All practice questions

The following sentences are from a paragraph about the preservation of ancient scrolls. Arrange the sentences in the most logical order to form a coherent paragraph that begins with a clear introduction and ends with an effective concluding sentence.

The local business owners were required to comply to the new safety regulations.

Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

The baker feeds the sourdough starter flour and water on a daily basis every day, this routine keeps the wild yeast active.

Which choice most effectively eliminates redundancy from the underlined portion while maintaining correct sentence structure?

Although the digital archive was designed to be permanent, the fragile physical nature of magnetic tape means that data must be migrated to new media on a regular basis at recurring intervals in order to ensure its long-term preservation.

Which choice most effectively and concisely completes the sentence?

In Barcelona, Spain, several architectural masterpieces designed by Antoni Gaudí draw millions of visitors each year. The basilica of La Sagrada Família , which is Gaudí’s most famous work, features towering spires and intricate facades. Construction on this iconic structure began in 1882 and remains unfinished to this day.

Which option represents the most grammatically correct punctuation for the underlined portion of the passage?

[1] Located on the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a secure backup for the world's crop diversity. [2] The facility is built deep inside a sandstone mountain, where permafrost and thick rock ensure that the seed samples remain frozen even without electricity. [3] This isolated location offers excellent protection against political conflicts, natural disasters, and system failures. [4] Interestingly, Spitsbergen is also home to a thriving population of polar bears, which are well-adapted to the harsh Arctic climate. [5] By storing duplicates of seeds from genebanks worldwide, the vault plays a crucial role in safeguarding global food security against future agricultural crises.

The writer is considering deleting Sentence 4 from the passage. Should the writer make this deletion?

The writer wants to organize the sentences below to logically present the chronological steps and historical significance of the accidental discovery of YInMn Blue. What is the most logical order for these sentences?

A student is writing a paragraph about the invention of the chocolate chip cookie. Arrange the following sentences in the most logical order to create a coherent paragraph that begins with a clear introduction and ends with an effective conclusion.

[1]
_____________________________. For decades, the vast wetlands were viewed as nothing more than a useless, disease-ridden swamp that hindered progress. Under the banner of development, developers and politicians sought to drain the land to build farms and cities. This widespread perception persisted until Marjory Stoneman Douglas published her seminal book, *The Everglades: River of Grass*, in 1947. Her writing completely redefined the region not as a stagnant marsh, but as a dynamic, free-flowing river crucial to Florida's ecological survival.

[2]
Douglas’s advocacy went far beyond the page. She founded the Friends of the Everglades, mobilizing citizens to fight against destructive projects such as a proposed jetport in the middle of the wetlands. Her efforts helped secure the preservation of the unique habitat, which is home to rare species like the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. Today, her work remains a foundational pillar of modern wetland conservation.

The writer wants to begin the passage with a sentence that introduces the main topic and sets up the discussion of how public perception of the Everglades shifted. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

Passage Excerpt:
Before the invention of radar, Britain’s coastlines were guarded by acoustic mirrors: massive, curved concrete structures designed to reflect and concentrate sound waves. Operators sat in front of these dishes with stethoscopes, listening intently for the distant drone of enemy aircraft engines. [1]

Which choice most effectively emphasizes the acoustic mirrors' scale and visual dominance on the landscape?

Although the team had initially planned to examine multiple variables, the lead researcher decided to focus at the effects of temperature on the enzyme's stability. Which of the following is the most appropriate choice to replace the underlined portion?

In the summer of 1967, postgraduate student Jocelyn Bell Burnell was analyzing data from a newly constructed radio telescope. She noticed a faint, repeating signal in the charts that pulsed with astonishing regularity. Due to the fact that the signals recurred at such highly periodic intervals of time, some astronomers initially wondered if they had detected a transmission from an extraterrestrial civilization.

Which option is the most effective choice for the underlined portion of the sentence?

In 1928, Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming returned to his laboratory and noticed that a mold had contaminated one of his petri dishes. This mold was a substance that possessed the ability to destroy the surrounding bacteria, leading to the discovery of penicillin.

Which of the following is the most effective replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

In 1948, Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland set out to design a system that could automatically read product information at checkout. Their initial design, which was inspired by Morse code, used a series of [underlined_start]concentric circular rings that formed circles, but this[underlined_end] pattern was prone to smudging during printing.

Which choice most clearly and concisely presents the underlined portion of the sentence?

In ancient Rome, salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used as a form of currency. Roman soldiers were paid in salt, or given a stipend to purchase it, which is the origin of the modern word *salary*. This precious commodity was essential not only for flavoring food but also for preserving meat in an era long before refrigeration.

[1] Indeed, the economic value of salt made it a highly sought-after import across the Mediterranean. It was offered to the gods during religious sacrifices to ensure purity and favor. Furthermore, sharing salt with a guest was a gesture of friendship and trust, establishing a bond that could not be easily broken.

Which choice provides the most effective transition from the preceding paragraph?

Dendrochronologists analyze the annual growth rings of ancient trees to reconstruct past climate patterns. Because these records provide a chronological history of the environment that is arranged in order of time, they allow researchers to map centuries of precipitation levels.

Which choice most effectively and concisely writes the underlined portion of the sentence?

The following paragraphs are from an essay about Marie Tharp's mapping of the ocean floor. To make the essay flow most logically, in what order should the paragraphs be placed?

In 1856, eighteen-year-old chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally created mauveine, the world’s first synthetic aniline dye, while attempting to synthesize a treatment for malaria. Recognizing the commercial potential of the vibrant purple substance, Perkin quickly patented his process and established a factory to mass-produce the dye. Indigo, another highly valued natural dye, was later successfully synthesized by German chemist Adolf von Baeyer in 1883. Perkin’s inexpensive synthetic dye revolutionized the fashion industry, making the color purple—previously reserved only for royalty—widely accessible to the general public.

The writer is considering deleting the underlined sentence from the passage. Should the writer make this deletion?

In his latest research paper, the marine biologist explained that the migration patterns of humpback whales are similar with those of blue whales, suggesting a shared evolutionary history. Which of the following is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral went for a walk in the woods with his dog. Upon returning, he noticed that burdock seeds had clung to his clothes and his dog's fur. Under a microscope, he saw that the seeds were covered in tiny hooks that attached to the small loops in the fabric. This discovery led to the invention of Velcro, which is a fastening system that is composed of two components: a hook side and a loop side.

Which of the following choices best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?