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PSAT/NMSQT practice questions

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Question 1Reading and Writing

A student is revising an essay on urban trees and wants to combine these two sentences: "The city planted two hundred saplings last spring. Most of them survived the summer drought." Which revision best expresses the relationship between the two ideas in a single sentence?

  1. The city planted two hundred saplings last spring, and most of them survived the summer drought. Correct answer.
  2. The city planted two hundred saplings last spring most of them survived the summer drought.
  3. The city planted two hundred saplings last spring, most of them survived the summer drought.
  4. The city planted two hundred saplings last spring; but most of them survived the summer drought.

Explanation

Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction need a comma before the conjunction, so the version with a comma plus "and" is correctly punctuated and logical. The relationship is additive rather than contrastive, so "and" fits better than "but."

Question 2Reading and Writing

Read this sentence from a draft: "The researchers, who had spent three years collecting data in coastal wetlands, published their findings in a major journal." Which element of the sentence is the main clause?

  1. The researchers published their findings in a major journal Correct answer.
  2. who had spent three years collecting data in coastal wetlands
  3. collecting data in coastal wetlands
  4. published their findings in a major journal

Explanation

The main clause must contain both a subject and a finite verb and must be able to stand alone as a sentence. Here "The researchers published their findings in a major journal" does that, while the "who" clause is a subordinate relative clause modifying "researchers."

Question 3Reading and Writing

A writer wants to add a sentence that introduces a counterargument before rebutting it in a passage arguing that school start times should be moved later. Which sentence best performs that function?

  1. Later start times have been shown to improve attendance and alertness in several large districts.
  2. Many students currently begin classes before eight in the morning.
  3. Therefore, school boards should seriously consider moving start times later.
  4. Some parents worry that later start times would disrupt family schedules, yet districts that made the change report few such problems. Correct answer.

Explanation

A counterargument sentence must acknowledge an opposing position and then set up a response to it. This option names a specific objection and signals the rebuttal with "yet," which is exactly the rhetorical move described.

Question 4Reading and Writing

In the sentence "The committee reached its decision after a long debate," the word "after" functions as which part of speech?

  1. An adverb modifying the verb
  2. A preposition introducing a noun phrase
  3. A subordinating conjunction introducing a clause Correct answer.
  4. A coordinating conjunction

Explanation

"After" here introduces the clause "a long debate" with an implied subject and verb, so it is a subordinating conjunction linking a dependent clause to the main clause. A preposition would need to be followed by a noun phrase alone, as in "after a long debate" meaning a single noun phrase, but the clause reading governs this structure.

Question 5Reading and Writing

Which choice best maintains the formal, academic register of a passage analyzing a novel?

  1. The author crafts an ending that is both surprising and thematically resonant. Correct answer.
  2. The author really nails the ending, which totally works.
  3. The author does a great job wrapping things up at the end.
  4. The ending is super surprising and kind of meaningful.

Explanation

Academic analysis favors precise, evaluative vocabulary and avoids slang and vague intensifiers. "Crafts an ending that is both surprising and thematically resonant" uses specific critical terms suited to literary analysis.

Question 6Reading and Writing

A student is checking whether a source is credible for a research paper on nutrition. Which detail most directly supports the source's credibility?

  1. The article was written by a journalist who cites interviews with three shoppers.
  2. The article was published in a peer-reviewed journal and lists its methodology. Correct answer.
  3. The article appears on a website with colorful graphics and many advertisements.
  4. The article was shared widely on social media and has many comments.

Explanation

Peer review and a described methodology are standard markers of scholarly credibility because they indicate expert scrutiny and transparency. Popularity or visual appeal does not establish reliability.

Question 7Reading and Writing

Which revision of this sentence corrects its error in subject-verb agreement? "The collection of rare manuscripts in the library's basement require careful handling."

  1. The collection of rare manuscripts in the library's basement have required careful handling.
  2. The collection of rare manuscripts in the library's basement are requiring careful handling.
  3. The collection of rare manuscripts in the library's basement requires careful handling. Correct answer.
  4. The collection of rare manuscripts in the library's basement require careful handling.

Explanation

The subject is "collection," which is singular; the prepositional phrase "of rare manuscripts" does not change the number. A singular subject takes the singular verb "requires," so only that revision is grammatically correct.

