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a9e5b788 | In discussing Mary Shelley’s 1818 epistolary novel Frankenstein, literary theorist Gayatri Spivak directs the reader’s attention
to the character of Margaret Saville. As Spivak points out, Saville is not the protagonist of Shelley’s ______ as the recipient of
the letters that frame the book’s narrative, she’s the “occasion” of it. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | novel | novel, | novel; rather, | novel, rather, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice
correctly uses a semicolon to join a main clause (“Saville...novel”) and a second main clause (“she’s...it”) preceded by
supplementary elements (“rather...narrative”).
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 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. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction
following it, the comma after “novel” can’t be used in this way to join the two main clauses. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
e818241b | Astronomers are confident that the star Betelgeuse will eventually consume all the helium in its core and explode in a
supernova. They are much less confident, however, about when this will happen, since that depends on internal
characteristics of Betelgeuse that are largely unknown. Astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance and colleagues recently
investigated whether acoustic waves in the star could be used to determine internal stellar states but concluded that this
method could not sufficiently reveal Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics to allow its evolutionary state to be firmly fixed. | Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text? | It describes a serious limitation of the method used by Nance and colleagues. | It presents the central finding reported by Nance and colleagues. | It identifies the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but did not. | It explains how the work of Nance and colleagues was received by others in the field. | C | Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the second sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence establishes something astronomers believe with some certainty: that Betelgeuse will explode in a supernova. The
second sentence then introduces a problem: astronomers aren’t certain when Betelgeuse will explode because they don’t
have enough information about the star’s internal characteristics. Finally, the third sentence indicates that researcher
Sarafina El-Badry Nance and colleagues investigated a possible method of obtaining the necessary information about
Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics, though they found that the method wouldn’t be sufficient. Thus, the function of the
second sentence is to identify the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but didn’t.
Choice A is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped to solve,
not a serious limitation of how Nance and colleagues tried to solve it. It is the third sentence that introduces Nance and
colleagues, but no serious limitation of their approach to studying a method of determining internal stellar states is
described. Choice B is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped
to solve, not the central finding they ultimately reported. It is the third sentence that presents Nance and colleagues’
conclusion that a potential method for determining internal stellar states would be insufficient. Choice D is incorrect
because the second sentence doesn’t indicate how other astronomers or astrophysicists responded to the work done by
Nance and colleagues; the text doesn’t address this information at all. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
bd11fe93 | Dr. Rocío Paola Caballero-Gill is a paleoceanographer. This means that Dr. Caballero-Gill doesn’t just study oceans as they
are today. She uses chemistry and fossil evidence ______ oceans as they were in the past. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | has studied | to study | studied | studies | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite to-
infinitive verb “to study” is correctly used to form a subordinate clause that indicates what Dr. Caballero-Gill uses chemistry
and fossil evidence for (to study oceans as they were in the past).
Choice A is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite verb “has studied” can’t be used in this way
to form a subordinate clause that indicates what Dr. Caballero-Gill uses the evidence for. Choice C is incorrect because it
results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite verb “studied” can’t be used in this way to form a subordinate clause that
indicates what Dr. Caballero-Gill uses the evidence for. Choice D is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical
sentence. The finite verb “studies” can’t be used in this way to form a subordinate clause that indicates what Dr. Caballero-
Gill uses the evidence for. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
5dce6cab | Given that the conditions in binary star systems should make planetary formation nearly impossible, it’s not surprising that
the existence of planets in such systems has lacked ______ explanation. Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee shed light on the
subject when they used modeling to determine a complex set of factors that could support planets’ development. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | a discernible | a straightforward | an inconclusive | an unbiased | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s description of efforts to explain the existence of
planets in binary star systems. As used in this context, describing an explanation as “a straightforward” one would mean that
the explanation is direct and uncomplicated. The text asserts that since it should be “nearly impossible” for planets to form
in binary star systems, it’s “not surprising” that there isn’t a straightforward explanation for the existence of planets in such
systems; the fact that one potential approach involves “complex” factors offers further contextual support for this idea.
Choice A is incorrect because it would not make sense in context to say that there isn’t “a discernible” explanation—meaning
an explanation capable of being perceived—for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text discusses just such
an explanation offered by Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee, which indicates that their explanation can be
discerned. Choice C is incorrect because the text emphasizes how difficult it is to explain the existence of planets in binary
star systems, suggesting that the situation isn’t marked by the lack of “an inconclusive” explanation—an explanation that
does not resolve the issue—but rather that if any explanations have been offered, they’ve likely been inconclusive
ones. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that there is a lack of “an unbiased,” or impartial and
unprejudiced, explanation for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text indicates that it’s difficult to explain
the existence of planets in such systems and it describes one attempt to do so, but there is no evidence that explanations
from Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee or others are biased. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
74446089 | For his 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies, Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote songs grounded in traditional soul and folk music,
then accompanied them with futuristic synthesizer arrangements featuring ambient sounds and complex rhythms. The
result was so strange, so unprecedented, that the album attracted little attention when first released. In recent years,
however, a younger generation of musicians has embraced the stylistic experimentation of Keyboard Fantasies. Alternative
R&B musicians Blood Orange and Moses Sumney, among other contemporary recording artists, cite the album as an
influence. | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? | It urges contemporary musicians to adopt the unique sound of Keyboard Fantasies. | It responds to criticism of Keyboard Fantasies by some younger musicians. | It offers examples of younger musicians whose work has been impacted by Keyboard Fantasies. | It contrasts Keyboard Fantasies with the recordings of two younger musicians. | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a
whole. The text’s subject is Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies, notable for its innovative,
experimental arrangements. According to the text, the album was not initially admired, but in recent years it has become
popular among younger musicians. The underlined portion of the text mentions two of those musicians, Blood Orange and
Moses Sumney, who “cite the album as an influence.” Therefore, the underlined portion of the text offers examples of
younger musicians whose work has been impacted by Keyboard Fantasies.
Choice A is incorrect because even though the underlined sentence states that Blood Orange and Moses Sumney were
influenced by Keyboard Fantasies, it doesn’t say that all other musicians should also embrace the album’s experimental style.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the text states that Keyboard Fantasies was not admired on its first release, the text doesn’t
present any criticism of the album by younger musicians: it only presents two younger musicians who cite it as an influence.
Choice D is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t mention any differences between Keyboard Fantasies and the
work of Blood Orange and Moses Sumney. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
775f3eb9 | In his groundbreaking book Bengali Harlem and the Lost Histories of South Asian America, Vivek Bald uses newspaper
articles, census records, ships’ logs, and memoirs to tell the ______ who made New York City their home in the early twentieth
century. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | story’s of the South Asian immigrants | story’s of the South Asian immigrants’ | stories of the South Asian immigrants | stories’ of the South Asian immigrant’s | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of plural and possessive nouns. The plural nouns
“stories” and “immigrants” correctly indicate that the memoir tells multiple stories of multiple immigrants.
Choice A is incorrect because the context requires the plural noun “stories,” not the singular possessive noun “story’s.”
Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the plural nouns “stories” and “immigrants,” not the singular possessive
noun “story’s” and the plural possessive noun “immigrants’.” Choice D is incorrect because the context requires the plural
nouns “stories” and “immigrants,” not the plural possessive noun “stories’” and the singular possessive noun “immigrant’s.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
e56b66e5 | Set in a world where science fiction tropes exist as everyday realities, Charles Yu’s 2010 novel How to Live Safely in a Science
Fictional Universe traces a time traveler’s quest to find his father. Because the journey at the novel’s center is so ______, with
the protagonist ricocheting chaotically across time, the reader often wonders whether the pair will ever be reunited. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | haphazard | premeditated | inspirational | fruitless | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Yu’s novel. In this context,
“haphazard” means marked by a lack of plan or order. The text indicates that the quest featured in the novel, which involves
the protagonist bouncing across time, is chaotic and causes the reader to often wonder what will happen. This context
suggests that the protagonist’s journey seems to be marked by a lack of order.
Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that the journey featured in Yu’s novel involves a character “ricocheting
chaotically,” or bouncing in a disordered way, across time and causes the reader to often wonder what will happen. It
wouldn’t make sense to say that a chaotic journey seems “premeditated,” or characterized by forethought and planning.
Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t give any indication that readers regard the journey in Yu’s novel as
“inspirational,” or as causing extraordinarily creative or brilliant thoughts or actions; instead, the text focuses on the idea that
the protagonist’s journey is chaotic, or disordered, and doesn’t give readers a clear sense of what will happen. Choice D is
incorrect. Rather than suggesting that the journey featured in Yu’s novel is “fruitless,” or has an unsuccessful outcome, the
text focuses on the idea that while reading about the protagonist’s chaotic movements across time, readers are often unsure
of what will happen—that is, they don’t know whether the protagonist will be successful in finding his father. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
856b495d | In the early twentieth century, Joseph Kekuku and other Hawaiian ______ in the mainland United States to the bright and
lilting sound of the kīkā kila, or Hawaiian steel guitar. The instrument soon became a fixture in American blues and country
music. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | musicians introduced audiences | musicians’ introduced audiences’ | musician’s introduced audience’s | musicians’ introduced audiences | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of plural nouns. The plural nouns "musicians" and
"audiences" correctly indicate that there were multiple musicians introducing the music to multiple audiences.
Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the plural nouns "musicians" and "audiences," not the plural possessive
nouns "musicians’" and "audiences’." Choice C is incorrect because the context requires the plural nouns "musicians" and
"audiences," not the singular possessive nouns "musician’s" and "audience’s." Choice D is incorrect because the context
requires the plural noun "musicians," not the plural possessive noun "musicians’." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
a68239ed | The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1897 nonfiction work De Profundis.
People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going. They can’t know. In one sense of the
word it is of course necessary to know oneself: that is the first achievement of knowledge. But to recognise that the
soul of a man is unknowable, is the ultimate achievement of wisdom. The final mystery is oneself. When one has
weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star,
there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul? | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined question in the text as a whole? | It reinforces the text’s skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge. | It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge. | It cautions readers that the text’s directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow. | It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular. | A | Choice A is the best answer. The text repeatedly claims that true self-knowledge can’t possibly be achieved, and this
rhetorical question emphasizes that point.
Choice B is incorrect. The underlined question doesn’t do this. The text never expresses doubts about the value of self-
knowledge—rather, the text expresses doubts about the possibility of achieving self-knowledge. Choice C is incorrect. The
underlined question doesn’t do this. The text doesn’t provide directions for how to achieve self-knowledge—rather, it claims
that true self-knowledge is impossible to achieve. Choice D is incorrect. The underlined question doesn’t do this. The text
doesn’t ever define self-knowledge, and popularity isn’t mentioned in the text at all. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
432b1ede | The forty-seven geothermal springs of Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park are sourced via a process known as natural
groundwater recharge, in which rainwater percolates downward through the earth—in this case, the porous rocks of the hills
around Hot ______ collect in a subterranean basin. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Springs to | Springs: to | Springs—to | Springs, to | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The dash after “Springs” pairs with the dash after “earth” to separate the supplementary element “in this case, the porous
rocks of the hills around Hot Springs” from the rest 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. Choice B 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. Choice D 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. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
0ee67e09 | Anthropologist Kristian J. Carlson and colleagues examined the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of a 3.6-million-year-
old early hominin known as “Little Foot.” They found that these bones were ______ the clavicle and shoulder bones of modern
apes that are frequent climbers, such as gorillas and chimpanzees, suggesting that Little Foot had adapted to life in the
trees. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | surpassed by | comparable to | independent of | obtained from | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the fossilized bones of the hominin
known as Little Foot. As used in this context, “comparable to” would mean similar to. The text indicates that the relationship
between the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of Little Foot and the clavicle and shoulder bones of “frequent climbers,”
such as chimpanzees and gorillas, suggests that Little Foot had adapted to moving around in trees. This context suggests
that the relationship between the fossilized bones of Little Foot and the bones of chimpanzees and gorillas is one of
similarity—the Little Foot fossils are likely comparable to the modern ape bones.
Choice A is incorrect because if the fossilized bones of Little Foot were “surpassed by,” or exceeded by or made inferior to,
the bones of modern apes that are frequent climbers, it wouldn’t suggest, as the text says, that Little Foot was adapted to
moving around in trees. If anything, learning that Little Foot’s clavicle and shoulder bones were surpassed by those of
chimpanzees and gorillas would suggest that Little Foot was poorly adapted to climbing. Choice C is incorrect because if
Little Foot’s fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones were “independent of,” or not influenced by or affiliated with, the bones of
modern apes that climb often, it wouldn’t suggest, as the text says, that Little Foot was adapted to moving around in
trees. Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that Little Foot’s fossilized bones date to 3.6 million years ago, so they
couldn’t have been “obtained from,” or acquired from, the bones of modern apes. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
f83f0aab | Some scientists have suggested that mammals in the Mesozoic era were not a very ______ group, but paleontologist Zhe-Xi
Luo’s research suggests that early mammals living in the shadow of dinosaurs weren’t all ground-dwelling insectivores.
Fossils of various plant-eating mammals have been found in China, including species like Vilevolodon diplomylos, which Luo
says could glide like a flying squirrel. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | predatory | obscure | diverse | localized | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the kinds of mammals alive during
the Mesozoic era. As used in this context, “diverse” means to have a significant amount of variety. The text indicates that
some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals can’t be characterized in a certain way, then contrasts the view put
forward by those scientists with Luo’s research, which shows that Mesozoic mammals “weren’t all ground-dwelling
insectivores” and instead were “various.” This context suggests that some scientists have viewed Mesozoic mammals as
being all alike, or not a very diverse group.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals
weren’t very “predatory,” or that they didn’t prey on other animals, since the text establishes a contrast between what some
scientists have suggested and Luo’s research showing that Mesozoic mammals “weren’t all ground-dwelling insectivores.”
This context suggests that some scientists have regarded Mesozoic mammals as all being insectivores, or animals that prey
on insects, not that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals didn’t prey on other animals. Choice B is
incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals weren’t very
“obscure,” or concealed or not well known, since the text establishes a contrast between what some scientists have
suggested and Luo’s research showing that Mesozoic mammals were a varied group. There’s no contrast between saying
that the mammals weren’t concealed or well known and the mammals being varied. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t
make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals weren’t very “localized,” or confined to a
particular area, since the text establishes a contrast between what some scientists have suggested and Luo’s research
showing that Mesozoic mammals were a varied group. There’s no contrast between saying that the mammals weren’t
localized and the mammals being varied. Although the text mentions mammal fossils found in China, nothing in the
discussion of Luo’s research addresses the limits of Mesozoic mammal habitats. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
14b7dced | The following text is from Walt Whitman’s 1860 poem “Calamus 24.”
