New York City SHSAT 2017

PART 1—VERBAL

Recommended Time—75 Minutes

Paragraphs 1–5: Scrambled Paragraphs

Directions

Below are six sentences that form a paragraph. The first sentence is given; the remaining five sentences are listed in

random order. Choose the order for these five sentences that will create the best paragraph, one that is both well

organized and grammatically correct. Each correctly ordered paragraph is worth double the value of a question in any

other section of the test. No credit will be given for responses that are only partially correct.

Paragraph 1

The climate of a major city is often markedly different from the climate of surrounding rural areas.

Q. However, the geographic differences do not have to be dramatic to affect climatic differences.

R. Other climatic changes are brought about by the construction of artificial structures and

surfaces.

S. Even between the center of a city and its suburbs, there are often differences in air temperature,

humidity, wind speed, and direction.

T. Many of these differences are caused by the high concentrations of pollutants over urban

centers.

U. For example, tall buildings, paved streets, and parking lots affect such patterns as wind flow

and precipitation runoff.

1.

Paragraph 2

In the “Gunpowder Plot” of 1605, a group of conspirators planned to blow up the English king and Parliament.

Q. A small group of English Catholics, the conspirators objected to the government’s policy of

religious intolerance and decided to carry out a daring assassination.

R. Taking advantage of poor security, they rented a cellar under the Palace of Westminster and hid

twenty barrels of gunpowder there.

S. The foiled attempt, which averted a tragedy, is celebrated in the verse “Remember, remember,

the fifth of November, Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.”

2.