Question 8Reading and Writing

In a passage about a scientist's early career, the writer wants a transition that signals a shift from describing the scientist's failures to describing her eventual breakthrough. Which transition best fits?

  1. For example,
  2. Similarly,
  3. In addition,
  4. Nevertheless, Correct answer.

Explanation

The writer needs a contrastive transition because the breakthrough stands in contrast to earlier failures. "Nevertheless" signals that the second idea holds despite the first, which matches the shift.

Question 9Reading and Writing

A passage states: "The new bridge was designed to reduce commute times. Traffic data from the first year show that average commute times increased slightly." Which sentence best uses the data to qualify the original claim?

  1. Traffic data from the first year show that commute times increased slightly, which proves the bridge was a complete failure.
  2. The bridge's design goal of reducing commute times was not fully realized in its first year, as average commute times actually rose slightly. Correct answer.
  3. The new bridge was designed to reduce commute times, and it did.
  4. Because the bridge was designed to reduce commute times, traffic data are irrelevant.

Explanation

A qualification accurately acknowledges the evidence while limiting the original claim rather than ignoring or exaggerating it. This option reports the data and adjusts the claim proportionally.

Question 10Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The report, which was published last week, argues that remote work reduces traffic congestion." Which word is the antecedent of the pronoun "which"?

  1. The noun "congestion"
  2. The report Correct answer.
  3. The phrase "last week"
  4. The sentence's main verb "argues"

Explanation

A relative pronoun refers back to the noun phrase it modifies, and here "which was published last week" describes "the report." The pronoun therefore has "the report" as its antecedent.

Question 11Reading and Writing

A writer wants to combine these sentences smoothly: "The museum opened a new wing. The wing houses modern art. The wing was funded by private donors." Which revision is most concise while preserving all the information?

  1. The museum opened a new wing, which houses modern art and was funded by private donors. Correct answer.
  2. The museum opened a new wing, and the wing houses modern art, and the wing was funded by private donors.
  3. The museum opened a new wing; it houses modern art; it was funded by private donors.
  4. The museum opened a new wing. The wing houses modern art. The wing was funded by private donors.

Explanation

Combining the details in a relative clause eliminates repetition while keeping every piece of information. The single relative clause "which houses modern art and was funded by private donors" modifies "wing" efficiently.

Question 12Reading and Writing

In a passage comparing two economic theories, the writer states: "Advocates of the first theory emphasize market incentives. Critics of the first theory emphasize market failures." Which revision best uses parallel structure to sharpen the contrast?

  1. Advocates of the first theory emphasize market incentives; critics of the first theory, however, are emphasizing market failures.
  2. Advocates of the first theory emphasize market incentives, and critics of the first theory emphasize market failures.
  3. Advocates of the first theory emphasize market incentives, while critics emphasize market failures.
  4. Advocates of the first theory emphasize market incentives, whereas critics of the first theory emphasize market failures. Correct answer.

Explanation

Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms in matched positions, and "whereas" cleanly marks the contrast while both halves use the same subject-verb-object pattern. The parallel phrasing and explicit contrastive conjunction sharpen the comparison.

Question 13Reading and Writing

A student is writing about the effects of urban green spaces and wants to use a source that provides the strongest statistical evidence. Which source type is most appropriate?

  1. An opinion column arguing that parks are pleasant
  2. A city brochure describing a new park's amenities
  3. A peer-reviewed study reporting measured health outcomes across multiple cities Correct answer.
  4. A personal blog post about the writer's favorite park

Explanation

A peer-reviewed study with measured outcomes across multiple cities provides systematic, verifiable data rather than anecdote or opinion. That makes it the strongest statistical evidence for the claim.

Question 14Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "Walking through the old neighborhood, the memories came flooding back." What is the grammatical problem with the sentence?

  1. The sentence contains a dangling modifier because "walking" seems to modify "the memories." Correct answer.
  2. The sentence contains a pronoun with no antecedent.
  3. The sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement.
  4. The sentence contains a comma splice.

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence must modify the subject of the main clause. Here the subject is "the memories," so the sentence illogically suggests that the memories were walking through the neighborhood, creating a dangling modifier.