I HEAR it is charged against me that I seek to destroy institutions;
But really I am neither for nor against institutions
(What indeed have I in common with them?—Or what with the destruction of them?),
Only I will establish in the Mannahatta [Manhattan] and in every city of These States, inland and seaboard,
And in the fields and woods, and above every keel [ship] little or large, that dents the water,
Without edifices, or rules, or trustees, or any argument,
The institution of the dear love of comrades. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | The speaker questions an increasingly prevalent attitude, then summarizes his worldview. | The speaker regrets his isolation from others, then predicts a profound change in society. | The speaker concedes his personal shortcomings, then boasts of his many achievements. | The speaker addresses a criticism leveled against him, then announces a grand ambition of his. | D | Choice D is the best answer because it best describes the overall structure of the text. The speaker begins by stating that he
has heard that others are accusing him of seeking to destroy institutions. The speaker then addresses this criticism by
stating that he is “neither for nor against institutions.” Instead, the speaker states that his ultimate goal is to instill “the
institution of the dear love of comrades” everywhere in the country. Therefore, the overall structure of the text is best
described as an address of criticism followed by an announcement of a grand ambition.
Choice A is incorrect. While the speaker does address an opinion of him that he believes to be untrue, he doesn’t indicate
that this attitude has become increasingly prevalent. The speaker also concludes by explaining his goal for the future rather
than his current worldview. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t portray the speaker as isolated or regretful, and the
speaker gestures toward a hope for societal change but doesn’t offer an explicit prediction that it will happen. Choice C is
incorrect because the speaker addresses a criticism of him that he believes to be false; he doesn’t admit any personal
shortcomings. Moreover, the speaker concludes by stating a goal he has rather than showcasing his achievements. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
fdb16e20 | Quantum particles of light—photons—provide an unhackable means of transmitting encryption keys over networks, as
attempts to observe particles in quantum states will invariably alter the particles ______ dismantle any information they
transmit. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | and in the process, | and, in the process, | and in the process— | and, in the process | B | Choice B is the best answer. This choice uses paired punctuation in the form of two commas to set off the nonessential
phrase "in the process."
Choice A is incorrect. The phrase "in the process" is a nonessential element and needs to be set off with paired punctuation.
We need a comma after "and" to match the one after "process." Choice C is incorrect. The phrase "in the process" is a
nonessential element and needs to be set off with paired punctuation, so we would need a dash after "and" to match the one
following "process." Choice D is incorrect. The phrase "in the process" is a nonessential element and needs to be set off with
paired punctuation. We would need a comma after "process" to match the one following "and." | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
1ad04ea0 | In habitats with limited nutrients, certain fungus species grow on the roots of trees, engaging in mutually beneficial
relationships known as ectomycorrhizae: in this symbiotic exchange, the tree provides the fungus with carbon, a nutrient
necessary for both species, and the fungus ______ by enhancing the tree’s ability to absorb nitrogen, another key nutrient,
from the soil. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | overreacts | reciprocates | retaliates | deviates | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of ectomycorrhizae relationships. In
this context, “reciprocates” means responds in kind or degree. The text indicates that the relationship between certain fungi
and trees in some habitats is “mutually beneficial” and involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the
other access an important nutrient. In other words, each organism provides the same kind of benefit it receives: the tree
provides a nutrient (carbon) for the fungus and the fungus reciprocates by helping the tree to absorb more of another
nutrient (nitrogen).
Choice A is incorrect because the text emphasizes that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats
involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the other access an important nutrient. Nothing in the text
suggests that the fungus “overreacts,” or responds too strongly, by allowing the tree to be better able to absorb a beneficial
nutrient. Choice C is incorrect because “retaliates” means responds to a harmful action with a similarly harmful action. The
text indicates that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats is “mutually beneficial” and involves a
“symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the other, not that the relationship is one in which the organisms harm
one another. Choice D is incorrect. In this context, “deviates” would mean departs from an established course or norm. The
text explains that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which
each organism helps the other access an important nutrient. Because the relationship involves benefits for both the fungus
and the tree, it wouldn’t make sense to say that the fungus deviates by helping the tree be better able to absorb a beneficial
nutrient. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
ea8f4658 | When particles are suspended in liquid (like pollen in a water glass), they will zigzag randomly through the liquid and collide
with one another in perpetuity. This type of random, continuous ______ is known as Brownian motion, can be observed
throughout the natural world. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | movement: which | movement, which | movement which | movement. Which | B | Choice B is the best answer. This choice correctly uses commas to set off the nonessential relative clause "which is known
as Brownian motion" that provides extra information about the "random, continuous movement" that isn’t necessary for the
function of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. The relative clause "which is known as Brownian motion" is a
nonessential supplement. Nonessential supplements need to be set apart from the rest of the sentence with a pair of
commas, dashes, or parentheses, so we can’t use a colon here. Also, notice that colons can only come after an independent
clause, which isn’t the case here. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. The relative clause "which
is known as Brownian motion" is a nonessential supplement, so it should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a
pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a comma after "motion," so we need to add a comma before "which."
This choice is missing that comma. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a sentence fragment. "This type of random,
continuous movement" is not an independent clause and can’t stand alone as a full sentence, so we can’t put a period here. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
70ced8dc | Typically, underlines, scribbles, and notes left in the margins by a former owner lower a book’s ______ when the former owner
is a famous poet like Walt Whitman, such markings, known as marginalia, can be a gold mine to literary scholars. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | value, but | value | value, | value but | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of independent clauses within a sentence. An
independent clause is a phrase containing a subject and a verb that can stand on its own as a sentence. This choice uses a
comma and the coordinating conjunction “but” to join the first independent clause (“underlines…lower a book’s value”) and
the second independent clause (“such markings…can be a gold mine to scholars”) to create a compound sentence.
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two independent clauses are fused without punctuation
and/or a conjunction. 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 two independent clauses. Choice D is incorrect because a comma is needed to mark the boundary
between two coordinated independent clauses. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
d46ac7e7 | A second-generation Japanese American, Wataru Misaka ______ in World War II (1941-45) and won two amateur national
basketball championships at the University of Utah when he joined the New York Knicks for the 1947-48 season, becoming
the first non-white basketball player in the US’s top professional league. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | already served | was already serving | already serves | had already served | D | Choice D is the best answer. Misaka served in World War II before he joined the New York Knicks in 1947. To show that a
past occurrence took place before another past occurrence, we need to use “had” + the past tense form of the verb. This is
called the past perfect tense.
Choice A is incorrect. Misaka served in World War II before he joined the Knicks. Both events are in the past, but his service
in World War II happened earlier, so we need a verb that makes it clear that his service (and the two national championships)
had ended by the time he joined the Knicks. Choice B is incorrect. “Was already serving” forms the continuous past tense,
which we use when we’re showing a past action that was ongoing. Misaka served in World War II before he joined the
Knicks. Both events are in the past, but they’re not happening at the same time, so we shouldn’t use the continuous past
tense here. Choice C is incorrect. Misaka served in World War II in the past, so we shouldn’t use the present tense “serves.” | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
f6d1f735 | Researchers have struggled to pinpoint specific causes for hiccups, which happen when a person’s diaphragm contracts
______. However, neuroscientist Kimberley Whitehead has found that these uncontrollable contractions may play an
important role in helping infants regulate their breathing. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | involuntarily | beneficially | strenuously | smoothly | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of diaphragm contractions and
hiccups. In this context, “involuntarily” means done without any control, or by reflex. The text explains that when a person’s
diaphragm repeatedly contracts and results in hiccups (which may be beneficial for infants), those muscle contractions are
“uncontrollable.” This context indicates that the diaphragm contractions occur without the person’s control.
Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t support the logical relationship established in the text’s discussion of diaphragm
contractions and hiccups. The text indicates that although specific causes for hiccups haven’t been identified, it may be the
case that the muscle contractions that occur have an important purpose in infants. It wouldn’t make sense to say that even
though the contractions occur “beneficially,” or with a good or helpful effect, they might play a positive role in infants’
breathing regulation. Choice C is incorrect because the text indicates that the diaphragm contractions that result in hiccups
are “uncontrollable.” Because those muscle contractions are described as happening automatically and without the person’s
control, it wouldn’t make sense to describe them as occurring “strenuously,” or in a way that requires great effort or energy.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe the quality of the diaphragm contractions that result in hiccups
beyond stating that they are “uncontrollable.” Nothing in the text indicates that those muscle contractions occur “smoothly,”
or evenly and continuously. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
2bb7416a | In paleontology, the term “Elvis taxon” gets applied to a newly identified living species that was once presumed to be extinct.
Like an Elvis impersonator who might bear a striking resemblance to the late musical icon Elvis Presley himself, an Elvis
taxon is not the real thing, ______ is a misidentified look-alike. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | however but it | however it | however, it | however. It | D | Choice D is the best answer. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the clause “it is…look-alike” are both
independent clauses, so making them into two separate sentences is grammatically correct.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the
clause “it is…look-alike” are both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with at least a comma + a coordinating
conjunction. This choice provides the coordinating conjunction “but,” but it’s missing a comma. Choice B is incorrect. This
choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the clause “it is…look-alike”
are both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with a semicolon, a colon, a dash, a period, or a comma + a
coordinating conjunction. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “Like an Elvis
impersonator…real thing” and the clause “it is…look-alike” are both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with at
least a comma + a coordinating conjunction. This choice provides a comma, but it’s missing a coordinating conjunction. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
9e501aaf | Research conducted by planetary scientist Katarina Miljkovic suggests that the Moon’s surface may not accurately ______
early impact events. When the Moon was still forming, its surface was softer, and asteroid or meteoroid impacts would have
left less of an impression; thus, evidence of early impacts may no longer be present. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | reflect | receive | evaluate | mimic | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Moon’s surface. In this context,
“reflect” means show or make apparent. The text states that because the surface of the Moon was softer when the Moon
was still forming than it is now, early asteroid and meteoroid impacts “would have left less of an impression” and, as a result,
evidence of them may no longer exist. This context supports the idea that the surface of the Moon may not accurately show
signs of early impact events.
Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that the surface of the Moon may not accurately “receive,” or
acquire or experience, early impacts from asteroids or meteoroids. The text indicates that the impacts have already
occurred, and it isn’t clear how the Moon’s surface could be accurate or inaccurate in experiencing them. Choice C is
incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that the surface of the Moon may not accurately “evaluate,” or determine the
significance or condition of, early impacts from asteroids or meteoroids, since that would suggest that it’s possible for the
Moon’s surface to make a decision of any kind. Choice D is incorrect. In this context, “mimic” would mean to deliberately
simulate or closely imitate something. It wouldn’t make sense to say that the surface of the Moon may not accurately mimic
early asteroid and meteoroid impacts, since that would suggest that it’s possible for the Moon to deliberately imitate
something. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
0a114526 | In 1937, Chinese American screen actor Anna May Wong, who had portrayed numerous villains and secondary characters
but never a heroine, finally got a starring role in Paramount Pictures’ Daughter of Shanghai, a film that ______ “expanded the
range of possibilities for Asian images on screen.” | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | critic, Stina Chyn, claims | critic, Stina Chyn, claims, | critic Stina Chyn claims | critic Stina Chyn, claims, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The conventions being tested are punctuation use between titles and proper nouns and
between verbs and integrated quotations. No punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun “Stina Chyn” from the title that
describes Chyn, “critic.” Because “Stina Chyn” is essential information identifying the “critic,” no punctuation is necessary.
Further, no punctuation is needed between the verb “claims” and the following quotation because the quotation is integrated
into the structure of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed before or after the proper noun “Stina Chyn.” Setting the critic’s
name off with commas suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the
case. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed before or after the proper noun “Stina Chyn.” Setting the critic’s
name off with commas suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the
case. Additionally, no punctuation is needed between “claims” and the integrated quotation. Choice D is incorrect because
no punctuation is needed between the verb “claims” and its subject, “critic Stina Chyn.” Additionally, no punctuation is
needed between the verb “claims” and the integrated quotation. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
b5b74c3f | When writing The Other Black Girl (2021), novelist Zakiya Dalila Harris drew on her own experiences working at a publishing
office. The award-winning book is Harris’s first novel, but her writing ______ honored before. At the age of twelve, she entered
a contest to have a story published in American Girl magazine—and won. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | were | have been | has been | are | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb “has been” agrees in
number with the singular subject “writing.”
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “writing.” Choice B is
incorrect because the plural verb “have been” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “writing.” Choice D is
incorrect because the plural verb “are” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “writing.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
d4732483 | Studying late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century artifacts from an agricultural and domestic site in Texas, archaeologist
Ayana O. Flewellen found that Black women employed as farm workers utilized hook-and-eye closures to fasten their clothes
at the waist, giving themselves a silhouette similar to the one that was popular in contemporary fashion and typically
achieved through more restrictive garments such as corsets. Flewellen argues that this sartorial practice shows that these
women balanced hegemonic ideals of femininity with the requirements of their physically demanding occupation. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To describe an unexpected discovery that altered a researcher’s view of how rapidly fashions among Black female
farmworkers in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Texas changed during the period | To discuss research that investigated the ways in which Black female farmworkers in late nineteenth- and early
twentieth-century Texas used fashion practices to resist traditional gender ideals | To evaluate a scholarly work that offers explanations for the impact of urban fashion ideals on Black female farmworkers
in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Texas | To summarize the findings of a study that explored factors influencing a fashion practice among Black female | D | Choice D is the best answer. The text provides an overview of a scholarly work discussing the fashion practices of Black
female farmworkers in late 19th- and early 20th-century Texas, and how these practices were influenced by both the fashion
ideals of the time and the demands of farmwork.
Choice A is incorrect. The text never discusses the rate of fashion change among Black female farmworkers. The text also
never categorizes Flewellen’s findings as "unexpected." Choice B is incorrect. The text actually explains that Black female
farmworkers were trying to achieve traditional feminine ideals, not resist them. Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t
evaluate a scholarly work but rather simply describes it. Furthermore, the text is focused on "agricultural and domestic"
fashion, not urban fashion as this choice suggests. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
9b2fbb2e | Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one, but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann,
a broken area on a fossilized trilobite (a crustacean-like creature) ______ fresh insight, allowing her to view the inner structure
of the organism’s eye. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | resolved | adjusted | offered | directed | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about how, for Schoenemann, a
damaged trilobite fossil was informative. In context, “offered” means provided or gave. The text suggests that although it
may seem counterintuitive, a broken fossilized trilobite allowed Schoenemann to observe more details of the trilobite’s eye
than an intact fossilized trilobite would. This context conveys the idea that a damaged fossil offered, or provided, fresh
insight into the structure of a trilobite’s eye.
Choice A is incorrect because “resolved” means determined or figured out, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The
text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more information from a broken fossil than an intact one. Although the
damaged fossil may have allowed her to determine certain information, as an inanimate object the fossil isn’t capable of
resolving anything. Choice B is incorrect because saying that the broken part of a trilobite fossil “adjusted,” or changed or
modified, fresh insight wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more
information from a broken fossil than an intact one. This context suggests that the fossil offered fresh insight, or
understanding, not that it adjusted fresh insight. Choice D is incorrect because “directed” means managed or instructed,
which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more information from a
broken fossil than an intact one. This context suggests that the fossil offered fresh insight, or understanding, not that it
directed fresh insight. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
50445680 | In winter, the diets of Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are influenced more by food availability than by
food preference. Although the monkeys prefer to eat vegetation and land-dwelling invertebrates, those food sources may
become unavailable because of extensive snow and ice cover, ______ the monkeys to hunt for marine animals in any streams
that have not frozen over. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | forces | to force | forcing | forced | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. The
nonfinite present participle “forcing” is correctly used to form a participial phrase that supplements the main clause
“those...cover,” describing the effects on monkeys of the lack of food sources.
Choice A is incorrect because the finite present tense verb “forces” can’t be used in this way to supplement the main clause
(“those...cover”). Choice B is incorrect. While the nonfinite to-infinitive “to force” could be used to form a subordinate clause
that supplements the main clause (“those...cover”), to-infinitives conventionally express purpose, and nothing in the
sentence suggests that the food sources become unavailable for the purpose of forcing monkeys to hunt marine animals.
Choice D is incorrect because the finite past tense verb “forced” can’t be used in this way to supplement the main clause
(“those...cover”). | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
47955354 | Sumerian civilization (which lasted from around 3300 to 2000 BCE) ______ many concepts that persist into present-day
civilizations: for example, the first description of the seven-day week appears in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | transformed | introduced | inherited | overlooked | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the contributions of the Sumerian
civilization. In this context, “introduced” means brought into practice or use. The text states that the first reference to a
seven-day week appears in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. The text presents this information about the seven-day week as
an example of a concept introduced by the Sumerian civilization that persists into present-day civilizations.
Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the Sumerian civilization “transformed,” or changed the
nature of, concepts that persist into present-day civilizations. Instead, the text’s presentation of a Sumerian literary work that
contains the first description of the seven-day week is an example of the phenomenon described in the first half of the
sentence, suggesting that the Sumerians invented many concepts that still persist. Choice C is incorrect because the
information that a Sumerian literary work includes the first description of the seven-day week suggests that Sumerian
civilization may have originated the seven-day week and other concepts that persist into present-day civilizations, not that it
“inherited” the concepts, or received them from an ancestral figure or culture. Choice D is incorrect because the information
that Sumerian civilization produced the first description of the seven-day week is presented as an example of the
phenomenon described in the first half of the sentence, suggesting that Sumerian civilization originated this and other
concepts that still persist, not that the Sumerians “overlooked,” or failed to notice or consider, such concepts. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
b6560e5a | Materials scientist Marie-Agathe Charpagne and her colleagues believed they could improve on the multicomponent alloy
NiCoCr, an equal-proportions mixture of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr), by replacing chromium with ruthenium
______ the alloy that resulted, NiCoRu, turned out to be an unsuitable replacement for NiCoCr. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | (Ru) | (Ru) but | (Ru), | (Ru), but | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses. This choice correctly uses a
comma and the coordinating conjunction “but” to join the first main clause (“Materials…Ru”) and the second main clause
(“the alloy…NiCoCr”).
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 |
a2dd51c1 | In most building demolitions, the building materials are destroyed and sent to landfills. City officials in Portland, Oregon,
wanted to reduce this waste. The officials passed a law requiring demolition companies to deconstruct some buildings
instead. Deconstruction involves carefully taking buildings apart piece by piece. Damage to the materials is avoided so that
they can be reused in new constructions. A 2019 study found that 27 percent of materials from deconstructions in Portland
were able to be reused. The remaining materials were processed for recycling instead of going to a landfill. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To explain an effort made by the city of Portland to reduce demolition waste and some results of that effort | To show that popular support for measures that reduce demolition waste has increased since 2019 | To argue that building deconstruction is not as effective as other measures at reducing demolition waste | To discuss laws aimed to reduce demolition waste in Portland and compare them to similar laws in other cities | A | Choice A is the best answer. The author first describes a Portland law aimed at reducing demolition waste, and then goes on
to explain that 27% of materials from building deconstructions were able to be reused and the rest were recycled.
Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses the popularity of the law. Choice C is incorrect. The text never compares
building deconstruction to other measures designed to reduce demolition waste. Choice D is incorrect. The text never
mentions laws in cities other than Portland, Oregon. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
40c3589d | Luci Tapahonso is the inaugural poet laureate of the Navajo Nation. Her book Sáanii Dahataal/The Women Are Singing—a
combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and ______ serves as a testament to her versatility as a writer. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | prose; | prose | prose, | prose— | D | Choice D is the best answer. “A combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it
needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at the
beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match.
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. “A
combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it needs to be set off from the rest of
the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at the beginning of the supplement, so we
need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that
conforms to the conventions of Standard English. “A combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential
supplement, so it needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already
have a dash at the beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match. Choice C
is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. “A combination of
fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence
with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at the beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a
dash at the end of the supplement to match. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
4d1a9c0d | Following the principles of community-based participatory research, tribal nations and research institutions are equal
partners in health studies conducted on reservations. A collaboration between the Crow Tribe and Montana State University ‐
______ this model: tribal citizens worked alongside scientists to design the methodology and continue to assist in data
collection. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | circumvents | eclipses | fabricates | exemplifies | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the collaboration between the Crow
Tribe and Montana State University. As used in this context, “exemplifies” means demonstrates. The text conveys how the
Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves to illustrate the model of community-based participatory research
introduced earlier in the text and expanded on later in the text.
Choice A is incorrect because referring to “circumvents,” or avoids, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text suggests that
the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves as an example of the principles of community-based
participatory research, not that the collaboration evades this model. Choice B is incorrect because referring to “eclipses,” or
overshadows, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text describes the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration as
an equal partnership, which indicates that it’s an example of the community-based participatory research model, not that it
overshadows the model. Choice C is incorrect because saying that the collaboration “fabricates,” or creates, the model
wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates that the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves as an
example of the model, not that it created the model. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
34d7bb25 | According to Indian economist and sociologist Radhakamal Mukerjee (1889–1968), the Eurocentric concepts that informed
early twentieth-century social scientific methods—for example, the idea that all social relations are reducible to struggles
between individuals—had little relevance for India. Making the social sciences more responsive to Indians’ needs, Mukerjee
argued, required constructing analytical categories informed by India’s cultural and ecological circumstances. Mukerjee thus
proposed the communalist “Indian village” as the ideal model on which to base Indian economic and social policy. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | The text recounts Mukerjee’s early training in the social scientific disciplines and then lists social policies whose
implementation Mukerjee oversaw. | The text mentions some of Mukerjee’s economic theories and then traces their impact on other Indian social scientists of
the twentieth century. | The text presents Mukerjee’s critique of the social sciences and then provides an example of his attempts to address
issues he identified in his critique. | The text explains an influential economic theory and then demonstrates how that theory was more important to | C | Choice C is the best answer. The text does indeed present Mukerjee’s critique of the social sciences—that they were too
Eurocentric—and then provides an example of how he attempted to address the issues he identified: by suggesting a social
science model based on the Indian village.
Choice A is incorrect. The text doesn’t discuss Mukerjee’s early training or his oversight of the implementation of social
policies at all. Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses any other Indian social scientists. Choice D is incorrect. The
text never mentions other social scientists’ responses to Mukerjee’s work. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
a70cbc53 | Raymond Antrobus, an accomplished poet and writer of prose, recently released his debut spoken word poetry album, The
First Time I Wore Hearing Aids, in collaboration with producer Ian Brennan. The album contains both autobiographical and
reflective pieces combining Antrobus’s spoken words with Brennan’s fragmented audio elements and pieces of music to
convey how people who are deaf may experience sound, both its presence and absence. Some critics suggest that the
album questions the function of sound in the world, highlighting that the experience of sound is multifaceted. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It introduces a collaborative spoken word poetry project, details the approach taken to produce the work, and then
provides an example of critique the album received upon release. | It mentions a collection of spoken word poems, distinguishes one poem as being an exemplar on the album, and then
offers a summary of the subject matter of the whole collection. | It summarizes the efforts to produce a collection of spoken word poems, presents biographies of two people who
worked on the album, and speculates about the meaning behind the poetry. | It connects two artists to the same spoken word poetry project, explains the extent of their collaboration on each poem, | A | Choice A is the best answer. The text first introduces the album as being a collaboration between Antrobus and Brennan,
then describes the approach taken to produce it, then mentions how critics have said that it calls into question the function
of sound.
Choice B is incorrect. While the text does mention a collection of spoken word poems, it doesn’t single out one poem as
being particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the text doesn’t simply summarize the subject matter—it goes into detail about
the content and production of the album. Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t provide biographical information about the
two artists, and the text doesn’t speculate about the meaning behind the poetry—instead, it relays what some critics have
said about the album. Choice D is incorrect. The text doesn’t provide just an overview of the production techniques used but
instead goes into more detail about the content and audio elements of the album, as well as critical response to the album. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
e35d481c | Some economic historians ______ that late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households in the United States
experienced an economy of scale when it came to food purchases—they assumed that large households spent less on food
per person than did small households. Economist Trevon Logan showed, however, that a close look at the available data
disproves this supposition. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | surmised | contrived | questioned | regretted | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-
century household food purchases. In this context, “surmised” means formed an idea or assumption with little evidence. The
text explains that certain economic historians “assumed” that large and small households spent different amounts on food
per person, but that another economist found this supposition to be false based on evidence from available data. This
context suggests that the economic historians made an incorrect assumption without enough consideration of evidence.
Choice B is incorrect. In this context, “contrived” would mean brought about or created through trickery. Nothing in the text
suggests that the economic historians were deliberately trying to trick people with a claim about food purchasing behaviors
in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households; the text simply suggests that they made an assumption about
those behaviors that another historian believes isn’t supported by the available data. Choice C is incorrect because the text
indicates that it’s Logan and not the economic historians who “questioned,” or doubted, the assumption that large and small
households in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries spent different amounts on food per person; the economic
historians are the ones who made that assumption to begin with. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests
that some economic historians “regretted,” or felt sad or remorseful about, the food purchasing behaviors of late nineteenth-
and early twentieth-century households. The text focuses on the idea that the economic historians made an assumption
about those behaviors that may not be supported by available data, not on the historians’ emotional response to what
households did in the past. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
7f48b098 | Photosynthesis, the mechanism by which plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into ______ is fueled in part by
an enzyme called Photosystem II that harvests energy-giving electrons from water molecules. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | nutrients | nutrients and | nutrients, | nutrients— | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The comma after “nutrients” pairs with the comma after “photosynthesis” to separate the supplementary element “the
mechanism by which plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into nutrients” from the rest of the sentence. This
supplementary element functions to define the term “photosynthesis,” and the pair of commas 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. Choice B is incorrect because a conjunction can’t be paired with a comma in this way to separate the
supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because a dash can’t be paired with a comma in
this way to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
8963273a | Musician Joni Mitchell, who is also a painter, uses images she creates for her album covers to emphasize ideas expressed in
her music. For the cover of her album Turbulent Indigo (1994), Mitchell painted a striking self-portrait that closely resembles
Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889). The image calls attention to the album’s title song, in which
Mitchell sings about the legacy of the postimpressionist painter. In that song, Mitchell also hints that she feels a strong
artistic connection to Van Gogh—an idea that is reinforced by her imagery on the cover. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It presents a claim about Mitchell, then gives an example supporting that claim. | It discusses Van Gogh’s influence on Mitchell, then considers Mitchell’s influence on other artists. | It describes a similarity between two artists, then notes a difference between them. | It describes the songs on Turbulent Indigo, then explains how they relate to the album’s cover. | A | Choice A is the best answer because it accurately describes the organization of the elements within the text. The text begins
with the claim that Joni Mitchell’s album covers use images she creates in order to emphasize ideas embedded in her
albums. It then goes on to provide an example of how Mitchell’s self-portrait on the cover of Turbulent Indigo resembles a
painting by Van Gogh, which the text indicates helps emphasize the strong connection Mitchell feels toward Van Gogh, a
connection that is also expressed in the album’s title song.
Choice B is incorrect because there are no references in the text to artists other than Joni Mitchell and Van Gogh. Choice C is
incorrect because there is nothing in the text that calls attention to any similarities or differences between Joni Mitchell and
Van Gogh. Instead, it mentions that Mitchell feels a strong “artistic connection” to Van Gogh. Choice D is incorrect because
the text discusses the cover before referring to any songs, and it only references one song from the album not all the songs. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
2c4cd76d | Researchers studying magnetosensation have determined why some soil-dwelling roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere
move in the opposite direction of Earth’s magnetic field when searching for ______ in the Northern Hemisphere, the magnetic
field points down, into the ground, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it points up, toward the surface and away from worms’
food sources. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | food: | food, | food while | food | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is colon use within a sentence. A colon used in this way introduces
information that illustrates or explains information that has come before it. In this case, the colon introduces the following
explanation of why some roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere move in the opposite direction of Earth’s magnetic field.
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to join two long independent
clauses (“Researchers…food” and “in…sources”) such as these. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence.
