PSAT Writing and Language Question 4: Answer and Explanation

Question: 4

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. its Berlin Wall in 1989), in fact,
• C. it's Berlin Wall in 1989). In fact,
• D. its Berlin Wall in 1989); in fact,

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Punctuation changes in the answer choices, so this question tests STOP, HALF-STOP, and GO punctuation. Use the Vertical Line Test and identify the ideas as complete or incomplete. Draw the vertical line between the words 1989 and in. The first part of the sentence, This may seem a bit late, given that most of the USSR and USSR-affiliated empires fell around 1990 (starting with East Germany and its Berlin Wall in 1989), is a complete idea. The second part, in fact the largest migrations of Soviets and ex-Soviets happened just after the Union had fallen, is a complete idea. To connect two complete ideas, STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation is needed. Eliminate (A) and (B) because both no punctuation and commas are GO punctuation. To choose between (C) and (D), look to the underlined pronoun, it's. When used with a pronoun, an apostrophe indicates a contraction. In this sentence, the Berlin Wall belongs to East Germany, so the pronoun must indicate possession. Eliminate (C), because it's means "it is," which is not necessary in this sentence. Choice (D) correctly uses the possessive pronoun its. The correct answer is (D).