Question 15Reading and Writing

A writer wants to introduce a concession in an argument that standardized testing should be reduced. Which sentence best concedes a point while maintaining the overall argument?

  1. Many people have opinions about standardized tests.
  2. Standardized tests are the worst invention in the history of education.
  3. Standardized tests should be eliminated entirely and immediately.
  4. Standardized tests do provide a common benchmark, but they capture only a narrow range of student abilities. Correct answer.

Explanation

A concession grants a valid point to the opposing side before reasserting the writer's position. This option acknowledges a genuine benefit of testing and then limits it, preserving the overall argument.

Question 16Reading and Writing

Which sentence uses a colon correctly according to standard conventions?

  1. The recipe calls for: flour, sugar, and butter.
  2. The recipe calls for three ingredients; flour, sugar, and butter.
  3. The recipe calls for three ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter. Correct answer.
  4. The recipe calls for three ingredients, flour, sugar, and butter.

Explanation

A colon should follow an independent clause and introduce a list or explanation. In this option the clause "The recipe calls for three ingredients" is complete, so the colon is correctly placed before the list.

Question 17Reading and Writing

A passage discusses a study finding that students who read printed texts recalled more details than students who read the same texts on screens. Which conclusion is best supported by this evidence?

  1. Printed books should replace all digital devices in schools.
  2. Screens are harmful to all students in every learning situation.
  3. Printed reading may support detailed recall better than screen reading in this study's context. Correct answer.
  4. The study proves that reading on screens is worthless.

Explanation

A sound conclusion stays within the scope of the evidence, which concerns detailed recall in one study. The hedged wording "may support" and "in this study's context" matches that limited scope.

Question 18Reading and Writing

Which revision best corrects the faulty parallelism in this sentence? "The internship taught her to manage deadlines, communicating with clients, and how to solve problems."

  1. The internship taught her to manage deadlines, communicating with clients, and solving problems.
  2. The internship taught her how to manage deadlines, communicating with clients, and problem solving.
  3. The internship taught her managing deadlines, communicating with clients, and how to solve problems.
  4. The internship taught her to manage deadlines, to communicate with clients, and to solve problems. Correct answer.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form, and the base list uses infinitives. Using "to manage," "to communicate," and "to solve" makes all three items parallel infinitives.

Question 19Reading and Writing

A writer wants to add a sentence that provides a specific example supporting the claim "Community gardens strengthen neighborhood ties." Which sentence best serves as that example?

  1. Gardening requires patience, sunlight, and regular watering.
  2. Neighborhoods across the country vary widely in size and population.
  3. At the Elm Street garden, volunteers who once were strangers now organize monthly potlucks and share tools. Correct answer.
  4. Community gardens are generally considered beneficial by many urban planners.

Explanation

A specific example should illustrate the general claim with a concrete instance. The Elm Street garden detail shows neighbors forming connections, directly supporting the claim about strengthening ties.

Question 20Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The scientist's hypothesis, though initially dismissed by her peers, was later confirmed by independent experiments." Which word best captures the function of "though initially dismissed by her peers"?

  1. It introduces a contrast that emphasizes the eventual confirmation. Correct answer.
  2. It offers a cause for the confirmation.
  3. It defines a technical term used later in the sentence.
  4. It provides the main claim of the sentence.

Explanation

The phrase "though initially dismissed" sets up a contrast with the later confirmation, heightening the significance of the outcome. It is a concessive element that modifies the main clause rather than stating the claim itself.

Question 21Reading and Writing

A student wants to strengthen an argument that a city should expand bike lanes. Which addition would most effectively address a likely counterargument?

  1. Data showing that protected bike lanes reduced collisions on comparable streets in other cities. Correct answer.
  2. A statement that biking is fun and healthy.
  3. A quotation from the student's friend who enjoys biking.
  4. A list of the student's favorite cycling routes.

Explanation

The likely objection is that bike lanes could increase risk or disrupt traffic, and comparable collision data directly addresses safety concerns. Evidence from similar cities is the strongest way to meet that objection.

Question 22Reading and Writing

A writer is analyzing how an author builds tension in a narrative. The author writes: "She reached for the doorknob. The hallway behind her was silent. Too silent." Which technique is most clearly used here to create tension?

