SHSAT English 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a passage, an author writes that a character "clenched her jaw and said nothing." This detail most strongly suggests the character feels:
- suppressed anger (Correct answer)
- open joy
- complete confusion
- calm indifference
Correct answer: suppressed anger
A clenched jaw paired with silence implies the character is holding back anger.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The rain stopped; the game resumed. (Correct answer)
- The rain stopped; and the game resumed.
- The rain stopped, the game; resumed.
- The rain; stopped the game resumed.
Correct answer: The rain stopped; the game resumed.
A semicolon links two related independent clauses without a conjunction.
Question 3: What is the main purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To state the paragraph's central idea (Correct answer)
- To provide a specific example
- To conclude the entire essay
- To cite a source
Correct answer: To state the paragraph's central idea
A topic sentence introduces the main idea that the paragraph develops.
Question 4: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- My brother, who lives in Texas, is visiting. (Correct answer)
- My brother who lives in Texas, is visiting.
- My brother, who lives in Texas is visiting.
- My brother who lives, in Texas is visiting.
Correct answer: My brother, who lives in Texas, is visiting.
A nonessential clause is set off by commas on both sides.
Question 5: Which sentence should be deleted as irrelevant in a paragraph about photosynthesis? "(1) Plants make food using sunlight. (2) Chlorophyll captures light energy. (3) My cousin has a garden. (4) Carbon dioxide is absorbed through leaves."
- Sentence 3 (Correct answer)
- Sentence 1
- Sentence 2
- Sentence 4
Correct answer: Sentence 3
Sentence 3 is a personal aside unrelated to the process of photosynthesis.
Question 6: Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The scientist remained ___ despite the criticism, refusing to abandon her theory."
- resolute (Correct answer)
- hesitant
- indifferent
- fragile
Correct answer: resolute
"Resolute" means firmly determined, matching her refusal to give up.
Question 7: Which version corrects the run-on sentence? "The bell rang everyone rushed out."
- The bell rang, and everyone rushed out. (Correct answer)
- The bell rang everyone, rushed out.
- The bell, rang everyone rushed out.
- The bell rang everyone rushed, out.
Correct answer: The bell rang, and everyone rushed out.
A comma plus the conjunction "and" properly joins the two independent clauses.
SHSAT English 3
In a passage, an author writes that a character "clenched her jaw and said nothing." This detail most strongly suggests the character feels: