Final revision

1 Common mistakes:
1) ; FANBOYS (X)
2) FANBOYS, (X)
3) , / ; / : + Preposition (X)
4) Comparisons + object (X)
5) Being 99% (X)
6) by + Person 99% (X)
7) ; + Subordinating (X)
8) , + However (X)
Therefore (X) Except at the end

Moreover (X)

9) 2 ‘s / ‘s s’ / s’ (X) Except
and ‘s than’s
but
or
10) , / ; that , / ; (X)
11) ;such as (X)
such as : (X)

Page | 1
 12) Subordinating + FANBOY, (X)
13) , ; (X)
14) Informal ords / Childish words (X)
15) . sv . sv [ Don’t choose . ]
a) it
b) them
16) Don’t choose ambiguous words c) their
d) the fly
17) and also / plus (X)
18) In addition to (X)
and (√)
19) Wordy sentences (X)
20) sv , sv (X)
sv sv (X)
21) ---1--- , and ---2---- (X)
---1--- and ---2---- (√)
[ undermines / contradict ]
22) kept / delete / add (X)
(X)

23) off topic ideas (X)

Page | 2
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1) His or her / he or she  Singular / male or female ()

 Plural (X)

2) Its / it’s / its’  (X)

= It is
S V

Sing. / Possessive

3) Their / There / They’re

S V
They are

+ V / at the end

Plural / Possessive

4) Comparisons + Subject I / he / she / it / they / we / you ()

Comparisons + Object me / him / her / them / us (X)

5) Ambiguity / not clear 3 Pronouns + 1 noun ()

a) it

b) them

c) us

 d) The policy

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6) Singular + Singular ()

Plural + Plural ()

Singular + Plural (X)

Plural + Singular (X)

7) 3 Singular + 1 Plural ()

8) 3 Plural + 1 Singular ()

()
9) 2 ‘s s’ (X) Except: Tom’s and Peter’s books.

Except: Peter’s parents’ books were

heavy. ()

[Parents of Peter]

[Books of parents]

10) ‘s  Singular noun / Irregular Plural

S’  Regular Plural

11) No Tense Shift  Past + present (X)

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12) Present + Present ()

Past + Past ()

Present + Past (X)

Past + Present (X)

13) Has
+ P.P. is only correct with:
Have

A] Since / for + time / already / just / recently / yet

B] Started and still

14) had + P.P. [past perfect]  is only correct with [after / before /
by the time / as soon as]

15) drank / had drunk

Past Simple Past Perfect

16) 3 past + 1 present  1 present ()

3 present + 1 past  1 past ()

17) am

Is + v + ing [99% (X)] Except: if it is the only correct

answer
Are

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18) was
+ v + ing [99% (X)] Except: if it is the only correct
Were
answer

19) Past Simple / Past perfect

 
Watched had watched

20) I They

He we
 was  were Except: with if  all
She you pronouns take were
It

 If I were a doctor, I would check patients.

21) Passive [99% (X)]  by + person / am

Is

Are

Were
+ P.P.
Has been

Have been

Had been

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22) is what

Are when
+ WH (X) 100%
Was whose

Were where

whom

who

23) being  99% (X) Except with:

a) modifiers  Being a great man, Tom won the Prize ()

b)  Despite

In spite of

Beside

Famous for + being ()

Known for

Interested in

(verbs of emotions)

Love / hate / like / prefer

24) Sv = subject verb  (Sentence)

F = fragment  (Incomplete Sentence)

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25) Sv, sv (X) comma splice

Sv sv (X) Run on

F, s ()

S, f ()

26) Sv; sv ()

 sv; However, sv ()

(All the Words)

 F, however, f ()

 sv, however. ()

27) : ------, ------, and ------

: ------, ------, or ------- () In case of explain

: ------, ------, but -----

28) - (1 dash) ()

29) s, ,v (non-essential – appositive) ()

------, ------, and ------

------, ------, or ------- List ()
------, ------, but -----

30) s --- --- v (appositive / non-essential) ()

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Note1:

()

()
()

Page | 7
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Note2:

(Past)
(Present)

Page | 8
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Note3:

Page | 9
 Revision 2
1) Study the words of comparisons.

2) 2 ‘s s’ in the same answer (X)

Except: with parallelism, comparisons, or compound possessive

A) Tom’s and Peter’s car …

B) Its research is better than Tom’s.

C) Tom’s parents’ are great.

3) Comparisons anyone else (Y)

any other man (Y)

4) Among / between
Much / many
Less / few
Little / few
A little / a few

5) equal logical comparisons is a must

6) Comparisons + Subject (Y)

7) ------, ------, and ------

------, ------, or ------- Take care of the parallelism

------, ------, but -----

8) Articles and prepositions in parallelism (1/3)

9) And

But  No comma before [parallel between things]

Or

Page | 1
10) You should study the list of the words that make parallelism.

11) Weak similarly / equally

12) Cancel any 2 equal transitions

13) However is a strong transition

 If you have to choose between however / despite, choose

however.