The two clauses (“Researchers…food” and “in…sources”) are fused without punctuation. Furthermore, the conjunction “while”
fails to indicate that what follows is an explanation of why some roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere move in the
opposite direction of Earth’s magnetic field. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two clauses
(“Researchers…food” and “in…sources”) are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
50801257 | In 1994, almost 200 years after the death of Wang Zhenyi, the International Astronomical ______ the contributions of the
barrier-breaking 18th-century astronomer and author of “Dispute of the Procession of the Equinoxes,” naming a crater on
Venus after her. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Union would finally acknowledge | Union to finally acknowledge | Union, having finally acknowledged | Union, finally acknowledging | A | Choice A is the best answer. It’s the only choice that offers a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject
“International Astronomical Union” to make a complete sentence. This might seem like an odd use of “would,” but when
speaking from a point of view in the past, we can actually use “would” to express something that happened later. That’s the
case here: 200 years after Wang Zhenyi’s death, the IAU would finally acknowledge her contributions.
Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. There’s no main verb elsewhere in the sentence, so we need
a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject “the International Astronomical Union” and serve as that main
verb. “To acknowledge” can’t do that. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. There’s no main verb
elsewhere in the sentence, so we need a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject “the International
Astronomical Union” and serve as that main verb. “Having acknowledged” can’t do that. Choice D is incorrect. This choice
creates a sentence fragment. There’s no main verb elsewhere in the sentence, so we need a form of the verb “acknowledge”
that can go with the subject “the International Astronomical Union” and serve as that main verb. The “-ing” form can’t do that. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
e1d5d5df | According to botanists, a viburnum plant experiencing insect damage may develop erineum—a discolored, felty growth—on
its leaf blades. A ______ viburnum plant, on the other hand, will have leaves with smooth surfaces and uniformly green
coloration. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | struggling | beneficial | simple | healthy | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of damage to viburnum plants. In this
context, “healthy” would mean not distressed or diseased. The text states that insect damage may cause viburnum plants to
be discolored and have abnormal growths. In the next sentence, the phrase “on the other hand” indicates a contrast with the
description of plants suffering from damage. Thus, the context contrasts the appearance of healthy, undamaged plants with
the appearance of damaged plants.
Choice A is incorrect because in this context, “struggling” would mean working against difficulties. The text first describes
viburnum plants experiencing damage by insects, and the phrase “on the other hand” then establishes a contrast with that
description. It wouldn’t make sense to contrast struggling viburnum plants with those being damaged by insects, because in
both cases the plants would be experiencing difficulties. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “beneficial” would
mean producing good or helpful effects. The text doesn’t discuss how viburnum plants affect other things or suggest that
the plants are helpful in some way; rather, it focuses on how viburnum plants are affected by certain conditions. Choice C is
incorrect because in this context “simple” would mean plain or uncomplicated. The text doesn’t discuss whether certain
viburnum plants are complicated or uncomplicated; rather, it focuses on how viburnum plants are affected by certain
conditions. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
e8fb0744 | As an undergraduate researcher in anthropology, Jennifer C. Chen contributed to a groundbreaking study challenging the
accepted view that among prehistoric peoples, female participation in hunting was ______. The research team’s review of
data from late Pleistocene and early Holocene burials in the Americas revealed that, in fact, as many as half of the hunters in
those populations were female. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | inevitable | satisfactory | negligible | commonplace | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the study of female participation in
hunting among prehistoric peoples. In this context, “negligible” means not significant enough to be worth considering. The
text says that the study challenged the accepted view of female participation in hunting among prehistoric peoples. The text
goes on to say that the researchers found that “in fact, as many as half” the hunters in the groups studied were female. The
phrase “in fact” establishes a contrast indicating that the finding that as many as half the hunters were female differs from
the accepted view. This context suggests, then, that the accepted view is that female participation in hunting was negligible.
Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that the study challenged the accepted view by showing that as many as
half of hunters among prehistoric peoples were female, which suggests that the accepted view is that female participation
was low, not that female participation was “inevitable,” or unavoidable. Nothing in the text suggests that the accepted view is
that prehistoric peoples could not avoid female participation in hunting. Choice B is incorrect because nothing in the text
suggests that the accepted view of female participation in hunting among prehistoric peoples is that such participation was
“satisfactory,” or sufficient to meet a requirement or demand. There is no information in the text about any demands or
requirements regarding female participation in hunting, let alone any information about how much female participation in
hunting would be enough to satisfy those demands or requirements. Instead, the text indicates that the study challenged the
accepted view by showing that as many as half the hunters in the groups studied were female, suggesting that the accepted
view is that female participation in hunting was low. Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that the study
challenged the accepted view by showing that as many as half of hunters among the prehistoric peoples studied were
female, which suggests that the accepted view is that female participation was low, not that female participation was
“commonplace,” or ordinary or unremarkable. Although the study under discussion suggests that female participation may
have been commonplace, that study is presented as challenging the accepted view, not as reinforcing the accepted view. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
31362d2d | If simple sugars such as ribose and glycolaldehyde ______ Earth from elsewhere and survived impact—a possibility
astrophysicist Nicolle Zellner outlined in a 2020 study—the sugars could have reacted with other molecules that were already
present on the planet to form the nucleotides that are the structural components of RNA and DNA. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | reach | had reached | will reach | are reaching | 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 reached” is used correctly to describe a past action that was completed before another action in the past.
Specifically, in this hypothetical scenario about the origins of RNA and DNA on Earth, the simple sugars had to have reached
Earth before they could react with other molecules on the planet.
Choice A is incorrect because the present tense verb “reach” doesn’t indicate that the simple sugars reached Earth before
reacting with other molecules on the planet. Choice C is incorrect because the future tense verb “will reach” doesn’t indicate
that the simple sugars reached Earth before reacting with other molecules on the planet. Choice D is incorrect because the
present progressive verb “are reaching” doesn’t indicate that the simple sugars reached Earth before reacting with other
molecules on the planet. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
96953201 | In her two major series “Memory Test” and “Autobiography,” painter Howardena Pindell explored themes ______ healing, self-
discovery, and memory by cutting and sewing back together pieces of canvas and inserting personal artifacts, such as
postcards, into some of the paintings. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | of | of, | of— | of: | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between a preposition and its complement. No
punctuation is needed between the preposition “of” and its complement, the noun phrase “healing, self-discovery, and
memory.”
Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between a preposition and its complement. Choice C is incorrect
because no punctuation is needed between a preposition and its complement. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation
is needed between a preposition and its complement. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
1fa751f1 | Handedness, a preferential use of either the right or left hand, typically is easy to observe in humans. Because this trait is
present but less ______ in many other animals, animal-behavior researchers often employ tasks specially designed to reveal
individual animals’ preferences for a certain hand or paw. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | recognizable | intriguing | significant | useful | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about handedness in animals. As used
in this context, “recognizable” means apparent or identifiable. The text indicates that handedness is “easy to observe in
humans,” but that animal-behavior researchers use special tasks to determine handedness in other animals. This context
and the use of “less” before the blank indicate that compared with handedness in humans, handedness in other animals is
less recognizable.
Choice B is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that handedness is less “intriguing,” or fascinating, in
nonhuman animals than it is in humans. The text focuses on how easy it is to observe handedness in humans as compared
with other animals; the text doesn’t suggest that handedness is more fascinating in humans. Choice C is incorrect because
there’s nothing in the text to suggest that handedness is less “significant,” or important or meaningful, in nonhuman animals
than it is in humans. The text focuses on how easy it is to observe handedness in humans as compared with other animals;
the text doesn’t suggest that handedness is more significant in humans. Choice D is incorrect because “useful,” or functional
or helpful, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the ease with which researchers can determine whether an
animal or person is right- or left-handed, not on how useful handedness in nonhuman animals is compared with handedness
in humans. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
188f7e3c | In 2016, engineer Vanessa Galvez oversaw the installation of 164 bioswales, vegetated channels designed to absorb and
divert stormwater, along the streets of Queens, New York. By reducing the runoff flowing into city sewers, ______ | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | the mitigation of both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved by bioswales. | the bioswales have mitigated both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways. | the bioswales’ mitigation of both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved. | both street flooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways have been mitigated by bioswales. | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase
“the bioswales” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “By reducing…sewers.” In
doing so, this choice clearly establishes that the bioswales—and not another noun in the sentence—are reducing runoff
flowing into city sewers.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the mitigation…
waterways” immediately after the modifying phrase results in unclear modification. The resulting sentence makes it hard to
determine what is responsible for “reducing the runoff”: the bioswales or some other noun in the sentence. Choice C is
incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the bioswales’ mitigation…waterways”
immediately after the modifying phrase results in unclear modification. The resulting sentence makes it hard to determine
what is responsible for “reducing the runoff”: the bioswales or some other noun in the sentence. Choice D is incorrect
because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “street flooding and the resulting pollution”
immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “flooding and pollution” are reducing runoff flowing into
city sewers. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
98364791 | In studying the use of external stimuli to reduce the itching sensation caused by an allergic histamine response, Louise Ward
and colleagues found that while harmless applications of vibration or warming can provide a temporary distraction, such
______ stimuli actually offer less relief than a stimulus that seems less benign, like a mild electric shock. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | deceptive | innocuous | novel | impractical | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ward and colleagues’ findings. As
used in this context, “innocuous” means mild or unharmful. The text describes the vibration and warming that Ward and
colleagues used to alleviate itching as “harmless applications” and goes on to contrast these applications with another
stimulus that actually offers more relief even though it seems to be stronger and “less benign.” This context conveys the idea
that vibration and warming were innocuous stimuli.
Choice A is incorrect because the text focuses on a distinction between harmless stimuli and those that seem to be less
benign. Nothing in the text suggests that any of the treatments are “deceptive,” or misleading; indeed, even the less effective
ones are described as offering some relief. Choice C is incorrect because the text focuses on the amount of relief from
itching offered by harmless stimuli and those that seem to be less benign. The text doesn’t suggest that any of these stimuli
are “novel,” or original and new; heat, vibration, and electricity aren’t new inventions. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t
make sense to describe an application of vibration or warming as “impractical,” or not suitable for use. The text indicates
that these harmless applications are useful in that they offer at least some temporary relief. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
7a0d9031 | In many of her landscape paintings from the 1970s and 1980s, Lebanese American artist Etel Adnan worked to capture the
essence of California’s fog-shrouded Mount Tamalpais region through abstraction, using splotches of color to represent the
area’s features. Interestingly, the triangle representing the mountain itself ______ among the few defined figures in her
paintings. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | are | have been | were | is | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject–verb agreement. The singular verb “is” agrees in
number with the singular subject “the triangle.”
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “are” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the triangle.” Choice B
is incorrect because the plural verb “have been” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the triangle.” Choice C is
incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the triangle.” | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
15d6d837 | Literary agents estimate that more than half of all nonfiction books credited to a celebrity or other public figure are in fact
written by ghostwriters, professional authors who are paid to write other ______ but whose names never appear on book
covers. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | people’s stories | peoples story’s | peoples stories | people’s story’s | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of plural and possessive nouns. The plural possessive
noun “people’s” and the plural noun “stories” correctly indicate that there are multiple stories from multiple people.
Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the plural possessive noun “people’s” and the plural noun “stories,” not the
plural noun “peoples” and the singular possessive noun “story’s.” Choice C is incorrect because the context requires the
plural possessive noun “people’s,” not the plural noun “peoples.” Choice D is incorrect because the context requires the plural
noun “stories,” not the singular possessive noun “story’s.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
c843d63c | The artisans of the Igun Eronmwon guild in Benin City, Nigeria, typically ______ the bronze- and brass-casting techniques that
have been passed down through their families since the thirteenth century, but they don’t strictly observe every tradition; for
example, guild members now use air-conditioning motors instead of handheld bellows to help heat their forges. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | experiment with | adhere to | improve on | grapple with | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of bronze- and brass-casting
techniques used by the Igun Eronmwon guild. In this context “adhere to” would mean to act in accordance with. The text
states that although members of the Igun Eronmwon guild typically do something with techniques that have been passed
down since the thirteenth century, they “don’t strictly observe every tradition.” By establishing a contrast with not always
following traditions, the context suggests that guild members do typically adhere to traditional techniques.
Choice A is incorrect because in this context “experiment with” would mean to do something new with. Although using
motors rather than manual bellows is presented as a new approach, the text establishes a contrast between what the guild
members typically do with techniques that have been passed down over centuries and the idea that the members “don’t
strictly observe every tradition.” The phrase “experiment with” wouldn’t support the contrast because regularly trying new
things with the techniques would be an example of not strictly following all traditions. Choice C is incorrect because in this
context “improve on” would mean to make better. Although using motors rather than manual bellows might be an improved
approach, the text establishes a contrast between what the guild members typically do with techniques that have been
passed down over centuries and the idea that the members “don’t strictly observe every tradition.” The phrase “improve on”
wouldn’t support the contrast because regularly making changes to the techniques would be an example of not strictly
following all traditions. Choice D is incorrect because in this context “grapple with” would mean to try hard to solve a difficult
problem. Although bronze- and brass-casting are likely challenging tasks, nothing in the text suggests that the guild
members have any particular difficulties with the techniques passed down since the thirteenth century. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
59094d87 | The Tantaquidgeon Museum in Uncasville, Connecticut, was founded in 1931 with the goal of showcasing the culture and
history of the Mohegan ______ today, nearly a century later, it is the oldest Native-owned and -operated museum in the
country. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Tribe, and | Tribe | Tribe and | Tribe, | A | Choice A is the best answer. This choice uses a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“and”) to join two independent
clauses (“The Tantaquidgeon…Tribe” and “Today…country”).
Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a grammar error known as a run-on sentence. The clauses before and after
“Tribe” are both independent, so they need to be separated with some sort of punctuation. Choice C is incorrect. This choice
results in a grammar error known as a run-on sentence. The clauses before and after “and” are both independent, so they
can’t be linked with just a conjunction. A comma would also be required. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a
grammar error called a comma splice. The clauses before and after “Tribe” are both independent, so they can’t be linked with
just a comma. A coordinating conjunction like “and” or “but” would also be required. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
b0ea8c28 | Sueño de Familia is an exhibition of drawings, paintings, and ceramics that explores the artistic heritage of US-based artist
Yolanda González. The exhibition ______ five generations, featuring works by González’s great-grandfather, grandmother,
mother, and niece as well as González herself. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | borrows | spans | judges | neglects | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Sueño de Familia art exhibition.
