Online English Act Test

Explanation
"Question 1. The best answer is D because the phrase ""Liv Arnesen of Norway and Ann Bancroft of Minnesota"" forms the compound subject of the sentence, and there is no reason to put any punctuation between the two parts of this compound subject.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the comma after ""Liv Arnesen of Norway"" puts unnecessary and inaccurate punctuation between the two parts of the compound subject.
B because the commas after the women's names and after ""of Norway"" are unnecessary and break up the compound subject. If there were commas after both ""of Norway"" and ""of Minnesota,"" this could be a cor­ rect alternative that treats the points of origin as extra information, but with the comma only before the prepositional phrase "" of Minnesota"" and not at the end, the sentence isn't correctly punctuated.
C because, as in B, the commas after the women's names are unnecessary and break up the compound sub­ ject. Additionally, the two prepositional phrases both have commas at the beginning and not at the end, cre­ ating an incorrectly punctuated sentence."

Explanation
"Question 2. The best answer is F because the previous sentence states that the women ""became the first women to climb and ski across the continent of Antarctica,"" which means that they did finish the journey. This is the only choice that clearly indicates that the trip was finished (in 96 days). The best answer is NOT: G because ""achieve"" isn't the same thing as ""complete."" Achieve means to accomplish something or bring it about, but the word doesn't fit in this context; it is not an idiom in standard English to ""achieve a trip."" H because finalized is similar in meaning to complete, but finalize is ordinarily used in the context of com­ pleting a transaction or a business deal and isn't used idiomatically in the context of ""finalizing a trip"" (unless it means finalizing the planning of a trip rather than the making of a trip). Also, ""finalizing"" takes place at the end of something, rather than over the course of 96 days. J because implemented can mean to put a plan into effect, but it omits the information that the trip was necessarily finished or completed and so isn't an appropriate word choice in this context."

Explanation
"Question 3. The best answer is B because the comma after Runway sets off what follows it as an appositive (a word or phrase that refers to or explains the noun or noun phrase it follows). In this case, ""Blue One Runway"" is explained by the appositive ""a solid-ice airstrip on the Atlantic coast of Antarctica."" The best answer is NOT: A because the additional words it is make a second independent clause rather than the appositive described above, and the comma thus incorrectly joins two independent clauses and creates a comma splice. C because when there is no comma after Runway, there is no punctuation to set off the appositive from the word that it explains or describes, which makes the sentence confusing. D because the word being is unnecessary and not appropriate in standard written English; which is, or nothing at all (as in B), is appropriate at this point."

Explanation
"Question 4. The best answer is J because only a comma should be there to separate the introductory participial phrase, ""Hiking unassisted up the 10,0000-foot-high Sygyn Glacier,"" and the main clause, ""each woman pulled a sled that weighed more than 260 pounds."" For clarity, the introductory phrase must be next to, or adjacent to, the subject of the clause that it modifies, ""each woman."" The best answer is NOT: F because the coordinating conjunction and is inappropriately placed between the introductory participial phrase, ""Hiking unassisted up the 10,0000-foot-high Sygyn Glacier,"" and the main clause, ""each woman pulled a sled that weighed more than 260 pounds."" Coordinating conjunctions typically join two like struc­ tures (two phrases, two main cla uses) rather than a phrase and a clause. G because the subordinating conjunction when makes the main clause into a dependent clause. The result­ ing combination of introductory phrase and dependent clause is a sentence fragment (an incomplete sen­ tence). H because the subordinating conjunction while creates a sentence fragment in the same way as in G."

Explanation
"Question 5. The best answer is B because the details that are included in Sentence 5 expand on Sentence 4 by explaining what the things are that make the women's supplies weigh so much, and the list of supplies also gives an idea of what sort of things the women used on their trip, as B suggests. The best answer is NOT: A because there is no indication in the essay that each woman, though she pulled 260 pounds on her sled, was limited to this weight. C because there is no indication in the passage that the women brought along more than they thought they would need; even though the sleds were heavy, the implication is that they brought what they needed. D because the list of supplies in Sentence 5 in no way contradicts the information in Sentence 4 about the weight of the sleds. Rather, the information in Sentence 5 expands on what is said in Sentence 4."

