Question ID 359902ae

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 359902ae
The following text is adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1837 story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.” The main character, a
physician, is experimenting with rehydrating a dried flower.

At first [the rose] lay lightly on the surface of the fluid, appearing to imbibe none of its moisture. Soon, however, a
singular change began to be visible. The crushed and dried petals stirred and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson,
as if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber.

As used in the text, what does the phrase “a singular” most nearly mean?

A. A lonely

B. A disagreeable

C. An acceptable

D. An extraordinary

ID: 359902ae Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because as used in the text, “singular” most nearly means extraordinary. The text portrays an
experiment in which a character rehydrates a dried rose by infusing it with moisture. After prolonged contact with the liquid,
the rose begins to absorb it, undergoing an exceptional transformation: its color deepens, its previously “crushed and dried”
petals shift, and the entire flower revives “from a deathlike slumber.” In other words, an extraordinary change is visible in the
flower.

Choice A is incorrect. Although in some contexts “singular” can mean of or relating to an individual or to a single instance of
something, this usage doesn’t imply loneliness or an otherwise unsatisfactory condition of isolation. Moreover, the text
doesn’t attribute such a condition to the rose. Choice B is incorrect. Although “singular” has several related meanings, none
of them relate to being disagreeable or unpleasant. Moreover, the text doesn’t portray the change undergone by the rose as
necessarily disagreeable. Choice C is incorrect because “singular” means extraordinary, not acceptable. The change is
portrayed as striking, not barely satisfactory.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c977cfcf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c977cfcf
According to a team of neuroeconomists from the University of Zurich, ease of decision making may be linked to
communication between two brain regions, the prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex. Individuals tend to be more decisive
if the information flow between the regions is intensified, whereas they make choices more slowly when information flow is
______.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. reduced

B. evaluated

C. determined

D. acquired

ID: c977cfcf Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of how the flow of information
between two regions of the brain may affect the ease of people’s decision making. In this context, "reduced" means
decreased. The text presents the finding from a team of neuroeconomists that decision making may be connected to
communication between the prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex. In presenting this finding, the text suggests a contrast
between people who tend to be more decisive and people who make decisions more slowly. According to the text, people
tend to be more decisive when the flow of information between the two brain regions is intensified, or strengthened. On the
other hand, this context suggests that people make choices more slowly when the flow of information between the two brain
regions is decreased.

Choice B is incorrect because "evaluated" means assessed, which wouldn’t make sense in context. According to the text,
people tend to be more decisive when the flow of information between two brain regions is intensified, or strengthened. This
suggests that people’s ease of decision making varies based on the rate of information traveling between the regions, not
based on an effort to assess the information. Choice C is incorrect because "determined" means judged or influenced,
neither of which would make sense in context. According to the text, people tend to be more decisive when the flow of
information between two brain regions is intensified, or strengthened. This suggests that people’s ease of decision making
varies based on the rate of information traveling between the regions, not based on an effort to judge or influence the
information. Choice D is incorrect because "acquired" means developed or attained, neither of which would make sense in
context. According to the text, people tend to be more decisive when the flow of information between two brain regions is
intensified, or strengthened. This suggests that people’s ease of decision making varies based on the rate of information
traveling between the regions, not based on the development or attainment of the information.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1c7fe9be
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1c7fe9be
At the turn of the twentieth century, Black residents of Richmond, Virginia, had few formal options for banking and other
financial services. To ______ this situation, Maggie Lena Walker chartered the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. The bank
went on to provide home loans and savings opportunities to thousands of Black families over the following decades.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. prolong

B. rectify

C. retain

D. highlight

ID: 1c7fe9be Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of how Maggie Lena Walker addressed
the lack of financial services available to Black residents in Richmond, Virginia, at the turn of the twentieth century. In this
context, "rectify" means to correct or remedy something undesirable. The text indicates that by chartering the St. Luke Penny
Savings Bank in 1903, Walker took action to provide local Black residents with greater access to financial services like home
loans and savings opportunities. This context supports the idea that she aimed to rectify the undesirable situation affecting
these residents.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, "prolong" would mean to lengthen something in time. The text indicates that at
the turn of the twentieth century, Black residents in Richmond, Virginia, were faced with a lack of formal banking options. The
text then states that Walker founded a new bank that provided these residents with financial services. Therefore, instead of
prolonging the situation, she took steps to rectify, or correct, it. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "retain" would
mean to continue to have or to keep something. According to the text, at the turn of the twentieth century, Black residents in
Richmond, Virginia, had few formal banking options, and Walker chartered a new institution to provide these residents with
expanded financial services; therefore, she took steps to rectify, not retain, the situation. Choice D is incorrect because in this
context, "highlight" would mean to emphasize or call attention to something, but the text indicates that Walker took concrete
steps beyond merely drawing attention to the situation Black residents were facing in Richmond, Virginia, at the turn of the
twentieth century. According to the text, Walker worked to rectify, or correct, the lack of formal banking options that were
available to these residents by establishing a bank that provided them with home loans and savings opportunities.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 757077f9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 757077f9
During a 2014 archaeological dig in Spain, Vicente Lull and his team uncovered the skeleton of a woman from El Algar, an
Early Bronze Age society, buried with valuable objects signaling a high position of power. This finding may persuade
researchers who have argued that Bronze Age societies were ruled by men to ______ that women may have also held
leadership roles.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. waive

B. concede

C. refute

D. require

ID: 757077f9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the significance of the 2014
archaeological finding at El Algar. In this context, “concede” means to admit something is true after first resisting that
admission. The text indicates that some researchers believe “Bronze Age societies were ruled by men.” But the Bronze Age
burial of a woman at El Algar included “valuable objects signaling a high position of power,” which would raise the possibility
that “women may have also held leadership roles.” Thus, the text is calling into question the notion that only men were
leaders in these societies and speculating that people holding this view may reconsider their opinion.

Choice A is incorrect because “waive” means to refrain from insisting that something, such as a right or a requirement, be
observed; the word isn’t used, however, in contexts where someone acknowledges that an opinion they hold may be invalid,
as is the case in the text. Choice C is incorrect. According to the text, the finding from the El Algar burial site undermines the
view that Bronze Age societies were exclusively ruled by men. However, “refute” means to demonstrate that something is
false and would not make sense in context. Lull and team’s finding supports the view that women may have also held
leadership roles, not that they did not participate in such roles. Choice D is incorrect because in this context, “require” means
to demand or specify as mandatory. However, it would not make sense for contemporary researchers to demand that Bronze
Age “women may have also held leadership roles.”

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2af2016f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 2af2016f
A study by Dr. Paul Hanel and colleagues concluded that people are more likely to behave politely when listening to ideas
they disagree with if they think about values before they engage in a discussion. Study participants were assigned to one of
two groups. The experimental group spent a few minutes writing about one of their personal values before they had a group
discussion on a controversial topic. And the control group spent a few minutes writing about a drink (tea, milk, etc.) before
their group discussion on that topic. Hanel and colleagues found that the experimental group’s discussion was more civil
than the control group’s discussion was.

Which choice best describes the main purpose of the text?

A. To describe a widely held belief and how a study’s results support that belief

B. To argue that researchers were surprised by the results of a certain study

C. To suggest ways to improve a certain study’s experimental design

D. To explain a study’s conclusion and how a research team arrived at that conclusion

ID: 2af2016f Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to explain a study’s
conclusion and how researchers involved in the study arrived at that conclusion. The text begins by summarizing the main
conclusion of the study conducted by Paul Hanel and colleagues: when confronted with ideas they disagree with in
discussions about controversial topics, people are more likely to respond politely if they think about their personal values
before engaging in such discussions. The text then goes on to describe the design of Hanel and colleagues’ experiment. By
comparing interactions between members of an experimental group (who had been prompted to write about their personal
values beforehand) to those between members of a control group (who had been prompted to write about a beverage), the
team found that people in the experimental group behaved more civilly, or politely, than people in the control group did during
discussions about a controversial topic. This finding led to the conclusion described at the beginning of the text.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text discusses the results of a study, it doesn’t provide any indication that the conclusion
the study supported—that when facing disagreement, people behave more politely when they have thought about their
values—is a belief that is widely held. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t indicate that the researchers found the
results of their study to be surprising, or contrary to what they expected. In fact, there’s no indication provided in the text
about how the researchers felt about the study’s results or that the results should be considered surprising. Choice C is
incorrect. Although the text discusses the experimental design of a study, it doesn’t suggest any improvements to that
design; instead, it focuses on how the design enabled the researchers to draw a particular conclusion.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 84ece3f6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 84ece3f6
The following text is adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1844 short story “Drowne’s Wooden Image.” Drowne, a young man,
is carving a wooden figure to decorate the front of a ship.
Day by day, the work assumed greater precision, and settled its irregular and misty outline into distincter grace and beauty.
The general design was now obvious to the common eye.

As used in the text, what does the word “assumed” most nearly mean?

A. Acquired

B. Acknowledged

C. Imitated

D. Speculated

ID: 84ece3f6 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, “assumed” most nearly means acquired, or came to possess. The
text portrays a character named Drowne carving a figure out of wood. At first “irregular and misty,” or haphazard and
indistinct, the figure’s outline gradually showed “distincter grace and beauty” until the general design of the carved object
“was now obvious to the common eye,” or plainly recognizable to anyone. In other words, as Drowne continued to carve, the
wooden object came to possess, or acquired, greater precision, changing from an indistinct outline or shape into a graceful,
beautiful, and clearly recognizable form.

Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts “assumed” can mean acknowledged, or recognized, it doesn’t have that
meaning in this context because an inanimate object like the wooden figure can’t acknowledge its own precision. Choice C is
incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that the wooden figure merely imitated, or mimicked, precision.
Rather, the text suggests that as Drowne carved his wooden figure, it gradually became more precise. Choice D is incorrect.
Although in some contexts “assumed” can mean speculated, or supposed based on incomplete information, it doesn’t have
that meaning in this context because an inanimate object like the wooden figure can’t speculate about its own precision.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 236fee8e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 236fee8e
Archeological excavation of Market Street Chinatown, a nineteenth-century Chinese American community in San Jose,
California, provided the first evidence that Asian food products were imported to the United States in the 1800s: bones from
a freshwater fish species native to Southeast Asia. Jinshanzhuang—Hong Kong–based import/export firms—likely
coordinated the fish’s transport from Chinese-operated fisheries in Vietnam and Malaysia to North American markets. This
route reveals the (often overlooked) multinational dimensions of the trade networks linking Chinese diaspora communities.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

It explains why efforts to determine the country of origin of the items mentioned in the previous sentence remain
A. inconclusive.

