Bluebook SAT Test SAT Grammar and Punctuation Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The professor distributed handouts to ______ who arrived on time.
- those (Correct answer)
- them
- who
- whoever
Correct answer: those
'Those' is the correct pronoun here because it functions as the object of 'to' and refers to a group; 'whoever' would introduce a noun clause but is redundant with 'to' in this construction.
Question 2: Despite the heavy rain, the outdoor concert ______ as scheduled.
- proceeded (Correct answer)
- proceded
- preceeded
- preceded
Correct answer: proceeded
'Proceeded' means to continue or carry on; it is the correct spelling and the right word in context.
Question 3: The detective concluded that the thief ______ through the back window before dawn.
- had entered (Correct answer)
- enters
- would enter
- is entering
Correct answer: had entered
Past perfect 'had entered' correctly expresses an action that was completed before the past action of concluding.
Question 4: The children's artwork, displayed along the hallway walls, ______ vibrant and imaginative.
- was (Correct answer)
- were
- are
- have been
Correct answer: was
The subject is 'artwork' (singular and uncountable), so 'was' is correct despite the plural-seeming context.
Question 5: The architect's plan called for three features: open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, and ______ eco-friendly materials.
- the use of
- using (Correct answer)
- to use
- used
Correct answer: using
Parallel structure requires matching the form of the other items; if 'open floor plans' and 'floor-to-ceiling windows' are noun phrases, 'using eco-friendly materials' breaks parallel form. However, if we read the list as gerund phrases, 'using' fits; the standard SAT pattern here is to match the preceding noun phrases, making 'the use of' the best parallel noun form.
Question 6: Mia plays piano ______ her sister prefers violin.
- while (Correct answer)
- because
- since
- so
Correct answer: while
'While' correctly indicates contrast or simultaneity between two independent clauses here, showing two different preferences.
Question 7: The Mars rover transmitted data for six years before ______ battery finally failed.
- its (Correct answer)
- it's
- their
- whose
Correct answer: its
'Its' is the possessive pronoun referring to the rover (singular); 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is.'
Bluebook SAT Test SAT Grammar and Punctuation Practice 3
The professor distributed handouts to ______ who arrived on time.