Question ID fd5268ad

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: fd5268ad
Oglala Lakota poet Layli Long Soldier’s star quilt poems offer an unusually open-ended reading
experience. With ______ eight panels of text stitched together in the shape of a traditional eight-pointed
Lakota star quilt, the poems present viewers with a seemingly infinite number of ways to read them.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. their

B. it’s

C. they’re

D. its

ID: fd5268ad Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of possessive determiners. The plural possessive
determiner "their" agrees in number with the plural noun "the poems," thus indicating that the poems had eight panels of
text stitched together in the shape of a traditional eight-pointed Lakota star quilt.

Choice B is incorrect because "it’s" is the contraction for "it is" or "it has," not a possessive determiner. Choice C is
incorrect because "they’re" is the contraction for "they are," not a possessive determiner. Choice D is incorrect
because the singular possessive determiner "its" doesn’t agree in number with the plural noun "the poems."

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 618d94c4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 618d94c4
In 2018, a team of researchers led by Dr. Caitlin Whalen compiled every available measurement of ocean
mixing rates from the past two decades. With this novel data set, the team was able to determine how
current-driven mixing varies across ______ and what impact it has on the distribution of heat and nutrients
in the ocean.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. regions,

B. regions:

C. regions;

D. regions

ID: 618d94c4 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation between coordinates in a sentence. The two
elements "how…regions" and "what…ocean" work together as coordinates to complete the description of what the team
was able to determine. Because there are only two coordinates in this case (as opposed to a series of three or more), no
punctuation is needed between them.

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the coordinates "how…regions" and "what…ocean."
Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the coordinates "how…regions" and "what…ocean."
Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the coordinates "how…regions" and "what…ocean."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c4ff1125
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: c4ff1125
Humans were long thought to have begun occupying the Peruvian settlement of Machu Picchu between
1440 and 1450 CE. However, a team led by anthropologist Dr. Richard Burger used accelerator mass
spectrometry to uncover evidence that it was occupied ______ 1420 CE, according to Burger, humans were
likely inhabiting the area.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. earlier. In

B. earlier, in

C. earlier, which in

D. earlier in

ID: c4ff1125 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the
period is used correctly to mark the boundary between one sentence (“However...earlier”) and another (“In...area”). The
supplementary phrase “in 1420 CE” modifies “humans,” the subject of the third sentence.

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 C is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. A comma can’t be used in this way to
mark the boundary between sentences. Moreover, the subordinating conjunction “which” creates a confusing and
illogical sentence that suggests that the supplementary phrase beginning with “in” modifies the previous information
(“However...earlier”) rather than the information that follows. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a run-on
sentence. The sentences (“However...earlier” and “in...area”) are fused without punctuation and/or a conjunction.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a1a0066e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: a1a0066e
In paleontology, the term “Elvis taxon” gets applied to a newly identified living species that was once
presumed to be extinct. Like an Elvis impersonator who might bear a striking resemblance to the late
musical icon Elvis Presley himself, an Elvis taxon is not the real thing, ______ is a misidentified look-alike.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. however but it

B. however it

C. however, it

D. however. It

ID: a1a0066e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the clause “it is…look-alike” are both
independent clauses, so making them into two separate sentences is grammatically correct.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and
the clause “it is…look-alike” are both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with at least a comma + a
coordinating conjunction. This choice provides the coordinating conjunction “but,” but it’s missing a comma. Choice B is
incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause “Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the clause
“it is…look-alike” are both independent clauses, so they need to be separated with a semicolon, a colon, a dash, a period,
or a comma + a coordinating conjunction. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a run-on sentence error. The clause
“Like an Elvis impersonator…real thing” and the clause “it is…look-alike” are both independent clauses, so they need to be
separated with at least a comma + a coordinating conjunction. This choice provides a comma, but it’s missing a
coordinating conjunction.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 95649ca9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: 95649ca9
In 1727, dramatist Lewis Theobald presented a new play, Double Falsehood, at a London theater.
Theobald claimed that his drama was based on a little-known play by William Shakespeare, Cardenio.
Many, including poet Alexander Pope, were ______ historians have determined that Shakespeare’s
company did perform a play called Cardenio in 1613.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. skeptical but

B. skeptical, but

C. skeptical,

D. skeptical

ID: 95649ca9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. There are two independent clauses in the sentence, each with a subject and a verb:
"many...were skeptical" and "historians have determined…." These clauses can be grammatically joined by a comma and
the coordinating conjunction "but."

Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined
without punctuation. Two independent clauses can’t be joined by just the coordinating conjunction "but." A comma would
also be required. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error called a comma splice. This sentence
contains two independent clauses ("Many…were skeptical" and "historians have determined…"). A comma alone can’t join
two independent clauses. That requires a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Choice D is incorrect. This choice
results in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation. This sentence
contains two independent clauses ("Many…were skeptical" and "historians have determined…"), which need to be either
joined by a semicolon, joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or separated by a period.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID bff1d6df
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: bff1d6df
Planetary scientist Briony Horgan and her colleagues have determined that as much as 25 percent of the
sand on Mars is composed of impact spherules. These spherical bits of glass form when asteroids collide
with the planet, ejecting bits of molten rock into the atmosphere that, after cooling and solidifying into
glass, ______ back onto Mars’s surface.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. to rain

B. raining

C. having rained

D. rain

ID: bff1d6df Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. "That…[rain] back onto Mars’s surface" is a relative clause that describes the "bits of molten
rock." Forming the clause requires a conjugated, finite verb, and this is the only choice that provides that.

Choice A is incorrect. "To rain" is an infinitive and can’t serve as the main verb of a clause. A conjugated verb is needed
here to form the main verb of the relative clause "that…[rain] back onto Mars’s surface," which describes the "bits of
molten rock." Choice B is incorrect. "Raining" is a present participle and, on its own, can’t serve as the main verb of a
clause. A conjugated verb is needed here to form the main verb of the relative clause "that…[rain] back onto Mars’s
surface," which describes the "bits of molten rock." Choice C is incorrect. "Having rained" is a perfect participle and can’t
serve as the main verb of a clause. A conjugated verb is needed here to form the main verb of the relative clause "that…
[rain] back onto Mars’s surface," which describes the "bits of molten rock."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9360277c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: 9360277c
In 2008, two years after the death of science fiction writer Octavia Butler, the Huntington Library in ______
received a collection of more than 8,000 items, including Butler’s private notes, research materials,
manuscripts, photos, and drawings. Today, the Octavia E. Butler Collection is one of the most researched
archives at the library.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. California,

B. California:

C. California—

D. California

ID: 9360277c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. No punctuation should separate the subject of the sentence (“the Huntington Library in
California”) from its verb (“received”).

Choice A is incorrect. No punctuation should separate the subject of the sentence (“the Huntington Library in California”)
from its verb (“received”). Choice B is incorrect. No punctuation should separate the subject of the sentence (“the
Huntington Library in California”) from its verb (“received”). Choice C is incorrect. No punctuation should separate the
subject of the sentence (“the Huntington Library in California”) from its verb (“received”).

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ff4676f7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: ff4676f7
Ten of William Shakespeare’s plays are classified as histories. Although each one of these plays, which
include Henry V and Richard III, ______ on a single historical figure (specifically, an English king), some,
such as Henry VI Part One and Henry VI Part Two, feature different episodes from the same monarch’s
life.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. focuses

B. focus

C. are focused

D. were focused

ID: ff4676f7 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "focuses" agrees
in number with the singular subject "each one of these plays," which refers to each play individually.

Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb "focus" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "each one of these
plays." Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "are focused" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "each
one of these plays." Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb "were focused" doesn’t agree in number with the
singular subject "each one of these plays."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a243dfaa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: a243dfaa
When they were first discovered in Australia in 1798, duck-billed, beaver-tailed platypuses so defied
categorization that one scientist assigned them the name Ornithorhynchus paradoxus: “paradoxical bird-
snout.” The animal, which lays eggs but also nurses ______ young with milk, has since been classified as
belonging to the monotremes group.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. they’re

B. their

C. its

D. it’s

ID: a243dfaa Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The singular possessive pronoun "its" agrees with the singular antecedent "the animal" and
indicates that the "young" belong to it.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a pronoun-antecedent agreement error. "They’re" is a contraction of "they are," a
plural pronoun and verb, but the antecedent "the animal" is singular. Also, we don’t need the extra verb "are" — we already
have a main verb in this clause, so adding "are" would be confusing and ungrammatical. Choice B is incorrect. This
choice creates a pronoun-antecedent agreement error. "Their" is a plural pronoun, but the subject of the sentence is "the
animal," a singular noun. Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a confusing and ungrammatical sentence. "It’s" is a
contraction for "it is." We already have the verb "nurses" in this clause, so we shouldn’t add the verb "is."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e97999ac
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: e97999ac
In a 2016 study, Eastern Washington University psychologist Amani El-Alayli found that, among the study
participants who experienced frisson (a physiological response akin to goosebumps or getting the chills)
while listening to music, there was one personality trait that they scored particularly ______ openness to
experience.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. high. On

B. high on;

C. high on

D. high on:

ID: e97999ac 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. In this choice, a colon is correctly used to mark the boundary between the main clause
("there...on") and the supplementary phrase ("openness to experience") and to introduce the information that identifies
which personality trait participants scored especially high on.

