Digital SAT – Ms.

Tra Le - 0968360224

WRITING AND LANGUAGE 1 (FURTHER PRACTICE)

No matter their design, all skates work by the same common principle: as 1
the blade travels over ice, it melts a thin layer of water that allows the skater
to glide. However, the speed and function of a skate _______ on the shape Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
and size of the blade and boot. Blade thickness and boot sturdiness affect conventions of Standard English?
speed, and a long blade makes for a faster skate. A) depends
B) depend
C) has depended
D) would depend

As the son of an electrical worker, Einstein learned about physics not only 2
by reading but also by observing firsthand the technology _______
applications could produce. 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

The sandhills of Nebraska form the largest sand dunes in _______ for 3
more than 20,000 square miles, covering more than a quarter of the state.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) North America, and these dunes spread
B) North America: they spread
C) North America; and spreading
D) North America, but they spread

Visit the grocery store on an empty stomach, and you will probably come 4
home with a few _______ did not plan to buy. But hunger pangs are not
the only culprit behind impulse purchases. The location of store displays Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
also influences shopping choices—and may make or break some healthy conventions of Standard English?
eating habits. A) things, you
B) things, that you
C) things that, you
D) things you

Some studies show even relatively mild levels of hypoxia (oxygen 5

deficiency) can prevent people from thinking clearly. At oxygen levels
equivalent to altitudes above 12,000 feet, _______ may begin to show Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
measurable changes in memory and decision-making abilities. This is why conventions of Standard English?
aviation regulations require that pilots wear supplementary oxygen masks if A) he or she
the cabin air pressure is greater than that found at 12,500 feet. B) one
C) they
D) you

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

Along with bees and spiders, snakes have a bad reputation. But contrary to 6
popular belief, these creatures are not normally aggressive. Even
rattlesnakes rarely bite unless provoked or threatened. If treated promptly, Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
_______, their bites are rarely dangerous. A) however,
B) consequently,
C) moreover,
D) meanwhile,

Physicist Michio Kaku, the author of several best-selling books about 7

science, has gained popularity in the mainstream media _______ of
presenting complex scientific subjects. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) because of his deep knowledge, and accessible manner
B) because of his deep knowledge and accessible manner
C) because of his: deep knowledge and accessible manner
D) because of his deep knowledge and accessible manner,

The opening of the Empire State building coincided with the start of the 8
Great Depression. As a result, much of the new _______ office space
remained empty for months. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) skyscrapers’
B) skyscraper’s
C) skyscrapers
D) skyscrapers’s

Not only have amateur astronomers contributed to many important 9

discoveries, but astronomy also remains one of the few sciences _______
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) in which non-professionals can still play an active role for.
B) in which non-professionals can still play an active role.
C) where non-professionals can still play an active role.
D) that non-professionals can still play an active role.

Since the early twentieth century, the advertising industry has been a major 10
cultural and economic force, involving almost every form of popular
media. The most common goal of advertising is to drive consumer Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
behavior toward a commercial _______ political advertising, which aims to conventions of Standard English?
convince voters to favor a particular candidate, occurs frequently as well. A) offering, however,
B) offering, however
C) offering however,
D) offering; however,

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

The nine-banded armadillo has two methods of walking through _______ 11

it can walk underwater holding its breath for as long as six minutes, and for
long distances, it can increase its buoyancy by swallowing air to inflate its Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
stomach. conventions of Standard English?
A) water for short distances,
B) water, for short distances,
C) water. For short distances,
D) water for short distances

Problems with food safety can dissuade people from buying and weaken 12
consumer trust in a particular type of food; _______ manufacturers and
distributors stand to gain from ensuring that the food system is safe. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) however,
B) therefore,
C) nevertheless,
D) moreover,

Swimming with wildlife can be a life-changing experience. Tiny seahorses 13

delight travelers with their strangely curled tails and bright camouflage while
_______ keen intelligence, and shiny coats. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) dolphins, which mesmerize onlookers with their acrobatic
tricks,
B) dolphins they mesmerize onlookers with their acrobatic
tricks,
C) dolphins that mesmerize onlookers, with their acrobatic
tricks
D) dolphins mesmerize onlookers with their acrobatic tricks,

The current world record for pumpkin growing is held by Beni Meier, a 14
Swiss accountant who grew a pumpkin that weighs in at 2,323.7 _______
the same as a small car. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) pounds - roughly
B) pounds. Roughly
C) pounds, this is roughly
D) pounds; roughly

In the 1950s, television was the hot technology of the day. While just 9 15
percent of homes in the United States boasted a TV set in 1950, 56
percent _______ one by 1954, and sales continued to boom for the Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
following decade. conventions of Standard English?
A) had owned
B) have owned
C) owned
D) own

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

Increasingly, we are learning that humans and animals are not the only 16
organisms that use sound to communicate. Plants and forests use _______
as well. Plants detect vibrations in a frequency-selective manner, using this Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
“hearing” sense to find water by sending out acoustic emissions and to conventions of Standard English?
communicate threats. A) them
B) it
C) some
D) these

Total solar eclipses are rare events: _______ somewhere on Earth every 18 17
months on average, they are estimated to recur at any given place only once
every 360 to 410 years. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) although occurring
B) although they occur
C) although they occurred
D) they occur