It provides information that helps support a claim about a discovery’s significance that is presented in the following
B. sentence.

C. It traces the steps that were taken to locate and recover the objects that are described in the previous sentence.

D. It outlines a hypothesis that additional evidence discussed in the following sentence casts some doubt on.

ID: 236fee8e Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The underlined sentence provides information about import/export firms, showing how Chinese
communities across the world were connected by trade routes.

Choice A is incorrect. The underlined sentence never suggests that the countries of origin of the fish are in question—in fact,
it tells us exactly where they came from. Choice C is incorrect. The passage never describes the steps taken to discover the
fish bones described in the previous sentence. Choice D is incorrect. The underlined sentence doesn’t outline a hypothesis
but instead provides evidence. And the following sentence agrees with the underlined sentence, so we could eliminate this
choice just for saying that the following sentence "casts some doubt on" the underlined one—partly wrong is all wrong.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b13378c8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: b13378c8
Early in the Great Migration of 1910–1970, which involved the mass migration of Black people from the southern to the
northern United States, political activist and Chicago Defender writer Fannie Barrier Williams was instrumental in helping
other Black women establish themselves in the North. Many women hoped for better employment opportunities in the North
because, in the South, they faced much competition for domestic employment and men tended to get agricultural work. To
aid with this transition, Barrier Williams helped secure job placement in the North for many women before they even began
their journey.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

To introduce and illustrate Barrier Williams’s integral role in supporting other Black women as their circumstances
A. changed during part of the Great Migration

To establish that Barrier Williams used her professional connections to arrange employment for other Black women,
B. including jobs with the Chicago Defender

To demonstrate that the factors that motivated the start of the Great Migration were different for Black women than they
C. were for Black men

To provide an overview of the employment challenges faced by Black women in the agricultural and domestic spheres in
D. the southern United States

ID: b13378c8 Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the text’s purpose, which is to discuss the important role
Barrier Williams played in supporting many other Black women as they relocated to the northern United States during the
early years of the Great Migration. After introducing Barrier Williams, the text describes how she helped find jobs for other
Black women, who in many cases relocated in search of better employment prospects than the South could offer at the time.
The text indicates that by doing so, she eased these women’s transition as their circumstances changed.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the text mentions Barrier Williams’s work as a political activist and writer for the Chicago
Defender, it doesn’t discuss any professional connections she made in these roles or indicate that she used any such
connections in her work to secure employment for other Black women. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text discusses a
factor that caused many women to relocate during the Great Migration, their difficulty finding employment in the South, the
text doesn’t indicate that this factor motivated the start of the Great Migration. Moreover, the text doesn’t discuss the factors
that motivated Black men to migrate. Choice D is incorrect. Although the text mentions the difficult employment prospects
for Black women in the domestic and agricultural sectors in the South during the Great Migration, the text’s main purpose
isn’t to provide an overview of the employment challenges Black women faced in these sectors. Rather, it provides this
information to show that Barrier Williams played a crucial role in supporting many Black women who relocated to the North
by helping them achieve one of their main goals, securing a job.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID be612a26
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: be612a26
Recent measurements of the mass of the W boson (a subatomic particle) were notable not only for the mere fact that the
particle’s mass differed from expectations but for the ______ of that difference: the measured mass of the W boson was
seven standard deviations higher than predicted by the standard model of particle physics.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. cause

B. existence

C. implication

D. scale

ID: be612a26 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the W boson. In this context, "scale"
means size or extent. The text indicates that recent measurements of the W boson were remarkable because they revealed
the subatomic particle’s mass to be much greater ("seven standard deviations higher") than had been expected based on a
standard model. This context conveys not only that the measurements differed from predictions but also that the extent of
the difference was very large.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text indicates that there was a very large difference between the predicted mass and the
actual measured mass of the subatomic particle, it doesn’t explain the cause of, or reason behind, that difference. Choice B
is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that the measurements of the subatomic particle were notable because
they differed from expectations and also because a difference existed between the measurements and what had been
predicted; the text would be repeating the idea that there was a difference instead of adding to that idea. Choice C is
incorrect because the text doesn’t convey any implications of, or consequences of or conclusions drawn from, the fact that
the mass of the subatomic particle differed from expectations; the context indicates only that the actual measured mass
was much higher than the predicted mass.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3f37eb3b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3f37eb3b
People sometimes dismiss a claim if it comes from a source they regard as self-interested, but from a strictly logical
perspective, the source of a claim is ______: it has no direct bearing on whether the claim is true.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. indistinct

B. irrelevant

C. indisputable

D. implicit

ID: 3f37eb3b Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about people’s tendency to dismiss
claims from sources perceived as self-interested, or acting for their own advantage. In this context, "irrelevant" means not
applicable to the matter at hand. The text explains that as a matter of logical reasoning, the source of a claim has nothing to
do with the claim’s truthfulness—a claim is either true or false in actuality, regardless of where it originates. This context
suggests that even though people may distrust a claim based on its source, the source of the claim is actually irrelevant.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, "indistinct" would mean uncertain or not clearly recognizable. Instead of
suggesting that the source of a claim can’t be determined with certainty, the text suggests that recognizing a source and
having an opinion of it simply doesn’t matter because as a matter of logic, a claim is true or false in actuality, regardless of
where it originates. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "indisputable" would mean impossible to question or deny.
Although the text suggests that it isn’t logical to assume a claim is false just because its source appears to be self-
interested, it doesn’t go so far as to suggest that the source of a claim can’t be questioned—the text instead makes the point
that from a logical standpoint, the source of a claim doesn’t matter because the claim is either true or false in and of itself.
Choice D is incorrect because in this context, "implicit" would mean suggested or understood without being directly
expressed. Nothing in the text suggests that logically, the source of a claim is only suggested; instead of addressing whether
sources can be directly identified, the text focuses on the idea that sources don’t matter because a claim is true or false in
actuality, regardless of where it originates.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID cef79fb9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: cef79fb9
The Bayeux Tapestry, from eleventh-century France, depicts 75 scenes over 250 feet of fabric. It was likely produced by
workers embroidering in sections and then joining the resulting panels together. It’s plausible that the workshop that
produced the tapestry had never produced one so large, and some researchers claim that a close examination of the joins—
the places where the panels are stitched together—suggests that the workers developed and refined their joining process
over the course of production. For example, the first join the workers completed exhibits a clear misalignment of the borders
of the two panels, whereas the later joins are virtually invisible.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A. It identifies the people and events depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.

B. It supports an argument about the workers who produced the Bayeux Tapestry.

C. It compares the Bayeux Tapestry with other tapestries from eleventh-century France.

D. It describes how researchers determined where the Bayeux Tapestry was produced.

ID: cef79fb9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a
whole. The text discusses the Bayeux Tapestry, making the point that the workers who produced the huge tapestry in the
eleventh century might not have ever produced a tapestry so large before. The text goes on to suggest that because of this
lack of previous experience, the workers developed and refined the process of joining the tapestry’s panels over time as they
worked. The last sentence of the text then provides an example of an observation that suggests the workers’ process
changed: clear misalignment of the borders of the two panels the workers joined first and virtually invisible joins completed
later. Thus, the underlined sentence serves to support an argument about the workers who produced the tapestry.

Choice A is incorrect because the example given in the last sentence of the text has to do with how the panels of the Bayeux
Tapestry were joined by the workers, not with what is depicted in those panels; the text never identifies any people or places
depicted in the tapestry. Choice C is incorrect because the last sentence compares how early panels in the Bayeux Tapestry
were joined with how later panels in the same tapestry were joined; it doesn’t make any comparison between the Bayeux
Tapestry and other tapestries from the same time in France. Choice D is incorrect because the last sentence doesn’t address
the location where the Bayeux Tapestry was created; the first sentence of the text presents it as a given that the tapestry was
created in France, but nothing in the text indicates how that origin was determined.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4974b053
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 4974b053
Although science fiction was dominated mostly by white male authors when Octavia Butler, a Black woman, began writing,
she did not view the genre as ______: Butler broke into the field with the publication of several short stories and her 1976
novel Patternmaster, and she later became the first science fiction writer to win a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. legitimate

B. impenetrable

C. compelling

D. indecipherable

ID: 4974b053 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the discussion of Octavia Butler’s career. In this context,
“impenetrable” means impossible to enter. The text indicates that the field of science fiction was dominated by white males
when Butler, a Black woman, started writing, but she published several science fiction short stories and a novel and later won
a prestigious award; that is, Butler pursued science fiction writing and had success. This context suggests that Butler didn’t
view the genre as impossible to enter.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, “legitimate” would mean genuinely good or valid. Nothing in the text suggests that
Butler didn’t think the science fiction genre was good or valid; in fact, it indicates that she pursued and made a successful
career of publishing work in that field. Choice C is incorrect. In this context, “compelling” would mean attracting or
demanding attention. The text indicates that Butler chose to write science fiction, so it wouldn’t make sense to say that she
didn’t see the field as drawing her attention. Choice D is incorrect. To say that Butler didn’t consider science fiction
“indecipherable,” or impossible to understand, would suggest that Butler did understand it. However, the text doesn’t address
Butler’s ability to interpret works in the genre; rather, it focuses on Butler’s successful pursuit of writing science fiction.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2903a041
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 2903a041
Using NASA’s powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Mercedes López-Morales and colleagues measured the
wavelengths of light traveling through the atmosphere of WASP-39b, an exoplanet, or planet outside our solar system.
Different molecules absorb different wavelengths of light, and the wavelength measurements showed the presence of
carbon dioxide (CO₂) in WASP-39b’s atmosphere. This finding not only offers the first decisive evidence of CO₂ in the
atmosphere of an exoplanet but also illustrates the potential for future scientific breakthroughs held by the JWST.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It discusses a method used by some researchers, then states why an alternative method is superior to it.

B. It describes how researchers made a scientific discovery, then explains the importance of that discovery.

C. It outlines the steps taken in a scientific study, then presents a hypothesis based on that study.

It examines how a group of scientists reached a conclusion, then shows how other scientists have challenged that
D. conclusion.

ID: 2903a041 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The text begins by describing how the researchers used the JWST to detect CO₂ in WASP-39b’s
atmosphere. Then the text discusses the significance of this finding, both as the first evidence of CO₂ in an exoplanet’s
atmosphere and as an illustration of the JWST’s potential for making new discoveries in general.

