SAT Reading and Writing Quiz: Grammar
20 questions · exam conditions
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GrammarQuestion 1 of 20

Initial surveys suggested that residents used the new transit app mostly during commuting hours, but weekend data hinted strongly at a different pattern. After reviewing the preliminary results,   decided to expand the study and adjust the timeline to account for unexpected seasonal effects that could otherwise distort the conclusions.

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

the preliminary results
the revised timeline
the control group
the research team
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SAT Reading and Writing Quiz

SAT Reading and Writing Quiz: Grammar

Practice Grammar in SAT Reading and Writing with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Grammar, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for SAT Reading and Writing.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Initial surveys suggested that residents used the new transit app mostly during commuting hours, but weekend data hinted strongly at a different pattern. After reviewing the preliminary results,   decided to expand the study and adjust the timeline to account for unexpected seasonal effects that could otherwise distort the conclusions.

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

  1. the preliminary results
  2. the revised timeline
  3. the control group
  4. the research team (correct answer)
Explanation: The introductory modifier implies that a person or group reviewed the results, so "the research team" is the logical subject. The other options are inanimate and cannot decide to act, creating a dangling modifier.

Question 2

To reduce glare on the microscope slides, the lab assistant adjusted the overhead lamp and then changed the angle of the mirror.   the lens with a soft cloth, the assistant avoided scratching the glass and kept the image sharp. The procedure is posted near the workstation for new interns to follow.

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

  1. Wiping (correct answer)
  2. Wiped
  3. To wipe
  4. Having wiped
Explanation: This question tests participial phrases that modify the subject. "Wiping" creates a participial phrase that correctly modifies "the assistant" and shows an action happening while adjusting the equipment. The -ing form works because it describes an action the assistant performs during the procedure. Choice B ("Wiped") would create a sentence fragment or suggest the lens was wiped before the assistant did anything. Choice C ("To wipe") creates an infinitive phrase suggesting purpose, but the context shows simultaneous action. Choice D ("Having wiped") implies the wiping happened before adjusting the lamp, contradicting the sequence. Participial phrases beginning sentences must logically modify the subject that immediately follows the comma.

Question 3

In evaluating the new therapy, the team compared outcomes across clinics that differed in staffing, training, and patient demographics to determine whether the results would generalize. One of the factors that   our ability to measure the treatment's effect is the variability in patient adherence, which can fluctuate with appointment availability, travel constraints, and shifting insurance coverage.

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

  1. complicates
  2. has complicated
  3. complicate (correct answer)
  4. complicating
Explanation: The relative pronoun that refers to factors (plural), so the verb in the clause must be plural: complicate. The other choices are singular, the wrong tense, or the wrong form.

Question 4

Neither the director nor the interns   responsible for approving budget overruns, a process that requires reviewing invoices, confirming grant restrictions, and documenting exceptions for audit purposes. That responsibility falls to the finance committee, which meets monthly to examine variances, flag irregularities for further investigation, and publish summaries for the board.

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

  1. is
  2. has been
  3. was
  4. are (correct answer)
Explanation: With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'interns,' which is plural, so 'are' is correct. The singular forms and past tense do not match the sentence's structure and meaning.

Question 5

Known for advocating incremental reform,   argue that sweeping changes rarely survive the legislative process and that durable policy emerges from coalitions built step by step. Their perspective, often criticized as cautious, draws on case studies in which ambitious overhauls passed one chamber only to stall when committees demanded revisions.

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

  1. the bill under debate
  2. the committee chair
  3. it
  4. some policy analysts (correct answer)
Explanation: The modifier must logically describe the subject, and the plural verb "argue" requires a plural subject, so "some policy analysts" is correct. The other options are singular or illogical subjects for the described action.

Question 6

Not only the project manager but also the engineers   responsible for verifying that the updated blueprints reflect the latest safety codes and site constraints. Because any discrepancy could delay permits, the team set up an additional review stage to catch errors before contractors order materials, thereby reducing costly rework and maintaining the construction schedule.

