Expressing Your Ideas

More than half of the ACCUPLACER questions you’ll face (about 60 percent) focus on the expression of ideas — that is, the meaning of what’s being expressed rather than its grammatical form.
Your goal here is not to search with a magnifying glass for violations of the fine points of grammar, but rather to adopt a wider focus and see if you can figure out how to improve the flow of the paragraph you’re reading.

1. Development
ACCUPLACER questions that focus on development test your understanding of how the writer structures their essay.
The structure of an essay resembles the structure of a tree: The proposition (or main idea) is like the roots and trunk of the tree — without them, the tree would fall over. Supporting details are like the branches and leaves — they help the tree to function, but each by itself could be removed without killing the tree.
Generally speaking, if a sentence doesn’t contain information that either states or supports the main idea, it should be cut from the essay because it blurs the focus of the essay. ACCUPLACER questions that test you on focus ask you to state whether and why a sentence should be included or removed.

Proposition
ACCUPLACER questions that cover proposition require you to understand the central theme — the main idea — of a text or paragraph, and to understand how revisions might clarify or detract from this theme.
Finding the main idea of a paragraph is more of an art than a science. Often, the main idea is stated up front in the first sentence, and the rest of the paragraph fleshes out this idea with a variety of supporting details. 

For example, (1) The tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911, where 146 workers perished in less than an hour, was an accident waiting to happen. (2) The factory was located on the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors, just above the reach of rescue ladders and too high for trapped workers to jump safely from windows. (3) These floors were overcrowded with hundreds of workers, most of them women in their teens and early twenties. (4) While the building itself was made of stone and concrete, it was filled with cloth as well as completed dresses and shirts hanging from the ceiling, all of which were highly flammable. (5) Furthermore, to prevent theft, the factory owners kept some doors to the stairwells locked, and limited access to others by blocking hallways with large boxes.

Which sentence contains the main idea of the paragraph? (A) Sentence 1 (B) Sentence 2 (C) Sentence 4 (D) Sentence 5
Here, the first sentence contains the main idea that conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory were ripe for a deadly fire. Then, each of the remaining sentences enumerates a different condition that contributed to the tragedy. Thus, Sentences 2, 4, and 5 all contain supporting details, and Sentence 1 contains the main idea, so Answer A is correct.
In other cases, the main idea of a paragraph appears in the last sentence, with the supporting details all building up to this idea, sentence by sentence.

For example, (1) The radio in the cockpit was playing Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” (2) I remember hoping that this song wasn’t a bad omen. (3) My two friends, Brad and Roy, were joking with each other, high on adrenalin — but then, they’d done this before. (4) A few of the others with us made conversation back and forth until the instructor broke in and told us, (5) “Okay, everybody, we’ve cleared 13,000 feet. Once we’ve cleared the edge of the canyon in about two minutes, it’s showtime.” (6) There was no turning back: I was about to jump out of my first airplane.
Which sentence contains the main idea of the paragraph? (A) Sentence 2 (B) Sentence 3 (C) Sentence 5 (D) Sentence 6
Here, the writer builds tension by purposely holding back the key fact that makes sense of the paragraph: that he’s about to jump out of an airplane. This sentence explains why, for example, the song “Stairway to Heaven” might be a bad omen, or why Brad and Roy might be high on adrenalin. Answer D is correct.
Perhaps the most difficult case is when the main idea is buried someplace in the middle of the paragraph. For example, (1) Every year, Americans spend untold millions on a wide variety of over-the-counter cold and flu medications. (2) Some of these are meant to relieve symptoms, and they can be helpful. (3) Others purport to prevent colds or at least reduce the chances of infection. (4) Believe me, I’ve tried them all, and zinc lozenges are the only such remedy I’ve ever found to be effective. (5) Allowing a zinc lozenge to melt on your tongue seems to make the human rhinovirus — the most common cause of the common cold — less likely to take hold in one of its favorite breeding grounds, the human throat. (6) The trick, however, is to take one at the onset of a cold, when you feel that first telltale tickle of soreness in your throat. (7) If you wait long enough for the virus to get a foothold, the positive effect of zinc lozenges is sharply reduced.
Which sentence contains the main idea of the paragraph? (A) Sentence 1 (B) Sentence 3 (C) Sentence 4 (D) Sentence 6
This paragraph begins by offering a background on cold remedies, before getting to the point in Sentence 4: that zinc lozenges are the only useful remedy the author has ever found. Sentences 5 through 7 are supporting details that tell how zinc lozenges work and under what circumstances they’re most effective. Therefore, Answer C is correct.