Choice A is incorrect. The text doesn’t compare two different methods, but rather focuses on one study that used the JWST.
Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t present a hypothesis, but rather reports on the findings of a study. Choice D is
incorrect. The text doesn’t mention any scientists challenging the conclusion reached by López-Morales and colleagues.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7d8224f9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 7d8224f9
In 1154, Muhammad al-Idrisi completed a collection of maps of the lands known to medieval Arabic and European scholars.
This collection was titled Al-Kitāb al-Rujārī (The Book of Roger), after the Norman king Roger II who hired him to create it. To
create the collection, al-Idrisi consulted Arabic and Greek maps and interviewed travelers about the lands they visited. He
included these travelers’ stories alongside the map illustrations.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To discuss the benefits of studying mapmaking

B. To explain how travelers created maps

C. To describe a collection of medieval maps and how it was created

D. To compare medieval Arabic and Greek mapmaking techniques

ID: 7d8224f9 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately states the main purpose of the text, which is to describe a collection
of medieval maps and how it was created. The text begins by mentioning Muhammad al-Idrisi’s collection of maps of lands
known to medieval Arabic and European scholars. It then states that the Norman king Roger II hired al-Idrisi to create the
collection and details al-Idrisi’s methods of creation: consulting Arabic and Greek maps and interviewing travelers. In short,
the text presents a collection of medieval maps and then goes on to describe how that collection came to be.

Choice A is incorrect because the text describes a collection of maps and the process of creating that collection but does
not discuss the benefits of studying mapmaking in general. Choice B is incorrect because though the text mentions that al-
Idrisi interviewed travelers, the text does not describe how those travelers created maps. Choice D is incorrect because
though the text mentions that al-Idrisi consulted Arabic and Greek maps, the text does not offer a comparison of Arabic and
Greek mapmaking techniques.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 47598085
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 47598085
Yawn contagion occurs when one individual yawns in response to another’s yawn. Studies of this behavior in primates have
focused on populations in captivity, but biologist Elisabetta Palagi and her colleagues have shown that it can occur in wild
primate populations as well. In their study, which focused on a wild population of gelada monkeys (Theropithecus gelada) in
Ethiopia, the researchers further reported that yawn contagion most commonly occurred in males and across different
social groups instead of within a single social group.

Which choice best describes the function of the first sentence in the text as a whole?

A. It defines a phenomenon that is discussed in the text.

B. It introduces a problem that is examined in the text.

C. It makes a claim that is challenged in the text.

D. It presents a hypothesis that is evaluated in the text.

ID: 47598085 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the first sentence functions in the text as a whole.
The first sentence introduces what yawn contagion is, explaining that it occurs when an individual yawns in response to the
yawn of another individual. The text goes on to describe Elisabetta Palagi and her colleagues’ study of this phenomenon in a
wild population of gelada monkeys. According to the text, the study showed that wild primate populations experience yawn
contagion and that the behavior occurs most commonly in male monkeys and across social groups. Thus, the function of
the first sentence is to define the phenomenon of yawn contagion that is discussed in the text.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the first sentence introduces the text’s discussion of yawn contagion, it doesn’t present this
behavior, or anything else, as a problem. Choice C is incorrect because the first sentence doesn’t present a claim but instead
explains what yawn contagion is. Moreover, the text doesn’t challenge anything; it’s an informative text that describes the
findings of a research study about yawning in wild primate populations. Choice D is incorrect. Although the text describes a
scientific study, and most scientific studies are guided by a hypothesis, the text doesn’t say what Palagi and her colleagues’
hypothesis was; the text discusses their findings instead.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 710799ae
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 710799ae
Cuttlefish appear to be surprisingly ______ at exercising self-control: in a 2021 study conducted by behavioral ecologist
Alexandra Schnell, these cephalopods routinely demonstrated restraint by delaying gratification, waiting for a favorite treat
instead of instantly devouring a readily available meal.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. awkward

B. imaginative

C. manageable

D. competent

ID: 710799ae Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of self-control in cuttlefish. In this
context, "competent" means capable. The text describes a study in which cuttlefish demonstrated an ability to exercise
restraint by waiting for a favorite treat instead of eating a meal that was already available to them. That is, by delaying
gratification, the cuttlefish in the study demonstrated that they were capable of, or competent at, exercising self-control.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that in demonstrating self-control, cuttlefish are "awkward," or
lacking skill or grace. If anything, the text indicates that cuttlefish appear to be surprisingly skilled at exercising self-control.
Choice B is incorrect because in this context, "imaginative" would mean creative, and there’s nothing in the text to suggest
that cuttlefish demonstrate creativity. Instead, the text focuses on the fact that cuttlefish seem to be capable of exercising
restraint and self-control. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "manageable" would mean capable of being
controlled. Although the text indicates that the cuttlefish in the study demonstrated restraint by waiting for a favorite treat
instead of devouring a readily available meal (which suggests their ability to control themselves), it doesn’t suggest that
cuttlefish are thus also able to be managed or controlled by others.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4c4db685
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 4c4db685
On painter William H. Johnson’s return to the United States in 1938 after a decade in Europe, his style underwent an abrupt
transformation. Turning away from landscapes painted in an expressionist style—a style that often involves using fluid,
distorted shapes and thick, textured brushstrokes to express the artist’s subjective experience of reality—Johnson began
painting portraits of Black Americans in a bold new way. Evocative of African sculpture and American and Scandinavian folk
art, these portraits feature flat, deliberately oversimplified figures in a vibrant but limited color palette.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A. It elaborates on the previous sentence’s statement about a transitional moment in Johnson’s artistic career.

It provides information about Johnson’s travels in support of a claim about his artistic influences, which is advanced in
B. the following sentence.

It recounts a moment in Johnson’s personal life that enabled the success of his subsequent career, which is summarized
C. in the following sentence.

D. It presents evidence that calls into question the previous sentence’s characterization of Johnson’s artistic development.

ID: 4c4db685 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a
whole. The first sentence of the text indicates that Johnson returned to the US in 1938 at which time his painting style
suddenly changed. The second sentence is underlined and gives more detail about this stylistic change, noting that his
earlier work consisted largely of landscapes in an expressionist style and his new works were highly stylized portraits of
Black Americans. In other words, the function of the underlined sentence is to elaborate on a transitional moment in
Johnson’s painting career.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the text does mention that Johnson spent a decade in Europe, it does not discuss what other
travel Johnson might have done. Furthermore, although the text mentions African, American, and Scandinavian artistic
elements in Johnson’s work, it does not indicate that he traveled to different locations to learn about these practices. Choice
C is incorrect because the text does not focus on Johnson’s personal life nor does it address how successful his career was
in general. Choice D is incorrect because, rather than call it into question, the underlined sentence continues the discussion
of Johnson’s career by adding further relevant detail of Johnson’s artistic transformation.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 617a8a10
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 617a8a10
Very little is known about the role nocturnal insects, such as moths, play in flower pollination because it is difficult to monitor
insects at night. To address this problem, a team of scientists used time-lapse cameras to record pollinator visits to red
clover all day and night. The recordings showed that while most pollinator visits were by bumblebees, one-third of visits were
by moths. Additionally, flowers that were visited by both moths and bees produced more seeds than flowers that were only
visited by bees.

Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence?

A. To describe an approach a team of scientists used to study pollinators

B. To question a claim scientists make about pollinators

C. To explain why moths prefer red clover to other flowers

D. To announce an unexpected research finding about red clover

ID: 617a8a10 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence. The sentence
indicates that scientists used time-lapse photography during both day and night to detect pollinators visiting red clover.
Therefore, the underlined sentence has the function of describing an approach scientists used in the pollinator study
discussed in the text.

Choice B is incorrect because the underlined sentence discusses equipment the scientists used to conduct their study, and
the text provides nothing to suggest these elements of their experimental design could, by themselves, question claims
resulting from the study. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in either the underlined sentence or the rest of the text
addresses whether moths have a preference for red clover or any other flowers. Choice D is incorrect. Although the
sentences that follow the underlined sentence discuss research findings, nothing in the text suggests that these findings
were unexpected. Moreover, the underlined sentence describes part of the scientists’ experimental design (day and night
time-lapse photography), not a finding of the scientists’ study.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID df46a2ee
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: df46a2ee
The following text is from Joseph Conrad’s 1907 novel The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale. Mr. Verloc is navigating the London
streets on his way to a meeting.
Before reaching Knightsbridge, Mr. Verloc took a turn to the left out of the busy main thoroughfare, uproarious with the traffic
of swaying omnibuses and trotting vans, in the almost silent, swift flow of hansoms [horse-drawn carriages]. Under his hat,
worn with a slight backward tilt, his hair had been carefully brushed into respectful sleekness; for his business was with an
Embassy. And Mr. Verloc, steady like a rock—a soft kind of rock—marched now along a street which could with every
propriety be described as private.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined phrase in the text as a whole?

A. It qualifies an earlier description of Mr. Verloc.

B. It emphasizes an internal struggle Mr. Verloc experiences.

C. It contrasts Mr. Verloc with his surroundings.

D. It reveals a private opinion Mr. Verloc holds.

ID: df46a2ee Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The underline phrase qualifies (meaning adds limits or conditions to) the description of Mr.
Verloc as “steady like a rock,” adding that he is a “soft” rock.

Choice B is incorrect. In fact, the passage never mentions Mr. Verloc experiencing any internal struggles. Choice C is
incorrect. The underlined phrase doesn’t contrast Mr. Verloc with his surroundings, but is instead modifying the description
of him as a rock. Choice D is incorrect. The underlined phrase doesn’t reveal a private opinion Mr. Verloc holds: instead, it
further describes his character for the reader.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5a278f24
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 5a278f24
The work of molecular biophysicist Enrique M. De La Cruz is known for ______ traditional boundaries between academic
disciplines. The university laboratory that De La Cruz runs includes engineers, biologists, chemists, and physicists, and the
research the lab produces makes use of insights and techniques from all those fields.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. epitomizing

B. transcending

C. anticipating

D. reinforcing

ID: 5a278f24 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something similar to "mak[ing] use of
insights and techniques from all those fields." "Transcending" means "going beyond," so "transcending traditional boundaries"
would mean crossing into all those various fields of research, which is exactly the meaning we want.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice. Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something
similar to "mak[ing] use of insights and techniques from all those fields." To "epitomize" means to "be a perfect example of,"
so "epitomizing traditional boundaries" would mean the opposite of what we want: keeping the fields of research separate.
Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice. Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something
similar to "mak[ing] use of insights and techniques from all those fields." "Anticipating" means "expecting" or "waiting for,"
and would result in a confusing sentence with an unclear meaning. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t a logical word choice.
Based on the text, we’re looking for a word that means something similar to "mak[ing] use of insights and techniques from
all those fields." "Reinforcing traditional boundaries" would mean the opposite: keeping the fields of research separate.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7bf79a90
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 7bf79a90
Text 1
Microbes are tiny organisms in the soil, water, and air all around us. They thrive even in very harsh conditions. That’s why
Noah Fierer and colleagues were surprised when soil samples they collected from an extremely cold, dry area in Antarctica
didn’t seem to contain any life. The finding doesn’t prove that there are no microbes in that area, but the team says it does
suggest that the environment severely restricts microbes’ survival.
Text 2
Microbes are found in virtually every environment on Earth. So it’s unlikely they would be completely absent from Fierer’s
team’s study site, no matter how extreme the environment is. There were probably so few organisms in the samples that
current technology couldn’t detect them. But since a spoonful of typical soil elsewhere might contain billions of microbes,
the presence of so few in the Antarctic soil samples would show how challenging the conditions are.

