Reading Expression of Ideas

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Organisms release cellular material into their environment by shedding substances such as hair or skin.

• The DNA in these substances is known as environmental DNA, or eDNA.

• Researchers collect and analyze eDNA to detect the presence of species that are difficult to observe.

• Geneticist Sara Oyler-McCance’s research team analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades to detect invasive constrictor snake species in the area.

• The study determined a 91% probability of detecting Burmese python eDNA in a given location.

The student wants to present the study to an audience already familiar with environmental DNA. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades for evidence of invasive constrictor snakes, which are difficult to observe.

B. An analysis of eDNA can detect the presence of invasive species that are difficult to observe, such as constrictor snakes.

C. Researchers found Burmese python eDNA, or environmental DNA, in water samples; eDNA is the DNA in released cellular materials, such as shed skin cells.

D. Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed environmental DNA (eDNA)—that is, DNA from cellular materials released by organisms—in water samples from the Florida Everglades.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. This choice presents the study in a way that assumes the audience is already familiar with eDNA.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t present the study. It only states a general fact about eDNA analysis. Choice C is incorrect. This choice isn’t suited for an audience already familiar with eDNA. A familiar audience wouldn’t need to have the term defined or explained. Choice D is incorrect. This choice isn’t suited for an audience already familiar with eDNA. A familiar audience wouldn’t need to have the term defined or explained. It also doesn’t present the study.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Species belonging to the Orchidaceae (orchid) family can be found in both tropical and temperate environments.

• Orchidaceae species diversity has not been well studied in temperate forests, such as those in Oaxaca, Mexico.

• Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández led a study to determine how many different Orchidaceae species are present in the forests of Oaxaca.

• Muñoz-Hernández and her team collected orchids each month for a year at a site in Oaxaca.

• Seventy-four Orchidaceae species were present at the site.

The student wants to present the study and its findings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. A study led by Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández identified a total of 74 Orchidaceae species in the temperate forests of Oaxaca, Mexico.

B. There are orchids in many environments, but there are 74 Orchidaceae species in Oaxaca, Mexico.

C. Oaxaca, Mexico, is home to temperate forests containing 74 Orchidaceae species.

D. Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández and her team wanted to know how many different Orchidaceae species are present in the forests of Oaxaca, Mexico, so they conducted a study to collect orchids.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. This choice most effectively presents the study and its findings. It opens with the study and names its lead researcher, then tells us its finding: that they identified 74 Orchidaceae species in the temperate forests of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t include the study’s findings, so it fails to achieve the goal. It doesn’t mention that there was a study at all. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t present the study, so it fails to achieve the goal. It doesn’t mention that there was a study at all. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t include the study’s findings, so it fails to achieve the goal.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Platinum is a rare and expensive metal.

• It is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions.

• Platinum catalysts typically require a large amount of platinum to be effective.

• Researcher Jianbo Tang and his colleagues created a platinum catalyst that combines platinum with liquid gallium.

• Their catalyst was highly effective and required only trace amounts of platinum (0.0001% of the atoms in the mixture).

The student wants to explain an advantage of the new platinum catalyst developed by Jianbo Tang and his colleagues.

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Researcher Jianbo Tang and his colleagues created a platinum catalyst that combines platinum, a rare and expensive metal, with liquid gallium.

B. Like other platinum catalysts, the new platinum catalyst requires a particular amount of the metal to be effective.

C. Platinum is a rare and expensive metal that is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions; however, platinum catalysts typically require a large amount of platinum to be effective.

D. While still highly effective, the new platinum catalyst requires far less of the rare and expensive metal than do other platinum catalysts.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence explains an advantage of Tang and his colleagues’ platinum catalyst, noting that it requires far less platinum (which is rare and expensive) than other platinum catalysts do.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence describes the platinum catalyst that Tang and his colleagues created; it doesn’t explain an advantage of their platinum catalyst. Choice B is incorrect. The sentence emphasizes a similarity between the new platinum catalyst and other platinum catalysts; it doesn’t explain an advantage of the new platinum catalyst. Choice C is incorrect. The sentence connects the metal platinum to the functioning of platinum catalysts, noting that large amounts of platinum are typically required for platinum catalysts to be effective; it doesn’t explain an advantage of Tang and his colleagues’ platinum catalyst.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Allan Houser was a Chiricahua Warm Springs Apache sculptor, illustrator, and painter.

• Many of his sculptures featured Native American figures.

• He depicted this subject matter using abstract, modernist forms, developing a distinctive style that influenced many other artists.

• His well-known sculpture Sacred Rain Arrow was pictured on the State of Oklahoma license plate.

The student wants to describe the distinctive style of Houser’s sculptures. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. A sculptor, illustrator, and painter, Houser developed a distinctive style for portraying Native American figures.

B. Houser’s sculptures employ abstract, modernist forms to depict Native American figures.

C. Many other artists have been influenced by the style of Houser’s sculptures.

D. The sculpture Sacred Rain Arrow is a well-known example of Houser’s style.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The sentence describes the distinctive style of Houser’s sculptures, explaining that the sculptures use abstract, modernist forms to depict Native American figures.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence indicates that Houser developed a distinctive style for portraying Native American figures, it doesn’t describe this style. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence states that other artists have been influenced by the style of Houser’s sculptures, it doesn’t describe this style. Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the name of a sculpture that’s a well-known example of Houser’s style, it doesn’t describe the sculpture’s style.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• In 2018 researchers Adwait Deshpande, Shreejata Gupta, and Anindya Sinha were observing wild macaques in India’s Bandipur National Park.

