Bluebook SAT Test Form, Structure, and Sense 7 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A number of students _______ volunteered to help organize the school fundraiser.
- has
- have (Correct answer)
- was
- is
Correct answer: have
'A number of' is an expression meaning 'several' and takes a plural verb ('have'); contrast with 'the number of,' which is singular.
Question 2: The mayor announced that new bike lanes _______ installed along the main boulevard next spring.
- will be
- would be (Correct answer)
- are
- have been
Correct answer: would be
Since 'announced' is past tense, the reported speech requires 'would be' (the past form of 'will be').
Question 3: The book that my professor recommended _______ been out of print for several decades.
- had
- has (Correct answer)
- have
- were
Correct answer: has
'Book' is singular and the present perfect 'has been' correctly expresses a condition persisting up to the present.
Question 4: To qualify for the scholarship, a student must demonstrate financial need, maintain a 3.5 GPA, and _______ two letters of recommendation.
- submitting
- to submit
- submit (Correct answer)
- submitted
Correct answer: submit
Parallel structure requires the base form 'submit' to match the other verbs in the series: 'demonstrate,' 'maintain,' and 'submit.'
Question 5: The volunteers' hard work, dedication, and _______ were critical to the campaign's success.
- they persevered
- perseverance (Correct answer)
- persevering through
- the fact that they persevered
Correct answer: perseverance
'Perseverance' is a noun that maintains parallel structure with the other nouns in the series: 'work' and 'dedication.'
Question 6: The technician repaired the computer belonging to _______ in just under an hour.
- my colleague and I
- my colleague and me (Correct answer)
- me and my colleague
- I and my colleague
Correct answer: my colleague and me
After the preposition 'to,' object pronouns are required; 'my colleague and me' uses the correct object form 'me.'
Question 7: The manager told her staff that each project _______ completed by the end of the quarter.
- must be (Correct answer)
- must have been
- should have
- might
Correct answer: must be
'Must be completed' expresses a requirement in the correct form; other options change the meaning or create grammatical errors.
Bluebook SAT Test Form, Structure, and Sense 7
A number of students _______ volunteered to help organize the school fundraiser.