PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 219

Question: 219

Everyone knows that Las Vegas, Nevada is a hub for entertainment and life. People from around the globe (1) flock to the flashy city to enjoy the world-renowned shows and sun-kissed resorts. But how does a city in the middle of a desert land survive? (2) Approximatly thirty-five miles south of the city (3) lied over six million tons of concrete constructed into a seven-hundred-foot structure called the Hoover Dam.
In 1931, (4) president Herbert Hoover ordered for the construction of the dam that would later be named after him. People leapt at the opportunity for work following the hard-struck times of (5) the great depression. Although many people suffered and died as a result of tough working conditions, the willingness to work was evident. (6) Five years after the president called for its construction, Hoover Dam opened.
Years later, the dam continues to bring proper irrigation and electricity to this part of a formerly (7) barren land. People can develop and inhabit the desert area, miles beyond the (8) dam's location. In addition to its immediate resourcefulness, the dam also brings additional tourism that directly impacts the local economy. (9) Even though the dam poses a few environmental problems with its (10) water source the Colorado River. And other connected ecosystems, Hoover Dam has been approved to operate at least until 2067.

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