- Read this sentence.
Neither the lead guitarist nor the backup singers remembered ______ lyrics during the final rehearsal.
Answer: their
This question tests subject-verb agreement and pronoun agreement in sentences with compound subjects joined by "neither...nor." When you encounter these constructions, you need to identify what the pronoun refers to and ensure it matches in number.
The sentence has a compound subject: "Neither the lead guitarist nor the backup singers." The pronoun "their" must refer back to this entire subject. Even though "neither...nor" creates a structure where the verb agrees with the closer subject ("singers"), the pronoun that refers to the whole compound subject should be plural because the sentence is talking about multiple people collectively - both the guitarist and the singers forgot lyrics.
Choice A) "their" is correct because it's a plural pronoun that appropriately refers to all the people mentioned in the compound subject.
Choice B) "his" is wrong because it's singular and masculine, which doesn't account for all the people in the compound subject. We don't know the gender of everyone involved, and this excludes the multiple backup singers.
Choice C) "his or her" is also singular and doesn't work because it only refers to one person, not the multiple people (guitarist plus singers) who forgot their lyrics.
Choice D) "its" is completely wrong because it's used for things, not people. Musicians are people, not objects.
Remember: When a pronoun refers to a compound subject with multiple people, use a plural pronoun regardless of whether the sentence uses "neither...nor" or "either...or." Focus on who or what the pronoun actually represents in the sentence.
- Read this sentence.
The company, known for its innovative products, will expand ______ operations overseas next year.
Answer: its
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement, specifically when to use possessive pronouns with singular collective nouns. When you encounter sentences with pronouns, always identify what noun the pronoun refers to and ensure they agree in number.
The pronoun needs to refer back to "company," which is a singular collective noun. Even though a company consists of many people, grammatically it's treated as one entity. Therefore, you need a singular possessive pronoun to show that the operations belong to the company.
Choice D, "its," is correct because it's the possessive form of "it" used for singular nouns and entities. "Its" shows ownership without an apostrophe—the company's operations belong to it.
Choice A, "their," is incorrect because it's a plural possessive pronoun. While "their" might seem logical since companies have multiple employees, "company" is grammatically singular, so the pronoun must be singular too.
Choice B, "it's," is wrong because this is a contraction meaning "it is" or "it has," not a possessive pronoun. If you substituted this choice, the sentence would read "will expand it is operations," which makes no grammatical sense.
Choice C, "his or her," is incorrect because these pronouns refer to people, not organizations or entities. Companies aren't gendered, so you wouldn't use personal pronouns to refer to them.
Remember: collective nouns like "company," "team," or "government" are singular and take singular pronouns. Also, "its" (possessive) never has an apostrophe, while "it's" (contraction) always does.
- Read this sentence.
Economics, despite its complex theories and formulas, is a fascinating subject for ______ who are interested in how societies function.
Answer: those
This question tests your understanding of pronoun reference and how to correctly connect pronouns to their antecedents in complex sentences.
The sentence needs a pronoun that refers to people who are interested in how societies function. When you're looking for the right pronoun, you need to consider both grammar and meaning. The pronoun must be plural (since we're talking about multiple people) and must function as the subject of the clause "who are interested in how societies function."
Choice D, "those," is correct because it's a demonstrative pronoun that refers to people in general - specifically, people who have the characteristic described in the "who" clause. "Those" naturally introduces a defining relative clause and creates the meaning "those people who are interested in how societies function."
Choice A, "them," is incorrect because it's an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun. You can't say "for them who are interested" - it's grammatically wrong. Choice B, "that," doesn't work because "that" refers to things, not people, and creates an awkward construction when followed by "who." Choice C, "these," is technically grammatical but sounds unnatural because "these" typically refers to specific, nearby items rather than a general group of people with shared interests.
Remember that demonstrative pronouns like "those" are often the answer when you need to refer to an unspecified group of people who share a particular characteristic. "Those who..." is a common and correct construction in formal English.
- What is the best way to revise the following sentence?
Each of the new employees received their training manual on the first day of work.
Answer: Each of the new employees received his or her training manual on the first day of work.
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement, a fundamental grammar concept where pronouns must match their antecedents in number, gender, and person. The key challenge here is recognizing what the pronoun refers to and ensuring proper agreement.
