SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz: Commonly Confused Words
20 questions · exam conditions
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Commonly Confused WordsQuestion 1 of 20

Select the correct word.

The playwright hoped her new comedy would revive the theater's sagging  .

morale
moral
morals
morale's
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SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz

SHSAT English Language Arts Quiz: Commonly Confused Words

Practice Commonly Confused Words in SHSAT English Language Arts 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 Commonly Confused Words, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for SHSAT English Language Arts.

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

Select the correct word.

The playwright hoped her new comedy would revive the theater's sagging  .

  1. morale (correct answer)
  2. moral
  3. morals
  4. morale's
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between commonly confused words that sound similar but have different meanings and uses. The sentence describes a theater with "sagging" something that the playwright hopes her comedy will "revive." You need a word that makes sense in this context - something that can decline and be restored through entertainment. Morale (A) is the correct answer. Morale refers to the confidence, enthusiasm, and spirit of a group or individual. A theater can indeed have "sagging morale" if audiences are declining, reviews are poor, or the atmosphere is generally downbeat. A successful new comedy could absolutely "revive" or restore the theater's morale by bringing back audiences and creating positive energy. Moral (B) is incorrect because it refers to a lesson or principle of right and wrong, typically found in stories or fables. Theaters don't have "sagging morals" in this context, and comedies don't typically "revive morals." Morals (C) is the plural form of moral, referring to principles of right and wrong behavior. Like option B, this doesn't fit the context of what a theater might possess or what a comedy might restore. Morale's (D) is the possessive form of morale, but the sentence doesn't require a possessive - it needs a direct object for "revive." Remember this distinction: morale relates to spirit and confidence (think "moral support"), while moral relates to ethics and lessons. Context clues like "sagging" and "revive" often point toward morale in scenarios involving groups or institutions.

Question 2

Which word correctly completes the sentence?

Although the chef tasted the sauce repeatedly, the subtle bitterness remained   to her.

  1. elusive (correct answer)
  2. illusory
  3. elicit
  4. illicit
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between similar-sounding words and choose the one that fits the sentence's meaning. When you encounter vocabulary questions with close answer choices, focus on the precise definition and context clues. The sentence describes a chef who keeps tasting sauce but can't detect a "subtle bitterness" that "remained   to her." The context clues tell you she's trying to perceive something but failing to do so. You need a word meaning "difficult to perceive or grasp." Choice A, "elusive," means difficult to find, catch, or achieve—exactly what's happening here. The bitterness is present but hard for the chef to detect, making it elusive to her senses. Choice B, "illusory," means based on illusion or not real. This doesn't fit because the bitterness actually exists in the sauce—it's not imaginary or false. Choice C, "elicit," is a verb meaning to draw out or evoke a response. This doesn't work grammatically since you need an adjective to describe the bitterness, and it doesn't match the meaning either. Choice D, "illicit," means forbidden or illegal. While it sounds similar to "elusive," it has nothing to do with perception or detection—it's about legality. When tackling vocabulary questions with sound-alike words, read each choice in the sentence and ask yourself: "Does this word's meaning match what's happening in the context?" Don't rely on how words sound; focus on their precise definitions and grammatical roles.

Question 3

Select the correct word.

The professor warned students that any form of plagiarism would   serious academic penalties.

  1. incur (correct answer)
  2. occur
  3. recur
  4. concur
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of similar-sounding verbs and their precise meanings in academic contexts. When you encounter words that share the same root but have different prefixes, pay close attention to how those prefixes change the meaning. The sentence describes a cause-and-effect relationship: plagiarism leads to academic penalties. You need a verb that means "to bring upon oneself" or "to become subject to something negative." The word "incur" means exactly this—to become liable for or to bring something undesirable upon yourself through your actions. When students plagiarize, they incur (bring upon themselves) serious academic penalties. Looking at the incorrect options: Choice B, "occur," means "to happen" or "to take place," but it doesn't show the connection between the student's action and the consequence—penalties don't just randomly occur. Choice C, "recur," means "to happen again" or "to repeat," which doesn't fit since we're talking about the initial consequence of plagiarism, not a repeated event. Choice D, "concur," means "to agree" or "to happen at the same time," which makes no sense in this context—penalties don't agree with anything. The correct answer is A) incur because it's the only verb that properly expresses how someone's actions directly result in negative consequences for themselves. Study tip: When you see similar-looking words with different prefixes (in-, oc-, re-, con-), break them down by their parts. The prefix often holds the key to the word's specific meaning and helps you avoid choosing words that sound right but don't fit the context.

Question 4

Which word best fills the blank?

Marcus's calm demeanor had a positive   on the nervous puppy.

  1. effect (correct answer)
  2. affect
  3. effects
  4. affects
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of "affect" versus "effect" — one of the most common word confusion traps on standardized tests. The key is remembering their parts of speech: "affect" is typically a verb (an action), while "effect" is typically a noun (a thing). Looking at the sentence structure, you need a word that follows the article "a" and the adjective "positive." Since articles like "a" introduce nouns, you're looking for a noun here. The sentence is saying that Marcus's calm demeanor had a positive [noun] on the puppy — meaning it produced a positive result or consequence. Choice A) "effect" is correct because it's the noun form meaning "a result or consequence." Marcus's calmness produced a positive result on the nervous puppy. Choice B) "affect" is wrong because it's a verb meaning "to influence or cause change in something." You can't say "had a positive affect" because "affect" doesn't function as a noun in this context. Choice C) "effects" is the plural form of "effect," but the sentence uses the singular article "a," so you need a singular noun. Choice D) "affects" is the third-person singular verb form of "affect" (as in "he affects"). Again, this doesn't work grammatically after "a positive." Memory tip: Remember "A for Action, E for End result." Affect is the Action (verb), while Effect is the End result (noun). When you see "a" or "an" before the blank, you almost always need "effect."

Question 5

The new recycling program is expected to have a positive affect on the environment by reducing landfill waste.

How should the sentence be changed?

  1. change affect to effect (correct answer)
  2. change is expected to to was expecting to
  3. change reducing to have reduced
  4. change landfill waste to waste from the landfill
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of a commonly confused word pair: "affect" versus "effect." When you encounter these words on the SHSAT, you need to determine whether the sentence requires a verb or a noun. The key is recognizing that "affect" is typically a verb meaning "to influence or cause a change," while "effect" is typically a noun meaning "a result or consequence." In this sentence, we need to look at what comes before the word. The phrase "have a positive" requires a noun to complete it—you "have" something. Since "effect" is the noun form, the sentence should read "have a positive effect on the environment." Choice A is correct because it changes "affect" (verb) to "effect" (noun), which properly completes the phrase "have a positive effect." Choice B is wrong because changing "is expected to" to "was expecting to" creates an awkward construction and shifts the meaning inappropriately. The original present tense makes sense for describing a current program's anticipated results. Choice C is incorrect because "reducing" is the correct gerund form here, showing how the program will have its positive effect. "Have reduced" would create a confusing tense shift. Choice D is unnecessary because "landfill waste" is already clear and concise. "Waste from the landfill" is wordier without adding clarity or correctness. Remember this simple trick: if you can substitute "influence" and the sentence makes sense, use "affect." If you can substitute "result," use "effect." Most commonly, "affect" is the verb and "effect" is the noun.

Question 6

My younger brother is already much taller then I was at his age.

What is the correct way to write this sentence?

  1. My younger brother is already much taller then I were at his age.
  2. My younger brother is already much more tall than I was at his age.
  3. My younger brother was already much taller then I was at his age.
  4. My younger brother is already much taller than I was at his age. (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of comparative constructions and the proper use of "than" versus "then." When making comparisons, you need to pay attention to both the comparison word and verb tense consistency. The correct answer is D because it properly uses "than" for the comparison and maintains consistent verb tense. "Than" is the correct word when comparing two things (taller than, faster than, better than). The sentence compares the brother's current height to the speaker's height at the same age, so "is" (present tense) and "was" (past tense) work together logically. Choice A incorrectly uses "then" instead of "than" and creates a subject-verb disagreement with "I were." "Then" refers to time sequence, not comparisons, and "were" doesn't agree with the singular pronoun "I" in this context. Choice B attempts to fix the comparison word correctly with "than," but "much more tall" is awkward and unnatural. The standard comparative form is "taller," not "more tall." Choice C correctly uses "than" for the comparison but creates a tense problem with "was already much taller." This changes the meaning to suggest the comparison happened in the past rather than describing a current state. Remember this key distinction: "than" is for comparisons (better than, worse than), while "then" indicates time or sequence (first this, then that). When you see comparative adjectives like "taller," "faster," or "smarter," you'll almost always need "than" to complete the comparison properly.

Question 7

If your planning to attend the concert, you should buy your tickets in advance.

Which correction is needed in the sentence?

