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Boundaries (sentence structure and punctuation) — SAT practice questions
On the SAT Reading and Writing section, Boundaries (sentence structure and punctuation) covers how to join and punctuate complete sentences, lists, and extra information. A student has to tell independent clauses apart, choose a period, semicolon, colon, dash, or comma, and avoid splitting a subject from its verb. Questions usually give a short passage with a blank and ask which choice completes the sentence. Common traps are comma splices, an extra comma after the subject, and using commas instead of semicolons in a list whose items already contain commas. Answer choices look almost the same except for the punctuation.
Section: Reading and Writing 54 questions on the paper
274 practice questions in the app
Sample questions
Question 1
Environmental monitoring along this stretch of coastline has expanded considerably over the past decade. The coastal observatory records tide heights every six the inland weather station logs only hourly averages, so researchers must carefully align the two data streams before comparing them.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Aminutes,
Bminutes;
Cminutes:
Dminutes
Show answer
Answer: B — minutes;
Each side of the blank is an independent clause (“The coastal observatory records…” / “the inland weather station logs…”), so the join must be a strong one. A semicolon does that on its own. A lone comma creates a comma splice; a colon wrongly signals that the second clause explains or specifies the first. Without punctuation, the two independent clauses form a fused sentence.
Question 2
In a much-cited 2014 paper, marine demonstrated that certain deep-sea corals deposit growth bands annually, allowing researchers to reconstruct decades of temperature change from a single specimen. The method has since been applied to specimens from several ocean basins.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Abiologist, Amira Solano
Bbiologist Amira Solano,
Cbiologist Amira Solano
Dbiologist, Amira Solano,
Show answer
Answer: C — biologist Amira Solano
“Amira Solano” is a restrictive appositive identifying which marine biologist is meant, so no commas are used. Here, the professional title and identifying name form the subject 'marine biologist Amira Solano'; neither internal commas nor a comma before 'demonstrated' is needed.
Question 3
A small neighborhood archive teaches local volunteers to preserve three kinds of historical material: letters, which are placed in acid-free photographs, which are stored away from direct light; and audio recordings, which are copied into durable digital formats. Each method addresses a different threat to the material’s long-term survival.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Afolders,
Bfolders;
Cfolders:
Dfolders
Show answer
Answer: B — folders;
The sentence lists three items, and each item contains an internal comma introducing a descriptive clause. Semicolons clearly separate the major items in this complex series.
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