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SAT Reading & Writing: Verb Tense and Form (Drill 2)

Drill 2 · Reading & Writing · Verb Tense and Form

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About This Drill

SAT Reading & Writing: Verb Tense and Form (Drill 2) is a Reading & Writing practice drill covering Verb Tense and Form. It contains 5 original questions created by Brian Stewart, a Barron's test prep author with over 20 years of tutoring experience.

SAT verb tense and form questions require you to select the tense that is grammatically and logically appropriate given the time signals in the sentence and the tense of other verbs in the passage. This drill focuses on consistency across complex multi-clause sentences.

Questions & Explanations

Text
By next July, the satellite ________ Earth more than five thousand times since its launch in 2022.

Question 1. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) orbited
  • B) will have orbited ✓
  • C) has orbited
  • D) orbits

Explanation: 'By next July' = future deadline. Future perfect ('will have orbited') for actions completed by a future point.

Text
The committee chair ________ from her position last month and cited irreconcilable differences with the board.

Question 2. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) resigns
  • B) has resigned
  • C) will resign
  • D) resigned ✓

Explanation: 'Last month' = definite past. Simple past ('resigned') matches the past time frame and parallels 'cited.'

Text
The biotech firm ________ a synthetic tissue graft that, if approved, could dramatically reduce recovery times for burn victims.

Question 3. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) is currently developing ✓
  • B) developed
  • C) had developed
  • D) develops

Explanation: 'Currently' and 'if approved' (not yet finished) signal an ongoing action. Present progressive ('is currently developing') is correct.

Text
Before she was appointed to the federal bench, Judge Whitfield ________ a partner at one of Chicago's most prominent civil rights firms for nearly two decades.

Question 4. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) is
  • B) was
  • C) had been ✓
  • D) has been

Explanation: Two past events; the partnership came first. Past perfect ('had been') indicates the earlier action.

Text
Over the past decade, clinical trials ________ that the drug significantly reduces migraine recurrence in patients who didn't respond to earlier treatments.

Question 5. Which choice conforms to Standard English?

  • A) demonstrate
  • B) demonstrated
  • C) will demonstrate
  • D) have demonstrated ✓

Explanation: 'Over the past decade' = started in past, continues to present. Present perfect ('have demonstrated') is correct.