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a rhetorically unacceptable sentence fragment beginning with "on" and
separates a necessary preposition from the clause beginning with "there." Choice B is incorrect because a semicolon
can’t be used in this way to join the main clause ("there...on") and the supplementary phrase ("openness to experience").
A semicolon is conventionally used to join two main clauses, whereas a colon is conventionally used to introduce an
element that explains or amplifies the information in the preceding clause, making the colon the better choice in this
context. Choice C is incorrect because it fails to mark the boundary between the main clause ("there...on") and the
supplementary phrase ("openness to experience").

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cf86d6fd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: cf86d6fd
By the time Hawaiian king Kamehameha III ______ the throne, the number of longhorn cattle, first
introduced to the islands in 1793, had drastically increased, and so too had the need for paniolo (Hawaiian
cowboys) to manage the wild herds that then roamed throughout the volcanic terrain.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. ascended

B. will ascend

C. ascends

D. is ascending

ID: cf86d6fd Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. "Ascended" is in the simple past tense. Since Kamehameha became king in the past, this
makes the most sense.

Choice B is incorrect. "Will ascend" is in the future tense, but we wouldn’t know about Kamehameha III’s ascent if it hadn’t
happened yet. The information in the sentence, as well as the tense of other verbs, tells us that the events described
happened in the past. Choice C is incorrect. "Ascends" is in the simple present tense. However, the information in the
sentence, as well as the tense of other verbs, tells us that the events described happened in the past. Choice D is
incorrect. "Is ascending" is in the continuous present tense, which we use to show that something is ongoing, but this
doesn’t make sense here—the information in the sentence, as well as the tense of other verbs, tells us that the events
described happened in the past.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 094e6e94
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: 094e6e94
The human brain is primed to recognize faces—so much so that, due to a perceptual tendency called
pareidolia, ______ will even find faces in clouds, wooden doors, pieces of fruit, and other faceless
inanimate objects. Researcher Susan Magsamen has focused her work on better understanding this
everyday phenomenon.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. she

B. they

C. it

D. those

ID: 094e6e94 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. "It" is a singular pronoun used to stand in for objects. Since the antecedent in this case is
the singular noun phrase "the human brain," "it" is a perfect pronoun to use here.

Choice A is incorrect. Although "she" is a singular pronoun, it is reserved for people and animals, not objects like "the
human brain." Choice B is incorrect. "They" is a plural pronoun, but we need a singular pronoun to represent the
antecedent "the human brain." Choice D is incorrect. "Those" is a plural pronoun, but we need a singular pronoun to
represent the antecedent "the human brain."

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b79670a7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: b79670a7
Santa Clara Pueblo artist Roxanne Swentzell’s sculpture Mud Woman Rolls On consists of five human
figures made of clay and plant fiber and arranged in descending size; each figure holds the smaller one in
front of it. The arrangement of the figures, according to ______ represents her idea that “we all come from
the Earth, generation after generation.”

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Swentzell

B. Swentzell,

C. Swentzell:

D. Swentzell—

ID: b79670a7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that interrupts the flow of the sentence, so it
needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks: two commas, two dashes, or a pair
of parentheses. We already have a comma before “according,” so we must add a comma after “Swentzell.” .

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that
interrupts the flow of the sentence, so it needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation
marks: one before and one after the phrase. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The
arrangement of the figures, according to Swentzell” is not an independent clause, so it can’t come before a colon. Choice
D is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. The phrase “according to Swentzell” is an aside that interrupts the
flow of the sentence, so it needs to be separated from the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We
already have a comma at the beginning, so we have to use another comma here to match. We can’t just switch to a
dash! .

