Question: Former astronaut Ellen Ochoa says that although she doesn’t have a definite idea of when it might happen, she ___________ that humans will someday need to be able to live in other environments than those found on Earth. This conjecture informs her interest in future research missions to the moon.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) demands
B) speculates
C) doubts
D) establishes

Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ochoa’s prediction that humans will one day need to live in places other than Earth. As used in this context, “speculates” would mean putting forward an idea without firm evidence. The text states that Ochoa “doesn’t have a definite idea” about when humans might need to live in other environments and characterizes Ochoa’s prediction as a “conjecture,” or a conclusion presented without convincing evidence. This context indicates that Ochoa speculates when she makes this prediction.

Choice A is incorrect because saying that Ochoa “demands,” or insists or requires, that humans will one day need to live in other environments than Earth’s wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates that she’s unsure about the timing but hypothesizes that it will someday happen.

Choice C is incorrect because saying that Ochoa “doubts,” or questions or disbelieves, that humans will one day need to live in other environments than Earth’s wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates that although Ochoa is unsure about the timing, she hypothesizes that humans will need to live in places other than Earth and encourages research into future travel to the moon.

Choice D is incorrect because saying that Ochoa “establishes,” or proves, that humans will one day need to live in other environments than Earth’s wouldn’t make sense in context. Rather than stating that Ochoa discusses her idea with certainty and supports it with evidence, the text indicates that Ochoa is unsure about when humans might need to live in other environments.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and work on your vocabulary skills also.

Question: Beginning in the 1950s, Navajo Nation legislator Annie Dodge Wauneka continuously worked to promote public health; this __________ effort involved traveling throughout the vast Navajo homeland and writing a medical dictionary for speakers of Diné bizaad, the Navajo language.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) impartial
B) offhand
C) persistent
D) mandatory

Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Annie Dodge Wauneka’s work as a Navajo Nation legislator. As used in this context, “persistent” means existing continuously. The text states that Wauneka “continuously worked to promote public health,” traveling extensively and authoring a medical dictionary; this indicates that Wauneka’s effort was persistent.

Choice A is incorrect because describing Wauneka’s effort related to public health as “impartial,” or not partial or biased and treating all things equally, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text suggests that Wauneka’s continuous work was partial in one way, as she focused specifically on promoting public health throughout the Navajo homeland and to speakers of the Navajo language.

Choice B is incorrect because the text emphasizes that Wauneka’s effort to promote public health as a Navajo Nation legislator was continuous and extensive, involving wide travels and the authoring of a medical dictionary. Because this work clearly involved care and dedication, it wouldn’t make sense to describe it as “offhand,” or casual and informal.

Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Wauneka’s effort to promote public health was “mandatory,” or required by law or rule, even though Wauneka was a Navajo Nation legislator. Rather than suggesting that Wauneka’s effort was required for any reason, the text emphasizes the continuous and extensive nature of her work.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: Following the principles of community-based participatory research, tribal nations and research institutions are equal partners in health studies conducted on reservations. A collaboration between the Crow Tribe and Montana State University _________ this model: tribal citizens worked alongside scientists to design the methodology and continue to assist in data collection.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) circumvents
B) eclipses
C) fabricates
D) exemplifies

Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the collaboration between the Crow Tribe and Montana State University. As used in this context, “exemplifies” means demonstrates. The text conveys how the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves to illustrate the model of community-based participatory research introduced earlier in the text and expanded on later in the text.

Choice A is incorrect because referring to “circumvents,” or avoids, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text suggests that the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves as an example of the principles of community-based participatory research, not that the collaboration evades this model.

Choice B is incorrect because referring to “eclipses,” or overshadows, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text describes the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration as an equal partnership, which indicates that it’s an example of the community-based participatory research model, not that it overshadows the model.

Choice C is incorrect because saying that the collaboration “fabricates,” or creates, the model wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates that the Crow Tribe–Montana State University collaboration serves as an example of the model, not that it created the model.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: The parasitic dodder plant increases its reproductive success by flowering at the same time as the host plant it has latched onto. In 2020, Jianqiang Wu and his colleagues determined that the tiny dodder achieves this ___________ with its host by absorbing and utilizing a protein the host produces when it is about to flower.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) synchronization
B) hibernation
C) prediction
D) moderation

Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of a relationship between the dodder plant and its host plant. As used in this context, “synchronization” means the act of things happening at the same time. The text indicates that the dodder and its host plant flower in unison and that this synchronization occurs because the dodder makes use of a protein produced by the host shortly before flowering.