Explanation
"Question 6. The best answer is J because ""stretching for 1,000 miles"" logically follows and continues the description of ""a high, frozen desert."" The underlined phrase makes sense in this location but not in the other locations. The best answer is NOT: F because although the phrase could be in this location to describe ""the Polar Plateau,"" the phrase ""stretch­ ing for 1,000 miles a high, frozen desert"" makes no logical sense, at least without additional punctuation. G because when the phrase ""stretching for 1,000· miles"" is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it would seem to modify the subject of the sentence ""the adventurers"" and imply that the adventurers stretched for 1,000 miles. · H because when the phrase is placed after the subject (""the adventurers stretching for 1,000 miles""), the sentence once again illogically implies that the adventurers stretched for 1,000 miles."

Explanation
"Question 7. The best answer is C because blew is the correct past tense form of the verb that correctly fits into the sentence and is parallel to the other past tense verb in the sentence, sailed. The rest of the paragraph is also written in the past tense. The best answer is NOT: A because had blew is an ungrammatical form of the verb . If it were an accurate past perfect verb form, it would say had blown, using the past participle blown rather than the past tense blew. B because blow is the present tense form of the verb and doesn't fit logically into either the sentence or the paragraph, both of which are written in the past tense. D because blown is the past participle, which cannot be used alone as a main verb but must be part of a verb phrase such as "" had blown"" or ""was blo wn."""

Explanation
"Question 8. The best answer is J because these is the only one of the four responses that, within the context of this sentence, doesn't logically refer to the two women. When these is placed into the sentence, it appears to refer to the strong winds (""The ... strong winds blew daily, and these sailed 210 miles in just five days.""). Therefore this is the LEAST acceptable alternative to the team. The best answer is NOT: F because the two, meaning Arnesen and Bancroft, is an acceptable alternative to the team. G because the names of the two women, Arnesen and Bancroft, are also an acceptable alternative to the team. H because the women also refers to Arnesen and Bancroft and is an acceptable alternative to the team."

Explanation
"Question 9. The best answer is D because the conjunctive adverb however appropriately sets up a contrast between the first week, when the wind blew daily, and the next five days, when there was very little wind. The best answer is NOT: A because accordingly suggests that one thing is a consequence of another. The wind ceasing to blow isn't a consequence of the wind blowing for a week, but rather a contrast with the previous week. B because otherwise is used to imply that something might be the case under different circumstances (It's raining; otherwise, I would go with you), rather than to set up a contrast with a previous statement. It would not be idiomatic, or sound natural to a native speaker of English, to say, ""For the next five days, oth­ erwise, there was almost no wind."" C because consequently, just like accordingly, implies a cause-and-effect relationship between the wind blowing and the wind ceasing to blow, a relationship that makes no logical sense."

Explanation
"Question 10. The best answer is F because there is appropriately no punctuation between the two parts of the compound verb ( ""visited ... and replenished"") and the word their is the cor­ rect form of the third-person plural possessive pronoun (the food belonging to them). The best answer is NOT: G because the comma after and both separates the two parts of the compound verb and also is in an ungi:ammatical place following a coordinating conjunction. The correct form of the possessive pronoun is used, however. H because the word there is the adverb meaning a place, rather than the required form of the third-person plural possessive pronoun. J because the comma after scientists also separates the two parts of the compound verb. Additionally, the adverb form there is inappropriately used instead of the plural possessive their."

Explanation
"Question 11. The best answer is C because only the present participle climbing is needed to form an adjective phrase that relates back to the subject of the sentence, they. The best answer is NOT: A because the coordinating conjunction and ordinarily connects two similar structures, but this and inap­ propriately connects a main clause with a phrase (""while climbing over a 10,200-foot-high glacier named Titan Dome""), leaving the phrase as a dangling modifier separated from the subject it is supposed to modify. B because adding the words they climbed after the comma creates a second main clause, thus creating a comma splice between two independent clauses. D because although to climb almost works here-the women were outside in order to climb the glacier-it doesn't quite make sense because they weren't in bitter cold for the purpose of climbing the dome; rather, they were outside to climb the dome and it happened to be bitterly cold. C is a much clearer answer; D makes the reader stop to try to figure out what the writer meant."

Explanation
"Question 12. The best answer is J because only the coordinating conjunction and is needed here to join the two independent clauses. The best answer is NOT: F because ""and during those last miles of the trip"" is redundant (repetitive of a phrase already in the sen­ tence, ""the final few miles""). G because ""and during those fortunate moments"" refers generally to the wind being with the women for the last several miles, but this phrase is both somewhat redundant and unnecessarily wordy. The implica­ tion that the wind was fortunate because it enabled them to complete their trip and reach their goal is clearly there without being stated this explicitly. · H because the clause ""so the wind carried them and"" is redundant; it merely restates the idea in the words ""the wind was with them."""

