OpenSAT

Question #N1055

A group of students was asked to write a short story about a time they had to overcome a challenge. One student wrote the following: "I was nervous as I waited for my turn, but I knew I could do it. I took a deep breath and went into the audition room. When I finished, the judges told me I did great! And I was proud of myself." Which choice most effectively combines the sentences in this excerpt to produce a more sophisticated and mature writing style?

Which choice most effectively combines the sentences in this excerpt to produce a more sophisticated and mature writing style?

A. I was nervous as I waited for my turn, but I knew I could do it. Taking a deep breath, I went into the audition room. When I finished, the judges told me I did great, and I was proud of myself.

B. I was nervous as I waited for my turn, but I knew I could do it. Taking a deep breath, I went into the audition room and finished, and the judges told me I did great. I was proud of myself.

C. I was nervous as I waited for my turn, but I knew I could do it. When I finished the audition, the judges told me I did great, and I was proud of myself.

D. I was nervous as I waited for my turn, but I knew I could do it. I took a deep breath, went into the audition room and finished, and the judges told me I did great! I was proud of myself.

Reveal Answer Go Back

Correct Answer is: A

Choice A combines the sentences smoothly and effectively, avoiding choppy sentence structure and using a participial phrase ("Taking a deep breath") to create a more sophisticated flow. The other choices either create run-on sentences or are too clunky and don’t improve the writing style.