14) On the other hand  but

 From another point of view

15) In the combining lesson choose the shortest

Except: ; / passive / off topic

16) is introduced (present in the passive)

was introduced (past in the passive)

17) In the combining lesson, try to use the same subject of the
original position.

Page | 2
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Final Revision 2
1) Parallelism: equal words
Ex: Noun + noun (✓)
Verb + verb (✓)
Adj. + Adj. (✓)
Q. How can we know this lessen?
a) --------, ---------, and ---------
--------, ---------, or ----------- List
--------, --------, but ----------

B) (,) and / but / or ➔ without a comma.

If you make a parallelism between 2 things.
Ex: He studied and slept.
V no comma V

c) Prefer + to Neither + nor

Either + or whether + or
less + than Not only + but also
same + as sooner + than
both + and Not because + but because
As + as between + and
from + to

2) Than / like / liken to / unlike / synonymous with

/ different from / as + Adj. + as / not so + as Comparisons
/ more than / less than / distinguished from
/ over / compared to / similar to

1
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Final Revision 2
3) Comparisons + anyone (X)
→ anyone else (✓)
4) Comparisons + any [girl] (X) → any other girl (✓)
any [boy] (X) → any other boy (✓)
any [teacher] (x) → any other teacher (✓)
5)
x ‘s y (z’s)
x s’ y + Comparisons → that of (z)
x of y those of (z)
Part 1 of the Word of Correct way of
comparisons comparisons comparisons
Ex: Tom’s car is better than Peter’s.
X y Comparison z

6) Transitions: Linking between 2 sentences.

Addition Summary Opposite Cause Explain Chronology Example Result

sequence

- / idea Transition - / idea

+ / idea (Read, sent. before and) + / idea

after

2
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Final Revision 2
7) Modifiers = Description
 Type of modifiers: -
a) Watching Tv, He was happy.
Modifier , the described word
ing, ...
beside each other

b) Preposition + ......, s+v

Ex: With his books, he entered the class.
Modifier , the described word

c) Adjective + preposition, s+v

Ex: Famous for his songs, Patrick sings greatly.
Modifier , the described word

d) P.P., s+v
Ex: Watched Tv for 6 hours, he was happy.
Modifier , the described word

e) an / an / one of + subject, sv
Ex: A great man, he won the prize.
Modifier , the described word

describe

8) (Ing)Forms and Rule

a) ; Ing (X)  Except:
b) , ing (✓) strong form
c) S+ing (X) he watching (X)
d) Watching Tv is great. (✓)
(S + V)

3
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Final Revision 2
9) each of them / these (X) each of whom (✓)
both of them / these (X) both of whom (✓)
none of them / these (X) none of whom (✓)
some of them / these (X) some of whom (✓)

each of which
both of which
none of which
some of which
10) Wrong forms:
a) , / ; [Preposition] , / ;
 Except:
b) ; ing (X)
 Except:
c) being (X)
 Except:
d) is
what
are + because /
when (X)
was (X)
where
were
e) sv, sv → comma splice (X)
sv, sv → run on (X)
f) s + ing (X)
g) was watching (X) is watching
(weak)
were watching (X) are watching

4
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Final Revision 2
h) ; FANBOYS (X)
FANBOYS, (X)
I) ; .............., (X)
, ............. ; (X)
-- , (X)
, -- (X)

5
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Final Revision 3
➔ Main idea - Topic - Thesis - Claim - Focus

Read 3 lines ▪ charge

▪ idea

➔ Support - example - emphasis - proof

2 lines before ▪ idea

▪ charge - / +

2 lines after ▪ charge - / +

▪ idea

➔ Conclusion - Sum up - restate

Read 3 lines before ▪ charge - / +

▪ idea
1
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Final Revision 3
➔ Same pattern - same stylistic pattern - second example -
same tone = Parallelism.

2 lines before

2 lines after

➔ Combine
A) choose the shortest
B) For long answers, 1- No punctuation
2- F,S S,F
3- ,FANBOYS

Don’t choose [ ; ]  99% (X)

➔ Transitions
 Study the transitions carefully

And/ example but/ explain so / result summary arrange /

continuation opposite sequence

Some words come by the meaning

2
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Final Revision 3
➔ Kept / add
A) consider the charge and the idea to see if you should
keep the sentence or not.
B) contradict / undermines (X)
Repeat  weak
why  weak
shed the light on  weak

Read 3 lines
▪ charge
▪ idea 2 lines before
2 lines after

C) yes No
support
blurs
enhance
off topic
emphasize
Irrelevant
proves
digress
explain
distract
provide example
detract
define
repeat
identify
redundant
clarify
D) Delete is opposite to kept / add
3
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Final Revision 3
➔ Redundancy: 2 Words giving the same meaning
1- famous / well known
2- repeat / again
3- numerous / plentiful
4- options / choice
5- opportunities / chances
6- free / gift
7- different / various / diverse
8- symbol / representation
9- interactive / reciprocal
10- crucial / essential / important
11- at the same time / concurrently / simultaneous
12- variety / different
13- reduce / minimize
14- confirm / verify / demonstrate
15- Predict / anticipate / before hand
16- domestically / nationally
17- watch / observe / regard / see
18- and also / as well
19- plan / future
20- abundance / many

