The American Academy of Arts and Sciences includes members whose topics of study span many disciplines such as math, science, arts, humanities, public affairs, and business. Which of the following is an appropriate synonym for disciplines as it is used in the sentence?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In this context, 'disciplines' refers to specific areas of study or fields of expertise. Therefore, the most appropriate synonym for 'disciplines' would be 'fields.' Options A, B, and C do not accurately convey the meaning of 'disciplines' in the given sentence. 'Locations' and 'regions' refer to physical places, while 'punishments' is entirely unrelated to the context of academic or professional fields of study.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct plural form of 'potato' is 'potatoes.' In English, most plural nouns form by adding '-es' or simply '-s' to the singular form. Therefore, 'potatoes' is the correctly formed plural noun in this list. The other choices, 'vertebrae,' 'geese,' and 'octopuses,' are the correct plural forms of 'vertebra,' 'goose,' and 'octopus,' respectively. They demonstrate the common rule of adding '-es' or '-s' to form plural nouns.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. In choice C, the sentence 'Because the distance between stars in the galaxy is far greater than the distance between planets' is a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Because,' while the rest of the sentence 'interstellar travel is expected to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary exploration' forms the independent clause. This combination of an independent clause and a dependent clause makes choice C a complex sentence. Choices A, B, and D do not contain both an independent and dependent clause connected in the way that choice C does, thus they do not qualify as complex sentences.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The statement that 'Heat engines can be broken down into combustion and non-combustion engines' is correct. Heat engines can indeed be categorized into combustion engines, where fuel combustion occurs, and non-combustion engines, such as steam engines, where heat is applied without combustion. This categorization helps in understanding the different mechanisms and types of heat engines available. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Choice A is incorrect as heat engines are not the most common type of engine; internal combustion engines are more prevalent. Choice B is incorrect as pneumatic and hydraulic motors are not types of electric engines, but rather different systems that use gas (pneumatic) or liquid (hydraulic) to transmit power. Choice C is incorrect as it lists electric engines, which are not a primary classification of engines like heat engines, but rather a type of engine that uses electricity to operate.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The prefix 'pre-' typically means before. In this case, 'preoperative' refers to activities that occur before an operation. Therefore, the patient's preoperative evaluation, scheduled for next Wednesday, will take place before the operation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the prefix 'pre-' specifically indicates a time before the operation, not after, during, or outside of it.