The Princeton Review

Practice Test 1
HOW TO EMULATE THE DIGITAL SAT ON PAPER
Practice Test 4 is available in your online student tools in a digital, adaptive environment. The three tests in this
physical book are printed on paper, but otherwise emulate the digital test in every way: test style, difficulty, and
content. Please use the checklist below to ensure that you are able to emulate the adaptive nature of the test and
get the preparation that you need for test day. Feel free to use the versions of Module 2 that you do not take
during your test as additional practice.

 Take Reading and Writing (RW) Module 1, allowing yourself 32 minutes to complete it.

 Go to the answer key starting on page 92 and determine the number of questions you got
correct in RW Module 1.

 If you get fewer than 15 questions correct, take RW Module 2 – Easier, which starts on page
46. If you get 15 or more questions correct, take RW Module 2 – Harder, which starts on page
56.

 Whichever RW Module 2 you take, start immediately and allow yourself 32 minutes to
complete it.

 Take a 10-minute break between RW Module 2 and Math Module 1.

 Take Math Module 1, allowing yourself 35 minutes to complete it.

 Go to the answer key starting on page 92 and determine the number of questions you got cor-
rect in Math Module 1.

 If you get fewer than 14 questions correct, take Math Module 2 – Easier, which starts on page 76.
If you get 14 or more questions correct, take Math Module 2 – Harder, which starts on page 84.

 Whichever Math Module you take, start it immediately and allow yourself 35 minutes to com-
plete it.

 After you finish the test, check your answers to RW Module 2 and Math Module 2.

 Only after you complete the entire test should you read the explanations for the questions,
which start on page 93.
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

SAT Prep Test 1—Reading and Writing

Module 1
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.

DIRECTIONS

The questions in this section address a number of important reading and writing skills. Each question
includes one or more passages, which may include a table or graph. Read each passage and question
carefully, and then choose the best answer to the question based on the passage(s).

All questions in the section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single
best answer. Fill in the circle with the answer letter for the answer you think is best.

1 Mark for Review 2 Mark for Review

Ghost Dance, written by playwright and Otoe-Missouria Hieroglyphs, the Ancient Egyptian writing system,
Tribe member Annette Arkeketa, gets its title from utilized both letters and symbols and contained an
a ceremony performed in the late 1800s by Native estimated 1,000 characters. Before the discovery of
American peoples as an act of resistance against the US the Rosetta Stone, an ancient stone slab containing
government. The play tells of a corporate lawyer who a royal decree translated into three languages,
returns home, reconnects with her family, and uses her these hieroglyphs had been largely __________ : once the
legal __________ to help her tribe. stone was analyzed, linguists could finally begin to
understand the meaning of the mysterious symbols.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase?
A proceedings
A completed

B incentives
B incomprehensible

C monopoly
C significant

D prowess
D responsible

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

3 Mark for Review 5 Mark for Review

Publicly accessible satellite imagery such as Google The following text is adapted from Anton Chekhov’s
Earth has enabled scientists to document over 300 1887 short story The Lottery Ticket. Ivan Dmitritch has
previously unknown desert kites, giant stone walls a lottery ticket for which the first numbers match the
that can be up to several miles long and are often in the winning number, but it is still uncertain whether his
shape of a kite. Most archaeologists theorize that desert ticket is a winning ticket.
kites were used to trap wild animals, while some others And pictures came crowding on Ivan’s imagination,
propose that these structures were used to contain each more gracious and poetical than the last. And
livestock; unfortunately, there is little evidence to in all these pictures he saw himself well-fed, serene,
__________ either claim. healthy, felt warm, even hot! Here, after eating a
summer soup, cold as ice, he lay on his back on the
Which choice completes the text with the most logical burning sand close to a stream or in the garden
and precise word or phrase? under a lime-tree. . . . It is hot. . . . His little boy and
girl are crawling about near him, digging in the sand
A invoke or catching ladybirds in the grass. He dozes sweetly,
thinking of nothing, and feeling all over that he need
not go to the office today, tomorrow, or the day after.
B necessitate Or, tired of lying still, he goes to the hayfield or to the
forest for mushrooms.

C corroborate Which choice best characterizes the overall structure of

the text?

D withdraw A It portrays a character falling asleep after eating

well and then describes this character waking up
to go to work.

4 Mark for Review

B It depicts a character considering how his life
The following text is adapted from George Bernard might change and then details specific fantasies
Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion. about this character’s future lifestyle.
MRS. PEARCE: Well, sir, whatever you choose to call it,
I beg you not to let the girl hear you repeat it.
C It explains a character’s thoughts about winning
HIGGINS: Oh, very well, very well. Is that all? the lottery and then describes this character’s
somber mood after not winning.
MRS. PEARCE: No, sir. We shall have to be very
particular with this girl as to personal cleanliness.

HIGGINS: Certainly. Quite right. Most important. D It explains a character’s inspiration for
purchasing a lottery ticket and then highlights his
MRS. PEARCE: I mean not be slovenly about her dress family’s excitement about potentially winning the
or untidy in leaving things about. lottery.
As used in the text, what does the word “slovenly” most
nearly mean?

A Tasteful

B Sympathetic

C Informal

D Unkempt
CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

6 Mark for Review 7 Mark for Review

The following text is an excerpt from the 1799 poem The following text is from Emily Pauline Johnson’s 1903
“Pleasures of Hope” by Thomas Campbell. poem “Fire-Flowers.”
At summer eve, when heaven’s aerial bow And only where the forest fires have sped,
Spans with bright arch the glittering hills below, Scorching relentlessly the cool north lands,
Why to yon mountain turns the musing eye, A sweet wild flower lifts its purple head,
Whose sunbright summit mingles with the sky? And, like some gentle spirit sorrow-fed,
Why do those cliffs of shadowy tint appear It hides the scars with almost human hands.
More sweet than all the landscape smiling near?
‘Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And only to the heart that knows of grief,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue. Of desolating fire, of human pain,
There comes some purifying sweet belief,
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? Some fellow-feeling beautiful, if brief.
And life revives, and blossoms once again.
A To question whether bright or dim lighting is Which choice best describes the function of the
more likely to make an individual commit a underlined portion in the text as a whole?
specific scene to memory

A It draws a distinction between the flower’s

B To challenge the idea that people looking at precariousness and the author’s convictions.
natural scenes are more likely to experience
depression than elation
B It describes the forest as foreboding and
inhospitable.
C To describe how a measure of separation can
enhance the allure of something
C It reveals the author’s detachment from the
overwhelming forces of nature.
D To show how private experiences with inanimate
objects affect the way individuals present
D It portrays the flower as having overcome
themselves in public settings
adversity.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

8 Mark for Review 9 Mark for Review

The following text is from Samuel Griswold Goodrich’s The end goal for many substance use disorder recovery
1836 poem “Song: The Robin.” programs is complete abstinence from alcohol and
At misty dawn, drugs. However, there is a growing trend toward
At rosy morn, multiple paths to recovery. Some experts argue that
The Redbreast sings alone: abstinence-only recovery programs should also
At twilight dim, consider harm reduction, which focuses on reducing
Still, still, his hymn substance use, as a viable stepping stone to addiction
Hath a sad, and sorrowing tone. recovery. According to these experts, rigid abstinence-
only programs fail to recognize that the best recovery
Another day, his song is gay, plan is the one that works best for the specific
For a listening bird is near— individual in recovery.
O ye who sorrow, come borrow, borrow,
A lesson of robin here! Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A Individuals who have been in recovery for many
years typically use several different recovery
A To demonstrate that the songs of birds vary programs.
extensively in tone and quality

B Harm reduction strategies that encourage

B To highlight a bird’s similar rituals even at individuals to limit their use of substances have
different times of the day proven more effective than abstinence-based
recovery strategies.
C To convey that one may experience melancholy
while alone but cheerfulness around others C Although harm reduction programs are
controversial, some experts contend that focus on
reducing substance use can help people recover
D To present endearing reminiscences of a morning
from substance use disorders.
spent watching birds carefully

D Some experts argue that the end goal of many

substance use disorder recovery programs is
suspect and problematic.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

10 Mark for Review 11 Mark for Review

The following text is adapted from W. T. Nichols’s 1916
novel The Safety First Club. Sam is a teenager. Number of Words Recalled out of 30 in Novel
Versus Familiar Environments
Sam Parker stepped out upon the side porch of his
father’s house, closing the door behind him with a
Age Novel Familiar
slam. He was, as a matter of fact, in a fit of temper,
group environment environment
which did not lessen as he surveyed the dull, gray sky,
and saw its promise of a dismal day. 18–27 23 25

Which choice best states the main idea of the text? 28–38 21 26
39–49 20 23
A Sam’s bad mood worsens because of the prospect
of poor weather. 50–60 18 20
over 60 15 20

B Sam slams the door because his father has upset A group of researchers investigated the effects of
him. a novel environment compared with a familiar
environment on memory recall across different age
groups. They found that, although word recall varied
C Sam usually seeks fresh air as a means to improve greatly across age groups under novel environments,
his current mood. word recall was similar across age groups under
familiar environments. Therefore, they concluded that
while age groups may differ in memory recall, people
D Sam responds to dreary weather in a matter-of- perform better under familiar environments than
fact manner. novel environments.

Which choice best describes data from the table that

support the researchers’ claim?

A All five groups of participants had higher recall in

the familiar environment, though the number of
words recalled ranged from 20 to 26.

B Among the age groups in the table, the group that

had the highest word recall in novel environments
also had the highest word recall in familiar
environments.

C Age groups 28–38 and 39–49 had approximately

the same word recall in novel environments, but
ages 39–49 had a higher word recall in familiar
environments than did ages 28–38.

D Among the age groups in the table, those ages

39–49 and those over 60 had the lowest word
recall in novel and familiar environments.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

12 Mark for Review 13 Mark for Review

“The Rainy Day” is an 1842 poem by Henry Wadsworth
Height of Rose Bushes over Time
Longfellow. In the poem, Longfellow uses natural
60 imagery to suggest that despite his emotional struggle
there is still cause for hope, writing __________
50
Which quotation from “The Rainy Day” most effectively
Height (in inches)

illustrates the claim?

40

A “The day is cold, and dark, and dreary.”

30

20 B “The vine still clings to the mouldering wall.”

10
C “But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast.”
0
1 15 30 45
Day of experiment D “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.”

blue light red light

To investigate the effect of different filtered lights on

the growth rate of rose bushes, a student in a chemistry 14 Mark for Review
class placed seedling rose bushes in either a blue
Although a key tenet in a physician-patient relationship
filtered light enclosure or a red filtered light enclosure
is honesty, a survey showed that 50% of physicians
and tracked the growth process over 45 days. The
regularly prescribe placebos, substances that have no
student concluded that the increased height of rose
medicinal effect. One possible explanation is that when
bushes was influenced solely by red light and that blue
creating a treatment plan, a physician may prescribe
light was not responsible for any growth.
two or more medications for the patient to try. The
patient will be informed that one of those medications
Which choice best describes data from the graph that is a placebo but will remain unaware as to which one,
weaken the student’s conclusion? thus __________

A The height of rose bushes under blue filtered light Which choice most logically completes the text?
also substantially grew by day 45.
A encouraging more physicians to prescribe
placebos as a standard form of treatment.
B The height of rose bushes was lower under blue
filtered light than red filtered light on day 45.
B hindering other instances of honesty in the typical
physician-patient relationship.
C The largest increase in height of rose bushes
under red filtered light occurred from day 15 to
day 30. C prompting patients to request placebo treatment
in lieu of traditional treatment methods.

D The height of rose bushes was the same in both

light enclosures on day 1. D maintaining honest communication in the
physician-patient relationship.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

15 Mark for Review 17 Mark for Review

Exploring abyssal plains on the deep ocean floor is A team of researchers at Yunnan University School
difficult because of the vastness of the __________ vehicles of Agriculture in Kunming, China, assessed the
capable of withstanding the water pressure to travel to performance of a hybrid of two rice __________ Oryza
depths of 3,000 to 6,000 meters. sativa, which is domesticated Asian rice, and Oryza
longistaminata, which is undomesticated African rice.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
A plains and the lack of
A species:

B plains, and, the lack of

B species

C plains, and the lack of,

C species;

D plains and the lack of,

D species.