  1. change attend to attending
  2. change the first your to you're (correct answer)
  3. change buy to be buying
  4. change the second your to you're
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The key is distinguishing between "your" (possessive) and "you're" (contraction). Let's examine the sentence: "If your planning to attend the concert, you should buy your tickets in advance." The first "your" appears before "planning," which is a verb. Since we need a subject performing the action of planning, we need the contraction "you're" (you are). The sentence should read: "If you're planning to attend the concert..." Choice B correctly identifies this error. The first "your" should be changed to "you're" because it needs to mean "you are planning." Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A suggests changing "attend" to "attending," but "attend" is correct after the infinitive "to." Choice C proposes changing "buy" to "be buying," but the simple present tense "buy" is appropriate here for expressing a recommendation. Choice D wants to change the second "your" to "you're," but this "your" is correctly used as a possessive before "tickets"—they are your tickets. Remember this pattern: "Your" shows ownership (your book, your idea), while "you're" means "you are" (you're going, you're right). When you encounter these words, try substituting "you are"—if it makes sense, use "you're." If not, use "your."

Question 8

The movie was to long, and there were too many characters to keep track of.

What change is needed in this sentence?

  1. change was to is
  2. change were to was in the second clause
  3. remove the comma after long
  4. change to to too (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. When proofreading sentences, you need to carefully examine each word to ensure it's the correct form. Let's examine the sentence: "The movie was to long, and there were too many characters to keep track of." The word "to" before "long" is incorrect. Here, you need an adverb meaning "excessively" or "more than necessary," which is spelled "too." The sentence should read "too long." Notice that later in the sentence, "too many characters" correctly uses "too." Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A suggests changing "was" to "is," but the original past tense is perfectly acceptable—the writer is reflecting on a movie they already watched. Choice B wants to change "were" to "was" in the second clause, but "were" correctly agrees with the plural subject "characters." Choice C proposes removing the comma after "long," but this comma correctly separates two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction "and." The key strategy for homophone questions is to slow down and think about meaning, not just sound. Remember: "to" is a preposition (as in "going to the store") or part of an infinitive ("to run"), "too" means "also" or "excessively," and "two" is the number. When you see potential homophone errors on the SHSAT, substitute the definition to check if it makes sense in context.

Question 9

The magician's final trick was a clever optical allusion that made the audience gasp in surprise.

Which revision should be made to the sentence?

  1. change allusion to illusion (correct answer)
  2. change magician's to magicians
  3. change made to had made
  4. change gasp to gasping
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between commonly confused words, specifically homophones and near-homophones that sound similar but have different meanings. The key issue here is the word "allusion" in the original sentence. An allusion is an indirect reference to something else, like when a writer makes an allusion to Shakespeare. An illusion, however, is something that deceives the senses or mind - exactly what a magician creates with their tricks. Since the passage describes a magician's trick that involves visual deception ("optical"), the correct word should be "illusion." Choice A correctly identifies this error. Looking at the other options: Choice B suggests changing "magician's" to "magicians," but this would eliminate the possessive form needed to show that the trick belongs to the magician. Choice C proposes changing "made" to "had made," but the simple past tense "made" is perfectly appropriate here since all actions occurred in sequence. Choice D wants to change "gasp" to "gasping," but "gasp" correctly functions as the base form of the verb after "made" in this construction. When you encounter word choice questions on the SHSAT, always read carefully for homophones and commonly confused words. Pay special attention to context clues that reveal the intended meaning - here, "optical" and "magician's trick" clearly point toward visual deception (illusion) rather than indirect reference (allusion). Keep a mental list of these tricky word pairs as you study.

Question 10

There are alot of reasons why we should focus on renewable energy sources.

What change should be made to this sentence?

  1. change are to is
  2. change why to which
  3. change alot to a lot (correct answer)
  4. change sources to source's
Explanation: This question tests your ability to identify common spelling and grammar errors in written English. When you encounter editing questions, scan each underlined or potentially problematic word to see if it follows standard conventions. The error here is "alot," which is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is "a lot" — two separate words. Many students mistakenly write this as one word, but "alot" is not a legitimate word in English. "A lot" means "many" or "much," and it should always be written as two words. Looking at the other options: Choice A suggests changing "are" to "is," but "are" correctly agrees with the plural subject "reasons." Choice B proposes changing "why" to "which," but "why" is the appropriate word here since we're discussing reasons (causes), not describing types of reasons. Choice D suggests making "sources" possessive by adding an apostrophe, but there's no possession indicated in this sentence — we're simply referring to multiple energy sources. The sentence structure "There are [many] reasons why we should..." is grammatically correct, and the subject-verb agreement is proper throughout. The only error is the misspelled compound word. Remember this pattern: "a lot" (meaning "many") is always two words, just like "a little" or "a few." If you're tempted to write "alot," "alittle," or similar combinations, separate them. This is one of the most frequent spelling errors on standardized tests, so training yourself to catch it will serve you well.

