Study on the fly›SHSAT›Revising/Editing — Stand-Alone › Non-restrictive clauses; that/which
Revising/Editing — Stand-AloneFree
Non-restrictive clauses; that/which — SHSAT practice questions
Non-restrictive clauses; that/which on the SHSAT Revising/Editing — Stand-Alone section tests whether a student can tell extra detail from information needed to identify the noun. Students must choose that or which, place or remove commas around the clause, and sometimes combine related sentences so the extra idea is attached with which. Items ask which edit should be made to a flawed sentence, or the best way to combine short sentences to clarify how the ideas relate. Traps include a missing closing comma after a which-clause, a stray comma after a restrictive that-clause, and pairing that with a clause set off as extra. Choices are competing edits of the same sentence.
Section: Revising/Editing — Stand-Alone 6 questions on the paper
47 practice questions in the app
Sample questions
Question 1
Read these sentences.
(1) The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board.
(2) The position showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
What is the best way to combine the sentences to clarify the relationship between the ideas?
AAlthough the final position showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match, the chess coach slowly reviewed it on the demonstration board.
BThe chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
CThe chess coach reviewed the final position slowly, so it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
DThe chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, an arrangement that showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
Show answer
Answer: D — The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, an arrangement that showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match.
“The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, an arrangement that showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” clearly identifies the position as the arrangement that explained the winning move. “Although the final position showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match, the chess coach slowly reviewed it on the demonstration board” adds an unsupported contrast, “The chess coach slowly reviewed the final position on the demonstration board, it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” creates a comma splice, and “The chess coach reviewed the final position slowly, so it showed why a quiet pawn move had won the match” falsely presents the position's explanation as a result of the coach's review.
Question 2
Which edit should be made to correct the sentence?
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco,which is famous for its rust-colored towers is visited by over ten million tourists annually, according to city records.
ADelete the comma after Francisco.
BInsert a comma after towers.
CDelete the comma after annually.
DChange which to that.
Show answer
Answer: B — Insert a comma after towers.
The nonrestrictive clause “which is famous for its rust-colored towers” begins with a comma after “Francisco” but never closes, so “Insert a comma after towers.” supplies the missing closing comma before the main verb “is visited.” “Delete the comma after Francisco.” removes the opening comma that sets the clause off, and “Delete the comma after annually.” strips the comma that sets off “according to city records.” “Change which to that.” does not supply the missing closing comma and wrongly makes the clause restrictive.
Question 3
Which edit should be made to correct the sentence?
The cratesthat were damaged in shipping, must be returned to the supplier before the warehouse closes for the day.
ADelete the comma after shipping.
BInsert a comma after crates.
CChange that to which.
DInsert a comma after supplier.
Show answer
Answer: A — Delete the comma after shipping.
A restrictive clause beginning with “that” should not be separated from the main verb by a comma. “Delete the comma after shipping.” removes the incorrect break between the subject and predicate. “Insert a comma after crates.” incorrectly separates the noun from its restrictive clause, “Change that to which.” leaves mismatched punctuation, and “Insert a comma after supplier.” leaves the original error uncorrected.
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