Home / Practice / Craft, structure and expression / Worksheet

Craft, structure and expression

Written by Sara Ahmed (English)

SAT for LUMS · English · 20 questions

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

The experiment was expected to fail. ___, it succeeded. Which transition fits?
- A Therefore
- B For example
- C Similarly
- D However
Plants need light to grow. ___, a plant kept in the dark will become pale. Which transition fits?
- A Instead
- B Consequently
- C However
- D Meanwhile
The author's argument was cogent, persuading even sceptical readers. In this sentence, cogent most nearly means:
- A Angry
- B Convincing
- C Uncertain
- D Lengthy
Planting trees can mitigate the effects of heat in cities. Mitigate most nearly means:
- A Ignore
- B Measure
- C Increase
- D Lessen
Honeybees tell others where food is by a waggle dance. The angle of the dance shows direction, and its length shows distance. Which choice best states the main idea?
- A Honeybees use the angle and length of a dance to share the location of food.
- B Honeybees prefer to travel long distances.
- C Honeybees dance only when they are tired.
- D Honeybees cannot find food alone.
A scientist wrote that the data were consistent with the hypothesis. Which choice best describes what the scientist means?
- A The data are unclear.
- B The data agree with the hypothesis.
- C The data were collected twice.
- D The data prove the hypothesis is false.
The speaker's tone was dispassionate, showing no emotion. As used in the text, dispassionate most nearly means:
- A Cheerful
- B Angry
- C Unemotional
- D Careless
The region faced scarce water supplies during the summer. As used in the text, scarce most nearly means:
- A Plentiful
- B Dirty
- C Limited in supply
- D Expensive
The first design was cheap. ___, it broke easily. Which transition fits?
- A Likewise
- B However
- C For instance
- D Therefore
Many students study late into the night. ___, they often sleep less than they need. Which transition fits?
- A Meanwhile
- B In contrast
- C For example
- D As a result
The museum offers guided tours. ___, visitors can use audio guides. Which transition fits?
- A In addition
- B Instead
- C However
- D In conclusion
Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support about a quarter of all marine species. Which choice best states the main idea?
- A Marine species avoid coral reefs.
- B Coral reefs are found only in warm countries.
- C Coral reefs cover most of the ocean floor.
- D Coral reefs support many species although they cover little area.
The plant stores water in its thick leaves, so it survives long dry periods. Which choice most logically completes the sentence: This adaptation helps the plant ___
- A grow in deep shade.
- B attract more insects.
- C float on water.
- D live in desert regions.
A study found that sales rose 10 percent in the months after a company began its ads, but sales also rose during weeks without ads. Which claim is best supported?
- A Sales never change without ads.
- B The ads reduced sales.
- C The ads caused every sale.
- D The data alone do not show that the ads caused the rise.
Which choice is the most concise? The reason why he left was because he was tired.
- A He left, and the reason was that he was tired.
- B The reason he left was due to the fact that he was tired.
- C He left because he was tired.
- D The reason why he left was on account of tiredness.
Which word best fits a formal report? The results were ___ to the team.
- A disappointing
- B a bummer
- C kind of bad
- D pretty lame
A student claims that daily reading improves vocabulary. Which finding best supports the claim?
- A Books are sold in many shops.
- B Students who read 30 minutes daily learned more new words than students who did not.
- C Students like reading stories.
- D Some students read slowly.
The student was reluctant to speak in front of the class. As used in the text, reluctant most nearly means:
- A Able
- B Eager
- C Ready
- D Unwilling
A notice says: The library will now open at 8 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. on weekdays. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
- A To ask for books
- B To describe the history of the library
- C To announce a change in opening hours
- D To close the library
The author argues that cities should plant more trees because trees reduce heat. Which finding would most directly support the argument?
- A Streets with trees were cooler than streets without trees.
- B Trees grow slowly.
- C Cities are crowded.
- D Some trees lose leaves in winter.

Answer key

1. D, 2. B, 3. B, 4. D, 5. A, 6. B, 7. C, 8. C, 9. B, 10. D, 11. A, 12. D, 13. D, 14. D, 15. C, 16. A, 17. B, 18. D, 19. C, 20. A

The second sentence is the opposite of what was expected.
The second sentence is a result of the first.
An argument that persuades sceptical readers is convincing.
To mitigate is to make something less severe.
The passage says the angle shows direction and the length shows distance.
Consistent with means in agreement with.
The text says that the tone showed no emotion.
Scarce means that there is not enough.
The second sentence gives a drawback that contrasts with the first.
The short sleep is a consequence of the late study.
The sentence adds another option.
The text contrasts the small area with the large number of species.
Surviving dry periods suits desert life.
Sales rose even without ads, so a cause cannot be proved from these data.
The shortest version keeps the full meaning.
A formal report needs a formal word.
The finding compares the groups on the outcome that the claim names.
Reluctant means not wanting to do something.
The notice tells readers about a new opening time.
The finding links trees to lower heat.