PSAT Writing and Language Question 354: Answer and Explanation

Question: 354

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. learning. The
• C. learning the
• D. learning—the

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

Punctuation is changing in the answer choices, so this question is testing STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO punctuation. Use the Vertical Line Test and identify the ideas as complete or incomplete. Draw the vertical line through the FANBOYS word and between the words learning and the. The first part of the sentence, Research has shown that both terrestrial and aquatic animals practice spatial learning, is a complete idea. The second part, the ability to navigate a physical environment, is an incomplete idea. To connect a complete idea to an incomplete idea, HALF-STOP or GO punctuation is needed. Eliminate (A) and (B) because a comma with FANBOYS and a period are both STOP punctuation. Although no punctuation is GO punctuation, the two ideas need to be separated because the second part is an explanation of the first part; eliminate (C). Keep (D) because a single dash is HALF-STOP punctuation. The correct answer is (D).