  1. A long, flowing sentence that slows the pace and creates calm.
  2. A series of short sentences and a fragment that emphasize the character's unease. Correct answer.
  3. An extended metaphor comparing the hallway to a river.
  4. A direct quotation that reveals another character's thoughts.

Explanation

Short sentences and the fragment "Too silent" create a clipped, staccato rhythm that heightens suspense. The abrupt fragment draws attention to the character's growing unease.

Question 23Reading and Writing

In a passage on climate policy, the writer states: "Critics argue that carbon taxes burden low-income households. This concern is legitimate, and well-designed rebates can offset the cost while preserving the policy's incentive effects." Which best describes the writer's rhetorical strategy?

  1. The writer dismisses the objection as irrelevant.
  2. The writer concedes the objection entirely and abandons the policy.
  3. The writer changes the topic to avoid discussing costs.
  4. The writer acknowledges an objection and then proposes a way to address it. Correct answer.

Explanation

The writer first grants that the concern is legitimate, then introduces rebates as a mechanism that answers the objection. This is a concession-and-rebuttal strategy that strengthens the overall argument.

Question 24Reading and Writing

A passage presents two studies. Study A finds that students who take notes by hand perform better on conceptual questions. Study B finds no difference between handwriting and typing. Which statement best synthesizes the two findings?

  1. Handwriting is definitively superior for all types of learning.
  2. Neither study is relevant to how students take notes.
  3. Typing is definitively superior for all types of learning.
  4. The evidence is mixed: one study favors handwriting for conceptual questions, while another finds no difference. Correct answer.

Explanation

A synthesis must accurately represent both studies without overstating either. Since the findings conflict, the most accurate summary notes the mixed evidence and specifies what each study found.

Question 25Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The historian's account is compelling, but it relies heavily on a single archive, a limitation that careful readers should weigh." Which best describes the function of "a limitation that careful readers should weigh"?

  1. It repeats the praise in the first clause for emphasis.
  2. It qualifies the praise in the first clause by naming a specific weakness. Correct answer.
  3. It provides evidence that the archive is comprehensive.
  4. It introduces a new topic unrelated to the historian's account.

Explanation

The first clause praises the account, and the appositive phrase names a specific shortcoming that limits that praise. This qualification balances the evaluation and guides the reader's judgment.

Question 26Reading and Writing

A student is revising a sentence in an essay on urban planning: "The committee reviewed the proposal, they had concerns about the budget." Which revision correctly resolves the sentence's structural problem?

  1. The committee reviewed the proposal; they had concerns about the budget. Correct answer.
  2. The committee reviewed the proposal, having concerns about the budget, they did.
  3. The committee reviewed the proposal, they had concerns about the budget.
  4. The committee reviewed the proposal and they had concerns about the budget, it was.

Explanation

The original joins two independent clauses with only a comma, producing a comma splice. A semicolon or a coordinating conjunction can correctly separate two independent clauses, and only the semicolon version does so cleanly.

Question 27Reading and Writing

In a passage about honeybee communication, the writer wants to combine these ideas: "The waggle dance conveys direction. It also conveys distance." Which sentence best combines them while keeping both meanings clear?

  1. The waggle dance conveys direction; distance.
  2. The waggle dance conveys direction, and distance also.
  3. The waggle dance conveys direction and distance. Correct answer.
  4. The waggle dance conveys direction, it also conveys distance.

Explanation

A compound object joined by 'and' expresses both ideas concisely without creating a clause error. The other versions either splice clauses with a comma or leave a fragment.

Question 28Reading and Writing

Read this sentence from a draft: "The researchers, who had spent years in the field, published their findings in a leading journal." Which description best identifies the function of the underlined portion, "who had spent years in the field"?

  1. an appositive renaming the findings
  2. a nonrestrictive relative clause adding background about the researchers Correct answer.
  3. an independent clause stating the main action
  4. a participial phrase modifying the journal

Explanation

The clause beginning with 'who' modifies 'researchers' and is set off by commas, marking it as nonrestrictive background information. It is not the main action and does not rename a noun.