The correct answer is C because "each" is a singular pronoun that requires a singular pronoun reference. While "employees" appears in the prepositional phrase "of the new employees," the actual subject is "each," which is always singular. Therefore, the pronoun must be singular: "his or her." This construction properly maintains grammatical agreement while being inclusive.
Choice A changes "their" to "our," which creates a pronoun shift and suggests the speaker is giving out training manuals, changing the intended meaning entirely. Choice B makes two errors: it uses "receive" (plural verb) with the singular subject "each," and it uses "their" (plural pronoun) to refer back to the singular "each." Choice D uses "its," which is reserved for non-human entities, making it inappropriate when referring to people.
The phrase "his or her" might seem awkward, but it's the most grammatically correct option when you need a gender-neutral singular pronoun in formal writing. Some modern style guides now accept singular "they," but traditional grammar rules—which standardized tests typically follow—require "his or her" in this context.
Remember: when you see "each," "every," "either," or "neither," these words are always singular and need singular pronouns, even when followed by plural nouns in prepositional phrases.
- Which sentence in the paragraph contains an error in pronoun agreement?
Answer: Sentence 2
When you encounter pronoun agreement questions, you need to check whether pronouns match their antecedents in number (singular or plural) and person.
Let's examine sentence 2: "Every bird and mammal has their own unique role in the ecosystem." The subject here is "Every bird and mammal." While this phrase mentions two types of animals, the word "every" makes it singular because it refers to each individual creature, not all creatures collectively. The singular verb "has" confirms this interpretation. However, the sentence uses "their," which is a plural pronoun. Since the subject is grammatically singular, it should be "its own unique role," not "their own unique role."
Looking at the other options: Choice A presents sentence 1, which correctly uses "habitat" (singular) to match "preserve" (singular). Choice C shows sentence 3, where "staff" takes the singular verb "works" and no pronouns appear, so there's no agreement error. Choice D refers to sentence 4, where "They" correctly refers back to the plural "staff" (when considered as multiple individuals) and matches the plural verb "educate."
The key trap here is that "every" creates singular subjects even when followed by compound phrases. Words like "every," "each," "either," and "neither" always create singular antecedents, regardless of what follows them.
Remember: When you see "every," "each," or similar words, treat the subject as singular and use singular pronouns like "it," "his," "her," or "its" to refer back to it.
- Which sentence in the paragraph should be revised to correct an error in pronoun agreement?
Answer: Sentence 3
When you encounter pronoun agreement questions, you need to check whether pronouns match their antecedents in number (singular/plural) and person. Look for mismatches where a singular noun is paired with a plural pronoun, or vice versa.
In sentence 3, "Each speaker should prepare their statement," there's a pronoun agreement error. "Each speaker" is singular (the word "each" always creates a singular subject), but "their" is plural. This creates a mismatch. The sentence should read "Each speaker should prepare his or her statement" or be rewritten to avoid the issue entirely, such as "All speakers should prepare their statements."
Choice B is incorrect because sentence 2 has proper agreement: "Every resident who plans to speak" (singular) matches with the implied singular verb and doesn't contain problematic pronouns. Choice C is wrong because sentence 1 contains no pronouns at all—it simply states facts about the city council meeting. Choice D is incorrect because sentence 4 correctly uses "its" to refer to "the agenda"—both are singular, so the agreement is proper.
The key trap here is that "their" sounds natural in everyday speech, and many people use it informally with singular antecedents like "each" or "every." However, in formal writing tested on the SHSAT, this remains an error. Remember: words like "each," "every," "either," and "neither" create singular subjects that require singular pronouns, even when the meaning seems to refer to multiple people.
- Which sentence is written correctly?
Answer: The orchestra received a standing ovation for its stunning performance.
When you encounter questions about subject-verb agreement, pay special attention to collective nouns—words that refer to groups of people or things. The key is determining whether the collective noun is acting as a single unit or as separate individuals.
Answer A is correct because "orchestra" is a collective noun functioning as a single unit. When the orchestra performs, it acts together as one entity, so it takes the singular pronoun "its." The sentence properly matches the collective noun with singular agreement throughout.
Answer B creates an agreement error with "Board of Directors." While this collective noun takes the singular verb "will announce," it incorrectly switches to the plural pronoun "their." Since the board is making one unified decision, it should be "its decision."