4
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Final Revision 3
➔ Arrange:

1 [ 1 ] -1-
question sentence paragraph

A) Look to the idea / place / charge

B) general = 99% beginning
specify = 99% middle
summary = 99% end

5
List of commonly confused words
WORD MEANING WORD MEANING

accept to receive, take except excluding

access entrance; opportunity excess more than needed

a certain production of
addition something added edition
something

to change to be more
adopt to legally take on, accept adapt
suitable

advice a recommendation advise to give a recommendation

adverse bad; unfavorable averse opposed to

affect to influence effect a result

afflict to cause suffering inflict to force something harmful

aisle space between rows isle island

to make an indirect
allude elude to avoid
reference

allusion an indirect reference illusion a false idea or vision

already happened before now all ready to be entirely prepared

altar table for religious ceremony alter to change

altogether completely; entirely all together all things with each other

a large number of to give out an amount of

a lot allot
something something

to have two different having more than one

ambivalent ambiguous
feelings about something possible meaning
 having no sense or right and having intentionally bad
amoral immoral
wrong morals

a substance or activity that

anecdote a short personal story antidote
stops something bad

space between intersecting

angel a spiritual creature angle
lines measured in degrees

apart separated, into pieces a part a piece of something

appraise to examine and judge apprise to tell someone of something

are 3rd person plural of “to be” our belonging to us

how someone pronounces

accent ascent movement up
words

assent agreement/approval

assistance help assistants helpers

attribute a quality/characteristic contribute to give something

auditory related to hearing audible able to be heard

spoken or related to the

aural related to hearing oral
moth

balmy pleasantly warm barmy crazy or silly

bare not covered bear to carry or accept something

bated in suspense; excited baited to harass (past tense)

bazaar a market bizarre very strange and surprising

berth a bed on a boat/train birth time when a baby is born

beside next to something besides in addition to something

boar a wild pig bore a dull person

 board a long, flat piece of wood bored feeling uninterested

born to have been birthed borne carried

bough a large branch of a tree bow bend upper body forward

breath air that comes from lungs breathe to take air in and out

brake part of a vehicle that stops it break to separate into pieces

shows a person who does

buy to purchase by
something

canvas a strong cloth canvass to ask people their opinions

to remove offensive things

censure to criticize formally censor
from public

city where government is

capital capitol state legislature building
based OR money

choose to decide or pick chose past tense of choose

climactic an important or exciting time climatic relating to the weather

coarse rough and thick course a series of lessons

to provide supporting
collaborate to work together corroborate
information

command to order commend to praise

feeling you don’t need to try

complacent complaisant willingness to please others
hard

something that goes well saying something to show

complement compliment
with something else praise

comprehensive thorough comprehensible easy to understand

the part of you that makes

conscience conscious aware; awake
you feel guilty
contemptuous showing contempt contemptible extremely bad

a group of people or military

corps corpse a dead body
force

council an elected group of people counsel to give advice

credible able to be believed credulous gullible

dairy milk products diary a book of personal thoughts

descent a movement down dissent disagreement

desirous wanting something desirable attractive

dessert sweet food desert hot, dry area

equipment used for a to design or invent

device devise
particular purpose something

discreet secretive discrete separate and different

disinterested impartial uninterested not interested

do a helping verb dew drops of water

due expected or planned

most important or wanting to control or have power

dominant dominate
control over

substance used to change

die to stop living dye
color

dyeing to change the color of dying present participle of “die”

to get info or a reaction from

elicit illicit not legal
someone

eminent respected imminent about to happen

immanent permanent part of something

 emit to send out gas/heat/light omit exclude

envelop cover something envelope what letters go in

everyday consecutive days every day used a lot

exhaustive repetitive use exhausting tiring

expandable gets bigger expendable to leave out

explicit gratuitous implicit complete

fair reasonable fare cost

farther far further more

flaunt exaggerate flout intentionally

formally properly formerly before

foreboding over-powering forbidding not allowed

forth forwards fourth first, second, third…..

gorilla large monkey guerrilla unofficial military group

hear sounds here present

heard noise herd flock/gaggle/group

hoard collect/store horde large group

hole hollow space in something whole complete

human people/person humane kind

implicit complete complicit involved in

suggest someone is involved

imply suggest implicate
in something
 guess something based on
infer
the information you have