16 Mark for Review

The effects of the Industrial Revolution, which greatly 18 Mark for Review
increased the levels of air pollution in Great Britain, Chemehuevi photographer Cara Romero’s work uses
Europe, and the US, are not completely known due to staging and digital tools to explore Indigenous life.
the lack of exact data. Fortunately, since __________ painted In 2015, Romero utilized underwater photography
during the Industrial Revolution, researchers can use to portray a moment from her tribe’s __________ in 2017,
changes in the artists’ depictions of the atmosphere to Romero photographed Puebloans juxtaposed with
track the effects of air pollution. TVs displaying traditional media depictions of Native
Americans.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
A artists Joseph Turner, and Claude Monet
A history, then,

B artists Joseph Turner and Claude Monet

B history,

C artists, Joseph Turner and Claude Monet

C history;

D artists, Joseph Turner and Claude Monet,

D history then,

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

19 Mark for Review 21 Mark for Review

When writing about Antiguan-American novelist The films of Israeli cinematographer Yael Bartana often
Jamaica Kincaid’s books, __________ have connected it to touch on historical themes, such as the intertwining
the colonial relationship between England and Antigua. elements of Jewish and Polish identities and the
experiences of Ashkenazi Jews in Europe in the 19th
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to and 20th centuries. __________ Bartana looks to the future;
the conventions of Standard English? some of her more recent works represent fictional
dystopian scenarios that allow audiences to analyze the
A the examination by literary critics has been of role of women in politics.
Kincaid’s exploration of the mother-daughter
bond; they Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition?

B there are literary critics who have examined A Therefore,

Kincaid’s exploration of the mother-daughter
bond, and they
B For this reason,

C Kincaid’s exploration of the mother-daughter

bond has been examined by literary critics, who C In fact,

D literary critics have examined Kincaid’s D Still,

exploration of the mother-daughter bond and

20 Mark for Review

Terrol Dew Johnson, a Tohono O’odham sculptor,
weaver, and advocate for Indigenous foods, helped
create a nonprofit community development
organization, Tohono O’odham Community __________
Native Foodways Magazine, in 2013; and an art
installation, “Meeting the Clouds Halfway,” in 2016.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

A Action, in 1996, a national publication,

B Action, in 1996; a national publication,

C Action; in 1996, a national publication,

D Action; in 1996, a national publication;

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

22 Mark for Review 23 Mark for Review

While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• The US National Park Service (NPS) was • Vogelsang Pass is a mountain pass in California.
established in 1916. • It is located in Yosemite National Park.
• In 1956, the NPS set a goal, called Mission 66, • Its maximum elevation is 10,680 feet.
to expand the numbers of visitors by its fiftieth
anniversary. • Stevens Pass is a mountain pass in Washington.

• The expansion of the US highway system and • It is located in the Cascade Mountains.
increased car ownership made remote places, like • Its maximum elevation is 4,061 feet.
national parks, more accessible.
• Mission 66 led to the building of more than 100 The student wants to compare the elevations of the two
visitor centers in the parks. mountain passes. Which choice most effectively uses
relevant information from the notes to accomplish this
• NPS estimated that 80 million people would visit goal?
national parks in 1966, but the actual number was
127 million.
A Two examples of mountain passes in the US are
The student wants to emphasize the role infrastructure the Vogelsang Pass in California and the Stevens
played in the achievement of a goal. Which choice most Pass in Washington.
effectively uses relevant information from the notes to
accomplish this goal?
B The mountain pass in Yosemite National Park that
has a maximum elevation of 10,680 feet is the
A Expanded highways, increased car ownership, Vogelsang Pass.
and new visitor centers helped the National Park
Service increase the number of visitors by 1966.
C Vogelsang Pass reaches a maximum elevation of
10,680 feet, while Stevens Pass reaches a
B In 1956, the National Park Service wanted to maximum elevation of 4,061 feet.
expand the number of visitors the parks would
welcome in 1966.
D Some of the mountain passes in the US, including
one mountain pass in Yosemite National Park in
C The National Park Service celebrated its fiftieth California, reach elevations of over 10,000 feet.
anniversary by expanding infrastructure during
Mission 66.

D National parks in the US were visited by 127

million people in 1966, the fiftieth anniversary of
the National Park Service.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

24 Mark for Review 25 Mark for Review

While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• In 1876, German composer Richard Wagner • A marsquake is a shaking that takes place on
debuted his epic music drama Der Ring des Mars’s surface or in its interior, similar to an
Nibelungen. earthquake.
• His lengthy opera, consisting of four parts and • NASA sent Viking 2 to observe Mars’s seismic
fifteen hours of music, is based on the epic poem activity in the 1970s.
Nibelungenlied and Norse legendary sagas. • In 2018, NASA sent the InSight Mars lander to
• In 1976, American composer Philip Glass debuted Mars’s surface.
his opera Einstein on the Beach. • It measured seismic activity and observed the
• Glass’s lengthy opera, lasting for five hours, has first confirmed marsquake in 2019 in the canyon
four parts and does not have a narrative arc. system Valles Marineris.
• Instead, it relies on repeated imagery and allusions
to Albert Einstein’s life and work. The student wants to specify the reason the InSight
mission went to Mars. Which choice most effectively
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish
the two operas. Which choice most effectively uses this goal?
relevant information from the notes to accomplish this
goal? A Marsquakes occur on Mars, but one wasn’t
observed until 2019 in Valles Marineris, by the
A Wagner’s opera is based on an epic poem, while InSight Mars lander.
Glass’s opera is based on a real person.
B In 2018, the InSight Mars lander was sent to
B Wagner’s and Glass’s operas are both lengthy, measure seismic activity on Mars and observed a
lasting fifteen hours and five hours, respectively. marsquake a year later.

C Although NASA sent Viking 2 to Mars in the 1970s,

C Although Wagner and Glass are both composers,
their operas differ in their subject matter. a marsquake wasn’t observed until 2019, by the
InSight Mars lander.

D German composer Wagner debuted his opera in

D Viking 2 was sent to Mars in the 1970s to observe
1876; American composer Glass debuted his opera
in 1976. possible marsquakes, and the InSight Mars lander
was sent in 2018.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing

26 Mark for Review 27 Mark for Review

While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• Cathy Park Hong is a writer and professor. • Bowhead whales once numbered between 25,000
• She writes about the experiences of marginalized and 100,000 individuals in the Greenland Sea and
people. North Atlantic.

• She also experiments with multiple languages. • During the whaling era, they were hunted to near
extinction, and now there are an estimated 300
• Hong wrote her novel Dance Dance Revolution in individuals.
2007.
• Researchers from the Greenland Institute and the
• Her non-fiction book Minor Feelings was published University of Copenhagen recently spotted two
in 2020. calves in the Greenland Sea.

The student wants to emphasize a difference between • Only two other calves have been spotted over the
the two books. Which choice most effectively uses past forty years.
relevant information from the notes to accomplish this • The observation suggests that the population of
goal? bowhead whales may be increasing.

A Dance Dance Revolution and Minor Feelings The student wants to emphasize the recent sighting’s
contain experiences of marginalized people and significance. Which choice most effectively uses
experiment with multiple languages. relevant information from the notes to accomplish this
goal?

B While Hong wrote both books, her 2007 work A Researchers observed two bowhead whale calves,
Dance Dance Revolution is a novel, and her 2020 bringing the number up to four calf observations.
work Minor Feelings is a non-fiction book.

B After bowhead whales were nearly hunted to

C Hong has focused on the experiences of extinction in the whaling era, researchers have
marginalized people in her writing, including the reason to believe that they may be increasing in
books Dance Dance Revolution and Minor Feelings. number due to the rare sighting of two calves.

D In the 2000s, Hong wrote two books, Dance Dance C The population of bowhead whales was estimated
Revolution and Minor Feelings. to be 300 individuals; two calves were recently
observed in the Greenland Sea.

D Researchers observed bowhead whale calves in

the Greenland Sea, where thousands of bowhead
whales used to live.

YIELD
Once you’ve finished (or run out of time for) this section, use the answer key to determine how many
questions you got right. If you got fewer than 15 questions right, move on to Module 2—Easier,
otherwise move on to Module 2—Harder.
Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

SAT Prep Test 1—Reading and Writing

Module 2—Easier
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.

DIRECTIONS

The questions in this section address a number of important reading and writing skills. Each question
includes one or more passages, which may include a table or graph. Read each passage and question
carefully, and then choose the best answer to the question based on the passage(s).

All questions in the section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single
best answer. Fill in the circle with the answer letter for the answer you think is best.

1 Mark for Review 2 Mark for Review

In the 1850s, in order to combat the destruction that By the time he turned 20, Pablo Neruda had already
moths were causing to New York City’s trees, the city published two poetry books, which made him __________
imported Passer domesticus, or the house sparrow, poet in Chile. Being this well-known gave him the
which was believed to __________ insects: unfortunately, opportunity to publish three more books in the
officials later realized that the bird’s diet only includes following years. Neruda became most famous for his
insects during the first couple weeks of life, after which poetry about intense romantic relationships.
the sparrows subsist mostly on grain.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
and precise word or phrase?
A an unknown
A consume

B a reserved
B evolve

C a disliked
C evacuate

D a popular
D rescue

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

3 Mark for Review 5 Mark for Review

The question of how quickly the universe is expanding Thyreophora is a group of dinosaurs that had thick
has been __________ by scientists for many years. Recently, plates of body armor, walked on four legs, and would
astrophysicists Jose Ezquiaga and Daniel Holz have grow to the length of a bus. However, paleontologist
devised a method for measuring the gravitational Sebastían Apesteguía and colleagues have discovered
waves that result from two black holes colliding that a new species named Jakapil kaniukura, which, __________
may settle this issue. other armored dinosaurs, walked on two legs and was
the size of a dog.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase?
A resolved
A exceeded by

B deliberated
B courtesy of

C assimilated
C contrary to

D criticized
D associated with

4 Mark for Review

6 Mark for Review
British Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso’s unique work is
__________ his interest in rejuvenating Buddhist symbolic Though it was previously thought that Vikings did
representation while incorporating the styles of classic not travel with animals, a recent analysis of animal
Tibetan thangka paintings. bones in a Viking burial site has yielded significant
results that challenge this assumption. Archaeologists
Which choice completes the text with the most logical claim that this __________ finding, coupled with the fact
and precise word or phrase? that the animal bones were found alongside human
bones, indicates that Vikings kept some animals for
A rejected by companionship, instead of simply for labor.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical

B included in and precise word or phrase?

A representative
C inspired by

B polarizing
D detached from

C eminent

D notable

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

7 Mark for Review 8 Mark for Review

Unlike commercial farming, subsistence agriculture Text 1

is a way of farming that aims to provide solely for the
farmer’s household. When planting crops, farmers The origin of culture in the Americas is a contentious
evaluate how much will be necessary in the year to debate between pre-Clovis and Clovis theories.
come. By not growing more than is needed, farmers are Identified as a Paleoindian culture in New Mexico, the
able to __________ their family units without any additional Clovis people have long been credited with being the
wastage. first culture to colonize the Americas approximately
13,000 years ago. Later discoveries such as Monte
Verde in South America and Topper in North America
Which choice completes the text with the most logical yielded stone tools that may date as far back as 16,000
and precise word or phrase? years. These findings confirm the presence of an earlier
culture of pre-Clovis people as the first to colonize the
A expose Americas.

Text 2
B sustain Many researchers and archaeologists refute a pre-
Clovis theory due to the problematic nature of dating
stone tools and attributing them to a particular society.
C imagine However, recently, a team of researchers uncovered
ancient human footprint tracks covering the shore at
the White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The
D deprive
researchers identified the footprints as being between
21,000 and 22,000 years old by carbon dating the seeds
found within the footprints. Thus, this discovery places
the existence of a pre-Clovis people years earlier than
any other pre-Clovis site evidence.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most

likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?