Choice B is incorrect because referring to “hibernation,” or the state of being dormant or inactive, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on something the dodder plant actively engages in—making use of a protein and producing flowers.

Choice C is incorrect because stating that the dodder plant and its host engage together in “prediction,” or the act of declaring or indicating something in advance, wouldn’t make sense in context. Rather than indicating that the dodder plant and its host plant make a prediction about flowering activity, the text suggests that the host produces a protein as part of its regular flowering process and that the dodder then absorbs and uses that protein to flower at the same time.

Choice D is incorrect because referring to “moderation,” or the act of causing something to become less intense or extreme, wouldn’t make sense in context. Although the text states that the dodder plant absorbs and uses a protein made by its host plant, it doesn’t suggest that the dodder lessens the host plant’s flowering activity; the two plants simply flower in unison.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: Given that the conditions in binary star systems should make planetary formation nearly impossible, it’s not surprising that the existence of planets in such systems has lacked ________ explanation. Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee shed light on the subject when they used modeling to determine a complex set of factors that could support planets’ development.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) a discernible
B) a straightforward
C) an inconclusive
D) an unbiased

Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s description of efforts to explain the existence of planets in binary star systems. As used in this context, describing an explanation as “a straightforward” one would mean that the explanation is direct and uncomplicated. The text asserts that since it should be “nearly impossible” for planets to form in binary star systems, it’s “not surprising” that there isn’t a straightforward explanation for the existence of planets in such systems; the fact that one potential approach involves “complex” factors offers further contextual support for this idea.

Choice A is incorrect because it would not make sense in context to say that there isn’t “a discernible” explanation—meaning an explanation capable of being perceived—for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text discusses just such an explanation offered by Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee, which indicates that their explanation can be discerned.

Choice C is incorrect because the text emphasizes how difficult it is to explain the existence of planets in binary star systems, suggesting that the situation isn’t marked by the lack of “an inconclusive” explanation—an explanation that does not resolve the issue—but rather that if any explanations have been offered, they’ve likely been inconclusive ones.

Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that there is a lack of “an unbiased,” or impartial and unprejudiced, explanation for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text indicates that it’s difficult to explain the existence of planets in such systems and it describes one attempt to do so, but there is no evidence that explanations from Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee or others are biased.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: Some economic historians ___________ that late nineteenth-and early twentieth-century households in the United States experienced an economy of scale when it came to food purchases—they assumed that large households spent less on food per person than did small households. Economist Trevon Logan showed, however, that a close look at the available data disproves this supposition.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) surmised
B) contrived
C) questioned
D) regretted

Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century household food purchases. In this context, “surmised” means formed an idea or assumption with little evidence. The text explains that certain economic historians “assumed” that large and small households spent different amounts on food per person, but that another economist found this supposition to be false based on evidence from available data. This context suggests that the economic historians made an incorrect assumption without enough consideration of evidence.

Choice B is incorrect. In this context, “contrived” would mean brought about or created through trickery. Nothing in the text suggests that the economic historians were deliberately trying to trick people with a claim about food purchasing behaviors in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households; the text simply suggests that they made an assumption about those behaviors that another historian believes isn’t supported by the available data.

Choice C is incorrect because the text indicates that it’s Logan and not the economic historians who “questioned,” or doubted, the assumption that large and small households in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries spent different amounts on food per person; the economic historians are the ones who made that assumption to begin with.

Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that some economic historians “regretted,” or felt sad or remorseful about, the food purchasing behaviors of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households. The text focuses on the idea that the economic historians made an assumption about those behaviors that may not be supported by available data, not on the historians’ emotional response to what households did in the past.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: The work of Kiowa painter T.C. Cannon derives its power in part from the tension among his ___________ influences: classic European portraiture, with its realistic treatment of faces; the American pop art movement, with its vivid colors; and flatstyle, the intertribal painting style that rejects the effect of depth typically achieved through shading and perspective.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) complementary
B) unknown
C) disparate
D) interchangeable

Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the artistic styles that have influenced Cannon’s work. As used in this context, “disparate” means distinct or dissimilar. The text indicates that a tension exists among the styles that have influenced Cannon’s work and goes on to describe how those styles differ: classic European portraiture favors realism, American pop art uses vivid colors, and intertribal flatstyle rejects the use of shading and perspective to achieve depth. This context suggests that the styles that have influenced Cannon’s work are disparate.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that there is a tension among the influences on Cannon’s artwork, so it wouldn’t make sense to say that the influences are “complementary,” or that they complete one another or make up for one another’s deficiencies.

Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to characterize Cannon’s influences as “unknown,” or not familiar; it’s clear that the influences are known because the text goes on to list them.

Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that there is a tension among the influences on Cannon’s work, not that they are “interchangeable,” or capable of being used in one another’s place.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: New and interesting research conducted by Suleiman A. Al-Sweedan and Moath Alhaj is inspired by their observation that though there have been many studies of the effect of high altitude on blood chemistry, there is a _______________ studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level, such as the California towns of Salton City and Seeley.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) quarrel about
B) paucity of
C) profusion of
D) verisimilitude in

Choice B is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of studies of altitude’s effect on blood chemistry. In this context, “paucity of” means lack of. In describing the inspiration behind Al-Sweedan and Alhaj’s research, the text uses the word “though” to suggest a contrasting relationship between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. This contrasting relationship and the text’s use of the word “many” provide context suggesting that there are few, if any, examples of the second type of study, whereas there are numerous examples of the first type.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “quarrel about,” or open disagreement about, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. There’s nothing in the text to suggest that the contrast between the two types of studies involves the extent to which researchers broadly agree or disagree about the contents of either type.

Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “profusion of,” or great abundance of, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. Rather than logically completing this contrast, “profusion of” would indicate that the two types of studies are similar in terms of amount, with many examples existing of both types.

Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “verisimilitude in,” or appearance of truth in, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. There’s nothing in the text to suggest that the contrast between the two types of studies involves the extent to which either type of study presents an appearance of truth.

Skim the paragraph to find the most suitable word, and also work on your vocabulary skills.

Question: The following text is from Sarah Orne Jewett’s 1899 short story “Martha’s Lady.” Martha is employed by Miss Pyne as a maid.
Miss Pyne sat by the window watching, in her best dress, looking stately and calm; she seldom went out now, and it was almost time for the carriage. Martha was just coming in from the garden with the strawberries, and with more flowers in her apron. It was a bright cool evening in June, the golden robins sang in the elms, and the sun was going down behind the apple-trees at the foot of the garden. The beautiful old house stood wide open to the long-expected guest.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A) To convey the worries brought about by a new guest
B) To describe how the characters have changed over time
C) To contrast the activity indoors with the stillness outside
D) To depict the setting as the characters await a visitor’s arrival

Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately reflects the main purpose of the text. The text portrays Miss Pyne as awaiting the arrival of a carriage while Martha brings strawberries and flowers from the garden into the house. The text also describes the surroundings of the scene, stating that Miss Pyne looks “stately and calm,” the evening is bright and cool, and birds are singing in the garden as the sun sets. Then the last sentence states that the house was “wide open to the long-expected guest,” which strongly suggests that Miss Pyne’s anticipation and Martha’s activities were in preparation for the guest who is expected to arrive in the carriage. Thus, the text depicts the setting and conveys what these characters are doing as they await the arrival of their visitor.

Choice A is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that the characters feel any worry about the guest’s arrival. The text indicates that the guest was “long-expected,“ but characterizing Miss Pyne as “stately and calm” conflicts with the idea that the characters are worried about the guest.

Choice B is incorrect because the text describes a moment in time when two characters are awaiting the arrival of a visitor rather than an extended period over which characters could be seen changing.

Choice C is incorrect. Although the text describes the activity indoors (Miss Pyne sitting calmly), it describes a higher level of activity, not stillness, outside (Martha bringing fruit and flowers and birds singing).

A time-consuming question, don’t attempt it if you take time to resolve it. The lesser the rank a question has, the lower the mark it has.

Question: Astronomers are confident that the star Betelgeuse will eventually consume all the helium in its core and explode in a supernova. Start referenced content: They are much less confident, however, about when this will happen, since that depends on internal characteristics of Betelgeuse that are largely unknown. End referenced content. They are much less confident, however, about when this will happen, since that depends on internal characteristics of Betelgeuse largely unknown. Astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance and colleagues recently investigated whether acoustic waves in the star could be used to determine internal stellar states but concluded that this method could not sufficiently reveal Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics to allow its evolutionary state to be firmly fixed.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A) It explains how the work of Nance and colleagues was received by others in the field.
B) It presents the central finding reported by Nance and colleagues.
C) It identifies the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but did not.
D) It describes a serious limitation of the method used by Nance and colleagues.

Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the second sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first sentence establishes something astronomers believe with some certainty: that Betelgeuse will “explode in a supernova.” The second sentence then introduces a problem: astronomers aren’t certain when Betelgeuse will explode because they don’t have enough information about the star’s internal characteristics. Finally, the third sentence indicates that researcher Sarafina El-Badry Nance and colleagues investigated a possible method of obtaining the necessary information about Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics, though they found that the method wouldn’t be sufficient. Thus, the function of the second sentence is to identify the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but didn’t.

Choice A is incorrect because the second sentence doesn’t indicate how other astronomers or astrophysicists responded to the work done by Nance and colleagues; the text doesn’t address this information at all.

Choice B is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped to solve, not the central finding they ultimately reported. It’s the third sentence that presents Nance and colleagues’ conclusion that a potential method for determining internal stellar states would be insufficient.

Choice D is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped to solve, not a serious limitation of how they tried to solve it. It’s the third sentence that introduces Nance and colleagues, but no serious limitation of their approach to studying a method of determining internal stellar states is described.

Focus on the underlined sentence but also one sentence before and after of it.

Question: Researchers have long studied the behavior of honeybees, particularly their “waggle dance,” a movement that conveys information about the location of food. Recent studies suggest that honeybees can also communicate information about potential predators. For example, a bee might perform a shortened waggle dance when it detects danger, alerting other bees to avoid a particular area.
What does the passage primarily discuss?
A) The lifespan of honeybees
B) How honeybees communicate about food and danger
C) The effect of predators on honeybee populations
D) How honeybees defend themselves from predators

Choice B is the best answer because the passage focuses on how honeybees use their waggle dance to communicate both food locations and warnings about predators.

Choice A is incorrect because the passage doesn’t mention honeybee lifespans.

Choice C is incorrect because this isn’t the main focus, although predators are mentioned.

Choice D is incorrect because the passage talks about communication, not defense mechanisms.

Focus on the primary function or action being discussed in the passage to identify the main idea.

Question: “As we move forward, it is crucial that we not forget our responsibility to future generations. The choices we make today—regarding the environment, the economy, and our social systems—will shape the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. We must act with caution, foresight, and a sense of duty, knowing that our actions will have lasting consequences.”
What is the purpose of this passage?
A) To criticize past decisions
B) To outline specific policies
C) To warn of potential consequences
D) To encourage innovation in technology

Choice C is the best answer because the speaker emphasizes the lasting impact of decisions made today, which is a form of warning about the future consequences of current actions.

Choice A is incorrect because there is no criticism of past actions.

Choice B is incorrect because the passage focuses on general responsibilities, not policies.

Choice D is incorrect because the innovation in technology is not mentioned.

When identifying the purpose, consider the speaker’s tone and message, especially in terms of warnings or calls to action.

Question: The rain fell steadily outside, each drop tapping softly against the windowpane. Inside, the fire crackled warmly in the hearth, filling the room with a comforting heat. Clara sat curled up in the armchair, a book in her lap, though her mind was elsewhere. The letter in her pocket, unopened, weighed heavily on her thoughts.
What is the primary conflict in the passage?
A) The conflict between Clara and another character
B) Clara’s internal struggle with the letter
C) Clara’s discomfort due to the weather
D) The external conflict caused by the storm

Choice B is the best answer because Clara’s thoughts are preoccupied by the letter in her pocket, suggesting an internal conflict.

Choice A is incorrect because there is no other characters are mentioned.

Choice C is incorrect because the weather is described as calm, not something that causes discomfort.

Choice D is incorrect because there is no indication of a storm or any external conflict in the passage.

Focus on the emotional or psychological aspects of a character when considering internal conflicts.

Question: (1) Cities around the world are rapidly expanding, causing significant challenges for infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
(2) As more people move into urban areas, the demand for housing, transportation, and public services increases.
(3) Many governments is struggling to keep up with these demands, leading to overcrowded cities and strained resources.
In sentence 3, how should the verb “is” be corrected?
A) No change
B) are
C) were
D) have been

Choice B is the best answer because “Governments” is a plural subject, so it should be followed by the plural verb “are.”

