. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
cabe71d4 | Both Sona Charaipotra, an Indian American, and Dhonielle Clayton, an African American, grew up frustrated by the lack of
diverse characters in books for young people. In 2011, these two writers joined forces to found CAKE Literary, a book
packaging ______ specializes in the creation and promotion of stories told from diverse perspectives for children and young
adults. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | company, | company that | company | company, that | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use and punctuation of an integrated relative clause. This
choice correctly uses the relative pronoun “that” and no punctuation to create an integrated relative clause that provides
essential information about the noun phrase (“a book packaging company”) that it modifies.
Choice A is incorrect because it doesn’t use a relative pronoun to link the verb phrase beginning with “specializes” to the
noun phrase that it modifies (“a book packaging company”). Choice C is incorrect because it doesn’t use a relative pronoun
to link the verb phrase beginning with “specializes” to the noun phrase that it modifies (“a book packaging company”).
Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the integrated relative clause beginning with “that
specializes” and the noun phrase that it modifies (“a book packaging company”). | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
d69bc408 | The following text is adapted from Aphra Behn’s 1689 novel The Lucky Mistake. Atlante and Rinaldo are neighbors who have
been secretly exchanging letters through Charlot, Atlante’s sister.
[Atlante] gave this letter to Charlot; who immediately ran into the balcony with it, where she still found Rinaldo in a
melancholy posture, leaning his head on his hand: She showed him the letter, but was afraid to toss it to him, for fear it
might fall to the ground; so he ran and fetched a long cane, which he cleft at one end, and held it while she put the letter
into the cleft, and stayed not to hear what he said to it. But never was man so transported with joy, as he was at the
reading of this letter; it gives him new wounds; for to the generous, nothing obliges love so much as love. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It describes the delivery of a letter, and then portrays a character’s happiness at reading that letter. | It establishes that a character is desperate to receive a letter, and then explains why another character has not yet written
that letter. | It presents a character’s concerns about delivering a letter, and then details the contents of that letter. | It reveals the inspiration behind a character’s letter, and then emphasizes the excitement that another character feels | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. The narrator begins by
explaining how Charlot carefully delivers Atlante’s letter to Rinaldo, and then relates that Rinaldo feels “transported with joy”
after reading the letter. Therefore, the overall structure of the text is best described as a description of the delivery of a letter
followed by the portrayal of a character’s happiness after reading the letter.
Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that the letter has been written; there’s no explanation why another character
hasn’t written one. In addition, the text’s description of Rinaldo “in a melancholy posture” suggests that he’s sad and
thoughtful, not that he’s desperate to receive the letter. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text states that Charlot won’t toss
the letter to Rinaldo because she doesn’t want it to fall, the text doesn’t refer to the contents of the letter. Instead, the text
describes how happy Rinaldo feels after reading it. Choice D is incorrect. Although the text does describe Rinaldo’s reaction
to the letter, the text doesn’t begin by discussing Atlante’s inspiration for writing the letter. Instead, the text begins by
discussing the delivery of the letter. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
5e732e67 | Many films from the early 1900s have been lost. These losses include several films by the first wave of Black women
filmmakers. We know about these lost movies only from small pieces of evidence. For example, an advertisement for Jennie
Louise Touissant Welcome’s documentary Doing Their Bit still exists. There’s a reference in a magazine to Tressie Souders’s
film A Woman’s Error. And Maria P. Williams’s The Flames of Wrath is mentioned in a letter and a newspaper article, and one
image from the movie was discovered in the 1990s. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | The text identifies a complex problem, then presents examples of unsuccessful attempts to solve that problem. | The text summarizes a debate among researchers, then gives reasons for supporting one side in that debate. | The text describes a general situation, then illustrates that situation with specific examples. | The text discusses several notable individuals, then explains commonly overlooked differences between those | C | Choice C is the best answer. The first three sentences describe the general situation: these early films have been lost, and we
only know about them from small pieces of evidence. The rest of the text offers specific examples of the small pieces of
evidence.
Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The fact that we only know about these lost early films from small
pieces of evidence isn’t presented as a “complex problem”—that’s too extreme. And the examples presented are not
“unsuccessful attempts” to solve it. If anything, the examples represent a success, because we discovered that these films
existed in the first place. Choice B is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. There’s no “debate” presented in the text, so
there’s no “side” for the text to support. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text doesn’t discuss any
“differences” between the filmmakers. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
06b96bfc | A musician and member of the Quechua of Peru, Renata Flores Rivera was eager to promote the Quechua language in her
music, but she was ______ speaking it. She met this challenge by asking her grandmother, a native speaker of Quechua, to
help her pronounce words in her song lyrics and also by taking classes in the language. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | prepared for | inexperienced with | skilled in | excited about | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Renata Flores Rivera’s use of
Quechua in her music. In this context, “inexperienced with” means not accustomed to. The text indicates that Flores Rivera
wanted to promote the Quechua language in her music and overcame a challenge by seeking help with pronunciation from
her grandmother and by taking language classes. This context conveys the idea that Flores Rivera was not sufficiently
familiar with Quechua to use it in her music without help. Thus, she was inexperienced with speaking the language, which
she addressed by seeking help.