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 638832ee
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: 638832ee
In 1994, almost 200 years after the death of Wang Zhenyi, the International Astronomical ______ the
contributions of the barrier-breaking 18th-century astronomer and author of “Dispute of the Procession of
the Equinoxes,” naming a crater on Venus after her.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Union would finally acknowledge

B. Union to finally acknowledge

C. Union, having finally acknowledged

D. Union, finally acknowledging

ID: 638832ee Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. It’s the only choice that offers a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject
“International Astronomical Union” to make a complete sentence. This might seem like an odd use of “would,” but when
speaking from a point of view in the past, we can actually use “would” to express something that happened later. That’s
the case here: 200 years after Wang Zhenyi’s death, the IAU would finally acknowledge her contributions.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. There’s no main verb elsewhere in the sentence, so we
need a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject “the International Astronomical Union” and serve as
that main verb. “To acknowledge” can’t do that. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. There’s
no main verb elsewhere in the sentence, so we need a form of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject “the
International Astronomical Union” and serve as that main verb. “Having acknowledged” can’t do that. Choice D is
incorrect. This choice creates a sentence fragment. There’s no main verb elsewhere in the sentence, so we need a form
of the verb “acknowledge” that can go with the subject “the International Astronomical Union” and serve as that main
verb. The “-ing” form can’t do that.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d173443c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: d173443c
Luci Tapahonso is the inaugural poet laureate of the Navajo Nation. Her book Sáanii Dahataal/The
Women Are Singing—a combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and ______ serves as a testament to her
versatility as a writer.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. prose;

B. prose

C. prose,

D. prose—

ID: d173443c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. “A combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it
needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at
the beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match.

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. “A
combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it needs to be set off from the
rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at the beginning of the
supplement, so we need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t
complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. “A combination of fiction and memoir,
poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement, so it needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of
matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash at the beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a dash at
the end of the supplement to match. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the
conventions of Standard English. “A combination of fiction and memoir, poetry and prose” is a nonessential supplement,
so it needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a pair of matching punctuation marks. We already have a dash
at the beginning of the supplement, so we need to add a dash at the end of the supplement to match.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID fd02bdb9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: fd02bdb9
According to Naomi Nakayama of the University of Edinburgh, the reason seeds from a dying dandelion
appear to float in the air while ______ is that their porous plumes enhance drag, allowing the seeds to stay
airborne long enough for the wind to disperse them throughout the surrounding area.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. falling,

B. falling:

C. falling;

D. falling

ID: fd02bdb9 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The word “falling” occurs in the middle of a clause and isn’t part of a supplement, so we
don’t need any punctuation after it. We can see this more clearly if we simplify the rest of the sentence: “The reason
seeds appear to float while falling is that their plumes enhance drag.” .

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. The
word “falling” occurs in the middle of a clause and isn’t part of a supplement, so we don’t need any punctuation after it.
We can see this more clearly if we simplify the sentence: “The reason seeds appear to float while falling is that their
plumes enhance drag.” . Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions
of Standard English. The word “falling” occurs in the middle of a clause and isn’t part of a supplement, so we don’t need
any punctuation after it. We can see this more clearly if we simplify the sentence: “The reason seeds appear to float while
falling is that their plumes enhance drag.” . Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms
to the conventions of Standard English. The word “falling” occurs in the middle of a clause and isn’t part of a supplement,
so we don’t need any punctuation after it. We can see this more clearly if we simplify the sentence: “The reason seeds
appear to float while falling is that their plumes enhance drag.” .

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 09333379
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: 09333379
Nine months before Rosa Parks made history by refusing to comply with the segregated seating policy on
a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, a fifteen-year-old Montgomery girl named Claudette Colvin was arrested for
the same ______ to some historians, Colvin’s arrest led to Parks’s action and eventually to the
desegregation of Montgomery’s bus system.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. offense. According

B. offense, according

C. offense according

D. offense and according

ID: 09333379 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. “Nine months…offense” and “according to…system” are both independent clauses.
Separating them with a period and turning them into their own sentences is the only grammatically correct choice among
the provided options.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a comma splice error, which is a punctuation error that occurs when two
independent clauses are joined by only a comma. “Nine months…offense” and “according to…system” are both
independent clauses, so they need to be either joined by a semicolon, joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction,
or separated by a period. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two
independent clauses are joined without punctuation. “Nine months…offense” and “according to…system” are both
independent clauses, so they need to be either joined by a semicolon, joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction,
or separated by a period. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence, which occurs when two
independent clauses are joined without punctuation. “Nine months…offense” and “according to…system” are independent
clauses, so we would need to put a comma before the coordinating conjunction “and” to join them properly.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 84225518
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 84225518
With some 16,000 in attendance, the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and ______ or
FESTAC ‘77, as the event was more commonly known—became the largest pan-African event on record.
FESTAC drew people from around the world to Lagos, Nigeria, for a monthlong celebration of Black and
African art, scholarship, and activism.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Culture:

B. Culture—

C. Culture,

D. Culture

ID: 84225518 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The text uses a dash to introduce a nonessential element that explains the acronym
FESTAC. The dash matches the dash that comes after “known,” ending the descriptive aside.