Choice A is incorrect because “Is” is incorrect because it doesn’t agree with the plural subject.

Choice C is incorrect because this shifts the tense unnecessarily.

Choice D is incorrect because this would change the meaning by shifting to a present perfect tense, which isn’t needed.

Check for subject-verb agreement in sentences, particularly when plural subjects are involved. Learn Tenses.

Question: Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, which set sail in 1519, became the first to circumnavigate the globe. Although Magellan did not survive the journey, his crew completed the voyage in 1522.
(1) This expedition is remembered for its groundbreaking discovery, proving that the Earth was round.
(2) However, the concept of a spherical Earth had already been accepted by scholars for centuries before Magellan’s time.
Which choice most effectively combines sentences 1 and 2?
A) The expedition proved that the Earth was round, although scholars had accepted this concept centuries before Magellan’s time.
B) The groundbreaking discovery of the expedition was proving the Earth was round, but scholars knew about it long before Magellan’s voyage.
C) Although the expedition proved that the Earth was round, this concept had been accepted by scholars for centuries before Magellan’s time.
D) Scholars knew for centuries that the Earth was round, but Magellan’s expedition is still remembered for proving this discovery.

Choice C is the best answer because this option combines the two sentences clearly and effectively, maintaining logical flow and contrast.

Choice A is incorrect because this choice is less smooth and makes the discovery sound more significant than it actually was.

Choice B is incorrect because the phrase “knew about it” is less formal and makes the sentence sound awkward.

Choice D is incorrect because this option flips the sentence structure unnecessarily and doesn’t emphasize Magellan’s expedition properly.

When combining sentences, aim for clarity and logical flow. Consider how contrasting ideas should be connected.

Question: Certain species of octopuses have been observed using tools to solve complex problems, such as opening shells to retrieve food. These behaviors are particularly interesting because they suggest a level of intelligence previously thought to be unique to mammals and birds. By studying these octopuses, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how intelligence evolved in different species.
Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?
A) Problem and solution
B) Cause and effect
C) Comparison
D) Introduction of a concept followed by examples

Choice D is the best answer because the passage introduces the concept of octopus intelligence and then provides examples of their tool use.

Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not present a problem that needs solving.

Choice B is incorrect. While intelligence is discussed, it’s not in a cause-and-effect structure.

Choice C is incorrect because the passage does not compare two different things in detail.

Pay attention to the order of ideas in the passage. Introduction followed by specific examples is a common structure in scientific texts.

Question: (1) The city council plans to renovate several public parks, adding new playground equipment and creating more green spaces for community events.
(2) Local residents have expressed their support for these initiatives, noting that they will enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood
(3) Some residents is concerned about potential disruptions during the construction phase, but overall, the feedback has been positive.
In sentence 3, how should the verb “is” be corrected?
A) No change
B) are
C) were
D) have been

Choice B is the best answer because “Residents” is a plural subject, so the verb should be “are.”

Choice A is incorrect because “Is” does not agree with the plural subject.

Choice C is incorrect. This would incorrectly shift the sentence to the past tense.

Choice D is incorrect because this would unnecessarily shift to the present perfect tense.

Always check for subject-verb agreement, particularly with collective nouns like “residents.”

Question: Most conifers (trees belonging to the phylum Coniferophyta) are evergreen. That is, they keep their green leaves or needles year-round. However, not all conifer species are evergreen. Larch trees, ___________ lose their needles every fall.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) for instance,
B) nevertheless,
C) meanwhile,
D) in addition,

Choice A is the best answer. “For instance” logically signals that the information in this sentence—that larch trees lose their needles every fall—is an example supporting the claim in the previous sentence (that not all conifer species keep their leaves or needles year-round).

Choice B is incorrect because “nevertheless” illogically signals that the information in this sentence is true in spite of the claim about conifer species in the previous sentence. Instead, it’s an example supporting that claim.

Choice C is incorrect because “meanwhile” illogically signals that the information in this sentence is separate from (while occurring simultaneously with) the claim about conifer species in the previous sentence. Instead, it’s an example supporting that claim.

Choice D is incorrect because “in addition” illogically signals that the information in this sentence is merely an additional fact related to the claim about conifer species in the previous sentence. Instead, it’s an example supporting that claim.

Work on your vocabulary and skimming skills.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Sam Maloof (1916–2009) was an American woodworker and furniture designer.
• He was the son of Lebanese immigrants.
• He received a “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1985.
• The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, owns a rocking chair that Maloof made from walnut wood.
• The armrests and the seat of the chair are sleek and contoured, and the back consists of seven spindle-like slats.
The student wants to describe the rocking chair to an audience unfamiliar with Sam Maloof. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) With its sleek, contoured armrests and seat, the walnut rocking chair in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is just one piece of furniture created by American woodworker Sam Maloof.
B) Sam Maloof was born in 1916 and died in 2009, and during his life, he made a chair that you can see if you visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
C) Furniture designer Sam Maloof was a recipient of one of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “genius grants.”
D) The rocking chair is made from walnut, and it has been shaped such that its armrests and seat are sleek and contoured.

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence effectively describes the rocking chair to an audience unfamiliar with Sam Maloof, noting its sleek, contoured armrests and seat and explaining that Sam Maloof (the walnut chair’s creator) was an American woodworker.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence explains who Sam Maloof was and mentions a chair, it doesn’t describe the chair.

Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence explains who Sam Maloof was, it doesn’t describe the rocking chair.

Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence describes the rocking chair, it doesn’t explain who Sam Maloof was.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• In the late 1890s, over 14,000 unique varieties of apples were grown in the US.
• The rise of industrial agriculture in the mid-1900s narrowed the range of commercially grown crops.
• Thousands of apple varieties considered less suitable for commercial growth were lost.
• Today, only 15 apple varieties dominate the market, making up 90% of apples purchased in the US.
• The Lost Apple Project, based in Washington State, attempts to find and grow lost apple varieties.
The student wants to emphasize the decline in unique apple varieties in the US and specify why this decline occurred. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?
A) The Lost Apple Project is dedicated to finding some of the apple varieties lost following a shift in agricultural practices in the mid-1900s.
B) While over 14,000 apple varieties were grown in the US in the late 1890s, only 15 unique varieties make up most of the apples sold today.
C) Since the rise of industrial agriculture, US farmers have mainly grown the same few unique apple varieties, resulting in the loss of thousands of varieties less suitable for commercial growth.
D) As industrial agriculture rose to prominence in the mid-1900s, the number of crops selected for cultivation decreased dramatically.

Choice C is the best answer. The sentence emphasizes the decline in unique apple varieties in the US and specifies why this decline occurred, noting that thousands of apple varieties were lost because US farmers started mainly growing the same few unique varieties.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence introduces the Lost Apple Project; it doesn’t emphasize the decline in unique apple varieties in the US and specify why this decline occurred.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence emphasizes the decline in unique apple varieties in the US, it doesn’t explain why this decline occurred.

Choice D is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the general decline of crop varieties in the mid-1900s; it doesn’t emphasize the specific decline in unique apple varieties in the US.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Cecilia Vicuña is a multidisciplinary artist.
• In 1971, her first solo art exhibition, Pinturas, poemas y explicaciones, was shown at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago, Chile.
• Her poetry collection Precario/Precarious was published in 1983 by Tanam Press.
• Her poetry collection Instan was published in 2002 by Kelsey St. Press.
• She lives part time in Chile, where she was born, and part time in New York.
The student wants to introduce the artist’s 1983 poetry collection. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Before she published the books Precario/Precarious (1983) and Instan (2002), Cecilia Vicuña exhibited visual art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago, Chile.
B) Cecilia Vicuña is a true multidisciplinary artist whose works include numerous poetry collections and visual art exhibitions.
C) Published in 1983 by Tanam Press, Precario/Precarious is a collection of poetry by the multidisciplinary artist Cecilia Vicuña.
D) In 1971, Cecilia Vicuña exhibited her first solo art exhibition, Pinturas, poemas y explicaciones, in Chile, her country of birth.

Choice C is the best answer. The sentence effectively introduces the poetry collection Precario/Precarious, noting that it is a collection by Vicuña that was published in 1983 by Tanam Press.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the 1983 poetry collection Precario/Precarious, it focuses mainly on Vicuña’s visual art.