Choice A is incorrect because describing Flores Rivera as “prepared for”—or ready for—speaking Quechua wouldn’t make
sense in context. The text indicates that speaking Quechua presented a challenge, but if she were ready to speak the
language, then there would be no challenge. Choice C is incorrect because describing Flores Rivera as “skilled in”—meaning
good at or capable of—speaking Quechua wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates that speaking Quechua
presented a challenge, but if she were capable of speaking the language, then there would be no challenge. Choice D is
incorrect. Flores Rivera was likely “excited about”—or thrilled or delighted with—speaking Quechua, but this wouldn’t make
sense in context. The text indicates that speaking Quechua presented a challenge, but if she were delighted with speaking
the language, then there would be no challenge. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
b4887dae | Mathematician Claude Shannon is widely regarded as a foundational figure in information theory. His most important paper,
“A Mathematical Theory of Communication,” published in 1948 when he was employed at Bell Labs, utilized a concept called
a “binary digit” (shortened to “bit”) to measure the amount of information in any signal and determine the fastest rate at
which information could be transmitted while still being reliably decipherable. Robert Gallagher, one of Shannon’s colleagues,
said that the bit was “[Shannon’s] discovery, and from it the whole communications revolution has sprung.” | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It presents a theoretical concept, illustrates how the name of the concept has changed, and shows how the name has
entered common usage. | It introduces a respected researcher, describes an aspect of his work, and suggests why the work is historically
significant. | It names the company where an important mathematician worked, details the mathematician’s career at the company,
and provides an example of the recognition he received there. | It mentions a paper, offers a summary of the paper’s findings, and presents a researcher’s commentary on the paper. | B | Choice B is the best answer. The text starts with a general statement that introduces Shannon, then describes a specific
contribution from one of his papers, then provides a quote that illustrates just how important this contribution was.
Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text only mentions very briefly, in parentheses, that “binary digit”
was shortened to “bit.” It doesn’t go into detail about this name change, and it doesn’t discuss any “common usage” of the
name at all. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. Shannon’s employment at Bell Labs is only mentioned once,
very briefly: the text never goes into detail about his career there, and it never mentions any recognition he received there.
Choice D is incorrect. This is too narrow. Overall, the text is about Shannon’s importance in his field, not just this one paper of
his. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
59a246dc | When external forces are applied to common glass made from silicates, energy builds up around minuscule defects in the
material, resulting in fractures. Recently, engineer Erkka Frankberg of Tampere University in Finland used the chemical ______
to make a glassy solid that can withstand higher strain than silicate glass can before fracturing. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | compound, aluminum oxide | compound aluminum oxide, | compound, aluminum oxide, | compound aluminum oxide | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation around noun phrases. No punctuation is
needed because the noun phrase “aluminum oxide” is a restrictive appositive, meaning that it provides essential identifying
information about the noun phrase before it, “the chemical compound,” and thus doesn’t require punctuation around it.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed. Choice C
is incorrect because the noun phrase “aluminum oxide” is a restrictive appositive. Setting the phrase off with punctuation
suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the case. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
56770dda | In his 1963 exhibition Exposition of Music—Electronic Television, Korean American artist Nam June Paik showed how
television images could be manipulated to express an artist’s perspective. Today, Paik ______ considered the first video artist. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | will be | had been | was | is | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense. In this choice, the present
tense verb “is,” used in conjunction with the word “today,” correctly indicates that Paik is currently considered the first video
artist.
Choice A is incorrect because the future-indicating verb “will be” doesn’t indicate that Paik is currently considered the first
video artist. Choice B is incorrect because the past perfect tense verb “had been” doesn’t indicate that Paik is currently
considered the first video artist. Choice C is incorrect because the past tense verb “was” doesn’t indicate that Paik is
currently considered the first video artist. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
9c35759f | Novelist N. K. Jemisin declines to ______ the conventions of the science fiction genre in which she writes, and she has
suggested that her readers appreciate her work precisely because of this willingness to thwart expectations and avoid
formulaic plots and themes. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | question | react to | perceive | conform to | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Jemisin’s writing. In this context,
“conform to” means to act in accordance with something. The text suggests that in her science fiction writing, Jemisin’s
willingness to go against expectations and not use plots and themes that seem to follow a formula reflects how she treats
the standard practices of the genre. This context conveys that Jemisin chooses not to act in accordance with those
conventions.
Choice A is incorrect. In this context, “question” would mean doubt or object to. The text indicates that Jemisin is willing to
go against expectations and not use formulaic plots and themes in her science fiction writing, suggesting that she may
actually object to those conventions of the genre, not that she chooses not to question them. Choice B is incorrect because
the text indicates that in her science fiction writing, Jemisin is willing to go against expectations and not use formulaic plots
and themes. Rather than suggesting that Jemisin chooses not to “react to,” or act in response to, the standard practices of
the genre, this context suggests that she is acting in response to such conventions by deliberately avoiding them. Choice C
is incorrect. In this context, “perceive” would mean become aware of or understand. The text indicates that in her science
fiction writing, Jemisin is willing to go against expectations and not use formulaic plots and themes. This context conveys
that Jemisin is aware of and deliberately avoids those conventions of the genre, not that she chooses not to be aware of
them. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
d4a8f7cb | Dance choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar aims to give people the opportunity to be ______ her creative process. For
example, live performances of her dance HairStories, which debuted in 2001, featured videos of people across the United
States talking about their hair and audience members sharing pictures of their interesting hairstyles. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | nervous about | completed by | delayed by | involved in | D | Choice D is the best answer. “Involved in” means “playing an active role in.” This fits the context clues describing how Zollar
includes the audience in her shows by incorporating their stories and pictures.
Choice A is incorrect. “Nervous” means “worried or anxious about.” Nothing in the text suggests that people would be
nervous about Zollar’s creative process. Choice B is incorrect. “Completed by” means “made whole by.” It doesn’t make
sense to say that Zollar’s shows would make her audience complete. Choice C is incorrect. “Delayed by” means “made late
by.” Nothing in the text suggests that people would be delayed by Zollar’s creative process. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
1c6b1fa0 | In 1801, a Blackfoot chief named Ac Ko Mok Ki drew a finely detailed map of the Upper Missouri region. This work
demonstrates a vast amount of topographic knowledge, as the map features specific names of mountains and rivers, as well
as the first-known sketch of the drainage network of the Missouri River. The map is especially notable because Ac Ko Mok Ki
also included details about the numerous tribes that lived in the area. | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? | It emphasizes Ac Ko Mok Ki’s desire to represent other tribes on the map. | It explains how Ac Ko Mok Ki developed an interest in mapmaking. | It identifies some reasons why the map is impressive. | It details how the map was used for hunting and trading purposes. | C | Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The text
presents information about a map drawn by Blackfoot chief Ac Ko Mok Ki in 1801. The underlined sentence states that the
map "demonstrates a vast amount of topographic knowledge" and mentions that it features the "specific names of
mountains and rivers" and includes the first-known sketch of the Missouri River’s drainage network. These are all
characteristics that indicate that the map was executed with remarkable skill. Thus, the underlined sentence identifies some
reasons why the map is impressive.