experience something
incur occur to happen
unpleasant

lasting a long time, in a

indeterminate impossible to know interminable
boring way

influence make an impression affluence wealth

ingenious really clever ingenuous honest

its belongs to it’s it is

knew knowledge you have new not old

know knowledge no denied

laid the past of lay lain lied down

later in the past latter near the end of a period

lay to put something down lie horizontal

lead to take charge led had taken charge

lessen to weaken lesson what a teacher teaches

lightning weather lightening not as dark

loose not fitting tightly lose to not win

accepting something as true

maybe perhaps/possibly may be
despite your opinion on it

meat flesh meet assemble

mete punish

metal hard, shiny substance medal metal object given as a prize

 determination when doing
mettle
something

someone who works in a

miner minor not important
mine

moral right and wrongs morale the meaning

passed to qualify past something that’s happened

patience to stay calm patients sick people

peace tranquility piece a part of

peak the top peek a quick look

pique annoyed

foot operated part of

pedal petal part of a flower
machine

peddle to sell

perpetrate do something bad perpetuate elongate

personal relating to a person personnel staff

persecute treat someone unfairly prosecute to convict

perspective viewpoint prospective potential buyer

plain ordinary plane flying vehicle

small hole for sweat to pass make liquid flow from a

pore pour
through container

to happen before something

precede proceed to go forward
else

precedent to set an example for others president the head of

prescribe give medical treatment proscribe to not allow something

 presence being in a place presents gifts

principal most important principle basic rule

quiet no noise quite completely

rain precipitation reign to rule

rein straps that control a horse

raise to lift raze completely destroy

rational reasonable rationale the reason

saying little about what you

reluctant unwilling reticent
feel

respectfully showing respect respectively in the same order

reverend Christian official reverent showing respect

traditional religious
right correct rite
ceremony

write produce words

road surface built for vehicles rode to have ridden

scene a view seen to have looked

sense logic since from a time in the past

sensible well behaved sensitive to be dealt with carefully

connected to the physical

sensory
senses

sight vision site a place of importance

cite mention something as proof

simulate to mimic stimulate to make something happen

stationary still motion stationery office supplies

straight not curved strait narrow area of sea

suppose think something is true supposed to expected to do something

taught educated, instructed taut stretched very tight

than used to compare two things then at that time

used to show something

their belongs to them there
exists

they’re they are

through from one end to the other threw to have thrown

thorough completely

to used to give the reason too as well as

two comes after one

track narrow path tract large area of land

visual relating to seeing visible able to seen

around the middle of your

waist waste a bad use of something
body

allow someone to break the move hands from side to

waive wave
rules side

weak not strong week 7 days

conditions in the air above

weather whether if, or not
the earth (wind, rain etc)

wether a castrated ram

where to, at, or in what place were past tense of be

which determining pronoun witch woman with magical powers

which person owns or is

whose who’s who is
responsible for something

belonging to the person

your you’re you are
being spoken to

yore a long time ago

About

anxious about

ask about

bring about

curious about

hear about

think about

talk about

worry about

Against

advise against

argue against

count against

decide against

defend against

go against

rebel against

As

celebrate as

regard as
see as

view as

At

aim at

arrive at

laugh at

look at

succeed at

By

accompanied by

amazed by

confused by

followed by

go by

impressed by

organized by

struck by

For

advocate for

ask for
blame for

famous for

known for

last for

meant for

named for

necessary for

pay for

ready for

responsible for

tolerance for

strive for

wait for

watch for

From

abstain from

different from

excuse from

far from

obvious from

protect from
Into

enter into

look into

inquire into

read into

In

engage in

fall in love

in A as in B

interested in

succeed in

take in

On

base on

draw on

focus on

impose on

insist on

move on

prey on

rely on
Over

argue over

rule over

talk over

think over

Of

approve of

capable of

certain of

characteristic of

combination of A and B

cure of

deprive of

die of

a fan of

in danger of

in the hope of

in recognition of

made up of

a model of

an offer of
on the border of

remind of

a selection of

a source of

suspicious of

take advantage of

an understanding of

a wealth of

To

able to

accustomed to

adapt to

adhere to

admit to

adjacent to

agree to

as opposed to

belong to

central to

come to

contribute to

devoted to
in addition to

in contrast to

listen to

object to

prefer A to B

partial to

reluctant to

reply to

see to

similar to

a threat to

try to (NOT try and)

unique to

With

agree with

bargain with

correlate with

familiar with

identify with

in keeping with

interfere with

sympathize with
trust with

GERUNDS VS. INFINITIVES

Verbs Followed by a Gerund

accuse of

admire for

allow

appreciate

capable of

complete

concentrate on

confess to

consider

delay

describe

discourage from

discuss

dislike

effective at

enjoy

escape

finish
forbid

imagine

insist on

permit

plan on

postpone

refrain from

report

resent

resume

stop

tolerate

Prepositions Followed by a Gerund

before

after

without

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

agree

attempt
choose

condescend

dare

decide

deserve

encourage

expect

fail

intend

love

mean

neglect

offer

plan

prepare

promise

refuse

scramble

seem

strive

swear

tend

threaten
want
  

EST I – Literacy Test I

_____________________________________
Student’s Name
_____________________________________
National ID
_____________________________________
Test Center:

Duration: 35 minutes
44 Multiple Choice Questions

Instructions:
- Place your answer on the answer sheet. Mark only one answer for each of the
multiple choice questions.
- Avoid guessing. Your answers should reflect your overall understanding of the
subject matter.
 Directions: Read each passage and answer the questions. First, skim through the passage to gain the general
idea of topic, style, tone, and structure. Then, re-read the passage a second time, closely, and answer the
questions found next to the passage as you read. Some questions ask you how the passage might be changed to
improve the expression of ideas. Other questions ask you how the passage might be altered to correct errors in
grammar, usage, and punctuation. One or more graphics accompany some passages. You will be required to
consider these graphics as you answer questions about editing the passages.
There are three types of questions. In the first type, a part of the passage is underlined. The second type is
based on a certain part of the passage. The third type is based on the entire passage.
After you read the passage, choose the answer so that it is consistent with the conventions of standard
written English. One of the answer choices for many questions is “NO CHANGE.” Choosing this answer
means that you believe the best answer is to make no change in the passage.
 

