PSAT Reading and Writing Quiz: Grammar

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Grammar, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for PSAT Reading and Writing.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. reproduce
2. reproduces (correct answer)
3. are reproducing
4. have reproduced

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns. 'Neither' is treated as singular when meaning 'not one of two,' so it requires a singular verb 'reproduces' to agree, fitting the present tense for a general observation. Choice B correctly provides this singular form. Choice A uses plural 'reproduce,' which disagrees with the singular subject, Choice C's 'are reproducing' is plural and continuous without need, and Choice D's 'have reproduced' introduces perfect tense not suited to the timeless context. For indefinite pronouns like 'neither' or 'either,' remember they are usually singular and take singular verbs unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

Question 2

1. we (correct answer)
2. us
3. our
4. ours

Explanation: This question tests pronoun case in subject position. After "asked that," we have a noun clause where the pronoun serves as the subject of the verb "focus," so we need the subjective case "we" (Choice A). Choice B "us" is objective case and can't be the subject of a verb. Choice C "our" is possessive and doesn't fit grammatically. Choice D "ours" is also possessive and creates an incomplete sentence. When a pronoun is the subject of a verb (even in a subordinate clause), always use the subjective case (I, we, he, she, they) regardless of what comes before the clause.

Question 3

1. are
2. were
3. is (correct answer)
4. have been

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement with collective nouns and present tense for habitual actions. The subject 'series' is singular, and the phrase 'including one segment about the old harbor' is a nonrestrictive modifier that doesn't alter the number, so 'is' correctly matches in the present tense to describe the ongoing broadcast schedule. Choice A 'are' is plural, mismatching the singular subject; B 'were' shifts to past tense unnecessarily; and D 'have been' introduces present perfect, which isn't needed for the habitual present context. For collective nouns like 'series' or 'committee,' treat them as singular unless the context emphasizes individual members acting separately.

Question 4

1. it
2. they (correct answer)
3. him
4. one

Explanation: This question tests pronoun reference and number agreement. We need a pronoun that refers back to "two Roman coins," which is plural, so we need the plural pronoun "they" (Choice B). The pronoun must logically refer to the coins that were placed in labeled trays for later examination. Choice A "it" is singular and can't refer to two coins. Choice C "him" is masculine singular and doesn't match the antecedent. Choice D "one" is singular and creates an unclear reference. When choosing pronouns, always identify the antecedent first and ensure your pronoun matches it in both number and gender.

Question 5

1. were
2. are
3. was (correct answer)
4. have been

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement with compound subjects joined by 'along with.' The true subject is 'the set of samples,' which is singular—the phrase 'along with the control solution' is a parenthetical addition that doesn't change the subject's number. Since 'set' is singular and the context describes a past event (the report explains what happened), we need the singular past tense verb 'was.' Choice A 'were' is plural, choice B 'are' is present tense, and choice D 'have been' is present perfect plural. When you see phrases like 'along with,' 'as well as,' or 'together with,' remember they don't create compound subjects—focus on the main subject before these phrases.

Question 6

1. they
2. them
3. it (correct answer)
4. their

Explanation: This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement and case, ensuring the pronoun matches its referent in number and functions correctly in the sentence. The pronoun in the blank serves as the subject of 'is recorded,' requiring a nominative singular form to parallel the singular 'every fossil,' which is treated distributively as singular; 'it' correctly refers back to each individual fossil or its tag being recorded. Choice A 'they' is plural and would require a plural verb like 'are' for agreement, but the verb 'is' is singular; B 'them' is an objective pronoun that cannot act as a subject, and D 'their' is possessive, unfit for the subject role. When evaluating pronouns, check both the number agreement with the antecedent and the pronoun's case based on its grammatical function in the clause.

Question 7

1. they
2. them (correct answer)
3. their
4. theirs

Explanation: This question tests pronoun case and reference, requiring an objective pronoun to serve as the object of 'address.' The antecedent is the plural 'questions' implied from 'ask questions,' so 'them' correctly refers to these questions as the things the speaker will address. Choice A 'they' is nominative and cannot function as an object; C 'their' is possessive, which would incorrectly suggest ownership; and D 'theirs' is a possessive pronoun that doesn't fit the object role. In pronoun questions, always determine the grammatical role—such as subject or object—and match the case accordingly while ensuring clear reference to the antecedent.