Explanation
"Question 13. The best answer is B because although all the sentences are true and could work in the context of this paragraph, the women's main accomplishment, explained in the intro­ ductory paragraph and described throughout the essay, was to cross the Antarctic landmass. So B is the answer that most effectively and specifically emphasizes their accomplishment. The best answer is NOT: A because while it's true that this had been a long journey, this sentence is merely a comment on the trip rather than a description of the women's main accomplishment. C because though the women were no doubt relieved to have safely descended Titan Dome, this additional information about how the women felt does not emphasize their main accomplishment as the question asks. D because although mention of the women's last miles going by quickly is an interesting addition, this sen­ tence fails to refer to the women's main accomplishment as the question asks."

Explanation
"Question 14. The best answer is J because the adverb prudently expresses the idea that it was prudent, or thoughtful and wise, for the women to call for a ski plane. · The best answer is NOT: F because with the underlined portion in this location before ""to airlift,"" prudently seems to refer to the ski plane as prudent, whereas only living beings can be prudent. G because if the underlined portion is placed before becoming, it creates the phrase ""prudently becoming stranded,"" which makes little sense. Becoming stranded would probably never be prudent. H because if placed before the word stranded, the underlined portion would create the phrase ""becoming prudently stranded,"" which is confusing in basically the same way as G."

Explanation
"Question 15. The best answer is A because if the final paragraph were deleted from the essay, the reader would not learn that the winds kept the women from safely skiing the last 460 miles to McMurdo Station. The best answer is NOT: B because the last paragraph doesn't explain why skiing to McMurdo Stati on was part of the women's orig­ inal plan but only states that it was part of the original plan. C because the final paragraph doesn't describe the weather conditions on the Ross Ice Shelf at vari o us times of the year but only mentions the weather conditions at the particular time the women arrived there. D beca use the last paragraph makes no mention of Arnesen and Bancroft's reaction to having to change their plan and be airlifted to McMurdo Station rather than skiing there."

Explanation
"Question 16. The best answer is H because the word but sets up a contrast between the first independent clause and the second one, indicating that the narrator arrives thirty minutes earlier than the shop opens. It is grammatically correct to use a coordinating conjunction between two independent clauses. The best answer is NOT: F because having just a comma between the first independent clause and the second one creates a comma splice (two or more complete sentences separated only by a comma). G because though it is often correct to set off a conjunctive adverb such as how ever with commas, when however comes between the two independent clauses in this sentence, it would need either a semicolon before it or else a period b fore it and a capital letter on However to create two separate sentences; the punctuation in G creates a comma splice. J because when there is no punctuation at all following morning, the two independent clauses create a fused, or run-together, sentence."

Explanation
"Question 17. The best answer is B because it isn't logical to say that the sky becomes col­ orful ""in order that"" (so that) the sun begins to rise. Rather, the colorful sky happens simultane­ ously with the rising sun. So B is the LEAST acceptable alternative to the underlined portion, in which the word as indicates that the events described are simultaneous. The best answer is NOT: A because at the same tim e is a logical alternative to as, meaning simultaneously. C because while is also a logical alternative to as, also meaning happening at the same time. D because the coordinating conjunction and connects the clauses in a logical way, making this a reasonable alternative to as in the underlined portion. The comma is appropriate here after ribbons because the con­ junction joins two independent clauses."

Explanation
"Question 18. The best answer is J because orange is the choice that is most consistent with the description elsewhere in this sentence, namely the ""peach-and-melon-colored ribbons"" in the sky. Both descriptions use color names that also are the names of fruit. The best answer is NOT: F because solar is both redundant-since sun and solar ;efer to the same thing, though one word is a noun and the other word is an adjective-and inconsistent with the other descriptions in the sentence. G because though luminous can accurately be used to describe the sun, this description isn't consistent with the other descriptions in the sentence. H because radiant, meaning ""shining"" or ""glowing,"" could describe the sun but isn't similar to any other description in the sentence."