Based on the texts, Fierer’s team and the author of Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement about microbes?

Most microbes are better able to survive in environments with extremely dry conditions than in environments with harsh
A. temperatures.

A much higher number of microbes would probably be found if another sample of soil were taken from the Antarctic
B. study site.

Microbes are likely difficult to detect in the soil at the Antarctic study site because they tend to be smaller than microbes
C. found in typical soil elsewhere.

D. Most microbes are probably unable to withstand the soil conditions at the Antarctic study site.

ID: 7bf79a90 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it presents a statement about microbes with which Fierer’s team (Text 1) and the
author of Text 2 would most likely agree. Text 1 states that microbes usually thrive in very harsh conditions, and so Fierer’s
team was surprised when samples collected from an extremely cold and dry area of Antarctica didn’t appear to contain any
life. Fierer’s team says that though this doesn’t conclusively prove there are no microbes in the area, it suggests that
microbes would have a notably difficult time surviving in the environment. The author of Text 2 says it’s unlikely that there
would be no microbes at all in the Antarctic study site from which Fierer’s team retrieved soil samples and that there may
have been hard-to-detect microbes in the samples. However, the presence of only a few microbes in the Antarctic samples
rather than the billions found in a typical soil sample (which would presumably be much easier to detect) would illustrate
conditions in the Antarctic soil that make it difficult for microbes to thrive. Since Fierer’s team says that the seeming
absence of microbes in the Antarctic samples suggests an unusually harsh environment and the author of Text 2 says that
even if there are a few undetectable microbes in the samples, the relatively tiny number of microbes would also suggest an
unusually harsh environment, then Fierer’s team and the author of Text 2 would most likely agree that most microbes are
unable to withstand the soil conditions at the Antarctic study site.

Choice A is incorrect. The samples taken by Fierer’s team were from an area of Antarctica that is described in part as
extremely dry, and these samples didn’t appear to have any life. Therefore, even though these samples also came from an
extremely cold area, Fierer’s team wouldn’t argue based on the evidence available that microbes were better able to survive
in dry conditions than in areas with harsh temperatures. Moreover, the author of Text 2 says that microbes are found in
virtually every environment on Earth but doesn’t compare dry environments and harsh environments. Choice B is incorrect.
Nothing in Text 1 indicates that another collection of samples from the Antarctic study site might yield different results from
the samples already taken by Fierer’s team. The author of Text 2 does state that microbes are found in virtually every
environment on Earth and suggests that new technology may be better able to detect so few microbes in a soil sample, but
the author of Text 2 concludes that the unusual absence of microbes in the Antarctic samples is evidence of the harsh
Antarctic environment. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the author of Text 2 thinks that another sample drawn
from that same harsh environment would yield a much higher number of microbes. Choice C is incorrect. The author of Text
2 does speculate that there may have been so few microbes in the Antarctic samples that current technology couldn’t detect
them, but the author doesn’t speculate that this is due to the size of the microbes. Moreover, nothing that Fierer’s team says
suggests that they are speculating that their samples might have microbes that are smaller than microbes in typical soil
samples.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ff97fd53
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: ff97fd53
In 1973, poet Miguel Algarín started inviting other writers who, like him, were Nuyorican—a term for New Yorkers of Puerto
Rican heritage—to gather in his apartment to present their work. The gatherings were so well attended that Algarín soon had
to rent space in a cafe to accommodate them. Thus, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe was born. Moving to a permanent location in
1981, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe expanded its original scope beyond the written word, hosting art exhibitions and musical
performances as well. Half a century since its inception, it continues to foster emerging Nuyorican talent.

Which choice best describes the overall purpose of the text?

A. To explain what motivated Algarín to found the Nuyorican Poets Cafe

B. To situate the Nuyorican Poets Cafe within the cultural life of New York as a whole

C. To discuss why the Nuyorican Poets Cafe expanded its scope to include art and music

D. To provide an overview of the founding and mission of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe

ID: ff97fd53 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text presents a brief history of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, from how it got started in the ’70s,
to its expansion in the ’80s, to its ongoing mission today.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall purpose. The text never mentions Algarín’s motivations. Choice B is incorrect. This
isn’t the overall purpose. The text never discusses the cultural life of New York as a whole. Choice C is incorrect. This is too
narrow. One sentence mentions that the Nuyorican Poets Cafe expanded its scope to include art and music, but this is only
one point in the broader history of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, which is the overall focus of the text.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID acb852e7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: acb852e7
The following text is from the 1923 poem “Black Finger” by Angelina Weld Grimké, a Black American writer. A cypress is a
type of evergreen tree.
I have just seen a most beautiful thing,
Slim and still,
Against a gold, gold sky,
A straight black cypress,
Sensitive,
Exquisite,
A black finger
Pointing upwards.
Why, beautiful still finger, are you black?
And why are you pointing upwards?

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. The speaker assesses a natural phenomenon, then questions the accuracy of her assessment.

B. The speaker describes a distinctive sight in nature, then ponders what meaning to attribute to that sight.

C. The speaker presents an outdoor scene, then considers a human behavior occurring within that scene.

D. The speaker examines her surroundings, then speculates about their influence on her emotional state.

ID: acb852e7 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. First, the speaker
describes observing a “most beautiful” sight: a tree (“black cypress”) standing out from the golden sky behind it, looking like
a person’s finger “pointing upwards” and appearing “sensitive” and “exquisite.” Then the speaker wonders about the image’s
meaning, asking why the finger is black and why it’s pointing upward. Thus, the text moves from the speaker’s description of
a distinctive sight in nature to her pondering about what meaning to attribute to that sight.

Choice A is incorrect because the speaker assesses a natural sight—a “black cypress” tree standing “against a gold, gold
sky” like a pointed finger—but doesn’t question the accuracy of her own assessment. Although she wonders why the finger,
which is really a tree, is black and why it’s pointing, the speaker doesn’t suggest that her belief that the tree resembles a
finger is wrong. Choice C is incorrect. Although the speaker describes seeing a “black cypress” tree standing “against a gold,
gold sky” like a pointed finger, she wonders about that natural image (asking why the finger, which is really a tree, is black
and why it’s pointing) and doesn’t give any indication that any people are present in the scene. Choice D is incorrect.
Although the speaker examines and wonders about one thing in her surroundings—a “black cypress” tree standing “against a
gold, gold sky” like a pointed finger—she doesn’t address her own emotional state or consider how it’s affected by her
surroundings.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9107ad5c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9107ad5c
Stars form in cloudlike swirls of gas and dust that cannot be touched‚ but astrophysicist Nia Imara believes these formations
need not remain completely ______ to researchers: she uses simulation data and sophisticated 3D printers to produce
interactive models of these stellar nurseries.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. repeatable

B. explicable

C. regrettable

D. intangible

ID: 9107ad5c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of how Nia Imara facilitates the study
of star formations. As used in this context "intangible" means unable to be physically handled or touched. The text states
that star formations cannot be touched, and then goes on to explain that Imara created a special model to research star
formations. In other words, despite the fact that real star formations are intangible, thanks to Imara, researchers can handle
models of star formations to better understand them.

Choice A is incorrect because "repeatable" means can be duplicated or done again, which wouldn’t make sense in context.
The text indicates that the swirls of gas and dust in which stars form are untouchable, but that Nia Imara has produced
interactive models of them. It would therefore be illogical to suggest that Imara believes that the formations need not be
duplicated and then go on to say that she has copied them. Choice B is incorrect because "explicable" means explainable or
understandable, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text does not suggest that Nia Imara believes that star
formations can be fully explained but rather that she produced interactive models to physically study them because
researchers are unable to touch them directly. Choice C is incorrect because "regrettable" means distressing or unfortunate,
which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text does not suggest that Imara believes the researchers regret the star
formations or find them distressing, but rather that she uses interactive models to physically study them.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e0656211
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e0656211
In Nature Poem (2017), Kumeyaay poet Tommy Pico portrays his ______ the natural world by honoring the centrality of nature
within his tribe’s traditional beliefs while simultaneously expressing his distaste for being in wilderness settings himself.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. responsiveness to

B. ambivalence toward

C. renunciation of

D. mastery over

ID: e0656211 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s description of how Pico feels about the natural
world. In this context, to say that Pico portrays his “ambivalence toward” nature would mean that he portrays his mixed
feelings about nature. The text explains that Pico “honors the centrality of nature” and also makes it clear that he doesn’t
enjoy being in nature. This context suggests that Pico feels ambivalence toward nature.

Choice A is incorrect because saying that Pico portrays his “responsiveness to” nature would mean that he portrays himself
as quick to react to nature, which isn’t supported by the text. Instead, the text focuses on Pico’s mixed feelings toward
nature, describing him as both honoring nature’s role in his tribe’s beliefs and expressing his personal dislike for being in
nature. Choice C is incorrect because saying that Pico portrays his “renunciation of” nature would mean that he portrays
himself as rejecting nature, which isn’t supported by the text. The text conveys that Pico demonstrates both positive and
negative responses toward nature, not that he’s giving it up completely. Choice D is incorrect because saying that Pico
portrays his “mastery over” nature would mean that he portrays himself as having control over nature, which isn’t supported
by the text. The text focuses on Pico’s mixed feelings about nature; nothing in the text suggests that Pico feels mastery over
nature.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 059f7201
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 059f7201
Text 1
Graphic novels are increasingly popular in bookstores and libraries, but they shouldn’t be classified as literature. By definition,
literature tells a story or conveys meaning through language only; graphic novels tell stories through illustrations and use
language only sparingly, in captions and dialogue. Graphic novels are experienced as series of images and not as language,
making them more similar to film than to literature.
Text 2
Graphic novels present their stories through both language and images. Without captions and dialogue, readers would be
unable to understand what is depicted in the illustrations: the story results from the interaction of text and image. Moreover,
Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home and many other graphic novels feature text that is as beautifully written as the prose found in
many standard novels. Therefore, graphic novels qualify as literary texts.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the overall argument presented in Text 1?

