Standard English Conventions
Information and Ideas
Craft and Structure
Expression of Ideas
Writing Practices
100
About 70,000 meteorites have been found on Earth. Although most meteorites are fragments of ______ hundred have been
identified as being from the Moon or Mars.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. asteroids. Several
B. asteroids, several
C. asteroids; several
D. asteroids: several
B. asteroids, several
Choice B is the best answer. This choice uses a comma to correctly separate the dependent clause "although…asteroids" from the independent clause "several hundred have been…Mars."
Skill : Boundaries/ Easy
100
In the 1700s and 1800s, European composers experimented with volume in their musical works. They did so by increasing the number of musicians playing in the orchestra. For example, in some of his operas, German composer Richard Wagner added more horns, trombones, and tubas to the orchestra. With more instruments playing at the same time, the orchestra could play extremely loudly at key moments in his operas.
According to the text, how did Richard Wagner achieve moments of extremely high volume in his operas?
A. By moving the performances of his operas from outdoor stages to indoor ones
B. By increasing the number of musicians playing horns, trombones, and tubas in the orchestra
C. By building a concert hall whose shape would cause sounds to echo
D. By insisting that the singers undergo special training to sing for extended periods of time
B. By increasing the number of musicians playing horns, trombones, and tubas in the orchestra
Choice B is the best answer because it presents a statement about how Richard Wagner achieved moments of extremely high volume in his operas that is supported by the text. The text states that European composers experimented with volume in their works by increasing the number of musicians in the orchestra and provides the example of Wagner, who "added more horns, trombones, and tubas to the orchestra." The text explains that by having more of these instruments playing at the same time, the overall volume of the orchestra could be dramatically increased at key moments in Wagner’s operas.
Skill: Central Ideas and Details/ Easy
100
The following text is adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 novel A Little Princess. Sara is a young student at a school in London.
Sara not only could tell stories, but she adored telling them. When she sat or stood in the midst of a circle and began to invent wonderful things, her green eyes grew big and shining, her cheeks flushed, and, without knowing that she was doing it, she began to act and made what she told lovely or alarming by the raising or dropping of her voice.
As used in the text, what does the word “invent” most nearly mean?
A. Mislead
B. Disguise
C. Create
D. Discover
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer because as used in the text, "invent" most nearly means create or make up. The text begins by stating that Sara likes to tell stories and thoroughly enjoys telling them. The rest of the text describes how she looks and acts when she invents, or creates, "wonderful things" in her stories ("what she told").
Skill: Words in Context/Easy
100
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 1897, African American inventor Andrew Beard invented an automatic coupler.
- It improved on the existing design of train car couplers.
- It made the job of connecting train cars safer.
- In 1938, African American inventor Frederick Jones invented a mobile refrigeration system.
- It improved on the existing design of food transport trucks.
- It enabled trucks to carry perishable foods farther.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between Beard’s invention and Jones’s invention. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Answer
A. Beard’s automatic coupler and Jones’s mobile refrigeration system both improved on existing designs.
B. In 1897, Beard invented an automatic coupler, which made the job of connecting train cars safer.
C. Beard’s invention made the job of connecting train cars safer, whereas Jones’s invention enabled food transport trucks to carry perishables farther.
D. Jones’s mobile refrigeration system, which he invented in 1938, made it possible for food transport trucks to carry perishable foods farther.
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. It compares Beard’s and Jones’s inventions to one another, and emphasizes what they have in common.
Skill: Rhetorical Synthesis/ Easy
100
Which sentence best states a clear claim?
A. Many students use their phones during the school day.
B. Schools should allow students to use phones during lunch because it helps them communicate with family.
C. Phones can be distracting in class.
D. There are different rules about phones in different schools.
Correct Answer: B
It takes a clear position and is arguable.
Skill: Identifying a Claim/Easy
200
Obsidian is a kind of volcanic glass formed when lava cools so quickly that the atoms inside it cannot arrange themselves in a crystalline structure. You ______blank more about obsidian’s structure, which is classified as amorphous, in a later chapter.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. had learned
B. had been learning
C. will learn
D. have learned
C. will learn
Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense in a sentence. In this choice, the future tense verb “will learn,” used in conjunction with the phrase “in a later chapter,” correctly indicates that “you” (the reader) are going to learn about obsidian’s structure at some point in the future.
Skill: Form, Structure and Sense/ Easy
200
In many cultures, a handshake can create trust between people. Engineer João Avelino and his team are designing a robot to shake hands with a human in order to improve human-robot interactions. The robot hand adjusts its movements and pressure to better imitate the feel of a human hand. The researchers want the robot’s handshake to feel realistic because ______blank
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A. lifelike handshakes may make people more comfortable interacting with robots.