Answer C makes the opposite mistake. "Pack" is treated as singular with the pronoun "its," but then uses the plural verb "protect." It should be either "protects its territory" (treating the pack as one unit) or "protect their territory" (treating the wolves as individuals).
Answer D has multiple agreement problems. "Team" is paired with the plural verb "are" and pronoun "their." In American English, collective nouns like "team" typically take singular verbs and pronouns when referring to the group's unified action: "My favorite team is finally going to win its championship."
Remember this strategy: For collective nouns, decide whether the group is acting as one unit (use singular) or as separate individuals (use plural), then keep that choice consistent throughout the sentence with both verbs and pronouns.
- Read this sentence.
Either the patient or the doctors will have to change ______ appointment time.
Answer: their
When you encounter pronoun agreement questions with compound subjects joined by "or," you need to identify which part of the subject determines the pronoun choice. The key rule is that the pronoun agrees with the part of the subject closest to the verb.
In this sentence, "Either the patient or the doctors" creates a compound subject where "doctors" (plural) is closest to the verb "will have." Since "doctors" is plural, the pronoun must also be plural, making "their" the correct choice.
Answer C) "their" is correct because it agrees with "doctors," the plural noun closest to the verb. This follows the proximity rule for compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor."
Answer A) "his" assumes the subject is singular and male, but this doesn't account for the plural "doctors" being closest to the verb, nor does it work if the patient is female.
Answer B) "his or her" treats the subject as singular, which ignores the proximity rule. While this might seem logical since "patient" is singular, grammar rules require agreement with the nearest subject element.
Answer D) "its" would only be appropriate for non-human subjects, and it's also singular, violating the same proximity rule that eliminates the other wrong answers.
Remember this pattern: with "either...or" or "neither...nor" constructions, the pronoun always agrees with whichever subject is closest to the verb. This proximity rule overrides other considerations about gender or number of the first subject mentioned.
- Read this sentence.
After the storm, the town and the surrounding county declared ______ a disaster area.
Answer: themselves
This question tests your understanding of reflexive pronouns and subject-antecedent agreement. When you encounter a sentence with a missing pronoun, you need to identify what the pronoun refers back to (its antecedent) and ensure they match in number and person.
The subject of this sentence is "the town and the surrounding county" — two entities joined by "and," making it a compound subject that's grammatically plural. Since the pronoun refers back to this plural subject performing an action on itself, you need a plural reflexive pronoun.
Choice C, "themselves," is correct because it's the plural reflexive pronoun that properly refers back to the compound subject "the town and the surrounding county." The sentence means that these two entities together declared their combined area a disaster zone.
Choice A, "itself," is wrong because it's singular, but your antecedent is plural (town AND county). Choice B, "himself or herself," is incorrect because it refers to people, not places or governmental entities. Additionally, this awkward construction suggests you're unsure of gender, which doesn't apply to towns and counties. Choice D, "oneself," is wrong because it's an indefinite reflexive pronoun used with indefinite subjects like "one" — it doesn't refer back to the specific compound subject in this sentence.
Remember this pattern: compound subjects joined by "and" are plural and require plural pronouns. When you see two nouns connected by "and," think plural agreement for any pronouns that follow.
- Read this sentence.
The United States has ______ own unique history and system of government.
Answer: its
This question tests your understanding of possessive pronouns, specifically when to use apostrophes and how to match pronouns with their antecedents.
The key is identifying what "The United States" refers to and choosing the correct possessive form. "The United States" is a singular noun that refers to one country, even though it sounds plural. Since it's a country (not a person), you need a neutral possessive pronoun.
The correct answer is (B) "its" because it's the possessive form of "it" used for singular, non-human nouns. "Its" shows ownership without an apostrophe - just like "his" and "her" don't use apostrophes when showing possession.
Choice (A) "it's" is incorrect because this is a contraction meaning "it is" or "it has," not a possessive pronoun. If you substituted this, you'd get "The United States has it is own unique history," which makes no sense.
Choice (C) "their" is wrong because it's a plural possessive pronoun, but "The United States" is grammatically singular. Even though the name contains "States" (plural), the country itself is treated as one entity.
Choice (D) "his or her" is incorrect because these pronouns refer to people, not countries. Countries are referred to with neutral pronouns like "it" and "its."