• They saw macaques calling out to and gesturing at humans who were eating or carrying food.

• They designed a study to find out if the macaques were intentionally communicating to try to persuade the humans to share their food.

• In the study trials, macaques frequently called out to and gestured at humans holding food.

• In the study trials, macaques called out to and gestured at empty-handed humans less frequently.

The student wants to present the study’s results. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Macaques in the study called out to and gestured more frequently at humans holding food than at empty-handed humans.

B. In 2018, researchers who had observed macaques in India’s Bandipur National Park calling out to and gesturing at humans designed a study.

C. The researchers hoped to find out if the macaques were intentionally communicating to try to persuade humans to share their food.

D. The researchers studied how macaques behaved around both humans holding food and empty-handed humans.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. This choice presents the study’s results from the last two bullet points.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice describes the background and motivation of the study but not the outcome or findings. Choice C is incorrect. This choice describes the research question or hypothesis of the study but not the evidence or conclusion. Choice D is incorrect. This choice describes the method or design of the study but not the actual results.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Muckrakers were journalists who sought to expose corruption in US institutions during the Progressive Era (1897–1920).

• Ida Tarbell was a muckraker who investigated the Standard Oil Company.

• She interviewed Standard Oil Company executives, oil industry workers, and public officials.

• She examined thousands of pages of the company’s internal communications, including letters and financial records.

• Her book The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) exposed the company’s unfair business practices.

The student wants to emphasize the thoroughness of Ida Tarbell’s investigation of the Standard Oil Company. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Ida Tarbell not only interviewed Standard Oil executives, oil industry workers, and public officials but also examined thousands of pages of the company’s internal communications.

B. Ida Tarbell, who investigated the Standard Oil Company, was a muckraker (a journalist who sought to expose corruption in US institutions during the Progressive Era, 1897–1920).

C. As part of her investigation of the Standard Oil Company, muckraker Ida Tarbell conducted interviews.

D. Published in 1904, muckraker Ida Tarbell’s book The History of the Standard Oil Company exposed the company’s unfair business practices.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. It describes Tarbell’s investigation and the lengths she went to complete it.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t describe how thorough Tarbell was. Instead, it gives a biographical sketch. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t describe how thorough Tarbell was. Tarbell didn’t only conduct interviews —she also “examined thousands of pages of the company’s internal communications.” Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t describe how thorough Tarbell was. It describes her book but doesn’t include anything about her investigation.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• John Carver was one of the 41 signatories of the Mayflower Compact.

• The Mayflower Compact was a legal agreement among the pilgrims that immigrated to Plymouth Colony.

• It was created in 1620 to establish a common government.

• It states that the pilgrims who signed it wanted to “plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia” under King James.

• Carver became the first governor of Plymouth Colony.

The student wants to specify the reason the Mayflower Compact was created. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Stating that its signatories wanted to “plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia,” the Mayflower Compact was a legal agreement among the pilgrims that immigrated to Plymouth Colony.

B. Created in 1620, the Mayflower Compact states that the pilgrims wanted to “plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia.”

C. The Mayflower Compact was created to establish a common government among the pilgrims that immigrated to Plymouth Colony.

D. The Mayflower Compact had 41 signatories, including John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The sentence specifies the reason the Mayflower Compact was created, noting that it was created to establish a common government among the pilgrims that immigrated to Plymouth Colony.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence provides background information about the Mayflower Compact and notes the signatories’ goal for the colony, it doesn’t specify why the compact was created. Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence provides background information about the Mayflower Compact and notes the signatories’ goal for the colony, it doesn’t specify why the compact was created. Choice D is incorrect. The sentence specifies the number of pilgrims that signed the Mayflower Compact; it doesn’t specify the reason the compact was created.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Marine biologist Camille Jazmin Gaynus studies coral reefs.

• Coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems that provide habitats to 25% of all marine species.

• Reefs can include up to 8,000 species of fish, such as toadfish, seahorses, and clown triggerfish.

• The Amazon Reef is a coral reef in Brazil.

• It is one of the largest known reefs in the world.

The student wants to introduce the scientist and her field of study to a new audience. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Located in Brazil, the Amazon Reef is one of the largest known coral reefs in the world.

B. Marine biologist Camille Jazmin Gaynus studies coral reefs, vital underwater ecosystems that provide homes to 25% of all marine species.

C. Providing homes to 25% of all marine species, including up to 8,000 species of fish, coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems and thus of great interest to marine biologists.

D. As Camille Jazmin Gaynus knows well, coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems, providing homes to thousands of species of fish.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. We’re asked to select the sentence that "introduce[s] the scientist and her field of study." This choice introduces scientist Camille Jazmin Gaynus as a marine biologist and explains what marine life she studies.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t mention Camille Jazmin Gaynus, so it fails to "introduce the scientist." Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t mention Camille Jazmin Gaynus, so it fails to "introduce the scientist." Choice D is incorrect. This choice mentions Camille Jazmin Gaynus, but it doesn’t identify her as a marine biologist. It says she "knows well" about coral reefs, but doesn’t identify her expertise as a "field of study."

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Some US reformers sought to improve society in the 1800s by building utopias.

• A utopia is a community intended to represent a perfect society based on a specific set of principles.

• One such community was Brook Farm near Boston, Massachusetts.

• It was founded in 1841 by writer George Ripley.

• Ripley wrote in a letter that his goal for Brook Farm was “to guarantee the highest mental freedom, by providing all with labor, adapted to their tastes and talents, and securing to them the fruits of their industry.”

