PSAT/NMSQT Writing: Standard English Conventions 2

Question 1

The committee announced ___ decision to postpone the vote until next month. Which choice is correct?

Accepted Answer

its

Answer

"Its" is the possessive pronoun, and a singular collective noun like "committee" takes a singular possessive.

Question 2

Neither the players nor the coach ___ satisfied with the referee's call. Which verb agrees?

Accepted Answer

was

Answer

With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "coach," which is singular.

Question 3

Walking to school, ___ noticed that the leaves had begun to change color. Which choice avoids a dangling modifier?

Accepted Answer

the students

Answer

The modifier "Walking to school" must describe the people doing the walking, so a person must follow.

Question 4

The novel was praised for its vivid imagery ___ its complex characters. Which choice correctly joins the items?

Accepted Answer

and

Answer

"And" joins two complementary positive qualities in a parallel list.

Question 5

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

Accepted Answer

The storm passed; the streets soon dried.

Answer

A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test