Bluebook SAT Writing and Language 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The following text is an excerpt from a student's essay. (1) The poetry of Emily Dickinson, often characterized by its unconventional syntax and punctuation, challenges readers to engage with language in a new way. (2) Readers, encountering her work for the first time, often finds the frequent use of dashes and capitalized nouns disorienting. (3) However, this initial confusion often gives way to a deeper appreciation for Dickinson's unique style. (4) The very elements that initially seem strange—the dashes, the capitalization, the fragmented lines—are precisely what forces a reader to slow down and consider each word's weight and meaning. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence (3), would most effectively set up the example provided in sentence (4)?
- Dickinson's reclusive life is often cited as a reason for her unconventional style.
- Her distinctive style is not merely an aesthetic choice but a functional one that guides the reader's interpretation. (Correct answer)
- Many of Dickinson's poems were published posthumously and edited to fit conventional standards.
- This is why many high school English classes include Dickinson's poetry in their curriculum.
Correct answer: Her distinctive style is not merely an aesthetic choice but a functional one that guides the reader's interpretation.
The correct answer effectively bridges the idea in sentence (3) (appreciation follows confusion) and the explanation in sentence (4) (how specific stylistic elements create meaning). Sentence (4) explains the *function* of Dickinson's style. This choice introduces the concept of her style being 'functional,' which directly sets up the specific examples of how the dashes and capitalization function to control the reader's pace and focus.
Question 2: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: - Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-American particle and experimental physicist. - She made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. - One of her most famous experiments was the 'Wu experiment' in 1956. - This experiment disproved the law of conservation of parity, a fundamental concept in physics. - Her male colleagues who had theorized the concept, Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for this work. - Wu was not awarded the Nobel Prize, an omission many scientists consider a major injustice. The student wants to write a sentence that emphasizes the contrast between Chien-Shiung Wu's critical contribution and the recognition she received. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
- Chien-Shiung Wu's 1956 experiment, which was a significant contribution to nuclear physics, led to her male colleagues winning the Nobel Prize in 1957.
- Although Chien-Shiung Wu's experiment was instrumental in disproving the law of conservation of parity, the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery was awarded exclusively to her male colleagues. (Correct answer)
- Chien-Shiung Wu, a particle and experimental physicist, conducted the 'Wu experiment' which disproved a fundamental concept in physics called the law of conservation of parity.
- Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang won the Nobel Prize in 1957 after Chien-Shiung Wu conducted an experiment based on their theories, an outcome many view as unjust.
Correct answer: Although Chien-Shiung Wu's experiment was instrumental in disproving the law of conservation of parity, the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery was awarded exclusively to her male colleagues.
This choice is the most effective because it uses the word 'Although' to create a direct and explicit contrast. It clearly states Wu's essential role ('instrumental in disproving the law') and immediately juxtaposes it with the fact that the recognition ('Nobel Prize') went 'exclusively to her male colleagues.' This structure best fulfills the student's goal of emphasizing the contrast.
Question 3: Read the following passage and choose the best answer to the question below. *Adapted from a passage about urban planning.* The concept of 'tactical urbanism' involves using short-term, low-cost, and scalable interventions to explore long-term change. Instead of initiating massive, expensive infrastructure projects, a city might, for example, use temporary paint and planters to create a new bike lane. This allows urban planners and residents to test the effects on traffic and community life before committing to a permanent, more costly installation. Neither the planners nor the public ______ locked into a decision that might prove unworkable. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- are
- is (Correct answer)
- were
- have been
Correct answer: is
This question tests subject-verb agreement with the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor'. When 'neither...nor' joins two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. In this sentence, the subject closer to the verb is 'the public,' which is a singular noun. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is required.
Question 4: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and avoids any modifier errors?
- Peering through the telescope, the distant galaxy's spiral arms were clearly visible to the astronomer.
- Covered in intricate carvings, the archaeologist marveled at the ancient stone tablet.
- Having studied for weeks, the final exam was still surprisingly difficult for the student.
- Eagerly anticipating the results, the scientist checked the petri dish for any signs of bacterial growth. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Eagerly anticipating the results, the scientist checked the petri dish for any signs of bacterial growth.
This sentence is correct because the introductory participial phrase 'Eagerly anticipating the results' correctly modifies the subject that follows it, 'the scientist.' It is the scientist who is eagerly anticipating. The other options contain dangling modifiers: In A, the galaxy was not peering; in B, the archaeologist was not covered in carvings; in C, the final exam did not study for weeks.
Question 5: The following graph shows the percentage of US adults who say they get their news from various platforms. [A bar chart is presented with the following data: - TV: 45% - News websites/apps: 35% - Radio: 25% - Social media: 20% - Print: 10%] The author of an essay on media consumption wants to use this data to support the claim that digital platforms have not entirely eclipsed traditional media. Which choice provides the most accurate and relevant information from the graph to support this specific claim?
- While 20% of adults get news from social media, a higher percentage, 35%, use news websites or apps.
- The most popular news source is TV, with 45% of adults using it, which is more than double the percentage for social media.
- Although digital sources like news websites (35%) and social media (20%) are popular, traditional platforms like TV (45%) and radio (25%) are still used by a significant percentage of adults. (Correct answer)
- Print media is the least popular source, with only 10% of adults reporting they get their news from it, compared to 45% for TV.
Correct answer: Although digital sources like news websites (35%) and social media (20%) are popular, traditional platforms like TV (45%) and radio (25%) are still used by a significant percentage of adults.
This choice directly addresses the author's claim. It acknowledges the popularity of digital sources ('news websites' and 'social media') while simultaneously using data for traditional platforms ('TV' and 'radio') to show that they remain highly relevant. This provides a nuanced interpretation of the data that perfectly supports the idea that traditional media has not been 'entirely eclipsed.'
Question 6: The rise of 'citizen science,' in which volunteers collaborate with professional scientists on research projects, ______ benefited numerous fields, from astronomy to zoology. These collaborations allow for the collection of massive datasets that would otherwise be unobtainable. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- have
- are
- has (Correct answer)
- were
Correct answer: has
The subject of the sentence is 'The rise,' not 'citizen science,' 'volunteers,' or 'projects.' The phrase 'of "citizen science," in which volunteers collaborate with professional scientists on research projects' is a series of prepositional and descriptive phrases that modify 'rise.' Since 'rise' is a singular noun, the singular verb 'has' is required to agree with it.
Bluebook SAT Writing and Language 3
The following text is an excerpt from a student's essay.
(1) The poetry of Emily Dickinson, often characterized by its unconventional syntax and punctuation, challenges readers to engage with language in a new way. (2) Readers, encountering her work for the first time, often finds the frequent use of dashes and capitalized nouns disorienting. (3) However, this initial confusion often gives way to a deeper appreciation for Dickinson's unique style. (4) The very elements that initially seem strange—the dashes, the capitalization, the fragmented lines—are precisely what forces a reader to slow down and consider each word's weight and meaning.
Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence (3), would most effectively set up the example provided in sentence (4)?