SAT Grammar and Punctuation Practice Flashcards

The explorers mapped the river's source; ______ the route remained treacherous and rarely traveled.

Answer: nevertheless

'Nevertheless' correctly signals contrast: despite mapping the source, the route was still treacherous.

By the time the rescue team arrived, the hikers ______ shelter behind a rocky outcrop.

Answer: had found

Past perfect 'had found' indicates the action was completed before the rescue team's arrival (another past event).

The recipe calls for two cups of flour, one cup of sugar, ______ three eggs.

Answer: and

'And' is the correct coordinating conjunction to join the final item in a list of ingredients.

The new policy affects ______ who registered before the deadline.

Answer: those

'Those' functions as a pronoun referring to a group of people and takes the relative clause 'who registered'; it is the object of 'affects.'

The museum's collection, ______ spans five centuries, is among the most comprehensive in the world.

Answer: which

The nonrestrictive clause (set off by commas) referring to a thing uses 'which'; 'that' is for restrictive clauses without commas.

The students argued that the grading rubric ______ clearer criteria for original analysis.

Answer: should include

'Should include' correctly expresses a present or general recommendation/criticism about an existing rubric.

Without ______ the full context, the reporter's conclusion seems hasty.

Answer: knowing

After the preposition 'without,' a gerund ('knowing') is required, not an infinitive or past tense verb.