2021 SAT English Practice Test

Compost: Don’t Waste This Waste

Over the past generation, people in many parts of the United States have become accustomed to dividing their household waste products into different categories for recycling. Regardless, paper may go in one container, glass and aluminum in another, regular garbage in a third. Recently, some US cities have added a new category: compost, organic matter such as food scraps and yard debris.

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) However,

• C) Furthermore,

• D) For example,

Answer explanation

Choice D is the best answer because the prepositional phrase “for example” logically connects the two sentences and correctly indicates that what follows in the second sentence will be examples of household waste products: paper, glass, aluminum, and garbage.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they don’t indicate the true relationship between the two sentences.

“Regardless” (choice A) means in spite of something,

“However,” (choice B) indicates a contrast, and

“Furthermore.” (choice C) means in addition. None of these transitions indicates that an example will follow.

Most people think of banana peels, eggshells, and dead leaves as “waste,” but compost is actually a valuable resource with multiple practical uses. When utilized as a garden fertilizer, compost provides nutrients to soil and improves plant growth while deterring or killing pests and preventing some plant diseases. It also enhances soil texture, encouraging healthy roots and minimizing or annihilating the need for chemical fertilizers.

Which choice best maintains the style and tone of the passage?

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) eliminating

• C) ousting

• D) closing the door on

Answer explanation

Choice B is the best answer. The verb “eliminate” means to remove, and it makes the most sense in the sentence.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Although all the choices mean “to get rid of,” their connotations are different:

“Annihilating” (choice A) is usually used to refer to the act of completely destroying, which is too intense in this context.

“Ousting” (choice C) is generally used when referring to the act of forcibly removing a person from a position.

“Closing the door on” (choice D) is a colloquial expression that usually means shutting out the possibility of something happening or not being willing to consider an idea. This expression doesn’t fit the tone of the passage.

Better than soil at holding moisture, compost minimizes water waste and storm runoff, increases savings on watering costs, and helps reduce erosion on embankments near bodies of water. In large quantities, which one would expect to see when it is collected for an entire municipality), compost can be converted into a natural gas that can be used as fuel for transportation or heating and cooling systems.

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) quantities (which

• C) quantities which

• D) quantities; (which

Answer explanation

We need a parenthesis because there is one later in the sentence, and we need the pair to make it grammatically correct. So, B and D are the ONLY options.

Choice B is the best answer. Because it is NOT a complete sentence, so "D" (with a semicolon) cannot be used.

In spite of all compost’s potential uses, however, most of this so-called waste is wasted. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 5 13 million tons of metal ended up in US landfills in 2009, along with over 13 million tons of yard debris. Remarkably, 6 less glass was discarded in landfills in that year than any other substance, including plastics or paper. Even 7 worse, then the squandering of this useful resource is the fact that compost in landfills cannot break down due to the lack of necessary air and moisture.

The writer wants to include information from the graph that is consistent with the description of compost in the passage. Which choice most effectively accomplishes this goal?

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) 6 million tons of rubber and leather

• C) 10 million tons of textiles

• D) 33 million tons of food waste

Answer explanation

Choice D is the best answer.

According to the information from the graph, 33 million tons of food waste were discarded in US landfills in 2009, which is consistent with the discussion of food waste in the passage.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the passage thus far has focused on compost. Metal, rubber, leather, and textiles are not materials that are composted.

In spite of all compost’s potential uses, however, most of this so-called waste is wasted. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 13 million tons of metal ended up in US landfills in 2009, along with over 13 million tons of yard debris. Remarkably, less glass was discarded in landfills in that year than any other substance, including plastics or paper. Even worse, then the squandering of this useful resource is the fact that compost in landfills cannot break down due to the lack of necessary air and moisture.

The writer wants to support the paragraph’s main idea with accurate, relevant information from the graph. Which choice most effectively accomplishes this goal?

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) more metal

• C) more food waste

• D) more yard waste

Answer explanation

Choice C is the best answer. According to the graph, this is the only choice that makes the sentence true. More food waste was discarded in landfills in 2009 “than any other substance, including plastics or paper.”

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they are not true, according to the graph. The graph indicates that less glass, metal, and yard waste were discarded in the landfills than plastics and paper.

Even worse, than the squandering of this useful resource is the fact that compost in landfills cannot break down due to the lack of necessary air and moisture. As a result, organic material that is sent to landfills contribute to the release of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) are contributing

• C) contributes

• D) have contributed

Answer explanation

Choice C is the best answer. The present tense singular verb “contributes” agrees in number with the singular noun “material,” and the present tense verb is consistent with the other present tense verbs in the passage, for example, "is sent" earlier in the sentence would not work ANY other choice given.

