tsia2 reading and writing practice test 1

A placement test used in Texas to assess a student's readiness for college-level coursework in math, reading, and writing.

With four recent United States presidents being left-handed Ford, the elder Bush, Clinton and Obama the stigma associated with left-handedness largely vanishing
  • A. left-handedness largely vanishing
  • B. left-handedness has largely vanished
  • C. left-handedness being largely vanished
  • D. left-handedness and largely vanished
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

Option B effectively conveys that left-handedness has significantly decreased in societal stigma. The present perfect tense ("has largely vanished") indicates a change that started in the past and continues to the present, aligning well with the context of the sentence. Option A uses "largely vanishing," which is awkward and suggests an ongoing process rather than a completed change. Option C's "being largely vanished" is grammatically incorrect, as "being" does not fit with the passive construction. Option D incorrectly combines "and" with "largely vanished," creating a fragment that lacks clarity and coherence.

Other Related Questions

According to scientists, the seven separate continents of the world in the far distant past, one vast land mass
  • A. the world, in the far distant past
  • B. the world, being in the far distant past
  • C. the world were, in the far distant past
  • D. the world was, in the far distant past
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

In this sentence, clarity and grammatical accuracy are essential. Option D accurately uses "was" to indicate that the continents once existed as a single land mass in the past, aligning with standard subject-verb agreement. Option A is incomplete, lacking a verb that connects the subject to the predicate. Option B incorrectly uses "being," which does not convey the past tense needed for this context. Option C uses "were," which is incorrect as it implies a plural subject, while "the world" is singular. Thus, D is the only option that correctly reflects the historical context and grammatical structure.
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 6 (reproduced below)? Some researchers have cited this evidence as it made an argument that MSA hunters were less skilled than LSA hunters.
  • A. (as it is now)
  • B. evidence and were making
  • C. evidence, having made
  • D. evidence to make
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Option D clarifies the relationship between the evidence and the argument, indicating that the evidence was used to support the claim about MSA hunters. This creates a clear and logical connection. Option A retains the original phrasing, which is vague and awkward, failing to effectively convey the intended meaning. Option B uses "and were making," which introduces unnecessary complexity and shifts the focus away from the evidence itself. Option C's "having made" implies a completed action that does not align with the ongoing nature of the argument being presented.
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below)? Agricultural activities can disrupt animal's natural habitats.
  • A. (as it is now)
  • B. animal's natural habitat's.
  • C. animals' natural habitats.
  • D. animals natural habitats
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Option C, "animals' natural habitats," is the best choice because it correctly uses the plural possessive form. Since multiple animals are affected, the apostrophe is placed after "animals" to indicate that the habitats belong to them. Option A retains the original error of using the singular possessive "animal's," which is incorrect when referring to multiple animals. Option B incorrectly adds an unnecessary apostrophe after "habitat," suggesting possession that does not apply here, leading to confusion. Option D lacks the necessary apostrophe to indicate possession, making it grammatically incorrect.
The best placement for sentence 12 within the third paragraph would be
  • A. where it is now
  • B. before sentence 11
  • C. after sentence 13
  • D. after sentence 14
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Placement of sentence 12 where it currently is allows for a logical flow of ideas, maintaining coherence within the paragraph. It connects well with the preceding sentence, enhancing clarity and emphasizing the main point. Option B disrupts this flow by placing sentence 12 before sentence 11, which may confuse readers regarding the sequence of thoughts. Option C, placing it after sentence 13, would create a disjointed structure, as it would separate related ideas. Option D, positioning it after sentence 14, risks losing the contextual relevance, diminishing the paragraph's overall impact.