Question 8

1. record
2. records (correct answer)
3. are recording
4. have recorded

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement. The subject 'set' is singular, and the phrase 'along with their backup batteries' is a nonessential addition that does not affect the subject's number, so the verb must be singular to match. Choice B, 'records,' correctly provides the singular present tense verb needed for the habitual action of data collection. Choice A uses the plural 'record,' which mismatches the singular subject, while Choice C introduces an unnecessary present continuous tense, and Choice D shifts to present perfect, which does not fit the ongoing context. In subject-verb agreement questions, always identify the true subject and ignore interrupting phrases like 'along with' that can disguise its number.

Question 9

1. returned to (correct answer)
2. returning to
3. had return to
4. returns toward

Explanation: This question tests your understanding of verb forms and sentence structure, specifically how to complete a compound predicate with the correct verb form. The sentence has a clear structure: "After the storm subsided, the hikers...   their campsite and prepared a simple meal." The key insight is that this sentence contains two main actions connected by "and" - the missing verb and "prepared." Since these actions are part of a compound predicate (two verbs sharing the same subject), they must be in parallel form. Choice A) "returned to" is correct because it creates a complete, grammatically parallel structure: "the hikers returned to their campsite and prepared a simple meal." Both "returned" and "prepared" are simple past tense verbs, maintaining parallel structure and proper tense consistency with the opening clause "after the storm subsided." Choice B) "returning to" creates a sentence fragment because it uses a participle instead of a finite verb, leaving the main clause without a complete predicate. Choice C) "had return to" is grammatically incorrect - the past perfect requires "had returned," not "had return." The auxiliary verb "had" must be followed by a past participle. Choice D) "returns toward" breaks parallel structure by using present tense while "prepared" is past tense, and "toward" doesn't make logical sense in this context where they're going back to an established location. When you see compound predicates connected by "and," always ensure the verbs match in tense and form. This parallel structure is a common PSAT testing point.

Question 10

1. to keep (correct answer)
2. keeping
3. kept
4. keep

Explanation: This question tests the use of infinitives to express purpose. The phrase 'to keep the temperature steady' acts as an infinitive of purpose, explaining why the students check the thermometer, fitting the procedural context after the semicolon. Choice A, 'to keep,' correctly introduces this purpose clause. Choice B's 'keeping' creates a participial phrase that dangles without clear attachment, Choice C's 'kept' introduces a past participle that disrupts the present tense sequence, and Choice D's 'keep' is a bare infinitive that lacks the 'to' needed for purpose. In procedural writing, infinitives of purpose are useful for clearly stating the reason for an action without ambiguity.

Question 11

1. it
2. them (correct answer)
3. him
4. this

Explanation: This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement. The pronoun must refer back to 'notebooks,' which is plural, requiring a plural object pronoun to describe their storage. Choice B, 'them,' correctly matches in number and serves as the object of 'stores.' Choice A uses the singular 'it,' which fails to agree with the plural antecedent, Choice C introduces an irrelevant masculine pronoun 'him,' and Choice D's 'this' is a demonstrative that does not function as a personal pronoun here. When selecting pronouns, always trace back to the antecedent to ensure agreement in number, gender, and person.

Question 12

1. identifies
2. identified
3. had identified (correct answer)
4. will identify

Explanation: This question tests verb tense, specifically the use of past perfect to indicate an action completed before another past event. The timeline markers 'last spring' and 'by the time the final report was submitted in June' establish past actions, with the identification happening prior to the submission, so 'had identified' correctly uses past perfect to show this sequence. Choice A 'identifies' is present tense, mismatched with the past context; B 'identified' is simple past, which doesn't convey the prior completion; and D 'will identify' incorrectly shifts to future. In tense questions involving timelines, identify the order of events to choose the form that accurately reflects sequence, such as past perfect for earlier actions in past narratives.

Question 13

1. To view
2. Viewed (correct answer)
3. Viewing
4. When viewing

Explanation: This question tests the use of participial phrases to modify nouns and provide descriptive detail. The blank introduces a phrase modifying 'the comet's tail,' describing the condition under which it appeared; 'Viewed' is a past participle that correctly forms a passive participial phrase implying the tail was observed through the filter. Choice A 'To view' creates an infinitive phrase that doesn't logically modify the subject; C 'Viewing' is a present participle suggesting active viewing by the tail itself, which is illogical; and D 'When viewing' introduces a subordinate clause that disrupts the sentence structure. When dealing with introductory phrases, ensure they logically modify the following subject to avoid dangling modifiers.