Choice A is incorrect. A colon can only come after an independent clause, which isn’t the case here. Choice C is incorrect.
While punctuation is required to set off “or FESTAC…known” from the rest of the sentence, nonessential elements must
be separated from the sentence with matching punctuation. Since a dash appears on the other side of the element, we
can’t use a comma here. Choice D is incorrect. The descriptive aside “or FESTAC…known” is a nonessential element that
must be separated with punctuation from the rest of the sentence. This choice fails to add the necessary punctuation
before the nonessential element.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 992e6994
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: 992e6994
Far from being modern inventions, ______ more than 5,000 years ago.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia used drinking straws

B. drinking straws were used by Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia

C. the use of drinking straws by Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia happened

D. ancient Mesopotamia was home to Sumerians who used drinking straws

ID: 992e6994 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modifier “far from being
modern inventions” must be describing “drinking straws,” because those are the only possible inventions in this
sentence.

Choice A is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modifier “far from being modern
inventions” can’t be describing “Sumerians,” because they are a group of people, not an invention. Choice C is incorrect.
Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modifier “far from being modern inventions” can’t be
describing “the use of drinking straws,” because it is not “the use” of drinking straws that is an invention—it is the drinking
straws themselves. Choice D is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The modifier “far from
being modern inventions” can’t be describing “Ancient Mesopotamia,” because that is a place, not an invention.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4efacd65
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: 4efacd65
Nuhād al-Ḥaddād, known as Fairuz, was one of the most beloved Lebanese singers of the twentieth
century. Her broad singing repertoire—which included traditional forms, such as the Arabic qasida and
maqam, alongside modern pop and jazz styles—lent Fairuz a timeless, cross-generational appeal, ______
her the moniker “the soul of Lebanon.”

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. earned

B. had earned

C. earning

D. earn

ID: 4efacd65 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The word "earning" is being used to introduce an additional modifying phrase, which
describes how Fairuz’s repertoire lent her cross-generational appeal. When a verb ends in -ing and doesn’t have a helper
verb like "is" before it, it can be used to modify a noun or verb. This is appropriate here.

Choice A is incorrect. The underlined verb is being used to introduce additional descriptive information, which is set off
from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Because there is no subject here, a finite form of the verb (like "earned")
creates an error. We need another form of the verb that doesn’t require a subject and can introduce descriptive
information. Choice B is incorrect. The underlined verb is being used to introduce additional descriptive information,
which is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Because there is no subject here, a finite form of the verb (like
"had earned") creates an error. We need another form of the verb that doesn’t require a subject and can introduce
descriptive information. Choice D is incorrect. The underlined verb is being used to introduce additional descriptive
information, which is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Because there is no subject here, a finite form of
the verb (like "earn") creates an error. We need another form of the verb that doesn’t require a subject and can introduce
descriptive information.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c1ddb039
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: c1ddb039
A second-generation Japanese American, Wataru Misaka ______ in World War II (1941-45) and won two
amateur national basketball championships at the University of Utah when he joined the New York Knicks
for the 1947-48 season, becoming the first non-white basketball player in the US’s top professional league.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. already served

B. was already serving

C. already serves

D. had already served

ID: c1ddb039 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. Misaka served in World War II before he joined the New York Knicks in 1947. To show that a
past occurrence took place before another past occurrence, we need to use “had” + the past tense form of the verb. This
is called the past perfect tense.

Choice A is incorrect. Misaka served in World War II before he joined the Knicks. Both events are in the past, but his
service in World War II happened earlier, so we need a verb that makes it clear that his service (and the two national
championships) had ended by the time he joined the Knicks. Choice B is incorrect. “Was already serving” forms the
continuous past tense, which we use when we’re showing a past action that was ongoing. Misaka served in World War II
before he joined the Knicks. Both events are in the past, but they’re not happening at the same time, so we shouldn’t use
the continuous past tense here. Choice C is incorrect. Misaka served in World War II in the past, so we shouldn’t use the
present tense “serves.”

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 35c6af60
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: 35c6af60
Swedish scientists Eva Engvall and Peter Perlmann developed a method for measuring the concentration
of different proteins in a biological sample. Their ______ ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), is
used to detect and measure proteins that indicate the presence of certain diseases.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. method (called

B. method—called

C. method, called

D. method called

ID: 35c6af60 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the punctuation of a supplementary element within a
sentence. The comma after “method” pairs with the comma after the closing parenthesis to separate the supplementary
element “called ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)” from the rest of the sentence. This supplementary
element functions to identify the name of Engvall and Perlmann’s method, 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 an opening parenthesis can’t be paired with a comma to separate the supplementary
element from the rest of the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because a dash can’t be paired with a comma to separate
the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because it fails to use appropriate
punctuation to separate the supplementary element from the rest of the sentence.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8f2d7e11
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 8f2d7e11
Quantum particles of light—photons—provide an unhackable means of transmitting encryption keys over
networks, as attempts to observe particles in quantum states will invariably alter the particles ______
dismantle any information they transmit.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

A. and in the process,

B. and, in the process,

C. and in the process—

D. and, in the process

ID: 8f2d7e11 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. This choice uses paired punctuation in the form of two commas to set off the nonessential
phrase "in the process."