In this context, “spans” means extends across or covers. The text states that the exhibition explores González’s artistic
heritage and features artwork by her great-grandfather, grandmother, mother, and niece. This context conveys the idea that
the exhibition spans, or extends across, five generations of González’s family.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that the exhibition “borrows,” or acquires, five generations of
González’s family. The text indicates that the exhibition features artwork by family members from five generations, not that
the five generations themselves have been acquired for inclusion in the exhibition. Choice C is incorrect because the text
indicates that the purpose of the exhibition is to highlight artwork, not to “judge,” or give an opinion on, five generations of the
artist’s family. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that the exhibition “neglects,” or gives little attention to,
five generations of González’s family. On the contrary, the text indicates that the exhibition is dedicated to exploring
González’s artistic heritage and therefore designed to bring attention to her family members and their artwork. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
3a35ddd1 | Like other amphibians, the wood frog (Rana sylvatica) is unable to generate its own heat, so during periods of subfreezing
temperatures, it ______ by producing large amounts of glucose, a sugar that helps prevent damaging ice from forming inside
its cells. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | had survived | survived | would survive | survives | 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 “survives” correctly indicates that the wood frog regularly survives subfreezing temperatures by producing large
amounts of glucose.
Choice A is incorrect because the past perfect verb “had survived” doesn’t indicate that the wood frog regularly survives
subfreezing temperatures by producing large amounts of glucose. Choice B is incorrect because the past tense verb
“survived” doesn’t indicate that the wood frog regularly survives subfreezing temperatures by producing large amounts of
glucose. Choice C is incorrect because the conditional verb “would survive” doesn’t indicate that the wood frog regularly
survives subfreezing temperatures by producing large amounts of glucose. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
03c9f327 | The following text is from Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Jane, the narrator, works as a governess at Thornfield
Hall.
I went on with my day’s business tranquilly; but ever and anon vague suggestions kept wandering across my brain of
reasons why I should quit Thornfield; and I kept involuntarily framing advertisements and pondering conjectures about
new situations: these thoughts I did not think to check; they might germinate and bear fruit if they could. | Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? | To convey a contrast between Jane’s outward calmness and internal restlessness | To emphasize Jane’s loyalty to the people she works for at Thornfield Hall | To demonstrate that Jane finds her situation both challenging and deeply fulfilling | To describe Jane’s determination to secure employment outside of Thornfield Hall | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to show that while
Jane calmly goes about her daily tasks, she is experiencing internal agitation about possibly seeking a new job. At the start
of the text, Jane says, “I went on with my day’s business tranquilly,” indicating that she is outwardly calm. This outward
calmness is then contrasted with her intense internal restlessness, as Jane says that thoughts of leaving her job keep
running through her mind, that she is “involuntarily framing advertisements” (meaning that she can’t stop herself from
thinking up potential listings for jobs), and that she often wonders what new “situations” (or jobs) would be like.
Choice B is incorrect because the text gives no indication of Jane’s feelings, either positive or negative, about the people she
works for at Thornfield Hall. And rather than emphasizing that Jane feels particularly loyal to her employers, the text focuses
on her constant consideration of leaving her job. Choice C is incorrect because the text gives no indication that Jane finds
her current situation fulfilling, or satisfying. Given that much of the text is focused on Jane’s thoughts about possibly leaving
her job for a new one, it might be the case that she finds her situation challenging, but there is no evidence in the text that
Jane also finds that situation satisfying—she says nothing positive about her current job at all, in fact. Choice D is incorrect
because the text describes Jane as wondering about getting a new job, not as determined to definitely do so. Jane keeps
thinking about reasons why she “should” quit her current job (indicating that she hasn’t yet decided to) and imagining
possible new situations she could find, but she says at the end of the text that these thoughts “might germinate and bear
fruit if they could,” meaning that the thoughts haven’t yet led to a decision—that Jane isn’t yet determined to get a new job
somewhere else. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
3118ca93 | The fashion resale market, in which consumers purchase secondhand clothing from stores and online sellers, generated
nearly $30 billion globally in 2019. Expecting to see continued growth, some analysts ______ that revenues will more than
double by 2028. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | produced | denied | worried | predicted | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the fashion resale market’s
continued growth. As used in this context, “predicted” means forecast, or indicated that something would happen in the
future. The text indicates that the fashion resale market made a lot of money in 2019 and that some analysts expected the
market to continue to grow. This context suggests that the analysts believed that the fashion resale market was going to
make more money than it had already made, with the analysts indicating that revenues would more than double by 2028.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that some analysts “produced,” or manufactured or
brought about, the increase in future revenues of the fashion resale market. The analysts themselves couldn’t have brought
about the future revenue growth, since, as the text suggests, they were merely in the position of drawing conclusions about
future fashion resale market revenue based on 2019 revenue. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that some
analysts expected the fashion resale market to continue to grow in the future, not that they “denied,” or rejected, this notion.
Nothing in the text supports the idea that these analysts thought the revenues wouldn’t grow. Choice C is incorrect because
the text indicates that some analysts expected the fashion resale market to continue to grow in the future, not that they
“worried,” or felt concerned, that revenue would significantly increase by 2028. Nothing in the text suggests that the analysts
felt concerned about the increase; rather, the text suggests that the increase would represent a favorable outcome, since it
would mean that the fashion resale market grew to generate even more revenue. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
5d2fd27d | While we can infer information about climate activity in Earth’s distant past from physical evidence, we of course cannot
observe past climates directly. To study early Earth’s climate in action, we must ______ that climate using computer models
that represent various climate conditions consistent with the physical evidence. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | invent | simulate | exaggerate | preserve | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of climate activity in Earth’s distant
past. In this context, to “simulate” most nearly means to represent a natural process using computer models. According to
the text, understanding Earth’s early climate is difficult because we cannot make direct observations of the distant past.
Instead, scientists must create computer models that approximate early climate conditions, based on the physical evidence
that those conditions left behind on Earth’s surface. This context supports the idea that computer models simulate Earth’s
climate in the distant past.
Choice A is incorrect because scientists use existing physical evidence as a basis for developing computer models that
describe what Earth’s actual past climate might have been like. The models are not being used to “invent,” or imagine, a
completely fictional climate. Choice C is incorrect because the computer models are being used in an attempt to describe as
accurately as possible what Earth’s past climate might have been like. They are not attempting to “exaggerate,” or distort,
those features. Choice D is incorrect because the computer models do not “preserve,” or protect from deterioration, Earth’s
early climate; instead, they attempt to reproduce the characteristics of that climate, based on the remaining physical
evidence of that climate. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
588887b9 | In 1881, French chemist Camille Faure redesigned the rechargeable lead-acid battery. Faure’s design greatly increased the
amount of electricity that the original battery, which the French physicist Gaston Planté ______ fifteen years earlier, could
hold. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | is inventing | will invent | invents | had invented | D | Choice D is the best answer. Faure redesigned the battery in 1881, and the original battery was invented “fifteen years
earlier.” Notice that this is the only choice in the past tense. To indicate that a past occurrence took place before another
past occurrence, we need to use “had” + the past tense form of the verb. This is called the “past perfect” tense.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a tense error. Planté invented the original battery in the past, so we shouldn’t use
the present tense “is inventing.” Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a tense error. Planté invented the original battery in
the past, so we shouldn’t use the future tense “will invent.” Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a tense error. Planté
invented the original battery in the past, so we shouldn’t use the present tense “invents.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
430d929a | British scientists James Watson and Francis Crick won the Nobel Prize in part for their 1953 paper announcing the double
helix structure of DNA, but it is misleading to say that Watson and Crick discovered the double helix. ______ findings were
based on a famous X-ray image of DNA fibers, “Photo 51,” developed by X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin and her
graduate student Raymond Gosling. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | They’re | It’s | Their | Its | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of possessive determiners. The plural possessive
determiner “their” agrees in number with the plural conjoined noun phrase “Watson and Crick” and thus indicates that the
findings were those of Watson and Crick.
Choice A is incorrect because “they’re” is the contraction for “they are,” not a possessive determiner. Choice B is incorrect
because “it’s” is the contraction for “it is” or “it has,” not a possessive determiner. Choice D is incorrect because the singular
possessive determiner “its” doesn’t agree in number with the plural conjoined noun phrase “Watson and Crick.” | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
6d5ddea4 | According to Potawatomi ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, the Indigenous method of harvesting Hierochloe odorata, or
sweetgrass, by snapping the plant off at the root actually ______ wild populations: it may seem counterintuitive, she says, but
this method of removal allows new sweetgrass plants to repopulate the space, with an overall increase in number and vigor. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | selects | originates | conditions | replenishes | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Indigenous method of
harvesting Hierochloe odorata. As used in this context, “replenishes” means helps increase the population or helps it recover.
The text explains that although snapping off a wild plant at the root might seem detrimental to the wild population, it actually
helps Hierochloe odorata, increasing both their “number and vigor.” This context conveys the idea that even though it seems
counterintuitive, the Indigenous method of harvesting Hierochloe odorata actually replenishes the wild population.
Choice A is incorrect. Although a harvesting method could be used to select for certain traits in plants, it’s not clear what it
would mean for a harvesting method to select “wild populations” of plants. Choice B is incorrect because as used in this
context, “originates” means creates. The text doesn’t address the origin of Hierochloe odorata, but rather how the Indigenous
harvesting method affects it. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, “conditions” means to influence someone or
something to behave in a certain way, and the text doesn’t suggest the new plants that replace the harvested ones differ in
any meaningful way, or in any way that could be the result of conditioning. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
83687083 | Due to their often strange images, highly experimental syntax, and opaque subject matter, many of John Ashbery’s poems
can be quite difficult to ______ and thus are the object of heated debate among scholars. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | delegate | compose | interpret | renounce | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of John Ashbery’s poems. As used in
this context, “interpret” would mean decipher the meaning of. The text indicates that Ashbery’s poems have many unusual
features, that it’s difficult to tell what exactly the poems’ subject matter is, and that scholars strongly disagree about the
poems. This context conveys the idea that it’s difficult to interpret Ashbery’s poems.
Choice A is incorrect because “delegate” means to assign someone as a representative of another person or to entrust
something to someone else, neither of which would make sense in context. The text is focused only on the difficulty that
readers have interpreting Ashbery’s poems due to their many unusual features; it doesn’t suggest anything about the poems
being difficult to delegate. Choice B is incorrect because describing Ashbery’s poems as difficult to “compose,” or put
together or produce, would make sense only if the text were about Ashbery’s experience of writing the poems. It could be
true that it was difficult for Ashbery to compose his poems, but the text doesn’t address this; it instead discusses how
readers interpret and engage with the poems. Choice D is incorrect because describing Ashbery’s poems as being difficult to
“renounce,” or give up or refuse, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the idea that features of Ashbery’s
poems are odd or unclear and have caused heated scholarly debate. This context suggests that the poems are difficult to
interpret, not that the poems are difficult to renounce. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
97ab5669 | Former astronaut Ellen Ochoa says that although she doesn’t have a definite idea of when it might happen, she ______ that
humans will someday need to be able to live in other environments than those found on Earth. This conjecture informs her
interest in future research missions to the moon. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | demands | speculates | doubts | establishes | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ochoa’s prediction that humans will
one day need to live in places other than Earth. As used in this context, “speculates” would mean puts forward an idea
without firm evidence. The text states that Ochoa “doesn’t have a definite idea” about when humans might need to live in
other environments and characterizes Ochoa’s prediction as a “conjecture,” or a conclusion presented without convincing
evidence. This context indicates that Ochoa speculates when she makes this prediction.
Choice A is incorrect because saying that Ochoa “demands,” or insists or requires, that humans will one day need to live in
other environments than Earth’s would not make sense in context. The text indicates that she’s unsure about the timing but
hypothesizes that it will someday happen. Choice C is incorrect because saying that Ochoa “doubts,” or questions or
disbelieves, that humans will one day need to live in other environments than Earth’s would not make sense in context. The
text indicates that although Ochoa is unsure about the timing, she hypothesizes that humans will need to live in places other
than Earth and encourages research into future travel to the moon. Choice D is incorrect because saying that Ochoa
“establishes,” or proves, that humans will one day need to live in other environments than Earth’s would not make sense in
context. Rather than stating that Ochoa discusses her idea with certainty and supports it with evidence, the text indicates
that Ochoa is unsure about when humans might need to live in other environments. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
267a13e2 | In 2010, archaeologist Noel Hidalgo Tan was visiting the twelfth-century temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia when he noticed
markings of red paint on the temple ______ the help of digital imaging techniques, he discovered the markings to be part of
an elaborate mural containing over 200 paintings. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | walls, with | walls with | walls so with | walls. With | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period
after “walls” is used correctly to mark the boundary between the first sentence (“In...walls”) and the second sentence (“With…
techniques”), which starts with a supplementary phrase.
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 because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences (“In...walls” and
“with...paintings”) are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction. Choice C is incorrect. Without a comma preceding it,
the conjunction “so” can’t be used in this way to join sentences. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
5b8f9cf2 | In the canon of North African literature, Moroccan author Driss Chraïbi’s 1954 novel The Simple Past (Le Passé simple)
looms large. A coming-of-age story, a social meditation, and a sober gaze into the dark maw of French colonialism, ______
interrogates systemic power with memorable intensity. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Morocco gained its independence two years before the publication of Chraïbi’s debut novel, which | Chraïbi’s debut novel, published two years before Morocco gained its independence, | Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that, published two years before Morocco gained its independence, | published two years before Morocco gained its independence, Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that | B | Choice B is the best answer. Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to each other. The
subject of the modifier "a coming-of-age story…colonialism" is Chraïbi’s novel The Simple Past, so the subject "Chraïbi’s debut
novel" fits perfectly after this introductory modifying phrase.
Choice A is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The introductory modifier "a coming-of-age
story…colonialism" is describing Chraïbi’s novel, not Morocco. However, this choice places Morocco directly next to that
modifier. Choice C is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The introductory modifier "a coming-
of-age story…colonialism" all describes Chraïbi’s novel, not Chraïbi himself. However, this choice places Chraïbi directly next
to that modifier. Choice D is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modifier "a coming-of-
age story…" is describing Chraïbi’s novel, so that needs to be the subject immediately after the modifier. This choice adds
another modifier that describes Chraïbi’s novel, but then puts "Chraïbi" himself—not the novel—right after that modifier, which
doesn’t make sense. Chraïbi wasn’t "published two years before" Moroccan independence; his novel The Simple Past was. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
6e193b19 | Professional American football player Fred Cox invented one of the world’s most popular toys. In the 1970s, he came up with
the idea for the Nerf football, which ______ of the harder and heavier regulation football. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | were a smaller, foam version | are smaller, foam versions | were smaller, foam versions | is a smaller, foam version | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement and agreement between nouns. The
singular verb “is” and the singular noun “version” both agree in number with the relative pronoun “which.” In this context,
“which” functions as a singular subject because it refers to the singular noun “the Nerf football.”
