Digital SAT: Pronouns 1

1. Historians examining trade records from the ancient Mediterranean found evidence that a particular merchant company changed routes several times within a single decade. Because storms regularly disrupted travel during winter months, the company often adjusted plans quickly. A surviving letter indicates that the business improved profits after _____ redirected ships to smaller ports during rough seasons.

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

2. Engineers testing a new water-filtration membrane found that the material trapped tiny particles more effectively than earlier designs did. Since the membrane could be manufactured cheaply, several cities considered using it in public treatment plants. Before approving the design, however, officials required evidence that _____ would remain effective after months of continuous use.

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

3. Researchers studying an endangered species of sea turtle found that hatchlings were more likely to reach the ocean safely when beaches were kept free of artificial light. Bright lights from nearby buildings can confuse young turtles, leading them away from the water. To reduce this problem, a coastal town passed an ordinance requiring each beachfront hotel to shield _____ outdoor lamps during nesting season.

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

4. A curator at a natural history museum prepared a new exhibit about fossilized insects preserved in amber. The exhibit includes several specimens that reveal details too small to be seen without magnification. One beetle fossil is especially valuable because _____ wings remain clearly visible inside the amber.

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

5. A team of food scientists tested a new biodegradable coating designed to slow moisture loss in fresh fruit. In early trials, apples treated with the coating stayed firm several days longer than untreated apples did. The researchers concluded that the coating could be useful because _____ helps produce retain water during storage.

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

6. Archaeologists excavating a Roman settlement found several clay tablets that had been used to record grain deliveries. Although most of the tablets were badly worn, one tablet was unusually well preserved. The team was able to study the tablet in detail because _____ markings were still legible.

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

7. A wildlife biologist studying urban foxes placed motion-sensitive cameras near several city parks. The cameras recorded many animals crossing roads at night, but one fox repeatedly used a narrow pedestrian bridge instead. The biologist suggested that the fox avoided traffic because _____ had learned a safer route through the neighborhood.

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

8. Researchers at a botanical archive found a watercolor illustration of an unfamiliar orchid and a handwritten notebook entry describing the same plant. Although the two documents had been stored in different collections, similarities in the date, location, and plant description suggested a connection. The researchers concluded that the illustration and the notebook entry were especially valuable because _____ produced by the same botanist during a single expedition.

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

9. Archaeologists studying an ancient trade route uncovered a bronze coin and a small clay seal at the same excavation site. Although the objects served different purposes, markings on both items suggested that they came from the same merchant settlement. The researchers considered the coin and the seal significant because _____ found in the same layer of soil.

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

10. Meteorologists tested several portable weather stations designed for use in remote mountain areas. Most of the stations stopped recording data when temperatures dropped sharply overnight, but one of the stations continued operating throughout the storm. The researchers reported that one of the stations was reliable because _____ battery remained warm inside an insulated compartment.

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