Support
Some ACCUPLACER questions ask you to identify, add, or revise a supporting detail in a way that best serves the development of the passage. For example, (1) When my daughter, Sara, asked me, “Was it hard growing up in the days before people had cellphones and the Internet?” I had to chuckle a bit. (2) The question seemed to imply that she thought of life before these relatively recent conveniences as some sort of Dark Ages. (3) But then, I realized that I, too, had always felt a similar unexamined pity for people who had lived a generation before I was born. (4) For example, when I discovered as a boy that my parents had grown up a decade before television was available, I remember thinking, “Wow, radio must have been really popular back then!”

The quotation in Sentence 4 is reproduced here.
“Wow, radio must have been really popular back then!”
Which of the following provides the best detail to support the author’s emotional reaction to his parents’ experiences? (A) (as it is now) (B) “Hmmm, I wonder if they had advertising in those days?” (C) “Nice, there must have been fewer distractions in those days.” (D) “Ugh, what did they do for fun in those days!”
Here, the writer identifies “pity” as a common thread running through both his daughter’s and his own reactions. Answers A, B, and C all reflect varying degrees of curiosity about what life was like at that time. Only Answer D expresses pity, so that is the correct answer. (1) When deciding to buy a house, your first and most important consideration should be what you can really afford. (2) Obviously, if possible, you want to find a house you love in the perfect neighborhood for you. (3) But struggling each month to meet your mortgage can turn any dream home into a nightmare. (4) That’s why I advise all my clients to visit each of the schools that their children will attend before signing on the dotted line.
Which of the following best completes the sentence? (A) (as it is now) (B) choose a new home location not just for its attractiveness, but also for a variety of other considerations, such as safety and proximity to their workplace. (C) write down a maximum dollar amount their budget can handle, post it on the refrigerator, and not spend one penny more. (D) try to meet the people next door and ask them for the pros and cons of living in that particular neighborhood.
Here, the writer makes her main point in the first sentence, that homebuyers should not spend more than they can afford. Thus, her advice should match this consideration, so Answer C is correct.

Focus
ACCUPLACER questions that test for focus usually ask you to determine whether a given sentence (or portion of a sentence) should be included, and the reason why or why not. For example, consider the next two questions as they relate to this paragraph: (1) In her book Silences, author Tillie Olsen discusses the reasons why gifted writers often tragically fail to fully realize their potential. (2) In particular, she examines the lives of many women writers who — repeatedly derailed in their efforts to write by the economic or societal demands placed specifically upon women — can only write sporadically, sometimes producing little to no work for years, even decades. (3) In her opening chapter, Olsen states that she considers herself to be such a “silence.” (4) As such, her voice is a vital addition to the literary criticism that emerged concurrently with the Women’s Movement of the 1970s.

Sentence 3 is reproduced here.
In her opening chapter, Olsen states that she considers herself to be such a “silence.”
The writer is considering adding the following text after this sentence.
Although Olsen was born in Nebraska, she lived most of her adult life in San Francisco.
Should the writer make this addition? (A) Yes, because the text provides a clarifying detail about why Olsen considers herself to be a “silence.” (B) Yes, because the text gives the reader a clue as to why Olsen may have embraced the Women’s Movement. (C) No, because the text interrupts the narrative flow of the paragraph with an unnecessary biographical detail about Olsen. (D) No, because the text unnecessarily repeats information that is available elsewhere in the paragraph.
Although this detail about Tillie Olsen’s life may be interesting, it’s not pertinent to the focus of this paragraph, so it should not be added. Therefore, you can rule out Answers A and B. However, this text doesn’t repeat information, so you can also rule out Answer D. The correct answer is C.
Now, however, consider the following question, which refers to the same passage:

