PSAT Writing and Language Question 6: Answer and Explanation

Question: 6

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. 1970s the
• C. 1970s—the
• D. 1970s. The

Correct Answer: A

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 1970s and the. The first part of the sentence, As a result, while there had been a somewhat steady flow of immigration from the USSR since the 1970s, is an incomplete idea. The second part, the largest numbers came to the United States in the early 1990s, is a complete idea. To connect an incomplete idea to a complete idea, GO punctuation is needed. Eliminate (C) because a long dash is HALF-STOP punctuation. Eliminate (D) because a period is STOP punctuation. To choose between (A) and (B), consider the four ways to use a comma. The sentence makes sense without the phrase while there had been a somewhat steady flow of immigration from the USSR since the 1970s, so treat this like unnecessary information, which should have commas both before and after it. Eliminate (B) because it lacks a comma after the phrase. The correct answer is (A).