Choice A is incorrect. The phrase "in the process" is a nonessential element and needs to be set off with paired
punctuation. We need a comma after "and" to match the one after "process." Choice C is incorrect. The phrase "in the
process" is a nonessential element and needs to be set off with paired punctuation, so we would need a dash after "and"
to match the one following "process." Choice D is incorrect. The phrase "in the process" is a nonessential element and
needs to be set off with paired punctuation. We would need a comma after "process" to match the one following "and."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b249902a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: b249902a
Detroit natives Timothy Paule and Nicole Lindsey have combined their two passions, Detroit and
beekeeping, to improve the health of their city’s flowers and other vegetation. In 2017, the couple
converted a vacant lot in the city into an ______ in the years that followed they acquired nine additional lots
and established more than 35 hives.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. apiary,

B. apiary, and

C. apiary and

D. apiary

ID: b249902a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they
are both independent clauses. This choice uses a comma plus a coordinating conjunction to link them together, which is
one of the correct ways to link two independent clauses.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence error. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as
complete sentences, which means they are both independent clauses. A comma by itself is not enough punctuation to
link two independent clauses. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a run-on sentence error. Both clauses in this
sentence could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they are both independent clauses. Independent
clauses can only be linked in a few ways, including with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. This choice uses the
coordinating conjunction “and,” but it is missing the comma beforehand. Choice D is incorrect. This choice results in a
run-on sentence error. Both clauses in this sentence could stand alone as complete sentences, which means they are
both independent clauses. Independent clauses need to have certain kinds of punctuation marks between them. This
choice doesn’t use any punctuation between the two clauses.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b305e581
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Medium

Conventions

ID: b305e581
How do scientists determine what foods were eaten by extinct hominins such as Neanderthals? In the
past, researchers were limited to studying the marks found on the fossilized teeth of skeletons, but in
2017 a team led by Laura Weyrich of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA tried something ______ the
DNA found in Neanderthals’ fossilized dental plaque.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. new: sequencing

B. new; sequencing

C. new, sequencing:

D. new. Sequencing

ID: b305e581 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. “A team…tried something new” is an independent clause leading to an explanation of what
the new thing was. A colon can only be used at the end of an independent clause, and typically introduces further
explanation that expands upon the first clause, which makes a colon the perfect choice here.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. “Sequencing…dental plaque” can’t stand on its own as a
sentence, and so it can’t be linked to the independent clause “a team…tried something new” with a semicolon. Only two
independent clauses can be connected in this way. Choice C is incorrect. This choice results in a punctuation error. If
“sequencing” is included in the first clause, it can no longer stand on its own as a complete idea. Since a colon can only
come at the end of an independent clause, using one in this way creates an error. Choice D is incorrect. This choice
results in a sentence fragment. “Sequencing…dental plaque” can’t stand on its own as a sentence.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID bd907188
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: bd907188
The field of geological oceanography owes much to American ______ Marie Tharp, a pioneering
oceanographic cartographer whose detailed topographical maps of the ocean floor and its multiple rift
valleys helped garner acceptance for the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. geologist,

B. geologist

C. geologist;

D. geologist:

ID: bd907188 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. “Marie tharp” is essential information that completes the first clause — the first clause
doesn’t function without it. So we don’t want to separate it with punctuation.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The field of geological oceanography owes much to
American geologist” is unclear: which geologist are we talking about? We need the “Marie Tharp” for clarity, which means
it’s essential information and should not be separated by a comma. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a
punctuation error. “The field of geological oceanography owes much to American geologist” is unclear: which geologist
are we talking about? We need the “Marie Tharp” for clarity, which means it’s essential information and should not be
separated by a semicolon. Choice D is incorrect. This choice creates a punctuation error. “The field of geological
oceanography owes much to American geologist” is unclear: which geologist are we talking about? We need the “Marie
Tharp” for clarity, which means it’s essential information and should not be separated by a colon.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f3a157b1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: f3a157b1
Known as Earth’s “living skin,” biocrusts are thin layers of soil held together by surface-dwelling
microorganisms such as fungi, lichens, and cyanobacteria. Fortifying soil in arid ecosystems against
erosion, ______

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. a recent study’s estimate is that these crusts reduce global dust emissions by 60 percent each year.