Sentence 3 is reproduced here.
In her opening chapter, Olsen states that she considers herself to be such a “silence.”
The writer is considering adding the following text after this sentence.
The publication of her first and second books was separated by a gap of more than 20 years.
Should the writer make this addition? (A) Yes, because the text provides a clarifying detail about why Olsen considers herself to be a “silence.” (B) Yes, because the text provides a clue foreshadowing why Olsen may not herself have embraced the Women’s Movement. (C) No, because the text interrupts the narrative flow of the paragraph with an unnecessary biographical detail about Olsen. (D) No, because the text unnecessarily repeats information that is available elsewhere in the paragraph.
This time, the detail relates directly to the focus of the paragraph, and in fact clarifies Tillie Olsen’s perspective on herself as a writer. Thus, you can rule out Answers C and D. The text provides no clue about Olsen’s perspective on the Women’s Movement, so you can rule out Answer B. The correct answer is A.

2. Organization
The organization of a passage refers to the flow of its structure. In some cases, organization is based on time, so that the reader can clearly understand the order in which key events take place. In other cases, it’s based on the unfolding of an argument, so that the reader can grasp the point that the author is trying to make.
Organizational elements also include an introduction, in which the writer establishes the reader’s expectations, and a conclusion, where the writer appropriately sums up their main points. Additionally, transitional sentences and words help the reader to navigate an essay, underscoring when a narrative or argument is about to change direction.

Logical sequence
Questions that address logical sequence usually require you to consider whether the meaning and flow of a paragraph could be improved if a given sentence were moved to a different location. For example, (1) I visited Tokyo for the first time in 2017, and was immediately charmed by the city and its people. (2) I made plans to return there six months later, and on my second trip decided to consider living there. (3) With this understanding of Japanese immigration law, I planned my third trip, intending to stay about two months, during which time I hoped to find an apartment and investigate work options. (4) I found an apartment without too much trouble, but my relative lack of fluency with the Japanese language closed a lot of doors to otherwise attractive jobs. (5) So I turned my attention to improving my Japanese, attending daily language classes for four hours per day. (6) I did some research and found that as a U.S. citizen, I could use my current passport to stay in Japan for up to 90 days.

Which is the most logical placement for Sentence 6 (reproduced here)?
I did some research and found that as a U.S. citizen, I could use my current passport to stay in Japan for up to 90 days. (A) Where it is now (B) After Sentence 1 (C) After Sentence 2 (D) After Sentence 4
This paragraph is in narrative form, because it gives a sequence of events in the order that they occurred in time. Where it is now, Sentence 6 seems like an afterthought. Furthermore, Sentence 3 begins, “With this understanding of Japanese immigration law,” implying some previous information that appears to be lacking. Placing Sentence 6 after Sentence 2 fills in this gap, so the correct answer is C.

Introductions and conclusions
Introductions and conclusions provide information that helps the reader to navigate the entire text:
The introduction begins a passage, orienting the reader by giving them a sense of the writer’s purpose and why they should be interested.
The conclusion ends a passage, providing closure and giving the writer a chance to provide the reader with a wider view of the topic.