B. it’s easier to program a robot to perform handshakes than it is to program a robot to perform some other types of greetings.
C. people are less likely to interact with robots that don’t look like humans.
D. the robot in the researchers’ study may have uses other than interacting with humans.
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. The text says that handshakes create trust, and that the engineers’ goal is to “improve human-robot interactions.” This suggests that they want the robot’s handshake to feel real because they want humans to trust the robot.
Skill: Inferences/ Easy
200
The following text is adapted from Pam Muñoz Ryan’s 2020 novel Mañanaland. In the village where Max lives, there is an old fortress called La Reina. Children in the village say that the fortress is haunted.
For as long as he could remember, Max had begged Papá [his father] to take him to see La Reina and the ruins up close. He’d be a hero among his friends if he was the first boy to cross the haunted gates! Just because Papá didn’t believe in ghosts didn’t mean they weren’t there. Maybe this summer Papá would finally take him. He was almost twelve.©2020 by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Which choice best describes the overall purpose of the text?
A. To portray how proud Max’s father is of Max
B. To explain why Max doesn’t want to grow up yet
C. To criticize Max for disliking summer
D. To show how much Max wants to visit La Reina
Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall purpose of the text. The text indicates that "for as long as he could remember," Max had "begged" his father to take him to La Reina. This point is later emphasized in the text by indicating that "this summer" his father might "finally take" Max to visit La Reina. Thus, the purpose of the text as a whole is to show how much Max wants to visit La Reina.
Skill: Text Structure and Purpose/ Easy
200
The Alaska Native Language Archive (ANLA) is known for its impressive audio collection. ______blank the ANLA has more than 5,000 audio recordings of Native Alaskan languages dating as far back as 1943.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Answer
A. In fact,
B. After,
C. Regardless,
D. Instead,
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. "In fact" logically signals that the information in this sentence about the large number of recordings in ANLA’s collection emphasizes and supports the previous claim that ANLA is known for its impressive audio collection.
Skill: Transitions/Easy
200
Which piece of evidence best supports the claim that school uniforms improve student focus?
A. Some students prefer wearing comfortable clothes.
B. A 2022 study found that schools requiring uniforms reported 15% fewer classroom disruptions.
C. Uniforms come in many different styles.
D. Teachers have different opinions about dress codes.
Correct Answer: B
Specific, relevant, and data-based evidence.
Skill: Selecting String Evidence/Easy
300
In a rural area along the border between Oklahoma and Texas, amateur astronomers gather each year to observe the night sky at the Okie-Tex Star Party. Like most star parties, Okie-Tex takes place in an area with low light pollution, ______blank dark skies and ideal stargazing conditions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. ensuring
B. this will ensure
C. ensures
D. it ensures
A. ensuring
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite present participle "ensuring" is correctly used to form a supplementary element that modifies the main clause "Okie-Tex takes place in an area with low light pollution," describing the viewing conditions of the star party.
Skill: Form, Structure, and Sense/ Medium
300
“We Are Marching” is a 1921 poem by Carrie Law Morgan Figgs. In the poem, the speaker predicts future success: ______blank
Which quotation from “We Are Marching” most effectively illustrates the claim?
Answer
A. “Can’t you hear the sound of feet?”
B. “You who are out just get in line.”
C. “We have answered duty’s call.”
D. “We shall never know defeat.”
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer because it most effectively illustrates the claim that the speaker in the poem "We Are Marching" predicts future success. To say that someone will "never know" an experience—like defeat, or being unsuccessful—is to indicate that they will never personally have that experience. Thus, when the speaker says that the marching group "shall never know defeat," the speaker is predicting that the group will experience only success in the future.
Skill: COmmand of Evidence/Medium
300
Text 1
On April 26th, 1777, Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles by horse through Putnam County, New York, to gather up local militia. British forces were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut, and Ludington wanted to rally rebel troops to meet them. Although she was only 16 years old at the time, her brave feat made Ludington one of the heroes of the American Revolution. Since then, Ludington has been widely celebrated, inspiring postage stamps, statues, and even children’s TV series.
Text 2
Historian Paula D. Hunt researched the life and legacy of Sybil Ludington but found no evidence for her famous ride. Although many articles and books have been written about Ludington, Hunt believes writers may have been inventing details about Ludington as they retold her story. Ludington is revered by Americans today, but there simply isn’t a strong historical record of her heroic ride.
Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
Answer
A. Sybil Ludington was crucial to the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
B. Historians have confirmed which route Sybil Ludington took.
C. Sybil Ludington was likely not a real person.
D. Many people have come to admire the story of Sybil Ludington’s ride.
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. Both authors agree that Ludington’s story has been widely celebrated and revered by Americans, even if they disagree on its accuracy. Text 1 states that Ludington has inspired postage stamps, statues, and TV series, and Text 2 states that many articles and books have been written about her. Thus, both authors acknowledge the popularity of Ludington’s story.
Skill: Cross-Test Connections/Medium
300
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Seikan Tunnel is a rail tunnel in Japan.
- It connects the island of Honshu to the island of Hokkaido.
- It is roughly 33 miles long.
- The Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel in Europe.
- It connects Folkestone, England, to Coquelles, France.
- It is about 31 miles long.
The student wants to compare the lengths of the two rail tunnels. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Answer
A. Some of the world’s rail tunnels, including one tunnel that extends from Folkestone, England, to Coquelles, France, are longer than 30 miles.
B. The Seikan Tunnel is roughly 33 miles long, while the slightly shorter Channel Tunnel is about 31 miles long.
C. The Seikan Tunnel, which is roughly 33 miles long, connects the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.
D. Both the Seikan Tunnel, which is located in Japan, and the Channel Tunnel, which is located in Europe, are examples of rail tunnels.
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The sentence compares the lengths of the two rail tunnels, noting that the Channel Tunnel (about 31 miles long) is slightly shorter than the Seikan Tunnel (roughly 33 miles long).
Skill: Rhetorical Synthesis/ Medium
300
Claim: Later school start times improve student performance.
Which sentence is least relevant to supporting this claim?
A. Teenagers require about 8–10 hours of sleep each night.
B. A district that moved start times later saw improved attendance rates.
C. Many students participate in after-school sports.
D. Researchers report that well-rested students score higher on tests.
Correct Answer: C
Does not clearly connect to performance or start times.
Skill: Evaluate Relevance /Medium
400
The short story “Rogue Enchantments” by Isabel Ibañez appears in Reclaim the ______blank anthology of fantasy and science fiction written by authors of Latin American descent.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Stars. An
B. Stars, while an
C. Stars an
D. Stars, an
D. Stars, an
Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation within a sentence. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause ("The short...Stars") and the supplementary element ("an anthology...descent") that provides additional information about what Reclaim the Stars is.
Skill: Boundaries/ Medium
400
In 2022, researchers rediscovered ancient indigenous glyphs, or drawings, on the walls of a cave in Alabama. The cave’s ceiling was only a few feet high, affording no position from which the glyphs, being as wide as ten feet, could be viewed or photographed in their entirety. However, the researchers used a technique called photogrammetry to assemble numerous photos of the walls into a 3D model. They then worked with representatives of tribes originally from the region, including the Chickasaw Nation, to understand the significance of the animal and humanoid figures adorning the cave.
According to the text, what challenge did the researchers have to overcome to examine the glyphs?
A. The cave was so remote that the researchers couldn’t easily reach it.
B. Some of the glyphs were so faint that they couldn’t be photographed.
C. The researchers were unable to create a 3D model of the cave.
D. The cave’s dimensions prevented the researchers from fully viewing the glyphs.
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. The text describes the very low ceiling of the cave, making it impossible to photograph the very wide glyphs all at once.
Skill: Central Ideas and details/ Medium
400
Particle physicists like Ayana Holloway Arce and Aida El-Khadra spend much of their time ______blank what is invisible to the naked eye: using sophisticated technology, they closely examine the behavior of subatomic particles, the smallest detectable parts of matter.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Answer
A. selecting
B. inspecting
C. creating
D. deciding
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the work of particle physicists. In this context, “inspecting” means viewing closely in order to examine. The text indicates that as particle physicists, Arce and El-Khadra’s work involves using advanced technology to “closely examine” subatomic particles. In other words, they use technology to inspect small parts of matter that can’t be seen by the naked eye.
Skill: Words in Context/Medium
400
In the 1850s, William Still was instrumental in helping nearly 1,000 people escape from slavery, earning him the moniker “the Father of the Underground Railroad.” ______blank despite the fame of his contributions during his lifetime, Still is discussed far less today than other prominent Black abolitionists from his era, such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Answer
A. For example,
B. However,
C. Specifically,
D. Similarly,
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. "However" is used to indicate a contrast between two ideas. The first sentence describes how Still used to be famous. This sentence describes how Still is not very famous today, so the transition "however" fits perfectly.
Skill: Transitions/Medium
400
Claim: Schools should add more art classes.