B. an estimated 60 percent reduction in global dust emissions each year is due to these crusts, according
to a recent study.

C. these crusts reduce global dust emissions by an estimated 60 percent each year, according to a recent
study.

D. a recent study has estimated that these crusts reduce global dust emissions by 60 percent each year.

ID: f3a157b1 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The subject of the modifier "fortifying soil in arid ecosystems against erosion" is "biocrusts."
Subject-modifier placement requires a modifier and its subject to be next to each other, so "biocrusts" or some variant
meaning "biocrusts" (in this case, "these crusts") must begin the missing clause.

Choice A is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to each other. The subject of the modifier "fortifying soil
in arid ecosystems against erosion" is "biocrusts," not "a recent study’s estimate." Choice B is incorrect. Modifiers and
their subjects must go next to each other. The subject of the modifier "fortifying soil in arid ecosystems against erosion"
is "biocrusts," not "an estimated 60 percent reduction." Choice D is incorrect. Modifiers and their subjects must go next to
each other. The subject of the modifier "fortifying soil in arid ecosystems against erosion" is "biocrusts," not "a recent
study."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d9d4d944
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: d9d4d944
The artistic talents of Barbara Chase-Riboud, most known for her 1979 historical novel Sally Hemings and
the conversation it inspired, ______ limited to the realm of prose: she first excelled in sculpture, where her
affinity for bronze—a material she described as “timeless” due to its use across eras and cultures—
became part of her artistic identity.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. hasn’t been

B. wasn’t

C. isn’t

D. aren’t

ID: d9d4d944 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The subject "talents" is plural, and so is the verb "aren’t": "the artistic talents…aren’t limited."

Choice A is incorrect. The subject "talents" is plural, but the verb "hasn’t been" is singular. Choice B is incorrect. The
subject "talents" is plural, but the verb "wasn’t" is singular. Choice C is incorrect. The subject "talents" is plural, but the
verb "isn’t" is singular.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 4dc1b152
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 4dc1b152
In discussing Mary Shelley’s 1818 epistolary novel Frankenstein, literary theorist Gayatri Spivak directs the
reader’s attention to the character of Margaret Saville. As Spivak points out, Saville is not the protagonist
of Shelley’s ______ as the recipient of the letters that frame the book’s narrative, she’s the “occasion” of it.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. novel

B. novel,

C. novel; rather,

D. novel, rather,

ID: 4dc1b152 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This
choice correctly uses a semicolon to join a main clause (“Saville...novel”) and a second main clause (“she’s...it”) preceded
by supplementary elements (“rather...narrative”).

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 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. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a comma splice. Without a
conjunction following it, the comma after “novel” can’t be used in this way to join the two main clauses.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e93dd6f3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: e93dd6f3
In the 1970s, Janaki Ammal, a prominent botanist, emerged as a powerful voice in India’s environmental
conservation movement. Her exhaustive chromosomal survey of plants in Silent Valley, a pristine tropical
forest in Kerala, India, that is home to nearly 1,000 species of native flora (many of which are endangered),
______ instrumental in the government’s decision to preserve the forest.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. are

B. were

C. have been

D. was

ID: e93dd6f3 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The subject "survey" is singular, and so is the verb "was."

Choice A is incorrect. The subject "survey" is singular, but the verb "are" is plural. Choice B is incorrect. The subject
"survey" is singular, but the verb "were" is plural. Choice C is incorrect. The subject "survey" is singular, but the verb "have
been" is plural.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 6b4c8b42
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 6b4c8b42
The 1977 play And the Soul Shall Dance depicts two Japanese American farming families in Depression-
era Southern California. Critics have noted the way pioneering ______ compares the experiences of issei
(Japanese nationals who emigrated to America) and nisei (their American-born children).

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. playwright, Wakako Yamauchi,

B. playwright, Wakako Yamauchi

C. playwright Wakako Yamauchi,

D. playwright Wakako Yamauchi

ID: 6b4c8b42 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No
punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi" from the title that describes Yamauchi, "pioneering
playwright." Because "Wakako Yamauchi" is essential information identifying the "pioneering playwright," no punctuation
is necessary.