The student wants to explain the goal of Brook Farm using a quotation from George Ripley. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. In a letter, writer George Ripley explained his goal to “guarantee the highest mental freedom.”

B. Utopias, such as Brook Farm, founded by George Ripley in 1841, were based on a specific set of principles intended to create a perfect society.

C. Founded by George Ripley near Boston, Massachusetts, Brook Farm was part of a trend in the 1800s, when reformers in the United States built utopias.

D. Established in 1841, Brook Farm was a utopian community created to “guarantee the highest mental freedom, by providing all with labor... [and] the fruits of their industry,” according to founder George Ripley.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. This choice explains the goal of Brook Farm—to provide mental freedom to all by engaging individuals in labor suited to their interests—using a quotation from George Ripley.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice only mentions part of Ripley’s goal, and it doesn’t mention Brook Farm at all. Choice B is incorrect. This choice defines what a utopia is but doesn’t use Ripley’s words to describe his vision for Brook Farm. Choice C is incorrect. This choice provides some background information about Brook Farm, but it doesn’t explain its goals or include Ripley’s words.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Wool is a natural—and economically important—fiber that is obtained from animals like sheep.

• Australia is a leading producer of wool.

• The thickness of wool fibers varies across sheep breeds.

• Merino sheep produce fine wool that is used for apparel.

• Rambouillet sheep produce fine wool that is used for apparel.

• Romney sheep produce thick wool that is used for rugs and blankets.

The student wants to emphasize how Romney wool differs from Merino and Rambouillet wool. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Romney wool is just one of the many kinds of wools, each originating from a different breed of sheep.

B. Sheep wool varies from breed to breed, so Romney wool will be different than other kinds of wool.

C. The fine wool produced by Merino and Rambouillet sheep is used for apparel, whereas the thicker wool of Romney sheep is used in rugs and blankets.

D. Wool is an economically important fiber—especially in Australia—that can be used to make apparel or even rugs and blankets.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. This choice most effectively emphasizes how Romney wool differs from Merino and Rambouillet wool. It describes the difference in thickness and the difference in what they’re used for.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how Romney wool differs from Merino and Rambouillet wool. It doesn’t mention Merino or Rambouillet wool at all. Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how Romney wool differs from Merino and Rambouillet wool. It doesn’t mention Merino or Rambouillet wool at all. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how Romney wool differs from Merino and Rambouillet wool. It doesn’t mention Romney, Merino or Rambouillet wool at all.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Mexican tetras are a fish species with two distinct populations.

• Surface-dwelling tetras live on the surface and are able to see.

• Cave-dwelling tetras live in total darkness and have lost the ability to see.

• Cave-dwelling tetras have asymmetrical skulls with more sensory receptors on one side than the other.

• These receptors help cave-dwelling tetras navigate in darkness.

The student wants to emphasize a difference between surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling tetras. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling tetras may belong to the same species, but they are quite different.

B. Cave-dwelling tetras can no longer see but use sensory receptors on their skulls to navigate.

C. Mexican tetras are a fish species with two distinct populations: surface-dwelling tetras and cave-dwelling tetras.

D. Surface-dwelling tetras can see, whereas cave-dwelling tetras cannot.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence emphasizes a difference between surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling tetras, noting that while surface-dwelling tetras can see, cave-dwelling tetras can’t.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence notes that surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling tetras are different, it doesn’t emphasize any difference between the two populations of tetras. Choice B is incorrect because the sentence explains that cave-dwelling tetras use sensory receptors on their skulls to navigate; it doesn’t emphasize a difference between surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling tetras. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence notes that there are two different populations of Mexican tetras, it doesn’t emphasize any difference between the two populations.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• A marathon is a long-distance running race that is 26.2 miles long.

• An ultramarathon is a long-distance running race of more than 26.2 miles.

• The Kepler Challenge is a one-day, 37.3-mile ultramarathon in New Zealand.

• The Spreelauf is a six-day, 261-mile ultramarathon in Germany.

The student wants to make a generalization about ultramarathons. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Examples of ultramarathons include the 37.3-mile Kepler Challenge in New Zealand and the 261-mile Spreelauf in Germany.

B. A marathon is 26.2 miles long, but the Spreelauf ultramarathon, at 261 miles, is far longer.

C. Ultramarathons range widely in length, from a few dozen miles to a few hundred.

D. While the Kepler Challenge is a one-day ultramarathon, the Spreelauf is a six-day ultramarathon.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. This is the only choice that makes a generalization about ultramarathons.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice gives specific examples of ultramarathons but doesn’t say anything about them as a category. Choice B is incorrect. This choice compares marathons in general to one specific ultramarathon but doesn’t say anything about ultramarathons as a category. Choice D is incorrect. This choice contrasts two specific ultramarathons but doesn’t say anything about them as a category.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• From Earth, all the meteors in a meteor shower appear to originate from a single spot in the sky.

• This spot is called the meteor shower’s radiant.

• The Perseid meteor shower is visible in the northern hemisphere in July and August.

• Like many meteor showers, it is named for the location of its radiant.

• Its radiant is located within the constellation Perseus.

The student wants to explain the origin of the Perseid meteor shower’s name. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. The Perseid meteor shower is named for the constellation Perseus, the location of the meteor shower’s radiant.