A By stating that the claim has merit, but the recent

archaeological discovery provides stronger
evidence than do the previously known sites such
as Monte Verde and Topper

B By disagreeing with the claim because there is a

lack of substantial dating evidence and few
pre-Clovis sites

C By questioning the claim for being too broad with

little supporting evidence, while Clovis theory
evidence has been largely substantiated

D By agreeing with the claim but arguing that stone

tools offer substantial evidence for a pre-Clovis
theory

CONTINUE
CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

9 Mark for Review 10 Mark for Review

The following text is adapted from Victor Hugo’s 1862 “Little Boy Blue” is an 1888 poem by Eugene Field
novel Les Misérables. about the loss of a child told from the perspective of
Jean Valjean felt himself exasperated. And besides, the child’s toys. In this poem, Field conveys a sense of
human society had done him nothing but harm; he lingering curiosity despite the passage of time: __________
had never seen anything of it save that angry face
which it calls Justice, and which it shows to those Which quotation from “Little Boy Blue” most effectively
whom it strikes. Men had only touched him to bruise illustrates the claim?
him. Every contact with them had been a blow. Never,
since his infancy, since the days of his mother, of his A “The little toy dog is covered with dust, / But
sister, had he ever encountered a friendly word and sturdy and staunch he stands; / And the little toy
a kindly glance. From suffering to suffering, he had soldier is red with rust, / And his musket molds in
gradually arrived at the conviction that life is a war; his hands.”
and that in this war he was the conquered.

According to the text, what is true about Jean Valjean? B “And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue /
Kissed them and put them there. / “Now, don’t you
A He believes in the good of human society. go till I come,” he said, / “And don’t you make any
noise!”

B He is a soldier fighting at the warfront.

C “So toddling off to his trundle-bed / He dreamed of
the pretty toys. / And as he was dreaming, an
C His mother is his closest family member. angel song / Awakened our Little Boy Blue.”

D He has experienced suffering in his life. D “And they wonder, as waiting these long years
through / In the dust of that little chair / What has
become of our Little Boy Blue, / Since he kissed
them and put them there.”

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

11 Mark for Review 12 Mark for Review

Bumblebees are important pollinators, but their Japanese writer Haruki Murakami commands the
numbers have been greatly affected by habitat ability to create a mood in his works about loneliness
reduction and pesticide usage. Another factor affecting and isolation. The characters of his work are intricately
the bumblebee population is the harmful transmission detailed and well-developed to feel real and alive to
of a parasite, C. bombi. A team of researchers the reader while their environments are surreal and
hypothesized that shorter flower petals could reduce otherworldly. In an essay, a student claims that the
the parasite transmission. To test the hypothesis, surreal landscapes presented in Murakami’s works
researchers set up two bumblebee tents, one with long create alternate realities that emphasize a sense of
petaled flowers and the other with shortened petaled existentialism.
flowers of the same species. Next, they placed an even
distribution of bumblebees with and without the Which quotation from a scholarly review of
parasite in each tent. Murakami’s work best supports the student’s claim?

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the A “The endings in Murakami’s work are often left
researchers’ hypothesis? without resolution, thus allowing the reader’s
imagination to finish the story.”
A More bumblebees in the shortened petaled flower
tent had the parasite than did those in the long
petaled flower tent. B “Murakami’s work has gained international
recognition and has been translated in over 50
languages.”
B More bumblebees in the long petaled flower tent
had the parasite than did those in the shortened
petaled flower tent. C “Murakami’s blend of the real and imaginary
allows for an exploration into the human
condition.”
C No bumblebees in either tent contracted the
parasite.
D “Before Murakami became a writer, he owned a
jazz club in Tokyo and wrote his first novel for
D All bumblebees in both tents contracted the fun.”
parasite.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

13 Mark for Review 14 Mark for Review

Recycling has a tremendous impact on preserving the
mRNA Expression Levels in P. stutzeri environment by reducing pollution and greenhouse
With and Without NfiS Gene gases, but it also has a lasting effect on the social
dynamics of communities in which it is practiced
10
frequently. According to a recent survey of young adults
mRNA expression levels

in the United States, most young adults said that they

8
knew the environmental benefits of recycling and listed
examples. Meanwhile, only 8% of young adults said
6 that recycling can improve communities overall. These
results suggest that __________
4
Which choice most logically completes the text?
2
A many young adults think they can only recycle in
0 their households.
with NfiS without NfiS

katA katB
B recycling can help individuals more than it can
help communities.
Certain gene sequences in bacteria can increase mRNA
expression of oxidative protective genes, such as katA
and katB, thereby protecting their host plant from C recycling can be more beneficial than many young
oxidative stress. A team of researchers hypothesized adults believe.
that a gene sequence called NfiS found in a mutant
strain of the bacterium P. stutzeri coded for oxidative
protective genes. To test this hypothesis, the team D many young adults do not know where to find
measured the mRNA expression levels of katA and katB recycling bins.
in P. stutzeri with NfiS and P. stutzeri without NfiS after
both were exposed to high levels of hydrogen peroxide.

Which choice best describes data in the graph that

support the team’s hypothesis?

A The bacteria without NfiS had lower levels of katA

and katB than did the bacteria with NfiS.

B katA mRNA expression levels were around 8 in

bacteria without NfiS, but closer to 5 in bacteria
with NfiS.

C Both bacteria had mRNA expression levels of at

least 3 for katA and katB.

D Bacteria with NfiS had a higher expression of katB

than katA, while bacteria without NfiS had a
higher expression of katA than katB.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

15 Mark for Review 16 Mark for Review

Vaccines are important in helping prevent the spread During the Democratic National Convention in 1896,
of disease and illness, such as influenza. However, presidential hopeful William Jennings Bryan delivered
current vaccines that target influenza become less the now-famous Cross of Gold speech, a speech that
effective over time due to the mutations that occur in __________ the US’s use of the gold standard.
the hemagglutinin antigens which build resistance
to treatment. A team of researchers at the University Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
of Oklahoma designed a nano-peptide with influenza the conventions of Standard English?
hemagglutinin proteins that increased IgG1 and IgG2
antibodies, proteins that target viruses, more than did A criticize
vaccine administration alone. Additionally, due to its
size, the nano-peptide did not generate mutations in the
hemagglutinin antigens. Thus, the researchers believe B criticizes
that the nano-peptide can be useful in __________

Which choice most logically completes the text? C were criticizing

A curing other medical conditions, such as

D have criticized
headaches and chronic pain.

B targeting other viruses without inducing

resistance to treatment over time.
17 Mark for Review

C determining whether IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies In Australia, epaulette sharks, a species of carpet
are necessary for immune response. shark, have a remarkable adaptation that helps them
survive hostile environments. Although they spend
most of their time in reefs, the sharks have the ability
D developing mutated hemagglutinin antigens that to walk on dry land and survive without oxygen for a
slow the spread of influenza. few hours, __________ the sharks to find better oxygenated
tidepools and more prey.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

A allowed

B allowing

C to allow

D allows

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

18 Mark for Review 20 Mark for Review

A sonic pulse of an anemometer, an instrument used In maɬni—towards the ocean, towards the shore (2020),
to measure wind speed and direction, travels from one Native American filmmaker Sky Hopinka used chinuk
transducer to another, during which time it __________ wawa, an Indigenous language of the Pacific Northwest.
to air speed, temperature, and pressure, providing The film is Hopinka’s first feature-length film, but
valuable information to weather stations. chinuk wawa and its speakers __________ included in his
short films as well. In 2017, he made Anti-Objects, or
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Space Without Path or Boundary, which features one of
the conventions of Standard English? the last speakers of chinuk wawa.

A is reacting Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

B had reacted A is

C reacts B have been

D will react C has been

D was

19 Mark for Review

Researchers studying animals in extremely cold
environments discovered that tiny snailfish are full
of antifreeze proteins, a special type of protein that 21 Mark for Review
prevents the __________ from freezing in the icy waters. In the portrait Baba the Butcher and Gardener, Spanish-
Moroccan artist Anuar Khalifi paints a Moroccan man
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to rather than a European man __________ people who are not
the conventions of Standard English? traditionally seen in portraiture.

A fish’s body’s Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

B fishes bodies A to spotlight

C fishes body’s B is spotlighting

D fish’s bodies C spotlighted

D spotlights

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

22 Mark for Review 24 Mark for Review

In the 1940s, kite builder and flier Francis Rogallo was Ice drilling allows researchers to obtain samples
trying to find official support for his creation of a new from below the surface of ice and study different
self-inflating flexible wing when he decided to carry out characteristics of the ice and its components. Many
experiments on his own time with his wife Gertrude methods of ice drilling use motion or vibrations to
Rogallo. Eventually, the Rogallos __________ a flexible wing break through the ice. However, some methods use heat
that would become known as the Rogallo wing. energy. Thermal drills, __________ use hot steam or water
to obtain the ice samples.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition?
A were designing
A regardless,

B had designed
B similarly,

C design
C in comparison,

D designed
D for instance,

23 Mark for Review

Created to reduce or eliminate barriers to trade, the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
established a trade bloc among three North American
countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. By the
time it was replaced in 2020, NAFTA __________ in effect for
twenty-six years.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

A will remain

B remains

C had remained

D has remained

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Easier: Reading and Writing

25 Mark for Review 27 Mark for Review

Bette Nesmith Graham, an American typist and Scientists at the University of Geneva were interested in
secretary for W. W. Overton, Chairman of the Board how motivation affects decision-making. They trained
of the Texas Bank and Trust, was introduced to a mice to respond to a physical stimulus on the right sides
new invention, the electric typewriter. At first, the of their bodies by providing a water source as a reward.
typewriter was useful, but Graham quickly became __________ the mice began to ignore physical stimuli on the
frustrated with the need to retype entire pages of notes left sides of their bodies that didn’t come with a reward.
to fix one minuscule error. Graham was determined
to find a more efficient method and spent years testing Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and perfecting different ways to fix this issue. __________ transition?
Graham discovered the answer after observing the
bank’s windows being painted to celebrate the holiday A As a result,
season, and the first correction fluid was developed.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical B Specifically,
transition?

C Nevertheless,
A Moreover,

D Secondly,
B Finally,

C Additionally,

D Alternately,

26 Mark for Review

Zhou Tong was a Chinese archer and military tutor of
the Song dynasty whose initial legacy developed from
teaching children techniques with a bow and arrow.
After his death, __________ his legacy shifted to his favorite
pupil, Yue Fei, who taught the techniques to his soldiers
and used them successfully in war.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical

transition?

A hence,

B however,

C specifically,

D meanwhile,

STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section in the test.
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

SAT Prep Test 1—Reading and Writing

Module 2—Harder
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.

DIRECTIONS

The questions in this section address a number of important reading and writing skills. Each question
includes one or more passages, which may include a table or graph. Read each passage and question
carefully, and then choose the best answer to the question based on the passage(s).

All questions in the section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single
best answer. Fill in the circle with the answer letter for the answer you think is best.

1 Mark for Review 2 Mark for Review

After their first album was a hit, singer Ella Fitzgerald During her trip to Switzerland in 1868, established
and trumpeter Louis Armstrong collaborated to nurse Clara Barton met Dr. Louis Paul Amédée Appia,
perform in concert together at the Hollywood Bowl a Swiss surgeon who introduced her to the Red Cross.
in 1956. Attendees regarded the performance as Appia assisted Barton in finding fiscal __________ for the
__________ : even though the venue saw a record-breaking American branch of the Red Cross. With his help and
20,000 audience members, many reported feeling a their funding, Barton founded the American Red Cross
personal connection and a sense of closeness with the in May of 1881.
sensational artists on the stage.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
and precise word or phrase?
A subsidiaries
A intimate

B opponents
B obscure

C companions
C insignificant

D benefactors
D unintelligible

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

3 Mark for Review 5 Mark for Review

The writing of Iraqi American poet Dunya Mikhail has
been largely inspired by her __________ feelings about her Text 1
home country: in many of her pieces, she expresses a Traditional theories about the origin of human
deep love for her birthplace but laments the violence cooperation focused on the role of natural selection
and war that eventually led her to flee. in the development of cooperative behaviors in all
social animals, including humans. Over a period of
Which choice completes the text with the most logical many thousands of years, cooperation emerged as
and precise word or phrase? an adaptation in many animals because cooperation
helped animals survive by allowing them to share
A logical resources and protect themselves from predators.

