PSAT Writing and Language Question 5: Answer and Explanation

Question: 5

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. depression, and deprivation
• C. depression, and, deprivation
• D. depression, and deprivation,

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Commas change in the answer choices, so this question tests the four ways to use a comma. The sentence contains a list of three things: 1) poverty, 2) depression, and 3) deprivation. There should be a comma after each item in the list before the word and. Eliminate (A) because it does not have a comma after depression. Keep (B) because it has a comma after each item in the list. Eliminate (C) because there should not be a comma after the word and. Eliminate (D) because there is no reason to use a comma after the list of three things. The correct answer is (B).