Question 11

The prize money was divided equally between the three winners of the competition.

How should the sentence be changed?

  1. change was divided to were divided
  2. change between to among (correct answer)
  3. change equally to equal
  4. change winners to winner's
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of preposition usage, specifically when to use "between" versus "among." When you encounter questions about prepositions, pay attention to the number of items being discussed and their relationship to each other. The correct answer is B because "among" is the appropriate preposition when referring to three or more items. Since there are three winners in this sentence, "among" is grammatically correct. "Between" is typically used when referring to two items or when discussing distinct pairs within a larger group. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A suggests changing "was divided" to "were divided," but "was" is correct because the subject is "prize money," which is singular. The verb must agree with this singular subject, not with "winners." Choice C proposes changing "equally" to "equal," but "equally" is the correct adverb form needed to modify the verb "divided." "Equal" is an adjective and wouldn't function properly in this sentence. Choice D wants to change "winners" to "winner's," but we need the plural noun "winners" to indicate multiple people, not the possessive form "winner's." Remember this simple rule for future questions: use "between" for two items and "among" for three or more. This distinction appears frequently on standardized tests, so when you see preposition questions involving quantity, always count the items being referenced to determine the correct choice.

Question 12

When the traffic light turned red, all the cars remained stationery until it turned green again.

Which correction should be made?

  1. change turned to had turned
  2. change remained to remains
  3. change it to they
  4. change stationery to stationary (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of commonly confused words, specifically homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The correct answer is D because "stationery" and "stationary" are homophones with distinct meanings. "Stationery" refers to writing materials like paper, pens, and envelopes. "Stationary" means not moving or fixed in place. Since the sentence describes cars that are not moving at a red light, you need "stationary." Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A suggests changing "turned" to "had turned," but the simple past tense "turned" is appropriate here since both actions (light turning red, cars remaining still) happened in sequence in the past. Choice B proposes changing "remained" to "remains," but this would create an inconsistent tense shift—the sentence begins in past tense with "turned," so "remained" correctly maintains that tense. Choice C suggests changing "it" to "they," but "it" correctly refers back to the singular noun "traffic light," while "they" would incorrectly suggest multiple lights. When you encounter questions about word choice, always consider whether you're dealing with homophones or commonly confused words. Read the sentence carefully and think about the meaning each word conveys. For stationary/stationery specifically, remember this trick: "stationary" means "standing still" (both start with "sta"), while "stationery" contains "er" like "paper."

Question 13

The sharp flavor of the cheese was a perfect compliment to the sweetness of the apple slices.

How should this sentence be revised?

  1. change compliment to complement (correct answer)
  2. change was to were
  3. change flavor to flaver
  4. change sweetness to sweet
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of commonly confused words, specifically homophones that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. The correct revision is to change "compliment" to "complement" (choice A). A "complement" refers to something that completes or makes perfect, which fits the meaning here—the cheese's sharp flavor works together with the apple's sweetness to create a perfect combination. A "compliment," on the other hand, is praise or a flattering remark that one person gives to another. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice B suggests changing "was" to "were," but "flavor" is singular, so the singular verb "was" is grammatically correct. Choice C proposes changing "flavor" to "flaver," but "flaver" isn't a real word—"flavor" is the correct spelling. Choice D recommends changing "sweetness" to "sweet," but this would create awkward phrasing ("the sweet of the apple slices") and "sweetness" properly functions as a noun parallel to "flavor." When you encounter questions about word choice, pay special attention to homophones—words that sound identical but have different meanings. The SHSAT often tests complement/compliment, affect/effect, and principal/principle. To remember this specific pair, think: "complement" with an "e" completes something (both words have "e"s), while "compliment" with an "i" involves giving praise to an individual (both start with "i").

Question 14

To insure the project's success, the team double-checked every calculation and reviewed all the data.

What is the best way to revise this sentence?