Explanation
"Question 19. The best answer is C because it is the only choice that provides the main sub­ ject and verb for the sentence, ""I watch,"" and avoids creating a dangling modifier that doesn't refer logically to the subject of the sentence. The best answer is NOT: A because by creating a dangling modifier it inaccurately suggests that the seagulls, rather than the narrator, are ""walking toward the docks."" B because it makes the subject of this sentence ""their high-pitched cries,"" and both ""walking toward the doc s"" and ""watching the seagulls"" would have to refer to ""their high-pitched cries."" Since high-pitched cries.can neither walk nor watch, this would not be a logical choice. Once again, the problem is a dangling modifier. D because it creates the same illogical and dangling modifier as in A, implying that the seagulls are walking toward the docks even as they are wheeling and swooping."

Explanation
"Question 20. The best answer is F becaµse the noun phrase ""the night security guard at the marina"" is a nonrestrictive appositive that must be set off by commas from the noun it refers to, Carney. The best answer is NOT: G because it is missing the comma at the end of the appositive and creates an ambiguous and confusing sen­ tence, with the name Carney seemingly just stuck into the middle of the sentence. H because the comma between Carney and the appositive is missing, again creating a confusing sentence. J because both commas around the appositive are missing, leaving a run-together subject that is confusing."

Explanation
"Question 21. The best answer is C because the most logical comparative description of the smell of the shop is ""like the bay itself,"" with this phrase set off by commas. There is no need for a comma anywhere within the phrase. The best answer is NOT: A because, although the first part of the sentence could work (""The shop smells salty, like the bay,""), the rest of the sentence, ""itself and the creaky oak floor is gritty with sand,"" becomes nonsensical. B because there is no reason to set off the reflexive pronoun itself with commas. D because since there is a comma at the beginning of the parenthetical phrase ""like the bay itself,"" there must also be a comma at the end, following itself."

Explanation
"Question 22. The best answer is G because it appropriately divides the sentence into two complete sentences. The best answer is NOT: F because the lack of punctuation creates a fused, or run-together, sentence. H because the comma after lights creates a comma splice. J because, as in F, the lack of punctuation creates a fused, or run-together , sentence."

Explanation
"Question 23. The best answer is D because sit is the appropriate present tense plural verb to go with the plural subject bins and to match the other present tense verbs in the paragraph (for example, smells, is, turn, straighten). The best answer is NOT: A because sits is a singular verb, which doesn't agree with the plural subject, bins. B because is sitting is a singular verb rather than a plural one; are sitting would be needed to agree with the subject. Also, there are no other present progressive verbs in the paragraph. C because sets is a singular verb and because it is the wrong verb. Set is a transitive verb (a verb that takes a direct object), as in ""Set the book on the table,"" whereas sit is an intransitive verb (one that doesn't need an object), as in ""The book sits on the table."""

Explanation
"Question 24. The best answer is G because it is the only choice that tells specifically what can be found for sale in the shop, as the question asks: fishing rods, reels, hooks, nets, and fishing line. The best answer is NOT: F because it refers to the equipment for sale only generally as ""the wide variety of fishing equipment."" H because it describes the walls but not the merchandise, referring only to walls that are ""jam-packed with equipment"" but not mentioning anything specific. J because it refers, again generally and not specifically, to ""gear for a range of different purposes."""

Explanation
"Question 25. The best answer is A because straighten is the appropriate present tense verb and it is the appropriate pronoun to refer to the singular noun merchandise. Merchandise is a col­ lective noun, one that may seem to be plural since it can refer to many different things at the same time but that operates as a singular noun in English, as in ""All the merchandise we have is new."" The best answer is NOT: B because the verb straightened is in the past tense, whereas the rest of the paragraph is in the present tense, and the plural pronoun them doesn't refer correctly to the singular noun merchandise. C because the verb straightened, as in B, is inappropriately in the past tense, and those is a plural pronoun instead of a singular one needed to refer to merchandise. D because although straighten is the correct present tense verb, them is an inaccurately used plural pro­ noun."

Explanation
"Question 26. The best answer is J because it is the only choice that provides a subject and verb and creates a complete sentence. The best answer is NOT: F because it creates a sentence fragment. It has no main clause, but only a subordinate clause that begins with the subordinating conjunction when. G because it creates a sentence fragment like that in F, except with the subordinating conjunction as. H because it, too, creates a sentence fragment; this time there is a participial phrase where there should be a main clause."

Explanation
"Question 27. The best answer is A because it correctly punctuates the three items in a series (""live herring, mullet, and shrimp""). The best answer is NOT: B because live is an adjective rather than an item in a series of nouns; the comma after live confusingly makes live appear to be a fourth item in the series. C because it adds the same inappropriate comma between live and herring as does B. D because the unpunc,tuated words live herring mullet (with a comma at the end of the phrase) are confus­ ing and unclear; the lack of a comma between herring and mullet makes this seem to be one item rather than the first two items in a series."

Explanation
"Question 28. The best answer is H because Sentence 5 fits most logically and coherently after Sentence 2 and before Sentence 3. Sentence 5 first mentions the flat full of worms to be sold, and Sentence 3 refers to packing those worms into containers of thirteen worms apiece. The best answer is NOT: F because Sentence 5 is illogical in its original location. In this sentence order, the worms aren't brought out until after they have been divided into containers for sale back in Sentence 2. G because although Sentence 5 could logically follow Sentence 1, it isn't logical to have Sentence 2, about herring, mullet, and shrimp, intervene between the introduction of the worms in Sentence 5 and their divi­ sion into containers in Sentence 3. J because it puts Sentence 3 and Sentence 5 adjacent to each other but in the wrong logical order. Sentence 5 needs to precede Sentence 3 for the sake of logic and coherence."

Explanation
"Question 29. The best answer is B because the phrase ""with a smile,"" as B says, gives a detail that shows the narrator's attitude toward the customers. The best answer is NOT: A because the phrase characterizes only the narrator's attitude and contains no information that differenti­ ates the na rrato r's mood from that of the customers. C because the mention of the na rrator's smile doesn't refer back to anything in the previous paragraph, which focuses on listing some of the things the narrator does to prepare the shop each morning. D because it suggests that nothing would be lost if ""with a smile"" were deleted because this detail is clearly stated elsewhere in the paragraph; however, there is no other mention in the paragraph of the narrator's smile."

Explanation
"Question 30. The best answer is F because the sentence ""I work at Stoney's Bait & Tackle Shop"" fits logically at the end of Paragraph 1. The first sentence notes that most people in the narrator's town work in a job that has something to do with fishing and that the narrator is no different. The new sentence to be added explains what the narrator means in the first sentence and provides key information that helps all the rest of the essay to make sense. The best answer is NOT: G because the sentence . to be added doesn't fit logically at the end of Paragraph 2, which describes how a typical early morning looks when the narrator is on the way to work. H because the sentence to be added doesn't belong at the end of Paragraph 3, which tells about the night secur ity guard and the narrator greeting each other as one leaves work and the other arrives. For the essay to make sense, the reader needs to know the information in the added sentence at a point ea rlier than this. J because the sentence a lso doesn't fit well at the end of Paragraph 5, where it interrupts the description, given in both Paragraphs 5 and 6, of the many things the narrator does each morning to prepare the shop for its daily business."

Explanation
"Question 31. The best answer is B because its is the correct singular possessive pro.noun to agree with the noun phrase ""The movie Dracula."" The best answer is NOT: J\ because although the word featuring works fine in this context, the word it's is a contraction meaning ""it is"" rather than the singular possessiv e form its that is needed here. C because while based on works in this context, the form of the word its' is incorrect (there is no plural possessive of the singular pronoun its). D because who's is a contraction meaning ""who is,"" which fits neither the meaning Ii.or the sentence struc­ ture here."

Explanation
"Question 32. The best answer is H because it provides the clearest sentence structure. The best answer is NOT: F because its structure makes it ambiguous; it seems to imply that the bats, rather than the ideas, are flawed . G because it is awkward and confusing; it could easily be clarified to ""mistaken ideas about bats."" J because ""people's mistaken ide as they have"" is awkward and redundant."

Explanation
"Question 33. The best answer is A because it uses the correct comparative form ""more interesting,"" and it uses the preposition than to introduce the second part of a comparison. The best answer is NOT: B because although ""of more interest"" works in this context, the adverb then is inaccurately used in place of the preposition than. C because the comparison ""the most interesting than"" is grammatically flawed, using the superlative form most where the comparative form more is required . D because although it uses the correct comparative words ""more interesting,"" it includes the word then incorrectly ."

Explanation
"Question 34. The best answer is J because the colon used in this choice appropriately introduces the list of the three most common misconceptions about bats. The best answer is NOT: F because the semicolon after bats leaves a long sentence fragment (the list of misconceptions about bats). Semicolons are appropriately used between two independent, closely related clauses and not to introduce a list. G because the comma after bats runs the elements of this sentence together in a confusing manner and ddes­ n't appropriately introduce the list of misconceptions. H because the lack of any punctuation after bats makes this sentence confusing by failing to set off the list of misconceptions from the rest of the sentence."

Explanation
"Question 35. The best answer is B because its structure makes it the clearest choice, unam­ biguously stating that the cattle and horses are sleeping when the bats bite them. The best answer is NOT: A because the sentence is ambiguous in this form; it is unclear whether the cattle and horses or the bats are sleeping. C because this sentence is ambiguous for the same reason as A; they in ""when they are asleep"" could refer either to the bats or to the cattle and horses. D because, even more directly than A and C, this choice implies, illogically, that while the bats are asleep they bite cattle and horses."

Explanation
"Question 36. The best answer is F because separating two independent clauses or sen­ tences that are closely related in content is an appropriate and effective use of a semicolon. The best answer is NOT: G because the comma after rodents creates a comma splice between two independent clauses and because the comma after others separates the subject of a main clause (others) and the verb in that clause, think. H because the lack of any punctuation between the two independent clauses creates a run-together, or fused, sentence. J because although using the coordinating conjunction and would be accept-;1ble here, the apostrophe in others' introduces the plural possessive form, which is not appropriate here."

Explanation
"Question 37. The best answer is C because and is a coordinating conjunction used appro­ priately to connect the first independent clause (""bats are not related to birds"") with the second independent clause (""bats are not rodents either""), and because although sets up the contrast expressed in the subordinate clause that introduces the second independent clause. The best answer is NOT: A because it creates an unclear sentence saying that bats are not related to birds because bats, although they appear mouselike, are not rodents. B because whether doesn't fit logically into this sentence, making the meaning hard to interpret. D because ""seeing as"" is too casual an expression for the context and does not connect the ideas here logi­ cally, and because the lack of the conjunction and creates a comma splice."

Explanation
"Question 38. The best answer is F because the comma after Chiroptera appropriately sets off the descriptive noun phrase that is in apposition to Chiroptera. The best answer is NOT: G because adding the words they are makes the part of the sentence following Chiroptera into an independ­ ent clause, and thus the.comma after Chiroptera creates a comma splice. H because the addition of the words so they are after Chiroptera creates an invalid claim of cause and effect; it isn't logical to say that because bats are called Chiroptera, they are the only mammals that can truly fly. J because the phrase Chiroptera being makes the sentence unclear and confusing."

Explanation
"Question 39. The best answer is C because the verb can ... fly agrees with the plural sub­ ject, mammals. The best answer is NOT: A because the singular verb flies doesn't agree with the plural subject, mammals. B because the singular verb is doesn't agree with the plural subject, mammals. D because the singular verb has doesn't agree with the plural subject, mammals."

Explanation
"Question 40. The best answer is J because it provides present tense main verbs (send and use) that are consistent with the rest of the paragraph. The best answer is NOT: F because participial verb forms (sending and using) result in a sentence fragment. G because the two verb forms sending (participle) and use (present tense) are not parallel and create an ungrammatical sentence. H because it places a past tense verb (sent) in the middle of a paragraph using present tense and because it confusingly uses the infinitive form of the verb to use."

Explanation
"Question 41. The best answer is B because to a paragraph about the ways in which bats are useful to humans, this sentence adds another relevant example: bats pollinate plants, including fruits that humans eat. The best answer is NOT: A because the fact that bats can bite when handled doesn 't fit into a paragraph about how bats are useful to humans. C because plants' development of mechan isms to attract bats is interesting information but not relevant at this point in the essay. D because bats' eyes being adapted to poor lighting is information that is n't relevant to the discussion of bats' usefulness to humans."

Explanation
"Question 42. The best answer is J because the sentence that the writer is considering delet­ ing contains specific examples (evidence) of ways that humans are destroying bat habitat, as claimed in the previous sentence-namely, by building highways and housing developments. If the sentence were deleted, this information would be lost. The best answer is NOT: , F because the sentence under consideration identifies how bat habitat is being destroyed; the sentence adds to, rather than distracts from, the message about the possible extinction of some bat species. G because the sentence under consideration contains no direct examples of ways readers can stop the destruction of bat habitats. H because the sentence un-der consideration identifies ways that bat habitat is being destroyed but gives no scientific proof."