The ACCUPLACER tests you on your understanding of both.
Although a question about an introduction is usually the first question related to a passage, you may need to read a few sentences or even a couple of paragraphs into the text before answering it. For example, consider this opening sentence and the question that follows: (1) In 1960, Stanford University psychologists Walter Mischel and Ebbe Ebbesen were looking for a clever way to observe and measure “delayed gratification”: the ability to wait to receive something pleasurable. (2) They designed an experiment in which children were given an interesting choice. (3) One by one, each child was placed alone in a small room with only a table, a chair, and a plate containing a delicious treat, such as a marshmallow. (4) Each child was told that the marshmallow was theirs to eat, but if they could wait for 15 minutes, they would be given two marshmallows to enjoy. (5) Some children ate the marshmallow immediately or managed to hold out for a few minutes before giving into temptation; others endured the whole 15 minutes and received a second treat. (6) Long-term studies of the children showed that, generally speaking, the kids who were able to delay this small gratification tended to be more successful in a variety of ways. (7) As a group, they had better grades in school, higher SAT scores, and when they entered the workforce earned more money than their counterparts who succumbed to temptation.
Which of the following, if placed before Sentence 1, would work best as an introductory sentence for the passage? (A) Is experimental psychology really useful, or is it just hype? (B) Can a marshmallow really predict your child’s future? (C) How do children behave when they’re alone and no one is watching? (D) Is your child a natural born optimist or pessimist?
If you try to answer this question without reading further down the page, you’ll likely get confused. However, after you read the first paragraph or two, the point that the author is making gets clearer: An experiment that uses a marshmallow seems to have some value in predicting the behavior of children, so Answer B is correct.
In contrast, a conclusion question is usually the last question related to a passage. So, by the time you reach it, you’ll probably already be familiar with the entire passage, and will need to draw on this understanding to answer the question. In the following example, I give you the last paragraph of the essay and ask you to choose the best concluding sentence: (8) Follow-up studies by Mischel and Ebbesen, as well as other researchers, have duplicated the results of the original experiment. (9) But outside the psych lab, the results of the Marshmallow Experiment, as it is now known, have appeared in countless self-help and business books. (10) For these authors and their readers, it stands as an object lesson in the rewards of not allowing oneself to be swayed by shiny objects, however appealing they might be.
Which of the following best completes Sentence 10 as the concluding sentence of the essay? (A) (as it is now) (B) a reminder that children are only as honest and trustworthy as the adults who guide them — their parents, relatives, teachers, and coaches. (C) an inspirational tale that children need not only food for their minds but also nourishment for their souls. (D) a clarion call for those in experimental research fields to continue to reach out to the greater public.
This question tests whether you can get the main takeaway from the essay — the connection between delaying self-gratification and subsequent success — and apply it in a slightly new context. Answer A is correct.

Transitions
Transitions help the reader anticipate important shifts in perspective or focus. A transitional sentence is often used in the middle of a text to signal to the reader that the focus of the text is changing, for example, from the advantages of an idea to its potential drawbacks. Transitional words within a paragraph help the reader navigate the complexity of thought that the writer is trying to convey.
 

Transitional words
Transitional words are often conjunctions and short phrases that give the reader cues about the direction in which the writer is taking the narrative or argument. As a simple example, consider the following two sentence fragments:
Fragment #1: I love you, and
Fragment #2: I love you, but
Both fragments start with good news. The word and implies that Fragment #1 will end equally well — maybe even with a proposal of marriage. However, the word but warns you that Fragment #2 is not likely to be so much fun, and may even end with a breakup.
This small example illustrates the power of transitional words to help the reader understand what the writer is trying to say.
Transitional words tend to fall into a few major categories.

Words that continue an argument with a similar statement:
and
also
additionally
similarly
indeed
likewise
moreover
furthermore
besides
in addition
by the same token
in the same way

Words that pivot to a contrasting statement:
but
yet
however
nevertheless
though
although
since
nonetheless
instead
regardless
in contrast
on the other hand
even so
despite
in spite of
unfortunately

Words that sum up an argument or set of facts with a concluding statement:
so
therefore
thus
because
consequently
hence
accordingly
as such
in conclusion
this is why
as a result
for these reasons
to these ends

Beyond these big categories, a few other words and phrases also function as conjunctions, with a variety of meanings:
For example, for instance — Provide a specific case of a general principle.
In other words, in broad terms, in short, in sum, in effect — Restate something that has already been discussed.
Normally, usually, generally, as a rule, in most cases — Describe how things are most of the time.
Naturally — Introduces an expected event.
Obviously — Of course.
Surprisingly — Introduces an unusual event.
Alternatively — Introduces a possibility or speculation.
In any case — Returns an argument from speculation to fact.
Previously — Discusses an event that took place earlier in time.
Subsequently — Discusses an event that takes place later in time.
Finally — Discusses an event that takes place last or after a long interval of time.