A. By asserting that language plays a more important role in graphic novels than the author of Text 1 recognizes

B. By acknowledging that the author of Text 1 has identified a flaw that is common to all graphic novels

By suggesting that the story lines of certain graphic novels are more difficult to understand than the author of Text 1
C. claims

D. By agreeing with the author of Text 1 that most graphic novels aren’t as well crafted as most literary works are

ID: 059f7201 Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately states how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the
argument presented in Text 1. In arguing that graphic novels shouldn’t be classified as literature and are more comparable to
film, Text 1 claims that language plays a relatively limited role in graphic novels: images, not language, are the primary
means by which graphic novels tell their stories, and language is used "only sparingly"—that is, comparatively very little—in
the form of captions and dialogue. However, the author of Text 2 asserts that language in graphic novels is as equally vital
for conveying meaning as images are, since without captions and dialogue, readers wouldn’t be able to make sense of the
narrative. Moreover, the author of Text 2 argues that there are many graphic novels that are "beautifully written" and whose
use of language is as accomplished as any standard novel. Because Text 1 argues that language is subordinate to images in
graphic novels, whereas Text 2 highlights how language is an essential component of a graphic novel’s storytelling, it can
reasonably be inferred that the author of Text 2 would say that language plays a more important role in graphic novels than
the author of Text 1 recognizes.

Choice B is incorrect. Although Text 1 indicates that graphic novels shouldn’t be classified as literature based on their limited
use of language, there’s no indication that the author of Text 1 considers this limited use of language as a flaw, just that it
doesn’t fit the particular definition of "literature" proposed in the text. Even if Text 1 had suggested that their use of language
was a common flaw of graphic novels, the author of Text 2 emphasizes how many graphic novels are "beautifully written,"
and would therefore say that their use of language is exemplary, not that it is flawed. Choice C is incorrect because Text 1
doesn’t claim that the story lines of graphic novels are generally relatively easy to understand; in addition, Text 2 argues that
given their dependence on the interaction of image and text, the stories of graphic novels would be incomprehensible if their
captions and dialogue were removed, not that the story lines of some graphic novels are more difficult to understand than
Text 1 acknowledges. Choice D is incorrect because the author of Text 1 doesn’t imply that graphic novels aren’t well crafted,
only that they use language too sparingly to fit the definition of "literature," and that their use of images to convey stories
makes them more comparable to film than to literature. Even if the author of Text 1 had implied that most graphic novels
aren’t well crafted, Text 2 refers to the fact that many graphic novels are as beautifully written—that is, well crafted—as many
standard novels; thus, it wouldn’t be accurate to say that the author of Text 2 would agree with the author of Text 1 that most
graphic novels aren’t well crafted.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9aa44886
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9aa44886
The following text is from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby.

[Jay Gatsby] was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so
peculiarly American—that comes, I suppose, with the absence of lifting work in youth and, even more, with the formless
grace of our nervous, sporadic games. This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the
shape of restlessness.

As used in the text, what does the word “quality” most nearly mean?

A. Standard

B. Prestige

C. Characteristic

D. Accomplishment

ID: 9aa44886 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. “This quality” refers to Gatsby’s “resourcefulness of movement,” which is described as a
characteristic or trait of his.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t what “quality” means in this context. Here, “this quality” refers to Gatsby’s “resourcefulness of
movement,” which is described as a characteristic or trait of his. “Standard” is a synonym for a different definition of
“quality”: the degree of excellence of something. Choice B is incorrect. This isn’t what “quality” means in this context. Here,
“this quality” refers to Gatsby’s “resourcefulness of movement,” which is described as a characteristic or trait of his.
“Prestige” would suggest a high status or an admirable reputation, which doesn’t match that description. Choice D is
incorrect. This isn’t what “quality” means in this context. Here, “this quality” refers to Gatsby’s “resourcefulness of
movement,” which is described as a characteristic or trait of his. “Accomplishment” would suggest an achievement, which
doesn’t match that description.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e1befb41
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: e1befb41
Text 1
In a study of the benefits of having free time, Marissa Sharif found that the reported sense of life satisfaction tended to
plateau when participants had two hours of free time per day and actually began to fall when they had five hours of free time
per day. After further research, Sharif concluded that this dip in life satisfaction mainly occurred when individuals spent all
their free time unproductively, such as by watching TV or playing games.
Text 2
Psychologist James Maddux cautions against suggesting an ideal amount of free time. The human desire for both free time
and productivity is universal, but Maddux asserts that individuals have unique needs for life satisfaction. Furthermore, he
points out that there is no objective definition for what constitutes productivity; reading a book might be considered a
productive activity by some, but idleness by others.

Based on the texts, how would Maddux (Text 2) most likely respond to the conclusion Sharif (Text 1) reached after her
further research?

By acknowledging that free time is more likely to enhance life satisfaction when it is spent productively than when it is
A. spent unproductively

By challenging the reasoning in Text 1, as it has not been proved that productivity commonly contributes to individuals’
B. life satisfaction

By warning against making an overly broad assumption, as there is no clear consensus in distinguishing between
C. productive and unproductive activities

By claiming that the specific activities named in Text 1 are actually examples of productive activities rather than
D. unproductive ones

ID: e1befb41 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it characterizes how Maddux would most likely respond to the conclusion Sharif
reached after her research. Text 1 describes Sharif’s study of the benefits of free time, saying that the reported sense of
satisfaction plateaued at two hours per day and began to decline at five hours per day. Further research led Sharif to
conclude that time spent doing tasks she defines as unproductive, such as watching TV or playing games, correlated with a
drop in life satisfaction. However, in Text 2 Maddux says that there is no objective definition of what constitutes productive
behavior, giving the example that reading a book might be considered productive by some but unproductive by others. It can
be inferred that Maddux would also assert that whether watching TV or playing games is productive or unproductive is a
matter of subjective judgment. Thus, Maddux would most likely caution against making an overly broad assumption, as
there is no clear consensus in distinguishing between productive and unproductive activities.

Choice A is incorrect because Maddux asserts that individuals have unique needs for life satisfaction: some may want to
spend that time productively, others unproductively, and what counts as productive is subjective. Therefore, Maddux would
likely not consider it universally true that free time is more likely to enhance life satisfaction when it is spent productively.
Choice B is incorrect because the study described in Text 1 concerns whether free time contributes to life satisfaction, not
whether productivity contributes to life satisfaction. The dip in life satisfaction that Sharif claims to observe in Text 1
happens only after five hours, and mainly if the time is spent unproductively—that is, two hours of free time spent
productively might increase life satisfaction just as much as two hours spent unproductively. Choice D is incorrect because
Maddux holds the opinion that whether an activity is productive or unproductive is subjective and depends on the individual;
therefore, he would most likely claim that watching TV or playing games might be productive for some and unproductive for
others.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID cf9a00e0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: cf9a00e0
Chile’s Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Mary Beth Wilhelm and other astrobiologists search for life, or its
remains, in this harsh place because the desert closely mirrors the extreme environment on Mars. The algae and bacteria
found in Atacama’s driest regions may offer clues about Martian life. By studying how these and other microorganisms
survive such extreme conditions on Earth, Wilhelm’s team hopes to determine whether similar life might have existed on
Mars and to develop the best tools to look for evidence of it.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A. To contrast the conditions in the Atacama Desert with those on Mars

B. To explain why many life-forms cannot survive in the Atacama Desert

C. To indicate why astrobiologists choose to conduct research in the Atacama Desert

D. To describe certain limitations to conducting scientific study in the Atacama Desert

ID: cf9a00e0 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a
whole. The first sentence describes a unique location on Earth, the Atacama Desert. The next sentence, which is the
underlined sentence, states that the reason why astrobiologists study life, or its remains, in this unique location is that
Atacama is a harsh environment that closely resembles the extreme environment of Mars. The remainder of the text
explains that the researchers hope their work in Atacama will support inquiry into life on Mars. Thus, the underlined portion
functions mainly to indicate why astrobiologists choose to conduct research in the Atacama Desert.

Choice A is incorrect because to contrast two things means to show the differences between them, and the phrase "closely
mirrors" in the underlined sentence indicates that the extreme environment in the Atacama Desert is similar to, not different
from, that on Mars. This similarity is why, according to the underlined sentence, astrobiologists conduct research in
Atacama. Choice B is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t address forms of life that are unable to survive the
harsh environment of the Atacama Desert. Instead, the underlined sentence explains why astrobiologists study life, or its
remains, in this environment. Choice D is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t suggest that the scientific
research in the Atacama Desert is limited in any way; instead, the sentence explains that the similarity between the
environments of Atacama and Mars is the reason why astrobiologists search for life, or its remains, in Atacama.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8de51658
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 8de51658
Text 1
The idea that time moves in only one direction is instinctively understood, yet it puzzles physicists. According to the second
law of thermodynamics, at a macroscopic level some processes of heat transfer are irreversible due to the production of
entropy—after a transfer we cannot rewind time and place molecules back exactly where they were before, just as we cannot
unbreak dropped eggs. But laws of physics at a microscopic or quantum level hold that those processes should be
reversible.
Text 2
In 2015, physicists Tiago Batalhão et al. performed an experiment in which they confirmed the irreversibility of
thermodynamic processes at a quantum level, producing entropy by applying a rapidly oscillating magnetic field to a system
of carbon-13 atoms in liquid chloroform. But the experiment “does not pinpoint ... what causes [irreversibility] at the
microscopic level,” coauthor Mauro Paternostro said.

Based on the texts, what would the author of Text 1 most likely say about the experiment described in Text 2?

It would suggest an interesting direction for future research were it not the case that two of the physicists who
A. conducted the experiment disagree on the significance of its findings.

It provides empirical evidence that the current understanding of an aspect of physics at a microscopic level must be
B. incomplete.

C. It is consistent with the current understanding of physics at a microscopic level but not at a macroscopic level.

It supports a claim about an isolated system of atoms in a laboratory, but that claim should not be extrapolated to a
D. general claim about the universe.

ID: 8de51658 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Author 1 describes the puzzle that physicists still can’t solve: at a microscopic level, the “laws of
physics” suggest that we should be able to reverse processes that are not reversible at a macroscopic level (and, maybe,
turn back time!). The experiment confirmed that those processes are not reversible even on the microscopic level, but it
didn’t explain why. This supports Author 1’s point that physicists still don’t fully understand how things work at a microscopic
level—maybe the laws need to be revised.