Remember this pattern: "it's" = "it is" (contraction), while "its" = belonging to it (possessive). When you see possessive pronoun questions on the SHSAT, always identify whether the noun is singular/plural and human/non-human first.
- Which sentence contains a pronoun agreement error?
Answer: Somebody on the boys' team left their water bottle on the bench.
Pronoun-antecedent agreement questions test whether pronouns correctly match their antecedents in number (singular or plural). When you encounter these questions, identify each pronoun and trace it back to the noun it replaces, then check if they agree in number.
The correct answer is D because "somebody" is a singular indefinite pronoun, but "their" is plural. Since "somebody" refers to one person (even though we don't know who), it requires a singular pronoun. The sentence should read "his," "her," or "his or her" instead of "their."
Let's examine why the other options are correct. Choice A uses "their" to refer to "my dog and cat," which is plural because it connects two animals with "and" — this agreement is perfect. Choice B correctly pairs "their" with "many of the new recipes." While "many" might seem tricky, it's a plural indefinite pronoun referring to multiple recipes, so "their" fits. Choice C uses "its" to refer to "the class of 2025." Even though a class contains many students, "class" itself is a singular collective noun, making "its" the appropriate choice.
Watch out for indefinite pronouns like "somebody," "anyone," "everyone," and "each" — these are grammatically singular even when they refer to groups of people. The SHSAT often tests this concept because it conflicts with how we sometimes speak casually. When you see indefinite pronouns, always pair them with singular pronouns, even if it sounds awkward.
- Which of the following sentences uses pronouns correctly?
Answer: The jury delivered its verdict to the judge.
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement, a fundamental grammar concept where pronouns must match their antecedents in number (singular or plural) and person.
The correct answer is B because "jury" is a collective noun that acts as a single unit when making decisions. Since the jury delivered one unified verdict, it functions as singular, making "its" the appropriate pronoun. Collective nouns like "jury," "team," "committee," or "family" typically take singular pronouns when acting as one entity.
Choice A is incorrect because "one" is singular, but "their" is plural. The sentence should read "One of the girls left her backpack" since we're talking about one individual girl.
Choice C demonstrates a common error with indefinite pronouns. "A person" is singular, so "they" (plural) doesn't agree. The correct versions would be "he or she must work hard" or restructuring to "If people want to succeed, they must work hard."
Choice D fails because "neither" is always singular, regardless of what follows it. Since we're discussing neither bus individually, the pronoun should be singular: "Neither of the buses had its air conditioning working."
Remember this key strategy: When you encounter pronoun questions, always identify the antecedent first, determine if it's singular or plural, then check if the pronoun matches. Pay special attention to tricky words like "one," "each," "neither," "everyone," and collective nouns—these often appear singular but can fool you into choosing plural pronouns.
- Read this sentence.
Either my aunt or my cousins will bring ______ famous potato salad to the picnic.
Answer: their
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement with compound subjects joined by "either...or." When you encounter these constructions, the pronoun must agree with the part of the subject closest to it.
In "Either my aunt or my cousins will bring ______ famous potato salad," the compound subject consists of "my aunt" (singular) and "my cousins" (plural), connected by "either...or." Since "my cousins" appears closest to the blank, the pronoun must agree with this plural antecedent.
Choice A) "their" is correct because it's a plural pronoun that agrees with "my cousins," the nearest part of the compound subject.
Choice B) "his or her" is incorrect because these are singular pronouns. While "his or her" might seem logical since it acknowledges both possibilities, it doesn't follow the proximity rule for "either...or" constructions.
Choice C) "her" is wrong because it's singular and only agrees with "my aunt." Even though "her" would work if only the aunt were mentioned, the proximity rule requires agreement with "my cousins."
Choice D) "its" is incorrect because it's used for non-human subjects, and both "my aunt" and "my cousins" refer to people.
Remember this key rule: with "either...or" and "neither...nor" constructions, the verb and any pronouns agree with the subject closest to them. If you switched the order to "Either my cousins or my aunt," the correct pronoun would be "her." Always identify which part of the compound subject sits nearest to the pronoun.
- Which sentence in the paragraph contains an error in pronoun-antecedent agreement?
Answer: Sentence 2
When you encounter pronoun-antecedent agreement questions, you need to identify whether pronouns correctly match their antecedents in both number (singular/plural) and gender. The key is finding the noun that the pronoun refers to and checking if they agree.