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf
football” that it’s modifying. Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “are” and the plural noun “versions” don’t agree in
number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf football” that they’re modifying. Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb
“were” and the plural noun “versions” don’t agree in number with the singular noun phrase “the Nerf football” that they’re
modifying. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
44cc5f75 | Artificially delivering biomolecules to plant cells is an important component of protecting plants from pathogens, but it is
difficult to transmit biomolecules through the layers of the plant cell wall. Markita del Carpio Landry and her colleagues have
shown that it may be possible to ______ this problem by transmitting molecules through carbon nanotubes, which can cross
cell walls. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | conceptualize | neglect | illustrate | overcome | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of delivering biomolecules to plant
cells. In this context, “overcome” means to succeed in dealing with an obstacle. The text suggests that although it’s difficult
to move biomolecules through plant cell walls, Landry and her colleagues have shown that carbon nanotubes may be useful,
since they can cross cell walls. This context conveys that Landry and her colleagues think it’s possible, using carbon
nanotubes, to succeed in dealing with the obstacle of transmitting biomolecules to plant cells.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that Landry and her colleagues have shown that it
may be possible to “conceptualize,” or form an idea of, the difficulty of transmitting biomolecules through the walls of plant
cells. The text presents this difficulty as a known problem that Landry and her colleagues think they may have solved, not as
a mysterious occurrence that they have yet to form ideas about. Choice B is incorrect because the text suggests that Landry
and her colleagues think it may be possible to successfully deal with the problem of transmitting biomolecules through the
walls of plant cells, not that Landry and her colleagues think it may be possible to “neglect,” or simply to disregard and ignore
the problem. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that Landry and her colleagues have
shown that it may be possible to “illustrate,” or demonstrate, the difficulty of transmitting biomolecules through the walls of
plant cells by using carbon nanotubes. According to the text, carbon nanotubes allow molecules to be transmitted to plant
cells—something that is otherwise difficult to do. The text therefore presents carbon nanotubes as a way of possibly solving
a problem, not as a means of demonstrating the problem. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
8bc66f89 | Part of the Atacama Desert in Peru has surprisingly rich plant life despite receiving almost no rainfall. Moisture from winter
fog sustains plants once they’re growing, but the soil’s tough crust makes it hard for seeds to germinate in the first place.
Local birds that dig nests in the ground seem to be of help: they churn the soil, exposing buried seeds to moisture and
nutrients. Indeed, in 2016 Cristina Rengifo Faiffer found that mounds of soil dug up by birds were far more fertile and
supported more seedlings than soil in undisturbed areas. | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole? | It elaborates on the idea that the top layer of Atacama Desert soil forms a tough crust. | It describes the process by which seeds are deposited into Atacama Desert soil. | It identifies the reason particular bird species dig nests in Atacama Desert soil. | It explains how certain birds promote seed germination in Atacama Desert soil. | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The first two sentences establish a natural phenomenon: there is a richness of plant life found in the Atacama Desert
despite the hard soil that makes it challenging for seeds to germinate. The next sentence, which contains the underlined
portion, offers a potential explanation for the phenomenon: local birds dig ground nests exposing seeds to moisture and
materials in the soil necessary for germination. The last sentence summarizes a study that compared the fertileness of
mounds of dirt dug up by birds to mounds that were undisturbed to support the explanation in the underlined portion. Thus,
the underlined portion mainly functions to explain how certain birds promote seed germination in the Atacama Desert soil.
Choice A is incorrect because the underlined portion doesn’t address the topic of the soil’s tough crust or its formation.
Instead, the text elaborates on the idea that local birds that build ground nests may help seeds germinate in the hard
soil. Choice B is incorrect because the underlined portion describes how some birds may support seed germination in
Atacama Desert soil but doesn’t describe how the seeds are deposited into the soil before germination begins. Choice C is
incorrect because neither the underlined portion nor the text as a whole identifies a reason that a particular bird species may
choose to dig ground nests in the Atacama Desert soil. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
89ab0d46 | After the printing press was introduced in 1440, handwritten manuscripts from Europe’s medieval period were often
destroyed and the paper used for other purposes. In one instance, pages ______ a collection of Norse tales dating to 1270
were discovered lining a bishop’s miter (hat). | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | from: | from, | from | from— | C | Choice C is the best answer. The word “from” introduces a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun “pages” and provides
essential information about their origin. No additional punctuation is needed after “from” in this context.
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error, illogically separating the preposition “from” from the rest of
the prepositional phrase with a colon. Also, a colon can only follow an independent clause, but what comes before the blank
could not stand on its own as a complete sentence. Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error,
illogically separating the preposition “from” from the rest of the prepositional phrase with a comma. Choice D is incorrect.
This choice results in a punctuation error, illogically separating the preposition “from” from the rest of the prepositional
phrase with a dash. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
603755a5 | In 1959, marine biologist Dr. Albert Jones founded the Underwater Adventure Seekers, a scuba diving ______ that is the
oldest club for Black divers in the United States and that has helped thousands of diving enthusiasts become certified in the
field. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | club | club, | club— | club, and | A | Choice A is the best answer. “That is…field” is an essential supplement, so we should not use punctuation to separate it from
“scuba diving club.” .
Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “That is…field” is an essential supplement, so we should not
use a comma (or any kind of punctuation) to separate it from “scuba diving club.” . Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates
a punctuation error. “That is…field” is an essential supplement, so we should not use a dash (or any kind of punctuation) to
separate it from “scuba diving club.” . Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence. It makes “that is…United
States” into an awkward independent clause, but it also makes “that has…field” into its own awkward independent clause
without the correct punctuation separating it. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
6d4b2e1e | The 1977 play And the Soul Shall Dance depicts two Japanese American farming families in Depression-era Southern
California. Critics have noted the way pioneering ______ compares the experiences of issei (Japanese nationals who
emigrated to America) and nisei (their American-born children). | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | playwright, Wakako Yamauchi, | playwright, Wakako Yamauchi | playwright Wakako Yamauchi, | playwright Wakako Yamauchi | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No
punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi" from the title that describes Yamauchi, "pioneering
playwright." Because "Wakako Yamauchi" is essential information identifying the "pioneering playwright," no punctuation is
necessary.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed before or after the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi." Setting the
playwright’s name off with commas suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence,
which isn’t the case. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the title "pioneering playwright" and
the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi." Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the proper noun
"Wakako Yamauchi" and the verb "compares." | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
f3fac04f | Bioluminescent beetles called fireflies may seem to create flashes of light randomly, but each species of firefly actually has
its own special series of repeated flashes and pauses. These unique ______ allow fireflies of the same species to find each
other. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | quantities | decorations | patterns | agreements | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the flashes created by fireflies. In
this context, “patterns” means distinct and predictable sequences. The text indicates that although the flashes that fireflies
produce appear to occur randomly—that is, without any particular sequence or rhythm—each species actually produces its
own special series of flashes and pauses. Indeed, these series of flashes are so unique that fireflies can use them to find
other members of their species. Therefore, this context supports the idea that fireflies produce flashes in distinct and
recognizable patterns.
Choice A is incorrect because “quantities” means certain amounts or numbers of something. Although the text discusses
how different firefly species produce flashes and pauses in unique sequences that help other members of their species to
find them, it doesn’t mention the number of flashes that are used in these sequences. Choice B is incorrect because in this
context, “decorations” would mean things that make an object more beautiful. Although it may be reasonable to say that
firefly flashes are beautiful, the text focuses on the fact that fireflies use these unique sequences of flashes to find other
members of their own species, not that the flashes make fireflies more beautiful. Choice D is incorrect because in this
context, “agreements” would refer to deals that individuals have discussed and come to a consensus about. Since fireflies
aren’t capable of making such agreements, it wouldn’t make sense to use this word to refer to the signals they send each
other with their flashes. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
f8ca5766 | Nigerian American author Teju Cole’s ______ his two passions—photography and the written word—culminates in his 2017
book, Blind Spot, which evocatively combines his original photographs from his travels with his poetic prose. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | indifference to | enthusiasm for | concern about | surprise at | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Cole’s book Blind Spot. In this
context, “enthusiasm for” means excitement about. The text explains that Blind Spot consists of original photographs as well
as poetic prose—two elements that correspond to Cole’s passions, identified in the text, for photography and the written
word. This context suggests that Cole’s excitement about photography and writing led him to create a book that successfully
combines the two mediums.
Choice A is incorrect because describing Cole as feeling “indifference to” his two passions wouldn’t make sense in context. If
Cole is indifferent to his passions, that would mean he doesn’t care about photography or writing—in which case they
wouldn’t be his passions at all. Choice C is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Cole feels “concern
about,” or uneasiness about, his passions. The text’s use of the word “culminates” indicates that Blind Spot represents a
triumphant climax of Cole’s passions, not a work that results from his sense of discomfort with photography and writing.
Choice D is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Cole feels “surprise at,” or astonished by, his
passions. The text indicates that Cole’s feeling about his passions “culminates” in a book that “evocatively” combines
photographs and writing, suggesting that Cole has a long-standing and skillful relationship to his passions, not that he is
startled by them. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
3580533b | In recent years, economists around the world have created new tools that quantify the overall well-being of a country’s
citizens. Economists in India, for example, use an Ease of Living Index. This tool ______ economic potential, sustainability,
and citizens’ quality of life. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | measures | had measured | would have measured | will have been measuring | A | Choice A is the best answer. The previous sentence tells us how economists in India "use" a certain tool, while this sentence
describes general facts about that tool. To express general facts (and also to match the simple present tense of "use"), we
should use the simple present tense form "measures."
Choice B is incorrect. This choice uses the past perfect tense, but the previous sentence tells us that the tool is currently
used to measure things, so the past tense doesn’t make sense for this verb. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses the
future perfect conditional tense, but the previous sentence tells us that the tool is currently used to measure things, so the
future tense doesn’t make sense for this verb. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses the future perfect continuous tense,
but the previous sentence tells us that the tool is currently used to measure things, so the future tense doesn’t make sense
for this verb. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
d47bb0a4 | Objects ranging from the Kikkoman soy sauce bottle to the Yamaha VMAX motorcycle to the Komachi bullet train ______
designed by twentieth-century industrial designer Kenji Ekuan. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | was | is | has been | were | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The plural verb "were" agrees in number
with the plural subject "objects."
Choice A is incorrect because the singular verb "was" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject "objects." Choice B is
incorrect because the singular verb "is" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject "objects." Choice C is incorrect
because the singular verb "has been" doesn’t agree in number with the plural subject "objects." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
5e57efec | Economist Marco Castillo and colleagues showed that nuisance costs—the time and effort people must spend to make
donations—reduce charitable giving. Charities can mitigate this effect by compensating donors for nuisance costs, but those
costs, though variable, are largely ______ donation size, so charities that compensate donors will likely favor attracting a few
large donors over many small donors. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | supplemental to | predictive of | independent of | subsumed in | C | Choice C is the best answer. We’re told that charities that pay donors back for nuisance costs will attract a few large donors
instead of many small donors. This suggests that nuisance costs are not linked to donation size.
Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. If nuisance costs are supplemental to (meaning in addition to)
donation size, that wouldn’t result in charities that compensate donors for those costs attracting a few large donors over
many small donors. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. If nuisance costs can predict donation size,
that wouldn’t necessarily result in charities that compensate donors for those costs attracting a few large donors over many
small donors. Choice D is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. If nuisance costs are subsumed in (meaning
included in) donation size, that wouldn’t result in charities that compensate donors for those costs attracting a few large
donors over many small donors. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
d2eb1df1 | In recommending Bao Phi’s collection Sông I Sing, a librarian noted that pieces by the spoken-word poet don’t lose their
______ nature when printed: the language has the same pleasant musical quality on the page as it does when performed by
Phi. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | scholarly | melodic | jarring | personal | B | Choice B is the best answer. Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something similar to “pleasant musical
quality.” That’s exactly what “melodic” means.
Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice. Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something
similar to “pleasant musical quality.” “Scholarly” would suggest something that is academic or well-researched, which
doesn’t match the meaning we’re looking for. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice. Based on the text, we’re
looking for a word that means something similar to “pleasant musical quality.” “Jarring” would suggest the opposite:
something unpleasant or discordant. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice. Based on the text, we’re looking
for a word that means something similar to “pleasant musical quality.” “Personal” would suggest something that is
expressive or intimate, which doesn’t match the meaning we’re looking for. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
e3f05561 | In the 1970s, video cameras became increasingly affordable for ordinary consumers and gave Ulysses Jenkins and other
artists capabilities that were previously unavailable except to television broadcasters. Jenkins recognized and took full
advantage of this ______ access to powerful technology to create groundbreaking works of video art, such as Mass of
Images (1978). | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | newfound | delicate | inevitable | habitual | A | Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ulysses Jenkins’s video art. As
used in this context, “newfound” means recently discovered or established. The text indicates that in the 1970s, video
cameras became cheaper and therefore more widely available than they had been in the past. The text goes on to say that
this development provided Jenkins and other artists with capabilities that they previously didn’t have. As a result, Jenkins
began producing groundbreaking works of video art. This context supports the idea that Jenkins took advantage of
newfound access to video cameras.
Choice B is incorrect because “delicate” means fine in texture or structure or easily broken, neither of which would make
sense in this context. The text doesn’t focus on describing what video art looks like or whether it’s breakable. Choice C is
incorrect because “inevitable” means impossible to avoid, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text doesn’t
discuss the likelihood of artists, or anyone else, gaining access to video cameras. Choice D is incorrect because “habitual”
means doing something regularly or repeatedly. Although the text does suggest that Jenkins created multiple pieces of
video art, its focus is on the fact that video cameras had only just become widely available to artists in the 1970s. Jenkins’s
ability to take advantage of video cameras to make art was therefore newfound, not habitual, at the time. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
89fbc3eb | The Mission 66 initiative, which was approved by Congress in 1956, represented a major investment in the infrastructure of
overburdened national ______ it prioritized physical improvements to the parks’ roads, utilities, employee housing, and visitor
facilities while also establishing educational programming for the public. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | parks and | parks | parks; | parks, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice
uses a semicolon to correctly join the first main clause (“The Mission…parks”) and the second main clause that begins with
“it.”
