Standard English Conventions

In 1811, twelve-year-old Mary Anning made a remarkable discovery along the fossil-rich cliffs of Lyme Regis, England. The specimen [blank] was initially misidentified as a crocodile skull before being recognized as a prehistoric marine reptile known as an ichthyosaur. This finding, along with Anning’s subsequent discoveries, significantly advanced the field of paleontology during the nineteenth century.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Glaciologists studying the West Antarctic Ice Sheet have identified several deep subglacial lakes that periodically fill and drain beneath thousands of meters of ice. The sudden drainage of these massive reservoirs can cause the overlying glacier to accelerate ________ this surge is typically temporary, subsiding once the water basin is completely depleted.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Using a highly specialized spectrograph to observe distant stars, ________. This work ultimately led to the discovery of the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

The passage below contains a blank. Fill in the blank with the punctuation mark that correctly sets off the nonessential element, ensuring the sentence conforms to the conventions of Standard English.

Glaciologists studying the Antarctic ice sheet have recently found that active subglacial lakes can significantly accelerate the flow of overlying ice. The water released from these subterranean reservoirs acts as a critical lubricant ______ reduces friction at the ice-bedrock interface, allowing the glacier to slide forward at a much faster rate.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Which form of the verb 'collect' correctly completes the sentence to conform to the conventions of Standard English?

The following passage discusses the composition of ancient Roman concrete. Based on the context of the passage, which form of the noun 'clast' correctly fills the blank to complete the sentence?

Which noun logically completes the passage to ensure proper subject-modifier agreement?

Bioluminescent dinoflagellates are single-celled marine organisms that emit a brilliant blue-green glow when they are disturbed by shear stress from water movement. This stunning light-producing reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme _____ it serves as a defense mechanism to startle potential predators or attract larger organisms that feed on those predators.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

In the late nineteenth century, the Hudson River School painters captured the dramatic, untamed landscapes of the American wilderness, emphasizing the sublime power of nature. The ______ focus on luminous light and atmospheric effects reflected a shared romantic belief in the spiritual renewal offered by the natural world.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Before astronaut Mae Jemison boarded the Space Shuttle *Endeavour* in 1992 to become the first African American woman in space, she ______ as a general practitioner and Area Peace Corps medical officer in West Africa. These early experiences in international medicine, which required deep resourcefulness under challenging conditions, ultimately informed her subsequent research on human adaptation to spaceflight.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Which form of the noun in parentheses correctly completes the passage?

Initiated in 2007 by the African Union, the Great Green Wall was originally conceived as a simple corridor of trees designed to combat desertification in the Sahel region. However, the initiative [blank] now emphasizes a broader range of sustainable land management practices to support local communities.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

In her analysis of the social structures of the early Harappan civilization, archaeologist Leela Sen argues that the absence of monumental royal palaces does not indicate a lack of centralized authority ______ the uniform grid layout of cities like Mohenjo-daro suggests a highly organized administrative system governed by a ruling class of merchants or priests.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Linguists studying the creole languages of the Caribbean have identified complex grammatical structures that cannot be traced back to the languages of European colonizers. For many years, researchers assumed these structures were simplified versions of colonial speech ________ these features instead stem from a combination of African substrate languages and universal cognitive principles of language acquisition.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

During the late Devonian period, early tetrapods transitioned from aquatic environments to terrestrial habitats, a shift that required significant anatomical adaptations. To survive on land, these organisms evolved by developing lungs for breathing air, transforming their muscular fins into sturdy limbs for support, and _______

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents support highly complex and productive biological communities in the complete absence of solar energy. In these aphotic marine environments, chemosynthetic bacteria form the foundation of the local trophic structure ________ they oxidize dissolved hydrogen sulfide to synthesize organic compounds, thereby providing essential nutrients for specialized species like giant tubeworms.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

The naturalist John Muir was deeply committed to preserving the wilderness of the American West. In his writings, he argued that nature served a spiritual _______ it was a cathedral that offered people sanctuary from the noise of the industrial world.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Young sunflowers exhibit a behavior known as heliotropism; they track the movement of the sun from east to west during the day. At night, the stems bend in the opposite direction _______ return to face the east in anticipation of dawn.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Complete the passage by entering the punctuation mark that correctly sets off the nonessential element in the sentence.