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

  1. is
  2. are (correct answer)
  3. has been
  4. was
Explanation: With 'not only...but also,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'engineers,' so 'are' is correct. 'Is,' 'was,' and 'has been' are singular or wrong in tense.

Question 7

Unlike most laptops,   lasts through a full day of video editing, even when multiple high-resolution files are open, and the chassis stays cool to the touch. Its efficient cooling prevents the performance dips that typically occur under heavy workloads, and the on-device controls make it easy to shift between power modes without interrupting work.

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

  1. its battery
  2. the performance
  3. battery life
  4. this model (correct answer)
Explanation: The comparison 'Unlike most laptops' must be followed by something comparable to laptops, namely 'this model.' The other choices compare parts or qualities to laptops, creating a faulty comparison.

Question 8

After reviewing satellite images from successive seasons and applying a new algorithm to correct for atmospheric interference,   concluded that the glaciers are retreating faster than previously reported. Their report urges policymakers to update infrastructure plans across the region and to invest in more frequent monitoring of high-altitude basins to improve public safety.

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

  1. the data
  2. the conclusion
  3. the retreat
  4. the researchers (correct answer)
Explanation: The modifier indicates that the subject performed the reviewing and analysis; only 'the researchers' can do that. The other choices are inanimate and would create a dangling modifier.

Question 9

By the time the review committee convenes tomorrow, the researchers   finalized the dataset and will be ready to present preliminary findings. Although the team encountered several delays during data cleaning, they implemented a revised protocol that reduced errors and documented each change to ensure transparency for external auditors and stakeholders.

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

  1. have
  2. had
  3. will have (correct answer)
  4. are
Explanation: With the future time marker "by the time … tomorrow," the future perfect "will have finalized" is required. "Have" and "had" use the wrong time frame, and "are finalized" is ungrammatical for the intended meaning.

Question 10

Having recorded more than 200 interviews over three years,   will publish a searchable database next spring. The resource is intended to preserve community stories while giving teachers and students access to primary sources for local history projects, complete with transcripts, audio clips, and metadata that links each story to locations on an interactive map.

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

  1. the research team (correct answer)
  2. the resulting archive
  3. they
  4. this
Explanation: The introductory modifier describes the recorder, so the logical and grammatical subject is 'the research team.' The other options are vague, ambiguous, or attribute the recording/publishing to an inanimate result.

Question 11

In response to expanded outreach, several high schools have launched information sessions about college-credit options, inviting families to meet advisers and ask detailed questions. Over the past three years, the number of applicants who list community-college coursework on their resumes   steadily, a trend the admissions office links to these initiatives and to additional dual-enrollment seats.

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

  1. have increased
  2. is increasing
  3. has increased (correct answer)
  4. increase
Explanation: The number' is a singular subject and with the time span 'Over the past three years' calls for the present perfect 'has increased.' The other choices either mismatch number or use an inappropriate tense/aspect.

Question 12

Neither the swarm of startups that has emerged in the region nor the established firms with deep pockets   eager to surrender market share, a fact that complicates any attempt to predict who will dominate next year. Given that investment conditions can shift abruptly, industry analysts urge caution and emphasize the need to evaluate assumptions before committing resources to one strategy.

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

  1. is
  2. has been
  3. are (correct answer)
  4. was
Explanation: Are' agrees with the nearer subject in the neither...nor construction, 'the established firms,' which is plural. The other choices are singular or use mismatched tense.

Question 13

After reviewing hundreds of photographs from the expedition,   concluded that the unusual tracks belonged to a wading bird. The final report explains why the impressions were initially misidentified, notes the lighting conditions that obscured key details, and recommends clearer labeling for future field notes to prevent confusion among interns during cataloging.