B. A meteor shower’s name may be linked to a single spot in the sky.

C. The Perseid meteor shower, which has a radiant, is visible in the northern hemisphere in July and August.

D. From Earth, all the meteors in a meteor shower appear to originate from a radiant, such as the one within Perseus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence explains the origin of the Perseid meteor shower’s name: the constellation Perseus, where the meteor shower’s radiant is located.

Choice B is incorrect. The sentence makes a claim about meteor shower names in general; it doesn’t explain the origin of the Perseid meteor shower’s name specifically. Choice C is incorrect. The sentence indicates when and where the Perseid meteor shower is visible; it doesn’t explain the origin of the meteor shower’s name. Choice D is incorrect. The sentence discusses meteor showers in general; it doesn’t explain the origin of the Perseid meteor shower’s name.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a Jamaican American writer.

• Songs of Jamaica (1912) and Constab Ballads (1912) are two acclaimed poetry collections that McKay published while living in Jamaica.

• McKay moved to Harlem in New York City in 1914.

• He is best known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

• His most famous works include the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928).

The student wants to emphasize Claude McKay’s accomplishments before moving to Harlem. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Jamaican American writer Claude McKay is the author of works such as Songs of Jamaica (1912), Constab Ballads (1912), Harlem Shadows (1922), and Home to Harlem (1928).

B. Although he is best known as a Harlem Renaissance writer, Claude McKay had published two acclaimed poetry collections in 1912 while living in Jamaica: Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads.

C. In 1914, Claude McKay moved to Harlem, where he would become known as a poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance (a literary and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s).

D. Before moving to Harlem, Claude McKay—author of the poetry collection Harlem Shadows (1922) and the novel Home to Harlem (1928)—lived in Jamaica.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. This choice contrasts McKay’s fame as a Harlem Renaissance writer with his earlier achievements as a Jamaican poet, and it names the two collections he published before moving to Harlem.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize McKay’s accomplishments before moving to Harlem. It lists some of his works but doesn’t distinguish between those he wrote in Jamaica and those he wrote in Harlem. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize McKay’s accomplishments before moving to Harlem. It only mentions the year he moved and what he would become known for afterwards. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize McKay’s accomplishments before moving to Harlem. It mentions that he lived in Jamaica, but it doesn’t name any of the works he published there.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Architect Julian Abele studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe.

• Abele worked for an architecture firm that was hired in 1924 to design buildings for Duke University’s new

• campus.

• Most of the buildings on Duke’s campus were designed in the Gregorian or neo-Gothic architectural styles.

• At the time, Abele was not formally credited with designing the buildings.

• Based on the buildings’ architectural styles, historians believe Abele designed most of the campus buildings.

The student wants to specify why historians believe Abele designed most of Duke’s campus buildings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Given that most of the buildings on Duke’s campus feature architectural styles that Abele had studied in Europe, historians believe Abele is the one who designed them.

B. Though Abele wasn’t formally credited at the time, historians believe he designed most of the buildings on Duke’s campus.

C. Most of Duke’s campus buildings, which were designed by a firm Abele worked for, were designed in the Gregorian and neo-Gothic architectural styles.

D. Abele, an architect who studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe, is believed to have designed most of the buildings on Duke’s campus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence specifies why historians believe Abele designed most of Duke’s campus buildings, noting that most of the buildings feature architectural styles that Abele had studied.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence explains that historians believe Abele designed most of Duke’s campus buildings, it doesn’t specify why historians hold that belief. Choice C is incorrect because the sentence emphasizes the architectural styles of Duke’s campus buildings; it doesn’t specify why historians believe Abele designed the buildings. Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence explains that Abele is believed to have designed most of the buildings on Duke’s campus, it doesn’t specify why historians believe that he designed the buildings.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• In geology, an Aeolian landform is one that has been created by the wind.

• In Greek mythology, Aeolus is the keeper of the winds.

• Aeolian landforms are created when the wind erodes, transports, or deposits material.

• A mushroom rock is a rock formation in which the top is wider than the base.

• A mushroom rock can be formed when the wind erodes the base and the top at different rates.

The student wants to provide an explanation and an example of Aeolian landforms. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Aeolian landforms are created by different wind-based processes; for example, some are created by wind erosion.

B. Aeolian landforms—landforms created by the wind—include the mushroom rock, a rock formation in which the wind erodes the base of the rock faster than the top.

C. Erosion, transportation, and deposition are three examples of how the wind can create Aeolian landforms and mushroom rocks.

D. A mushroom rock is a rock formation that owes its shape to the wind, a natural force associated with Aeolus in Greek mythology.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The sentence provides an explanation and an example of Aeolian landforms, explaining that they are landforms created by wind and offering the mushroom rock as an example.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence explains that Aeolian landforms are created by wind but does not provide an example of any specific Aeolian landforms. Rather, the example it provides is of a wind-based process. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence provides a partial explanation of Aeolian landforms, noting that they are created by the wind, it does not effectively provide an example. The sentence seems to indicate that mushroom rocks, rather than being an example of Aeolian landforms, are distinct from them. Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence

provides an explanation of a mushroom rock, which is a specific example of an Aeolian landform, it doesn’t provide an explanation of Aeolian landforms in general.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit features two maps.

• The novel opens with a reproduction of the map that the characters use on their quest.

• This map introduces readers to the fictional world they are about to enter.

• The novel closes with a map depicting every stop on the characters’ journey.

• That map allows readers to reconstruct the story they have just read.

The student wants to contrast the purposes of the two maps in The Hobbit. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. The Hobbit’s opening map introduces readers to the fictional world they are about to enter, while the closing map allows them to reconstruct the story they have just read.

