PSAT Writing and Language Question 285: Answer and Explanation

Question: 285

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. me
• C. one
• D. us

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Difficulty: Medium

Getting to the Answer: An underlined pronoun must match the pronouns used in the surrounding context. Determine who the writer is referring to in saying that these authors "compelled" someone. In surrounding sentences, the writer uses the pronouns "we" and "ours" to refer to those impacted by these authors; the writer thus includes both the reader and herself in this designation. This pronoun should include the same groups, so the first-person plural "us," (D), is correct. (B) is incorrect because it includes only the writer, which does not match the other surrounding pronouns. (A) is incorrect because it is in the second person, and (C) is incorrect because it is in the third person, neither of which is used elsewhere in the passage.