Choice A is incorrect. Though the sentence after the underlined sentence in the text mentions that Ac Ko Mok Ki included
information about other tribes on his map, the underlined sentence itself does not address this topic. Choice B is incorrect
because nothing in the underlined sentence indicates how Ac Ko Mok Ki became interested in mapmaking, only that his
mapmaking skills are impressive. Choice D is incorrect because though the underlined sentence describes several features
of the map, it does not specifically describe how the map was used. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
f30a478e | A study published by Rice University geoscientist Ming Tang in 2019 offers a new explanation for the origin of Earth’s ______
structures called arcs, towering ridges that form when a dense oceanic plate subducts under a less dense continental plate,
melts in the mantle below, and then rises and bursts through the continental crust above. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | continents geological | continents: geological | continents; geological | continents. Geological | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a supplementary
phrase. In this choice, a colon is correctly used to mark the boundary between the main clause (“A study…continents”) and
the supplementary phrase (“geological…above”) and to introduce the following explanation of the origin of Earth’s continents.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the main clause (“A study…continents”) and the
supplementary phrase (“geological…above”) with appropriate punctuation. Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t
be used in this way to join the main clause (“A study…continents”) and the supplementary phrase (“geological…above”). A
semicolon is conventionally used to join two main clauses, whereas a colon is conventionally used to introduce an element
that explains or amplifies the information in the preceding clause, making it the better choice in this context. Choice D is
incorrect because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with “geological.” | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
c4900368 | The following text is from the 1924 poem “Cycle” by D’Arcy McNickle, who was a citizen of the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes.
There shall be new roads wending,
A new beating of the drum—
Men’s eyes shall have fresh seeing,
Grey lives reprise their span—
But under the new sun’s being,
Completing what night began,
There’ll be the same backs bending,
The same sad feet shall drum—
When this night finds its ending
And day shall have come..... | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To consider how the repetitiveness inherent in human life can be both rewarding and challenging | To question whether activities completed at one time of day are more memorable than those completed at another time
of day | To refute the idea that joy is a more commonly experienced emotion than sadness is | To demonstrate how the experiences of individuals relate to the experiences of their communities | A | Choice A is the best answer because it accurately states the main purpose of the text. The text begins by discussing the
promise of the future, with positive references to renewal such as “new roads,” “new beating of the drum,” and “fresh seeing.”
But with the “new sun,” the text continues, there will still be “the same backs bending” and “the same sad feet” drumming,
indicating that these difficulties will follow people into this new day. The poem thus considers both the rewards and
challenges associated with the repetitiveness of human life.
Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t say anything about how memorable activities are, let alone compare the
memorability of activities completed at different times of the day. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text contrasts hope
with difficulty, it does not compare the relative frequency of joyful feelings with that of sad feelings. Choice D is incorrect
because the text makes no distinction between the experiences of individuals and the experiences of their communities. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
ba8ebf49 | The poem Beowulf begins with the word “hwæt,” which is an Old English ______ as “hark!” or “listen!” in some versions, the
word was playfully rendered as “bro!” by Maria Dahvana Headley in her 2020 translation of the poem. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | exclamation, translated | exclamation and translated | exclamation translated | exclamation. Translated | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is
used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence ("The poem…exclamation") and another sentence that begins
with a supplementary element ("Translated…poem"). The supplementary element "translated as ‘hark!’ or ‘listen!’ in some
versions" modifies the subject of the second sentence, "the word" (referring to hwæt).
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice after "exclamation." A comma can’t be used in this way to mark
the boundary between sentences. Choice B is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction "and" can’t be used in
this way to join sentences. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice after "versions." A comma can’t be
used in this way to mark the boundary between sentences. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
e15c50b2 | A standard Argo float, a type of autonomous robot, measures temperature and salinity in the upper regions of ice-free
oceans. More advanced floats can measure a wider range of ______ and monitor seasonal ice zones. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | variables: travel to greater depths | variables, travel to greater depths, | variables travel to greater depths, | variables, travel to greater depths; | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a series. The comma after
“variables” is used conventionally to separate the first and second items in the series, and the comma after “depths” is used
conventionally to separate the second and third items.
Choice A is incorrect because a colon can’t be used in this way to separate items in a simple series. Choice C is incorrect
because a comma is needed after “variables” to separate the first and second items in the series. Choice D is incorrect
because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to separate items in a simple series. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
a4f50d30 | Scientists previously thought that all electric eels belong to a single species, but a team of researchers led by zoologist C.
David de Santana proved this idea wrong by ______ that there are in fact three distinct species of electric eels. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | pretending | complaining | requiring | demonstrating | D | Choice D is the best answer. “Demonstrating” means “showing,” and the text describes how de Santana disproved a previous
belief in only one species of electric eel by showing that three electric eel species actually exist.
Choice A is incorrect. Pretending that there are three species of electric eel might be a fun game for marine biologists, but it
wouldn’t prove the existence of more than one species. Choice B is incorrect. Complaining won’t prove anything about eels,
so de Santana could not have proved wrong the idea of only one species of electric eel by complaining about it. Choice C is
incorrect. “Requiring” means “needing.” It wouldn’t make sense to say that de Santana “needed” there to be three distinct
species of electric eel. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
7f1df833 | In 1966, Emmett Ashford became the first African American to umpire a Major League Baseball game. His energetic
gestures announcing when a player had struck out and his habit of barreling after a hit ball to see if it would land out of
______ transform the traditionally solemn umpire role into a dynamic one. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | bounds helped | bounds, helping | bounds that helped | bounds to help | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is finite verb use in a main clause. A main clause requires a finite
verb to perform the action of the subject (in this case, Ashford’s “gestures” and “habit”), and this choice supplies the finite
past tense verb “helped” to indicate what Ashford’s gestures and habit helped accomplish.