Choice B is incorrect. The sentence doesn’t introduce the 1983 poetry collection Precario/Precarious; instead, it introduces Vicuña.

Choice D is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the location of Vicuña’s 1971 exhibition Pinturas, poemas y explicaciones; it doesn’t introduce the 1983 poetry collection Precario/Precarious.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• When medical students mention their patients on social media, they may violate patient confidentiality.
• Terry Kind led a study to determine how many medical schools have student policies that mention social media use.
• Kind and her team reviewed 132 medical school websites, examining publicly available student policies.
• Only thirteen medical schools had guidelines that explicitly mention social media, and only five defined what constitutes acceptable social media use.
The student wants to emphasize the study’s methodology. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) The student policies of 132 medical schools can be found online, according to research by Terry Kind.
B) To find out how many medical schools have guidelines about student social media use, Terry Kind and her team examined the student policies of 132 medical schools.
C) Out of 132 medical schools, only thirteen had student policies that mentioned social media, and only five specified what use was acceptable.
D) Terry Kind and her team wanted to know how many medical schools have student social media policies in place about protecting patient confidentiality.

Choice B is the best answer. The sentence effectively emphasizes Kind’s methodology: examining the student policies of 132 medical schools for guidelines about student social media use.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence specifies how many medical schools’ student policies are available online; it doesn’t emphasize the study’s methodology.

Choice C is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the study’s results, not the study’s methodology.

Choice D is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the aim of the study, not the study’s methodology.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• The Gullah are a group of African Americans who have lived in parts of the southeastern United States since the 18th century.
• Gullah culture is influenced by West African and Central African traditions.
• Louise Miller Cohen is a Gullah historian, storyteller, and preservationist.
• She founded the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in 2003.
• Vermelle Rodrigues is a Gullah historian, artist, and preservationist.
• She founded the Gullah Museum of Georgetown, South Carolina, in 2003.
The student wants to emphasize the duration and purpose of Cohen’s and Rodrigues’s work. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) At the Gullah Museums in Hilton Head Island and Georgetown, South Carolina, visitors can learn more about the Gullah people who have lived in the region for centuries.
B) Louise Miller Cohen and Vermelle Rodrigues have worked to preserve the culture of the Gullah people, who have lived in the United States since the 18th century.
C) Since 2003, Louise Miller Cohen and Vermelle Rodrigues have worked to preserve Gullah culture through their museums.
D) Influenced by the traditions of West and Central Africa, Gullah culture developed in parts of the southeastern United States in the 18th century.

Choice C is the best answer. The sentence emphasizes both the duration (the length of time) and the purpose of Cohen’s and Rodrigues’s work by noting that the women have been working since 2003 to preserve Gullah culture.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence emphasizes what visitors to Cohen’s and Rodrigues’s museums can learn, it doesn’t mention the duration or purpose of the women’s work.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence emphasizes the purpose of Cohen’s and Rodrigues’s work, it doesn’t mention the duration of that work (the length of time the women have been working to preserve Gullah culture).

Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence emphasizes where and when Gullah culture developed, it doesn’t mention the duration or purpose of Cohen’s and Rodrigues’s work.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• In North America, woodlands have expanded into areas that were once grasslands.
• Thomas Rogers and F. Leland Russell of Wichita State University investigated whether woodland expansion is related to changes in climate.
• Rogers and Russell analyzed core samples from oak trees on a site that was not wooded in the past and indexed the age of the trees with historical climate data to see if tree populations and climate were correlated.
• Tree population growth was associated with dry intervals.
• Droughts may have played a role in woodland expansion.
The student wants to emphasize the aim of the research study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Thomas Rogers and F. Leland Russell, researchers at Wichita State University, wanted to know if woodland expansion is related to changes in climate.
B) Thanks to the work done by Thomas Rogers and F. Leland Russell, we now know that droughts may have played a role in woodland expansion.
C) Wichita State University researchers have determined that tree population growth was associated with dry intervals.
D) Thomas Rogers and F. Leland Russell analyzed core samples from oak trees on a site that was not wooded in the past, indexing the age of the trees with historical climate data.

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence effectively emphasizes the aim, or goal, of the research study (in other words, what the researchers hoped to learn from the study): Rogers and Russell wanted to know if woodland expansion is related to changes in climate.

Choice B is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the researchers’ findings; it doesn’t emphasize the aim of the study.