Text 2
B ambivalent In a recent book, anthropologist Richard Wrangham
argues that humans, unlike other animals, evolved
to be cooperative by purposefully restricting the
C celebratory breeding opportunities of the most aggressive males to
create a species that was more docile and less violent.
Wrangham cites physical changes in the human body,
D monotonous such as a decrease in size, a decrease in canine tooth
size, and an increase in brain size, as evidence of a self-
domestication process that helped humans to thrive.

Based on the texts, how would Wrangham (Text 2) most

4 Mark for Review likely respond to the “traditional theories” presented in
Text 1?
In the early-to-mid-1900s, negative pressure ventilators,
or iron lungs, were widely used by doctors. However,
with the invention of the modern ventilator, most A By contesting the idea that the evolution of
medical professionals began to __________ the usefulness cooperation shares striking commonalities among
of the iron lung. A major drawback of the machine was all cooperative species
that the patient was not able to be easily transported
when attached to it.
B By admitting the significance of natural selection
Which choice completes the text with the most logical but emphasizing the greater importance of
and precise word or phrase? physical changes in humans

A demonstrate C By questioning the assumption that cooperation is

an adaptation that promotes survival in animal
species
B applaud

D By agreeing that natural selection played a similar

C scrutinize
role in the evolution of cooperation in both
humans and other animals
D imitate

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

6 Mark for Review 7 Mark for Review

The following text was adapted from Elizabeth Sanxay Among all species of hominins—a group that includes
Holding’s 1921 novel Rosaleen Among the Artists. humans and relatives of humans—Australopithecus
Miss Julie dressed the little girl while she stood there and Homo floresiensis have the smallest known brains,
like a doll. A beautiful child, too thin and altogether both about one-third the volume of modern human
too small for her years, but very charmingly and brains, a size always thought to imply a less complex
gracefully built; the girl had deep-set clear grey brain structure. In a 2013 finding that revolutionized
eyes and a wistful small face, broad at the brow and our conception of hominins, a team led by
tapering to a pointed chin, like a kitten’s. And the girl paleoanthropologist Lee Berger discovered the remains
had about her something that enslaved Miss Julie, of Homo naledi, a species with a brain comparable in
some mystic and adorable quality that Miss Julie could size to that of Homo floresiensis but with a complex
not name, and that no one else saw. structure similar to that of modern humans.

According to the text, what is true about Miss Julie? According to the text, why was Berger and his team’s
identification of Homo naledi significant?
A She prefers kittens over other small animals.
A The discovery allows scientists to determine a
precise chronology of brain size evolution among
B She would like to spend more time standing still. hominins.

C She likes nothing more than dressing little girls. B The discovery establishes the first evidence that
hominin brain size may not be directly correlated
with brain complexity.
D She cannot describe why she finds a little girl
enchanting.
C The discovery represents the first indication of a
species with a brain shape similar to that of
modern humans.

D The discovery provides evidence that the brains of

hominin species can vary in size more than
previously imagined.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

8 Mark for Review 9 Mark for Review

Physicist Albert Einstein first proposed the existence of Electric vehicles are less harmful to the environment
gravitational waves, ripples in space-time produced by than their gas-powered counterparts because they
violent events such as two black holes merging, in 1911. release significantly fewer pollutants into the air. These
However, gravitational waves remained unproven until pollutants are harmful to both the environment and
2016, when Caltech and MIT scientists reported that individuals. For example, one such pollutant, nitrogen
they had directly measured these long-theorized waves dioxide (NO2), is highly correlated with asthma. It was
using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave theorized that electric vehicles might be correlated
Observatory, a set of two identical detectors. When with better health outcomes. Researchers looked at
gravitational waves passed by, the detectors’ arms were California, a state with a relatively high adoption rate of
stretched and squeezed, slightly altering their lengths. electric vehicles, and compared the number of electric
This caused a tiny change in the laser light interference vehicles to the number of asthma-related hospital visits
pattern that these detectors monitor—the first direct over time. They found that as the adoption of electric
observation of gravitational waves. vehicles increased, the hospital visits decreased. The
researchers concluded that electric vehicles have a
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? positive effect on the health of individuals.

A Scientists have invented a new way of measuring Which finding, if true, would most directly support the
tiny changes in laser light interference patterns. researchers’ conclusion?

A In industrialized nations, the rate of asthma-

B The most critical factor in allowing the detection related hospital visits overall has declined over
of gravitational waves is having two identical the last decade.
detectors.

B Cities that have constructed more bicycle lanes

C Gravitational waves are challenging to measure over the past decade have experienced decreased
because of the violent nature of the events that emission levels as well as decreased asthma-
create them. related hospital visits.

D Scientists have now managed to produce clear C Though asthma has been linked to NO2, several
and convincing evidence confirming that other pollutants created by gas-powered vehicles
gravitational waves exist. have also been shown to contribute to respiratory
problems.

D Communities that have not experienced

widespread adoption of electric vehicles display
static rates of asthma-related hospital visits.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

10 Mark for Review 11 Mark for Review

“The Necklace” is an 1884 short story by Guy de
Maupassant. In the story, Madame Mathilde Loisel Percentage of Materials that Compose
comes from humble beginnings, yet she yearns to Tires of Passenger Cars and Trucks
be a part of the upper class. In describing Loisel, the
narrator contrasts her background with her ambition, Material Passenger car Truck
as when de Maupassant writes, __________ Natural rubber 21.2 37.1

Which quotation from “The Necklace” most effectively Synthetic rubber 24.5 10.0
illustrates the claim?
Process oil 4.4 0.8

A “She was one of those pretty and charming girls Steel Wire 10.8 21.1
who are sometimes, as if by a mistake of destiny,
Tires are some of the most vital safety features of a
born in a family of clerks.”
passenger car or truck. Not only is a tire composed
of various other materials besides rubber, but a tire
also contains both natural and synthetic rubber.
B “She came to know what heavy housework meant
One of the functions of natural rubber is to increase
and the odious cares of the kitchen. She washed
tear resistance, and one of the purposes of synthetic
the dishes, using her rosy nails on the greasy pots
rubber is to improve traction. Since trucks carry
and pans.”
significantly heavier loads and drive longer distances
than do passenger cars, their tires require higher tear
C “She had no dresses, no jewels, nothing. And she resistance compared with those of passenger cars.
loved nothing but that; she felt made for that. She
Which choice best describes data from the table that
would so have liked to please, to be envied, to be
support the idea that truck tires require higher tear
charming, to be sought after.”
resistance than do those of passenger cars?

D “She saw first of all some bracelets, then a pearl A The tires of a truck contain a lower percentage of
necklace, then a Venetian cross, gold and precious synthetic rubber than do those of passenger cars.
stones of admirable workmanship.”

B Though the tires of passenger cars and trucks,

respectively, contain different percentages of
process oil, they contain equivalent amounts of
steel wire.

C The tires of a passenger car contain a lower

percentage of steel wire compared with those of
trucks.

D The tires of a truck contain a greater percentage

of natural rubber compared with those of a
passenger car.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

12 Mark for Review 13 Mark for Review

Miyake events are spikes in radiation that have The Coinage Act of 1873 revised several policies relating
occurred on Earth six times over the last 10,000 years, to currency in the United States. Among the changes
the most recent of which was in the first century CE. the act made were the omission of the coinage charge
The dominant explanation for these radiation events and the relocation of the Bureau of the Mint from
has been solar flares. However, recent analysis of the Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. However, a provision
rings inside trees has led to other ideas. The trees’ rings of the bill that at the time was not as heavily discussed
can not only reveal how old a tree is, but also whether was the abolition of bimetallism, whereby the nation’s
and when the tree was impacted by certain radioactive currency had been based on both gold and silver. The
substances, so more can be learned about when Miyake government established a gold standard and so going
spikes occurred and for how long. Some of the spikes forward would exchange only gold, and not silver, for
in radiation seem to have lasted over a year, far longer currency, thus __________
than solar flares, which take place more on the order of
hours. Scientists theorize that a series of many repeated Which choice most logically completes the text?
solar flares is the cause of this anomaly.
A ending all trade with nations that still used a
Which finding, if true, would most directly undermine silver standard.
the scientists’ theory?

A References to intense sky events that coincide B diminishing the value of gold in the eyes of both
with the timing of these radiation events are investors and citizens.
found in ancient writings.

C encouraging citizens to spend their silver rather

B Carbon dating performed on the trees reveals than hoard it.
them to be over 2,000 years old.

D limiting the ability to repay debts for those who

C Evidence is found showing that chlorine isotopes, primarily had access to silver rather than gold.
which are produced in higher quantities during
solar events, were present at the same time as
these hypothesized radiation events.

D The rings of trees less than a thousand years old

are analyzed and observed to have similar marks
to those in the study.

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

14 Mark for Review 15 Mark for Review

The evolutionary origin of the house cat has The Devonian period, about 400 million years ago, was
been puzzled over by palaeogeneticists and a time of many mass extinctions that eliminated an
zooarchaeologists for many years. Traditionally, it estimated 70% of the Earth’s life forms, all of which
was believed that cats were first domesticated in lived in the ocean. Recently, geologists analyzed ancient
Ancient Egypt around 3,500 years ago. However, a lake deposits and observed that there were heightened
recent analysis of the DNA of 979 individual cats (both nutrient levels at the same time that plant life was
wild and domestic) revealed five distinct lineages, developing on land. As large-scale nutrient influxes
four of which aligned perfectly with four subspecies yielded by plant roots have been observed in the
of wildcats: Felis silvestris silvestris from Europe, F. s. modern world to result in algal blooms, which deplete
bieti from China, F. s. ornata from Central Asia, and F. s. an ocean’s oxygen and prove harmful to the life forms
cafra from southern Africa. The fifth lineage contained living there, the researchers concluded that __________
F. s. lybica, a subspecies of wildcat from the Middle East,
but it also included all of the individual domestic cats Which choice most logically completes the text?
that were part of the sample studied, leading the team
to conclude that __________ A all modern species of life in the ocean descend
from the species that existed during the Devonian
Which choice most logically completes the text? period.

A it is impossible to tell precisely where the modern

domestic cat originates. B if the Devonian mass extinctions had never
occurred, there would be significantly more
species of plants on Earth today.
B there are five different geographic regions which
are the birthplaces of five different species of
domestic cat. C the expansion of plant life on Earth was a direct
cause of the Devonian mass extinctions.

C cats were first domesticated in the Middle East

and then later brought to Egypt. D the Devonian mass extinctions never would have
happened had trees not evolved in the way that
they did.
D modern domestic cats can likely be traced back to
the Middle East.