B. The Hobbit, a novel published by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1937, features a reproduction of a map that the characters use on their quest, as well as a map that appears at the end of the novel.

C. The Hobbit’s two maps, one opening and one closing the novel, each serve a purpose for readers.

D. In 1937, author J.R.R. Tolkien published The Hobbit, a novel featuring both an opening and a closing map.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. The sentence contrasts the purposes of the two maps in The Hobbit, noting that the opening map introduces readers to the book’s fictional world, while the closing map helps readers reconstruct the story. The word “while” helps signal a contrast between the purposes of the maps.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the two maps, it doesn’t contrast the maps’ purposes. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the two maps and notes that each has a purpose, it doesn’t specify what those purposes are or how they contrast. Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the two maps, it doesn’t contrast the maps’ purposes.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Etel Adnan was a Lebanese American poet and artist known for making many leporellos.

• A leporello is an artist’s book that is folded accordion style.

• When the book is expanded, the artist’s work is revealed, and its zigzag shape allows it to stand on its own.

• Her leporello December from My Window (1993) features a panoramic landscape.

• It is painted using ink and watercolor.

The student wants to describe Adnan’s December from My Window to an audience already familiar with leporellos.

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Featuring a panoramic landscape, the 1993 work is one of Adnan’s many leporellos, which are accordion-style folded books that when expanded reveal the artist’s work.

B. When expanded, Adnan’s 1993 leporello December from My Window reveals a panoramic landscape painted in ink and watercolor.

C. Known for making many other accordion-style folded books called leporellos, Adnan created December from My Window in 1993.

D. A leporello, such as Adnan’s December from My Window, is folded accordion style, and due to its zigzag shape it is able to stand on its own when fully expanded.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. This choice describes Adnan’s December from My Window in a way that assumes the audience is already familiar with leporellos and focuses on the specific features of the work—its content and medium.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice isn’t suited for an audience already familiar with leporellos. A familiar audience wouldn’t need to have the term defined or explained. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t describe Adnan’s December from My Window. It mentions the year and the type of work but not the content or the medium. In addition, it provides a simple definition of leporellos, making this an inappropriate choice for an audience already familiar with leporellos. Choice D is incorrect. This choice isn’t suited for an audience already familiar with leporellos. A familiar audience wouldn’t need to have the term defined.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• In the art world, the term biennial traditionally refers to an art exhibition that takes place every two years in a single location.

• Such biennials are held in New York, Berlin, and Venice.

• In 2006, artists Ed Gomez and Luis Hernandez founded the unconventional MexiCali Biennial.

• The MexiCali Biennial hosts exhibitions in different venues on both sides of the US-Mexico border.

• The MexiCali Biennial has taken place on an uneven schedule, with exhibitions in 2006, 2009–10, 2013, and 2018–20.

The student wants to emphasize a difference between the MexiCali Biennial and traditional biennials. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. In 2006, artists Ed Gomez and Luis Hernandez founded the MexiCali Biennial, which has taken place in 2006, 2009– 10, 2013, and 2018–20.

B. Unlike traditional biennials, the MexiCali Biennial hosts exhibitions in different venues on an uneven schedule.

C. The term biennial traditionally refers to an art exhibition that takes place every two years in a single location, not to

exhibitions hosted at a variety of times and venues.

D. Biennial exhibitions have been held in New York, Berlin, and Venice but also on both sides of the US-Mexico border.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The sentence effectively emphasizes a difference between the MexiCali Biennial and traditional biennials, stating that the MexiCali Biennial is unlike traditional biennials because it hosts exhibitions in different venues on an uneven schedule.

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence indicates who founded the MexiCali Biennial and the years this biennial has taken place; it doesn’t emphasize a difference between the MexiCali Biennial and traditional biennials. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence clarifies the traditional meaning of biennial with language that could apply to the MexiCali Biennial, it doesn’t mention the MexiCali Biennial by name. Therefore, the sentence doesn’t effectively emphasize a difference between the MexiCali Biennial and traditional biennials. Choice D is incorrect. The sentence notes locations where various biennial exhibitions have been held; it doesn’t emphasize a difference between the MexiCali Biennial and traditional biennials.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• The Pueblo of Zuni is located about 150 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• It is the traditional home of the A:shiwi (Zuni) people.

• The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center was established by tribal members in 1992.

• Its mission is stated on its website: “As a tribal museum and heritage center for the Zuni people and by the Zuni people we work to provide learning experiences that emphasize A:shiwi ways of knowing, as well as exploring modern concepts of knowledge and the transfer of knowledge.”

The student wants to emphasize how long the museum has existed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. The Pueblo of Zuni is home to the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, which was founded by tribal members.

B. The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center has served the Pueblo of Zuni since 1992.

C. According to its website, the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center (founded in the 1990s) works to “emphasize A:shiwi ways of knowing.”

D. Knowledge has been one of the central themes of the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center from its founding.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. This choice effectively uses information from the notes to emphasize how long the museum has existed. It says that the museum has existed since 1992.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how long the museum has existed. It doesn’t say when the museum was founded. Choice C is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how long the museum has existed. It doesn’t say the exact date of the museum’s founding. Rather, it emphasizes the museum’s mission. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t emphasize how long the museum has existed. It doesn’t say when the museum was founded.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Gravitational waves are powerful ripples that originate in deep space and eventually pass through Earth.

• The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a physics study that began in 2002.

• LIGO’s goal is to detect and analyze gravitational waves.

• LIGO uses a pair of massive gravitational wave detectors called interferometers that are thousands of miles apart.

