Writing and Language
Read the following passage. What needs to be changed about the italicized portion?
The protagonist is no hero: his actions are listless and forgettable, and his obsession with obscene and undignified behavior is virtually nauseating. And even more shamefully, Joyce wasted his talent; subject matter aside, the art of masterfully crafting words came naturally to him.
A. No Change
B. himself
C. his own self
D. he
A. No Change
A: Besides matching their antecedent, pronouns must also be in the correct form: subjective, objective, or possessive. The underlined pronoun should be in the objective form since it is the object of the preposition “of.” (A) is correct. (B) and (D) are incorrect because they use pronoun forms that are not appropriate for the context. (C) is incorrect because it is not a grammatically correct pronoun form.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
In recent years, the work landscape has undergone a profound transformation due to the widespread adoption of remote work. Enabled by advancements in technology, employees now have the flexibility to carry out their duties from the comfort of their homes. This shift has bought about both challenges and opportunities for organizations and individuals alike. While remote work offers increased autonomy and the ability to create a personalized work environment, it also poses challenges such as potential isolation and the need for robust communication tools. As the trend toward remote work continues, it becomes crucial to examine the structure of this evolving work paradigm and its impact on productivity, work-life balance, and the future of the traditional office space.
A. to critique the challenges of remote work
B. to celebrate the autonomy of remote work
C. to explore the impact of technology on the workplace.
D. to examine the shifting landscape of remote work.
D. to examine the shifting landscape of remote work.
The passage discusses the transformation in the work landscape due to the widespread adaptation of remote work, emphasizing the need to examine the evolving work paradigm and its impact on various aspects.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
The development of antibiotics revolutionized medicine, providing a powerful tool to combat bacterial infections. These medications have saved countless lives and continue to be essential in modern healthcare. Despite their remarkable effectiveness, antibiotics are sometimes prescribed when not truly needed. ____________, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a significant threat to public health.
A. Furthermore
B. Consequently
C. Additionally
D. Therefore
B- Consequently
The sentence structure suggests a causal relationship between the overuse of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The word consequently effectively conveys this casual link. It signals that the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a result of the overuse of antibiotics.
Based on the passage, what can be inferred about Friedan's view of the "feminine mystique"?
In her essay "The Feminine Mystique", Better Friedan argues that women in post-war America were trapped in a "feminine mystique" that defined their roles as housewives and mothers, limiting their opportunities and apirations. Friedan challenges this societal norm, asserting that women have the potential for intellectual and professional fulfillment beyond traditional domestic roles.
A. She views it as a natural and desirable stte of women, providing fulfillment and happiness.
B. She sees it as a constructed and limiting social norm that restricts women's potential.
C. She believes it is a temporary phase that women will eventually overcome through personal growth.
D. She perceives it as a conspiracy to maintain male dominance and control over women's lives.
B. She sees it as a constructed and limiting social norm that restricts women's potential.
The passage states that Friedan challenges the "feminine mystique" and argues that it is a limiting factor on women's opportunities and aspirations. This suggests that she views it as a social construct that has been imposed upon women rather than a natural or desirable state. Additionally, Friedan's assertion that women have the potential for intellectual and professional fulfillment beyond traditional domestic roles further supports the inference that she sees the "feminine mystique" as a restrictive norm.
The following text is adapted from Jason Reynolds’s 2016 novel Ghost. The narrator, who is in middle school, is at a bus stop. I just go there [to the bus stop] to look at the people working out. See, the gym across the street has this big window—like the whole wall is a window—and they have those machines that make you feel like you walking up steps and so everybody just be facing the bus stop, looking all crazy like they’re about to pass out. And trust me, there ain’t nothing funnier than that. So I check that out for a little while like it’s some kind of movie: The About to Pass Out Show, starring stair-stepper person one through ten. ©2016 by Jason Reynolds Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A) To give a reason why the narrator is excited to start middle school
B) To describe an activity that the narrator finds amusing
C) To explain a problem that the narrator has overcome
D) To discuss a movie that the narrator saw in a theater
B) To describe an activity that the narrator finds amusing
Read the following sentence. What needs to be changed about the italicized portion?
Excepted by art historians as the first truly American art movement, the Hudson River School movement began in the early nineteenth century.
A. No Change
B. Accepted
C. Excepting
D. Accepting
B. Accepted
B: This question is testing two commonly confused words: accept and except. Except denotes an exclusion, while accept can mean to either receive or recognize something. In this context, “art historians” are recognizing the status of an art movement, so eliminate any choice containing “except”: (A) and (C). The -ed form of the word fits in this context, so (B) is correct.
Which statement best describes the purpose of the passage?
In recent decades, there has been a growing movement to promote sustainable agriculture practices. Sustainable agriculture aims to produce food in a way that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable. This approach emphasizes practices such as crop rotation, organize pest control, and soil conservation, which can help reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and improve the long-term sustainability of food production. Sustainable agriculture also promotes fair labor practices and ensures that farmers receive adequate compensation for their work.
A. to explain the benefits of sustainable agriculture
B. to promote the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.
C. to compare sustainable agriculture to traditional agriculture.
D. to provide a detailed overview of sustainable agriculture practices.
A. to explain the benefits of sustainable agriculture
The passage provides information about the goals, practices, and benefits of sustainable agriculture, with an emphasis on environmental friendliness, social responsibility, economic viability, and fair labor practices. The primary aim is to inform readers about the benefits of sustainable agriculture rather than actively promote its adaptation.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Trailblazing chef and entrepreneur Lidia Bastianich, _____ to share the culinary traditions of her Italian heritage, has established an empire that spans restaurants, cookbooks, and television shows.
A. driven
B. is driving
C. had driven
D. drives
A. driven
The sentence is describing Lidia Bastianich's ongoing commitment and efforts to share her culinary traditions. The past participle "driven" is the correct choice here, indicating that Lidia has been driven, or felt compelled, to share her Italian heritage.
Which of the following statements is supported by the data in the passage?
A study by researchers from the University of California Berkeley, that was published in the journal "Nature" investigated the effects of different sleep durations on cognitive performance. They recruited a group of participants and randomly assigned them to sleep for either four hours, six hours, or eight hours per night for a week. The researchers then measured the participants' cognitive performance on a variety of tasks, including memory, attention, and reaction time. Participants who slept for six hours per night performed as well as those who slept for eight hours on cognitive tasks measured.
A. sleep deprivation has no impact on memory performance.
B. sleeping for 6 hours per night is sufficient for optimal cognitive performance.
C. sleeping for more than eight hours per night can be detrimental to cognitive performance.
D. Sleep duration has a non-linear relationship with cognitive performance.
B. sleeping for 6 hours per night is sufficient for optimal cognitive performance.
The passage states that participants who slept for six hours per night performed as well as those who slept for either hours on the cognitive tasks measured. This suggests that six hours may be sufficient for optimal cognitive performance.
Paleontologist Alan Tennyson and colleagues studied fossil bones found in New Zealand that are more than 55 million years old. The researchers determined that the fossil bones belonged to two previously unknown species of prehistoric penguins. Moreover, they estimated that one of the two penguin species was more than three times the size of the emperor penguin, which is the largest penguin species that exists today. Based on the text, which choice best describes the two previously unknown penguin species?
A) They are frequently studied by paleontologists.
B) They are no longer living species.
C) They were smaller than penguin species that exist today.
D) They spent little of their lives in water.
B) They are no longer living species.
Choice B is the best answer because it presents a statement about the two previously unknown penguin species that is supported by the text. According to the text, Alan Tennyson and colleagues studied fossil bones belonging to two previously unknown penguin species that are described as prehistoric, or ancient. The text goes on to say that one of the two species was considerably larger than the emperor penguin, which is currently the largest penguin in existence. Thus, the text indicates that the other species aren’t in existence today, or that the two previously unknown penguin species are no longer living species
Read the following sentence. What mistakes or weaknesses need to be corrected?
First introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio, the U.S. Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890.
A. No Change.
B. In 1890, first introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio, the U.S. Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act.
C. The U.S. Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, first introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio, in 1890.
D. The U.S. Congress, first introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio, passed the SHerman Antitrust Act in 1890.
C. The U.S. Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, first introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio, in 1890.
C: Modifying phrases must be placed as close as possible to what they modify. The intended meaning is not that the U.S. Congress was “first introduced by Senator John Sherman of Ohio”; rather, the phrase describes the Sherman Antitrust Act. Only (C) correctly places the modifying phrase adjacent to the Act, so (C) is correct.
