betterMateusz/SAT_Writting_Reading_Assessment_Question_Bank huggingface dataset:
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.

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

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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).

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

Answer: D

Rationale: 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."

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) quantities
B) decorations
C) patterns
D) agreements

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) indifference to
B) enthusiasm for
C) concern about
D) surprise at

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) measures
B) had measured
C) would have measured
D) will have been measuring

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

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

Answer: D

Rationale: 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."

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) supplemental to
B) predictive of
C) independent of
D) subsumed in

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) scholarly
B) melodic
C) jarring
D) personal

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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).

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) newfound
B) delicate
C) inevitable
D) habitual

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

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

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

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

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) carbon-13, (
C)
B) carbon-13 (
C)
C) carbon-13, (
C),
D) carbon-13 (

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) energy collected, by solar panels, during the day
B) energy collected by solar panels during the day
C) energy collected by solar panels during the day,
D) energy, collected by solar panels during the day,

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) disengage
B) annotate
C) buttress
D) reciprocate

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

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

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

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

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) restrained
B) inventive
C) inexplicable
D) mystifying

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) compliance with
B) exposure to
C) criteria for
D) forfeiture of

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) is vowing
B) vowed
C) will vow
D) vows

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) could the blueberries thrive.
B) the blueberries could thrive.
C) the blueberries could thrive?
D) could the blueberries thrive?

Answer: D

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
“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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) evokes
B) are evoking
C) have evoked
D) evoke

Answer: A

Rationale: 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."

Difficulty: Medium | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) to use
B) have used
C) having used
D) using

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
Polyphenols are organic compounds ______ among their many roles, provide pigment that helps protect plants against
ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

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

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) Basic; in 2009, an online television network;
B) Basic; in 2009, an online television network,
C) Basic, in 2009; an online television network,
D) Basic, in 2009, an online television network,

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: 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?
A) 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.
B) 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.
C) 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.
D) The author of Text 2 focuses on rewilding’s effect on carbon emissions, whereas the author of Text 1 focuses on its

Answer: A

Rationale: 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

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

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

Answer: B

Rationale: 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.”

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) reﬁnements of
B) precursors of
C) commonalities with
D) animosities toward

Answer: C

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Hard | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) stimulated
B) assigned
C) opposed
D) disregarded

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Craft_and_Structure
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.

Question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A) explains
B) explaining
C) having explained
D) to explain

Answer: A

Rationale: 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.

Difficulty: Easy | Domain: Standard_English_Conventions