Choice B is incorrect because the non-finite participle “helping” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice C is
incorrect because the relative clause “that helped” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice D is incorrect
because the non-finite to-infinitive “to help” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
2fd05c15 | In crafting her fantasy fiction, Nigerian-born British author Helen Oyeyemi has drawn inspiration from the classic nineteenth-
century fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Her 2014 novel Boy, Snow, Bird, for instance, is a complex retelling of the story of
Snow White, while her 2019 novel ______ offers a delicious twist on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Gingerbread— | Gingerbread, | Gingerbread | Gingerbread: | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a subject and a verb. When, as in this case,
a subject (“her 2019 novel Gingerbread”) is immediately followed by a verb (“offers”), no punctuation is needed.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb. Choice B is incorrect because no
punctuation is needed between the subject and the verb. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between
the subject and the verb. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
f2c48e47 | The following text is from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1910 poem “The Earth’s Entail.”
No matter how we cultivate the land,
Taming the forest and the prairie free;
No matter how we irrigate the sand,
Making the desert blossom at command,
We must always leave the borders of the sea;
The immeasureable reaches
Of the windy wave-wet beaches,
The million-mile-long margin of the sea. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | The speaker argues against interfering with nature and then gives evidence supporting this interference. | The speaker presents an account of efforts to dominate nature and then cautions that such efforts are only temporary. | The speaker provides examples of an admirable way of approaching nature and then challenges that approach. | The speaker describes attempts to control nature and then offers a reminder that not all nature is controllable. | D | Choice D is the best answer. This best describes the overall structure of the text. In the first half of the text, the speaker
describes our attempts to control nature: cultivating, taming, and irrigating different kinds of land. In the second half, the
speaker states that we can never tame the sea or the beach.
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the overall structure of the text. The speaker never argues that we should not
interfere with nature. Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame many different kinds of land, but we are unable to
tame the sea or beaches. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the overall structure of the text. The speaker never
describes our cultivation, taming, and irrigation of land as “temporary.” Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame
many different kinds of land, but we are unable to tame the sea or beaches. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the
overall structure of the text. The speaker never describes our cultivation, taming, and irrigation of land as an “admirable”
approach to nature.” Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame many different kinds of land, but we are unable to
tame the sea or beaches. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
886dc9f9 | On July 23, 1854, a clipper ship called the Flying Cloud entered San Francisco ______ left New York Harbor under the
guidance of Captain Josiah Perkins Creesy and his wife, navigator Eleanor Creesy, a mere 89 days and 8 hours earlier, the
celebrated ship set a record that would stand for 135 years. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Bay and having | Bay. Having | Bay, having | Bay having | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period
after “Bay” is used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence (“On…Bay”) and another sentence that begins with
a supplementary phrase (“Having…years”). Here, the supplementary phrase beginning with “having” modifies the subject of
the second sentence, “the celebrated ship.”
Choice A is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to join sentences.
Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to join two sentences. Choice
D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences (“On…Bay” and “having…years”) are fused without
punctuation and/or a conjunction. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
ae2b3112 | By combining Indigenous and classical music, Cree composer and cellist Cris Derksen creates works that reflect the diverse
cultural landscape of Canada. For her album Orchestral Powwow, Derksen composed new songs in the style of traditional
powwow music that were accompanied by classical arrangements played by an orchestra. But where an orchestra would
normally follow the directions of a conductor, the musicians on Orchestral Powwow are led by the beat of a powwow drum. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To examine how Derksen’s musical compositions blend cultures | To argue that Derksen should be recognized for creating a new style of music | To describe the difficulties Derksen encountered when producing her album | To establish a contrast between Derksen’s classical training and her Cree heritage | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to discuss how
Derksen’s compositions incorporate elements from both Indigenous and classical music. After introducing Derksen, the text
describes how the songs Derksen composed for her album Orchestral Powwow feature aspects of the two musical
traditions. Specifically, the text notes that Derksen wrote songs in the style of traditional powwow music but accompanied
them with classical arrangements played by an orchestra that followed the beat of a powwow drum rather than the
directions of a conductor. In this way, Derksen’s compositions blend different cultures.
Choice B is incorrect because although the text suggests that Derksen’s songs contain innovative elements since they blend
styles from two different musical traditions, it doesn’t discuss whether her compositions constitute a new style of music, let
alone whether Derksen should be recognized for creating a new style of music. Choice C is incorrect because the text
doesn’t mention any difficulties Derksen encountered when producing her album. Rather, the text describes how the songs
on the album exemplify how Derksen combines music from two different cultures. Choice D is incorrect because although
the text mentions Derksen’s Cree heritage and suggests that she relies on knowledge of both Indigenous and classical music
when she composes her songs, it doesn’t discuss her musical training. Additionally, the text is primarily focused on how
Derksen combines different cultural traditions, not on contrasting Derksen’s training with her heritage. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
8f6d6ae6 | Archaeologists have estimated that the pre-Columbian Native American city of Cahokia, located across the Mississippi River
from modern-day St. Louis, Missouri, had as many as 20,000 inhabitants in the year 1150 ______ it one of the largest cities in
North America at the time. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | CE making | CE. Making | CE, making | CE; making | C | Choice C is the best answer. The phrase “making…at the time” provides additional information about Cahokia that’s not
required for the sentence to make sense or function grammatically. As a nonessential supplement, this phrase should be
separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence. The nonessential descriptive aside “making…at the time”
needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma. Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a sentence
fragment. “Making…at the time” doesn’t have a subject and can’t stand on its own as a sentence. Thus, it can’t be separated
from the rest of the sentence with a period. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. “Making…at the
time” doesn’t have a subject and can’t stand on its own as an independent clause. Since a semicolon can only link two
independent clauses, using one here creates an error. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
d7dccee7 | In a 2019 study, Jeremy Gunawardena and colleagues found that the single-celled protozoan Stentor roeseli not only uses
strategies to escape irritating stimuli but also switches strategies when one fails. This evidence of protozoans
sophisticatedly “changing their minds” demonstrates that single-celled organisms may not be limited to ______ behaviors. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | aggressive | rudimentary | evolving | advantageous | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of single-celled organism behavior. As
used in this context, “rudimentary” means basic or unsophisticated. According to the text, a study of the single-celled
protozoan Stentor roeseli showed that the organisms can switch strategies for escaping certain stimuli, “sophisticatedly
‘changing their minds’” and using new strategies should other strategies fail. This context suggests that single-celled
organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are basic or rudimentary, since the study showed that single-celled
protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.
Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“aggressive,” or threatening. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.
Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“evolving,” or advancing. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“advantageous,” or helpful. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
84b5125b | Artist Marilyn Dingle’s intricate, coiled baskets are ______ sweetgrass and palmetto palm. Following a Gullah technique that
originated in West Africa, Dingle skillfully winds a thin palm frond around a bunch of sweetgrass with the help of a “sewing
bone” to create the basket’s signature look that no factory can reproduce. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | indicated by | handmade from | represented by | collected with | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Marilyn Dingle’s baskets. In this
context, to say that Dingle’s baskets are “handmade from” particular plants means that Dingle creates baskets herself using
those plants but without using machines. The text says that Dingle “skillfully winds” parts of palmetto palm plants around
sweetgrass plants to make baskets with an appearance that “no factory can reproduce.” This context suggests that Dingle’s
baskets are handmade from sweetgrass and palmetto palm.
Choice A is incorrect because the text describes how Dingle uses sweetgrass and palmetto palm to create her baskets, not
how her baskets are “indicated by,” or signified by, sweetgrass and palmetto palm. Choice C is incorrect. Although Dingle’s
baskets are described as being made using sweetgrass and palm, there’s nothing in the text to suggest that the baskets are
“represented by,” or exemplified or portrayed by, sweetgrass and palmetto palm. Instead, the focus of the text is on Dingle’s
use of sweetgrass and palmetto palm and the impossibility of replicating the appearance of her baskets using machines.
Choice D is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Dingle’s baskets are “collected with,” or brought
together in a group with, sweetgrass and palmetto palm. Instead, the text describes how Dingle uses those plants to make
her baskets. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
6b49f5f1 | In 1727, dramatist Lewis Theobald presented a new play, Double Falsehood, at a London theater. Theobald claimed that his
drama was based on a little-known play by William Shakespeare, Cardenio. Many, including poet Alexander Pope, were ______
historians have determined that Shakespeare’s company did perform a play called Cardenio in 1613. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | skeptical but | skeptical, but | skeptical, | skeptical | B | Choice B is the best answer. There are two independent clauses in the sentence, each with a subject and a verb:
"many...were skeptical" and "historians have determined…." These clauses can be grammatically joined by a comma and the
coordinating conjunction "but."
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined
without punctuation. Two independent clauses can’t be joined by just the coordinating conjunction "but." A comma would
also be required. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error called a comma splice. This sentence
contains two independent clauses ("Many…were skeptical" and "historians have determined…"). A comma alone can’t join
two independent clauses. That requires a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results
in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation. This sentence contains
two independent clauses ("Many…were skeptical" and "historians have determined…"), which need to be either joined by a
semicolon, joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or separated by a period. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
83898524 | In addition to advocating for South America’s independence in two political treatises, the Cartagena Manifesto and the Letter
from Jamaica, Simón Bolívar personally led armies against the Spanish, liberating three South American territories—New
Granada (present-day Colombia and Panama), Venezuela, and Quito (present-day ______ from colonial rule. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Ecuador,) | Ecuador) | Ecuador), | Ecuador)— | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The dash after “Ecuador” and the closing parenthesis pairs with the dash after “territories” to separate the supplementary
element (“New…Ecuador”) from the rest of the sentence. The supplementary element specifies the three South American
territories that Simón Bolívar liberated, and the pair of dashes indicates that this element could be removed without affecting
the grammatical coherence of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest of
the sentence. Furthermore, punctuation isn’t needed between “Ecuador” and the closing parenthesis. Choice B is incorrect
because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. Choice
C is incorrect because a comma can’t be paired with a dash to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the
sentence. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
daaed806 | Mônica Lopes-Ferreira and others at Brazil’s Butantan Institute are studying the freshwater stingray species Potamotrygon
rex to determine whether biological characteristics such as the rays’ age and sex have ______ effect on the toxicity of their
venom—that is, to see if differences in these traits are associated with considerable variations in venom potency. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | a disconcerting | an acceptable | an imperceptible | a substantial | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the research that Lopes-Ferreira
and her colleagues are conducting on the stingray species Potamotrygon rex. As used in this context, “a substantial” effect
means an effect that is sizable or noteworthy. The text indicates that the researchers are seeking to determine whether there
are “considerable variations” in the potency of stingray venom that are associated with variation in the stingrays’ age and
sex. This context suggests that the researchers want to find out whether stingray age and sex have a substantial effect on
venom toxicity.
Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text that suggests that the researchers have been studying whether the
stingrays’ age and sex have “a disconcerting,” or an unsettling and disturbing, effect on the stingrays’ venom. The text
indicates that the researchers wish to determine if stingray age and sex cause large variations in the toxicity of stingray
venom, not if the effect of age and sex is disconcerting. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that researchers
want to find out whether differences in stingray age and sex produce differences in stingray venom, not that the researchers
want to find out whether age and sex have “an acceptable,” or a satisfactory, effect on venom. The text makes no mention of
what would make an effect on venom toxicity acceptable and gives no indication that the researchers are interested in that
question. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for the researchers to be looking for “an
imperceptible,” or an unnoticeable, effect of age and sex on stingray venom. The text says that the researchers are trying to
determine if there are “considerable variations” in venom toxicity linked to age and sex, not that the researchers are trying to
find effects that they can’t perceive. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
988c78eb | Former First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt and Indian activist and educator Hansa Mehta were instrumental in
drafting the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that ______ the basic freedoms to which all
people are entitled. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | have outlined | were outlining | outlines | outline | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb “outlines” agrees in
number with the singular subject “document.”