Question 29Reading and Writing

A writer is drafting an argument that public libraries should extend weekend hours. Which sentence most clearly states a defensible claim for the essay?

  1. Weekend hours are a topic that some communities discuss.
  2. Libraries have existed for a very long time.
  3. Extending weekend hours would let working residents use library services they currently cannot access. Correct answer.
  4. Many people enjoy libraries.

Explanation

A defensible claim must be specific and arguable, and the first option links a concrete policy to a concrete benefit. The others are vague observations that no reader could reasonably dispute or build an argument around.

Question 30Reading and Writing

A student is writing a report on sleep and learning and finds a blog post by a wellness coach citing a single small study. Which detail most weakens the post's usefulness as evidence?

  1. The post relies on one small study rather than a body of research. Correct answer.
  2. The post includes a photograph of a bedroom.
  3. The post uses the word 'sleep' frequently.
  4. The post was published on a website with a clean design.

Explanation

Evidence quality depends on the strength and breadth of the underlying research, so grounding a claim in one small study limits how much the post can support. Visual design, images, and word frequency do not bear on evidentiary strength.

Question 31Reading and Writing

Which sentence uses a colon correctly in a piece of student writing?

  1. The experiment required three materials: a beaker, a scale, and a thermometer. Correct answer.
  2. The experiment required three materials, a beaker: a scale, and a thermometer.
  3. The experiment required three materials: and then it was conducted.
  4. The experiment required: a beaker, a scale, and a thermometer.

Explanation

A colon should follow a complete independent clause and introduce a list or explanation. Only the first option places the colon after a full clause and before the list it announces.

Question 32Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The city council approved the new park, which will open next spring." Which choice best explains why the comma is used?

  1. It sets off a nonessential clause that could be removed without changing the main point. Correct answer.
  2. It marks the beginning of a list of items.
  3. It separates two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
  4. It introduces a direct quotation.

Explanation

The clause 'which will open next spring' supplies extra detail about the park and is not required to identify it, so it is nonrestrictive and set off by a comma. There is no second independent clause, quotation, or list in the sentence.

Question 33Reading and Writing

A passage states: "The startup's app was downloaded a million times in its first month. Revenue, however, remained below projections." Which statement best describes the relationship between the two sentences?

  1. The second sentence restates the first in different words.
  2. The second sentence qualifies the apparent success reported in the first. Correct answer.
  3. The second sentence offers an unrelated statistic.
  4. The second sentence provides a cause for the first.

Explanation

The contrast signaled by 'however' shows that strong download numbers did not translate into expected revenue, qualifying the success. The second sentence therefore limits rather than restates or causes the first.

Question 34Reading and Writing

A student wants to revise this sentence for concision: "Due to the fact that the deadline was approaching, the team worked together collaboratively to finish the report." Which revision is most concise while preserving the meaning?

  1. The deadline was approaching, and the team worked together collaboratively to finish the report.
  2. Because of the approaching deadline, the team worked together collaboratively to finish the report.
  3. Because the deadline was approaching, the team collaborated to finish the report. Correct answer.
  4. Due to the fact that the deadline was approaching, the team worked together to finish the report.

Explanation

Concise revision removes wordy phrases such as 'due to the fact that' and redundant pairs such as 'worked together collaboratively.' Only the first option eliminates both while keeping the causal meaning.

Question 35Reading and Writing

A writer is analyzing an argument in a passage: "Opponents say the new transit tax is unfair. Yet every household in the county, including those without cars, benefits from reduced congestion and cleaner air." Which rhetorical move does the second sentence make?

  1. It introduces a new topic unrelated to the tax.
  2. It rebuts the fairness objection by reframing who benefits. Correct answer.
  3. It concedes that the tax is unfair to households without cars.
  4. It restates the opponents' position without responding to it.

Explanation

The second sentence directly answers the fairness objection by showing that all households, even carless ones, gain from the policy. This is a rebuttal that reframes the benefit rather than a concession.

Question 36Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The novelist's later works, though admired by critics, were seldom read by the general public, a fate that frustrated her." Which element of the sentence is an appositive phrase?

  1. The novelist's later works
  2. were seldom read by the general public
  3. a fate that frustrated her Correct answer.
  4. though admired by critics

Explanation

The phrase 'a fate that frustrated her' renames the situation just described, which is the defining function of an appositive. The other segments are a concessive phrase, the predicate, and the subject.