The following text is from Gustave Flaubert’s 1857 novel Madame Bovary.
Old Rouault would not have been sorry to
be rid of his daughter, who was of no use to him in the house. In his heart he excused her, thinking her too clever for farming, a calling under the ban of Heaven, since one never saw a millionaire in it. Far from having made a fortune by it, the good man was losing every year; for if he was good in bargaining, in which he enjoyed the dodges of the trade, on the other hand, agriculture properly so called, and the internal management of the farm, suited him less than most people. He did not willingly take his hands out of his pockets, and did not spare expense in all that concerned himself, liking to eat well, to have good fires, and to sleep well.
According to the passage, Old Rouault thinks that farming:
A. is an apt career for his daughter.
B. contributes to a good night's sleep.
C. is not a highly profitable occupation.
D. helps meet his basic needs.
C. is not a highly profitable occupation.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Ancient Egyptian society (existing from approximately 3100 to 30 BCE) ____________ several practices that continue to influence contemporary cultures; notably, the earliest known form of written language is found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
A. dimissed
B. established
C. abandoned
D. perpetuated
B. established
The sentence is describing the lasting impact of Ancient Egyptian society on contemporary cultures, specifically mentioning the influence of their written language. The word "established" fits well in the context, indicating the creation, or founding, of the earliest known form of a written language.
The following text is from Beatrice Harraden’s 1894 novel Ships that Pass in the Night. In an old second-hand bookshop in London, an old man sat reading Gibbon’s History of Rome. He did not put down his book when the postman brought him a letter. He just glanced indifferently at the letter, and impatiently at the postman. Zerviah Holme did not like to be interrupted when he was reading Gibbon; and as he was always reading Gibbon, an interruption was always regarded by him as an insult. Based on the text, how did Zerviah Holme most likely feel when the letter was delivered?
A) He felt relieved because he had been expecting an important letter.
B) He felt excited because the letter was from a good friend.
C) He felt sad because the postman did not stop to talk with him before leaving.
D) He felt annoyed because he was interrupted while reading his favorite author.
D) He felt annoyed because he was interrupted while reading his favorite author.
Choice D is the best answer because it presents a description of how Zerviah Holme felt that is directly supported by the text. The text states that Holme “did not like to be interrupted” while reading Gibbon and that he considered interruptions to be “an insult.” Furthermore, the text suggests that Gibbon is Holme’s favorite author because, as the text states, “he was always reading Gibbon.” Thus, Holme would have felt annoyed at having been interrupted when the letter was delivered.
Following the Mata Ortiz pottery technique, Mexican sculptor Juan Quezada Celado starts by creating the base of the pot with a slab of clay. _______ he builds the pot walls by layering coils of clay around the perimeter of the base. Celado then smooths out the pot’s walls with a hacksaw blade. At last, the pot is ready to be painted. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) For example,
B) However,
C) By contrast,
D) Next,
D. Next,
Choice D is the best answer. “Next” logically signals that the information in this sentence—which explains how Celado builds the pot’s walls—is the next step in Celado’s pot creation process. The sentences that follow further signal this information by completing the process
Read the following sentence. What needs to be changed about the italicized portion?
He decided to culture the mold; and found that a broth filtered from it inhibited the growth of several species of bacteria.
A. No Change
B. mold and found
C. mold, and found
D. mold. And found
B. mold and found
B: As written, the sentence uses a semicolon to join the sentence’s parts. The first part of the sentence is an independent clause with subject-verb “He decided.” The second part does not contain a subject or express a complete thought, so eliminate any answer choices that punctuates the sentence as if it contains two independent clauses: (A), a semicolon; (C), a comma and FANBOYS conjunction; and (D), a period that results in two sentences. (B) is correct because the word “and” joins the compound verb “decided … and found”; no extra punctuation is necessary.
Though vilified in media, sharks pose a relatively low danger to humans in the water, and their unique characteristics have actually inspired life-changing innovations that are used in advancing technology and medicine. For example, a shark’s skin is formed by many microscopic, overlapping teeth-like “scales” called dermal denticles that increase a shark’s speed by decreasing speed discrepancy and turbulence. Paint that mimics a shark’s skin has been shown to improve marine transportation outcomes by decreasing fuel costs. Furthermore, the dermal denticles of the skin create a rough texture that discourages the attachment of parasites. This same principle was applied to the medical field when surfaces in hospitals and clinics were similarly modeled: it decreased the spread of bacteria and germs by preventing them from attaching to surfaces.