Let's examine sentence 2: "Each participant will set their own reading goal for the summer." The pronoun "their" is plural, but its antecedent "each participant" is singular. The word "each" always takes a singular verb and singular pronouns, so this should read "his or her own reading goal" or be rewritten to avoid the issue entirely. This creates a clear pronoun-antecedent disagreement, making D the correct answer.
Looking at the wrong choices: A (sentence 1) contains no pronouns at all, so there can't be any pronoun-antecedent errors. B (sentence 4) also lacks pronouns entirely. C (sentence 3) uses "those who meet their goals" - here "their" correctly refers to the plural "those," so the agreement is proper.
The trap in this question is that "their" sounds natural in everyday speech when referring to "each participant" because we often use plural pronouns to avoid specifying gender. However, formal grammar rules require singular pronouns to match singular antecedents. Watch for words like "each," "every," "anyone," and "everyone" - these indefinite pronouns are always singular and need singular pronoun references, even when the meaning seems to involve multiple people.
- Read this sentence.
Dr. Evans is one of those professors who always challenge ______ students to think critically.
Answer: their
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement with indefinite pronouns and relative clauses. When you encounter sentences with "one of those [people] who," pay careful attention to what the pronoun actually refers to.
The correct answer is C) "their" because the pronoun refers to "professors," not to "Dr. Evans." Let's break down the sentence structure: "Dr. Evans is one of those professors who always challenge their students." The relative clause "who always challenge" modifies "professors" (plural), and since multiple professors are challenging students, we need the plural possessive pronoun "their."
Here's why the other options don't work: A) "her" is incorrect because while Dr. Evans might be female, the pronoun doesn't refer back to Dr. Evans specifically—it refers to all the professors in this category. B) "his" makes the same error as choice A, incorrectly assuming the pronoun refers to Dr. Evans rather than to the group of professors. D) "his or her" attempts to be inclusive but is still wrong because it treats "professors" as singular when the verb "challenge" clearly indicates plural subject agreement.
The key trap here is assuming the pronoun refers to the named individual (Dr. Evans) when it actually refers to the broader group. Always identify what word the pronoun logically replaces by looking at the complete sentence structure, especially in "one of those who" constructions where the action typically applies to the entire group, not just the individual mentioned.
- What is the best way to combine these two sentences?
The athletes trained for months. The athletes were ready for the competition.
Answer: The athletes, who had trained for months, were ready for their competition.
When you encounter sentence combining questions, you need to merge two related ideas while maintaining proper grammar and logical flow. The key is preserving the meaning of both original sentences while creating smooth, grammatically correct prose.
Choice B correctly combines the sentences by using a relative clause: "The athletes, who had trained for months, were ready for their competition." This structure maintains the causal relationship between the training and readiness while using proper subject-verb agreement ("athletes" with "were") and consistent pronoun reference ("their").
Choice A contains a pronoun error—it switches from the plural "athletes" to the singular "he," creating disagreement. Choice C makes a similar pronoun mistake by using "its" (which refers to things, not people) instead of "their" when referring to the athletes. Choice D has a subject-verb agreement error, pairing the plural subject "athletes" with the singular verb "was" instead of "were."
Each incorrect option demonstrates common grammar traps: pronoun-antecedent disagreement (A and C) and subject-verb disagreement (D). These errors make the sentences confusing or grammatically incorrect, even though the basic meaning might still be understandable.
When combining sentences on the SHSAT, always check three things: Does the subject agree with the verb? Do pronouns match their antecedents in number and type? Does the combined sentence preserve the logical relationship between the original ideas? These quick checks will help you avoid the most common traps in sentence combining questions.
- Which sentence should be revised to maintain a consistent point of view?
Answer: Sentence 3
When you encounter a question about point of view consistency, you're being tested on whether all sentences use the same pronoun perspective throughout a passage. Writers should maintain either first person (I, we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, they, one) consistently.
Looking at this passage, sentences 1, 2, and 4 all use third person language: "A hiker," "A clear morning," and "one's safety." However, sentence 3 shifts to second person by using "You should carry extra layers." This inconsistency breaks the established third-person perspective and should be revised to something like "A hiker should carry extra layers" or "One should carry extra layers."
