Choice C is the best answer because the colon signals that the other
factor that contributed to the early thaw is about to be provided.
Choice A is incorrect because it results in a sentence that deviates
from grammatical standards: a semicolon should be used to separate
two independent clauses, but in choice A the second clause only has
a subject, not a verb. Choice B is incorrect because it is unnecessarily
wordy. Choice D is incorrect because “being” is unnecessary and
creates an incoherent clause.
QUESTION 17
Choice C is the best answer because it provides the correct
preposition (“of”) and relative pronoun (“which”) that together create a
dependent clause following the comma.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because each results in a comma
splice. Two independent clauses cannot be joined with only a comma.
QUESTION 18
Choice A is the best answer because the verb tense is consistent with
WKHSUHFHGLQJSDVWWHQVHYHUEVLQWKHVHQWHQFHVSHFLƮFDOO\ŠSURGXFHGš
and “drifted.”
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because each utilizes a verb tense
that is not consistent with the preceding past tense verbs in the
sentence.
QUESTION 19
Choice D is the best answer because “their” is the possessive form of
a plural noun. In this case, the noun is plural: “snow and ice.”
Choices A and B are incorrect because the possessive pronoun must
refer to a plural noun, “snow and ice,” rather than a singular noun.
Choice C is incorrect because “there” would result in an incoherent
sentence.
QUESTION 20
Choice D is the best answer. The preceding sentences in the paragraph
have established that a darker surface of soot-covered snow leads to
more melting because this darker surface absorbs heat, whereas a
ZKLWHUVXUIDFHIUHHRIVRRWZRXOGGHưHFWKHDW$VWKHSDVVDJHSRLQWV
RXWH[SRVHGODQGDQGZDWHUDUHDOVRGDUNDQGFDQQRWGHưHFWKHDWWKH
ZD\LFHDQGVQRZFDQ2QO\FKRLFH'UHưHFWVWKHVHOIUHLQIRUFLQJF\FOH
that the preceding sentences already imply.
$16:(5(;3/$1$7,216
̝_̝
6$73UDFWLFH7HVW Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the information each
provides fails to support the previous claim that the “result” of the soot
“is a self-reinforcing cycle.”
QUESTION 21