PSAT Writing and Language Question 8: Answer and Explanation

Question: 8

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. parents, today, these
• C. parents. Today, these
• D. parents today; these

Correct Answer: C

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. However, first determine whether the word today is necessary, since it occurs in three of the choices. The last sentence of the paragraph discusses how a specific group of people continue to shape the American experience. The word today indicates that the actions of this group are happening in the present day, which makes the final idea more precise. Eliminate (A), which does not include the word today. Now draw the vertical line between the words parents and today. The first part of the sentence, Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor moved at the age of 9 in 1989, the same year that historian Artemy Kalinovsky arrived with his parents, is a complete idea. The second part, today, these and other children of the Soviet Union continue to shape the American experience in all kinds of positive and enlightening ways, is a complete idea. To connect two complete ideas, STOP or HALF-STOP punctuation is needed. Eliminate (B) and (D) because both commas and no punctuation are GO punctuation. The correct answer is (C).