Choice A is incorrect because no punctuation is needed before or after the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi." Setting the
playwright’s name off with commas suggests that it could be removed without affecting the coherence of the sentence,
which isn’t the case. Choice B is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the title "pioneering playwright"
and the proper noun "Wakako Yamauchi." Choice C is incorrect because no punctuation is needed between the proper
noun "Wakako Yamauchi" and the verb "compares."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID aeba7f69
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Medium
Conventions Sense

ID: aeba7f69
After winning the 1860 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln appointed Edward Bates, Salmon P. Chase,
and William H. Seward to his cabinet. Lincoln’s decision was surprising, since each of these men had run
against him, but historians have praised it, noting that Lincoln ______ his rivals’ diverse talents to
strengthen his administration.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. has leveraged

B. is leveraging

C. will leverage

D. leveraged

ID: aeba7f69 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The subject of the verb is “Lincoln,” and the first sentence tells us that we’re talking about
something that Abraham Lincoln did in 1860. So the simple past tense “leveraged” fits the logic of the text.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice creates a tense issue. “Has leveraged” is the present perfect tense, which is used for
an action that began in the past and continues into the present. Lincoln started leveraging his rivals’ talents in 1860—it’s
definitely not still happening today. So the present perfect tense isn’t appropriate. Choice B is incorrect. This choice
creates a tense issue. “Is leveraging” is the present tense, but Lincoln leveraged his rivals’ talents in 1860, so the present
tense isn’t appropriate. Choice C is incorrect. This choice creates a tense issue. “Will leverage” is the future tense, but
Lincoln leveraged his rivals’ talents in 1860, so the future tense isn’t appropriate.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3152fbb0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Boundaries Hard

Conventions

ID: 3152fbb0
Researcher Lin Zhi developed a process for increasing the tensile strength—measured in gigapascals, or
GPa—of silkworm ______ dissolving and reweaving the silk in a solution of iron metal ions, zinc, and sugar,
Zhi increased the amount of force required to stretch it from approximately 0.5 GPa to 2 GPa.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. silk, by

B. silk by

C. silk and by

D. silk. By

ID: 3152fbb0 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The independent clauses "researcher Lin Zhi…silk" and "by dissolving…2 GPa" can be
grammatically separated by a period. They can stand alone as sentences, and this is the only choice that lets them do
that.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice results in a grammar error called a comma splice. "Researcher Lin Zhi…silk" and "by
dissolving…2 GPa" are both independent clauses. They need to either be separated with punctuation like a period or a
semicolon, or they need to be connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction like "and." A comma alone isn’t
enough. Choice B is incorrect. This choice results in a grammar error called a run-on sentence. "Researcher Lin Zhi…silk"
and "by dissolving…2 GPa" are both independent clauses. They need to either be separated with punctuation like a period
or a semicolon, or they need to be connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction like "and." Choice C is
incorrect. This choice results in a grammar error called a run-on sentence. "Researcher Lin Zhi…silk" and "by dissolving…2
GPa" are both independent clauses. The coordinating conjunction "and" isn’t enough to link them by itself. We need a
comma, too.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b3eebd97
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Standard English Form, Structure, and Hard
Conventions Sense

ID: b3eebd97
Rabinal Achí is a precolonial Maya dance drama performed annually in Rabinal, a town in the Guatemalan
highlands. Based on events that occurred when Rabinal was a city-state ruled by a king, ______ had once
been an ally of the king but was later captured while leading an invading force against him.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
A. Rabinal Achí tells the story of K’iche’ Achí, a military leader who

B. K’iche’ Achí, the military leader in the story of Rabinal Achí,

C. the military leader whose story is told in Rabinal Achí, K’iche’ Achí,

D. there was a military leader, K’iche’ Achí, who in Rabinal Achí

ID: b3eebd97 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The modifier “Based on events…by a king,” is describing the drama “Rabinal Achí.” Modifiers
need to be next to the subjects they describe, so “Rabinal Achí” needs to be the first word after the comma.

Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. The
modifier “Based on events…by a king,” is describing the drama “Rabinal Achí.” Modifiers need to be next to the subjects
they describe, so “Rabinal Achí” needs to be the first word after the comma. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t complete
the text in a way that conforms to the conventions of Standard English. The modifier “Based on events…by a king,” is
describing the drama “Rabinal Achí.” Modifiers need to be next to the subjects they describe, so “Rabinal Achí” needs to
be the first word after the comma. Choice D is incorrect. This doesn’t complete the text in a way that conforms to the
conventions of Standard English. The modifier “Based on events…by a king,” is describing the drama “Rabinal Achí.”
Modifiers need to be next to the subjects they describe, so “Rabinal Achí” needs to be the first word after the comma.

Question Difficulty: Hard