SAT Grammar and Punctuation Practice Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? A student's GPA, however, is only one factor in college admissions; extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations also play significant roles.

Answer: A student's GPA, however, is only one factor in college admissions; extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations also play significant roles.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. In choice A, 'A student's GPA, however, is only one factor in college admissions' is an independent clause, and 'extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations also play significant roles' is another independent clause. The conjunctive adverb 'however' is correctly placed within the first clause with commas. The other choices either misplace the semicolon or create non-independent clauses on one side of it.

Read the following sentence and select the version that correctly handles the underlined portion. The committee's decision—which was reached after months of deliberation and input from over forty stakeholders—will affect policy going forward. Which of the following is the best alternative to the underlined phrase 'which was reached after months of deliberation and input from over forty stakeholders'?

Answer: which was reached after months of deliberation and input from over forty stakeholders

The original phrasing is correct. The clause is nonrestrictive (set off by dashes), so 'which' is appropriate over 'that.' 'That' introduces restrictive clauses and would not pair correctly with the em dash construction. Choice C creates an awkward participial phrase disrupting the sentence flow, and choice D contains the illogical phrase 'from over forty stakeholders' without a governing verb.

In the following sentence, which punctuation correctly completes the blank? 'The researchers identified three key variables _____ temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.' Choose the answer that fills in the blank correctly.

Answer: :

A colon is used after an independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, or elaboration. 'The researchers identified three key variables' is a complete independent clause, making a colon the correct choice. A semicolon joins two independent clauses but cannot introduce a list that follows directly. A comma alone is insufficient to formally introduce an enumerated list after a full clause. While an em dash could work stylistically, the colon is the grammatically preferred and more standard choice in formal writing.

Select the option that best corrects the following sentence for parallel structure: 'The professor emphasized the importance of reviewing notes, to complete readings on time, and that students should participate in discussion.'

Answer: reviewing notes, completing readings on time, and participating in discussion.

Parallel structure requires that items in a series use the same grammatical form. The introductory verb 'emphasized the importance of' is followed by a gerund phrase, so all items must be gerunds: 'reviewing,' 'completing,' and 'participating.' Choice B mixes infinitives and a gerund. Choice C mixes gerunds and noun phrases. Choice D mixes a 'that' clause, a gerund, and an infinitive — none are parallel.

Which of the following sentences correctly uses an apostrophe? Context: A joint report published by two organizations — the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization — was released last month.

Answer: The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization's joint report was released last month.

When two entities share joint ownership of one thing, only the last noun takes the possessive apostrophe. Since it is a single joint report, only 'World Health Organization' takes 's. Choice B incorrectly treats ownership as separate (which would imply two different reports). Choice C omits the apostrophe entirely. Choice D misplaces apostrophes — 'Centers'' is incorrect because the apostrophe belongs to the full name, and 'Organizations'' incorrectly pluralizes before adding the possessive.

The following sentence contains an error in modifier placement. Identify the corrected version. 'Having studied the migration patterns extensively, the data suggested that the birds traveled further south than previously believed.'

Answer: Having studied the migration patterns extensively, the researchers found that the data suggested the birds traveled further south than previously believed.

The original sentence contains a dangling modifier: 'Having studied the migration patterns extensively' must logically modify a noun that can study — a person or group of researchers, not 'the data.' Choice A correctly introduces 'the researchers' as the subject performing the studying. Choice B keeps 'the data' as the subject of 'having studied,' which is illogical. Choice C is grammatically awkward and still avoids naming who studied. Choice D illogically implies the birds studied the migration patterns.