• In 2015, for the first time in history, LIGO researchers detected a gravitational wave passing through Earth.

The student wants to present LIGO’s aim and methodology. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. In 2015, LIGO’s massive interferometers detected a powerful ripple that originated in deep space and eventually passed through Earth.

B. Though the physics study LIGO began in 2002, its massive interferometers didn’t detect a gravitational wave until 2015.

C. To achieve its aims, LIGO uses a pair of massive interferometers that are thousands of miles apart.

D. A physics study designed to detect and analyze gravitational waves, LIGO uses a pair of massive interferometers that are thousands of miles apart.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence effectively presents the LIGO study’s aim, noting that it is designed to detect and analyze gravitational waves, and its methodology (it uses two interferometers to detect the waves).

Choice A is incorrect. The sentence describes a finding from the LIGO study; it doesn’t effectively present the study’s aim or its methodology. Choice B is incorrect. The sentence provides background information about the LIGO study’s timeline; it doesn’t effectively present the study’s aim or its methodology. Choice C is incorrect. The sentence touches on LIGO’s methodology, noting that it uses two interferometers, but doesn’t indicate what the study’s aims are.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Just like states have state flags, some cities have city flags.

• Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags since 2015.

• The city of Pocatello, Idaho, redesigned its flag after it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America.

• Pocatello’s new flag better represents the city’s mountainous geography and civic priorities.

• Residents consider the new flag to be a meaningful symbol of civic pride.

The student wants to make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags, including Pocatello, whose flag had been named the

most poorly designed flag in North America.

B. Pocatello is just one of over one hundred US cities that have redesigned their flags.

C. After it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America, the flag of Pocatello was redesigned to

better represent the city’s geography and civic priorities.

D. Redesigning a poorly designed city flag can create a meaningful symbol of civic pride, as was the case when

Pocatello redesigned its original flag to better represent its geography and civic priorities.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence makes and supports a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag, noting that redesigning a city flag can create a meaningful symbol of civic pride, as was the case when the city of Pocatello redesigned its flag.

Choice A is incorrect because the sentence explains that many US cities have redesigned their flags and provides an example; it doesn’t make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag. Choice B is incorrect because the sentence provides an example of a city that redesigned its flag; it doesn’t make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag. Choice C is incorrect because the sentence emphasizes why the flag of Pocatello was redesigned; it doesn’t make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Minnesota defines a lake as an inland body of water of at least 10 acres.

• Wisconsin’s definition of a lake doesn’t take size into account.

• By its own definition, Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes, many smaller than 10 acres.

• By Minnesota’s definition, Wisconsin has only about 6,000 lakes.

The student wants to contrast Minnesota’s definition of a lake with Wisconsin’s. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Wisconsin, which doesn’t take size into account in defining a lake, claims that it has over 15,000 lakes.

B. Because its definition of a lake is different from Minnesota’s, it is unclear how many lakes Wisconsin really has.

C. According to Minnesota’s definition of a lake—an inland body of water of at least 10 acres—Wisconsin has about 6,000 lakes.

D. Minnesota’s definition of a lake—an inland body of water of at least 10 acres—is more restrictive than Wisconsin’s, which doesn’t take size into account.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The sentence contrasts Minnesota’s definition of a lake with Wisconsin’s, explaining that Minnesota’s definition (which takes size into account) is more restrictive than Wisconsin’s definition (which doesn’t).

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence notes that Wisconsin’s definition of a lake doesn’t take size into account, it doesn’t contrast Minnesota’s definition with Wisconsin’s. Choice B is incorrect. The sentence states that Wisconsin’s definition of a lake is different from Minnesota’s, but it doesn’t clarify how they differ. In other words, it doesn’t contrast Minnesota’s definition with Wisconsin’s. Choice C is incorrect. The sentence indicates how many lakes Wisconsin has according to Minnesota’s definition of a lake, but it doesn’t clarify how the states’ definitions differ. In other words, it doesn’t contrast Minnesota’s definition with Wisconsin’s.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Maika’i Tubbs is a Native Hawaiian sculptor and installation artist.

• His work has been shown in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Germany, among other places.

• Many of his sculptures feature discarded objects.

• His work Erasure (2008) includes discarded audiocassette tapes and magnets.

• His work Home Grown (2009) includes discarded pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood.

The student wants to emphasize a similarity between the two works. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Erasure (2008) uses discarded objects such as audiocassette tapes and magnets; Home Grown (2009), however, includes pushpins, plastic plates and forks, and wood.

B. Tubbs’s work, which often features discarded objects, has been shown both within the United States and abroad.

C. Like many of Tubbs’s sculptures, both Erasure and Home Grown include discarded objects: Erasure uses audiocassette tapes, and Home Grown uses plastic forks.

D. Tubbs completed Erasure in 2008 and Home Grown in 2009.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. This choice most effectively emphasizes "a similarity" by identifying a trait the works share: "both Erasure and Home Grown include discarded objects."

Choice A is incorrect. This choice doesn’t "emphasize a similarity." Instead, this choice shows how the materials used in the two works are different. Notice the use of the contrast word "however." Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t "emphasize a similarity between the two works." While it says that Tubbs’s work "often features discarded objects," it doesn’t provide details about the two works in question. Choice D is incorrect. This choice doesn’t "emphasize a similarity." Instead, this choice shows how the works were produced at different times.