  1. remove the comma after success
  2. change project's to projects
  3. change double-checked to had double-checked
  4. change insure to ensure (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of commonly confused words, specifically homophones that sound similar but have different meanings and spellings. The correct revision is to change "insure" to "ensure" because these words have distinct meanings. "Ensure" means to make certain that something happens or to guarantee a result. "Insure" means to obtain insurance coverage or protection against financial loss. Since the sentence describes making certain of the project's success through careful preparation, "ensure" is the appropriate word choice. Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A suggests removing the comma after "success," but this comma is correctly placed because it separates the introductory infinitive phrase "To ensure the project's success" from the main clause. Choice B proposes changing "project's" to "projects," but the sentence clearly refers to one specific project, and the possessive form is needed to show that the success belongs to that project. Choice C recommends changing "double-checked" to "had double-checked," but the simple past tense is appropriate here since both actions (double-checking and reviewing) occurred at the same time and are presented as a coordinated pair. When you encounter word choice questions on the SHSAT, pay attention to homophones and near-homophones like ensure/insure, affect/effect, and accept/except. These commonly confused pairs appear frequently on standardized tests. Always consider the precise meaning each word conveys in context rather than relying solely on how the sentence sounds.

Question 15

Because of the new policy, there are now less plastic bags available at the grocery store.

Which change should be made to the sentence?

  1. change Because of to As a result
  2. change are to is
  3. change available to availible
  4. change less to fewer (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of when to use "less" versus "fewer" with countable and uncountable nouns. When you encounter grammar questions about quantity words, always ask yourself: can the noun be counted individually? The correct answer is D because "plastic bags" are countable items - you can have one bag, two bags, three bags, etc. With countable nouns, you must use "fewer" rather than "less." The sentence should read "fewer plastic bags available." Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Choice A suggests changing "Because of" to "As a result," but both phrases work grammatically here - "Because of" correctly introduces a causal relationship. Choice B wants to change "are" to "is," but "are" is correct because the subject "bags" is plural, requiring a plural verb. Choice C proposes changing "available" to "availible," which would actually create a spelling error since "available" is spelled correctly. The less/fewer distinction is one of the most commonly tested grammar rules. Remember this simple rule: use "fewer" with things you can count (fewer cookies, fewer students, fewer problems) and "less" with things you measure or can't count individually (less water, less time, less noise). When you see quantity words in grammar questions, immediately identify whether the noun is countable to choose the right modifier.

Question 16

The tour of Washington, D.C., included a visit to the Capitol building, where Congress meets.

Which change, if any, should be made to the sentence?

  1. change D.C., to D.C.
  2. change Capitol to Capital
  3. change where to which
  4. No change is needed. (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and word usage in formal writing. When you encounter editing questions like this, examine each element systematically to determine if changes are actually needed. The sentence is already correct as written. Let's examine why each suggested change would be wrong: Choice A suggests removing the comma after "D.C." However, the comma is correctly placed here because "D.C." is part of the complete place name "Washington, D.C.," and this entire phrase needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma since it's followed by additional information. Choice B proposes changing "Capitol" to "Capital." This is a common confusion, but "Capitol" is correct. "Capitol" (with an "o") refers to the specific building where a legislature meets, while "capital" (with an "a") refers to a city that serves as a seat of government or to money/resources. Since the sentence mentions "the Capitol building," the spelling with "o" is appropriate. Choice C suggests changing "where" to "which." However, "where" is the proper relative pronoun when referring to a place. "Which" would be used for things or concepts, but since we're describing a location where Congress meets, "where" is grammatically correct. Study tip: For SHSAT editing questions, don't assume a change is needed just because options are provided. Many questions test whether you can recognize already-correct writing. Always verify that a suggested change actually improves the sentence before selecting it.

Question 17

The detective tried to determine who's fingerprints were on the stolen artifact.

How should the sentence be corrected?

  1. change tried to trys
  2. change who's to whose (correct answer)
  3. change were to was
  4. change stolen artifact to artifact that was stolen
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of possessive pronouns versus contractions, a common source of confusion in English grammar. The sentence needs a possessive word to show ownership of the fingerprints. "Whose" is the possessive form meaning "belonging to whom," while "who's" is a contraction meaning "who is" or "who has." You can test this by expanding the contraction: "The detective tried to determine who is fingerprints were on the stolen artifact" makes no sense, confirming that the possessive "whose" is needed. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A suggests changing "tried" to "trys," but "tried" is already the correct past tense form of "try." The third-person singular present would be "tries," not "trys." Choice C wants to change "were" to "was," but "fingerprints" is plural, so the plural verb "were" is correct. Choice D proposes changing "stolen artifact" to "artifact that was stolen," but both phrases are grammatically correct—the original is simply more concise. Remember this key distinction: "whose" shows possession (whose book, whose idea), while "who's" means "who is" or "who has." When you encounter these words on the SHSAT, try substituting "who is" or "who has" for "who's"—if the sentence doesn't make sense, you need the possessive "whose" instead. This substitution test works for other tricky pairs too, like "its/it's" and "your/you're."