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

16 Mark for Review 18 Mark for Review

Oscar Abreu’s paintings feature an abundance of In the poem If in America, Asian American author
colors, scratches, and shapes appearing almost random Ed Bok Lee writes in the second person point of view
in nature. When considered as a whole, though, the __________ the perspective of a Hmong hunter accused of
paintings have a consistent __________ central figure made murder.
of layers of paint and scratches.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the conventions of Standard English?
A described
A feature; a

B describes
B feature, and a

C to describe
C feature. A

D is describing
D feature, a

19 Mark for Review

17 Mark for Review
German visual artist Hans-Peter Feldmann’s notable
During flash floods, fire ants can form rafts, packing artistic works include All the Clothes of a Woman, a
closely together to form a waterproof raft composed series of snapshots depicting women’s __________ a book
of their hydrophobic bodies. The __________ eggs from presenting images of 11 shoes borrowed from art
dangerous floods. gallery employees; and 100 Years, an exhibition of 101
photos of individuals from 8 months to 100 years of age.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
A ants’ raft protects the group’s
A apparel; 11 Left Shoes,

B ants raft protects the group’s

B apparel, 11 Left Shoes,

C ant’s raft protects the group’s

C apparel; 11 Left Shoes

D ants’ raft protects the groups

D apparel, 11 Left Shoes:

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

20 Mark for Review 22 Mark for Review

In 2010, scientist Abdool Karim led the clinical Compared to that of gray wolves, __________ the gene
trial CAPRISA 004, a study investigating the effects coding for black fur in these wolves is thought to be
of Tenefovir gel on the risk of contracting HIV. By protective against the disease.
interfering with the replication of HIV, __________
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the conventions of Standard English?
A black wolves have a fur color that is associated
A the spread of both HIV and other pathogens has with a greater amount of canine distemper virus
been limited by Tenofovir. (CDV) antibodies:

B limiting the spread of HIV and other pathogens B black wolves have a greater amount of canine
has been achieved by Tenefovir. distemper virus (CDV) antibodies, which is
associated with the color of their fur:

C Tenefovir’s ability to limit the spread of HIV and

other pathogens is impressive. C black wolves’ fur color is associated with a greater
amount of canine distemper virus (CDV)
antibodies:
D Tenefovir limits the spread of HIV and other
pathogens.
D a greater amount of canine distemper virus (CDV)
antibodies is associated with the fur color of black
wolves:
21 Mark for Review
Santiago Ramón y Cajal is a Spanish neuroscientist
who is most known for proposing the “neuron theory,”
which states that the brain consists of individual nerve
cells which are separate and distinct. Cajal did not
make this discovery __________ he worked closely with
his student Rafael Lorente de Nó to perform crucial
investigations on the nervous system.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to

the conventions of Standard English?

A alone; however,

B alone, however;

C alone however

D alone, however,

CONTINUE
 Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

23 Mark for Review 24 Mark for Review

Some linguists believe that people’s spoken language Researchers at Curtin University found links between
can influence their perceptions of abstract concepts. the creation of Earth’s continents and when Earth moved
__________ if a language does not have a word for an through a debris-filled spiral arm of the galaxy. First,
abstract concept, the people who exclusively speak the they discovered that the Earth’s crust production spikes
language may struggle to comprehend the abstract consistently approximately every 200 million years,
concept at all. For example, the Hopi language does which is consistent with the cycle of the Earth’s motion
not have a word that actually means “time”; therefore, through the galaxy. __________ they found that known
some linguists once posited that people who speak asteroid impacts on Earth coincide with times when the
this language may not understand the concept of time planet would have been located in one of the arms.
itself. However, this view of the Hopi language has been
discredited. Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition? A Second,

A Specifically,
B Nevertheless,

B Thus,
C Therefore,

C Likewise,
D Similarly,

D Furthermore,

25 Mark for Review

Biosphere reserves are protected areas that are
designated to provide opportunities to utilize or study
certain species of animals and plants. __________ these areas
typically contain a species with a unique characteristic
or benefit to society. For example, the argan tree is
protected in nature reserves in Morocco due to its
significant role in the area as a fuel and food source.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical

transition?

A Thus,

B Likewise,

C Regardless,

D Next,

CONTINUE
Section 1, Module 2—Harder: Reading and Writing

26 Mark for Review 27 Mark for Review

While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• Galicia is a region of Spain with a distinct culture. • In the mid-19th century, gold and silver
• The region is autonomous and has its own prospectors brought burros to the deserts of the US
government. Southwest.

• In the 1920s, photographer Ruth Matilda Anderson • Burros are donkeys that were originally brought
visited Galicia several times and took black-and- to North America from Europe in the late 15th
white photographs. century.

• The photos highlight everyday life among rural • Packs of burros were once used in mining, but
residents of Galicia, prior to industrialization and many of them were left behind when prospectors
urbanization. abandoned the mines.

• Anderson focused on documenting the cycle of life. • Today, the burros’ population has multiplied and
grows by 20% each year.
The student wants to introduce Anderson’s photographs • The burros are considered invasive because they
to an audience already familiar with Galicia. Which consume large amounts of plants and water that
choice most effectively uses relevant information from are needed by native wildlife, and they have no
the notes to accomplish this goal? natural predators.

A A region known as Galicia, which was The student wants to emphasize the increase in the
photographed by Ruth Matilda Anderson, is burro population and specify why this increase
autonomous with its own government. occurred. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
information from the notes to accomplish these goals?

B Ruth Matilda Anderson’s photographs A Burros consume large amounts of plants and
demonstrate everyday life among rural residents water that are needed by native wildlife, now that
of Galicia, prior to industrialization and they have been left behind by gold and silver
urbanization. prospectors.

C An interest of Ruth Matilda Anderson’s was the B The population of burros in the US Southwest has
cycle of life, which she observed on her visits to multiplied and grows by 20% each year, and the
Galicia in the 1920s. burros are now considered invasive.

D Ruth Matilda Anderson’s photographs highlight C Burros, donkeys brought to North America from
everyday life in Galicia, an autonomous region of Europe, were once used in mining.
Spain with a distinct culture.

D Since prospectors abandoned mines in the US

Southwest, the population of burros has
multiplied, as the burros have no natural
predators.

STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section in the test.
CONTINUE
Practice Test 1:
Answers and
Explanations
PRACTICE TEST 1: ANSWER KEY
Reading and Writing
Module 1 Module 2 Module 2
(Easier) (Harder)
1. D 1. A 1. A
2. B 2. D 2. D
3. C 3. B 3. B
4. D 4. C 4. C
5. B 5. C 5. A
6. C 6. D 6. D
7. D 7. B 7. B
8. C 8. A 8. D
9. C 9. D 9. D
10. A 10. D 10. C
11. A 11. B 11. D
12. A 12. C 12. D
13. D 13. A 13. D
14. D 14. C 14. D
15. A 15. B 15. C
16. B 16. B 16. D
17. A 17. B 17. A
18. C 18. C 18. C
19. D 19. D 19. A
20. B 20. B 20. D
21. D 21. A 21. B
22. A 22. D 22. C
23. C 23. C 23. A
24. B 24. D 24. A
25. B 25. B 25. A
26. B 26. B 26. B
27. B 27. A 27. D
PRACTICE TEST 1—READING AND WRITING EXPLANATIONS

Module 1
1. D This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes what Arkeketa uses to help her
tribe. Arkeketa is a lawyer, so she must have used her legal “skill” to help the tribe. Write “skill” in
the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because proceedings means “events.”

• (B) is wrong because incentives means “perks.”

• (C) is wrong because monopoly means “lack of competition.”

• (D) is correct because prowess matches with “skill.”

2. B This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes the hieroglyphs. The blank is fol-
lowed by a colon, which indicates that the second part of the sentence will elaborate on the first. It
states that linguists could finally…understand the meaning and makes a time-change contrast with
the first part of the sentence; therefore, prior to this analysis, the hieroglyphs were “not understood.”
Write “not understood” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because completed doesn’t match with “not understood.”

• (B) is correct because incomprehensible means “unable to be understood.”

• (C) and (D) are wrong because neither significant nor responsible matches with “not understood.”

3. C This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes how evidence relates to the claim.
Evidence can primarily support or disprove a claim, so look for the direction the text is going.
The first part of the sentence describes two theories, and then the sentence says unfortunately and
mentions little evidence. This suggests that the blank should be something like “support”—there’s
little evidence to support either theory. Write “support” in the annotation box and use Process of
Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because invoke means “call on.”

• (B) is wrong because necessitate is too strong to match “support.”

• (C) is correct because corroborate means “support.”

• (D) is wrong because withdraw is the opposite of “support.”

4. D This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks what a word most nearly means. Read the text and highlight
what can help to understand the underlined word. The previous line from Mrs. Pearce states that the
girl’s personal cleanliness is important. This line begins with I mean, so it elaborates on the previous
point by stating that the girl should not be slovenly. If personal cleanliness is important, then the girl
should not be “unclean.” Write “unclean” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) and (B) are wrong because they are both positive words but “unclean” is negative.

• (C) is wrong because informal does not necessarily imply being “unclean.”

• (D) is correct because unkempt matches with “unclean.”

5. B This is a Purpose question, as it asks for the overall structure. Read the text and highlight what can
help to understand the structure. The text describes the pictures in Ivan’s imagination of what his
life would be like if he won the lottery, so write “describe Ivan’s fantasies” in the annotation box
and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because eating well happens in Ivan’s imagination, not in real life.

• (B) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (C) is wrong because the text doesn’t reveal whether Ivan has actually won or not.

• (D) is wrong because the text is about Ivan’s excitement, not that of his family.

6. C This is a Purpose question, as it asks for the main purpose. Read the text and highlight what can help to
understand the overall purpose. The poem asks two questions about why the mountains and cliffs are
more appealing to look at than the landscapes that are near. Then it answers the questions by stating
that distance lends enchantment to the view, so write “explain that far things are more appealing to look
at” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because bright or dim lighting isn’t the focus of the text.

• (B) is wrong because the text doesn’t describe depression or elation.

• (C) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (D) is wrong because the text doesn’t discuss the way individuals present themselves.

7. D This is a Purpose question, as it asks for the function of a part of the text. Read the text and highlight
what can help to understand the function of the underlined text. The text describes a place where the
forest fires have sped and states in the underlined portion that in this place a flower still lives and hides
the scars from the fire. Then the author connects the nature scenario to human life by stating that life
revives even after grief and pain. Write “flower survives after fires” in the annotation box and use Pro-
cess of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because the flower is described as resilient rather than precarious.

• (B) is wrong because the underlined portion describes the flower, not the forest.
 • (C) is wrong because detachment and overwhelming forces of nature aren’t supported by the text.

• (D) is correct because it matches the annotation, as adversity means suffering or challenges.

8. C This is a Purpose question, as it asks for the main purpose. Read the text and highlight what can
help to understand the overall purpose. The text states that throughout the day The Redbreast sings
alone and describes its song as sad and sorrowing. Then the author states that on another day the
bird’s song is gay because a listening bird is near, and the author states that those who sorrow should
take a lesson from the bird. Write “sad alone, happy with others” in the annotation box and use
Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because the poem only describes one bird’s song.

• (B) is wrong because the time of day is mentioned only to show that the sad song lasted all day.

• (C) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (D) is wrong because the author doesn’t mention watching birds.

9. C This is a Main Idea question, as it asks for the main idea. Read and highlight the main phrases or
lines that the other sentences seem to support. The text begins with a contrast between programs that
require complete abstinence and harm reduction and then criticizes the abstinence-only programs for not
being adaptable to individuals’ needs, so write “harm reduction programs good” in the annotation
box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because the text says that multiple paths to recovery could be considered depending
on the individual, not that an individual typically uses multiple methods.

• (B) is wrong because it’s too strong; the text doesn’t say that harm reduction is proven more
effective.

• (C) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (D) is wrong because the text doesn’t say that experts disagree with the end goal of the programs.

10. A This is a Main Idea question, as it asks for the main idea. Read and highlight the main phrases or
lines that the other sentences seem to support. The text states that Sam slams the door and that he
was in a fit of temper. Then it mentions that the promise of a dismal day did not lessen his bad mood,
so write “Sam in bad mood and weather bad” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (B) is wrong because the text never states why Sam is in a bad mood to begin with.

• (C) is wrong because the text only describes the events of one part of one morning, not Sam’s
personality in general.

• (D) is wrong because there is no evidence that Sam’s response is matter-of-fact.

11. A This is a Charts question, as it asks for data from the table. The table charts the number of words
recalled in novel and familiar environments for different age groups. Read the text and highlight the
claim, which is that people perform better under familiar environments than novel environments. Elimi-
nate any answer that doesn’t support this conclusion or is inconsistent with the data on the graph.

• (A) is correct because it demonstrates the higher number of words recalled in the familiar
rather than the novel environment.

• (B), (C), and (D) are wrong because they don’t relate to the familiar environment resulting in
more words recalled compared with the novel environment.