According to the passage, how have the features of a shark’s skin influenced innovation?
A. boats that have been sprayed with paint that is modeled after shark skins have decreased fuel costs.
B. Whales have smooth skin that allows barnacles to attach themselves to the whale's body.
C. Wetsuits made with a sharkskin material increase swimmers' speed by increasing speed discrepancy.
D. Surfaces that have the texture like a shark's skin increase the spread of bacteria.
A. boats that have been sprayed with paint that is modeled after shark skins have decreased fuel costs.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A concise summary cannot fully convey the __________ of Haruki Murakami's novel "Kafka on the Shore" with its surreal narrative, enigmatice characters, and a plot that seamlessly weaves reality and fantasy.
A. simplicity
B. intricacy
C. predictability
D. spontaneity
B. intricacy
The sentence describes the novel as having a "surreal narrative" "enigmatic characters" and a plot that "seamlessly weaves reality and fantasy." These elements suggest a high level of complexity and sophistication, making "intricacy" the best choice.
Text 1:
Flamingos are known for their vibrant pink coloring, but they’re actually born with gray feathers. Their pink color comes from eating brine shrimp, but brine shrimp aren’t naturally pink either. Animals can’t produce carotenoids, the pigments that provide the pink hue. The algae that brine shrimp feed on, however, can produce these pigments. Thus, the pinker the flamingo, the more shrimp it has eaten.
Text 2:
Ecologist Juan Amat has found that flamingos apply a kind of makeup to make themselves appear pinker. A gland near their tail contains pigments that come from the food they eat. When the flamingos groom themselves using the pigments, their feathers become pinker. Flamingos may do this to improve their success during mating season, when they would benefit from looking pinker.
Based on the texts, how would the ecologist in Text 2 most likely respond to the author’s conclusion in Text 1?
A) By emphasizing that flamingos’ tail feathers are pinker than their other feathers are
B) By claiming that the coloring of flamingos’ feathers doesn’t change significantly enough for most observers to notice
C) By pointing out that the amount of shrimp eaten isn’t the only thing that influences flamingos’ coloring
D) By arguing that flamingos’ diet doesn’t include much shrimp except during mating season
C) By pointing out that the amount of shrimp eaten isn’t the only thing that influences flamingos’ coloring
Choice C is the best answer because it describes how the ecologist in Text 2 would most likely respond to the author’s conclusion in Text 1 based on the information provided. The author of Text 1 states that the pink color of flamingo feathers comes from pigments carried by the brine shrimp flamingos consume. The author of Text 1 concludes that this means that a flamingo that is pinker than another flamingo must have eaten more shrimp. However, according to Text 2, ecologist Juan Amat has found that flamingos can also affect how pink they look through grooming, when they move ingested pigments from a gland near the tail to their feathers. This indicates that not all the pigments available from the shrimp a flamingo has eaten automatically end up coloring the flamingo’s feathers; some may or may not be applied later. Since grooming is also a factor, the ecologist (Amat) in Text 2 would most likely respond to the conclusion in Text 1 that pinker flamingos have eaten more shrimp by pointing out that the amount of shrimp eaten isn’t the only thing that influences flamingos’ coloring.
The following text is from Darcie Little Badger’s 2021 novel A Snake Falls to Earth. Nina is looking at old family photographs. Nina couldn’t stop looking at the sepia-toned photograph in an oak frame. Propped on the window ledge, it featured a portrait of Great-Great-Grandmother Rosita as a young woman.
As used in the text, what does the word “featured” most nearly mean?
A) Displayed
B) Questioned
C) Approved
D) Ignored
A) Displayed
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, “featured” most nearly means displayed. The text describes Nina’s fascination with a framed photograph. It then goes on to describe what the photograph showed, or displayed, which is a portrait of Nina’s great-great-grandmother Rosita as a young woman. Thus, the text indicates that the photograph displayed a portrait of Rosita.
Read the following sentence. What needs to be changed about the italicized portion?
Scientists estimate that 70 percent of the world’s fresh water is locked away in Antarctica’s ice cap, if this ice were ever to melt, sea levels might rise 200 feet, inundating coastal lands together with their major cities.