Choice A is incorrect. When coordinating two longer main clauses such as these, it’s conventional to use a comma before
the coordinating conjunction. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused
without punctuation and/or a conjunction. Choice D 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 |
aaa1907f | To serve local families during the Great Depression, innovative New York City librarian Pura Belpré offered storytelling in both
English and Spanish, an uncommon ______ celebrated el Día de los Tres Reyes Magos, an important community holiday; and
put on puppet shows dramatizing Puerto Rican folktales. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | practice, at the time | practice at the time; | practice, at the time, | practice at the time, | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of elements in a complex series. It’s
conventional to use a semicolon to separate items in a complex series with internal punctuation, and in this choice, the
semicolon after "time" is conventionally used to separate the first item ("offered…time") and the second ("celebrated…
holiday") in the series of activities that librarian Pura Belpré offered. Moreover, the semicolon after "time" matches the
semicolon used later to separate the second item ("celebrated...holiday") and the third ("and...folktales") in the series.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the first item and the second item in the
complex series. Furthermore, a comma isn’t needed between the noun "practice" and the prepositional phrase "at the time"
because the prepositional phrase is essential to the full meaning of the phrase "an uncommon practice at the time." Choice C
is incorrect because a comma after "time" doesn’t match the semicolon used later to separate the second
("celebrated...holiday") and third ("and...folktales") items in the series. Furthermore, a comma isn’t needed between the noun
"practice" and the prepositional phrase "at the time" because the prepositional phrase is essential to the full meaning of the
phrase "an uncommon practice at the time." Choice D is incorrect because a comma after "time" doesn’t match the
semicolon used later to separate the second ("celebrated...holiday") and third ("and...folktales") items in the series. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
74ce2f05 | A study led by scientist Rebecca Kirby at the University of Wisconsin–Madison found that black bears that eat human food
before hibernation have increased levels of a rare carbon isotope, ______ due to the higher
C levels in corn and cane sugar.
Bears with these elevated levels were also found to have much shorter hibernation periods on average. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | carbon-13, (
C) | carbon-13 (
C) | carbon-13, (
C), | carbon-13 ( | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The comma after “(13C)” pairs with the comma after “isotope” to separate the supplementary element “carbon-13 (13C)”
from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element defines the “rare carbon isotope,” and the pair of commas
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 “carbon-13
(13C)” from the rest of the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the
supplementary element “carbon-13 (13C)” from the rest of the sentence. Choice C is incorrect because it fails to use
appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element “carbon-13 (13C)” from the rest of the sentence. The
comma after “carbon-13” isn’t necessary because the parentheses around “13C” already separate this element from the rest
of the sentence. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
a427a52c | The Lion Light system, developed by Kenyan inventor Richard Turere, consists of LED lights installed around the perimeter of
livestock pastures. Powered with ______ the blinking LEDs keep lions away at night, thus protecting the livestock without
risking harm to the endangered lions. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | energy collected, by solar panels, during the day | energy collected by solar panels during the day | energy collected by solar panels during the day, | energy, collected by solar panels during the day, | C | Choice C 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 (“powered…day”),
which describes how the LEDs are powered, and the main clause (“the blinking…night”).
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the supplementary phrase and the main clause with
appropriate punctuation. Furthermore, placing commas around the phrase “by solar panels” suggests that it could be
removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the case. Choice B is incorrect because it fails to mark
the boundary between the supplementary phrase and the main clause with appropriate punctuation. Choice D is incorrect.
Placing commas around the phrase “collected by solar panels during the day″ suggests that it could be removed without
affecting the coherence of the sentence, which isn’t the case. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
7bc05fa2 | Whether the reign of a French monarch such as Hugh Capet or Henry I was historically consequential or relatively uneventful,
its trajectory was shaped by questions of legitimacy and therefore cannot be understood without a corollary understanding
of the factors that allowed the monarch to ______ his right to hold the throne. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | disengage | annotate | buttress | reciprocate | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the legitimacy of the reigns of
French monarchs such as Hugh Capet and Henry I. As used in this context, “buttress” means to strengthen or defend. The
text indicates that regardless of whether a French monarch’s reign was significant or uneventful, each monarch faced
questions about his right to the throne. The text goes on to say that in order to understand the path of a French monarch’s
reign, it’s important to understand what contributed to the monarch’s ability to “hold the throne.” This context suggests that
French monarchs such as Hugh Capet and Henry I had to buttress, or defend, their right to be monarch.
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to discuss factors that enabled a monarch to “disengage,” or
withdraw his right to the French throne. The text focuses on an examination of people who reigned as French monarchs, not
on people who didn’t choose to rule. Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to discuss factors that
enabled a monarch to “annotate,” or add notes to or explain, his right to the French throne. Nothing in the text suggests that
the monarchs were writing notes about their right to the throne; instead, faced with questions about the legitimacy of their
reign, the monarchs defended their right. Choice D is incorrect. Saying that a monarch who is faced with questions about the
legitimacy of his reign was able to “reciprocate” his right to the French throne would mean that he either returned his right to
the throne or that he responded in kind to the challenge. Neither of these meanings would make sense in context because
the text focuses on people who did reign as French monarchs and defended their right to do so. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
548f4956 | It is generally true that technological change is a linear process, in which once-useful technologies are replaced by new and
better ______ the reawakening of interest in the steam engine (from advocates of carbon-neutral rail travel) reminds us that
ostensibly obsolete technologies may be brought back into service to address society’s changing needs. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | ones, even so; | ones even so, | ones; even so, | ones, even so, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice
uses a semicolon in a conventional way to join the first main clause (“It is…ones”) and the second main clause (“even so…
needs”). Furthermore, the placement of the semicolon after “ones” indicates that the supplementary phrase “even so”
modifies the following clause (“the reawakening...needs”), resulting in the most logical and grammatically complete
sentence. With this punctuation, the sentence logically indicates that the recent interest in an old technology like steam
engines is despite the fact that technological change typically seeks out new technologies.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a confusing and illogical sentence. Placing the semicolon after “so” indicates that
the supplementary element “even so” modifies the first clause of the sentence, which doesn’t make sense in this context.
Choice B is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. It fails to mark the boundary between the two main clauses
with appropriate punctuation. Choice D 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 the two main clauses of the sentence. | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
75f49353 | The Progressive Era in the United States witnessed the rise of numerous Black women’s clubs, local organizations that
advocated for racial and gender equality. Among the clubs’ leaders ______ Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, founder of the
Women’s Era Club of Boston. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | was | were | are | have been | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested here is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb “was” agrees in
number with the singular subject “Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin.”
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “Josephine St. Pierre
Ruffin.” Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb “are” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “Josephine St.
Pierre Ruffin.” Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb “have been” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject
“Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin.” | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
f99847ed | For her 2021 art installation Anthem, Wu Tsang joined forces with singer and composer Beverly Glenn-Copeland to produce a
piece that critics found truly ______: they praised Tsang for creatively transforming a museum rotunda into a dynamic exhibit
by projecting filmed images of Glenn-Copeland onto a massive 84-foot curtain and filling the space with the sounds of his
and other voices singing. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | restrained | inventive | inexplicable | mystifying | B | Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the art installation Anthem. In this
context, “inventive” means characterized by invention and creativity. The text explains that critics’ responses to the
installation involved praise for Tsang’s creative transformation of a space into a dynamic exhibit with huge images and lots
of sound. This context conveys that the critics found the piece particularly creative.
Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that critics praised the installation for being dynamic and including huge
images and lots of sound, and it wouldn’t make sense to describe such an exhibit as “restrained,” or limited and not
extravagant or showy. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that critics found the installation
“inexplicable,” or incapable of being explained or interpreted, since the critics were able to explain their praise for the
installation’s transformation of a space with huge images and lots of sound. Choice D is incorrect because the text focuses
on the idea that critics praised Tsang for creatively transforming a space into a dynamic exhibit, not that they found the
installation “mystifying,” or bewildering and hard to understand. Nothing in the text suggests that the critics couldn’t
understand the piece. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
3f753a8e | Investigating whether shared false visual memories—specific but inaccurate and widely held recollections of images such as
product logos—are caused by people’s previous ______ incorrect renditions of the images, researchers Deepasri Prasad and
Wilma Bainbridge found that, in fact, such memories are often not explained by familiarity with erroneous versions of the
images. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | compliance with | exposure to | criteria for | forfeiture of | B | Choice B is the best answer. "Exposure to" means "having contact with." It makes sense that Prasad and Bainbridge were
investigating whether seeing false versions of images was a cause of false visual memories. Notice how "exposure to
incorrect renditions" matches the idea of "familiarity with erroneous versions," which appears later in the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect. "Compliance with" means "going along with a command or directive." False versions of images can’t
give commands or directives, so this doesn’t apply. Choice C is incorrect. "Criteria" means "standards by which to judge
something." It’s not clear how people would come to have standards for the wrong version of an image in the first place, let
alone how those standards would cause them to falsely remember the correct version. In other words, this choice would
result in a confusing, unclear sentence. Choice D is incorrect. "Forfeiture of" means "a giving up of something." It wouldn’t
make sense to say that false memories of an image might be caused by giving up the wrong version of the image. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
7b419faf | In 1903, environmentalist John Muir guided President Theodore Roosevelt on a scenic, sprawling trip through California’s
Yosemite Valley. Upon returning from the three-day excursion, Roosevelt ______ to conserve the nation’s wilderness areas, a
vow he upheld for his remaining six years in office. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | is vowing | vowed | will vow | vows | B | Choice B 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 “vowed” is consistent with the other past tense verbs (“guided” and “upheld”) used to narrate the events
surrounding President Roosevelt’s decision to conserve the nation’s wilderness areas.
Choice A is incorrect because the present progressive tense verb “is vowing” isn’t consistent with the past tense verbs used
to narrate the events surrounding President Roosevelt’s decision to conserve the nation’s wilderness areas. Choice C is
incorrect because the future tense verb “will vow” isn’t consistent with the past tense verbs used to narrate the events
surrounding President Roosevelt’s decision to conserve the nation’s wilderness areas. Choice D is incorrect because the
simple present tense verb “vows” isn’t consistent with the past tense verbs used to narrate the events surrounding President
Roosevelt’s decision to conserve the nation’s wilderness areas. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
4565a53c | Lucía Michel of the University of Chile observed that alkaline soils contain an insoluble form of iron that blueberry plants
cannot absorb, thus inhibiting blueberry growth. If these plants were grown in alkaline soil alongside grasses that aid in iron
solubilization, ______ Michel was determined to find out. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | could the blueberries thrive. | the blueberries could thrive. | the blueberries could thrive? | could the blueberries thrive? | D | Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is end-of-sentence punctuation. This choice correctly uses a
question mark to punctuate the interrogative clause “could the blueberries thrive,” which asks a direct question at the end of
the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because a period can’t be used in this way to punctuate an interrogative clause, such as “could the
blueberries thrive,” at the end of a sentence. Choice B is incorrect because the context requires an interrogative clause. The
declarative clause “the blueberries could thrive” incorrectly indicates that it was known that the blueberries could thrive in
alkaline soil, whereas Michel had yet to find this out. Choice C is incorrect because a question mark can’t be used in this way
to punctuate a declarative clause, such as “the blueberries could thrive,” at the end of a sentence. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
c8607bdf | “Praise Song for the Day,” Elizabeth Alexander’s 2009 inaugural poem, asserts that “We cross dirt roads and highways…to see
what’s on the other side.” Alexander’s use of “we” ______ Americans’ collective efforts and shared desire to seek new
opportunity. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | evokes | are evoking | have evoked | evoke | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "evokes" agrees in
number with the singular subject "Alexander’s use."
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb "are evoking" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "Alexander’s
use." Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "have evoked" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject
"Alexander’s use." Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb "evoke" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject
"Alexander’s use." | Medium | Standard_English_Conventions |
975eda7c | For thousands of years, people in the Americas ______ the bottle gourd, a large bitter fruit with a thick rind, to make bottles,
other types of containers, and even musical instruments. Oddly, there is no evidence that any type of bottle gourd is native to
the Western Hemisphere; either the fruit or its seeds must have somehow been carried from Asia or Africa. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | to use | have used | having used | using | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is 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, “people in the Americas”), and this choice supplies the
finite past perfect tense verb “have used” to indicate what people in the Americas used the gourd for.
Choice A is incorrect because the nonfinite to-infinitive “to use” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice C is
incorrect because the nonfinite participle “having used” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice D is
incorrect because the nonfinite participle “using” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
60713427 | Polyphenols are organic compounds ______ among their many roles, provide pigment that helps protect plants against
ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | that— | that; | that, | that: | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a sentence.
The comma after “that” pairs with the comma after “roles” to separate the supplementary element “among their many roles”
from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element functions to clarify that polyphenols have many roles, and the
pair of commas indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the grammatical coherence of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because a dash can’t be paired with a comma to separate the supplementary element from the rest of
the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be paired with a comma to separate the supplementary
element from the rest of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because a colon can’t be paired with a comma to separate the
supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
78b88c04 | Joshua Hinson, director of the language revitalization program of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, helped produce the
world’s first Indigenous-language instructional app, Chickasaw ______ Chickasaw TV, in 2010; and a Rosetta Stone language
course in Chickasaw, in 2015. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | Basic; in 2009, an online television network; | Basic; in 2009, an online television network, | Basic, in 2009; an online television network, | Basic, in 2009, an online television network, | C | Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of items in a complex series. It’s conventional to
use a semicolon to separate items in a complex series with internal punctuation, and in this choice, the semicolon after
“2009” is conventionally used to separate the first item (“the world’s…2009”) and the second item (“an online…2010”) in the
series of things that Hinson helped create. Further, the comma after “Basic” correctly pairs with the comma after “app,” and
the comma after “network” correctly pairs with the comma after “TV” to set off the supplemental elements (“Chickasaw
Basic” and “Chickasaw TV”) that provide the names of the app and the TV network, respectively. Altogether, the punctuation
in this choice results in a sentence that clearly indicates that Hinson helped make a language app in 2009, an online TV
network in 2010, and a language course in 2015.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to punctuate the complex series in a way that makes clear that Hinson helped make a
language app in 2009, an online TV network in 2010, and a language course in 2015. Choice B is incorrect because it fails to
punctuate the complex series in a way that makes clear that Hinson helped make a language app in 2009, an online TV
network in 2010, and a language course in 2015. Choice D is incorrect because the comma after “2009” doesn’t match the
semicolon used to separate the second and third items in the complex series. | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
88bb0f6f | Text 1
A team led by Bernardo Strassburg has found that rewilding farmland (returning the land to its natural state) could help
preserve biodiversity and offset carbon emissions. The amount of farmland that would need to be restored, they found, is
remarkably low. Rewilding a mere 15% of the world’s current farmland would prevent 60% of expected species extinctions
and help absorb nearly 299 gigatons of carbon dioxide—a clear win in the fight against the biodiversity and climate crises.