Choice A is incorrect. We can’t infer that the author of Text 1 would respond this way to the experiment. Text 2 does name
two of the physicists involved in the experiment, but it never suggests that they disagree on anything. Choice C is incorrect.
This is the opposite of what the experiment suggests. The experiment confirmed that the macroscopic-level law (“these
things can’t be reversed—like time”) was still true on the microscopic level—meaning it supports the current understanding of
physics at a macroscopic level. Choice D is incorrect. We can’t infer that the author of Text 1 would respond this way to the
experiment. Neither text makes this distinction between laboratory findings and the way the universe works in general.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e8c26398
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e8c26398
To develop a method for measuring snow depth with laser beams, NASA physicist Yongxiang Hu relied on ______; identifying
broad similarities between two seemingly different phenomena, Hu used information about how ants move inside colonies
to calculate how the particles of light that make up laser beams travel through snow.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. a collaboration

B. an accessory

C. a contradiction

D. an analogy

ID: e8c26398 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text after the semicolon tells us that Hu "identif[ied] broad similarities between two
seemingly different phenomena," comparing ants with light particles. Since an analogy seeks similarities between seemingly
unrelated phenomena, this fits the context perfectly.

Choice A is incorrect. "A collaboration" refers to "an act of working with others," but what comes after the semicolon doesn’t
describe collaboration with other researchers. Instead, it shows a comparison between two different (but ultimately similar)
scientific phenomena. Choice B is incorrect. "An accessory" can refer to "something added to increase attractiveness or
usefulness." No accessories are described in this text. Choice C is incorrect. "A contradiction" means "a set of ideas or things
that are opposed to or inconsistent with each other." The text describes how Hu used the similarity between ant and light
particle movement to develop his method, so a word that refers to difference would not make sense here.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4830ab87
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 4830ab87
The way in which individual elements are balanced within a photographic image tends to affect how viewers perceive it:
symmetry tends to give the elements equal importance, asymmetry emphasizes differences, and radial balance (organizing
the elements around a central point) emphasizes the center over the periphery. What a photograph conveys is therefore
largely ______ how it is balanced.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. inhibited by

B. contingent on

C. obligated to

D. reserved for

ID: 4830ab87 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of visual balance in photography. In
this context, "contingent on" means conditional upon, or determined by. The text indicates that different ways of balancing
elements in a photograph convey different ideas to viewers (for example, symmetrical composition tends to emphasize
similarity among elements, whereas asymmetry tends to emphasize difference). Thus, there is a strong connection between
what a photograph conveys and how its elements are balanced. Therefore, what a photo conveys is contingent on how it is
balanced.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, "inhibited by" most nearly means hindered or undermined by. The text indicates that
different ways of balancing elements in a photograph convey different ideas to viewers, thereby indicating a relationship
between image balance and what is conveyed. Although this explanation is consistent with a photographer choosing
asymmetrical balance even while intending to convey similarity (associated with symmetrical balance), there is nothing to
indicate that messages generally are inhibited by balance. Rather the implication is that balance is a tool photographers can
use to craft their messages. Choice C is incorrect. In this context, "obligated to" means duty bound toward or answerable to.
In context, it would not make sense to assert that a photograph’s message is obligated to how that photograph is balanced.
Choice D is incorrect. In this context, "reserved for" most nearly means solely available to someone or held aside for some
purpose. The text as a whole does not support the claim that a photograph’s message is reserved for how that photograph is
balanced.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8b46bb51
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 8b46bb51
A journalist and well-respected art critic of nineteenth-century Britain, Lady Elizabeth Rigby Eastlake did not hesitate to
publish reviews that went against popular opinion. One of her most divisive works was an essay questioning the idea of
photography as an emerging medium for fine art: in the essay, Eastlake ______ that the value of photographs was
informational rather than creative.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. exposed

B. asserted

C. discovered

D. doubted

ID: 8b46bb51 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. "Asserted" means "stated confidently." Eastlake "did not hesitate to publish reviews going
against popular opinion," so we can assume that she was confident in sharing her opinions.

Choice A is incorrect. "Exposed" means "made visible by uncovering" and, when talking about ideas, tends to be used in
relation to uncovering the truth. Eastlake was sharing an opinion, not uncovering a truth. Choice C is incorrect. "Discovered"
means "found," but Eastlake was writing an opinion essay. She was writing her own opinion, not "discovering" a new universal
truth. Choice D is incorrect. "Doubted" means "didn’t believe in." We’re told that Eastlake "questioned" the idea that
photography could be fine art. Placing "doubted" in the blank would actually suggest that Eastlake argued that photos were
valuable for creativity and not for information, which is the opposite of what we were told she believes.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b44066dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b44066dc
Economist Jingting Fan argues that the effects of international trade may display spatial variation at sub-national levels. For
instance, imported goods may reduce expenses for a country’s average consumer, but for consumers living far from ports,
high intranational transport costs could ______ the price advantages associated with imports.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. nullify

B. denigrate

C. underestimate

D. misconstrue

ID: b44066dc Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it logically completes the text’s discussion of imported goods and consumer prices. In
this context, "nullify" most nearly means negate or undermine. The text indicates that importing goods to a country can
reduce consumer prices in that country, then cautions that the costs of transporting goods within the country is also a factor.
These transportation costs likely raise the prices that must be paid by people who live far from the ports of entry. Therefore,
the intranational transportation costs could nullify the price advantages to consumers of importing goods.

Choice B is incorrect. In this context, "denigrate" would most nearly mean disparage or deny the importance of. Since
transportation costs would not be capable of denying the importance of price advantages, it would not make sense to state
that intranational transportation costs denigrate the price advantages of importing goods. Choice C is incorrect. In this
context, "underestimate" would most nearly mean predict a lower value for, or to undervalue, someone or something. Though
transportation costs might be undervalued, they cannot themselves undervalue something else, so it would not make sense
to state that intranational transportation costs underestimate the price advantages of importing goods. Choice D is
incorrect. In this context, "misconstrue" would most nearly mean misunderstand. Since transport costs are not capable of
understanding, it would not make sense to claim that intranational transportation costs misconstrue the price advantages of
importing goods.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6f5fc289
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 6f5fc289
The following text is adapted from Charles Dickens’s 1854 novel Hard Times. Coketown is a fictional town in England.
[Coketown] contained several large streets all very like one another, and many small streets still more like one another,
inhabited by people equally like one another, who all went in and out at the same hours, with the same sound upon the same
pavements, to do the same work, and to whom every day was the same as yesterday and tomorrow, and every year the
counterpart of the last and the next.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To emphasize the uniformity of both the town and the people who live there

B. To explain the limited work opportunities available to the town’s residents

C. To reveal how the predictability of the town makes it easy for people lose track of time

D. To argue that the simplicity of life in the town makes it a pleasant place to live

ID: 6f5fc289 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The author describes Coketown as having streets that are all very similar and residents who live
similarly and do the same work. This repetition of similarities emphasizes how everything in Coketown is alike.

Choice B is incorrect. While the text mentions that all the residents “do the same work,” it never explains what that work is or
why everyone does it. Besides, the idea that they all do the same work is just one of several similarities among the
townspeople described in the text. Choice C is incorrect. While the last sentence states that “every day was the same as
yesterday and tomorrow, and every year the counterpart of the last and the next,” it never suggests that people actually “lose
track of time.” This is also too narrow to be the main idea, since time is just one of many aspects of Coketown that the text
describes as always being the same. Choice D is incorrect. The text never mentions whether life is simple in Coketown, and
the town sounds as though it’s probably a pretty dull place to live, rather than a pleasant one.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 82c05b34
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 82c05b34
Text 1
The live music festival business is growing in event size and genre variety. With so many consumer options, organizers are
finding ways to cement festival attendance as a special experience worth sharing. This phenomenon is linked to the growing
“experiential economy,” where many find it gratifying to purchase lived experiences. To ensure a profitable event, venues
need to consider the overall consumer experience, not just the band lineup.
Text 2
Music festival appearances are becoming a more important part of musicians’ careers. One factor in this shift is the rising
use of streaming services that allow access to huge numbers of songs for a monthly fee, subsequently reducing sales of
full-length albums. With this shift in consumer behavior, musicians are increasingly dependent on revenue from live
performances.

Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?

A. Consumers are more interested in paying subscription fees to stream music than in attending music festivals in person.

B. Consumers’ growing interest in purchasing experiences is mostly confined to the music industry.

C. Changing consumer behaviors are leading to changes in music-related businesses.

D. The rising consumer demand for live music festivals also generates higher demand for music streaming platforms.

ID: 82c05b34 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. Both authors mention how consumer behaviors have shifted, and how this affects different
aspects of the music industry. Text 1 states that consumers enjoy purchasing “lived experiences,” and that this influences
how organizers design music festivals. Text 2 states that consumers are using streaming services more, and that this
reduces album sales and increases the importance of live performances for musicians.

Choice A is incorrect. Neither text claims that consumers prefer streaming to festivals, or that these are mutually exclusive
options. Text 1 implies that festivals are popular and profitable, and Text 2 never suggests that streaming services diminish
the demand for live music. Choice B is incorrect. This choice misreads Text 1, which identifies music festivals as just one
example of a broader trend of purchasing “lived experiences.” Text 2 doesn’t mention growing interest in purchasing
experiences, in the music industry or otherwise. Choice D is incorrect. Neither text establishes a cause/effect relationship
between the demand for festivals and the demand for streaming platforms. Text 1 does not mention streaming platforms at
all, and Text 2 does not imply that streaming platforms benefit from the popularity of festivals.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2b085bc6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 2b085bc6
The following text is adapted from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1902 novel The Sport of the Gods. Joe and some of his family
members have recently moved to New York City.

[Joe] was wild with enthusiasm and with a desire to be a part of all that the metropolis meant. In the evening he saw the
young fellows passing by dressed in their spruce clothes, and he wondered with a sort of envy where they could be
going. Back home there had been no place much worth going to, except church and one or two people’s houses.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. It illustrates a character’s reaction to a new environment.

B. It explains why a character has traveled to a city.

C. It compares a character’s thoughts about an event at two different times of day.

D. It presents a character feeling regret over leaving home.

ID: 2b085bc6 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The narrator describes how
Joe responds to being in “the metropolis”: he’s excited and “wild with enthusiasm.” He also envies the young fellows who
walk by because, dressed as they are, they look as if they have somewhere special to go. The text contrasts this new place
with the place Joe comes from, where apparently there wasn’t as much to do. Thus, the main purpose of the text is to
illustrate Joe’s reaction to a new environment.

