MCQ 2026 UPDATES PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Which of the following words should be placed at the beginning of sentence 16
(reproduced below) in order to demonstrate a connection to the previous sentence?
Mayflies impact the economies of humans who live near healthy rivers and lakes—both
tourists and locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the water. - Answer-
Thus,
Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 16, would provide the best
concluding sentence for the passage? - Answer- Clearly there are both negative and
positive aspects to coexisting with mayflies, but the long-lasting positives outweigh the
temporary negatives.
In sentence 3 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide statistical information that
helps contextualize the argument of the passage for the audience.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the state with the highest
employment rate for teens is Mississippi at 77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota
at 51 percent.
Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 most effectively
accomplishes this goal? - Answer- the number of teens working summer jobs has
dropped from 60 percent to 30 percent since the 1980s
The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5.
Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video
games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money.
Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ? - Answer- The writer is
considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5.
Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video
games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money.
Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ?
The writer wants to add information to the beginning of sentence 6 (reproduced below),
adjusting the capitalization as needed, to help establish the credibility of the source of
the information in the sentence.
Middle- and upper-class teens are choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have
less access to jobs.
Which of the following choices most effectively accomplishes this goal? - Answer-
According to Paul Harrington, a Drexel University professor of labor markets,
, The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced
below).
Teens with access to part-time jobs often select what they perceive as better
alternatives (e.g., community service, volunteer work, unpaid internships, and
academics) that have nonfinancial benefits.
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? - Answer- Keep it, because it
exemplifies what these potentially better alternatives might be.
The writer is considering deleting sentence 9 (reproduced below) from the passage.
Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must need some extra money because I
see numerous signs at the local grocery store advertising personal lawn-mowing and
babysitting services.
Should the writer keep or delete this sentence? - Answer- Delete it, because the
anecdote about local teenagers weakens the reasoning of the argument at this point of
the passage.
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to qualify the claim made by the
Center for Work Ethic Development that part-time jobs result in teens developing
beneficial soft skills. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal? -
Answer- However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time
jobs, not all work environments are conducive for this development.
However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time jobs, not all
work environments are conducive for this development. - Answer- desirable
The writer is considering deleting sentence 16 (reproduced below) from the passage.
Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get back into the workforce so they can
develop the work ethic they need to be successful.
Should the writer keep or delete sentence 16 ? - Answer- Delete it, because its
conclusion does not logically follow from the line of reasoning in the passage.
The writer wants to add language to the end of sentence 1 (reproduced below),
adjusting the punctuation as needed, to help clarify the central concept of the essay.
From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South Korea, cities around the world are promoting
themselves as "smart cities."
Which of the following choices would best accomplish this goal? - Answer- communities
that use the latest digital technology, particularly computer systems that respond to
input from networks of sensors, to deliver city services efficiently and improve urban life
The writer wants to avoid revealing any potential bias in sentence 3 (reproduced below).
Many people are excited about these new technologies, and, as civil engineering
professor and infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they are intended to
improve infrastructure by collecting data and responding automatically.
Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 would best
accomplish this goal? - Answer- (as it is now)
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Which of the following words should be placed at the beginning of sentence 16
(reproduced below) in order to demonstrate a connection to the previous sentence?
Mayflies impact the economies of humans who live near healthy rivers and lakes—both
tourists and locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the water. - Answer-
Thus,
Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 16, would provide the best
concluding sentence for the passage? - Answer- Clearly there are both negative and
positive aspects to coexisting with mayflies, but the long-lasting positives outweigh the
temporary negatives.
In sentence 3 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide statistical information that
helps contextualize the argument of the passage for the audience.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the state with the highest
employment rate for teens is Mississippi at 77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota
at 51 percent.
Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 most effectively
accomplishes this goal? - Answer- the number of teens working summer jobs has
dropped from 60 percent to 30 percent since the 1980s
The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5.
Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video
games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money.
Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ? - Answer- The writer is
considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5.
Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video
games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money.
Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ?
The writer wants to add information to the beginning of sentence 6 (reproduced below),
adjusting the capitalization as needed, to help establish the credibility of the source of
the information in the sentence.
Middle- and upper-class teens are choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have
less access to jobs.
Which of the following choices most effectively accomplishes this goal? - Answer-
According to Paul Harrington, a Drexel University professor of labor markets,
, The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced
below).
Teens with access to part-time jobs often select what they perceive as better
alternatives (e.g., community service, volunteer work, unpaid internships, and
academics) that have nonfinancial benefits.
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? - Answer- Keep it, because it
exemplifies what these potentially better alternatives might be.
The writer is considering deleting sentence 9 (reproduced below) from the passage.
Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must need some extra money because I
see numerous signs at the local grocery store advertising personal lawn-mowing and
babysitting services.
Should the writer keep or delete this sentence? - Answer- Delete it, because the
anecdote about local teenagers weakens the reasoning of the argument at this point of
the passage.
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to qualify the claim made by the
Center for Work Ethic Development that part-time jobs result in teens developing
beneficial soft skills. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal? -
Answer- However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time
jobs, not all work environments are conducive for this development.
However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time jobs, not all
work environments are conducive for this development. - Answer- desirable
The writer is considering deleting sentence 16 (reproduced below) from the passage.
Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get back into the workforce so they can
develop the work ethic they need to be successful.
Should the writer keep or delete sentence 16 ? - Answer- Delete it, because its
conclusion does not logically follow from the line of reasoning in the passage.
The writer wants to add language to the end of sentence 1 (reproduced below),
adjusting the punctuation as needed, to help clarify the central concept of the essay.
From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South Korea, cities around the world are promoting
themselves as "smart cities."
Which of the following choices would best accomplish this goal? - Answer- communities
that use the latest digital technology, particularly computer systems that respond to
input from networks of sensors, to deliver city services efficiently and improve urban life
The writer wants to avoid revealing any potential bias in sentence 3 (reproduced below).
Many people are excited about these new technologies, and, as civil engineering
professor and infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they are intended to
improve infrastructure by collecting data and responding automatically.
Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 would best
accomplish this goal? - Answer- (as it is now)