In the following examples, see if you can find the transitional word that best fits the context.

Which is the best version of the underlined portion of the following sentence?
The charter plane left on schedule; naturally, owing to severe weather conditions, the team arrived in Dallas later than expected. (A) (as it is now) (B) consequently (C) however (D) moreover
In this example, the sentence pivots from a positive state of affairs to a negative one. Thus, the transitional word however best handles this contrast; Answer C is correct. (1) Although most mammals do not lay eggs, the order of Monotremata are a rare exception. (2) In sum, female duck-billed platypuses, the most widely known of the monotremes, lay eggs but also produce milk to provide food for their young.
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence? (A) (as it is now) (B) for instance (C) nonetheless (D) accordingly
This time, Sentence 1 states a generalization about mammals that includes exceptions. Sentence 2 introduces a specific case, so the transitional words for instance work best. Therefore, Answer B is correct. (1) Nursing is not only a well-paid profession, but also one that is unlikely to be outsourced to workers in other parts of the world. (2) While other types of work, such as computer programming, can be done remotely from anywhere with access to the Internet, in most cases nurses must be in the same room as their patients. (3) Furthermore, not everybody is suited to the particular demands of this type of work, particularly the physical and psychological stresses. (4) In any case, students who believe they have what it takes to succeed in this field would be well advised to look further into nursing as a career choice.
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence? (A) (as it is now) (B) Thus (C) Additionally (D) Subsequently
Here, the passage is examining the pros and cons of nursing as a career path. The final sentence reaches the conclusion that those who are suited for the demands of the field should consider it. The concluding transition word thus fits the context best, so Answer B is correct.

Transitional sentences
A transitional sentence provides a logical connection between contrasting parts of an essay. It anticipates and helps to reduce potential confusion on the part of the reader. For example, (1) The best boss I ever had was at a small Italian restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (2) His name was Arlo, and he was the evening manager, overseeing the wait staff (I was a waiter) as well as the kitchen crew during the dinner rush. (3) Restaurant work is hard, and ongoing squabbles between these two groups of workers are pretty common. (4) But because Arlo had personally gained the trust and respect of every employee, we tended to bring him our disputes before they got out of hand. (5) Like most good managers, Arlo was measured and tempered in his style of behavior. (6) When an argument broke out between the maître d’ and the head chef in front of the customers, Arlo lost it. (7) He brought both men up to his office and gave them both a taste of his wrath. (8) It probably lasted only ten minutes, but it was epic, and months later we were still talking about it.
Which of the following sentences, if placed after Sentence 5, creates the best transition to unify the paragraph? (A) Yet he knew how to have a good time, and when a particularly busy shift was done, he was often the first person to suggest that we go out as a group to blow off some steam. (B) In fact, in the two years I worked there, I can remember only one time when I ever heard him raise his voice. (C) In that way, he was quite different from Sheila, who usually managed our lunchtime shift. (D) Arlo was from Texas, and spoke with a thick drawl that contrasted sharply with the New England regional accents we were used to hearing.
Without a transitional sentence, this paragraph could be confusing. Up to Sentence 5, the writer describes Arlo as “measured and tempered,” having “gained the trust and respect of every employee.” But Sentence 6 tells you that “Arlo lost it,” which appears to contradict the first part of the paragraph. To bridge this difference, the essay requires a transitional sentence to put this incident into perspective. Answer B provides this perspective, explaining that this was a single incident over a two-year period.

3. Effective Language Use
On the ACCUPLACER, effective language use covers a variety of issues related to word choice and sentence structure. In this section, I cover the most common issues that you’ll run across when taking the test.

Precision
A precision question tests whether word choice provides a specific shade of meaning needed for clear communication. For example,
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of the following sentence?
When her supervisor scuttled the project without informing her, Sharon was volatile and immediately sent out a heated email in protest. (A) (as it is now) (B) irate (C) precarious (D) hazardous
Here, you’re looking for a word that describes Sharon’s immediate state as “angry.” Volatile means “unstable” as a general rather than immediate state of being. Hazardous means “dangerous” and also implies a general state. And precarious means “risky” as applied to a situation rather than a person. Only irate means “angry,” so the correct answer is B.
Conciseness
Conciseness — or concision — refers to brief, clear writing that avoids the following problems:
Extra words — using five words when two words are sufficient
Redundancy — unnecessarily repeating an idea
Awkwardness — non-standard phrasing that feels clumsy to the reader

For example, here’s a question that tests for conciseness:
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of the following sentence?
Jack’s not being able to handle his new responsibilities as manager led to his demotion to his former position. (A) (as it is now) (B) ineffectiveness at the handling of (C) inability to handle (D) inability to handle or cope with
As the sentence is now, you can probably understand what the writer is trying to convey. The problem is awkwardness: the phrasing “Jack’s not being able to handle” is clumsy. Answer B is a little better, but the words “at the handling of” are still a little awkward and could be trimmed. Using only three words, Answer C provides the same information as Answer B without awkwardness. Answer D may appear to be an improvement on Answer C; however, “handle” and “cope with” mean essentially the same thing, so they are redundant. The correct answer is C.

Style
Style refers to the writer’s way of expressing themself, especially with regard to the level of formality. Very formal writing — such as in legal briefs, medical journals, and scientific papers — is usually dry and difficult to read, full of long words and opaque sentence structure. In contrast, very informal writing — such as text messages between friends or posts to social media — often permits broad liberties with regard to grammar, such as no capital letters, minimal punctuation, many abbreviated words, and so on.
On the ACCUPLACER, the writing samples tend to run from the moderately formal to the moderately informal. Questions about the author’s style gauge how perceptive you are at picking up cues about the author’s level of formality.

For example, a quick way to identify informal writing in a given sample is to notice whether the author uses first-person words, such as I, me, my, and mine. A second clue is the presence of words such as you and your that address the reader directly.
In more formal writing, the writer usually avoids the use of first person, preferring to keep the writing impersonal. This convention is appropriate to academic writing, technical and science writing, and news journalism (although in recent years, more writers in these fields are incorporating first-person expression). Here is an example of formal writing: (1) While contemporary legal scholars were united in their estimation of Brown v. Board of Education as a landmark moment in jurisprudence, not all viewed the decision favorably. (2) For example, Learned Hand, Chief Judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, considered the ruling to be a boneheaded example of judicial overreach.
Which is the best phrase for the underlined portion of the last sentence? (A) (as it is now) (B) an egregious (C) a morbid (D) a whacky

Here, the formal writing style is in keeping with the topic: a historically significant Supreme Court decision. The informality of the word boneheaded is inconsistent with this style, as is whacky, so Answers A and D are incorrect. The word morbid (depressing) is simply incorrect in this context, so Answer C is ruled out. The word egregious (strongly negative) is correct in both style and meaning, so Answer B is correct.
In contrast, less formal writing that includes the first person allows writers to speak about themselves casually, including personal anecdotes and interjecting their own opinions more freely. Feature and travel journalism, and in recent years blogging, are examples of literary arenas that generally permit the author to step in and speak about their own experiences directly. For example, (1) If you went to summer camp like I did, you probably remember singing songs like “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”, “On Top of Spaghetti,” and “Baby Bumble Bee” around the campfire at night. (2) The sillier a song was, the more fun we had singing it. And now, when my kids come home singing and laughing their heads off, I get to enjoy them all again!