Choice C is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the results of the study; it doesn’t emphasize the aim.

Choice D is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes the methodology of the study; it doesn’t emphasize the aim.

Work on your skimming and summarising skills to blend sentences into one.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• In 1859, the novel Adam Bede was published in England.
• According to the novel’s title page, the author’s name was George Eliot.
• George Eliot was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.
• A pseudonym is a fake name used to conceal an author’s identity.
• A woman named Mary Ann Evans later revealed herself as the novel’s real author.
The student wants to identify the real author of Adam Bede. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) The real author of Adam Bede was Mary Ann Evans, who published the novel using the pseudonym George Eliot.
B) George Eliot, which Adam Bede’s title page indicated was the name of the novel’s author, was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.
C) The title page of the novel Adam Bede indicated that the author’s name was George Eliot.
D) A woman who had used a pseudonym to conceal her identity later revealed herself as the real author of Adam Bede.

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence identifies the novel’s real author, explaining that Mary Ann Evans published the novel under the pseudonym of George Eliot.

Choice B is incorrect. The sentence explains that George Eliot was assumed to be a pseudonym; it doesn’t identify the novel’s real author.

Choice C is incorrect. The sentence specifies the pseudonym used on the novel’s title page; it doesn’t identify the novel’s real author.

Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence indicates that the novel’s real author used a pseudonym, it doesn’t identify that author as Mary Ann Evans.

These types of questions can only be solved when you read and understand them and then remember the data to create information. It requires a lot of practice.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Scientists have developed a “freeze-thaw” battery that can retain 92% of its charge after twelve weeks.
• The battery contains molten salt (a type of salt that liquifies when heated and solidifies at room temperature).
• When the salt is in a liquid state, energy flows through the battery.
• When the salt is in a solid state, energy stops flowing and is stored in the battery.
• The stored (frozen) energy can be used by reheating (thawing) the battery.
The student wants to specify how the salt enables energy storage. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Scientists have developed a freeze-thaw battery that contains molten salt, which liquifies when heated and solidifies at room temperature.
B) The stored energy in a freeze-thaw battery, which contains molten salt, can be used by reheating the battery.
C) When the molten salt in a freeze-thaw battery solidifies at room temperature, energy stops flowing and can be stored in the battery.
D) Molten salt allows a freeze-thaw battery to retain 92% of its charge after twelve weeks.

Choice C is the best answer. The sentence specifies how the salt in a freeze-thaw battery enables energy storage, explaining that energy stops flowing and can be stored when the salt solidifies at room temperature.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence explains some properties of molten salt; it doesn’t specify how that salt enables energy storage.

Choice B is incorrect. The sentence indicates how the energy in a freeze-thaw battery can be released; it doesn’t specify how the salt in the battery enables energy storage.

Choice D is incorrect. The sentence specifies how much charge the freeze-thaw battery retains when storing energy; it doesn’t specify how the salt in the battery enables energy storage.

These types of questions can only be solved when you read and understand them and then remember the data to create information. It requires a lot of practice.

Question: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) keeps a list of all at-risk species.
• Species on the list are classified as either endangered or threatened.
• A species that is in danger of extinction throughout most or all of its range is classified as endangered.
• A species that is likely to soon become endangered is classified as threatened.
• The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) is likely to soon become endangered, according to the FWS.
The student wants to indicate the California red-legged frog’s FWS classification category. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Species on the FWS list, which includes the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), are classified as either endangered or threatened.
B) The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) appears on the FWS list of at-risk species.
C) According to the FWS, the California red-legged frog is in the endangered category, in danger of extinction throughout most or all of its range.
D) Likely to soon become endangered, the California red-legged frog is classified as threatened by the FWS.

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence effectively indicates the California red-legged frog’s FWS classification category, noting that the FWS classifies the frog as threatened, a classification given to species that are likely to soon become endangered.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence specifies the classification categories of the FWS list; doesn’t indicate the classification category of California red-legged frog.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence does note that the California red-legged frog is among the species classified by the FWS, it doesn’t indicate what classification category the California red-legged frog occupies.

Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence does appear to indicate that California red-legged frog’s FWS classification category, the sentence is factually incorrect and therefore ineffective; the frog’s classification category is threatened, not endangered.

These types of questions can only be solved when you read and understand them and then remember the data to create information. It requires a lot of practice.