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “have outlined” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “document.”
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “were outlining” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “document.”
Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb “outline” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “document.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
69a6d050 | In the early 1800s, the Cherokee scholar Sequoyah created the first script, or writing system, for an Indigenous language in
the United States. Because it represented the sounds of spoken Cherokee so accurately, his script was easy to learn and
thus quickly achieved ______ use: by 1830, over 90 percent of the Cherokee people could read and write it. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | widespread | careful | unintended | infrequent | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the writing system created by
Sequoyah. In this context, “widespread” means widely accepted or practiced. The text indicates that because Sequoyah’s
script accurately represented the spoken sounds of the Cherokee language and was easy to learn, nearly all Cherokee people
were able to read and write it soon after it was created. This context demonstrates that the script was widely used by the
Cherokee people.
Choice B is incorrect. In this context, “careful” would mean exercised with care and attentive concern. Although the work of
creating a writing system likely involved great care, the text indicates that the system was “easy to learn,” which conflicts
with the idea that using this system requires a noteworthy amount of care. Choice C is incorrect because in this context
“unintended” means not deliberate. The idea that using Sequoyah’s script was unintentional conflicts directly with the claim
that it was easy to learn and used by “over 90% of the Cherokee people” by 1830. In fact, because one had to learn this
system, it’s not clear how one could use it unintentionally. Choice D is incorrect because in this context “infrequent” means
rare or not occurring often, which conflicts directly with the claim that “over 90% of the Cherokee people” were using
Sequoyah’s script by 1830. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
1782cdd7 | In many agricultural environments, the banks of streams are kept forested to protect water quality, but it’s been unclear what
effects these forests may have on stream biodiversity. To investigate the issue, biologist Xingli Giam and colleagues studied
an Indonesian oil palm plantation, comparing the species richness of forested streams with that of nonforested streams.
Giam and colleagues found that species richness was significantly higher in forested streams, a finding the researchers
attribute to the role leaf litter plays in sheltering fish from predators and providing food resources. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | It discusses research intended to settle a debate about how agricultural yields can be increased without negative effects
on water quality. | It explains the differences between stream-protection strategies used in oil palm plantations and stream-protection
strategies used in other kinds of agricultural environments. | It describes findings that challenge a previously held view about how fish that inhabit streams in agricultural
environments attempt to avoid predators. | It presents a study that addresses an unresolved question about the presence of forests along streams in agricultural | D | Choice D is the best answer. The author first describes an unresolved question: what effect do bank forests have on stream
biodiversity? Then the author presents a study that answers the question: bank forests increase stream biodiversity.
Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions agricultural yields. Choice B is
incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions other kinds of agricultural environments. Choice C
is incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions any previously held view about how fish in these
streams try to avoid predators. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
3e6ad72d | A study by a team including finance professor Madhu Veeraraghavan suggests that exposure to sunshine during the
workday can lead to overly optimistic behavior. Using data spanning from 1994 to 2010 for a set of US companies, the team
compared over 29,000 annual earnings forecasts to the actual earnings later reported by those companies. The team found
that the greater the exposure to sunshine at work in the two weeks before a manager submitted an earnings forecast, the
more the manager’s forecast exceeded what the company actually earned that year. | Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text? | To summarize the results of the team’s analysis | To present a specific example that illustrates the study’s findings | To explain part of the methodology used in the team’s study | To call out a challenge the team faced in conducting its analysis | C | Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence presents the implications of Veeraraghavan’s team’s study: sunshine exposure during work hours can cause overly
optimistic behavior. The underlined sentence then describes the data the team consulted and how they were used
(comparing predictions about earnings to what the companies actually earned), and the final sentence presents what the
team found in their examination of the data. Thus, the underlined sentence mainly functions to explain part of the
methodology used in the team’s study.
Choice A is incorrect because the underlined sentence explains in part how the team conducted their analysis of the effect
of sunshine but doesn’t address what the team found; a broad summary is instead given in the other two sentences. Choice
B is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t present any specific examples from the team’s comparisons of
29,000 earnings predictions to actual earnings; it simply explains in part how the team conducted their analysis. Choice D is
incorrect because the underlined sentence simply explains in part how the team conducted their analysis; the text never
mentions any challenges that the team encountered in their study. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
d2cf0e11 | Inventor John Friedman created a prototype of the first flexible straw by inserting a screw into a paper straw and, using
dental floss, binding the straw tightly around the ______ When the floss and screw were removed, the resulting corrugations
in the paper allowed the straw to bend easily over the edge of a glass. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | screw’s thread’s. | screws’ threads. | screw’s threads. | screws threads’. | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of plural and possessive nouns. The singular possessive
noun “screw’s” and the plural noun “threads” correctly indicate that there is only one screw and it has multiple threads.
Choice A is incorrect because the context requires the plural noun “threads,” not the singular possessive noun “thread’s.”
Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive noun “screw’s,” not the plural possessive noun
“screws’.” Choice D is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive noun “screw’s” and the plural noun
“threads,” not the plural noun “screws” or the plural possessive noun “threads.’” | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
96499989 | Fans of science fiction will ______ multiple references to classic sci-fi stories in Janelle Monáe’s song lyrics, including her
recurring nods to the plot of the 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | appreciate the | appreciate. The | appreciate, the | appreciate: the | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested here is punctuation between a verb and object. No punctuation is
needed between the verb ("appreciate") and its object ("the multiple references..."). The object helps complete the idea of the
verb—in this case, it explains what fans of science fiction will appreciate—and any punctuation between the two results in an
ungrammatical sentence.
Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the verb and its object. Choice C is incorrect because no
punctuation is needed between the verb and its object. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the
verb and its object. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
2dd1b8bf | Compared to that of alumina glass, ______ silica glass atoms are so far apart that they are unable to re-form bonds after
being separated. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | silica glass is at a significant disadvantage due to its more dispersed atomic arrangement: | silica glass has a more dispersed atomic arrangement, resulting in a significant disadvantage: | a significant disadvantage of silica glass is that its atomic arrangement is more dispersed: | silica glass’s atomic arrangement is more dispersed, resulting in a significant disadvantage: | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes “silica glass’s
atomic arrangement” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “compared to that of
alumina glass.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that silica glass’s atomic arrangement—and not another noun in
the sentence—is being compared to the atomic arrangement (“that”) of alumina glass.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “silica glass” immediately
after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that silica glass itself (rather than its atomic arrangement) is being compared
to alumina glass’s atomic arrangement. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the
noun phrase “silica glass” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that silica glass itself (rather than its
atomic arrangement) is being compared to alumina glass’s atomic arrangement. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a
dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “a significant disadvantage” immediately after the modifying phrase
illogically suggests that “a significant disadvantage” is being compared to alumina glass’s atomic arrangement. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
0fa289a7 | In 1955, Indian Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray released his first movie, Pather ______ quiet black-and-white drama about a
family in rural India, Ray’s film was quite different from the loud, colorful action-romance movies that were popular at the
time. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Panchali a | Panchali, which was a | Panchali, a | Panchali. A | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is
used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence ("In…Panchali") and another ("A quiet…time"). The phrase
beginning with "a quiet" modifies the subject of the next sentence, "Ray’s film."
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences are fused without punctuation and/or a
conjunction. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the
boundary between sentences. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way
to mark the boundary between sentences. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
c04e9136 | The 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three pioneers in the field of click chemistry: two-time Nobel laureate
Barry Sharpless, who coined the term “click chemistry” in 1998; Carolyn Bertozzi, founder of the Bertozzi Group at ______ and
Morten Meldal, a professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Stanford | Stanford, | Stanford: | Stanford; | D | Choice D is the best answer. This choice correctly uses a semicolon to punctuate a complex list (which is made up of items
that have commas in them).
Choice A is incorrect. This is a complex list, indicated by the semicolon between "1998" and "Carolyn Bertozzi." What comes
after the blank is a separate list item, so punctuation is needed after "Stanford." Choice B is incorrect. This is a complex list,
indicated by the semicolon between "1998" and "Carolyn Bertozzi." The items in this list have internal punctuation in the form
of commas and must therefore be separated by semicolons to avoid confusion. Choice C is incorrect. This is a complex list,
indicated by the semicolon between "1998" and "Carolyn Bertozzi." Colons aren’t used to separate items in a list. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
a318c1ef | The Cambrian explosion gets its name from the sudden appearance and rapid diversification of animal remains in the fossil
record about 541 million years ago, during the Cambrian period. Some scientists argue that this ______ change in the fossil
record might be because of a shift in many organisms to body types that were more likely to be preserved. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | catastrophic | elusive | abrupt | imminent | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of the fossil record from
the Cambrian period. In this context, “abrupt” means sudden. The text explains that the fossil record reflects the unexpected
appearance and rapid diversification, or increase in variety, of animal remains during the Cambrian period. This context
establishes that these remains’ entry into the fossil record was sudden.
Choice A is incorrect. Although the word “explosion” appears in the name of the event marked by the fossil record change,
the text never suggests that the change was “catastrophic,” or disastrous. In context, “explosion” refers to the rapid
diversification, or the swift increase in variety, of animal remains in the fossil record—a phenomenon that the text presents in
a relatively neutral manner, without commenting on whether it was negative or positive. Choice B is incorrect because the
text never suggests that the change toward greater diversification is “elusive,” or difficult to locate, in the fossil record.
Rather, the text notes that the change occurred about 541 million years ago, suggesting that scientists have indeed been
able to locate it. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to describe the change in the fossil record
as “imminent,” or about to occur, since the text indicates that the change already occurred millions of years ago. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
083a35dc | Po’Pay was a Tewa leader from Ohkay Owingeh, a pueblo located about twenty-five miles north of present-day Santa Fe, New
Mexico. He was instrumental in organizing the Pueblo Revolt of ______ as a result of his leadership, the Spanish colonizers
were expelled from the region for a time. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | 1680 | 1680 and | 1680, | 1680, and | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice
correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction “and” to join the first main clause (“He…1680”) and the second
main clause (“as…time”).
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused without punctuation and/or a
conjunction. Choice B is incorrect because when coordinating two longer main clauses such as these, it’s conventional to
use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a
conjunction following it, a comma can’t be used in this way to join two main clauses. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
fe41f258 | In ancient Greece, an Epicurean was a follower of Epicurus, a philosopher whose beliefs revolved around the pursuit of
pleasure. Epicurus defined pleasure as “the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the ______ that all life’s virtues
derived from this absence. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | soul,” positing | soul”: positing | soul”; positing | soul.” Positing | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a participial phrase.
This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause (“Epicurus…‘soul’”) and the participial
phrase (“positing…absence”) that provides additional information about how Epicurus defined pleasure.
Choice B is incorrect because a colon can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a participial phrase. Choice C is
incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join a main clause and a participial phrase. Choice D is incorrect
because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with “positing.” | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
b85c19ed | The violins handmade in the seventeeth century by Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari have been celebrated as some of the
finest in the world. In close collaboration with musicians, Stradivari introduced changes to the shape of a traditional violin,
flattening some of the instrument’s curves and making ______ lighter overall. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | those | one | them | it | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is pronoun–antecedent agreement. The singular pronoun “it”
agrees in number with the singular antecedent “violin” and thus indicates that the traditional violin (and not its curves) was
made lighter.
Choice A is incorrect because the plural pronoun “those” doesn’t agree in number with the singular antecedent “violin.”