Choice A is incorrect because sentence 1 properly establishes the third-person point of view with "A hiker." Choice B is wrong because sentence 2 maintains third person consistently by discussing weather conditions without using personal pronouns. Choice D is incorrect because sentence 4 continues the third-person perspective with "one's safety," which aligns with the established point of view.
On the SHSAT, point of view questions often test your ability to spot when a passage shifts between "you," "one," and third-person references like "a person" or "students." Always scan for pronoun consistency when you see revision questions, and remember that formal writing typically favors third person over the more casual second person "you."
- Which sentence in the paragraph should be revised to correct an inappropriate shift in person?
Answer: Sentence 1
When you encounter questions about "inappropriate shifts in person," you're looking for inconsistent pronoun usage within a sentence or paragraph. Writers should maintain the same point of view (first person "I/we," second person "you," or third person "he/she/they") throughout their work.
Sentence 1 contains the error: "When a student volunteers in the community, you gain valuable experience..." This sentence inappropriately shifts from third person ("a student") to second person ("you") within the same sentence. It should either say "When a student volunteers in the community, he or she gains valuable experience" or "When you volunteer in the community, you gain valuable experience."
Let's examine why the other choices are incorrect. Choice A (Sentence 4) uses third person consistently with "These experiences can also be a great addition" - no pronoun shift occurs here. Choice B (Sentence 2) maintains third person throughout: "Many local organizations rely on the help of young people" - again, no shift in person. Choice C (Sentence 3) provides examples using third person: "the food pantry and the animal shelter always need volunteers" - this sentence is grammatically consistent.
The key strategy for these questions is to identify the subject and pronouns in each sentence, then check whether they maintain the same point of view. Look especially for sentences that begin with one type of subject (like "a student") but then switch to a different pronoun perspective (like "you"). These shifts confuse readers about who is being addressed.
- Read this sentence.
Several of the candidates explained ______ views on the economy during the debate.
Answer: their
This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement, a key grammar concept on the SHSAT. When you encounter pronoun questions, identify what noun the pronoun refers to (the antecedent) and ensure they match in number and gender.
The antecedent here is "Several of the candidates." The key word is "Several," which indicates multiple people, making the antecedent plural. Therefore, you need a plural pronoun to match.
Choice D) "their" is correct because it's a plural pronoun that agrees with the plural antecedent "Several of the candidates." The sentence logically means that multiple candidates each explained their own individual views.
Choice A) "his or her" is incorrect because it's singular. While this construction works for singular antecedents like "each candidate," it doesn't match the plural "Several of the candidates." Choice B) "one's" is also singular and creates an awkward, overly formal tone that doesn't fit the straightforward meaning of the sentence. Choice C) "its" is used for non-human things or entities, not people. You'd use "its" with antecedents like "the company" or "the organization," but never with "candidates" referring to people.
Remember this pattern: when the subject includes plural indicators like "several," "many," "both," or "all," use plural pronouns like "their," "them," or "they." Don't be thrown off by intervening phrases—focus on the true subject to determine whether you need singular or plural agreement.
- Read this sentence.
Both the maple tree and the oak tree in our front yard lose ______ leaves in the autumn.
Answer: their
This question tests pronoun agreement, which requires matching pronouns to their antecedents in both number and person. When you see a sentence with multiple subjects connected by "and," you need to determine whether they form a compound subject that requires a plural pronoun.
The subject here is "Both the maple tree and the oak tree" — two separate trees connected by "and," creating a compound subject. Since we're referring to multiple trees, we need a plural possessive pronoun to show that the leaves belong to both trees. Choice D) "their" correctly provides this plural possessive form, making the sentence read: "Both the maple tree and the oak tree in our front yard lose their leaves in the autumn."
Choice A) "its" is a singular possessive pronoun that would only work for one tree, not two. Choice B) "there" is an adverb indicating location ("over there") or the expletive in constructions like "there are," but it's not possessive at all. Choice C) "it's" is a contraction meaning "it is" or "it has" — you can test this by substituting the full phrase, which would create the nonsensical "lose it is leaves."
Remember this key rule: when subjects are joined by "and," they almost always create a plural compound subject requiring plural pronouns. Also, distinguish between "its" (possessive), "it's" (contraction), and "there" (location/expletive) versus "their" (plural possessive). The SHSAT frequently tests these easily confused words, so practice identifying what each sentence actually needs.