1.A. NO CHANGE
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage and
B. lead
supplementary material.
C. will lead
The singularity is described as the point at which advances
D. are leading
in artificial intelligence (AI)  [1] leads to the creation of a
2. Which choice gives the most
machine smarter than humans. While most people believe the
accurate interpretation of the data in
singularity could arrive within 5-10 years, there’s quite a bit of
the graph?
associated unease. When asked how the thought of machine
superintelligence made them feel, [2] 62 percent of the general A. NO CHANGE
population expressed negative emotions. Most tech executives B. Respondents reflected a broad
had positive emotions about superintelligence. range of views about
superintelligence with a seeming
balance between those who were
excited and optimistic and those
scared or worried.
C. 37 percent of the general
population expressed negative
emotions, while 62 percent
expressed positive emotions.
D. 62 percent of the general
population expressed negative
emotions. Tech executives were
evenly split on their feelings
about superintelligence.

2
January 2021
 Several notable futurists predict this will occur between
3.A. NO CHANGE
2030 and 2045. Not everyone agrees with this timeline.
B. operate
Estimates are based upon many factors, not the least of which
C. will operate
is the continued increase in computing performance,
D. to operate
eventually reaching as many connections as the human brain
4.A. NO CHANGE
but
B. gained
[3] operating much faster. Nick Bostrom and Vincent Muller
C. realized
conducted a survey with AI experts and found the median
D. acknowledged
estimate is a one in two chance that high-level machine
intelligence will be developed between 2040-2050, with a nine 5.A. NO CHANGE
in ten chance by 2075. These experts believe that B. will achieve
superintelligence will then be developed within the following C. has achieved
30 years, pushing the date to somewhere between 2070 and D. achieves
2110. With the singularity [4] understood, an AI-enabled
machine [5] will have achieved cognitive abilities beyond that
of the most gifted human minds.

3
January 2021
 6. Which choice provides the most
[6] Not surprisingly, scientists believe that this progress will relevant introduction to this
be a positive one. Computer scientist Stuart Russell has said paragraph?
that success at creating human-level AI would be the biggest
A. NO CHANGE
event in human history. Elon Musk has famously discussed
B. Tech executives believe the
how this superintelligence poses an existential threat to
positive from AI will outweigh
humanity. Musk is not alone in this concern. [7] Bostrom
the negative.
considers the singularity potentially catastrophic for humanity.
C. The majority in both groups see
Nevertheless, [8] its quite possible that such superintelligence
positive benefits from AI across
could be the key to addressing the complex assortment of
all industries.
human problems such as climate change.
D. There are many views of whether
this development will be positive
or not.
7. The writer is considering inserting
this sentence at this point in the
passage.
“Many scientists feel threatened by
the technology.”
Should they make this insertion?
A. Yes. It is related to the idea that
precedes it.
B. Yes. The sentence that follows
shows that Bostrom is threatened
by AI.
C. No. It is irrelevant because the
paragraph only talks about a few
scientists.
D. No. It repeats the general idea
from the previous sentence.

8.A. NO CHANGE
B. its’
C. it is
D. it has
4
January 2021
On a more optimistic note, futurist Ray Kurzweil 9.A. NO CHANGE
acknowledges there will be a few bumps along the way, but B. discord
that ultimately, superintelligence would allow for a [9] alliance C. symbiosis
between man and machine. D. reconciliation

No one knows with any reasonable certainty when 10.A. NO CHANGE

superintelligence will arrive. Professor Murray Shanahan at B. much sooner than do the experts,
London’s Imperial College believes the media often gives the C. much sooner than the experts,
impression that human-level AI of the sort we see in sci-fi D. much sooner than will the
movies is just around the corner. But it’s almost certainly experts,
decades away. As a result, survey respondents believe the
11.A. NO CHANGE
singularity will be achieved [10] much sooner than are the
B. About half of tech executives
experts, with 61 percent of the general population and 73
hold a positive view while, just
percent of tech executives saying this moment will arrive
over a third of the general
within 10 years. Views on whether this will be a positive
population expressed positive
development are quite split. [11] About half of tech executives
views.
hold a positive view while just over a third of the general
C. About half of tech executives
population expressed positive views.
hold a positive view; while just
over a third of the general
population expressed positive
views.
D. About half of tech executives
hold a positive view, while just
over a third of the general
population expressed positive
views.

