SAT — Scholastic Assessment Test (Digital SAT)

SAT Reading and Writing — Conventions and Expression of Ideas, Set 2

Take the SAT Reading and Writing — Conventions and Expression of Ideas, Set 2: 20 multiple-choice questions (30 minutes) with instant scoring and a full…

What this test covers

20 SAT Reading and Writing

Sample questions with answers

The first 5 questions of this test, with the correct answer and explanation.

Q1. Neither the manager nor the employees ______ aware of the schedule change. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. has been
- B. is
- C. was
- D. were ✓
Answer: D. were
Explanation: With "neither … nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "employees" (plural).
Q2. The list of approved books ______ been updated for this term. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. has ✓
- B. were
- C. are
- D. have
Answer: A. has
Explanation: The subject is "list" (singular).
Q3. Mount Everest, the highest mountain on ______ is on the border of Nepal and China. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. Earth, ✓
- B. Earth;
- C. Earth:
- D. Earth
Answer: A. Earth,
Explanation: The phrase "the highest mountain on Earth" is set off by a pair of commas.
Q4. My only ______ lives in Karachi, is a doctor. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. brother, whom
- B. brother who
- C. brother, who ✓
- D. brother; who
Answer: C. brother, who
Explanation: With only one brother, the clause adds extra information and needs commas on both sides; "who" is the subject of "lives".
Q5. To ______ should I address the letter? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. who
- B. who's
- C. whose
- D. whom ✓
Answer: D. whom
Explanation: After the preposition "to", the object form "whom" is needed.

The other 15 questions

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Q6. Of the two proposals, the second is clearly the ______. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. most good
- B. better
- C. more better
- D. best
Q7. She has ______ the report three times this week. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. wrote
- B. written
- C. writed
- D. writing
Q8. The students left ______ bags in the hall. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. there
- B. their
- C. their's
- D. they're
Q9. The test was ______ most students passed. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. difficult; however,
- B. difficult however
- C. difficult, however,
- D. difficult however,
Q10. The ______ playground was rebuilt last year. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. children's
- B. childrens'
- C. childrens
- D. children'
Q11. The award was presented to Sana and ______. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. myself
- B. mine
- C. I
- D. me
Q12. Every morning, Bilal walks to the station and ______ the 7:15 train. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. will catch
- B. catches
- C. catching
- D. caught
Q13. The power went ______ lit candles. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. out so, we
- B. out, we
- C. out, so we
- D. out we
Q14. The bridge was closed for repairs. ______ drivers had to take a longer route. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
- A. Consequently,
- B. For example,
- C. However,
- D. Similarly,
Q15. At first, the scientists thought the signal came from a distant galaxy. ______ they discovered that it came from a microwave oven in the building. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
- A. In addition,
- B. For instance,
- C. Later,
- D. Similarly,
Q16. The region's climate is extreme. ______ summer temperatures can rise above 50°C. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
- A. In contrast,
- B. Instead,
- C. Nevertheless,
- D. In fact,
Q17. A student has taken these notes: • K2 is the world's second-highest mountain, at 8,611 m. • It stands on the border between Pakistan and China. • Climbers call it the "Savage Mountain." The student wants to introduce K2 to readers who have never heard of it, emphasising where it is. Which choice best uses the notes?
- A. K2 is 8,611 m high.
- B. Many mountains are very high.
- C. K2, the world's second-highest mountain at 8,611 m, stands on the border between Pakistan and China.
- D. Climbers call K2 the "Savage Mountain."
Q18. Due to the fact that it was raining, the match was postponed. Which revision is the most concise while keeping the meaning?
- A. Owing to the fact that it was a rainy day with rain, the match was postponed.
- B. Due to the fact of the rain falling, the match was postponed.
- C. The match was postponed due to the fact that there was rain.
- D. Because it was raining, the match was postponed.
Q19. Both ______ owners were invited to the merger meeting. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. companies
- B. companies'
- C. company's
- D. companys'
Q20. The emergency kit ______ map, a compass and a torch. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. includes; a
- B. includes: a
- C. includes a
- D. includes, a