Reading & WritingExpression of IdeasMedium frequency

SAT Reading & Writing: Effective Sentence Placement in a Paragraph

28+ practice questions in Praczo

What you need to know

The concept, explained

  • 1

    These questions ask where a sentence should be added to a paragraph for the best logical flow.

  • 2

    Read the full paragraph first to understand its structure and sequence of ideas.

  • 3

    The new sentence must logically follow the content before it and set up the content after it.

  • 4

    Look for referential connections: pronouns ("it," "this," "these") in the new sentence should have clear antecedents in the preceding text.

  • 5

    Transition words in the new sentence or in the surrounding text can signal where the sentence fits.

Common mistakes
  • Placing the sentence where it fits the topic but breaks the logical sequence of events or ideas.
  • Ignoring the sentence that follows — the new sentence must also make sense as a lead-in to what comes next.
Try a sample question

SAT-style practice

A paragraph discusses how forests absorb CO₂, then how deforestation releases it, then global temperature trends. Where should the sentence "This stored carbon is rapidly released when trees are cut down" be placed?

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