SAT Reading and Writing - Standard English Conventions Review

A collection of flashcards based on SAT Reading and Writing practice questions covering various scientific, historical, and linguistic topics.

Who is the American author associated with dark, gothic stories whose influence is found in generations of mystery and horror writers?

Edgar Allan Poe ($1809–1849$)

Into which three primary periods do Egyptologists commonly divide ancient Egyptian history?

Old Kingdom ($2700–2200$ BCE), Middle Kingdom ($2050–1800$ BCE), and New Kingdom ($1550–1100$ BCE)

What is the name of the radiation occurring during the decay of radioactive atomic nuclei?

Gamma radiation

What initiative, approved by Congress in $1956$, represented a major investment in the infrastructure of national parks?

The Mission 66 initiative

What were the specific infrastructure improvements prioritized by the Mission 66 initiative?

Roads, utilities, employee housing, and visitor facilities

Which entomologist conducted a $10$-year study on bee species in New York apple orchards?

Heather Grab

According to Heather Grab's study, what was the effect of clearing wild growth near orchards on bee populations?

The number of different bee species visiting the orchard decreased

What are two major environmental concerns associated with the production and disposal of commercial plastics?

They are made from nonrenewable petroleum and most do not biodegrade in landfills

What is an algaita?

A double reed wind instrument from West Africa

How does a double reed wind instrument, such as the algaita, produce sound?

Two pieces of cane vibrate as air passes between them

On what date did Kitty Cone and $150$ other activists begin a sit-in at a San Francisco federal building?

April $5$, $1977$

When was the antidiscrimination legislation finally signed following the activists' sit-in protest led by Kitty Cone?

April $28$, $1977$

What is 'the mirror test' used to determine in animal behavior studies?

Self-awareness (the ability of an animal to recognize itself in a reflective surface)

In a study on snake self-awareness, which two species were tested using modified scent trails?

North American eastern garter snakes and African ball pythons

Why did scientists modify the scent trails of snakes instead of using a standard visual mirror test?

Snakes rely primarily on olfactory rather than visual processing

What tool is used in India to quantify the economic potential, sustainability, and quality of life of its citizens?

Ease of Living Index

Which French philosopher is known for the phrase 'I think, therefore I am'?

René Descartes

How is the name of the island nation Kiribati pronounced according to the Gilbertese language?

'Kiribas'

In the Gilbertese language, what sound does the letter combination '-ti' represent?

The '-s' sound

What behavior was documented in the aquatic plant Elodea densa when exposed to low light levels in a $2023$ study?

Its chloroplasts reshuffled to form a tightly packed, glass-like surface to collect more light

What is the function of chloroplasts in a plant like Elodea densa?

They are cellular organs that generate energy from light

According to scientist Rebecca Kirby, what isotope is found in higher levels in black bears that consume human food?

Carbon-$13$ ($13C$)

What effect does consuming human food, such as corn and cane sugar, have on the hibernation of black bears?

It leads to much shorter hibernation periods on average

Which artist is known for large-scale steel plate sculptures that dominate outdoor spaces and influence movement?

Richard Serra

What did Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley discover about small acts of kindness in their $2022$ experiments?

People performing small acts of kindness underestimated the positive effect their actions had on others

What are the primary characteristics of the Limón technique in dance?

Emphasis on breath control and the interplay of weight and weightlessness

Who developed the Limón technique?

Jose Limón

Which Swedish poet is noted for nature- and dream-influenced images and haiku-like poems?

Tomas Tranströmer

How did Teju Cole characterize the works of Tomas Tranströmer?

As containing a 'luminous simplicity'

Who introduced the metaphor of the 'butterfly effect' to explain major impacts from minor events in weather?

Edward Lorenz

What are 'natural monopolies' in the context of industry?

Industries with high infrastructural start-up costs and barriers that discourage competition, often consisting of only one or two suppliers

What did Martha Lydia Macías-Rubalcava discover about compounds produced by endophytic fungi?

Their phytotoxicity can make them viable alternatives to chemical herbicides for controlling weeds

What are endophytic fungi?

Fungi that live inside a host plant

According to Bonnie Buratti, what shapes the tiny moons embedded within Saturn’s rings?

The buildup of ring material on the moons' surfaces

What is the nickname for the lightning storm that occurs roughly $300$ nights a year at Lake Maracaibo?

'Maracaibo’s Lighthouse'

What materials does Jamaican British artist Willard Wigan use to create his microsculptures?

Tiny natural materials, such as spiderweb strands

What is the primary difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

Aerobic respiration requires oxygen while anaerobic respiration does not

In the context of music lyrics, what trend did researchers observe from $1970$ to $2020$?

Lyrics are becoming more repetitive, with an increase in the number of repeated choruses relative to unique verses

What did a $2022$ biochemical analysis of over $2,000$ skeletons suggest about the diets of early medieval rulers?

Their diets primarily consisted of vegetables and grains

Who is the Nigerian portraitist behind the exhibition 'Nollywood Portraits'?

Iké Udé

What is the approximate annual value of Nigeria's film industry, Nollywood?

$3$ billion dollars

Who was the innovative New York City librarian who offered bilingual storytelling in English and Spanish during the Great Depression?

Pura Belpré

What is the function of the enzyme Photosystem II in plants?

It harvests energy-giving electrons from water molecules to fuel photosynthesis

Katy Milkman at the University of Pennsylvania conducts research in which field?

Behavioral economics

Devils Tower (Bear Lodge) in Wyoming is a prominent example of what igneous rock pattern?

Columnar jointing

Where is the rough frog species native to?

Australia

Which US woman was the first to win three gold medals in a single Olympics, specifically at the $1960$ Summer Games?

Wilma Rudolph

What is the central idea of the 'sociology of emotions' as explored by Arlie Russell Hochschild?

Cultural and ideological frameworks (class, gender, etc.) underlie each emotional reaction a person has within a situation

What is the Árbol de la Sidra in Gijón, Spain, made of?

$3,200$ recycled glass bottles

What is 32532 Thereus?

An outer solar system object orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Saturn