Choices A and B are incorrect because “contribute” (choice A) and “are contributing” (choice B) are plural present tense verbs. Choice D is incorrect because “have contributed” is a plural past tense verb.

Even worse, than the squandering of this useful resource is the fact that compost in landfills cannot break down due to the lack of necessary air and moisture. As a result, organic material that is sent to landfills contributes to the release of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas.

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) sturdy

• C) influential

• D) commanding

Answer explanation

Choice A is the best answer. “Potent” means strong or powerful, which makes sense in the context of discussing greenhouse gas.

Choice B is incorrect because “sturdy” is usually used to refer to the physical strength or solidity of something.

Choice C is incorrect because “influential” refers to the power of a person to affect or sway others or events without any apparent effort.

Choice D is incorrect because “commanding” indicates that the inanimate greenhouse gas is actually commanding something.

It’s the beginning of February, and as they do every year, thousands of people line H Street, the heart of Chinatown in Washington, DC. The crowd has gathered to celebrate Lunar New Year. The street is a sea of 12 red: red is the traditional Chinese color of luck and happiness. Buildings are draped with festive, red, banners, and garlands. Lampposts are strung with crimson paper lanterns, which bob in the crisp winter breeze

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) draped, with festive red banners,

• C) draped with festive red banners—

• D) draped with festive red banners

Answer explanation

Choice D is the best answer. Punctuation is not necessary in the underlined portion of the sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because no commas are needed after “festive” and “red” because the adjectives don’t equally modify “banners.” No comma is needed after “banners” because there is no reason to put one between “banners” and “and garlands,” the two objects of the preposition “with.”

Choice B is incorrect because placing commas around the prepositional phrase “with festive red banners” wrongly indicates that the information is nonessential and could be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Choice C is incorrect because there should not be a dash or any other kind of punctuation between “banners” and “and garlands.”

Experts agree that the lion dance originated in the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE); however, there is little agreement about the dance’s original purpose. Some evidence suggests that the earliest version of the dance was an attempt to ward off an evil spirit; 14 lions are obviously very fierce. Another theory is that an emperor, upon waking from a dream about a lion, hired an artist to choreograph the dance. The current function of the dance is celebration.

Which choice most effectively concludes the paragraph?

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) It turns out that the origins of the lion dance are irrelevant.

• C) Whatever its origins, today the lion dance is a joyous spectacle, a celebration of the promise of the New Year.

• D) Things are different these days, of course.

Answer explanation

Choice C is the best answer. It ties the information about the possible origins and historical purpose of the lion dance to its present purpose as a New Year’s celebration of hope.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they don’t effectively bring the paragraph to a conclusion. Each of these options is vague and calls for elaboration: choice A lacks specific information, choice B lacks proof for the idea of irrelevance, and choice D lacks a connection to the subject of the paragraph.

[1] While there are many regional variations of the lion dance costume, all make extensive use of symbols and colors. [2] The lion’s head is often adorned with a phoenix (a mythical bird) or a tortoise (for longevity). [3] Green lions encourage friendliness. [4] Golden and red lions represent liveliness and bravery, respectively. [5] Their older counterparts, yellow and white lions, dance more slowly and deliberately. [6] In some variations, lions of different colors are different ages, and they move accordingly. [7] Black lions are the youngest; therefore, they dance quickly and playfully. [8] The appearance of the lions varies, but their message is consistent: Happy New Year.

Which choice provides information that is most consistent in style and content with the information about the symbolism of the tortoise?

• A) NO CHANGE

• B) (for new beginnings)

• C) (from Chinese mythology)

• D) (for symbolic reasons)

Answer explanation

Choice B is the best answer. This choice indicates that the phoenix represents new beginnings, which is consistent in content with the information explaining that the tortoise represents longevity.

Additionally, this choice is presented as a parenthetical prepositional phrase beginning with the preposition “for,” which is consistent in structure with the parenthetical prepositional phrase “for longevity.”

Choice A is incorrect because the parenthetical information indicates what a phoenix is, not what it represents. Furthermore, the information is not presented in a prepositional phrase. Choice C is incorrect because this choice indicates the source of the phoenix, not what it represents. Choice D is incorrect because it is vague and doesn’t identify what the phoenix symbolizes