Evidence: Studies show students involved in the arts demonstrate improved problem-solving skills.
Which sentence best explains the reasoning that connects the evidence to the claim?
A. Art classes are enjoyable for many students.
B. Problem-solving skills are important in many academic subjects, so improving them can benefit overall academic success.
C. Not all schools offer art programs.
D. Some students prefer math over art.
Correct Answer: B
Clearly explains why the evidence supports the claim.
Skill: Strengthening Reasoning/Medium
500
The Proto-Nilotic language, common ancestor of fifty-five African languages with similar linguistic properties, ______blank like all protolanguages, hypothetical: there’s no direct evidence these ancestral languages actually existed.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. is,
B. are,
C. have been,
D. were,
A. is,
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "is" agrees in number with the singular subject "the Proto-Nilotic language."
Skill: Form, Structure, and Sense/ HARD
500
Gabrielle Adams and colleagues reviewed suggestions for improving a university that had been submitted to the university’s president. They coded each suggestion as additive (the idea suggested adding something new to the university), subtractive (the idea suggested removing something from the university), neither additive nor subtractive, or invalid (the idea was not comprehensible). The data illustrated people’s tendency to overlook the possibility of removing things to achieve improvements: ______blank
Which choice most effectively uses data in the graph to complete the statement?
Answer
A. around 175 suggestions were coded as neither additive nor subtractive, whereas around 575 suggestions were coded as additive.
B. more than 350 suggestions were coded as invalid, whereas fewer than 100 suggestions were coded as subtractive.
C. fewer than 100 suggestions were coded as subtractive, whereas more than 550 suggestions were coded as additive.
D. around 575 suggestions were coded as additive, whereas around 175 suggestions were coded as subtractive.
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. This choice shows that people suggested removing things to achieve improvements a lot less often than they suggested adding things, which supports the claim that people tend not to think of removing things as a likely way to improve the university.
Skill: Command of Evidence/Hard
500
The following text is adapted from Gwendolyn Bennett’s 1926 poem “Street Lamps in Early Spring.”
Night wears a garment
All velvet soft, all violet blue...
And over her face she draws a veil
As shimmering fine as floating dew...
And here and there
In the black of her hair
The subtle hands of Night
Move slowly with their gem-starred light.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
Answer
A. It presents alternating descriptions of night in a rural area and in a city.
B. It sketches an image of nightfall, then an image of sunrise.
C. It makes an extended comparison of night to a human being.
D. It portrays how night changes from one season of the year to the next.
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. Throughout the text, the speaker characterizes nighttime as if it were a person who wears clothing (“a garment” that is “velvet soft” and “violet blue”) and a veil “over her face” and who moves her hands “slowly with their gem-starred light” through her dark hair. Thus, the text is structured as an extended comparison of night to a human being.
Skill: Text Structure and Purpose/Hard
500
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Malapportionment is the over- or underrepresentation (relative to population size) of electoral districts in a governing body.
- It is a common feature of representative governments.
- There are 169 seats in Norway’s supreme legislature (the Storting).
- Seats are distributed by a formula that awards 1 point per resident and 1.8 points per unit of land.
- Less populated rural districts with large tracts of land receive a disproportionate number of seats compared to smaller but more populated urban districts.
The student wants to refute a claim that malapportionment in the Storting favors small urban districts. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Answer
A. Less populated rural districts are disproportionally underrepresented in the Storting, creating an unfair advantage for smaller but more populated urban districts.
B. It’s untrue that malapportionment in the 169-seat Storting favors small urban districts; rather, the formula for distributing seats overrepresents more populated districts.
C. A common feature of representative governments, malapportionment occurs when electoral districts are over- or underrepresented.
D. Awarding more points per unit of land than points per resident, the formula for distributing Storting seats overrepresents less populated rural districts with large tracts of land.
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. By noting that the formula for distributing Storting seats overrepresents less populated rural districts, the sentence effectively refutes a claim that malapportionment in the Storting favors small urban districts.
Skill: Rhetorical Synthesis/Hard
500
Claim: The city should build more bike lanes.
Evidence: In cities with more bike lanes, traffic accidents involving cyclists have decreased by 20%.
Which revision best addresses a potential weakness in the argument?
A. Add information explaining how bike lanes protect both cyclists and drivers by separating traffic.
B. Mention that some residents prefer driving cars.
C. Include a definition of what a bike lane is.
D. State that many people enjoy riding bikes for exercise.
Correct Answer: A
Strengthens reasoning by clarifying the cause-and-effect connection.
Skill: Identifying a Logical Gap