PSAT/NMSQT Expression of Ideas 3

Question 1

Which version of the sentence is MOST concise without losing meaning? 'Due to the fact that it was raining outside, the outdoor concert event was cancelled and called off.'

Accepted Answer

Because it rained, the concert was cancelled.

Answer

Due to the fact that it was raining, the outdoor concert was cancelled.

Answer

The outdoor concert was cancelled on account of the rainy weather conditions outside.

Answer

The fact that rain was falling outside caused the outdoor concert event to be cancelled and called off.

Question 2

Which word choice BEST maintains a formal, academic tone in a research paper? 'Scientists have _____ that the new drug is effective.'

Accepted Answer

demonstrated

Answer

found out

Answer

figured out

Answer

gotten the idea

Question 3

Which revision eliminates the redundancy in this sentence: 'The team collaborated together on the joint project to achieve their shared mutual goals.'

Accepted Answer

The team collaborated on the project to achieve their goals.

Answer

The team worked together and collaborated on the joint and shared mutual project.

Answer

The team's collaborative effort on the joint project aimed at achieving shared goals.

Answer

The team, working in collaboration with each other, jointly pursued their mutually shared goals together.

Question 4

A writer is describing a scientific process for a general audience. Which version is MOST appropriate for that audience?

Accepted Answer

Plants make food from sunlight by absorbing carbon dioxide through their leaves and water through their roots.

Answer

Photosynthesis involves the photochemical oxidation of water molecules coupled with the reduction of carbon dioxide via the Calvin-Benson cycle.

Answer

The process is very complicated and involves many different chemical reactions happening simultaneously.

Answer

Photosynthesis is what plants do and it is important for life on Earth.

Question 5

Which sentence uses the MOST precise language to describe a scientific measurement?

Accepted Answer

The temperature rose by 15 degrees Celsius over 30 minutes during the controlled experiment.

Answer

The temperature increased by quite a lot during the experiment.

Answer

The temperature went up a bunch when we heated it.

Answer

The temperature increased significantly during the procedure.

Question 6

Which revision BEST corrects the error in this sentence: 'Walking down the street, the rain started to fall on me.'

Accepted Answer

Walking down the street, I was caught in the rain.

Answer

While I was walking down the street, the rain started falling on me as I walked.

Answer

The rain started falling on me while walking down the street I was.

Answer

I was walking and then it rained on me while I was on the street.

Question 7

Which choice BEST replaces the vague phrase to make the sentence more precise? 'The new policy will affect [many things] in the school district.'

Accepted Answer

funding, staffing, and curriculum decisions

Answer

a lot of stuff

Answer

various aspects

Answer

things that matter