12. A This is a Charts question, as it asks for data from the graph. The graph charts the heights of the
bushes exposed to different light colors over time. Read the text and highlight the conclusion, which
is that the increased height of rose bushes was influenced solely by red light and that blue light was not
responsible for any growth. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t weaken this conclusion or is inconsis-
tent with the data on the graph.

• (A) is correct because it weakens the conclusion by explaining that the plant with blue light
also substantially grew, so the cause of the growth was not solely due to the red light.

• (B) is wrong because it supports, rather than weakens, the conclusion.

• (C) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to whether blue or red light caused growth.

• (D) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to growth at all.

13. D This is a Claims question, as it asks for a quotation to illustrate the claim. Read the text and high-
light the claim, which is that Longfellow uses natural imagery to suggest that despite his emotional
struggle there is still cause for hope. Eliminate answers that don’t illustrate this idea.

• (A) is wrong because they relate to emotional struggle but not hope.

• (B) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to emotional struggle or hope.

• (C) is wrong because it is negative toward hopes, rather than believing in hope.

• (D) is correct because the clouds could refer to the emotional struggle and the sun still shining
could refer to cause for hope.

14. D This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read the
text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that a key tenet in a physician-patient relationship is
honesty but then states that placebos, which have no medicinal effect are commonly prescribed. Then,
the text offers a potential explanation, so the answer should explain how honesty is maintained while
placebos are prescribed. Eliminate any answer that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because they don’t relate to honesty, which is part of what the example
is explaining.
 • (B) is wrong because it doesn’t explain how honesty and prescribing placebos can coexist, as it
states that the honest relationship is harmed.

• (D) is correct because it shows that the doctor is able to prescribe a placebo but the relationship
is still honest.

15. A In this Rules question, punctuation is changing in the answer choices. The answers contain commas in
several places, so use Process of Elimination to eliminate any answers that don’t use commas correctly.

• (A) is correct because no punctuation is needed.

• (B) is wrong because there shouldn’t be commas before and after and.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because a comma should never follow a preposition (of ).

16. B In this Rules question, punctuation is changing in the answer choices. The word artists is a title for
Turner and Monet, so no punctuation should be used. Eliminate answers that use punctuation.

• (A) is wrong because a comma isn’t used with the word and to separate a list of only two items.

• (B) is correct because titles before names have no punctuation.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because a comma isn’t used after a title.

17. A In this Rules question, punctuation is changing in the answer choices. Look for independent clauses.
The first part of the sentence says A team of researchers at Yunnan University School of Agriculture in
Kunming, China, assessed the performance of a hybrid of two rice species, which is an independent clause.
The second part of the sentence says Oryza sativa, which is domesticated Asian rice, and Oryza longis-
taminata, which is undomesticated African rice, which is a list of the two rice species. Eliminate any
option that doesn’t correctly connect the independent clause to the list.

• (A) is correct because a colon is used when the second part explains the first, such as by pro-
viding a list of things.

• (B) is wrong because some punctuation is needed to separate the independent clause from the list.

• (C) is wrong because a semicolon can only connect two independent clauses, and the list isn’t
an independent clause.

• (D) is wrong because the period makes the list its own sentence, which doesn’t work because
it’s not an independent clause.
18. C In this Rules question, punctuation with a transition is changing in the answer choices. Look for
independent clauses. The first part of the sentence says In 2015, Romero utilized underwater pho-
tography to portray a moment from her tribe’s history, which is an independent clause. The second
part of the sentence says in 2017, Romero photographed Puebloans juxtaposed with TVs displaying
traditional media depictions of Native Americans, which is also an independent clause. Eliminate
any answer that can’t correctly connect two independent clauses.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because two independent clauses can only be connected with a
comma if there is a coordinating conjunction after the comma, and then isn’t a coordinating
conjunction.

• (C) is correct because a semicolon can connect two independent clauses.

19. D In this Rules question, the subjects of the answers are changing, which suggests it may be testing
modifiers. Look for and highlight a modifying phrase: When writing about Antiguan-American
novelist Jamaica Kincaid’s books. Whoever is writing needs to come immediately after the comma.
Eliminate any answer that doesn’t start with someone who can write.

• (A) is wrong because the examination can’t be writing.

• (B) is wrong because someone who can write doesn’t come at the beginning.

• (C) is wrong because Kincaid’s exploration can’t be writing.

• (D) is correct because literary critics can be writing.

20. B In this Rules question, commas and semicolons are changing in the answer choices. The sentence
already contains a semicolon near the end, and the part after it is not an independent clause, which
suggests that the sentence contains a list separated by semicolons. Use the third example to deter-
mine the structure of each item: Creation by Johnson, Comma, Name, Comma, Year. Make an
annotation of this pattern and eliminate any answer that doesn’t follow it.

• (A) is wrong because it doesn’t have a semicolon to separate the first item from the second.

• (B) is correct because it follows the pattern of the third item.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because they don’t have a comma before the year.

21. D This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The first sentence says
The films of Israeli cinematographer Yael Bartana often touch on historical themes, and this sentence
says Bartana looks to the future. These ideas disagree, so an opposite-direction transition is needed.
Make an annotation that says “disagree.” Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A), (B), and (C) are wrong because they are same-direction transitions.

• (D) is correct because still is opposite-direction.

22. A This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: emphasize the
role infrastructure played in the achievement of a goal. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this
purpose.

• (A) is correct because it shows how different types of infrastructure helped to increase the
number of visitors by 1966, and the second bullet point states that expanding the number of
visitors was the NPS’s goal.

• (B) is wrong because it includes a goal but doesn’t relate it to infrastructure.

• (C) is wrong because it mentions infrastructure but doesn’t relate it to a goal.

• (D) is wrong because it doesn’t mention infrastructure or a goal.

23. C This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: compare the
elevations of the two mountain passes. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A) is wrong because it mentions two mountain passes but doesn’t compare their elevations.

• (B) and (D) are wrong because each mentions the elevation of only one mountain pass.

• (C) is correct because it includes the elevations of both mountain passes.

24. B This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: emphasize a
similarity between the two operas. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A) and (D) are wrong because each emphasizes a difference between the two operas.

• (B) is correct because it describes a similarity between the two operas.

• (C) is wrong because it says the operas differ instead of emphasizing a similarity.

25. B This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: specify the
reason the InSight mission went to Mars. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A) is wrong because it describes something that was observed by the InSight mission but
doesn’t specify that this was the purpose of the mission.

• (B) is correct because it specifies why the Mars lander was sent to Mars: to measure seismic activity.

• (C) is wrong because it doesn’t say why the Mars lander was sent to Mars.

• (D) is wrong because it specifies why Viking 2 was sent to Mars but doesn’t specify why the
InSight mission was sent to Mars.

26. B This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: emphasize a
difference between the two books. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because each describes a similarity between the two books.
 • (B) is correct because it describes the different genres of the two books.

• (D) is wrong because it mentions the two books but doesn’t provide a difference between them.

27. B This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: emphasize the
recent sighting’s significance. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A), (C), and (D) are wrong because they don’t explain why the sighting is significant.

• (B) is correct because it explains why the sighting is significant, stating that it is rare and gives
scientists reason to believe a change in the whale population.

Module 2 – Easier
1. A This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes what the sparrow was believed to
do to insects. The second part of the sentence uses the word unfortunately and states that the bird’s
diet only includes insects during the first couple weeks of life. This suggests that the belief about the
sparrow was incorrect, and given that it was being used against moths, it must have been believed
to “eat” insects. Write “eat” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is correct because consume can mean “eat.”

• (B) is wrong because evolve means “change.”

• (C) is wrong because evacuate means “leave.”

• (D) is wrong because rescue doesn’t match with “eat.”

2. D This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes what kind of poet Neruda was after
the publication of two books. The second sentence says Being this well-known, and the word this refers
back to something that was previously mentioned. Since being well-known wasn’t previously men-
tioned, that must be the meaning of the blank. Write “well-known” in the annotation box and use
Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because it’s the opposite.

• (B) is wrong because reserved means “quiet.”

• (C) is wrong because the whole text is positive, not negative.

• (D) is correct because popular matches with “well-known.”

3. B This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes how this question has been treated
by scientists. The end of the second sentence says that the new method may settle this issue, which
suggests that it has been “debated” by scientists. Write “debated” in the annotation box and use
Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because it’s the opposite of “debated.”

• (B) is correct because deliberated means “debated.”

• (C) is wrong because assimilated means “blended in.”

• (D) is wrong because criticized doesn’t match with “debated.”

4. C This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes the relationship between Gyatso’s
work and his interest in rejuvenating Buddhist symbolic representation. Since symbolic representation
matches with art, his work must be “related to” his interest in some way. Write “related to” in the
annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) and (D) are wrong because they are both negative words, and the blank should be positive.

• (B) is wrong because the idea that his work is included in his interest doesn’t provide a clear
meaning.

• (C) is correct because inspired by matches with “related to.”

5. C This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes the relationship between the new
species and other armored dinosaurs. The sentence says that the new species walked on two legs and
was the size of a dog, while the previous sentence says that other armored dinosaurs walked on four
legs and would grow to the length of a bus. Thus, the new species is different from other ones. Write
“different from” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because they are all positive words, and the answer should be a
contrasting word.

• (C) is correct because contrary to matches with “different from.”

6. D This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes the finding. The first sentence, which
describes the finding, states that it has yielded significant results that challenge a previous assumption.
Write “significant” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because representative means “similar to others.”

• (B) is wrong because polarizing means “controversial.”

 • (C) is wrong because eminent means “high-ranking.”

• (D) is correct because notable matches with “significant.”

7. B This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text and
highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes what farmers are able to do by not growing
more than is needed. The first sentence says that in this method the farming aims to provide solely for the
farmer’s household. Write “provide for” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because expose means “reveal.”

• (B) is correct because sustain matches with “provide for.”

• (C) is wrong because imagine doesn’t match with “provide for.”

• (D) is wrong because deprive means “take from” or “deny,” which is the opposite.

8. A This is a Dual Texts question, as it has two texts. The question asks how the author of Text 2 would
respond to the underlined claim in Text 1. Start by understanding the claim in Text 1. Text 1 intro-
duces a debate, mentions the old view (Clovis people were the first), then describes evidence for a
new view (there were people before the Clovis people). The underlined claim states that the discov-
eries at two sites support the pre-Clovis theory. Next, look for a similar idea in Text 2 to see how
its author feels about this claim. Text 2 begins by referencing the old view but then uses the word
However and then explains how evidence from White Sands National Park supports the pre-Clovis
theory, stating that this evidence for the theory is earlier than any other pre-Clovis site evidence.
Therefore, Text 2’s author would “support the claim based on different evidence.” Write that in the
annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (B) and (C) are wrong because they state that the author wouldn’t support the claim.

• (D) is wrong because stone tools are not part of the evidence the author used.

9. D This is a Retrieval question, as it says According to the text. Read the text and highlight what it says
about Jean Valjean. The text says human society had done him nothing but harm and states that he had
never encountered a friendly word and a kindly glance. Then, the last sentence refers to his suffering and
describes his view of life. Eliminate any answer that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because it’s the opposite of Valjean’s negative view of society.

• (B) is wrong because war is used as a metaphor in the last sentence; the text doesn’t say
Valjean is a soldier.

• (C) is wrong because his mother is mentioned but not stated to be his closest family member.

• (D) is correct because it is supported by several phrases in the text.

10. D This is a Claims question, as it asks for a quotation to illustrate the claim. Read the text and highlight
the claim, which is that Field conveys a sense of lingering curiosity despite the passage of time. Eliminate
answers that don’t illustrate this idea.

• (A) and (B) are wrong because they relate to the passage of time but not lingering curiosity.

• (C) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to the passage of time or lingering curiosity.

• (D) is correct because these long years through relates to the passage of time, and the idea of waiting
and wondering what became of the boy supports a sense of lingering curiosity.

