READING AND WRITING

O Pioneers! is a 1913 novel by Willa Cather. In the novel, Cather portrays Alexandra Bergson as having a deep emotional connection to her natural surroundings: _______ Which quotation from O Pioneers! most effectively illustrates the claim? A) "She had never known before how much the country meant to her. The chirping of the insects down in the long grass had been like the sweetest music. She had felt as if her heart were hiding down there, somewhere, with the quail and the plover and all the little wild things that crooned or buzzed in the sun. Under the long shaggy ridges, she felt the future stirring." B) "Alexandra talked to the men about their crops and to the women about their poultry. She spent a whole day with one young farmer who had been away at school, and who was experimenting with a new kind of clover hay. She learned a great deal." C) "Alexandra drove off alone. The rattle of her wagon was lost in the howling of the wind, but her lantern, held firmly between her feet, made a moving point of light along the highway, going deeper and deeper into the dark country." D) "It was Alexandra who read the papers and followed the markets, and who learned by the mistakes of their neighbors. It was Alexandra who could always tell about what it had cost to fatten each steer, and who could guess the weight of a hog before it went on the scales closer than John Bergson [her father] himself."

A) "She had never known before how much the country meant to her. The chirping of the insects down in the long grass had been like the sweetest music. She had felt as if her heart were hiding down there, somewhere, with the quail and the plover and all the little wild things that crooned or buzzed in the sun. Under the long shaggy ridges, she felt the future stirring." (This quotation states that the country meant a great deal to Alexandra and then goes on to detail several ways in which her natural surroundings affect her emotionally: the insects sound like "the sweetest music," she feels as though "her heart were hiding" in the grass "with the quail and the plover," and near the ridges she feels "the future stirring.")

"To You" is an 1856 poem by Walt Whitman. In the poem, Whitman suggests that readers, whom he addresses directly, have not fully understood themselves, writing, _______ Which quotation from "To You" most effectively illustrates the claim? A) "You have not known what you are, you have slumber'd upon yourself / all your life, / Your eyelids have been the same as closed most of the time." B) "These immense meadows, these interminable rivers, you are immense / and interminable as they." C) "I should have made my way straight to you long ago, / I should have blabb'd nothing but you, I should have chanted nothing / but you." D) "I will leave all and come and make the hymns of you, / None has understood you, but I understand you."

A) "You have not known what you are, you have slumber'd upon yourself / all your life, / Your eyelids have been the same as closed most of the time."

Year -1800-1900-1950-2012 Agriculture in France -64-43-32-2 Manufacturing in France -22-29-33-21 Services in France -14-28-35-76 Agriculture in US -68-41-14-2 Manufacturing in US -18-28-33-18 Services in US -13-31-53-80 Rows in table may not add up to 100 due to rounding. Over the past two hundred years, the percentage of the population employed in the agricultural sector has declined in both France and the United States, while employment in the service sector (which includes jobs in retail, consulting, real estate, etc.) has risen. However, this transition happened at very different rates in the two countries. This can be seen most clearly by comparing the employment by sector in both countries in _______ Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the statement? A) 1900 with the employment by sector in 1950. B) 1800 with the employment by sector in 2012. C) 1900 with the employment by sector in 2012. D) 1800 with the employment by sector in 1900.

A) 1900 with the employment by sector in 1950 (The text states that over the last two hundred years employment in the agricultural sector has declined while employment in the service sector has risen in both France and the US, and the data from the table reflect these trends. The text asserts, however, that the transition from agriculture to services "happened at very different rates in the two countries." This assertion is best supported by a comparison of data from 1900 and 1950: the table shows that in those years, employment in agriculture went from 43% to 32% in France (a decline of 11 percentage points) and from 41% to 14% in the US (a decline of 27 percentage points), and that employment in services went from 28% to 35% in France (an increase of 7 percentage points) and from 31% to 53% in the US (an increase of 22 percentage points). In other words, the rate of change was greater in the US than in France for both sectors.)

Born in 1891 to a Quechua-speaking family in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Martín Chambi is today considered to be one of the most renowned figures of Latin American photography. In a paper for an art history class, a student claims that Chambi's photographs have considerable ethnographic value—in his work, Chambi was able to capture diverse elements of Peruvian society, representing his subjects with both dignity and authenticity. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the student's claim? A) Chambi took many commissioned portraits of wealthy Peruvians, but he also produced hundreds of images carefully documenting the peoples, sites, and customs of Indigenous communities of the Andes. B) Chambi's photographs demonstrate a high level of technical skill, as seen in his strategic use of illumination to create dramatic light and shadow contrasts. C) During his lifetime, Chambi was known and celebrated both within and outside his native Peru, as his work was published in places like Argentina, Spain, and Mexico. D) Some of the peoples and places Chambi photographed had long been popular subjects for Peruvian photographers.

A) Chambi took many commissioned portraits of wealthy Peruvians, but he also produced hundreds of images carefully documenting the peoples, sites, and customs of Indigenous communities of the Andes. (The text describes a student advancing the claim that Chambi's photographs "have considerable ethnographic value"—meaning that they are valuable as records of cultures—and that they "capture diverse elements of Peruvian society" in a respectful way. If it's true that Chambi carefully photographed people from a range of different communities in Peru as well as photographed the customs and sites of different communities, that would lend support to the claim that the photographs have ethnographic value as depictions of diverse elements of society in Peru. Choice B is incorrect because the student's claim is that Chamb)

In 1453, English King Henry VI became unfit to rule after falling gravely ill. As a result, Parliament appointed Richard, Third Duke of York, who had a strong claim to the English throne, to rule as Lord Protector. Upon recovering two years later, _______ forcing an angered Richard from the royal court and precipitating a series of battles later known as the Wars of the Roses. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) Henry resumed his reign, B) the reign of Henry resumed, C) Henry's reign resumed, D) it was Henry who resumed his reign,

A) Henry resumed his reign, (The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice ensures that the introductory phrase "upon recovering two years later" appears immediately before the noun it modifies ("Henry"), clearly establishing that Henry recovered two years later)

Psychologists Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt have argued that experiencing awe—a sensation of reverence and wonder typically brought on by perceiving something grand or powerful—can enable us to feel more connected to others and thereby inspire us to act more altruistically. Keltner, along with Paul K. Piff, Pia Dietze, and colleagues, claims to have found evidence for this effect in a recent study where participants were asked to either gaze up at exceptionally tall trees in a nearby grove (reported to be a universally awe-inspiring experience) or stare at the exterior of a nearby, nondescript building. After one minute, an experimenter deliberately spilled a box of pens nearby. Which finding from the researchers' study, if true, would most strongly support their claim? A) Participants who had been looking at the trees helped the experimenter pick up significantly more pens than did participants who had been looking at the building. B) Participants who helped the experimenter pick up the pens used a greater number of positive words to describe the trees and the building in a postexperiment survey than did participants who did not help the experimenter. C) Participants who did not help the experimenter pick up the pens were significantly more likely to report having experienced a feeling of awe, regardless of whether they looked at the building or the trees. D) Participants who had been looking at the building were significantly more likely to notice that the experimenter had dropped the pens than were participants who had been looking at the trees.

A) Participants who had been looking at the trees helped the experimenter pick up significantly more pens than did participants who had been looking at the building. (According to the text, the researchers tested for this effect by first having participants look at either something known to be awe-inspiring (very tall trees) or something ordinary (a plain building) and then purposely spilling pens near the participants. The finding that participants who had looked at the trees helped pick up significantly more pens than did participants who had looked at the building would support the researchers' claim by demonstrating that the people who had experienced awe behaved more altruistically when the experimenter needed help than the other participants did.)

In November 1934, Amrita Sher-Gil was living in what must have seemed like the ideal city for a young artist: Paris. She was studying firsthand the color-saturated style of France's modernist masters and beginning to make a name for herself as a painter. _______ Sher-Gil longed to return to her childhood home of India; only there, she believed, could her art truly flourish. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) Still, B) Therefore, C) Indeed, D) Furthermore,

A) Still, (r. "Still" logically signals that the information about Sher-Gil in this sentence— that she longed to leave Paris and return to India— contrasts with what one would expect after reading about Sher-Gil's experiences in Paris in the previous sentences.)

I went on with my day's business tranquilly; but ever and anon vague suggestions kept wandering across my brain of reasons why I should quit Thornfield; and I kept involuntarily framing advertisements and pondering conjectures about new situations: these thoughts I did not think to check; they might germinate and bear fruit if they could. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A) To convey a contrast between Jane's outward calmness and internal restlessness B) To emphasize Jane's loyalty to the people she works for at Thornfield Hall C) To demonstrate that Jane finds her situation both challenging and deeply fulfilling D) To describe Jane's determination to secure employment outside of Thornfield Hall

A) To convey a contrast between Jane's outward calmness and internal restlessness (At the start of the text, Jane says, "I went on with my day's business tranquilly," indicating that she is outwardly calm. This outward calmness is then contrasted with her intense internal restlessness, as Jane says that thoughts of leaving her job keep running through her mind, that she is "involuntarily framing advertisements" (meaning that she can't stop herself from thinking up potential listings for jobs), and that she often wonders what new "situations" (or jobs) would be like.)

In 2007, computer scientist Luis von Ahn was working on converting printed books into a digital format. He found that some words were distorted enough that digital scanners couldn't recognize them, but most humans could easily read them. Based on that finding, von Ahn invented a simple security test to keep automated "bots" out of websites. The first version of the reCAPTCHA test asked users to type one known word and one of the many words scanners couldn't recognize. Correct answers proved the users were humans and added data to the book-digitizing project. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A) To discuss von Ahn's invention of reCAPTCHA B) To explain how digital scanners work C) To call attention to von Ahn's book-digitizing project D) To indicate how popular reCAPTCHA is

A) To discuss von Ahn's invention of reCAPTCHA (After providing a brief introduction to computer scientist Luis von Ahn, the text focuses on discussing how von Ahn's digitization work led to the invention of a digital security test known as reCAPTCHA.)

The following text is from Maggie Pogue Johnson's 1910 poem "Poet of Our Race." In this poem, the speaker is addressing Paul Laurence Dunbar, a Black author. Thou, with stroke of mighty pen, Hast told of joy and mirth, And read the hearts and souls of men As cradled from their birth. The language of the flowers, Thou hast read them all, And e'en the little brook Responded to thy call. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A) To praise a certain writer for being especially perceptive regarding people and nature B) To establish that a certain writer has read extensively about a variety of topics C) To call attention to a certain writer's careful and elaborately detailed writing process D) To recount fond memories of an afternoon spent in nature with a certain writer

A) To praise a certain writer for being especially perceptive regarding people and nature (t. In the first part of the text, the speaker addresses Paul Laurence Dunbar's ability to understand people (he has "read the hearts and souls of men" and written of their "joy and mirth"). In the second part of the text, the speaker describes Dunbar's thorough understanding of the natural world (he has read "the language of the flowers" and engaged with "the little brook"). Thus, the text mainly praises Dunbar for being especially perceptive about people and nature)

The classic children's board game Chutes and Ladders is a version of an ancient Nepalese game, Paramapada Sopanapata. In both games, players encounter "good" or "bad" spaces while traveling along a path; landing on one of the good spaces _______ a player to skip ahead and arrive closer to the end goal. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) allows B) are allowing C) have allowed D) allow

A) allows (The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "allows" agrees in number with the singular subject "landing.")

In 1943, in the midst of World War II, mathematics professor Grace Hopper was recruited by the US military to help the war effort by solving complex equations. Hopper's subsequent career would involve more than just _______ as a pioneering computer programmer, Hopper would help usher in the digital age. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) equations, though: B) equations, though, C) equations. Though, D) equations though

A) equations, though: (The convention being tested is the use of punctuation to mark boundaries between supplements and clauses. The comma after "equations" is used to separate the independent clause ("Hopper's... equation") from the supplementary adverb phrase "though." The colon after "though" is used to mark the boundary between the clause ending with "though" and the following clause ("as...age"). A colon used in this way introduces information that illustrates or explains information that has come before it. In this case, the colon after "though" introduces the following explanation of how Hopper's subsequent career would involve more than just solving equations: she would become a pioneering computer programmer)

Researchers studying magnetosensation have determined why some soil-dwelling roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere move in the opposite direction of Earth's magnetic field when searching for _______ in the Northern Hemisphere, the magnetic field points down, into the ground, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it points up, toward the surface and away from worms' food sources. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) food: B) food, C) food while D) food

A) food: (The convention being tested is colon use within a sentence. A colon used in this way introduces information that illustrates or explains information that has come before it. In this case, the colon introduces the following explanation of why some roundworms in the Southern Hemisphere move in the opposite direction of Earth's magnetic field)

Researchers have struggled to pinpoint specific causes for hiccups, which happen when a person's diaphragm contracts _______ . However, neuroscientist Kimberley Whitehead has found that these uncontrollable contractions may play an important role in helping infants regulate their breathing. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) involuntarily B) beneficially C) strenuously D) smoothly

A) involuntarily (Def: done without any control, or by reflex)

Although military veterans make up a small proportion of the total population of the United States, they occupy a significantly higher proportion of the jobs in the civilian government. One possible explanation for this disproportionate representation is that military service familiarizes people with certain organizational structures that are also reflected in the civilian government bureaucracy, and this familiarity thus _______ Which choice most logically completes the text? A) makes civilian government jobs especially appealing to military veterans. B) alters the typical relationship between military service and subsequent career preferences. C) encourages nonveterans applying for civilian government jobs to consider military service instead. D) increases the number of civilian government jobs that require some amount of military experience to perform.

A) makes civilian government jobs especially appealing to military veterans. (The text indicates that the proportion of military veterans working in civilian government jobs is considerably higher than the proportion of military veterans in the population as a whole. The text also notes that the unusually high representation of military veterans in these jobs may be a result of the organizational structures shared by civilian government entities and the military. Hence, it's reasonable to infer that it's the familiarity of the structures of civilian government that makes jobs there particularly attractive to military veterans.)

Seminole/Muscogee director Sterlin Harjo _______ television's tendency to situate Native characters in the distant past: this rejection is evident in his series Reservation Dogs, which revolves around teenagers who dress in contemporary styles and whose dialogue is laced with current slang. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) repudiates B) proclaims C) foretells D) recants

A) repudiates (Def: rejects or refuses to have anything to do with.)

In ancient Greece, an Epicurean was a follower of Epicurus, a philosopher whose beliefs revolved around the pursuit of pleasure. Epicurus defined pleasure as "the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the _______ that all life's virtues derived from this absence. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) soul," positing B) soul": positing C) soul"; positing D) soul." Positing

A) soul," positing ( The convention being tested is punctuation use between a main clause and a participial phrase. This choice correctly uses a comma to mark the boundary between the main clause ("Epicurus...'soul'") and the participial phrase ("positing...absence") that provides additional information about how Epicurus defined pleasure.)

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

A) synchronizatio (Def: the act of things happening at the same time)

Public-awareness campaigns about the need to reduce single-use plastics can be successful, says researcher Kim Borg of Monash University in Australia, when these campaigns give consumers a choice: for example, Japan achieved a 40 percent reduction in plastic-bag use after cashiers were instructed to ask customers whether _______ wanted a bag. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) they B) one C) you D) it

A) they (The convention being tested is pronoun-antecedent agreement. The plural pronoun "they" agrees in number with the plural antecedent "customers.")

Text 1 Most animals can regenerate some parts of their bodies, such as skin. But when a three-banded panther worm is cut into three pieces, each piece grows into a new worm. Researchers are investigating this feat partly to learn more about humans' comparatively limited abilities to regenerate, and they're making exciting progress. An especially promising discovery is that both humans and panther worms have a gene for early growth response (EGR) linked to regeneration. Text 2 When Mansi Srivastava and her team reported that panther worms, like humans, possess a gene for EGR, it caused excitement. However, as the team pointed out, the gene likely functions very differently in humans than it does in panther worms. Srivastava has likened EGR to a switch that activates other genes involved in regeneration in panther worms, but how this switch operates in humans remains unclear. Based on the texts, what would the author of Text 2 most likely say about Text 1's characterization of the discovery involving EGR? A) It is reasonable given that Srivastava and her team have identified how EGR functions in both humans and panther worms. B) It is overly optimistic given additional observations from Srivastava and her team. C) It is unexpected given that Srivastava and her team's findings were generally met with enthusiasm. D) It is unfairly dismissive given the progress that Srivastava and her team have reported.

B) It is overly optimistic given additional observations from Srivastava and her team (Text 1 discusses the discovery of a regeneration-linked gene, EGR, in both threebanded panther worms (which are capable of full regeneration) and humans (who have relatively limited regeneration abilities). Text 1 characterizes this discovery as "especially promising" and a sign of "exciting progress" in understanding human regeneration. The author of Text 2, on the other hand, focuses on the fact that the team that reported the EGR finding pointed out that while EGR's function in humans isn't yet known, it's likely very different from its function in panther worms. Therefore, the author of Text 2 would most likely say that Text 1's enthusiasm about the EGR discovery is overly optimistic given Srivastava's team's observations about EGR in humans.)

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: • Jon Ching is a Los Angeles-based painter. • He uses the term "flauna" to describe the plantanimal hybrids that he depicts in his surreal paintings. • "Flauna" is a combination of the words "flora" and "fauna." • His painting Nectar depicts a parrot with leaves for feathers. • His painting Primaveral depicts a snow leopard whose fur sprouts flowers. The student wants to provide an explanation and example of "flauna." Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A) The term "flauna," used by Los Angeles-based painter Jon Ching, is a combination of the words "flora" and "fauna." B) Jon Ching uses the term "flauna," a combination of the words "flora" and "fauna," to describe the subjects of his surreal paintings: plant-animal hybrids such as a parrot with leaves for feathers. C) Jon Ching, who created Nectar, refers to the subjects of his paintings as "flauna." D) The subjects of Nectar and Primaveral are types of "flauna," a term that the paintings' creator, Jon Ching, uses when describing his surreal artworks.

B) Jon Ching uses the term "flauna," a combination of the words "flora" and "fauna," to describe the subjects of his surreal paintings: plant-animal hybrids such as a parrot with leaves for feathers. (The sentence explains that flauna, a combination of the words "flora" and "fauna," is a term used by Jon Ching to describe the plant-animal hybrids in his paintings. The sentence also mentions an example of Ching's flauna: a parrot with leaves for feathers)

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: • The Seikan Tunnel is a rail tunnel in Japan. • It connects the island of Honshu to the island of Hokkaido. • It is roughly 33 miles long. • The Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel in Europe. • It connects Folkestone, England, to Coquelles, France. • It is about 31 miles long. The student wants to compare the lengths of the two rail tunnels. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A) Some of the world's rail tunnels, including one tunnel that extends from Folkestone, England, to Coquelles, France, are longer than 30 miles. B) The Seikan Tunnel is roughly 33 miles long, while the slightly shorter Channel Tunnel is about 31 miles long. C) The Seikan Tunnel, which is roughly 33 miles long, connects the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. D) Both the Seikan Tunnel, which is located in Japan, and the Channel Tunnel, which is located in Europe, are examples of rail tunnels.

B) The Seikan Tunnel is roughly 33 miles long, while the slightly shorter Channel Tunnel is about 31 miles long. (The sentence compares the lengths of the two rail tunnels, noting that the Channel Tunnel (about 31 miles long) is slightly shorter than the Seikan Tunnel (roughly 33 miles long).)

Serbian (Language) 7.2 (Rate of speech) 39.1 (Rate of information conveyed) Spanish (Language) 7.7 (Rate of speech) 42.0 (Rate of information conveyed) Vietnamese (Language) 5.3 (Rate of speech) 42.5 (Rate of info. conveyed) Thai (Language)4.7 (Rate of speech) 33.8 (Rate of information conveyed) Hungarian (Language) 5.9 (Rate of speech) 34.6 (Rate of info. conveyed) A group of researchers working in Europe, Asia, and Oceania conducted a study to determine how quickly different Eurasian languages are typically spoken (in syllables per second) and how much information they can effectively convey (in bits per second). They found that, although languages vary widely in the speed at which they are spoken, the amount of information languages can effectively convey tends to vary much less. Thus, they claim that two languages with very different spoken rates can nonetheless convey the same amount of information in a given amount of time. Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers' claim? A) Among the five languages in the table, Thai and Hungarian have the lowest rates of speech and the lowest rates of information conveyed. B) Vietnamese conveys information at approximately the same rate as Spanish despite being spoken at a slower rate. C) Among the five languages in the table, the language that is spoken the fastest is also the language that conveys information the fastest. D) Serbian and Spanish are spoken at approximately the same rate, but Serbian conveys information faster than Spanish does.

B) Vietnamese conveys information at approximately the same rate as Spanish despite being spoken at a slower rate. (The table shows the approximate rates at which five languages are spoken and the rates at which those five languages convey information. Vietnamese is spoken at around 5.3 syllables per second, 24 whereas Spanish is spoken at around 7.7 syllables per second, but the two languages convey information at very similar rates: Vietnamese at a rate of around 42.5 bits per second and Spanish at a rate of around 42.0 bits per second. Thus, the description of Vietnamese conveying information at around the same rate that Spanish does despite being spoken more slowly supports the claim in the text that languages can convey the same amount of information even if spoken at different rates.)

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

B) a straightforward (Def: the explanation is direct and uncomplicated)

In 1637, the price of tulips skyrocketed in Amsterdam, with single bulbs of rare varieties selling for up to the equivalent of $200,000 in today's US dollars. Some historians _______ that this "tulip mania" was the first historical instance of an asset bubble, which occurs when investors drive prices to highs not supported by actual demand. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) claiming B) claim C) having claimed D) to claim

B) claim ( The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. A main clause requires a finite verb to perform the action of the subject (in this case, "some historians"), and this choice supplies the finite present tense verb "claim" to indicate what some historians do)

In order to prevent nonnative fish species from moving freely between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, marine biologist Bella Galil has proposed that a saline lock system be installed along the Suez Canal in Egypt's Great Bitter Lakes. The lock would increase the salinity of the lakes and _______ a natural barrier of water most marine creatures would be unable to cross. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) creates B) create C) creating D) created

B) create (The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. The modal "would," which indicates the future from a perspective in the past, should be accompanied by a nonfinite base form verb. In this choice, the nonfinite base form verb "create" is used correctly in conjunction with the nonfinite base form verb "increase" to describe what the lock would do.)

In documents called judicial opinions, judges explain the reasoning behind their legal rulings, and in those explanations they sometimes cite and discuss historical and contemporary philosophers. Legal scholar and philosopher Anita L. Allen argues that while judges are naturally inclined to mention philosophers whose views align with their own positions, the strongest judicial opinions consider and rebut potential objections; discussing philosophers whose views conflict with judges' views could therefore _______ Which choice most logically completes the text? A) allow judges to craft judicial opinions without needing to consult philosophical works. B) help judges improve the arguments they put forward in their judicial opinions. C) make judicial opinions more comprehensible to readers without legal or philosophical training. D) bring judicial opinions in line with views that are broadly held among philosophers.

B) help judges improve the arguments they put forward in their judicial opinions (The text indicates that judges sometimes cite philosophers when writing their judicial opinions and that, according to Allen, judges tend to cite philosophers whose views are in agreement with those of the judges themselves. Allen claims, however, that the best judicial opinions consider potential objections and rebut them, which suggests that judges may be able to strengthen their opinions by including discussions of philosophers with views contrary to their own)

In studying the use of external stimuli to reduce the itching sensation caused by an allergic histamine response, Louise Ward and colleagues found that while harmless applications of vibration or warming can provide a temporary distraction, such _______ stimuli actually offer less relief than a stimulus that seems less benign, like a mild electric shock. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) deceptive B) innocuous C) novel D) impractical

B) innocuous (Def: mild or unharmful)

For painter Jacob Lawrence, being _______ was an important part of the artistic process. Because he paid close attention to all the details of his Harlem neighborhood, Lawrence's artwork captured nuances in the beauty and vitality of the Black experience during the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) skeptical B) observant C) critical D) confident

B) observant (Def:watchful and perceptive)

The Alvarez theory, developed in 1980 by physicist Luis Walter Alvarez and his geologist son Walter Alvarez, maintained that the secondary effects of an asteroid impact caused many dinosaurs and other animals to die _______ it left unexplored the question of whether unrelated volcanic activity might have also contributed to the mass extinctions. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) out but B) out, but C) out D) out,

B) out, but (The convention being tested is the coordination of main clauses within a sentence. This choice correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction "but" to join the first main clause ("the Alvarez...out") and the second main clause ("it left ... extinctions").)

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

B) speculates (Def: puts forward an idea without firm evidence)

Herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs could grow more than 100 feet long and weigh up to 80 tons, and some researchers have attributed the evolution of sauropods to such massive sizes to increased plant production resulting from high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the Mesozoic era. However, there is no evidence of significant spikes in carbon dioxide levels coinciding with relevant periods in sauropod evolution, such as when the first large sauropods appeared, when several sauropod lineages underwent further evolution toward gigantism, or when sauropods reached their maximum known sizes, suggesting that _______ Which choice most logically completes the text? A) fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide affected different sauropod lineages differently. B) the evolution of larger body sizes in sauropods did not depend on increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. C) atmospheric carbon dioxide was higher when the largest known sauropods lived than it was when the first sauropods appeared. D) sauropods probably would not have evolved to such immense sizes if atmospheric carbon dioxide had been even slightly higher.

B) the evolution of larger body sizes in sauropods did not depend on increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (The text establishes that sauropods evolved to reach enormous sizes, and it notes that some scientists have asserted that the cause of this phenomenon was increased plant production that resulted from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. The text goes on to state, however, that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels didn't increase around the time of important periods in sauropods' evolution of larger body sizes. If significant periods of sauropod evolution toward larger sizes occurred without increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, that suggests that the evolution of larger sizes didn't depend on increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.)

Scientists believe that, unlike most other species of barnacle, turtle barnacles (Chelonibia testudinari) can dissolve the cement-like secretions they use to attach _______ to a sea turtle shell, enabling the barnacles to move short distances across the shell's surface. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) it B) themselves C) them D) itself

B) themselves (The convention being tested is pronoun-antecedent agreement. The plural reflexive pronoun "themselves" agrees in number with the plural antecedent "turtle barnacles," correctly indicating what is attached to a sea turtle shell.)

Many archaeologists will tell you that categorizing excavated fragments of pottery by style, period, and what objects they belong to relies not only on standard criteria, but also on instinct developed over years of practice. In a recent study, however, researchers trained a deep-learning computer model on thousands of images of pottery fragments and found that it could categorize them as accurately as a team of expert archaeologists. Some archaeologists have expressed concern that they might be replaced by such computer models, but the researchers claim that outcome is highly unlikely. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' claim? A) In the researchers' study, the model was able to categorize the pottery fragments much more quickly than the archaeologists could. B) In the researchers' study, neither the model nor the archaeologists were able to accurately categorize all the pottery fragments that were presented. C) A survey of archaeologists showed that categorizing pottery fragments limits the amount of time they can dedicate to other important tasks that only human experts can do. D) A survey of archaeologists showed that few of them received dedicated training in how to properly categorize pottery fragments.

C) A survey of archaeologists showed that categorizing pottery fragments limits the amount of time they can dedicate to other important tasks that only human experts can do. (The text explains that although archaeologists hold that categorizing pottery fragments relies on both objective criteria and instinct developed through direct experience, researchers have found that a computer model can categorize the fragments with the same degree of accuracy as the humans can—a finding that has caused some archaeologists to worry that their own work won't be needed any longer. If survey results indicate that categorizing pottery fragments limits the amount of time archaeologists can dedicate to other important tasks that only human experts can do, that would mean that computer models aren't able to do all of the important things archaeologists do, thus supporting the researchers' claim that computer models are unlikely to replace human archaeologists.)

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: • African American women played prominent roles in the Civil Rights Movement, including at the famous 1963 March on Washington. • Civil rights activist Anna Hedgeman, one of the march's organizers, was a political adviser who had worked for President Truman. • Civil rights activist Daisy Bates was a well-known journalist and advocate for school desegregation. • Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman was included in the lineup of speakers at the march. • Bates was the sole woman to speak, delivering a brief but memorable address to the cheering crowd. The student wants to compare the two women's contributions to the March on Washington. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A) Hedgeman and Bates contributed to the march in different ways; Bates, for example, delivered a brief but memorable address. B) Hedgeman worked in politics and helped organize the march, while Bates was a journalist and school desegregation advocate. C) Although Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman speaker was included, Bates was the sole woman to speak at the march. D) Many African American women, including Bates and Hedgeman, fought for civil rights, but only one spoke at the march.

C) Although Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman speaker was included, Bates was the sole woman to speak at the march. (The sentence compares the two women's contributions to the march: Hedgeman worked behind the scenes to make sure a woman speaker was included, whereas Bates actually spoke at the event.)

Credited Film Output of James Young Deer, Dark Cloud, Edwin Carewe, and Lillian St. Cyr James Young Deer: 1909-1924 33 (actor), 35 (director), 10 (writer) Dark Cloud: 1910-1920 35 (actor), 1 (writer) Edwin Carewe: 1912-1934 47 (actor), 58 (director), 20 (producer), 4 (writer) Lillian St. Cyr (Red Wing): 1908-1921 66 (actor) Some researchers studying Indigenous actors and filmmakers in the United States have turned their attention to the early days of cinema, particularly the 1910s and 1920s, when people like James Young Deer, Dark Cloud, Edwin Carewe, and Lillian St. Cyr (known professionally as Red Wing) were involved in one way or another with numerous films. In fact, so many films and associated records for this era have been lost that counts of those four figures' output should be taken as bare minimums rather than totals; it's entirely possible, for example, that _______ Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the example? A) Dark Cloud acted in significantly fewer films than did Lillian St. Cyr, who is credited with 66 performances. B) Edwin Carewe's 47 credited acting roles includes only films made after 1934. C) Lillian St. Cyr acted in far more than 66 films and Edwin Carewe directed more than 58. D) James Young Deer actually directed 33 films and acted in only 10.

C) Lillian St. Cyr acted in far more than 66 films and Edwin Carewe directed more than 58 (The table presents the years during which the individuals were active and the number of known films the individuals are credited in. The table indicates that Lillian St. Cyr has 66 film credits as an actor and that Edwin Carewe has 58 film credits as a director; it follows that if some films and records for the era were lost, it's possible that Lillian St. Cyr acted in far more than 66 films and that Edwin Carewe directed more than 58 films.)

Mother did not spend all her time in paying dull [visits] to dull ladies, and sitting dully at home waiting for dull ladies to pay [visits] to her. She was almost always there, ready to play with the children, and read to them, and help them to do their home-lessons. Besides this she used to write stories for them while they were at school, and read them aloud after tea, and she always made up funny pieces of poetry for their birthdays and for other great occasions. According to the text, what is true about Mother? A) She wishes that more ladies would visit her. B) Birthdays are her favorite special occasion. C) She creates stories and poems for her children. D) Reading to her children is her favorite activity.

C) She creates stories and poems for her children (The text indicates that in addition to other activities, Mother writes stories for her children while they are at school and makes up "funny pieces of poetry" for certain occasions)

Before California's 1911 election to approve a proposition granting women the right to vote, activists across the state sold tea to promote the cause of suffrage. In San Francisco, the Woman's Suffrage Party sold Equality Tea at local fairs. _______ in Los Angeles, activist Nancy Tuttle Craig, who ran one of California's largest grocery store firms, distributed Votes for Women Tea. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) For example, B) To conclude, C) Similarly, D) In other words,

C) Similarly, ("Similarly" logically signals that the activity described in this sentence (Nancy Tuttle Craig distributing Votes for Women Tea in her Los Angeles grocery stores) is like the activity described in the previous sentence (the Woman's Suffrage Party selling Equality Tea at fairs in San Francisco). Together, the two examples support the preceding claim that "activists across the state sold tea to promote the cause of suffrage.")

In the mountains of Brazil, Barbacenia tomentosa and Barbacenia macrantha—two plants in the Velloziaceae family—establish themselves on soilless, nutrient-poor patches of quartzite rock. Plant ecologists Anna Abrahão and Patricia de Britto Costa used microscopic analysis to determine that the roots of B. tomentosa and B. macrantha, which grow directly into the quartzite, have clusters of fine hairs near the root tip; further analysis indicated that these hairs secrete both malic and citric acids. The researchers hypothesize that the plants depend on dissolving underlying rock with these acids, as the process not only creates channels for continued growth but also releases phosphates that provide the vital nutrient phosphorus. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' hypothesis? A) Other species in the Velloziaceae family are found in terrains with more soil but have root structures similar to those of B. tomentosa and B. macrantha. B) Though B. tomentosa and B. macrantha both secrete citric and malic acids, each species produces the acids in different proportions. C) The roots of B. tomentosa and B. macrantha carve new entry points into rocks even when cracks in the surface are readily available. D) B. tomentosa and B. macrantha thrive even when transferred to the surfaces of rocks that do not contain phosphates.

