Digital SAT: Modifiers 3

1. Lined with tiny grooves that guide water toward the center, ________. This design helps the leaf collect moisture from fog and direct it toward the plant’s roots.

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

A) the leaf can channel droplets efficiently

B) botanists observed the leaf during early morning fog

C) fog collects on the leaf before dripping to the soil

D) the plant’s roots receive moisture from the leaf

Question 1 of 10

2. After measuring how different fabrics trapped warm air, ________. The results helped designers choose materials for coats that would provide insulation without adding unnecessary weight.

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

A) several lightweight coats were designed for cold weather

B) designers selected a material with a loose weave

C) warm air was trapped more effectively by some fabrics

D) the fabrics were compared for warmth and weight

Question 2 of 10

3. Built with interlocking stones that shift slightly during earthquakes, ________. This flexibility helps the wall absorb vibrations without collapsing.

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

A) the wall can withstand minor seismic activity

B) engineers studied the wall’s unusual construction

C) earthquakes caused only slight damage to the wall

D) several buildings near the wall remained standing

Question 3 of 10

4. After tracking the migration routes of Arctic terns across several seasons, ________. The data helped scientists understand how the birds conserve energy during one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom.

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

A) migration routes across the ocean became easier to predict

B) the Arctic terns were shown to follow consistent wind patterns

C) scientists identified several patterns in the birds’ flight paths

D) there were several patterns identified in the birds’ flight paths

Question 4 of 10

5. Covered with a thin layer of oil that prevents rust, ________. This protection allows the tool to remain usable even after being stored in a damp workshop.

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

A) mechanics stored the tool in a wooden cabinet

B) damp conditions damaged many tools in the workshop

C) the metal tool resists corrosion over time

D) a wooden cabinet protected several metal tools

Question 5 of 10

6. After analyzing the spacing between tree rings in samples from old-growth forests, ________. The pattern helped researchers estimate which years had been unusually dry or unusually wet.

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

A) researchers identified a pattern linked to past rainfall levels

B) a pattern linked to past rainfall levels was identified

C) tree rings in the samples revealed differences in yearly growth

D) old-growth forests were compared across several regions

Question 6 of 10

7. Made from layers of tightly woven reeds, ________. The mat’s flexible surface made it useful as a floor covering, while its light weight allowed it to be rolled up and carried easily.

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

A) museum curators displayed the ancient mat beside woven baskets

B) travelers used the ancient mat in temporary shelters

C) the ancient mat could withstand repeated folding and unfolding

D) woven baskets were displayed near the ancient mat

Question 7 of 10

8. After observing how octopuses change color to blend into rocky seafloors, ________. The findings helped marine biologists better understand how camouflage can help animals avoid predators.

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

A) rocky seafloors provided effective hiding places for octopuses

B) the octopuses were filmed in several coastal habitats

C) marine biologists recorded changes in the animals’ skin patterns

D) several predators had difficulty locating the octopuses

Question 8 of 10

9. Painted with mineral-based pigments that resist fading, ________. The mural’s bright colors remained visible even after centuries of exposure to dry desert air.

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

A) archaeologists carefully documented the mural during the excavation

B) the mural still shows many of its original colors

C) dry desert air helped preserve parts of the mural

D) the excavation revealed several painted walls

Question 9 of 10

10. After comparing the thickness of ice layers from different years, ________. The record helped climate researchers identify periods when snowfall was unusually heavy or unusually light.

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

A) ice layers from different years showed changes in snowfall

B) a record of past snowfall was created from the samples

C) climate researchers created a record of past snowfall

D) snowfall levels were estimated from the ice samples

Question 10 of 10