Question 18

After a long hike, my dog will often lay in the shade to cool down.

Which revision is needed?

  1. change lay to lie (correct answer)
  2. change will often to often will
  3. change hike, to hike and
  4. change cool down to have cooled down
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of the commonly confused verbs "lay" and "lie." When you encounter these words on the SHSAT, remember that the key difference is whether the action involves a direct object. The correct revision is A) change "lay" to "lie." In this sentence, the dog is performing the action on itself—resting in the shade. "Lie" means to recline or rest, and it doesn't take a direct object. The dog isn't placing something else down; it's positioning itself. So the sentence should read: "After a long hike, my dog will often lie in the shade to cool down." Here's why the other options are incorrect: B) "often will" creates awkward word order—"will often" is the natural, grammatically correct placement of these words. C) Changing the comma to "and" would create a run-on sentence structure that doesn't make logical sense, as "hike and my dog will often lay" isn't a coherent phrase. D) "Have cooled down" changes the meaning entirely—the original indicates the dog lies down in order to cool down (purpose), while this revision suggests the dog has already completed the cooling process. Remember this trick: "Lay" requires a direct object (you lay something down), while "lie" doesn't (you lie down yourself). If you can't identify what's being laid down, you probably need "lie." This distinction appears frequently on standardized tests, so mastering it will serve you well beyond just this question.

Question 19

For your research paper, you must site at least five credible sources.

What correction should be made to this sentence?

  1. change the first your to you're
  2. change at least to atleast
  3. change site to cite (correct answer)
  4. change sources to source
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between commonly confused words, specifically homophones that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The correct answer is C because "cite" means to reference or quote a source in academic writing. When you're writing a research paper, you must cite your sources to give credit to the original authors and support your arguments. The sentence should read: "For your research paper, you must cite at least five credible sources." Let's examine why the other options are incorrect: A) "Your" is already correct as a possessive pronoun showing ownership of the research paper. "You're" is a contraction meaning "you are," which doesn't fit the sentence structure here. B) "At least" should remain as two separate words. "Atleast" is not a standard English word and would be considered a spelling error. D) "Sources" (plural) is correct because the sentence specifies "at least five," indicating multiple sources are required. Changing to the singular "source" would create a grammatical error with the number "five." Study tip: Watch out for homophones on the SHSAT, especially cite/sight/site. Remember: cite = reference sources, sight = vision or something you see, site = a location or place. When you see academic writing contexts, "cite" is almost always the correct choice. Create mental associations like "cite sources in citations" to help remember the spelling.

Question 20

Be careful not to loose your ticket before you get to the theater entrance.

Which revision should be made to the sentence?

  1. change before to prior to
  2. change your to you're
  3. change loose to lose (correct answer)
  4. change get to have gotten
Explanation: This question tests your ability to distinguish between commonly confused words, specifically homophones - words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. The correct answer is C because "loose" and "lose" are frequently mixed up homophones. "Loose" is an adjective meaning "not tight" (like loose clothing), while "lose" is a verb meaning "to misplace" or "to be deprived of something." Since the sentence warns about misplacing a ticket, you need the verb "lose," making "Be careful not to lose your ticket" the proper construction. Choice A is incorrect because "before" and "prior to" mean essentially the same thing, and "before" is perfectly appropriate in this context. There's no grammatical or stylistic reason to change it. Choice B is wrong because "your" (possessive pronoun) is correct here - it shows ownership of the ticket. "You're" is a contraction meaning "you are," which would create the nonsensical phrase "you are ticket." Choice D is incorrect because "get" works fine in this sentence structure. "Have gotten" would create an awkward and unnecessarily complex verb tense that doesn't improve the sentence's clarity or correctness. When you encounter editing questions, read the sentence carefully and look for common errors like homophones, possessive versus contraction mistakes, and subject-verb agreement issues. Pay special attention to word pairs that sound identical but serve different grammatical functions - these are frequent test targets on the SHSAT.