Question 14

1. they
2. it (correct answer)
3. them
4. we

Explanation: This question tests pronoun-antecedent agreement, focusing on number consistency. The antecedent 'each tree' is singular and distributive, requiring a singular pronoun 'it' to refer back to each individual tree not being damaged. Choice A 'they' and C 'them' are plural, mismatching the singular 'each'; D 'we' introduces an unrelated first-person pronoun that doesn't refer to the trees. When 'each' is used, it emphasizes individuality, so always pair it with singular pronouns and verbs to maintain agreement.

Question 15

1. are
2. is (correct answer)
3. were
4. be

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement with collective nouns and the use of present progressive tense. 'Committee' is a singular collective noun, so 'is' correctly agrees with it, and 'is planning' uses present progressive to indicate a future intention from a present perspective. Choice A 'are' treats the committee as plural, which is inconsistent here; C 'were' shifts to past; and D 'be' is subjunctive or infinitive, not fitting the indicative mood. Collective nouns like 'committee' or 'team' typically take singular verbs in American English unless emphasizing internal division.

Question 16

1. increases
2. increased (correct answer)
3. has increased
4. will increase

Explanation: This question tests verb tense consistency in a past narrative sequence. The actions 'placed,' 'wrote,' and 'was poured' are in simple past, so 'increased' maintains consistency to describe the subsequent change in mass. Choice A 'increases' shifts to present tense, breaking the past sequence; C 'has increased' uses present perfect, unsuitable for a completed past event; and D 'will increase' incorrectly introduces future tense. In passages with established timelines, match the tense of surrounding verbs to ensure logical consistency unless a shift is clearly signaled.

Question 17

1. appear
2. appears (correct answer)
3. appearing
4. have appeared

Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement in sentences with interrupting phrases. The subject 'cluster' is singular, and the phrase 'along with several patches of moss nearby' is a nonessential modifier that does not affect the subject's number, so the verb must be singular to match. Thus, 'appears' correctly agrees with 'cluster' in the present tense, describing the state after the rain. Choice A uses the plural 'appear,' which mismatches the singular subject, while D introduces an unnecessary present perfect tense 'have appeared' that also fails agreement; C is a participle that creates an incomplete verb form. In subject-verb agreement questions, always identify the true subject and ignore prepositional phrases that separate it from the verb.

Question 18

1. it
2. them
3. the red dwarf (correct answer)
4. that

Explanation: This question tests pronoun clarity and antecedent reference. The sentence mentions two stars, and we need to clarify which one is difficult to observe—"the red dwarf" (Choice C) provides the clearest reference. Choice A "it" is ambiguous because there are two possible antecedents (both stars). Choice B "them" is plural but we're only talking about observing one star being difficult. Choice D "that" is vague and doesn't clarify which star. When pronouns could refer to multiple antecedents, the clearest writing often repeats the specific noun rather than using a potentially ambiguous pronoun.

Question 19

1. checking (correct answer)
2. checked
3. to check
4. check

Explanation: This question tests the use of participial phrases to modify actions. The blank needs to complete the thought about what the junior analyst should do while revising—"checking" (Choice A) creates a participial phrase that modifies how the revision should be done. Choice B "checked" would create a comma splice with two independent clauses. Choice C "to check" creates an awkward infinitive construction that doesn't flow with "revise the draft." Choice D "check" would need a conjunction to connect two verbs. When you see a comma after a complete thought, look for modifying phrases (often -ing forms) rather than new independent clauses.

Question 20

1. remain
2. remained (correct answer)
3. remaining
4. remains

Explanation: This question tests verb tense consistency within a narrative. The chemist "explained" (past tense) and the demonstration occurred in the past, so we need the past tense "remained" (Choice B) to maintain consistency. Choice A "remain" is present tense and doesn't match the past context. Choice C "remaining" creates a fragment without a main verb. Choice D "remains" is present tense and contradicts the past-tense framework established by "explained." When a passage establishes a past-tense narrative frame, maintain that tense throughout unless there's a clear reason to shift.