Many fiber optic companies install more cables than they need, resulting in 18
a system of underground bundled fibers that could be employed for
purposes such as earthquake sensing. Each of these fiber optic lines Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
_______ imperfections, however. When a light is beamed down the conventions of Standard English?
individual fiber optic strands, irregularities in the structure bounce back a A) contains
fraction of the light. B) contain
C) have contained
D) containing

Medical researchers use laboratory-grown human cells to learn the 19

intricacies of how cells work and test theories about the causes and
treatment of diseases. The cell lines they need are “immortal”—they can Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
grow indefinitely, remain frozen for decades, and _______ into different conventions of Standard English?
batches that are shared among scientists. A) divided them
B) divided
C) dividing
D) be divided

he smart city is the city of the future: a technological and data-driven urban 20
system designed for efficient growth. _______ intended to leverage
technology and data to improve the lives of citizens and become more Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
responsive to their needs. conventions of Standard English?
A) Their
B) They’re
C) Its’
D) It’s

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

An American street photographer born in New York City, Vivian Maier is 21

considered to be one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth
century. Despite her artistic legacy and narrative influence on Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
picturemaking, little was known about her until relatively recently. In 2007, A) meanwhile,
_______ the discovery of 100,000 of Maier’s negatives and slides created a B) however,
portrait of a woman compelled to photograph life on the street. C) therefore,
D) moreover,

In a series of experiments at Princeton University and the University of 22

California, Los Angeles, students were randomly assigned either laptops or
pen and paper for note-taking at a lecture. _______ had used laptops Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
demonstrated a substantially weaker understanding of the lecture, as conventions of Standard English?
measured by a standardized test, than the group using pen and paper. A) Those whom
B) Those who
C) Those which
D) They

Recently, a group of planet hunters met in Laramie, Wyoming, to plot 23

better ways to scout for life beyond Earth. Many of these researchers are
starting to argue that the existence of liquid water on a planet’s surface (the Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
standard _______ not the factor that should guide exoplanet exploration. conventions of Standard English?
Instead, the scientists say, the field should focus on the chances of detecting A) requirement for habitability), is
alien life, should it exist B) requirement for habitability, is
C) requirement for habitability) is
D) requirement for habitability is

There can be no doubt that aircraft cabins are peculiar places for humans 24
to be. Humidity rates are lower _______ while the air pumped into the
cabin is cooled as low as 50°F to whisk away the excess heat generated by Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
all the bodies and electronics onboard. conventions of Standard English?
A) then the average desert,
B) than the average desert,
C) than that of the average desert,
D) than those in the average desert,

Unwanted eye contact with strangers makes us squirm, and now 25

researchers have figured out why. According to a Reader’s Digest report,
looking into someone _______ makes us more self-aware — and more self- Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conscious. conventions of Standard English?
A) elses’ eyes
B) else’s eyes
C) elses eyes
D) elses eye’s

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

Some of the most powerful telescopes in the world are now peering across 26
vast distances of _______ for the faintest dip of light or wobble that could
suggest the presence of another world. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) space, watching
B) space, and watching
C) space, they are watching
D) space; watching

Brought back from the brink of extinction, the South American vicuna, a 27
llama-like animal, has attracted the attention of poachers _______ prized
wool. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) eager to profit from: its
B) eager to profit, from its
C) eager to profit from its
D) eager to profit from, its

Prey-and-predator arms races are not _______ and neither is deception. 28

Deceptive evolutionary adaptations such as camouflage suggest that
illusions are not only “errors of perception” but also provide significant Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
advantages to the creatures that produce them. conventions of Standard English?
A) unusual, in the animal kingdom
B) unusual in the animal kingdom,
C) unusual, in the animal kingdom,
D) unusual in the animal kingdom

A study from the University of Cologne in Germany showed that by 29

cleverly naming dishes with words that mimic the mouth movements
associated with eating, restaurants could increase the palatability of the Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
food. Researchers found words that move from the front to the back of the A) Therefore
mouth — such as the made-up word “bodok” — were particularly effective. B) However
_______, the effect seems to work even when people read silently, perhaps C) Subsequently
because the brain still stimulates the motor movements required to D) Indeed
produce speech when reading.

To date, astronomers have catalogued thousands of _______ are 30

potentially habitable. The most recent is Ross 128b: an Earth-sized planet
orbiting a nearby star, it is probably located at a distance that would allow Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
for liquid water. conventions of Standard English?
A) exoplanets, more than a dozen of them
B) exoplanets, more than a dozen of which
C) exoplanets; more than a dozen of which
D) exoplanet, more than a dozen of these

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 Digital SAT – Ms. Tra Le - 0968360224

A major reassessment of dinosaurs that began in the 1960s and finally took 31
hold in the 1980s positioned these creatures not as dull evolutionary
failures but as _______. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) active, warm-blooded, animals
B) active warm-blooded, animals
C) active, warm-blooded animals
D) actively warm-blooded animals

Tipping as a phenomenon has long fascinated _______ even though we 32

are not legally required to do so, seems to go against our own best interest.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
A) economists: paying extra,
B) economists paying extra –
C) economists, paying extra,
D) economists; paying extra