Choice B is incorrect because the singular pronoun “one” is ambiguous in this context; the resulting sentence leaves unclear
what Stradivari made lighter. Choice C is incorrect because the plural pronoun “them” doesn’t agree in number with the
singular antecedent “violin.” | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
b0f7541b | The following text is adapted from Herman Melville’s 1857 novel The Confidence-Man. Humphry Davy was a prominent
British chemist and inventor.
Years ago, a grave American savant, being in London, observed at an evening party there, a certain coxcombical fellow,
as he thought, an absurd ribbon in his lapel, and full of smart [banter], whisking about to the admiration of as many as
were disposed to admire. Great was the savant’s disdain; but, chancing ere long to find himself in a corner with the
jackanapes, got into conversation with him, when he was somewhat ill-prepared for the good sense of the jackanapes,
but was altogether thrown aback, upon subsequently being [informed that he was] no less a personage than Sir
Humphry Davy. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | It portrays the thoughts of a character who is embarrassed about his own behavior. | It presents an account of a misunderstanding. | It offers a short history of how a person came to be famous. | It explains why one character dislikes another. | B | Choice B is the best answer. The text tells a story of a first impression that turned out to be wrong: a serious American
savant was dismissive of a goofy-looking, wisecracking guest at a British party, and then was shocked to learn that the guest
was actually a prominent British chemist and inventor.
Choice A is incorrect. This is too strong and too narrow. Only at the very end is the savant "thrown aback" by the fact that the
man was Sir Humphry Davy—he’s not "embarrassed about his own behavior." Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the main
purpose. The text never provides the history of how Sir Humphry Davy came to be famous. Nor does it provide any history for
the American savant. Choice D is incorrect. This is too narrow. It doesn’t include the second half of the text, where the savant
gets into a conversation with the man and then finds out that the man is Sir Humphry Davy. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
8a3998f1 | After the United Kingdom began rolling out taxes equivalent to a few cents on single-use plastic grocery bags in 2011,
plastic-bag consumption decreased by up to ninety ______ taxes are subject to what economists call the “rebound effect”: as
the change became normalized, plastic-bag use started to creep back up. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | percent, such | percent and such | percent. Such | percent such | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period
after “percent” is used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence (“After…percent”) and another (“Such…up”).
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary
between sentences. Choice B is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction “and” can’t be used in this way to
join sentences. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences (“After…percent” and “Such…up”)
are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
b1e8b87f | Winding through the ice atop Norway’s Jotunheim Mountains is the Lendbreen pass, an ancient route that was used by
hunters, farmers, traders, and travelers in the Middle Ages before eventually falling into disuse. Recently, archeologists have
______ knives, horseshoes, wool tunics, and thousands of other artifacts from the icy pass. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | unearthed: | unearthed, | unearthed— | unearthed | D | Choice D is the best answer. No punctuation should separate the verb "unearthed" and its objects (i.e, what was
"unearthed"): "knives, horseshoes, wool tunics, and thousands of other artifacts."
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error, separating the verb "unearthed" from its objects (i.e, what was
"unearthed") with a colon. Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error, separating the verb "unearthed"
from its objects (i.e, what was "unearthed") with a comma. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error,
separating the verb "unearthed" from its objects (i.e, what was "unearthed") with a dash. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
73a6603c | On sunny days, dark rooftops absorb solar energy and convert it to unwanted heat, raising the surrounding air ______ a light-
colored covering to an existing dark roof, either by attaching prefabricated reflective sheets or spraying on a paint-like
coating, helps combat this effect. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | temperature; by adding | temperature, adding | temperature. Adding | temperature by adding | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is
used correctly to mark the boundary between the first sentence (“On…temperature”) and the second sentence (“Adding…
effect”). The gerund phrase beginning with “adding” is the subject of the second sentence, and the verb phrase “helps
combat this effect” describes what adding a light-colored covering can do.
Choice A is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join the sentence “On...temperature” and the
supplementary phrases that follow. Doing so leaves the verb phrase “helps combat” without a subject and thus results in a
grammatically unconventional sentence. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used
in this way to mark the boundary between sentences. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a confusing and illogical
sentence that suggests that adding a light-colored covering to an existing dark roof raises the temperature of the
surrounding air. Furthermore, it creates ambiguity by leaving the verb phrase “helps combat” without a subject (so it isn’t
clear what helps combat the effect). | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
329255db | Bengali author Toru Dutt’s A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876), a volume of English translations of French poems, ______
scholars’ understanding of the transnational and multilingual contexts in which Dutt lived and worked. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | has enhanced | are enhancing | have enhanced | enhance | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb “has enhanced”
agrees in number with the singular subject “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields,” which is the title of a book of poems.
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “are enhancing” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “A Sheaf
Gleaned in French Fields.” Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb “have enhanced” doesn’t agree in number with the
singular subject “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields.” Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb “enhance” doesn’t agree in
number with the singular subject “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields.” | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
d5235d39 | The Mule Bone, a 1930 play written by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, is perhaps the best-known of the few
examples of ______ in literature. Most writers prefer working alone, and given that working together cost Hurston and Hughes
their friendship, it is not hard to see why. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | characterization | interpretation | collaboration | commercialization | C | Choice C is the best answer because it logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of The Mule Bone, a play that
Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes wrote together. In this context, “collaboration” means working together with
someone to write a literary work. The text indicates that most writers prefer to work alone and that working together
destroyed the friendship between Hurston and Hughes. This establishes that The Mule Bone is a relatively rare example of
collaboration in literature.
Choice A is incorrect because in this context, “characterization” would mean a literary work’s portrayal of characters’
psychological experiences and motivations, but the text doesn’t discuss characterization in The Mule Bone specifically or in
collaborative works more generally. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “interpretation” would mean the
explanation of a literary work’s meaning or significance, but the text doesn’t discuss how readers or critics have interpreted
The Mule Bone; instead, the text discusses how the play was written collaboratively and how the writing process affected the
two authors. Choice D is incorrect because in this context, “commercialization” would mean writing a literary work in such a
way as to ensure its commercial appeal, but the text never discusses commercial appeal as a factor in the writing of The
Mule Bone specifically or the writing of collaborative works more generally. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |