PSAT 8/9 Writing and Language Practice Test 7: Queen Bess

Questions 31-40 refer to the following information.

Queen Bess

The crowd was 31 gathering, on, September 3, 1922, as Bessie Coleman looked up to see a clear sky, ideal conditions for her air show. She was relieved that the sky was cloudless, and the temperature was mild; the show had already been postponed because of to bad weather. The crowd continued to grow at Curtiss Field in Long Island, NY for Bessie's first American airshow. She took a deep breath as she prepared to fly. The journey to this moment had been long.

Years prior, Bessie had fallen in love with flying while watching newsreels about World War I. 32 At this point of war, technological advancements, especially in aviation, increased, and many images of the war featured pilots and fighter planes. Inspired by these aviators, Bessie applied to many American flight schools but was rejected by each one because of her race and gender. For aspiring aviators, if they were white, they studied in the United States, but if they were black and female, like Bessie, 33 you had to look abroad to find training.

Bessie planned to attend a flight school in France, a more progressive nation than the United States in the early twentieth century. She worked hard, saved money, and learned French. In November 1920, she moved to France and enrolled in the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation, where she met Gaston and Rene Caudron. These were the 34 instructors, who would train Bessie, in the skills and techniques of aviation. Bessie knew that aviation training was dangerous. 35 She persisted, and on June 15, 1921, she earned her pilot's license.

[1] When Bessie returned to the United States, she was disappointed by the lack of career opportunities. [2] Once again she was unable to find an instructor in any American school, so she headed back to Europe. [3] Rather than continue her career search, she decided to pursue advanced aviation training. [4] She studied in France, the Netherlands, and Germany to master a range of aerial tricks and stunts. [5] In August 1922, she came back to New York, ready to perform. 36

At Curtiss Field, Bessie took to the sky and performed daring stunts: barrel rolls, loops, figure eights, and low dives. 37 The crowd cheered loudly 38 because they loved her performance. When she landed, the show may have been over, but her career was only beginning. After that successful debut, Bessie went on to tour the country, showcasing a range of aerial maneuvers and 39 electrifying audiences. 40

10 questions 8 minutesAll test questions

31.

A. NO CHANGE

B. gathering: on

C. gathering on

D. gathering, on

32.

A. NO CHANGE

B. At this time

C. During this time

D. For this period

33.

A. NO CHANGE

B. she

C. he or she

D. they

34.

A. NO CHANGE

B. instructors who would train Bessie

C. instructors who would train Bessie,

D. instructors, who would train Bessie

35. Which choice, if added here, would most effectively explain why Bessie might be cautious?

A. She knew that her training would take more than six months.

B. Even now, flying can be risky for pilots.

C. She had often imagined being in the pilot's seat.

D. She had seen a fellow classmate die in a crash.

36. To make this paragraph most logical, sentence 2 should be placed

A. where it is now.

B. after sentence 3.

C. after sentence 4.

D. after sentence 5.

37. At this point, the writer is considering adding the following sentence.

After World War II, safety concerns about stunt flying curtailed its popularity, so today it is difficult to find a performance that features these particular tricks.

Should the writer make this addition here?

A. Yes, because it adds a detail about the current time to make the passage more relevant to the reader.

B. Yes, because it supports the paragraph's point about the difficulty of the stunts.

C. No, because it is irrelevant to the passage's focus on how Coleman became an aviator.

D. No, because it blurs the paragraph's focus on explaining airshows.

38.

A. NO CHANGE

B. because they wanted to see her perform again.

C. to show they enjoyed watching her.

D. DELETE the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

39.

A. NO CHANGE

B. pleasing

C. occupying

D. growing

40. The writer wants to conclude with a thought that emphasizes the idea of Bessie Coleman as a significant aviator. Which sentence, if added here, would best accomplish this goal?

A. Queen Bess continues to be an inspiration for those who want to fly.

B. Bessie Coleman would always remember that first airshow at Curtiss Field.

C. Bessie Coleman always knew that stunt flying would start her career.

D. Though it wasn't her initial goal, Bessie Coleman's decision to return to Europe was the correct one.

PSAT 8/9 Writing and Language Practice Test 7: Queen Bess

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