Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) Practice Test

The identified sentence that lacks parallel structure is notable for its inconsistency in grammatical form. In this case, the first two elements, "under the bed" and "in the closet," maintain a prepositional phrase format, while the third element, "checked on top of the table," shifts to a different verb form. This shift disrupts the rhythm and coherence that parallel structure provides. When constructing lists, maintaining a similar grammatical structure across all items enhances clarity and flow for the reader. In the other sentences, all items are consistently presented in a manner that aligns with parallel structure, such as using the same form for each list item, whether they are all prepositional phrases or nouns. For effective writing, parallel structure is essential as it helps convey a sense of balance and organization.