5
January 2021
Questions 12-22 are based on the following 12.A. NO CHANGE
passage. B. Most television ads still feature actors, still
run 30 or 60 seconds, and still show a
(1) Marketing executives in television work with product.
a relatively stable advertising medium. (2) [12] Most C. Most television ads still feature actors still
television ads: Still feature actors, still run 30 or 60 run 30 or 60 seconds and still show a
seconds, and still show a product. (3) However, the product.
differing dynamics of the Internet pose unique D. Most television ads still feature actors; still
challenges to advertisers, forcing them to adapt their run 30 or 60 seconds, and still show a
practices and techniques on a regular basis. (4) In product.
many ways, the television ads aired today are similar 13. To make this paragraph more logical, sentence
to those aired two decades ago. [13] 4 should be placed
In the early days of Internet marketing, online A. Where it is now.
advertisers employed banner and pop-up ads to B. Before sentence 1
attract customers. These techniques reached large C. Before sentence 2
audiences, generated many sales leads, and would D. Before sentence 3
come at a low cost. However, a small number of 14. Which word is most applicable to the nature of
Internet users began to consider these advertising these online advertising techniques?
techniques [14] unobtrusive and irksome. Yet A. NO CHANGE
because marketing strategies relying heavily on B. inconspicuous and infuriating
banners and pop-ups produced results, companies C. soothing and bothersome
invested growing amounts of money into purchasing D. intrusive and annoying
these ad types in hopes [15] to capturing market share 15.A. NO CHANGE
in the burgeoning online economy. As consumers B. to capture
became more sophisticated, frustration with these C. of capturing
online advertising techniques grew. Independent D. for capturing
programmers began to develop tools that blocked
banner and popup ads.

6
January 2021
The popularity of these tools exploded when [16] a
search engine at the time an increasingly popular
website fighting to solidify its place on the Internet
with other web service giants, offered free software
enabling users to block pop-up ads. The backlash
against banner ads grew as new web browsers
provided users the ability to block image-based ads
such as banner ads. [17]
17. Which sentence would best serve as a conclusion
7
16.A. NO CHANGE
B. a search engine, at the time an increasingly
popular website fighting to solidify its place
on the Internet with other web service giants,
C. a search engine at the time an increasingly
popular website fighting to solidify its place
on the Internet with other web service giants
D. a search engine; at the time an increasingly
popular website fighting to solidify its place
on the Internet with other web service giants,
to the paragraph?
A. Pop-up ads will one day become extinct as
Internet users discover their drawbacks.
B. The pace of the Internet’s evolution is
increasing and will increase in the future.
C. Although banner and pop-up ads still exist,
they are far less prominent than during the
early days of the Internet.
D. Banner and pop-up ads will not face
drawbacks due to their different approach to
online marketing.
January 2021
 A major development in online marketing came 18. Which choice provides the best combination of
with the introduction of pay-per-click ads. [18] the underlined sentences?

Banner or pop-up ads required companies to pay
every time a website visitor saw an ad. Pay-per-click
ads allowed companies to pay only when an
interested customer clicked on an ad. More
importantly, however, these ads [19] dodged the pop-
up and banner blockers. As a result of these
advantages and the incredible growth in the use of
search engines, which provide excellent venues for
pay-per-click advertising, companies began turning
to pay-per-click marketing in droves. However, as
with the banner and pop-up ads that preceded them,
pay-per-click ads came with their drawbacks. When
companies began pouring billions of dollars into this
emerging medium, online advertising specialists [20]
have started to notice the presence of what would
later be called click fraud: representatives of a
company with no interest in the product advertised by
a competitor click on the competitor's ads simply to
increase the marketing cost of the competitor.
A. Unlike banner or pop-up ads, which
originally required companies to pay every
time a website visitor saw an ad, pay-per-
click ads allowed companies to pay only
when an interested potential customer
clicked on an ad.
B. Banner or pop-up ads required companies to
pay every time a website visitor saw an ad,
pay-per-click ads, however, allowed
companies to pay only when an interested
customer clicked on an ad.
C. Even though banner or pop-up ads required
companies to pay every time a website
visitor saw an ad, pay-per-click ads allowed
companies to pay only when an interested
customer clicked on an ad.
D. Banner or pop-up ads required companies to
pay every time a website visitor saw an ad
since pay-per-click ads allowed companies
to pay only when an interested customer
clicked on an ad.

19. Which word would be better suited for the

context?
A. NO CHANGE
B. escaped
C. circumvented
D. ditched
20.A. NO CHANGE
B. are starting
C. started
D. had started

8
January 2021
[21] Click fraud grew so rapidly that marketers 21.A. NO CHANGE
sought to diversify their online positions away from
pay-per-click marketing through new mediums.
Although pay-per-click advertising remains a
common and effective advertising tool, marketers
adapted yet again to the changing dynamics of the
Internet by adopting new techniques such as pay-per-
performance advertising, search engine optimization,
22. The writer wants to conclude the essay by giving
and affiliate marketing. [22]
B. Click fraud grew rapidly that marketers
sought to diversify
C. Click fraud grew so rapidly, that marketers
sought to diversify
D. Click fraud grew so rapidly, marketers
sought to diversify
attributes for future success in online
advertising. Which choice best accomplishes the
writer’s aim?
A. Discipline and patience are essential if
marketers want to succeed in their online
marketing strategies.
B. As the pace of the Internet's evolution
increases, it seems all the more likely that
advertising successfully on the Internet will
require a strategy that shuns constancy and
embraces change.
C. To be successful at online advertising,
marketers should follow a uniform approach
to their strategies.
D. With ruthless tenacity, online marketing
strategies can prove to be successful.

9
January 2021
Questions 23-33 are based on the following 23.A. NO CHANGE
passage. B. theirselves
Before the 1950s, music defined its own circles, C. themself
but, at best, only shaded the frame of popular D. himself
American culture. The birth of Rock and Roll forever
24.A. NO CHANGE
changed that as larger and larger numbers of youth
B. dull
came, not only to identify with the music they were
C. impersonal
listening to, but to identify [23] themselves by that
D. effective
music.
25.A. NO CHANGE
We use pop songs to create for ourselves a
B. Thus, music, like sports, is clearly a setting
particular sort of self-definition, a particular place in
in which people directly experience
society. The pleasure that a pop song produces is a
community, feel an immediate bond with
pleasure of identification; in responding to a song, we
other people, and articulate a collective
are drawn into [24] affective alliances with the
pride.
performers and with the performers' other fans.
C. Thus, music, like sports, is clearly a setting
[25] Thus, music like sports is clearly a setting in
in which people directly experience
which people directly experience community, feel an
community feel an immediate bond with
immediate bond with other people, and articulate a
other people and articulate a collective pride.
collective pride.
D. Thus, music like sports, is clearly a setting in
At the same time, because of its qualities of
which people directly experience
abstractness, pop music is an individualizing form.
community, feel an immediate bond with
Songs have a looseness of reference that makes them
other people, and articulate a collective
immediately accessible. [26] Their open to
pride.
appropriation for personal use in a way that other
popular cultural forms (television soap operas, for 26.A. NO CHANGE
example) are not—the latter are tied into meanings B. It is
which we may reject. C. They are
D. Its

10
January 2021
 This interplay between personal absorption into 27.A. NO CHANGE
music and the sense [27] that it is, nevertheless, B. that it is, nevertheless, something public, is
something public, is what makes music so important what makes music so important in the
in the cultural placing of the individual: music also cultural placing of the individual, music also
gives us a way of managing the relationship [28] gives us a way
among our public and private emotional lives. C. that it is, nevertheless, something public, is
Popular love songs are important because they give what makes music so important in the
shape and voice to emotions that otherwise cannot be cultural placing of the individual. Music also
expressed without embarrassment or incoherence. gives us a way
[29] Our culture has a supply of pop songs that say D. that it is, nevertheless, something public, is
these things for us in interesting and innovative ways. what makes music so important in the
cultural placing of the individual music also
Clearly one of the effects of all music, not just pop,
gives us a way
is to focus our attention on the feeling of time, and
intensify our experience of the present. One measure 28.A. NO CHANGE
of good music is its "presence," its ability to "stop" B. on
time, to make us feel we are living within a moment, C. for
with no memory or anxiety about what has come D. between
before us, or what will come after. We invest most in 29. Which choice would best support how love is
popular music when we are teenagers and young expressed in language according to the author?
adults—music ties into a particular kind of emotional A. Language expresses love with words of
[30] tranquillity when issues of individual identity affection and compliments.
and social place, and the control of public and private B. Our most revealing declarations of feeling
feelings, are at a premium. are often expressed in banal or boring
language.
C. Because of its social function, language
helps people express their innermost
feelings effectively.
D. Language unlike music best expresses
people’s emotional harmony.

11
January 2021
What this suggests, though, is not that young people 30. Which wording is most consistent with the
need music, but that "youth" itself is defined by meaning of the sentence?
music. Youth is experienced as an intense presence A. NO CHANGE
through an [31] impatiens for time to pass and a regret B. continuity
that it is doing so, in a series of speeding, physically C. mentality
insistent moments that have nostalgia coded into [32] D. turbulence
it. [33] 31.A. NO CHANGE
B. impatience
. C. impatients
D. impacience

32.A. NO CHANGE
B. them
C. itself
D. themself
33. Which of the following would be the most
effective conclusion to the essay?
A. Music is something we can possess and
make into our own as a means of locating
ourselves in the larger social environment.
B. Music gives us a way of managing the
relationship between our public and private
emotional lives.
C. The social functions of popular music are in
the creation of identity, the management of
feelings, and organization of time.
D. Music emphasizes the feeling of time
because it helps in the social organization of
youth.