Choice B is incorrect because the text makes no reference to why Joe has moved. The narrator indicates that Joe is
enthusiastic about being in a city, but there’s no explanation provided for the move. Choice C is incorrect because the text
makes no reference to how Joe thinks about an event. The narrator describes young men passing by in the evening and then
recalls places worth going to at home—church and a few people’s houses—but there’s no explicit comparison made nor is a
time of day mentioned for these events back home. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t support the idea that Joe
feels regret over leaving home. Instead, Joe is described as “wild with enthusiasm” at being in the city. Joe’s home is
mentioned, but only to compare it unfavorably with the city.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 213a25d1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 213a25d1
The following text is from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1913 poem “The Poet and His Song.”

A song is but a little thing, And yet what joy it is to sing! In hours of toil it gives me zest, And when at eve I long for rest;
When cows come home along the bars, And in the fold I hear the bell, As Night, the shepherd, herds his stars,
I sing my song, and all is well.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To convey how engaging in song makes the speaker feel

B. To compare the speaker to a singing shepherd

C. To portray the speaker’s excitement about farming

D. To describe the pieces of music the speaker enjoys hearing

ID: 213a25d1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because is accurately states the main purpose of the text. The text begins by declaring that
although a song is "but a little thing," or seemingly insignificant, singing it brings joy and gives the speaker of the text "zest,"
or excitement, in "hours of toil." The remainder of the text explores the idea that as night is falling, singing allows the speaker
to feel that "all is well." Thus, the main purpose of the text is to convey how engaging in song makes the speaker feel.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the text mentions a shepherd, it neither indicates that the shepherd is singing nor does it
compare the shepherd to the speaker. Choice C is incorrect. The text indicates that the speaker works hard, engaging in
"hours of toil," and it can be inferred that the speaker likely lives in a rural area, since cows and a cowbell can be heard
nearby. However, the text does not suggest that the speaker is a farmer or feels excited about farming. Moreover, the
shepherd in the text is not a literal reference to someone who herds sheep but instead a figurative description of the moon
as the shepherd of the stars. Choice D is incorrect because in the text, the speaker is singing a song, not listening to others
sing one. Moreover, the text describes the feelings that the speaker has when singing a song, not the song itself.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c7265342
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: c7265342
The following text is from the 1895 poem “Marshlands” by Emily Pauline Johnson, a Kanienkahagen (Mohawk) writer also
known as Tekahionwake.

Among the wild rice in the still lagoon, In monotone the lizard shrills his tune.
The wild goose, homing, seeks a sheltering, Where rushes grow, and oozing lichens cling.
Late cranes with heavy wing, and lazy flight, Sail up the silence with the nearing night.
And like a spirit, swathed in some soft veil, Steals twilight and its shadows o’er the swale.
Hushed lie the sedges, and the vapours creep, Thick, grey and humid, while the marshes sleep.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It names animal species found in a place, then names plant species there.

B. It sketches a setting by presenting a series of images of nature.

C. It makes an extended comparison of nature to human emotions.

D. It identifies a location, then refers to a person living there.

ID: c7265342 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it best describes the overall structure of the text. The text first establishes the setting, a
"still lagoon," and then goes on to provide more details about the lagoon by presenting several descriptive images of nature,
including a lizard that "shrills his tune," "oozing lichens," and "thick, grey and humid" vapors.

Choice A is incorrect. Instead of simply naming species, the text presents descriptive images of nature; further, instead of
naming animals and then moving on to name plants, the text refers first to a plant ("the wild rice"), then to two animals ("the
lizard," "the wild goose"), then to another plant ("rushes"), and so on. Choice C is incorrect because the text does not draw
any comparison between nature and human emotions; it does not refer to human emotions at all. Choice D is incorrect.
While the text does begin by identifying a specific location, a "still lagoon," it makes no mention of a person living there.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8963273a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 8963273a
Musician Joni Mitchell, who is also a painter, uses images she creates for her album covers to emphasize ideas expressed in
her music. For the cover of her album Turbulent Indigo (1994), Mitchell painted a striking self-portrait that closely resembles
Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889). The image calls attention to the album’s title song, in which
Mitchell sings about the legacy of the postimpressionist painter. In that song, Mitchell also hints that she feels a strong
artistic connection to Van Gogh—an idea that is reinforced by her imagery on the cover.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It presents a claim about Mitchell, then gives an example supporting that claim.

B. It discusses Van Gogh’s influence on Mitchell, then considers Mitchell’s influence on other artists.

C. It describes a similarity between two artists, then notes a difference between them.

D. It describes the songs on Turbulent Indigo, then explains how they relate to the album’s cover.

ID: 8963273a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it accurately describes the organization of the elements within the text. The text begins
with the claim that Joni Mitchell’s album covers use images she creates in order to emphasize ideas embedded in her
albums. It then goes on to provide an example of how Mitchell’s self-portrait on the cover of Turbulent Indigo resembles a
painting by Van Gogh, which the text indicates helps emphasize the strong connection Mitchell feels toward Van Gogh, a
connection that is also expressed in the album’s title song.

Choice B is incorrect because there are no references in the text to artists other than Joni Mitchell and Van Gogh. Choice C is
incorrect because there is nothing in the text that calls attention to any similarities or differences between Joni Mitchell and
Van Gogh. Instead, it mentions that Mitchell feels a strong “artistic connection” to Van Gogh. Choice D is incorrect because
the text discusses the cover before referring to any songs, and it only references one song from the album not all the songs.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c4900368
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: c4900368
The following text is from the 1924 poem “Cycle” by D’Arcy McNickle, who was a citizen of the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes.
There shall be new roads wending,
A new beating of the drum—
Men’s eyes shall have fresh seeing,
Grey lives reprise their span—
But under the new sun’s being,
Completing what night began,
There’ll be the same backs bending,
The same sad feet shall drum—
When this night finds its ending
And day shall have come.....

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To consider how the repetitiveness inherent in human life can be both rewarding and challenging

To question whether activities completed at one time of day are more memorable than those completed at another time
B. of day

C. To refute the idea that joy is a more commonly experienced emotion than sadness is

D. To demonstrate how the experiences of individuals relate to the experiences of their communities

ID: c4900368 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it accurately states the main purpose of the text. The text begins by discussing the
promise of the future, with positive references to renewal such as “new roads,” “new beating of the drum,” and “fresh seeing.”
But with the “new sun,” the text continues, there will still be “the same backs bending” and “the same sad feet” drumming,
indicating that these difficulties will follow people into this new day. The poem thus considers both the rewards and
challenges associated with the repetitiveness of human life.

Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t say anything about how memorable activities are, let alone compare the
memorability of activities completed at different times of the day. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text contrasts hope
with difficulty, it does not compare the relative frequency of joyful feelings with that of sad feelings. Choice D is incorrect
because the text makes no distinction between the experiences of individuals and the experiences of their communities.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 422c5068
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 422c5068
Generally it takes Tule geese about four days to migrate south for the winter. From their summer breeding grounds in Cook
Inlet, Alaska, the birds begin by flying over the Gulf of Alaska, keeping about 100 miles from the Canadian shore. They pause
to rest on the Pacific Ocean, then fly toward Summer Lake, Oregon, before finally arriving at their winter destination of
Sacramento Valley, California. In 2020, however, it took the geese over twice as long to make their way from Cook Inlet to
Sacramento Valley. According to researchers, the reason was airborne pollutants.

Which choice best states the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It illustrates a change in Tule geese’s usual flight behavior.

B. It suggests an explanation for why Tule geese breed in Alaska.

C. It describes part of the Tule geese’s typical winter migration journey.

D. It compares Tule geese to other birds that migrate south for the winter.

ID: 422c5068 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it best states how the underlined portion functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence states that Tule geese typically take four days to migrate south. Then in the next sentence, which contains the
underlined portion, the text describes the first part of that journey, which begins with the geese flying over the Gulf of Alaska
while keeping about 100 miles from the Canadian shore. The rest of the text details the remainder of the geese’s typical
journey and then mentions circumstances in 2020 that resulted in the geese taking an unusually long time to complete it.
Thus, the underlined portion describes part of the Tule geese’s typical winter migration journey.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text concludes by stating that in 2020, Tule geese took twice as long to complete their
typical migration, which suggests a change in their usual flight behavior, the underlined portion doesn’t discuss this. Instead,
the underlined portion describes the first part of the Tule geese’s typical winter migration journey over the Gulf of Alaska.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the sentence containing the underlined portion mentions that Tule geese breed in Alaska, the
underlined portion doesn’t explain why the geese breed in that location. Rather, the text mentions Alaska to explain that it’s
the starting point of the Tule geese’s typical winter migration. Choice D is incorrect because the underlined portion doesn’t
discuss any other birds that migrate south for the winter. In fact, the text is only concerned with the migration of Tule geese.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 74446089
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 74446089
For his 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies, Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote songs grounded in traditional soul and folk music,
then accompanied them with futuristic synthesizer arrangements featuring ambient sounds and complex rhythms. The
result was so strange, so unprecedented, that the album attracted little attention when first released. In recent years,
however, a younger generation of musicians has embraced the stylistic experimentation of Keyboard Fantasies. Alternative
R&B musicians Blood Orange and Moses Sumney, among other contemporary recording artists, cite the album as an
influence.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A. It urges contemporary musicians to adopt the unique sound of Keyboard Fantasies.

B. It responds to criticism of Keyboard Fantasies by some younger musicians.

C. It offers examples of younger musicians whose work has been impacted by Keyboard Fantasies.

D. It contrasts Keyboard Fantasies with the recordings of two younger musicians.

ID: 74446089 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a
whole. The text’s subject is Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies, notable for its innovative,
experimental arrangements. According to the text, the album was not initially admired, but in recent years it has become
popular among younger musicians. The underlined portion of the text mentions two of those musicians, Blood Orange and
Moses Sumney, who “cite the album as an influence.” Therefore, the underlined portion of the text offers examples of
younger musicians whose work has been impacted by Keyboard Fantasies.

