Choosing verb tense from context clues (SAT)

Question 1

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? The new telescope, which launches next year, will allow astronomers to study planets around distant stars.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 2

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Before the bridge was built in 1932, ferries ___ the only way across the bay.

• A. have been
• B. are
• C. had been
• D. will be

Question 3

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Before the bridge was built in 1932, ferries are the only way across the bay.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 4

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that mould had killed bacteria in a dish. He later ___ the substance penicillin.

• A. named
• B. has named
• C. names
• D. will name

Question 5

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Each spring, the river floods its banks, depositing rich soil on the surrounding fields.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 6

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Each spring, the river ___ its banks, depositing rich soil on the surrounding fields.

• A. will have flooded
• B. floods
• C. had flooded
• D. flooded

Question 7

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Before the bridge was built in 1932, ferries had been the only way across the bay.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 8

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Currently, researchers ___ whether the coral can survive warmer seas.

• A. investigated
• B. are investigating
• C. had investigated
• D. will have investigated

Question 9

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that mould had killed bacteria in a dish. He later names the substance penicillin.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 10

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Each spring, the river ___ its banks, depositing rich soil on the surrounding fields.

• A. floods
• B. had flooded
• C. flooded
• D. will have flooded

Question 11

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that mould had killed bacteria in a dish. He later has named the substance penicillin.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 12

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? By 2030, the city ___ all of its buses with electric models.

• A. replaces
• B. had replaced
• C. will have replaced
• D. replaced

Question 13

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? Currently, researchers will have investigated whether the coral can survive warmer seas.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 14

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? The new telescope, which launches next year, ___ astronomers to study planets around distant stars.

• A. allows having
• B. allowed
• C. will allow
• D. had allowed

Question 15

Is this sentence correct in formal written English (SAT/ACT style)? By the time the expedition reached the summit, two climbers have turned back because of the cold.

• A. correct
• B. incorrect

Question 16

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? Before the bridge was built in 1932, ferries ___ the only way across the bay.

• A. have been
• B. will be
• C. are
• D. had been