Text 2
While Strassburg’s team’s findings certainly offer encouraging insight into the potential benefits of rewilding, it’s important to
consider potential effects on global food supplies. The researchers suggest that to compensate for the loss of food-
producing land, remaining farmland would need to produce even more food. Thus, policies focused on rewilding farmland
must also address strategies for higher-yield farming. | Which choice best describes a difference in how the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 view Strassburg’s team’s
study? | The author of Text 2 approaches the study’s findings with some caution, whereas the author of Text 1 is optimistic about
the reported potential environmental benefits. | The author of Text 2 claims that the percentage of farmland identified by Strassburg’s team is too low for rewilding to
achieve meaningful results, whereas the author of Text 1 thinks the percentage is sufficient. | The author of Text 2 believes that the results described by Strassburg’s team are achievable in the near future, whereas
the author of Text 1 argues that they likely aren’t. | The author of Text 2 focuses on rewilding’s effect on carbon emissions, whereas the author of Text 1 focuses on its | A | Choice A is the best answer. Text 1 is extremely positive about Strassburg’s team’s findings, calling the potential results "a
clear win in the fight against the biodiversity and climate crises." Text 2 is not as positive, arguing that while the findings
point to "potential benefits," we also need to consider the "potential effects on global food supplies."
Choice B is incorrect. This isn’t a difference between the two views. Text 1 does present the 15% number as enough to
achieve meaningful results, but that’s not what Text 2 takes issue with: rather, Text 2 argues that we need to consider the
effect that rewilding this much farmland would have on food supplies. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t a difference between
the two views. Neither text mentions the timeline for achieving the results described by Strassburg’s team. Choice D is
incorrect. This isn’t a difference between the two views. Text 1 focuses on rewilding’s effects on both carbon emissions and | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
8a9d2f4e | Researchers studying the “terra-cotta army,” the thousands of life-size statues of warriors found interred near the tomb of
Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China, were shocked to realize that the shape of each statue’s ears, like the shape of each
person’s ears, ______ unique. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | are | is | were | have been | B | Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject–verb agreement. because the singular verb “is” agrees
in number with the singular subject “the shape.”
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb “are” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the shape.” Choice C is
incorrect because the plural verb “were” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the shape.” Choice D is incorrect
because the plural verb “have been” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “the shape.” | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |
54804e10 | While scholars believe many Mesoamerican cities influenced each other, direct evidence of such influence is difficult to
ascertain. However, recent excavations in a sector of Tikal (Guatemala) unearthed a citadel that shows ______ Teotihuacán
(Mexico) architecture—including a near replica of a famed Teotihuacán temple—providing tangible evidence of outside
influence in portions of Tikal. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | refinements of | precursors of | commonalities with | animosities toward | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of architectural influences among
Mesoamerican cities. In this context, “commonalities with” means similarities to or shared attributes with. The text indicates
that a recently discovered citadel in Tikal includes a close imitation of a famous temple in Teotihuacán (another
Mesoamerican city) and other evidence of Teotihuacán influence, which suggests that the citadel possesses features that
resemble architectural features found in Teotihuacán. This context thus indicates that the Tikal citadel shows commonalities
with Teotihuacán architecture.
Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text that suggests that the Tikal citadel shows “refinements of,” or
improvements on, Teotihuacán architecture. Although the text suggests that the architecture of Teotihuacán influenced the
architecture of the Tikal citadel, and although it’s possible that later architectural designs could make improvements on
earlier designs, the text doesn’t discuss whether, in imitating Teotihuacán architecture, the Tikal citadel’s builders improved
on it. Choice B is incorrect because describing the citadel in Tikal as showing “precursors of” Teotihuacán architecture—or
features that preceded and foreshadowed those of Teotihuacán architecture—would imply the opposite of what the text
suggests about the relationship between the architecture found in Tikal and Teotihuacán. The text claims that the discovery
of similarities between the Tikal citadel and the architecture of Teotihuacán, including a replica of a temple in Teotihuacán,
provides evidence of outside influences on Tikal architecture. If the Tikal citadel was influenced by Teotihuacán architecture,
then the Teotihuacán architecture must predate the citadel, not the other way around. In this context, therefore, it wouldn’t
make sense to say that the Tikal citadel shows precursors of Teotihuacán architecture. Choice D is incorrect because the
text discusses how the citadel in Tikal indicates the influence of Teotihuacán architecture, which implies that the makers of
the Tikal citadel likely admired aspects of Teotihuacán architecture enough to imitate it. Thus, there’s no reason to think that
the Tikal citadel provides evidence of the Tikal people’s “animosities toward,” or feelings of strong dislike or hostility toward,
Teotihuacán architecture. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
849bf8d7 | In the mid-nineteenth century, some abolitionist newspapers ______ westward migration in the United States; by printing a
letter that described the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California during the Gold Rush, Frederick
Douglass’s newspaper North Star was one such publication that inspired readers to relocate. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | stimulated | assigned | opposed | disregarded | A | Choice A is the best answer. "Stimulated" means "encouraged interest or increased activity in." Because the newspapers
discussed the benefits of westward migration and "inspired readers to relocate," we can infer that they encouraged people to
move west.
Choice B is incorrect. "Assigned" means "gave a job or duty." Newspapers do not have the power to assign people to move
west, although they can encourage it. Choice C is incorrect. "Opposed" means "disapproved of." We can tell that this isn’t the
case, because the newspapers discussed "the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California" and "inspired
readers to relocate." Choice D is incorrect. "Disregarded" means "ignored." If the newspapers are writing about the west and
"inspir[ing] readers to relocate," they can’t be ignoring it at the same time. | Easy | Craft_and_Structure |
6e5bf3a8 | Even though bats prefer very sweet nectar, the plants that attract them have evolved to produce nectar that is only
moderately sweet. A recent study ______ why: making sugar is energy-intensive, and it is more advantageous for plants to
make a large amount of low-sugar nectar than a small amount of high-sugar nectar. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | explains | explaining | having explained | to explain | A | Choice A 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, “a recent study”), and this choice supplies
the finite present tense verb “explains” to indicate that the study explains why plants that attract bats have evolved to
produce moderately sweet nectar.
Choice B is incorrect because the nonfinite participle “explaining” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice C
is incorrect because the nonfinite participle “having explained” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. Choice D is
incorrect because the nonfinite to-infinitive “to explain” doesn’t supply the main clause with a finite verb. | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
7b950fc2 | In 2000, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, herself an owner of a successful consulting firm, sought to increase Latina
representation in corporate ______ founded Las Comadres para las Americas, an international community that for over two
decades has served as a resource and information network for Latina business professionals. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | settings she | settings, she | settings and she | settings. She | D | Choice D is the best answer. It appropriately uses a period to mark the end of one independent clause ("In 2000…settings")
and the start of another ("She founded…professionals").
Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence error. Both the clause before the blank ("In 2000…settings")
and the clause after the blank ("she…professionals") are independent clauses, so they need to be separated by punctuation.
Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a comma splice error. It incorrectly joins two independent clauses with just a
comma. Linking two independent clauses with a comma also requires the use of a coordinating conjunction (like for, and,
nor, but, or, yet, or so). Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence, an error caused when two independent
clauses are joined without punctuation or appropriate conjunctions. Since both the clause before the blank ("In 2000…
settings") and the clause after the blank ("she…professionals") are independent, a comma would be required in addition to
the coordinating conjunction "and." | Easy | Standard_English_Conventions |
9b01bcf4 | The 1967 release of Harold Cruse’s book The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual isolated him from almost all other scholars and
activists of the American Civil Rights Movement—though many of those thinkers disagreed with each other, he nonetheless
found ways to disagree with them all. He thought that activists who believed that Black people such as himself should
culturally assimilate were naïve. But he also sharply criticized Black nationalists such as Marcus Garvey who wanted to
establish independent, self-contained Black economies and societies, even though Cruse himself identified as a Black
nationalist. | Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? | It describes a direction that Cruse felt the Civil Rights Movement ought to take. | It indicates that Cruse’s reputation as a persistent antagonist of other scholars is undeserved. | It describes a controversy that Cruse’s work caused within the Black nationalist movement. | It helps explain Cruse’s position with respect to the community of civil rights thinkers. | D | Choice D is the best answer. The text as a whole claims that Cruse disagreed with virtually all other Civil Rights scholars and
activists. The underlined sentence describes one way that Cruse both did and didn’t fit in with those thinkers: he criticized
Black nationalists, even though he identified as one.
Choice A is incorrect. The underlined sentence doesn’t do this. It describes Cruse’s criticisms—it never mentions what Cruse
did want the movement to do instead. Choice B is incorrect. This conflicts with the text, which argues that Cruse did disagree
with almost all other scholars of the Civil Rights Movement. Choice C is incorrect. This is a step too far. The text never says
that Cruse’s work caused controversy within the Black nationalist movement. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
97360a00 | The following text is adapted from Gwendolyn Bennett’s 1926 poem “Street Lamps in Early Spring.”
Night wears a garment
All velvet soft, all violet blue...
And over her face she draws a veil
As shimmering fine as floating dew...
And here and there
In the black of her hair
The subtle hands of Night
Move slowly with their gem-starred light. | Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text? | It presents alternating descriptions of night in a rural area and in a city. | It sketches an image of nightfall, then an image of sunrise. | It makes an extended comparison of night to a human being. | It portrays how night changes from one season of the year to the next. | C | Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. Throughout the text, the
speaker characterizes nighttime as if it were a person who wears clothing (“a garment” that is “velvet soft” and “violet blue”)
and a veil “over her face” and who moves her hands “slowly with their gem-starred light” through her dark hair. Thus, the text
is structured as an extended comparison of night to a human being.
Choice A is incorrect because the text never mentions any particular location; instead, it focuses on presenting a single
description of night as a person with certain clothing and features. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t make any
reference to the sun or sunrise; instead, it focuses on presenting a single image of night as a person with certain clothing
and features. Choice D is incorrect. Rather than describing how nighttime changes seasonally (or in any other way), the text
presents a single image of night as a person with certain clothing and features. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
81a3a607 | In the Indigenous intercropping system known as the Three Sisters, maize, squash, and beans form an ______ web of
relations: maize provides the structure on which the bean vines grow; the squash vines cover the soil, discouraging
competition from weeds; and the beans aid their two “sisters” by enriching the soil with essential nitrogen. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | indecipherable | ornamental | obscure | intricate | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Three Sisters intercropping
system. As used in this context, “intricate” would mean made up of complexly related elements. The text indicates that in the
Three Sisters system, maize, squash, and beans form a “web of relations” in which the crops interact in various ways. The
text’s description of these interactions—the bean vines growing on the maize stalks, the squash vines keeping weeds away,
and the beans adding nutrients that the maize and squash use—provides context suggesting that this “web of relations” is
intricate.
Choice A is incorrect because describing the relationship among the crops in the Three Sisters system as “indecipherable,”
or impossible to comprehend, would not make sense in context. Although the text presents the relationship as complex, the
text’s description of the role that each crop plays makes it clear that the relationship is well understood, not
indecipherable. Choice B is incorrect because the text discusses the practical benefits that each plant in the Three Sisters
system provides to other members of the system, showing that the relationship among the crops that make up the system is
not “ornamental,” or mainly serving a decorative purpose. Choice C is incorrect because describing the relationship among
the crops in the Three Sisters system as “obscure,” or unknown or poorly understood, would not make sense in context.
Although the text presents the relationship as complex, the text’s description of the role that each crop plays makes it clear
that the relationship is well understood, not obscure. | Medium | Craft_and_Structure |
76e4c51d | The güiro, a musical instrument traditionally made from a dried and hollowed gourd, is thought to have originated with the
Taíno people of Puerto Rico. Players use a wooden stick to scrape along ridges cut into the side of the gourd, creating
sounds that are highly ______: the sounds produced by güiros can differ based on the distance between the ridges, the types
of strokes the player uses, and the thickness of the gourd. | Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? | overlooked | powerful | routine | variable | D | Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the sounds made by güiros. In this
context, “variable” means able to change. The text begins by explaining that güiros are instruments made out of hollowed
gourds with ridges cut into their sides and that players scrape the ridges with wooden sticks to produce sounds. The text
goes on to say that güiros’ sounds can change depending on gourd thickness, the distance between ridges, and the types of
strokes the player uses, thus supporting the idea that the sounds created by these instruments are variable.
Choice A is incorrect because “overlooked” means not being seen or noticed, and there is nothing in the text to suggest that
the sounds produced by güiros are overlooked or not noticed. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “powerful” would
mean having a great ability to produce an effect. While it’s possible that the sounds produced by güiros have a strong effect
on listeners, the text doesn’t discuss this aspect of their sounds. Choice C is incorrect because “routine” means usual and
unvarying, and there is nothing in the text to suggest that the sounds produced by güiros are unvarying. In fact, the text
describes how the sounds produced by güiros can differ based on several factors. | Hard | Craft_and_Structure |
0fe5ce68 | Ten of William Shakespeare’s plays are classified as histories. Although each one of these plays, which include Henry V and
Richard III, ______ on a single historical figure (specifically, an English king), some, such as Henry VI Part One and Henry VI
Part Two, feature different episodes from the same monarch’s life. | Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? | focuses | focus | are focused | were focused | A | Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "focuses" agrees in
number with the singular subject "each one of these plays," which refers to each play individually.
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb "focus" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "each one of these
plays." Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "are focused" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "each
one of these plays." Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb "were focused" doesn’t agree in number with the singular
subject "each one of these plays." | Hard | Standard_English_Conventions |