A. No Change
B. ice cap; and if
C. ice cap and if
D. ice cap; if
D. ice cap; if
D: The underlined comma separates two independent clauses, each expressing a complete thought with a subject and predicate verb (“Scientists estimate” and “sea levels might rise”). Remember that semicolons combine two independent clauses, while commas can join independent clauses only when followed by a FANBOYS conjunction. Choice (D) is correct because it properly joins the independent clauses with a semicolon. The other answer choices are not valid ways to join independent clauses. (A) creates a run-on because it joins independent clauses with only a comma. (B) adds an unnecessary “and” after the semi- colon. (C) omits the necessary comma before “and.”
Some countries still adhere to an archaic practice of daylight savings, which was introduced and spread globally during World War I as a method to increase working hours and decrease the reliance on artificial light so that fuel could be reserved for war efforts; many countries ceased participating in the daylight savings after the war ended. In the U.S., the time shift mandate was rescinded a few months after it was enacted, but World War II brought with it a reenactment of the mandatory time shift to once again decrease fuel consumption. Just as the U.S. government did previously, the law was repealed after the cessation of the war. In 1966, a year after the U.S. President sent military troops into Vietnam, the Uniform Time Act was passed to provide a permanent, national framework for seasonal time shifts.
The passage indicates that daylight savings
A. was mandated in all countries since the second world war.
B. is a modern practice that was first implemented in the United States.
C. increased reliance on artifical light when implemented nationwide.
D. was initially implemented to conserve fuel during times of war.
D. was initially implemented to conserve fuel during times of war.
The author states that daylight savings was "introduced" during WWI and was reintroduced during WWII to "once again decrease fuel consumption.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
The new software release is expected to fix many of the bugs that have been plaguing users, _________ it is still in beta testing.
A. but
B. so
C. therefore
D. and
A. but
The sentence structure suggests a contrast between the expected improvements and the fact that the software is still in beta testing. The conjunction "but" is appropriate for indicating the contrast.
Using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a team of astronomers mapped out the magnetic field of G47, one of the Milky Way’s galactic bones (dense clouds of gas and dust that run through the middle of the arm of a spiral galaxy). Surprisingly, the map revealed a magnetic field with no clear pattern or direction. The researchers had expected the magnetic field to be similar to the more uniform fields seen in galactic bones in other arms of the Milky Way. According to the text, what was surprising about the researchers’ mapping of the magnetic field of galactic bone G47?
A) It showed a weaker magnetic field than expected.
B) It implied that previous mappings of the magnetic field were inaccurate.
C) It produced magnetic field measurements similar to those for other galactic bones.
D) It revealed a magnetic field that wasn’t uniform.
D) It revealed a magnetic field that wasn’t uniform.
Choice D is the best answer because it presents the point about the magnetic field mapping that the text describes as surprising. The text indicates that a team of astronomers mapped the magnetic field of G47, a galactic bone in the Milky Way, and that the mapping “surprisingly” revealed “no clear pattern or direction” in the magnetic field. The text then adds that the researchers had thought the magnetic field would be as uniform as the magnetic fields of other galactic bones in the Milky Way are. In other words, the researchers were surprised that the mapping revealed a magnetic field that wasn’t uniform.
Were penguins always flightless? Theresa Cole and her team argue that penguins could fly at some point, but that they lost that ability more than 60 million years ago as they adapted to marine life. After examining various penguin fossils and genetic information, the researchers concluded that over time penguins developed underwater vision, blood oxygenation, and bone density better suited for swimming than flying. Thus, environmental conditions might have driven penguins to change from flyers to swimmers. Which choice best describes the function of the italized sentence in the text as a whole?
A) It defines a scientific term used in the sentence that follows.
B) It contradicts a description in the sentence that follows.
C) It provides an answer to the question in the previous sentence.
D) It notes that the question in the previous sentence has not been researched.
C) It provides an answer to the question in the previous sentence.
Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The text begins with a question: have penguins always been unable to fly? The underlined sentence then presents an answer that has been offered by researchers, indicating that Theresa Cole and her team believe that penguins were once able to fly but lost that ability long ago as they began living in the sea. The text then describes the research that led to that answer. Thus, the function of the underlined sentence is to provide an answer to the question in the previous sentence.