11. B This is a Claims question, as it asks for an answer that would support the researchers’ hypothesis.
Read the text and highlight the hypothesis, which is that shorter flower petals could reduce the para-
site transmission. Eliminate answers that don’t support this idea.

• (A) is wrong because it contradicts the hypothesis; the hypothesis states that shorter petals
correlate with less parasite transmission.

• (B) is correct because it matches the hypothesis.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because they don’t mention the length of the petals.

12. C This is a Claims question, as it asks for an answer that would support the student’s claim. Read the
text and highlight the claim, which is that the surreal landscapes presented in Murakami’s works create
alternate realities that emphasize a sense of existentialism. Eliminate answers that don’t support this idea.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because they don’t relate to alternate realities or existentialism.

• (C) is correct because blend of real and imaginary matches with alternate realities and an explo-
ration into the human condition matches with existentialism.

13. A This is a Charts question, as it asks for data in the graph. The graph charts the mRNA expression
levels of oxidative protective genes in a bacterium with and without a certain gene. Read the text
and highlight the hypothesis, which is that a gene sequence called NfiS found in a mutant strain of the
bacterium P. stutzeri coded for oxidative protective genes. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t support
this hypothesis or is inconsistent with the data on the graph.

• (A) is correct because it’s consistent with the hypothesis, as the With NfiS bars correlate with
higher expression levels of the oxidative protective genes than those of the Without NfiS bars.

• (B) is wrong because the numbers are not consistent with the figure.

• (C) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to the hypothesis in terms of the effect of NfiS.

• (D) is wrong because the hypothesis is about the effect of NfiS; the text doesn’t contrast katA
and katB.
14. C This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read the
text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that recycling has a tremendous effect on preserving
the environment but also has a lasting effect on the social dynamics of communities. Then it describes sur-
vey results showing that young adults knew about the environmental benefits but not the community
effect. Eliminate any answer that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because only is too strong; nothing about recycling in a household versus another
place is mentioned.

• (B) is wrong because it draws a comparison that isn’t supported by the text.

• (C) is correct because the text emphasizes the lasting effect on the social dynamics of communities
that young adults aren’t aware of.

• (D) is wrong because bins are never mentioned.

15. B This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read
the text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that current vaccines that target influenza become
less effective over time due to the mutations…which build resistance to treatment. Then it describes a
new treatment that did not generate mutations, so perhaps it could solve this problem. Eliminate any
answer that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because there is no evidence that other medical conditions could be treated with
this method.

• (B) is correct because it focuses on the benefit of the new treatment, that it could target a virus
without causing resistance.

• (C) is wrong because no comparison between IgG1 and IgG2 was made.

• (D) is wrong because the text states that the mutations are a bad thing and reduce the effec-
tiveness of vaccines.

16. B In this Rules question, verbs are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing consistency with
verbs. Find and highlight the subject, speech, which is singular, so a singular verb is needed. Write
an annotation saying “singular.” Eliminate any answer that is not singular.

• (A), (C), and (D) are wrong because they are plural.

• (B) is correct because it’s singular.

17. B In this Rules question, verb forms are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing sentence structure.
The sentence already contains an independent clause followed by a comma. Thus, the phrase after the
comma must be a phrase that describes the ability. Eliminate any answer that does not correctly form
this phrase.

• (A), (C), and (D) are wrong because the describing phrase should begin with an -ing verb.

• (B) is correct because it correctly describes the ability as allowing something to happen.

18. C In this Rules question, verbs are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing consistency with
verbs. Find and highlight the subject, is, which is singular, so a singular verb is needed. All of the
answers work with a singular subject, so look for a clue regarding tense. Earlier in the sentence, the
present-tense verb travels appears, and this part of the sentence begins with during which time, so
it’s the same time as the traveling. Highlight those words and write an annotation that says “pres-
ent.” Eliminate any answer not in present tense.

• (A) is wrong because is reacting is in present tense but isn’t consistent with travels.

• (B) is wrong because it’s in past tense.

• (C) is correct because it’s in present tense and is consistent with travels.

• (D) is wrong because it’s in future tense.

19. D In this Rules question, apostrophes with nouns are changing in the answer choices. Determine
whether each word possesses anything. The fish possess the bodies, but the bodies don’t possess any-
thing. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match this.

• (A) is wrong because body shouldn’t be possessive.

• (B) and (C) are wrong because fish should have an apostrophe since the sentence describes
“their” bodies.

• (D) is correct because fish’s is possessive and bodies is not.

20. B In this Rules question, verbs are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing consistency with
verbs. Find and highlight the subject, chinuk wawa and its speakers, which is plural, so a plural verb
is needed. Write an annotation saying “plural.” Eliminate any answer that isn’t plural.

• (A), (C), and (D) are wrong because they are singular.

• (B) is correct because have been is plural.

21. A In this Rules question, verb forms are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing sentence structure.
The phrase describes how and why the artist painted a certain man. Eliminate any answer that does
make the phrase clear and correct.

• (A) is correct because it states that the artist painted a Moroccan man…to spotlight people who
are not traditionally seen, which provides a clear and correct meaning.

• (B), (C), and (D) are wrong because they are all in a “main verb” form, but the sentence already
has a main verb, paints.

22. D In this Rules question, verbs are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing consistency with
verbs. Find and highlight the subject, the Rogallos, which is plural, so a plural verb is needed. All
of the answers work with a plural subject, so look for a clue regarding tense. The previous sentence
uses past tense verbs (was trying and decided). This sentence describes what Eventually happened,
but the verb later in the sentence is would become known, which suggests that the invention of the
flexible wing also happened in the past, so highlight these clues and write an annotation that says
“past.” Eliminate any answer not in past tense.

• (A) is wrong because while it is in past tense, it doesn’t make it clear that the design was com-
pleted, which conflicts with the information later in the sentence.

• (B) is wrong because while it is in past tense, had designed conflicts with the previous sentence,
as this is something that came after what happened in that sentence, whereas had suggests it
came before.

• (C) is wrong because it’s in present tense.

• (D) is correct because it’s in past tense.

23. C In this Rules question, verbs are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing consistency with
verbs. Find and highlight the subject, NAFTA, which is singular, so a singular verb is needed. All
of the answers work with a singular subject, so look for a clue regarding tense. The first part of
the sentence says in 2020, which indicates past tense is required, so write an annotation that says
“past.” Eliminate any answer not in past tense.

• (A) is wrong because it’s in future tense.

• (B) is wrong because it’s in present tense.

• (C) is correct because it’s in past tense.

• (D) is wrong because has remained suggests that the agreement continues to today, but the
sentence states that it ended in 2020.
24. D This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence
says some methods use heat energy, and this sentence describes a method that uses heat. These ideas
agree, so a same-direction transition is needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate
any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because they are opposite-direction transitions.

• (B) is wrong because this sentence doesn’t indicate something that is similar to something else.

• (D) is correct because this sentence is an example of a method that uses heat energy.

25. B This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence says
Graham was determined to find a more efficient method and spent years testing and perfecting differ-
ent ways to fix this issue, and this sentence says Graham discovered the answer. These ideas agree, so a
same-direction transition is needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate any answer that
doesn’t match.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because this sentence doesn’t indicate an additional point.

• (B) is correct because finally is same-direction and matches with years testing and perfecting.

• (D) is wrong because it is an opposite-direction transition.

26. B This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The first sentence says that
Tong’s initial legacy developed from teaching children techniques with a bow and arrow, and this sentence
says his legacy shifted to his favorite pupil. These ideas disagree, so an opposite-direction transition is
needed. Make an annotation that says “disagree.” Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A), (C), and (D) are wrong because they are same-direction transitions.

• (B) is correct because however is opposite-direction.

27. A This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence
says They trained mice to respond to a physical stimulus on the right sides of their bodies by providing a
water source as a reward, and the second sentence says the mice began to ignore physical stimuli on the
left sides of their bodies that didn’t come with a reward. These ideas agree, so a same-direction transi-
tion is needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A) is correct because as a result is same-direction and correctly indicates that the response of
the mice was a result of the training.

• (B) is wrong because this sentence isn’t more specific than the previous one.

• (C) is wrong because it is an opposite-direction transition.

• (D) is wrong because this sentence doesn’t indicate a second point.

Module 2 – Harder
1. A This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the
text and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes how the Attendees viewed the
performance. The blank is followed by a colon, which indicates that the second part of the sentence
will elaborate on the first. It states that although the audience was large, many reported feeling a
personal connection and a sense of closeness with the artists. Write “personal” in the annotation box
and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is correct because intimate matches with “personal.”

• (B) is wrong because obscure means “not well known.”

• (C) is wrong because insignificant doesn’t match with “personal.”

• (D) is wrong because unintelligible means “not able to be understood.”

2. D This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes who or what Barton found. The
last sentence says With his help (referring to Appia) and their funding, so the blank refers to the
people who funded the organization. Write “funders” in the annotation box and use Process of
Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because subsidiaries means “those at a lower level.”

• (B) is wrong because opponents compete rather than help.

• (C) is wrong because companions doesn’t indicate that they gave money.

• (D) is correct because benefactors are those who give.

3. B This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes Mikhail’s feelings about her home
country. The phrase with the blank is followed by a colon, which indicates that the second part of
the sentence will elaborate on the first. It describes her deep love for her birthplace and then uses the
contrast word but to state that she laments the violence and war. This suggests opposing feelings, so
write “mixed” in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because logical doesn’t match with “mixed.”

• (B) is correct because ambivalent means “feeling two different ways.”

• (C) is wrong because celebratory is very positive, but the text suggests that her feelings are mixed.

• (D) are wrong because monotonous means “dull.”

4. C This is a Vocabulary question, as it asks for the most logical and precise word or phrase. Read the text
and highlight what can help to fill in the blank, which describes what medical professionals began to
do. The second sentence uses the word However to draw a contrast with the first sentence. The first
sentence states that iron lungs were widely used, so the contrast suggests that doctors stopped using
them as much. Therefore, the doctors “questioned” the usefulness of the device. Write “question” in
the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because they are all positive words, and the answer should be
negative.

• (C) is correct because scrutinize matches with “question.”

5. A This is a Dual Texts question, as it has two texts. The question asks how Wrangham (Text 2) would
respond to the “traditional theories” in Text 1. Start by finding and highlighting the “traditional theo-
ries” in Text 1: they focused on the role of natural selection in the development of cooperative behaviors in
all social animals, including humans. The text goes on to explain that cooperation emerged as an adapta-
tion because it helped animals survive. Next, look for a similar idea in Text 2 to see how Wrangham
feels about these theories. The first sentence includes the phrase humans, unlike other animals, which
already goes against the traditional theories, as they grouped humans with all social animals. There-
fore, Wrangham would “disagree—humans developed cooperation differently from other animals.”
Write that in the annotation box and use Process of Elimination.

• (A) is correct because it matches the annotation.

• (B) and (D) are wrong because natural selection isn’t mentioned in Text 2, so it’s not clear how
Wrangham feels about the concept.

• (C) is wrong because Wrangham does agree that cooperation promotes survival: the last sen-
tence says it helped humans to thrive.

6. D This is a Retrieval question, as it says According to the text. Read the text and highlight what it says
about Miss Julie. The text says that Miss Julie dressed the little girl, who had something about her that
enslaved Miss Julie, some mystic and adorable quality that Miss Julie could not name. Eliminate any
answer that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because the text states that the girl’s chin was like a kitten’s; it doesn’t state Miss
Julie’s preferences regarding kittens.

• (B) is wrong because the text says that the girl stood but doesn’t mention Miss Julie wanting to
stand.

• (C) is wrong because the text never states how much Miss Julie likes dressing little girls.

• (D) is correct because it matches what the text says in the last sentence.
 7. B This is a Retrieval question, as it says According to the text. Read the text and highlight what it says
about why the discovery was significant. The text states that the finding revolutionized our conception
of hominins in that small brains were thought to imply a less complex brain structure, but the discovery
included a small brain with a complex structure. Eliminate any answer that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because no precise chronology is mentioned.

• (B) is correct because it matches the highlighting.