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

  1. the scientists (correct answer)
  2. the photographs
  3. they
  4. it
Explanation: The introductory modifier 'After reviewing...' must modify the noun that did the reviewing, which is 'the scientists.' 'The photographs' creates a dangling modifier, while 'they' and 'it' lack a clear or correctly numbered antecedent.

Question 14

Opening the century-old ledger,   discovered a series of meticulous margin notes that revealed how the town allocated relief funds during winter shortages. These annotations, cross-referenced with newspaper reports, allowed the historian to trace shifts in policy, to compare municipal budgets, and to identify the families most directly affected by rationing and sudden price increases.

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

  1. the brittle pages
  2. faint pencil marks
  3. a tangle of rubber bands
  4. the archivist (correct answer)
Explanation: The introductory modifier must logically modify the subject, so a person—the archivist—must be the one who discovered the notes. The other choices are inanimate and create a dangling modifier.

Question 15

Dr. Malik mentors a cohort of first-generation scholars, many of   she introduces to alumni who can offer career advice and internships. Because these introductions often lead to long-term partnerships, the university has expanded its networking events to include more industries and regions and has created follow-up workshops that help students maintain professional relationships.

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

  1. who
  2. whose
  3. whoever
  4. whom (correct answer)
Explanation: The pronoun is the object of the preposition "of," so "whom" is required. "Who" and "whoever" are subject forms, and "whose" is possessive, none of which fit the grammatical role here.

Question 16

After years of planning, the museum board voted to send its interactive exhibit on tour, hoping to reach audiences beyond the city limits. In announcing the decision, the board described a series of community-outreach efforts;   to be coordinated by regional volunteers rather than by staff from the main campus.

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

  1. these efforts were (correct answer)
  2. this effort was
  3. these efforts was
  4. this effort were
Explanation: A correctly uses the plural subject and verb to match 'efforts.' B, C, and D create number disagreement between the subject and verb.

Question 17

After scanning thousands of fossils with micro-CT, the paleontologist compiled a database to evaluate competing evolutionary hypotheses while controlling for age, location, and preservation bias. The resulting analysis reveals that a cluster of rare traits   present in juveniles but not in adults, a pattern that challenges assumptions about the timing and speed of maturation in the lineage.

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

  1. are
  2. have been
  3. is (correct answer)
  4. were being
Explanation: The subject is 'a cluster,' which is singular, so 'is' is required. The other choices are plural or use inappropriate tense/aspect.

Question 18

By the time the grant committee announced its decision, the robotics team   the prototype and compiled a detailed risk assessment. Their efficient workflow, which relied on nightly check-ins and shared task boards, kept small issues from accumulating into major setbacks during the final sprint and allowed mentors to spot problems early.

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

  1. has finished
  2. were finishing
  3. finish
  4. had finished (correct answer)
Explanation: With the time marker "By the time," the past perfect "had finished" correctly indicates an action completed before another past event. The other choices use incorrect tense or number agreement for the singular collective noun "team."

Question 19

Facing mounting delivery delays, the board of the nonprofit arts center discussed whether to cancel its spring exhibition or postpone installation and considered how refunds would affect the budget. After an hour of debate, the board insisted that   would take responsibility for the oversight and issue a public apology before ticket sales resume.

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

  1. it (correct answer)
  2. they
  3. its
  4. their
Explanation: The singular collective noun "board" takes the singular pronoun "it" as the subject. "They" is plural, and "its/their" are possessive forms, not subjects.

Question 20

The independent review board examined hundreds of pages of lab notes and correspondence, comparing timestamps across experiments to determine whether proper protocols were followed before the results were sent to a journal. After reading the study and its appendices,   concluded that several graphs mislabeled control groups, a problem that likely contributed to confusion among readers.

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

  1. the conclusion
  2. it
  3. there
  4. the board (correct answer)
Explanation: The opening modifier must describe the entity doing the reading, which is 'the board.' 'The conclusion' cannot read, 'it' is ambiguous, and 'there' cannot serve as the grammatical subject here.