SAT OwlQuestion bank / Form, Structure, and Sense
German scientist Alfred Wegener proposed his theory of continental drift in 1912. Even before Wegener's proposal, however, other observers ______ that the coastlines of Africa and South America seemed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
have noticed
will have noticed
had noticed
notice
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The observers noticed the fit of the coastlines before another past event, Wegener's 1912 proposal. The past perfect "had noticed" shows an action completed before another action in the past.
Choice A uses the present perfect, which connects the past to the present, but this observation happened before a specific past event.
Got it wrong? On SAT Owl, Owl looks at the answer you chose and explains the exact mistake, then gives you similar questions until it sticks. Get your predicted SAT score free.