• (C) is wrong because the text doesn’t say that this is the first similar brain to humans’ brains;
it’s the first one that was so small.

• (D) is wrong because the discovery relates to the complexity of the small brain, not its size alone.

8. D This is a Main Idea question, as it asks for the main idea. Read and highlight the main phrases or
lines that the other sentences seem to support. The text states that Einstein proposed the existence of
gravitational waves…in 1911 but they remained unproven until 2016. Then the text explains how
scientists found the proof and ends by saying that this was the first direct observation of gravitational
waves. Write “Einstein’s gravitational waves proven 100 years later” in the annotation box and use
Process of Elimination.

• (A) is wrong because the text doesn’t state that the scientists’ method was new.

• (B) is wrong because the text doesn’t say that having two identical detectors is the most critical
factor.

• (C) is wrong because the text doesn’t say that the violent nature of the events is the reason that
the waves are challenging to measure.

• (D) is correct because it matches the annotation.

9. D This is a Claims question, as it asks for an answer that would support the researchers’ conclusion.
Read the text and highlight the claim, which is that electric vehicles have a positive effect on the
health of individuals because researchers found that as the adoption of electric vehicles increased, the
hospital visits decreased. Eliminate answers that don’t support this idea.

• (A), (B), and (C) are wrong because they don’t mention electric vehicles.

• (D) is correct because if hospital visit frequency didn’t change in places without electric vehicles,
it helps support the idea that the electric vehicles could be the cause of the decrease.

10. C This is a Claims question, as it asks for an answer that would illustrate the claim. Read the text and
highlight the claim, which is that the narrator contrasts her background with her ambition. Eliminate
answers that don’t illustrate this idea.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because they don’t mention Loisel’s ambition, that is, what she
desires.
 • (C) is correct because no dresses, no jewels, nothing illustrates her impoverished background
and She would have so liked… describes her ambition.

11. D This is a Charts question, as it asks for data from the table. The graph charts the percentages of
certain materials in the tires of passenger cars and trucks. Read the text and highlight the idea
mentioned in the question, which is that truck tires require higher tear resistance compared with those
of passenger cars. Read more of the text to see how that connects to the table. The third sentence
states that natural rubber can increase tear resistance, so if truck tires require higher tear resistance,
they must include more natural rubber. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t support this idea or is
inconsistent with the data on the graph.

• (A) is wrong because having less synthetic rubber doesn’t necessarily mean it has more natural
rubber.

• (B) and (C) are wrong because they don’t mention natural rubber.

• (D) is correct because having more natural rubber suggests the truck tires are meant to have
higher tear resistance.

12. D This is a Claims question, as it asks for an answer that would undermine the scientists’ theory. Read
the text and highlight the theory, which is that a series of many repeated solar flares is the cause of
Miyake events. The other information states that the events have occurred six times over the last
10,000 years, most recently in the first century CE, and solar flares have been the main explanation,
but they’re too brief to match with what tree rings show. Thus, a series of many repeated solar flares
could have caused the spikes. Eliminate answers that don’t undermine, or weaken, the theory.

• (A) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to any of the support for the theory.

• (B) is wrong because it strengthens the theory, as it suggests that the trees were old enough to
show evidence of Miyake events.

• (C) is wrong because it doesn’t relate to the tree ring evidence or whether there were many
repeated solar flares.

• (D) is correct because if trees less than a thousand years old had the same marks, then it suggests
that the marks weren’t from Miyake events, given that the last one was over 1,000 years ago.
This weakens the theory by suggesting that the tree ring analysis may not be useful.

13. D This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read the
text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that the Coinage Act bill abolished bimetallism, so
instead of both gold and silver having value, only gold was used for currency. Eliminate any answer
that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because trade with other nations isn’t related to the text.

• (B) is wrong because gold would have had more value, not less.
 • (C) is wrong because if silver had less value, people wouldn’t necessarily be encouraged to
spend it.

• (D) is correct because if silver was no longer used for currency, people who primarily had access
to silver rather than gold might not be able to pay for things.

14. D This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read the
text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that The evolutionary origin of the house cat has been
puzzled over and says that the traditional view is that they were first domesticated in Ancient Egypt. Then,
it describes a DNA analysis that showed that all of the individual domestic cats from the study were part
of a group that came from the Middle East. So, that suggests the house cat may also have come from
the Middle East. Eliminate any answer that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because the text does provide evidence for the origin of the house cat.

• (B) is wrong because the text states that all of the house cats were in the fifth group.

• (C) is wrong because there’s not enough evidence in the text to say where house cats were
brought later.

• (D) is correct because if all of the house cats were in the group from the Middle East, they
likely came from there.

15. C This is a Conclusions question, as it asks for the choice that most logically completes the text. Read the
text and highlight the main ideas. The text states that The Devonian period…was a time of many mass
extinctions and that all of Earth’s life forms lived in the ocean at that time. Then it states that there were
heightened nutrient levels in ancient lakes at the same time that plant life was developing on land. Then
it says that nutrient influxes can cause an ocean’s oxygen to be depleted and prove harmful to the life
forms living there. Eliminate any answer that states a conclusion that isn’t supported by the text.

• (A) is wrong because all species is too extreme to be supported by the text.

• (B) is wrong because no conclusion can be drawn about what might have happened if the Devo-
nian mass extinctions had never occurred.

• (C) is correct because it suggests that the plants caused nutrient influxes that harmed life in
the water, which the text states was where all of Earth’s life forms lived, so that could be the
cause of the extinctions.

• (D) is wrong because no conclusion can be drawn about what would have happened.
16. D In this Rules question, punctuation is changing in the answer choices. Look for independent clauses.
The first part of the sentence says When considered as a whole, though, the paintings have a consistent
feature, which is an independent clause. The second part of the sentence says a central figure made of
layers of paint and scratches, which is not an independent clause. Eliminate any option that isn’t cor-
rectly punctuated.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because the second part of the sentence isn’t an independent clause, so
it can’t stand alone, nor can it be separated by a semicolon, which links independent clauses.

• (B) is wrong because a comma + a coordinating conjunction (and) only links two independent
clauses.

• (D) is correct because a comma can connect the independent clause to the describing phrase
in the second part.

17. A In this Rules question, apostrophes with nouns are changing in the answer choices. Determine
whether each word possesses anything. The ants possess the raft, and the group possesses the eggs.
Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match this.

• (A) is correct because ants and group are possessive.

• (B) is wrong because ants should have an apostrophe, since the ants possess the raft.

• (C) is wrong because ants should be plural; as written, it refers to only one ant.

• (D) is wrong because group should have an apostrophe, as the group possesses the eggs.

18. C In this Rules question, verb forms are changing in the answer choices, so it’s testing sentence struc-
ture. The phrase after the comma describes why the author writes in the second person point of view.
Eliminate any answer that does not make the phrase clear and correct.

• (A), (B), and (D) are wrong because they are all in the “main verb” form, but the sentence
already contains a main verb (writes).

• (C) is correct because it states that the author writes in the second person point of view to describe
the perspective, which provides a clear and correct meaning.

19. A In this Rules question, commas and semicolons are changing in the answer choices. The sentence
already contains a semicolon near the end, and the part after it is not an independent clause, which
suggests that the sentence contains a list separated by semicolons. Use the third example to deter-
mine the structure of each item: Work, Comma, Description. Make an annotation of this pattern
and eliminate any answer that doesn’t follow it.

• (A) is correct because it follows the pattern of the third item.

• (B) and (D) are wrong because they don’t have a semicolon after the first item.

• (C) is wrong because a comma should follow the name of the work.
20. D In this Rules question, the subjects of the answers are changing, which suggests it may be testing
modifiers. Look for and highlight a modifying phrase: By interfering with the replication of HIV.
Whatever is interfering with the replication of the disease needs to come immediately after the
comma. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t start with something that could interfere.

• (A) is wrong because the spread of HIV can’t interfere with HIV’s replication.

• (B) is wrong because limiting the spread of HIV isn’t a thing that could interfere with HIV’s
replication.

• (C) is wrong because Tenefovir’s ability can’t interfere with HIV’s replication.

• (D) is correct because Tenefovir, a drug, can interfere with HIV replication.

21. B In this Rules question, punctuation with a transition is changing in the answer choices. Look
for independent clauses. The first part of the sentence says Cajal did not make this discovery alone.
There is an option to add however to this independent clause. This statement does contrast with the
previous sentence, which states that Cajal proposed the “neuron theory,” so however belongs in the
first part of the sentence. Eliminate options with however in the second part.

• (A) is wrong because it puts however in the second part of the sentence.

• (B) is correct because it puts however with the first independent clause and puts a semicolon
between the two independent clauses.

• (C) is wrong because two independent clauses must be separated with some type of punctuation.

• (D) is wrong because the sentence contains two independent clauses, which cannot be con-
nected with commas alone.

22. C In this Rules question, the subjects of the answers are changing, which suggests it may be testing
modifiers. Look for and highlight a modifying phrase: Compared to that of gray wolves. Whatever is
Compared to that of gray wolves needs to come immediately after the comma. Eliminate any answer
that doesn’t start with something that can be compared and state what that refers to.

• (A) and (B) are wrong because black wolves themselves can’t be compared to an attribute of
gray wolves.

• (C) is correct because that refers to the fur color and it refers to another type of wolf, making
the comparison parallel.

• (D) is wrong because it doesn’t make a clear comparison to an attribute of gray wolves.
23. A This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence says
Some linguists believe that people’s spoken language can influence their perceptions of abstract concepts,
and this sentence says if a language does not have a word for an abstract concept, the people who exclu-
sively speak the language may struggle to comprehend the abstract concept at all. These ideas agree, so a
same-direction transition is needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate any answer that
doesn’t match.

• (A) is correct because specifically is a same-direction transition, and this sentence is a more
specific piece of information related to the preceding sentence.

• (B) is wrong because thus suggests a conclusion that isn’t stated in the text.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because they suggest an additional point rather than a specification.

24. A This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence says
First, they discovered that the Earth’s crust production spikes consistently approximately every 200 million
years, and this sentence says they found that known asteroid impacts on Earth coincide with times when
the planet would have been located in one of the arms. These ideas agree, so a same-direction transition
is needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A) is correct because it is a same-direction transition and is consistent with the use of First in
the preceding sentence.

• (B) is incorrect because Nevertheless is opposite-direction.

• (C) and (D) are wrong because they’re not consistent with First in the preceding sentence.

25. A This is a transition question, so highlight ideas that relate to each other. The preceding sentence
says Biosphere reserves are protected areas that are designated to provide opportunities to utilize or
study certain species of animals and plants, and this sentence says these areas typically contain a species
with a unique characteristic or benefit to society. These ideas agree, so a same-direction transition is
needed. Make an annotation that says “agree.” Eliminate any answer that doesn’t match.

• (A) is correct because it is a same-direction transition, and this sentence is a conclusion based
on the evidence in the previous sentence.

• (B) is wrong because there is no second thing that shares a similarity with what was previously
discussed.

• (C) is wrong because Regardless is opposite-direction.

• (D) is wrong because the sentences don’t describe a sequence of events.

26. B This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: introduce Ander-
son’s photographs to an audience already familiar with Galicia. Eliminate any answer that doesn’t intro-
duce Anderson’s photographs in a way that assumes the audience is familiar with Galicia.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because they don’t provide an introduction to Anderson’s photographs.

• (B) is correct because it introduces Anderson’s photographs and doesn’t describe Galicia since
the audience is familiar with it.

• (D) is wrong because it describes Galicia, but the audience is already familiar with it.

27. D This is a Rhetorical Synthesis question, so highlight the goal(s) stated in the question: emphasize
the increase in the burro population and specify why this increase occurred. Eliminate any answer that
doesn’t fulfill this purpose.

• (A) and (C) are wrong because they don’t emphasize the increase in the burro population.

• (B) is wrong because it doesn’t specify why the increase occurred.

• (D) is correct because it emphasizes the increase in the burro population (it has multiplied) and
includes a rationale for why this increase occurred (they have no natural predators).