Explanation
"Question 43. The best answer is A because the opening paragraph discusses people's fears of and misconceptions about bats, so the phrase ""though they might seem threatening"" is the choice that best ties the conclusion of the essay to its beginning. The best answer is NOT: B because the phrase "" though they mostly come out at night"" doesn't relate as well as A to the opening of the essay about people's fears and misconceptions about bats. C because the phrase ""though their habitats are vanishing"" doesn't relate to the fears and misconceptions that people have about bats that are mentioned at the beginning of the essay. D because the phrase ""even if we rarely see them"" has little connection to the opening paragraph about people's fears and misconceptions about bats."

Explanation
"Question 44. The best answer is F because the last sentence of the essay's first paragraph lists three of the most common misconceptions humans have about bats, and each misconception is the topic of one of the following three paragraphs in the essay. The best answer is NOT: G because the last sentence of the first paragraph is introducing new ideas, not summarizing points made earlier. · H because listing misconceptions about bats, rather than kinds of creatures bats have been compared to, is the purpose of the last sentence of the first paragraph. J because the last sentence of the first paragraph, listing misconceptions about bats, contains no humor."

Explanation
"Question 45. The best answer is C because the goal of focusing the essay on the various ways in which people are causing the extinction of some bat species was NOT met in this essay. There is a brief mention of the extinction ofsome species of bats in one paragraph, but the focus of the essay is on the mistaken ideas people have about bats. The best answer is NOT: A because it suggests inaccurately that the goal was met by the essay explaining in detail that humans pose the greatest threat to bats. However, the human threat to bats is only a small part of the essay. B because it suggests inaccurately that the goal was met by the essay's focus on people's misconceptions about bats; but that is a different focus than the extinction of some bat species. D because, although it states correctly that the goal of focusing on the various ways that humans cause the extinction of bats was NOT met in this essay, the reason given is inaccurate. The essay does indicate that not all bat species are at risk of becoming extinct, but there is no mention of the relationship between bats' extinction and their feeding on livestock, and this point is only tangential to the goal."

Explanation
"Question 46. The best answer is G because the question asks for the choice that introduces the sentence by describing the Free Speech Movement and G explains that the Free Speech Move­ ment was composed of ""a coalition of civil rights groups and other political organizations."" The best answer .i s NOT: F because it mentions a different campaign occurring in the United States at this time, but it doesn ' t explain what the Free Speech Movement was. H because it mentions the conflict between the Free Speech Movement and university officials but fails to describe the Free Speech Movement. J because it hints at what caused the formation of the Free Speech Movement but doesn't describe what it was."

Explanation
"Question 47. The best answer is D because the only piece of relevant information given here is the location, Mississippi. The best answer is NOT: A because the fact that Mississippi was the twentieth state adm itted to the Union is irrelevant in this essay. B because Mississippi's being known as the Magnolia State is irrelevant in this essay. C because it is irrelevant in the essay that Mississippi was adm itted to the Union in 1817."

Explanation
"Question 48. The best answer is F because there is no need for any punctuation in this underlined portion. The four prepositional phrases in a row in this sentence work together to describe how Savio had spent his time: ""in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964 before returning to classes that fall."" Sometimes no punctuation is necessary. The best answer is NOT: G because before is confusingly and ungrammatically set off by commas from the preceding and following phrases, becoming kind of a floating word attached to nothing. H because a comma is incorrectly placed between the preposition before and the object of the preposition, returning. J because a semicolon is incorrectly placed between 1964 and before, leaving a sentence fragment following the semicolon."

Explanation
"Question 49. The best answer is B because the words That ban clearly refer to the ban, mentioned in the previous sentence, that the university had imposed on civil rights groups. This is the most specific choice, while all the other choices are unclear. The best answer is NOT: A because That stuff is vague and is too informal in tone. C because beginning with Which turn s the sentence into a relative clause and so into a sentence fragment rather than a complete sentence. D because there is no clear referent for the pronoun it (nothing that explains exactly what it stands for in the sentence)."

Explanation
"Question 50. The best answer is F because the coordinating conjunction and appropriately joins the two elements of the compound object in the sentence: ""a student strike"" and ""a sit-in protest."" The best answer is NOT: G because adding the words it became creates a second main clause that, because of the lack of punctua­ tion, produces a fused, or run-together, sentence. H because the statement created by the addition of H, "" T hat ban led to a student strike and was a sit-in protest,"" doesn't make sense, saying that the ban was a sit-in protest. J because the word than does not join the sentence elements meaningfully; ""That ban led to a student strike than a sit-in protest"" makes no sense."