12
January 2021
Questions 34-44 are based on the following passage. 34.A. NO CHANGE
B. agreements with foreign investors which
Governments of developing countries occasionally
provide capital
enter into economic development [34] agreements with
C. agreements with foreign investors, who
foreign investors, which provide capital and
provide capital
technological expertise that may not be readily available
D. agreements with foreign investors who
in such countries. Besides the normal economic risk that
provide capital
accompanies such enterprises, investors face the
additional risk that the host government may attempt 35.A. NO CHANGE
unilaterally to change in its favor the terms of the B. all together
agreement or even to terminate the agreement [35] C. all together
altogether and appropriate the project for itself. In order D. together
to make economic development agreements more
36.A. NO CHANGE
attractive to investors, some developing countries have
B. the worlds’
attempted to strengthen the security of such agreements
C. world
with clauses specifying that the agreements will be
D. the world’s
governed by “general principles of law recognized by
37.A. NO CHANGE
civilized nations” a set of legal principles or rules shared
B. is retaining
by [36] the world major legal systems. However,
C. retaining
advocates of governments’ freedom to amend or repeal
D. retains
such agreements argue that these agreements fall within
a special class of contracts known as administrative 38. Which word choice best maintains the tone
contracts, a concept that originated in French law. They established in the paragraph?
assert that under the theory of administrative contracts, A. NO CHANGE
a government [37] retained inherent power to [38] B. soften or discontinue
change or finish its own contract, and that this power C. modify or terminate
indeed constitutes a general principle of law. However, D. vary and commence
their argument is flawed on at least two counts. 39.A. NO CHANGE
B. entering
C. entered
D. entrance

13
January 2021
 First, in French law, not all government contracts are 40.A. NO CHANGE
treated as administrative contracts. Some contracts are B. conjointly
designated as administrative by specific statute, in C. unilaterally
which case the contractor is made aware of the D. reciprocally
applicable legal rules upon [39] enter into agreement
41.A. NO CHANGE
with the government. Alternatively, the contracting
B. On effect,
government agency can itself designate a contract as
C. In affect,
administrative by including certain terms not found in
D. Affectively,
private civil contracts. Moreover, even in the case of
42.A. NO CHANGE
administrative contracts, French law requires that in the
B. those contractual terms, that define the
event that the government [40] only modifies the terms
financial balance of the contract.
of the contract, it must compensate the contractor for
C. those contractual terms that define the
any increased burden resulting from the government’s
financial balance of the contract.
action. [41] In effect, the government is thus prevented
D. those contractual terms, who define the
from modifying [42] those contractual terms, that
financial balance of the contract.
define, the financial balance of the contract.

14
January 2021
 [43] Second, the French law of administrative
contracts, although adopted by several countries, is not
so universally accepted that it can be embraced as a
general principle of law. In both the United States and
the United Kingdom, government contracts are
governed by the ordinary law of contracts, with the
result that the government can reserve the power to
modify or terminate a contract unilaterally only by
writing such power into the contract as a specific
provision. Indeed, the very fact that termination and
modification clauses are commonly found
government contracts suggests that a government’s
capacity to modify or terminate agreements unilaterally
derives from specific contract provisions, not from
inherent state power. [44] Contracts between
governments and private investors can be secured only
by reliance on general principles of law.
43.A. NO CHANGE
B. Second, although adopted by several
countries, people do not generally accept
that the French law of administrative
contracts can be embraced as a general
principle of law.
C. Second, it is not generally accepted that
the French law of administrative contracts
can be embraced by people adopted by
several countries as a general principle of
in law.
D. Second, although universally accepted,
several countries adopted the French law
of administrative contracts, but do not
embrace it as a general principle of law.
44. Which concluding sentence would be
consistent with the content of the passage as
a whole?
A. NO CHANGE
B. French law regarding contracts is
significantly different from those in the
United States and the United Kingdom.
C. Contracts between governments and
private investors in most nations are
governed by ordinary contract law.
D. An inherent power of a government to
modify or terminate a contract cannot be
considered a general principle of law.
15
January 2021
2018 December SAT Int'l
ANSWER KEY

Reading Test Answers Writing and Language Test Answers

1 C 11 B 22 D 33 A 43 B 1 C 12 D 23 B 34 B
2 A 12 D 23 B 34 B 44 C 2 D 13 A 24 C 35 A
3 C 13 B 24 C 35 D 45 C 3 C 14 C 25 A 36 C
4 D 14 D 25 C 36 A 46 D 4 D 15 D 26 A 37 D
5 B 15 C 26 C 37 C 47 A 5 C 16 C 27 B 38 B
6 A 16 B 27 D 38 D 48 A 6 A 17 A 28 C 39 B
7 D 17 D 28 B 39 B 49 B 7 B 18 B 29 B 40 A
8 B 18 B 29 D 40 A 50 C 8 C 19 D 30 C 41 A
9 B 19 C 30 C 41 A 51 B 9 A 20 B 31 B 42 B
10 A 20 C 31 A 42 D 52 D 10 D 21 D 32 C 43 B
21 A 32 C 11 C 22 B 33 A 44 D

Math Test Math Test

No Calculator Answers Calculator Answers
1 D 11 D 1 A 11 B 21 B 31 12
2 B 12 C 2 C 12 C 22 D 32 4
3 D 13 D 3 D 13 C 23 B 33 3.5
4 B 14 B 4 A 14 A 24 D 34 15
5 D 15 A 5 B 15 D 25 D 35 5120
6 C 16 1400 6 A 16 D 26 D 36 3000
7 B 17 9 7 B 17 A 27 A 37 0.4
8 D 18 2.5 8 B 18 A 28 A 38 3
9 C 19 22 9 A 19 C 29 C
10 B 20 6 or 12 10 B 20 C 30 D