Most of the planets that have been discovered outside our solar system orbit G-type stars, like our Sun. In 2014, ______ researchers identified a planet orbiting KELT-9, a B-type star more than twice as massive and nearly twice as hot as the Sun. Called KELT-9b, it is one of the hottest planets ever discovered.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. likewise,

B. however,

C. therefore,

D. for example,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The word “however” logically signals that the information in this sentence about the planet KELT-9b—that it orbits a B-type star—contrasts with the previous information about planets discovered outside our solar system. Most of these planets orbit G-type stars, not B-type stars.

Choice A is incorrect because “likewise” illogically signals that the information about the planet KELT-9b is similar to the previous information about most planets outside our solar system. Instead, it contrasts with that information. Choice C is incorrect because “therefore” illogically signals that the information about the planet KELT-9b is a result of the previous information about most planets outside our solar system. Instead, it contrasts with that. information. Choice D is incorrect because “for example” illogically signals that the information about the planet KELT-9b is an example of the previous information about most planets outside our solar system. Instead, it contrasts with that information.

In 1873, Spanish scientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal observed that brain fibers have distinct boundaries with clear end points, a finding that went against earlier assumptions about the brain. ______ scientists had assumed that the brain was a continuous web of fused fibers, not a vast network of distinct, individual cells.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. However,

B. Previously,

C. As a result,

D. Likewise,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. “Previously” logically signals that the fused fiber theory came before Ramón y Cajal’s discovery.

Choice A is incorrect. “However” illogically signals that the fused fiber theory in this sentence contrasts with the information in the previous sentence. While this theory does contrast with Ramón y Cajal’s discovery, the previous sentence concludes by stating that his discovery went against prior assumptions about the brain. The fact that the fused fiber theory was one of those earlier assumptions makes “however” an illogical choice. Choice C is incorrect because “as a result” illogically signals that the fused fiber theory in this sentence was a result of the discovery in the previous sentence. Instead, the fused fiber theory came before Ramón y Cajal’s discovery. Choice D is incorrect because “likewise” illogically signals that the fused fiber theory in this sentence was similar to the discovery in the previous sentence. Instead, the fused fiber theory, which came before Ramón y Cajal’s discovery, was very different from it.

For years, biologists have experimented with using grime-eating bacteria rather than harsh chemicals to clean artworks, and results have been impressive overall. ______ these bacterial strains—which can metabolize centuries’ worth of oil, glue, dirt, and other surface impurities without creating harmful byproducts—have proven more effective than traditional chemical cleaning methods.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. However,

B. In many cases,

C. As a result,

D. Additionally,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The first sentence makes the claim that using grime-eating bacteria has led to “impressive results.” This sentence supports that claim by describing the specific findings of the biologists’ experimentation. The transition “in many cases” fits the context perfectly.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence actually agrees with the previous sentence. Both claim that grime-eating bacteria are better at cleaning artworks than chemicals. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses a cause-and-effect transition, which doesn’t make sense in context. The fact that the results of the experimentation have been impressive overall doesn’t cause the bacteria to have proven more effective. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that indicates the addition of a new idea. But this sentence doesn’t introduce a new idea. Instead, it elaborates on the same idea laid out in the previous sentence by describing the “impressive results” in more detail.

Alexander Lawrence Posey (1873–1908) varied his focus and tone depending on the genre in which he was writing. In his poetry, he used heartfelt language to evoke the beauty and peacefulness of his natural surroundings; in his journalism, ______ he employed humor and satire to comment on political issues affecting his Muskogee Creek community.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. that is,

B. granted,

C. similarly,

D. by contrast,

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. This sentence compares two examples of Posey’s tone: the “heartfelt language” he used in his poetry versus the “humor and satire” he used in his journalism. We know from these descriptions and from the claim in the previous sentence that the two tones are very different from each other. So the transition “by contrast” fits the context perfectly.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that indicates a restatement of the same idea in other words. But the text isn’t restating the first example here. Instead, it’s offering a second, totally different example. Choice B is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that means “admittedly.” But the text isn’t admitting or conceding anything here. Instead, these two examples work together to support the claim made in the first sentence. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that indicates the addition of an agreeing idea. But these two examples are intentionally very different from each other, so “similarly” doesn’t make sense here.

Okot p’Bitek’s poem Song of Lawino (1966) explores postcolonial Ugandan life through the eyes of a woman living in a rural village. With its vibrant imagery, bitingly satiric tone, and dexterous use of traditional Acholi song and phraseology, the poem inspired a generation of East African writers. ______ those who adopted its style are often referred to as Okot School poets.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. Nevertheless,

B. Fittingly,

C. By comparison,

D. Instead,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. “Fittingly” is a transition that means “appropriately” or “suitably,” and it is appropriate that writers who adopted their style from Okot p’Bitek would be known as the Okot School poets.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence is not disagreeing with anything—rather, it’s discussing how it makes sense for those writers who adopted Okot’s style to be known as the Okot School poets. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that compares two ideas. But this sentence is not comparing the Okot School poets and their style to Okot’s style. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence is not disagreeing with anything—rather, it’s discussing how it makes sense for those writers who adopted Okot’s style to be known as the Okot School poets.