C) The roots of B. tomentosa and B. macrantha carve new entry points into rocks even when cracks in the surface are readily available. (The text indicates that the roots of the two plant species grow directly into quartzite rock, where hairs on the roots secrete acids that dissolve the rock. The researchers hypothesize that the plants depend on this process because dissolving rock opens spaces for the roots to grow and releases phosphates that provide the plants with phosphorous, a vital nutrient. If the plants carry out this process of dissolving rock even when the rock already has spaces into which the roots could grow, that would support the researchers' hypothesis because it suggests that the plants are getting some advantage—such as access to phosphorous—from the action of dissolving rock. If the plants don't benefit from dissolving rock, they would be expected to grow in the cracks that already exist, as doing so would mean that the plants don't have to spend energy creating and secreting acids; if, however, the plants create new entry points by dissolving rock even when cracks already exist, that would support the hypothesis that they depend on dissolving rock for some benefit.)

British scientists James Watson and Francis Crick won the Nobel Prize in part for their 1953 paper announcing the double helix structure of DNA, but it is misleading to say that Watson and Crick discovered the double helix. _______ findings were based on a famous X-ray image of DNA fibers, "Photo 51," developed by X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin and her graduate student Raymond Gosling. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) They're B) It's C) Their D) Its

C) Their (The convention being tested is the use of possessive determiners. The plural possessive determiner "their" agrees in number with the plural conjoined noun phrase "Watson and Crick" and thus indicates that the findings were those of Watson and Crick.)

A study by a team including finance professor Madhu Veeraraghavan suggests that exposure to sunshine during the workday can lead to overly optimistic behavior. Using data spanning from 1994 to 2010 for a set of US companies, the team compared over 29,000 annual earnings forecasts to the actual earnings later reported by those companies. The team found that the greater the exposure to sunshine at work in the two weeks before a manager submitted an earnings forecast, the more the manager's forecast exceeded what the company actually earned that year. Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text? A) To summarize the results of the team's analysis B) To present a specific example that illustrates the study's findings C) To explain part of the methodology used in the team's study D) To call out a challenge the team faced in conducting its analysis

C) To explain part of the methodology used in the team's study (The first sentence presents the implications of Veeraraghavan's team's study: sunshine exposure during work hours can cause overly optimistic behavior. The underlined sentence then describes the data the team consulted and how they were used (comparing predictions about earnings to what the companies actually earned), and the final sentence presents what the team found in their examination of the data)

The first computerized spreadsheet, Dan Bricklin's VisiCalc, improved financial recordkeeping not only by providing users with an easy means of adjusting data in spreadsheets but also by automatically updating all calculations that were dependent on these _______ to VisiCalc's release, changing a paper spreadsheet often required redoing the entire sheet by hand, a process that could take days. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) adjustments prior B) adjustments, prior C) adjustments. Prior D) adjustments and prior

C) adjustments (The convention being tested is punctuation use between sentences. In this choice, the period is used correctly to mark the boundary between the first sentence ("The...adjustments") and the second sentence ("Prior...days"). Because the adverbial phrase beginning with "prior" indicates when changing a spreadsheet required redoing the sheet by hand, that phrase belongs with the second sentence.)

Stomata, tiny pore structures in a leaf that absorb gases needed for plant growth, open when guard cells surrounding each pore swell with water. In a pivotal 2007 article, plant cell _______ showed that lipid molecules called phosphatidylinositol phosphates are responsible for signaling guard cells to open stomata. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) biologist, Yuree Lee B) biologist Yuree Lee, C) biologist Yuree Lee D) biologist, Yuree Lee,

C) biologist Yuree Lee (. The convention being tested is the use of punctuation between titles and proper nouns. No punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun "Yuree Lee" from the title that describes Lee, "plant cell biologist." Because "Yuree Lee" is essential information identifying the "plant cell biologist," no punctuation is necessary.)

At two weeks old, the time their critical socialization period begins, wolves can smell but cannot yet see or hear. Domesticated dogs, _______ can see, hear, and smell by the end of two weeks. This relative lack of sensory input may help explain why wolves behave so differently around humans than dogs do: from a very young age, wolves are more wary and less exploratory. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) in other words, B) for instance, C) by contrast, D) accordingly,

C) by contrast, (r. "By contrast" logically signals that the information in this sentence—that dogs can see, hear, and smell by the end of two weeks— contrasts with the preceding information (that wolves can smell but not see or hear at the same age).)

In 1937, Chinese American screen actor Anna May Wong, who had portrayed numerous villains and secondary characters but never a heroine, finally got a starring role in Paramount Pictures' Daughter of Shanghai, a film that _______ "expanded the range of possibilities for Asian images on screen." Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) critic, Stina Chyn, claims B) critic, Stina Chyn, claims, C) critic Stina Chyn claims D) critic Stina Chyn, claims,

C) critic Stina Chyn claims (The conventions being tested are punctuation use between titles and proper nouns and between verbs and integrated quotations. No punctuation is needed to set off the proper noun "Stina Chyn" from the title that describes Chyn, "critic." Because "Stina Chyn" is essential information identifying the "critic," no punctuation is necessary. Further, no punctuation is needed between the verb "claims" and the following quotation because the quotation is integrated into the structure of the sentence.)

In winter, the diets of Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are influenced more by food availability than by food preference. Although the monkeys prefer to eat vegetation and land-dwelling invertebrates, those food sources may become unavailable because of extensive snow and ice cover, _______ the monkeys to hunt for marine animals in any streams that have not frozen over. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) forces B) to force C) forcing D) forced

C) forcing (The convention being tested is the use of finite and nonfinite verb forms within a sentence. The nonfinite present participle "forcing" is correctly used to form a participial phrase that supplements the main clause "those...cover," describing the effects on monkeys of the lack of food sources.)

When writing The Other Black Girl (2021), novelist Zakiya Dalila Harris drew on her own experiences working at a publishing office. The award-winning book is Harris's first novel, but her writing _______ honored before. At the age of twelve, she entered a contest to have a story published in American Girl magazine—and won. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) were B) have been C) has been D) are

C) has been (r. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "has been" agrees in number with the singular subject "writing.")

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

C) persistent (Def: existing continuously)

Small, flat structures called spatulae are found at the tips of the hairs on a spider's leg. These spatulae temporarily bond with the atoms of whatever they touch. _______ spiders are able to cling to and climb almost any surface. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) For instance, B) However, C) Similarly, D) As a result,

D) As a result, ( "As a result" logically signals that the claim in this sentence—that spiders can cling to and climb almost any surface—is because of the previous information about the bonding properties of spiders' spatulae.)

Juvenile Plants Found Growing on Bare Ground and in Patches of Vegetation for Five Species Species T. moroderi (species) 9 (bare ground) 13 (Patches of vegetation) 22 (Total) T. libanitis (species) 83 (bare ground)120(Patches of vegetation) 203 (Total) H. syriacim (species)95(bare ground) 106(Patches of vegetation) 201 (Total) H. squamatum (species)218(bare ground)321(Patches of vegetation)539 (Total) H. stoechas (species) 11 (bare ground) 12 (Patches of vegetation)23 (Total) Alicia Montesinos-Navarro, Isabelle Storer, and Rocío Perez-Barrales recently examined several plots within a diverse plant community in southeast Spain. The researchers calculated that if individual plants were randomly distributed on this particular landscape, only about 15% would be with other plants in patches of vegetation. They counted the number of juvenile plants of five species growing in patches of vegetation and the number growing alone on bare ground and compared those numbers to what would be expected if the plants were randomly distributed. Based on these results, they claim that plants of these species that grow in close proximity to other plants gain an advantage at an early developmental stage. Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers' claim? A) For all five species, less than 75% of juvenile plants were growing in patches of vegetation. B) The species with the greatest number of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was H. stoechas. C) For T. libanitis and T. moroderi, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was less than what would be expected if plants were randomly distributed. D) For each species, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than what would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.

D) For each species, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than what would be expected if plants were randomly distributed. ( The table shows the total number of juvenile plants from five species that were found growing on bare ground and in patches of vegetation as well as the percentage of the total number of each species that were growing in patches of vegetation. For each of the five species, more than 50% of the juvenile plants were growing in patches of vegetation. The text notes, however, that a random distribution of plants across the landscape should result in only about 15% of the plants being found in patches of vegetation. In other words, for each of the five species, the percentage of juvenile plants found growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than could be explained by chance alone. This finding supports the claim in the text: if plants growing in patches are overrepresented among plants that have survived to the juvenile stage, as the data show they are, then it suggests that it's advantageous for plants at an early stage of development to grow in patches of vegetation.)

One man, who was more excited than the rest, flung his hat high into the air, and shouted (as well as I could make out) "Who roar for the Sub-Warden?" Everybody roared, but whether it was for the Sub-Warden, or not, did not clearly appear: some were shouting "Bread!" and some "Taxes!", but no one seemed to know what it was they really wanted. All this I saw from the open window of the Warden's breakfast-saloon, looking across the shoulder of the Lord Chancellor. "What can it all mean?" he kept repeating to himself. "I never heard such shouting before—and at this time of the morning, too! And with such unanimity!" Based on the text, how does the Lord Chancellor respond to the crowd? A) He asks about the meaning of the crowd's shouting, even though he claims to know what the crowd wants. B) He indicates a desire to speak to the crowd, even though the crowd has asked to speak to the Sub-Warden. C) He expresses sympathy for the crowd's demands, even though the crowd's shouting annoys him. D) He describes the crowd as being united, even though the crowd clearly appears otherwise.

D) He describes the crowd as being united, even though the crowd clearly appears otherwise. (The text indicates that the people in the crowd are roaring and shouting "Bread!" or "Taxes!" and presents them as not knowing what they really want. The Lord Chancellor's response is to ask what their shouting means but also to observe that they're shouting with "unanimity," or total agreement. Clearly, this isn't the case, which supports the statement that the Lord Chancellor describes the crowd as being united even though it's not.)

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: • Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that existed millions of years ago. • In a 2021 study, Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan analyzed fragments of pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert. • She was initially unsure if the bones belonged to juvenile or adult pterosaurs. • She used advanced microscope techniques to determine that the bones had few growth lines relative to the bones of fully grown pterosaurs. • She concluded that the bones belonged to juveniles. The student wants to present the study and its findings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A) In 2021, Chinsamy-Turan studied pterosaur jawbones and was initially unsure if the bones belonged to juveniles or adults. B) Pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert were the focus of a 2021 study. C) In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan used advanced microscope techniques to analyze the jawbones of pterosaurs, flying reptiles that existed millions of years ago. D) In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan determined that pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert had few growth lines relative to the bones of fully grown pterosaurs and thus belonged to juveniles.

D) In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan determined that pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert had few growth lines relative to the bones of fully grown pterosaurs and thus belonged to juveniles. (The sentence presents both the study and its findings, noting the study's date and the researcher's name as well as describing what the researcher determined about the jawbones and how she determined it.)

Researchers Helena Mihaljević-Brandt, Lucía Santamaría, and Marco Tullney report that while mathematicians may have traditionally worked alone, evidence points to a shift in the opposite direction. _______ mathematicians are choosing to collaborate with their peers—a trend illustrated by a rise in the number of mathematics publications credited to multiple authors. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) Similarly, B) For this reason, C) Furthermore, D) Increasingly,

D) Increasingly, (r. "Increasingly" logically signals that the claim in this sentence—that mathematicians are collaborating with their peers—marks a change relative to what was traditionally done. As the previous sentence explains, while mathematicians may have traditionally worked alone, evidence points to a shift in the opposite direction. The claim describes the shift: a rise in collaboration)

Lily had no real intimacy with nature, but she had a passion for the appropriate and could be keenly sensitive to a scene which was the fitting background of her own sensations. The landscape outspread below her seemed an enlargement of her present mood, and she found something of herself in its calmness, its breadth, its long free reaches. On the nearer slopes the sugar-maples wavered like pyres of light; lower down was a massing of grey orchards, and here and there the lingering green of an oak-grove. Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole? A) It creates a detailed image of the physical setting of the scene. B) It establishes that a character is experiencing an internal conflict. C) It makes an assertion that the next sentence then expands on. D) It illustrates an idea that is introduced in the previous sentence.

D) It illustrates an idea that is introduced in the previous sentence. (The first sentence of the text establishes that Lily can be "keenly sensitive to" scenes that serve as a "fitting background" for her feelings—that is, she's very aware of when a setting seems to reflect her mood. The next sentence, which is underlined, then demonstrates this awareness: Lily views the landscape she's in as a large-scale reflection of her current mood, identifying with elements such as its calmness.)

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: • In the midst of the US Civil War, Susie Taylor escaped slavery and fled to Union-army-occupied St. Simons Island off the Georgia coast. • She began working for an all-Black army regiment as a nurse and teacher. • In 1902, she published a book about the time she spent with the regiment. • Her book was the only Civil War memoir to be published by a Black woman. • It is still available to readers in print and online. The student wants to emphasize the uniqueness of Taylor's accomplishment. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A) Taylor fled to St. Simons Island, which was then occupied by the Union army, for whom she began working. B) After escaping slavery, Taylor began working for an all-Black army regiment as a nurse and teacher. C) The book Taylor wrote about the time she spent with the regiment is still available to readers in print and online. D) Taylor was the only Black woman to publish a Civil War memoir.

