Question 154·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Standard English Conventions
Despite extensive evidence demonstrating that microplastics permeate even the planet’s most remote environments, ____
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For Standard English completion questions, first identify the sentence structure (here, “Despite … , [main clause]”). Then scan each option for clear, specific errors: subject–verb agreement, pronoun agreement, and ambiguous pronoun reference. Quickly eliminate any answer with a number mismatch (singular vs. plural), unclear pronoun (“it,” “they,” “their” that could refer to more than one noun), or illogical meaning. Among the remaining choices, pick the one that expresses the intended idea most clearly and idiomatically, even if multiple options seem technically grammatical.
Hints
Focus on the contrast word
The sentence starts with “Despite extensive evidence…” so after the comma, you need a complete clause that contrasts with having a lot of evidence. What is still missing or unresolved?
Check singular vs. plural
Look at the word “microplastics.” Is it singular or plural? Now look at any pronouns that might refer back to it (like “its” or “their”) and see if their number (singular/plural) matches.
Look for ambiguous pronouns
In any choice that uses “their,” ask yourself: Could “their” refer to more than one noun (for example, both “scientists” and “microplastics”)? If the reference is not crystal clear, that option is weak.
Compare the remaining choices for clarity
After removing the options with obvious pronoun problems, choose the remaining one that most clearly and directly states that scientists still don’t fully know the long-term ecological effects.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and meaning
The sentence begins with a contrast word: “Despite.” That creates the structure:
- Despite [evidence that microplastics are everywhere], [main clause about what is still not known].
So after the comma, we need a full, clear independent clause that says what is still unknown or unresolved for scientists.
Check for pronoun agreement and reference
Identify the key noun earlier in the sentence: “microplastics”, which is plural.
Now look at the answer choices and note any pronouns:
- “its” (singular)
- “their” (plural)
Ask for each: Exactly what noun does this pronoun refer to? If the reference is to “microplastics,” the pronoun must be plural, and its meaning must be clear, not ambiguous.
Eliminate options with clear grammar problems
Go through the choices:
- Any choice that uses “its” to refer back to “microplastics” has pronoun-number disagreement (singular vs. plural) and should be eliminated.
- Any choice where “their” could refer either to “scientists” or “microplastics” is ambiguous and should also be eliminated.
Remove those options from consideration, and keep only those that have clear, correctly matched references and form a complete, logical main clause after the comma.
Compare remaining options for clarity and idiomatic wording
Among the remaining grammatically acceptable options, choose the one that:
- Clearly expresses that scientists still lack full knowledge, not that the consequences themselves are somehow “uncertain” in a vague way.
- Uses natural, standard phrasing in English (for example, “uncertainty remains among scientists about …” is clearer and more precise than saying consequences “remain uncertain to scientists”).
The choice that best satisfies these points is: “uncertainty remains among scientists about microplastics’ long-term ecological consequences.”