Because an achiral molecule is symmetrical, flipping it yields a structurally identical molecule. A flipped chiral molecule, ______ can be compared to a glove that has been turned inside out: it produces a structurally inverted molecule rather than an identical one.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. in other words,

B. by contrast,

C. for example,

D. similarly,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. This sentence compares a chiral molecule to an achiral one. It discusses how when a chiral molecule is flipped, it results in something very different than when an achiral molecule is flipped. So the transition "by contrast" fits the context perfectly.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that indicates a restatement of the same idea in different words. But this sentence doesn’t restate the same idea as the previous sentence. Instead, it makes a new point about a different type of molecule (chiral instead of achiral). Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that introduces an example, which doesn’t make sense here. The second sentence isn’t an example of the first sentence’s claim about achiral molecules: it actually introduces an entirely different idea that focuses on chiral molecules. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that indicates the addition of an agreeing idea. But this sentence shows a contrast with the first sentence—namely, that a chiral molecule acts very differently from an achiral molecule when flipped.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s story collection Interpreter of Maladies features multiple stories about romantic relationships. In “This Blessed House,” newlyweds argue over whether to replace items left by the previous owners of their new home. ______ in “A Temporary Matter,” a husband and wife attempt to rekindle their relationship during a four-night blackout.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. Granted,

B. For example,

C. Likewise,

D. Hence,

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. "Likewise" is a transition that indicates the addition of a new but related idea. In this sentence, the author is providing another similar example to that discussed in the previous sentence. Therefore, "likewise" works best in this context.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that means "admittedly." But the text isn’t admitting or conceding anything here. Instead, these two examples work together to support the claim made in the first sentence. Choice B is incorrect. This choice uses an exemplification transition, which doesn’t make sense here. The second story is not an example of the story in the previous sentence—it’s another, similar story. And while both stories exemplify the first sentence in the text, the transition we’re looking for isn’t actually connected to that sentence. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a cause-and-effect transition, which doesn’t make sense here. The first story didn’t result in the events of the second story.

Establishing Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is no easy task. Each month, readings of a single second from atomic clocks around the world are taken and sent to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. ______ BIPM metrologists perform the meticulous work of assembling these minutely disparate readings into a globally shared time standard.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. There,

B. In particular,

C. For example,

D. Conversely,

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer. "There" indicates that the work of calculating Coordinated Universal Time takes place at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in France. Because "there" indicates a location, it fits the context perfectly.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice uses an exemplification transition, which doesn’t make sense here. This sentence is describing where the work of coordinating Coordinated Universal Time takes place, not giving an example of the work described in the previous sentence. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses an exemplification transition, which doesn’t make sense here. This sentence is describing where the work of coordinating Coordinated Universal Time takes place, not giving an example of the work described in the previous sentence. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence doesn’t disagree with the previous sentence. They both describe the work involved in calculating Coordinated Universal Time.

The chemical trimethylamine N-oxide not only gives fish their fishy smell but also protects them from crushing hydrostatic pressure in deep waters. Trimethylamine N-oxide strengthens the bonds between water molecules in a fish’s body. ______ these water molecules maintain their linked structure at extreme depths, thus preventing pressure related damage.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. Nevertheless,

B. As a result,

C. However,

D. For instance,

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. “As a result” indicates that water molecules maintaining their linked structure at high pressures is caused by the strengthening of these water molecules by trimethylamine N-oxide. So the transition “as a result” fits the context perfectly.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence doesn’t disagree with the previous one—rather, it’s describing an effect of the phenomenon described in the previous sentence. Choice C is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence doesn’t disagree with the previous one; it actually expands on the previous sentence by describing an effect of the strengthened molecules. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses an exemplification transition, which doesn’t make sense here. The second sentence doesn’t provide an example or instance of the idea in the previous sentence. Instead, it explores the effects of the previous idea in more depth.

“Wishcycling”—putting nonrecyclable items into recycling bins under the mistaken belief that those items can be recycled—ultimately does more harm than good. Nonrecyclable items, such as greasy pizza boxes, can contaminate recyclable materials, rendering entire batches unusable. ______ nonrecyclable products can damage recycling plants’ machinery.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. Fittingly,

B. On the contrary,

C. Moreover,

D. Nevertheless,

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer. The first sentence tells us that “wishcycling” is harmful, the previous sentence gives us an example, and this sentence gives us another example. So “moreover”—a transition that indicates the addition of another supporting point—fits perfectly here.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice uses a transition that means “appropriately” or “suitably,” which doesn’t make sense in context. This sentence adds another example of how “wishcycling” is harmful, so we’re looking for an addition transition. Choice B is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence actually agrees with the previous sentence. Both provide examples of how “wishcycling” is harmful. Choice D is incorrect. This choice uses a disagreement transition. But this sentence actually agrees with the previous sentence. Both provide examples of how “wishcycling” is harmful.

To discover which fruit varieties were grown in Italy’s Umbria region before the introduction of industrial farming, botanist Isabella Dalla Ragione often turns to centuries-old lists of cooking ingredients. ______ she analyzes Renaissance paintings of Umbria, as they can provide accurate representations of fruits that were grown there long ago.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. In sum,

B. Instead,

C. Thus,

D. Additionally,

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. “Additionally” logically signals that the painting analysis discussed in this sentence is an additional part of the botany research discussed in the previous sentence. That is, to research which fruits Umbrians grew in the past, the botanist analyzes old paintings in addition to looking at old lists of ingredients.

Choice A is incorrect because “in sum” illogically signals that the painting analysis discussed in this sentence is a concluding summary of the botany research discussed in the previous sentence. Instead, the painting analysis is an additional part of that research. Choice B is incorrect because “instead” illogically signals that the painting analysis discussed in this sentence is an alternative to the botany research discussed in the previous sentence. Rather, the painting analysis is an additional part of that research. Choice C is incorrect because “thus” illogically signals that the painting analysis discussed in this sentence is a result of the botany research discussed in the previous sentence. Instead, the painting analysis is an additional part of that research.