Question 37Reading and Writing

A student is writing about declining bee populations and wants to use a source that provides the strongest statistical evidence. Which source would best meet that goal?

  1. A company advertisement for a garden product
  2. A peer-reviewed survey reporting multiyear population counts across regions Correct answer.
  3. A personal blog describing one gardener's observations
  4. A novel featuring bees as a symbol

Explanation

Statistical evidence is strongest when it comes from systematic, peer-reviewed data covering multiple years and regions. Personal anecdotes, fiction, and advertising do not provide reliable quantitative evidence.

Question 38Reading and Writing

A passage describes a study in which participants who exercised before a memory task recalled more words than those who rested. The writer concludes that exercise improves memory. Which additional finding would most strengthen this conclusion?

  1. A second, larger group showed the same pattern across several memory tasks. Correct answer.
  2. Participants in both groups were the same age.
  3. The study took place in a university laboratory.
  4. Some participants in the study reported enjoying the exercise.

Explanation

Replication with a larger group and varied tasks would show the effect is consistent rather than a one-time result, strengthening the causal conclusion. Enjoyment, location, and matched ages do not address whether exercise itself improves memory.

Question 39Reading and Writing

Which revision best corrects the faulty parallelism in this sentence: "The workshop taught participants to draft budgets, managing schedules, and how to resolve conflicts"?

  1. The workshop taught participants to draft budgets, managing schedules, and conflict resolution.
  2. The workshop taught participants drafting budgets, managing schedules, and how to resolve conflicts.
  3. The workshop taught participants how to draft budgets, managing schedules, and resolving conflicts.
  4. The workshop taught participants to draft budgets, manage schedules, and resolve conflicts. Correct answer.

Explanation

Parallel structure requires items in a series to share the same grammatical form. The first option uses three parallel infinitives, while the others mix infinitives, gerunds, and noun phrases.

Question 40Reading and Writing

A writer wants to add a transition signaling a contrast between two sentences in an essay on remote work. The first sentence notes that productivity rose; the second notes that employees reported feeling isolated. Which transition best fits at the start of the second sentence?

  1. However, Correct answer.
  2. For example,
  3. Therefore,
  4. Similarly,

Explanation

The two observations pull in opposite directions, so a contrast transition is needed. 'However' signals that opposition, while the other choices indicate cause, similarity, or illustration.

Question 41Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "Walking through the old neighborhood, the memories came flooding back." What is the grammatical problem, and which revision fixes it?

  1. The sentence lacks a verb; revise to 'Walking through the old neighborhood, memories.'
  2. The introductory phrase has no logical subject; revise to 'Walking through the old neighborhood, she felt the memories come flooding back.' Correct answer.
  3. The sentence uses the wrong tense; revise to 'Walked through the old neighborhood, the memories came flooding back.'
  4. The sentence has two independent clauses; revise to 'Walking through the old neighborhood; the memories came flooding back.'

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause, but here 'the memories' cannot walk. Supplying a person as the subject repairs the dangling modifier.

Question 42Reading and Writing

A passage presents two studies. Study A finds that students who take notes by hand score higher on conceptual questions. Study B finds that students who type notes record more information. Which conclusion best synthesizes the two findings?

  1. Handwriting may aid conceptual processing even though typing captures more content. Correct answer.
  2. Neither study offers information about note-taking methods.
  3. Typing notes is superior for all learning outcomes.
  4. Handwriting is superior for all learning outcomes.

Explanation

A synthesis must account for both results rather than favoring one. The findings together suggest a trade-off: typing captures more but handwriting may support deeper processing.

Question 43Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "The historian's account is compelling, but it relies heavily on a single archive, a limitation that weakens its broader claims." Which best describes the function of the phrase after the comma?

  1. It introduces evidence that the account is fully reliable.
  2. It shifts the topic away from the historian's work.
  3. It restates the account's strengths in new words.
  4. It names a limitation that qualifies the praise offered earlier. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase after the comma specifies a weakness in the account, balancing the earlier praise and qualifying the overall assessment. It does not repeat the praise or introduce unrelated material.

Question 44Reading and Writing

A writer wants to revise this sentence so that it uses a semicolon correctly: "The results were inconclusive the researchers recommended a larger trial." Which revision achieves that goal?

  1. The results were inconclusive; and the researchers recommended a larger trial.
  2. The results were inconclusive; recommending a larger trial.
  3. The results were inconclusive; the researchers recommended a larger trial. Correct answer.
  4. The results were inconclusive; a larger trial recommendation.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two closely related independent clauses, and only the first option keeps a complete clause on each side. The others place a conjunction, a fragment, or a noun phrase after the semicolon.

Question 45Reading and Writing

A passage argues that cities should plant more street trees. The writer states: "Trees lower surface temperatures, absorb stormwater, and improve air quality. Opponents worry about maintenance costs." Which addition would most effectively address the opponents' concern?

  1. A description of the most popular tree species
  2. A quotation from a resident who likes trees
  3. A statistic about how many trees exist worldwide
  4. A comparison showing that long-term energy and flood-control savings exceed maintenance costs Correct answer.

Explanation

To answer a cost objection, the writer should weigh costs against benefits with concrete figures. The comparison of savings to maintenance costs directly engages the concern, while the other additions are irrelevant to it.

Question 46Reading and Writing

Read this sentence: "Neither the mayor nor the council members was willing to comment on the proposal." Which revision corrects the subject-verb agreement error?

  1. Neither the mayor nor the council members is willing to comment on the proposal.
  2. Neither the mayor nor the council members has been willing to comment on the proposal.
  3. Neither the mayor nor the council members were willing to comment on the proposal. Correct answer.
  4. Neither the mayor nor the council members was willing to comment on the proposal.

Explanation

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural 'council members,' requiring 'were.' The other options keep singular verbs or repeat the original error.

Question 47Reading and Writing

A writer is analyzing how an author builds tension: "She reached for the doorknob. The hallway stretched behind her, silent. Somewhere below, a floorboard creaked." Which feature most contributes to the tension?

  1. Short sentences and unexplained sounds that withhold information Correct answer.
  2. Direct statements of the character's emotions
  3. A summary of events that occurred years earlier
  4. A detailed description of the house's architecture

Explanation

The clipped sentences and the unexplained creak create suspense by leaving the reader uncertain about what will happen. Explicit emotion, architectural detail, or backstory would reduce rather than build that uncertainty.

Question 48Reading and Writing

A passage states: "Critics argue that carbon taxes burden low-income households. This concern is real, yet rebate programs can return the revenue to those households, offsetting much of the cost." Which best describes the writer's stance toward the critics' concern?

  1. The writer endorses the concern without qualification.
  2. The writer grants its validity while arguing that policy design can mitigate it. Correct answer.
  3. The writer rejects the concern as entirely unfounded.
  4. The writer treats the concern as irrelevant to the debate.

Explanation

The phrase 'this concern is real' concedes the critics' point, while 'yet rebate programs can... offset' argues the problem is manageable. The stance is therefore qualified acceptance combined with a mitigation argument.

Question 49Reading and Writing

A student drafting a research paper writes: "The data shows that reading fluency improved." Which revision is most precise for a formal research paper?

  1. The data is showing that reading fluency improved.
  2. The data show that reading fluency improved. Correct answer.
  3. The data, it shows that reading fluency improved.
  4. The data shows that reading fluency improved a lot.

Explanation

In formal usage, 'data' is a plural noun, so it takes the plural verb 'show.' The other options either keep the singular verb, add vagueness, or introduce a redundant pronoun.

Question 50Reading and Writing

A passage describes a scientist's early career: "Her first experiments failed repeatedly. Colleagues urged her to abandon the line of inquiry. She persisted, refining her methods until the results became reproducible." The writer wants a transition that signals a shift from describing the setbacks to describing her persistence. Which choice best accomplishes that shift?

  1. In the same way,
  2. As a result,
  3. For instance,
  4. Despite these obstacles, Correct answer.

Explanation

The transition must mark a contrast between the setbacks and the scientist's persistence. 'Despite these obstacles' frames the persistence as occurring in opposition to the difficulties, while the other choices signal cause, similarity, or example.