Which of the following versions of Sentence 2 fits best stylistically with the rest of the paragraph. (A) (as it is now) (B) Our enjoyment increased exponentially with the drollness of each song. (C) How utterly pithy they all were! (D) Humor mixed with pathos is, indeed, a winning combination.
Here, the topic of this first-person passage is far from serious. It addresses the reader directly (“If you went to camp”), and includes informal phrases such as “like I did” and “laughing their heads off.” As it is now, Sentence 2 matches this informal style, while Answers B, C, and D all include vocabulary and syntax that push beyond formal to stuffy. Answer A is correct.

Tone
Tone refers to the author’s feeling about their topic, from strongly negative to relatively neutral to strongly positive. For example, (1) For more than 15 years, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation — better known to the world as SpaceX — has been reimagining the possibility of human space travel. (2) Founded by visionary Elon Musk, SpaceX has made a name for itself as the first privately funded company to duplicate and now surpass a variety of accomplishments previously achieved only by government-funded entities, such as NASA in the U.S. and Roscosmos in Russia. (3) And the company’s greatest achievements may well lie ahead: Musk’s ambitious timeline calls for an excursion to Mars by 2024, with human colonization of that planet projected not far beyond.
The author’s tone here can be best described as (A) Sharply critical (B) Journalistically reserved (C) Guardedly optimistic (D) Proudly enthusiastic
Answer A is strongly negative, Answer B is neutral, Answer C is somewhat positive, and Answer D is strongly positive. Which of these most accurately represents the author’s tone? Scanning the passage, phrases such as “reimagining the possibility,” “visionary Elon Musk,” “company’s greatest achievements,” and “Musk’s ambitious timeline” all point to a strongly positive tone: one that is proudly enthusiastic. The correct answer is D.

Syntax
In linguistics, syntax refers to the arrangement of elements in a sentence in accordance with the rules of grammar for a specific language. On the ACCUPLACER, questions that test your understanding of syntax are of several varieties. In some cases, you’ll need to revise a single sentence into a more elegant form. For example, (1) To finish my homework, my mom told me before TV watching or video game playing.
Which of the following is the best version of this sentence? (A) (as it is now) (B) Before watching TV or playing video games, my mom told me, to finish my homework. (C) To finish my homework, my mom told me before watching TV or playing video games. (D) My mom told me to finish my homework before watching TV or playing video games.
As it is now, the sentence is awkward and unclear. Answer B has non-standard grammar and incorrectly implies that the writer’s mom rather than the writer wants to watch TV or play video games. Answer C is also awkward, implying that the writer’s mom will finish the writer’s homework. Answer D clearly states what the writer has in mind, so this is the correct answer.
In other cases, an ACCUPLACER question will ask you to combine a pair of sentences into a single sentence, often to eliminate the need for repeated words or phrases. For example, (1) For centuries, Japanese kabuki theater has been the strict province of male actors. (2) Kabuki was actually originated by a woman, Izumo no Okuni.
Which of the following best combines Sentences 1 and 2 into a single sentence? (A) Japanese kabuki theater has for centuries been the strict province of male actors, and Izumo no Okuni, a woman, actually originated the form. (B) Although Japanese kabuki theater has for centuries been the strict province of male actors, a woman — Izumo no Okuni — actually originated the form. (C) For centuries, Japanese kabuki theater has been the strict province of male actors; therefore, the form was actually originated by a woman, Izumo no Okuni. (D) While a woman, Izumo no Okuni, was actually originating Japanese kabuki theater, for centuries the form has been the strict province of male actors.
Combining these two sentences might allow you to eliminate the repetition of the word kabuki. Additionally, the flow can be improved by highlighting the irony that a woman invented a form of theater that is now only practiced by men. Answers A and C both fail to highlight this contrast, using the conjunctions and and therefore to link the two sentences. Answer D correctly includes while as a contrasting conjunction, but implies that male actors were practicing at the same time as Izumo no Okuni was originating it. Answer B correctly highlights the contrast between the origins and subsequent practice of kabuki.