PSAT Writing and Language Question 106: Answer and Explanation

Question: 106

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. rails however
• C. rails; however,
• D. rails, however

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

Punctuation changes in the answer choices, so this question tests STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO punctuation and the four ways to use a comma. Use the Vertical Line Test and identify the ideas as complete or incomplete. Draw the vertical line between the words rails and however. The first part of the sentence, Once Jimmie could no longer work the rails, is an incomplete idea. The second part of the sentence, however, he pursued his musical career in earnest, is a complete idea. To connect an incomplete idea to a complete idea, GO punctuation is needed. A semicolon is STOP punctuation, so eliminate (C). The phrase however is unnecessary information, so it should have commas both before and after it. Keep (A) because it correctly places commas before and after however. Eliminate (B) and (D) because they do not have commas before and after however. The correct answer is (A).