betterMateusz/SAT_Writting_Reading_Assessment_Question_Bank huggingface dataset:
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) inevitable
B) satisfactory
C) negligible
D) commonplace

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) reach
B) had reached
C) will reach
D) are reaching

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) of
B) of,
C) of—
D) of:

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) recognizable
B) intriguing
C) signiﬁcant
D) useful

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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, ______

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) the mitigation of both street ﬂooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved by bioswales.
B) the bioswales have mitigated both street ﬂooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways.
C) the bioswales’ mitigation of both street ﬂooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways has been achieved.
D) both street ﬂooding and the resulting pollution of nearby waterways have been mitigated by bioswales.

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) deceptive
B) innocuous
C) novel
D) impractical

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) are
B) have been
C) were
D) is

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) people’s stories
B) peoples story’s
C) peoples stories
D) people’s story’s

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) experiment with
B) adhere to
C) improve on
D) grapple with

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) Tribe, and
B) Tribe
C) Tribe and
D) Tribe,

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) borrows
B) spans
C) judges
D) neglects

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) had survived
B) survived
C) would survive
D) survives

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A) To convey a contrast between Jane’s outward calmness and internal restlessness
B) To emphasize Jane’s loyalty to the people she works for at Thornﬁeld Hall
C) To demonstrate that Jane ﬁnds her situation both challenging and deeply fulﬁlling
D) To describe Jane’s determination to secure employment outside of Thornﬁeld Hall

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) produced
B) denied
C) worried
D) predicted

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) invent
B) simulate
C) exaggerate
D) preserve

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) is inventing
B) will invent
C) invents
D) had invented

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) They’re
B) It’s
C) Their
D) Its

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) selects
B) originates
C) conditions
D) replenishes

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) delegate
B) compose
C) interpret
D) renounce

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) demands
B) speculates
C) doubts
D) establishes

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) walls, with
B) walls with
C) walls so with
D) walls. With

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) Morocco gained its independence two years before the publication of Chraïbi’s debut novel, which
B) Chraïbi’s debut novel, published two years before Morocco gained its independence,
C) Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that, published two years before Morocco gained its independence,
D) published two years before Morocco gained its independence, Chraïbi wrote a debut novel that

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) were a smaller, foam version
B) are smaller, foam versions
C) were smaller, foam versions
D) is a smaller, foam version

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) conceptualize
B) neglect
C) illustrate
D) overcome

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It elaborates on the idea that the top layer of Atacama Desert soil forms a tough crust.
B) It describes the process by which seeds are deposited into Atacama Desert soil.
C) It identiﬁes the reason particular bird species dig nests in Atacama Desert soil.
D) It explains how certain birds promote seed germination in Atacama Desert soil.

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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).

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) from:
B) from,
C) from
D) from—

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions