Question ID 6f08641e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and
Conventions Sense
ID: 6f08641e
On April 5, 1977, Kitty Cone and 150 other disability rights activists entered a San Francisco federal building. After
pleading for years—to no effect—for the passage of key antidiscrimination legislation, ______ until their demands were
addressed. Finally, on April 28, the legislation was signed.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. pressure on lawmakers increased when the activists staged a sit-in protest
B. a sit-in protest staged by the activists increased pressure on lawmakers
C. lawmakers came under increased pressure when the activists staged a sit-in protest
D. the activists increased pressure on lawmakers by staging a sit-in protest
ID: 6f08641e Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun
phrase “the activists” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase
“after...legislation.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that the activists—and not another noun in the sentence—
were pleading for the passage of antidiscrimination legislation.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “pressure on
lawmakers” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “pressure” was pleading for the passage
of antidiscrimination legislation. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the
noun phrase “a sit-in protest” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the “protest” was pleading
for the passage of antidiscrimination legislation. Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The
placement of the noun phrase “lawmakers” immediately after the modifying phrase suggests that “lawmakers” were
pleading for the passage of antidiscrimination legislation. While it’s possible for lawmakers to plead for the passage of
legislation, the context strongly suggests that it’s the activists who pleaded for years for the passage of
antidiscrimination legislation.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 2c49940e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and
Conventions Sense
ID: 2c49940e
French philosopher René Descartes doubted whether he could prove his own existence. Eventually, he found proof in his
famous phrase “I think, therefore I am.” The ______ complexity: only those who exist would be able to ponder their
existence.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. phrases’ simplicity masks its
B. phrases simplicity masks their
C. phrase’s simplicity masks their
D. phrase’s simplicity masks its
ID: 2c49940e Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The conventions being tested are the use of possessive nouns and the use of possessive
determiners. The singular possessive noun "phrase’s" correctly indicates that there is only one simple phrase. The
singular possessive determiner "its" agrees in number with the singular possessive noun "phrase’s," reinforcing the idea
that there is only one simple yet complex phrase.
Choice A is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive noun "phrase’s," not the plural possessive
noun "phrases’." Choice B is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive noun "phrase’s" and the
corresponding singular possessive determiner "its," not the plural noun "phrases" and the corresponding plural
possessive determiner "their." Choice C is incorrect because the context requires the singular possessive determiner "its,"
not the plural possessive determiner "their."
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 7f226b4b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: 7f226b4b
In a 2023 study, researchers documented a fascinating behavior in the aquatic plant Elodea densa. When exposed to low
levels of light, the plant’s ______ the cellular organs that generate energy from light—reshuffled to form a tightly packed,
glass-like surface ideal for collecting more light.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. chloroplasts
B. chloroplasts;
C. chloroplasts,
D. chloroplasts—
ID: 7f226b4b Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a
sentence. The dash after "chloroplasts" pairs with the dash after "from light" to separate the supplementary element "the
cellular organs that generate energy from light" from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary element functions to
define the term "chloroplasts," and the pair of dashes indicates that this element could be removed without affecting the
grammatical coherence of the sentence.
Choice A is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest
of the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be paired with a dash in this way to separate the
supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. Choice C is incorrect because a comma can’t be paired with a
dash in this way to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 74ce2f05
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: 74ce2f05
A study led by scientist Rebecca Kirby at the University of Wisconsin–Madison found that black bears that eat human
food before hibernation have increased levels of a rare carbon isotope, ______ due to the higher 13C levels in corn and
cane sugar. Bears with these elevated levels were also found to have much shorter hibernation periods on average.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. carbon-13, (13C)
B. carbon-13 (13C)
C. carbon-13, (13C),
D. carbon-13 (13C),
ID: 74ce2f05 Answer
Correct 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.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID a2816c7f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and
Conventions Sense
ID: a2816c7f
American abstract artist Richard ______ his installations to make passersby keenly aware of how one’s movements are
affected by the physical features of one’s environment, assembles large-scale steel plates into sculptures that dominate
the outdoor spaces they occupy.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Serra is intending
B. Serra, intends
C. Serra, intending
D. Serra intends
ID: a2816c7f Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. This choice pairs
the comma after "Serra" with the comma after "environment" and uses the nonfinite present participle "intending" to
correctly form a supplementary phrase describing the reaction Serra intends his sculptures to provoke. This
supplementary phrase appears between the noun phrase that it modifies ("American abstract artist Richard Serra") and
the finite present tense verb ("assembles"), which functions as the sentence’s main verb and describes what Serra does.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present continuous tense verb "is
intending" can’t be used in this way in conjunction with the finite present tense verb "assembles," which already functions
as the main verb in the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite
present tense verb "intends" can’t be used in this way to supplement the noun phrase "American abstract artist Richard
Serra." Choice D is incorrect because it results in an ungrammatical sentence. The finite present tense verb "intends" can’t
be used in this way in conjunction with the finite present tense verb "assembles," which already functions as the main
verb in the sentence.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID eb95235b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: eb95235b
The Limón technique, developed by Mexican-born dancer and choreographer Jose Limón, is known for its emphasis on
breath control and its interplay of weight and ______ dancers may explore, for example, the moment of mid-air
suspension at the top of a jump.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. weightlessness
B. weightlessness which
C. weightlessness,
D. weightlessness;
ID: eb95235b Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation within a sentence. This choice uses a
semicolon in a conventional way to join the first main clause ("The Limón…weightlessness") and the second main clause
("dancers…jump").
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The two main clauses are fused without punctuation and/or
a conjunction. Choice B is incorrect. The relative pronoun "which" can’t be used in this way to join two main clauses.
Choice C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a conjunction following it, a comma can’t be used in
this way to join two main clauses.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID adf210e7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: adf210e7
The haiku-like poems of Tomas Tranströmer, which present nature- and dream-influenced images in crisp, spare
language, have earned the Swedish poet praise from leading contemporary ______ them Nigerian American essayist and
novelist Teju Cole, who has written that Tranströmer’s works “contain a luminous simplicity.”
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. writers. Among
B. writers among
C. writers; among
D. writers, among
ID: adf210e7 Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a
supplementary phrase. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause (“The haiku-
like…writers”) and the supplementary phrase (“among…Cole”) that specifies a contemporary writer who has praised
Tomas Tranströmer’s haiku-like poems.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with “among.” Choice
B is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the main clause and the supplementary phrase with
appropriate punctuation. Choice C is incorrect because a semicolon can’t be used in this way to join the main clause
(“The haiku-like…writers”) and the supplementary phrase (“among…Cole”).
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID 1ee7b429
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and
Conventions Sense
ID: 1ee7b429
Bonnie Buratti of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ______ data about Saturn’s rings collected by the Cassini spacecraft
when she made an interesting discovery: the tiny moons embedded between and within Saturn’s rings are shaped by the
buildup of ring material on the moons’ surfaces.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. studies
B. has been studying
C. will study
D. was studying
ID: 1ee7b429 Answer
Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense in a sentence. In this
choice, the past progressive tense verb “was studying” is consistent with the other past tense verbs (e.g., “made” and
“collected”) used to describe Buratti’s discovery. Further, the past progressive tense correctly indicates that an ongoing
action in the past was occurring (she was studying) at the same time that another event occurred in the past (she made
an interesting discovery).
Choice A is incorrect because the present tense verb “studies” isn’t consistent with the past tense verbs used to describe
Buratti’s discovery. Choice B is incorrect because the present perfect progressive tense verb “has been studying” isn’t
consistent with the past tense verbs used to describe Buratti’s discovery. Choice C is incorrect because the future tense
verb “will study” isn’t consistent with the past tense verbs used to describe Buratti’s discovery.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 13fcf575
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: 13fcf575
Roughly 300 nights a year, when the cold air descending from the Andes Mountains meets the warm air rising from
Venezuela’s coastal Lake Maracaibo, the result is a spectacular lightning storm, its strikes so bright, so localized, and so
______ that it has become known as “Maracaibo’s Lighthouse.”
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. dependable:
B. dependable;
C. dependable
D. dependable,
ID: 13fcf575 Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of an integrated relative clause. No
punctuation is needed before the relative clause beginning with "that" because the content of the relative clause
("that...Lighthouse") is integral to the meaning of the coordinated adjectival phrase ("so bright, so localized, and so
dependable") that it modifies.
Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the coordinated adjectival phrase ("so
bright...dependable") and the integrated relative clause that modifies it. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is
needed between the coordinated adjectival phrase ("so bright...dependable") and the integrated relative clause that
modifies it. Choice D is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the coordinated adjectival phrase ("so
bright...dependable") and the integrated relative clause that modifies it.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID 940ff6f7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty
SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries
Conventions
ID: 940ff6f7
Jamaican British artist Willard Wigan is known for his remarkable ______ so small that they are best viewed through a
microscope, Wigan’s sculptures are made from tiny natural materials, such as spiderweb strands.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. microsculptures creations
B. microsculptures, creations
C. microsculptures. Creations
D. microsculptures and creations
ID: 940ff6f7 Answer
Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between sentences. In this choice, the period is
used to correctly mark the boundary between one sentence ("Jamaican…microsculptures") and another ("Creations…
strands"). The noun phrase beginning with "creations" modifies the subject of the next sentence, "Wigan’s sculptures."
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a run-on sentence. The sentences ("Jamaican…microsculptures" and
"Creations…strands") are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction. Choice B is incorrect because it results in a
comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to mark the boundary between sentences. Choice D is incorrect.
Without a comma preceding it, the conjunction "and" can’t be used in this way to join sentences.
Question Difficulty: Hard
