PSAT Writing and Language Question 370: Answer and Explanation

Question: 370

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. access, to an effective local surgeon,
• C. access to an effective local surgeon
• D. access, to an effective local surgeon

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

Commas are changing in the answer choices, so this question is testing the four ways to use a comma. Commas are changing around the phrase to an effective local surgeon, so determine whether this phrase is necessary. The phrase identifies the people that an isolated or impoverished region might not have access to, so it is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. The phrase should not be surrounded by commas. However, the sentence is constructed with an incomplete idea followed by a complete idea, and a comma is needed between the two ideas to separate them. So, there should not be a comma before the phrase, but there should be a comma after it. Keep (A) because it does not place a comma before the phrase, but it does place a comma after the phrase. Eliminate (B) because it places a comma before and after the phrase. Eliminate (C) because it does not place a comma after the phrase. Eliminate (D) because it places a comma before the phrase. The answer correct is (A).