D) Taylor was the only Black woman to publish a Civil War memoir (By indicating that Taylor's book was the only Civil War memoir published by a Black woman, this sentence emphasizes the uniqueness, or one-of-a-kind nature, of Taylor's accomplishment.)

The following text is adapted from William Shakespeare's 1609 poem "Sonnet 27." The poem is addressed to a close friend as if he were physically present. Weary with toil, I [hurry] to my bed, The dear repose for limbs with travel tired; But then begins a journey in my head To work my mind, when body's work's expired: For then my thoughts—from far where I abide— [Begin] a zealous pilgrimage to thee, And keep my drooping eyelids open wide, What is the main idea of the text? A) The speaker is asleep and dreaming about traveling to see the friend. B) The speaker is planning an upcoming trip to the friend's house. C) The speaker is too fatigued to continue a discussion with the friend. D) The speaker is thinking about the friend instead of immediately falling asleep.

D) The speaker is thinking about the friend instead of immediately falling asleep. (The speaker describes the experience of being "weary" and "tired" and going to bed to seek "dear repose" (that is, sleep), but instead of sleeping, the speaker is kept awake ("keep my drooping eyelids open wide") by thoughts of a friend ("my thoughts... [Begin] a zealous pilgrimage to thee").)

Birds of many species ingest foods containing carotenoids, pigmented molecules that are converted into feather coloration. Coloration tends to be especially saturated in male birds' feathers, and because carotenoids also confer health benefits, the deeply saturated colors generally serve to communicate what is known as an honest signal of a bird's overall fitness to potential mates. However, ornithologist Allison J. Shultz and others have found that males in several species of the tanager genus Ramphocelus use microstructures in their feathers to manipulate light, creating the appearance of deeper saturation without the birds necessarily having to maintain a carotenoid-rich diet. These findings suggest that _______ Which choice most logically completes the text? A) individual male tanagers can engage in honest signaling without relying on carotenoid consumption. B) feather microstructures may be less effective than deeply saturated feathers for signaling overall fitness. C) scientists have yet to determine why tanagers have a preference for mates with colorful appearances. D) a male tanager's appearance may function as a dishonest signal of the individual's overall fitness.

D) a male tanager's appearance may function as a dishonest signal of the individual's overall fitness. (The text explains that because carotenoids both contribute to deeply saturated feathers and offer health benefits, having deeply saturated feathers is usually "an honest signal" (a true indication) that a bird is generally fit. However, Shultz and others have found that certain male tanagers can appear to have deeply saturated feathers even if they haven't consumed a diet rich in carotenoids, thanks to microstructures in their feathers that manipulate light. If those birds aren't necessarily eating carotenoid-rich diets, they may actually be less fit than other birds that appear to have similarly saturated feathers; this suggests that a male tanager's appearance may function as a dishonest signal, or a false indication, of the bird's overall fitness.)

Mônica Lopes-Ferreira and others at Brazil's Butantan Institute are studying the freshwater stingray species Potamotrygon rex to determine whether biological characteristics such as the rays' age and sex have _______ effect on the toxicity of their venom—that is, to see if differences in these traits are associated with considerable variations in venom potency. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) a disconcerting B) an acceptable C) an imperceptible D) a substantial

D) a substantial (Def: an effect that is sizable or noteworthy)

Despite being cheap, versatile, and easy to produce, _______ they are made from nonrenewable petroleum, and most do not biodegrade in landfills. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) there are two problems associated with commercial plastics: B) two problems are associated with commercial plastics: C) commercial plastics' two associated problems are that D) commercial plastics have two associated problems:

D) commercial plastics have two associated problems: (The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice ensures that the modifying phrase "despite being cheap, versatile, and easy to produce" appears immediately before the noun it modifies, "commercial plastics," clearly establishing that the commercial plastics—and not another noun in the sentence—are being described as cheap, versatile, and easy to produce.)

Lucía Michel of the University of Chile observed that alkaline soils contain an insoluble form of iron that blueberry plants cannot absorb, thus inhibiting blueberry growth. If these plants were grown in alkaline soil alongside grasses that aid in iron solubilization, _______ Michel was determined to find out. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) could the blueberries thrive. B) the blueberries could thrive. C) the blueberries could thrive? D) could the blueberries thrive?

D) could the blueberries thrive? (r. The convention being tested is end-of-sentence punctuation. This choice correctly uses a question mark to punctuate the interrogative clause "could the blueberries thrive," which asks a direct question at the end of the sentence.)

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

D) exemplifies (Def: demonstrates)

Although novels and poems are considered distinct literary forms, many authors have created hybrid works that incorporate elements of both. Bernardine Evaristo's The Emperor's Babe, _______ is a verse novel, a book-length narrative complete with characters and a plot but conveyed in short, crisp lines of poetry rather than prose. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A) by contrast, B) consequently, C) secondly, D) for example,

D) for example, ( "For example" logically signals that the information in this sentence—that The Emperor's Babe is a novel conveyed in lines of poetry—exemplifies the claim in the previous sentence about hybrid works that incorporate elements of both novels and poems.)

Critics have asserted that fine art and fashion rarely _______ in a world where artists create timeless works for exhibition and designers periodically produce new styles for the public to buy. Luiseño/ Shoshone-Bannock beadwork artist and designer Jamie Okuma challenges this view: her work can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and purchased through her online boutique. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) prevail B) succumb C) diverge D) intersect

D) intersect (Def: to connect or overlap)

In his 1963 exhibition Exposition of Music—Electronic Television, Korean American artist Nam June Paik showed how television images could be manipulated to express an artist's perspective. Today, Paik _______ considered the first video artist. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A) will be B) had been C) was D) is

D) is (The convention being tested is the use of verbs to express tense. In this choice, the present tense verb "is," used in conjunction with the word "today," correctly indicates that Paik is currently considered the first video artist.)

The province of Xoconochco was situated on the Pacific coast, hundreds of kilometers southeast of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. Because Xoconochco's location within the empire was so _______ , cacao and other trade goods produced there could reach the capital only after a long overland journey. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) unobtrusive B) concealed C) approximate D) peripheral

D) peripheral (Def: situated toward the outer bounds rather than the center)

Scholarly discussions of gender in Shakespeare's comedies often celebrate the rebellion of the playwright's characters against the rigid expectations _______ by Elizabethan society. Most of the comedies end in marriage, with characters returning to their socially dictated gender roles after previously defying them, but there are some notable exceptions. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A) interjected B) committed C) illustrated D) prescribed

D) prescribed (Def: laid down as rules)