Bluebook SAT Test Form, Structure, and Sense 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Neither the principal nor the teachers _______ satisfied with the proposed budget cuts.
- was
- were (Correct answer)
- is
- has been
Correct answer: were
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the closer subject 'teachers,' which is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Question 2: The student who earned the highest marks _______ awarded a scholarship at the ceremony.
- were
- is
- was (Correct answer)
- are
Correct answer: was
'Student' is singular, requiring the singular past verb 'was'; the relative clause is a modifier and doesn't change the subject.
Question 3: By next month, the construction crew _______ the new highway overpass for three years.
- will have built (Correct answer)
- builds
- built
- has built
Correct answer: will have built
'Will have built' is future perfect, which expresses an action that will be completed before a specific future time ('by next month').
Question 4: The CEO distributed bonuses to all _______ employees who had exceeded their annual targets.
- she's
- hers
- her (Correct answer)
- their
Correct answer: her
'Her' is the correct possessive adjective modifying 'employees'; 'she's' is a contraction and 'hers' is a standalone possessive pronoun.
Question 5: The committee must decide whether to expand _______ current operations or seek new markets.
- it's
- its (Correct answer)
- their
- they're
Correct answer: its
'Its' is the possessive form for the singular collective noun 'committee'; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is.'
Question 6: Concerned about the declining sales figures, _______ immediately scheduled a strategy meeting.
- an urgent memo was sent by the director
- the director (Correct answer)
- a new marketing plan was proposed
- the quarterly report showed
Correct answer: the director
'The director' is the only option that can logically be 'concerned'—the participle must modify a person as the subject.
Question 7: The museum's collection of rare artifacts _______ on permanent display in the east wing.
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
The subject is 'collection' (singular), not 'artifacts'; a singular noun takes a singular verb like 'is.'
Bluebook SAT Test Form, Structure, and Sense 4
Neither the principal nor the teachers _______ satisfied with the proposed budget cuts.