Choice A is incorrect because even though the underlined sentence states that Blood Orange and Moses Sumney were
influenced by Keyboard Fantasies, it doesn’t say that all other musicians should also embrace the album’s experimental style.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the text states that Keyboard Fantasies was not admired on its first release, the text doesn’t
present any criticism of the album by younger musicians: it only presents two younger musicians who cite it as an influence.
Choice D is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t mention any differences between Keyboard Fantasies and the
work of Blood Orange and Moses Sumney.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d3ca5d59
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d3ca5d59
Stephen Hannock’s luminous landscape paintings are appealing to viewers but have elicited little commentary from
contemporary critics, a phenomenon that may be due to the very fact that the paintings seem so ______. Many critics focus
their attention on art that is cryptic or overtly challenging.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. innovative

B. subversive

C. profound

D. accessible

ID: d3ca5d59 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. When talking about a thing, “accessible” means “easy to understand.” This sets up the contrast
in the next sentence, which tells us that critics mostly focus on art that is “cryptic or challenging” (meaning not easy to
understand).

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The next sentence tells us that critics focus on art that is
mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “innovative” (meaning advanced and original), then critics probably
would comment on them. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The next sentence tells us that critics
focus on art that is mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “subversive” (meaning disruptive and
revolutionary), then critics probably would comment on them. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t fit the logic of the text. The
next sentence tells us that critics focus on art that is mysterious and challenging. If Hannock’s paintings are “profound”
(meaning very deep and insightful), then critics probably would comment on them.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2e8ab360
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 2e8ab360
Eighteenth-century historian Edward Gibbon thought the only character defect of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was
his mild temperament—though the emperor was widely considered virtuous, his overly permissive nature led him to ______
the vices of those who surrounded him.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. indulge

B. despise

C. moderate

D. criticize

ID: 2e8ab360 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Roman emperor Marcus
Aurelius. In this context, "indulge" means treat with excessive leniency. The text states that according to historian Edward
Gibbon, Marcus Aurelius, who was widely considered virtuous, had only a single character flaw: his mild temperament. The
text suggests that because of this flaw, Marcus Aurelius had an overly permissive nature. This context, in turn, supports the
idea that Marcus Aurelius treated the vices, or evils, of those around him with excessive leniency, indulging rather than
punishing those vices.

Choice B is incorrect. While the text does state that Marcus Aurelius was widely considered virtuous, it gives no indication
that he was inclined to "despise," or hate, others’ vices. Rather, the text suggests that he showed undue tolerance for these
vices because of his overly permissive nature—that is, his inclination to allow others to do as they wished. Choice C is
incorrect because the text’s description of Marcus Aurelius as overly permissive suggests that he showed undue tolerance
for others’ vices, not that he tried to "moderate" those vices, or lessen their intensity. Choice D is incorrect because the text’s
description of Marcus Aurelius as overly permissive suggests that he showed undue tolerance for others’ vices, not that he
attempted to "criticize," or speak disapprovingly of, those vices.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c5b1afe5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c5b1afe5
Bicycle sharing systems allow users to rent a bicycle at one location within a city and return it to any other designated
location in that city, which can cause serious problems of bicycle supply and user demand within the city’s system. Tohru
Ikeguchi uses open-source data and statistical modeling to identify when a high number of users making one-way trips is
likely to leave some locations within the system ______ bicycles and other areas with insufficient supply.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. susceptible to

B. contingent on

C. saturated with

D. depleted of

ID: c5b1afe5 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Ikeguchi’s model of bicycle supply.
In this context, “saturated with” means thoroughly or completely supplied with. The text explains a problem encountered by
some bicycle-sharing programs: users can return bicycles to different locations than where the users picked up the bicycles
to start, which can result in a mismatch between bicycle supply (that is, where the bicycles are currently located) and user
demand (that is, the locations where users are hoping to pick up bicycles). The text goes on to explain that Ikeguchi
developed a way to identify when this mismatch is likely to occur. This context suggests that Ikeguchi’s method will show
when it is likely that some locations have an insufficient supply and other locations, by implicit contrast, are saturated with
bicycles.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that some locations are “susceptible to,” or sensitive to or easily
influenced by, bicycles. The text describes the phenomenon of bicycles being redistributed away from locations where users
want them, not anything about those locations being influenced by the bicycles. Choice B is incorrect because the text
describes situations in which some locations have an insufficient supply of bicycles because the bicycles have been
relocated elsewhere, which suggests that the other locations have many bicycles, not that the other locations are “contingent
on,” or dependent on, the bicycles. Nothing in the text suggests that the locations themselves depend on the bicycles for
anything. Choice D is incorrect because it would not make sense in context to say that some locations are “depleted of,” or
empty of, bicycles while others have an insufficient supply. The text describes situations in which bicycles have been
relocated such that there is a mismatch between bicycle supply and user demand—the bicycles are no longer at the
locations where users want to pick them up. This means that some locations do not have enough bicycles, while other
locations must have many bicycles, not be depleted of bicycles.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 81a3a607
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 81a3a607
In the Indigenous intercropping system known as the Three Sisters, maize, squash, and beans form an ______ web of
relations: maize provides the structure on which the bean vines grow; the squash vines cover the soil, discouraging
competition from weeds; and the beans aid their two “sisters” by enriching the soil with essential nitrogen.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. indecipherable

B. ornamental

C. obscure

D. intricate

ID: 81a3a607 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Three Sisters intercropping
system. As used in this context, “intricate” would mean made up of complexly related elements. The text indicates that in the
Three Sisters system, maize, squash, and beans form a “web of relations” in which the crops interact in various ways. The
text’s description of these interactions—the bean vines growing on the maize stalks, the squash vines keeping weeds away,
and the beans adding nutrients that the maize and squash use—provides context suggesting that this “web of relations” is
intricate.

Choice A is incorrect because describing the relationship among the crops in the Three Sisters system as “indecipherable,”
or impossible to comprehend, would not make sense in context. Although the text presents the relationship as complex, the
text’s description of the role that each crop plays makes it clear that the relationship is well understood, not
indecipherable. Choice B is incorrect because the text discusses the practical benefits that each plant in the Three Sisters
system provides to other members of the system, showing that the relationship among the crops that make up the system is
not “ornamental,” or mainly serving a decorative purpose. Choice C is incorrect because describing the relationship among
the crops in the Three Sisters system as “obscure,” or unknown or poorly understood, would not make sense in context.
Although the text presents the relationship as complex, the text’s description of the role that each crop plays makes it clear
that the relationship is well understood, not obscure.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 85083d4d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 85083d4d
Disproving the common misconception of Native art as ______, the painters whose work appears in the collection at the
National Museum of the American Indian employ a range of styles. There are artists working in the traditional arts of their
specific tribal communities, artists working in European modernist or American abstract expressionist art traditions, and
artists blending various traditions into something wholly new.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. uncontroversial

B. individualistic

C. theoretical

D. homogeneous

ID: 85083d4d Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the art at the National Museum of
the American Indian. In this context, "homogenous" means uniform or highly similar. The text explains that the painters
whose works are included in this museum’s collection employ an array of artistic styles, both Native and non-Native,
traditional and new. Given this high degree of stylistic diversity, it is a misconception that Native art is uniform, or
homogenous.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t consider whether Native art is controversial, or causes disagreement or
discussion; instead, the text discusses the stylistic diversity of the collection of the National Museum of the American
Indian. Choice B is incorrect. Although the text indicates that some of the artists whose work is represented in the collection
of the National Museum of the American Indian blend various artistic traditions into highly individual styles of their own, this
is not the primary focus of the text. Instead, the text is concerned with how Native art is often mistakenly perceived as
uniform, when in fact it is stylistically diverse. Choice C is incorrect because the text never implies that people mistakenly
conceive of Native art as theoretical, or concerned with philosophical or abstract issues; instead, the text’s discussion of
Native art is framed around this art’s stylistic diversity versus the misconception of it as homogenous.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f2c48e47
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: f2c48e47
The following text is from Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1910 poem “The Earth’s Entail.” No matter how we cultivate the land,
Taming the forest and the prairie free; No matter how we irrigate the sand, Making the desert blossom at command,
We must always leave the borders of the sea; The immeasureable reaches Of the windy wave-wet beaches,
The million-mile-long margin of the sea.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. The speaker argues against interfering with nature and then gives evidence supporting this interference.

B. The speaker presents an account of efforts to dominate nature and then cautions that such efforts are only temporary.

C. The speaker provides examples of an admirable way of approaching nature and then challenges that approach.

D. The speaker describes attempts to control nature and then offers a reminder that not all nature is controllable.

ID: f2c48e47 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. This best describes the overall structure of the text. In the first half of the text, the speaker
describes our attempts to control nature: cultivating, taming, and irrigating different kinds of land. In the second half, the
speaker states that we can never tame the sea or the beach.

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the overall structure of the text. The speaker never argues that we should not
interfere with nature. Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame many different kinds of land, but we are unable to
tame the sea or beaches. Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the overall structure of the text. The speaker never
describes our cultivation, taming, and irrigation of land as “temporary.” Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame
many different kinds of land, but we are unable to tame the sea or beaches. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t describe the
overall structure of the text. The speaker never describes our cultivation, taming, and irrigation of land as an “admirable”
approach to nature.” Rather, the speaker says that we are able to tame many different kinds of land, but we are unable to
tame the sea or beaches.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f1c9d2c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f1c9d2c1
Text 1
Stage lighting theorist Adolphe Appia was perhaps the first to argue that light must be considered alongside all the various
elements of a stage to create a single, unified performance. Researcher Kelly Bremner, however, has noted that Appia lacked
technical expertise in the use of light in the theater. As a result of Appia’s inexperience, Bremner argues, Appia’s theory of
light called for lighting practices that weren’t possible until after the advent of electricity around 1881.
Text 2
Adolphe Appia was not an amateur in the practice of lighting. Instead, it is precisely his exposure to lighting techniques at
the time that contributed to his theory on the importance of light. When working as an apprentice for a lighting specialist in
his youth, Appia observed the use of portable lighting devices that could be operated by hand. This experience developed his
understanding of what was possible in the coordination of elements on the stage.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the claim about Appia’s level of technical expertise
made by Bremner in Text 1?

A. Many lighting technicians dismissed Appia’s ideas about light on the stage.

B. Appia likely gained a level of technical expertise during his time as an apprentice.

C. Theater practitioners who worked with Appia greatly admired his work.

D. Appia was unfamiliar with the use of music and sound in theater.

ID: f1c9d2c1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The author of Text 2 directly contradicts Bremner’s claim that Appia lacked technical expertise
by stating that Appia was “not an amateur in the practice of lighting.” His experience as a lighting specialist’s apprentice
would have, the author of Text 2 argues, allowed Appia to “[develop] his understanding of what was possible” with the
elements of theatrical design.

Choice A is incorrect. Neither text describes how other lighting technicians responded to Appia’s ideas. Furthermore, this
claim isn’t relevant to Bremner’s evaluation of Appia’s technical expertise. Choice C is incorrect. Neither text mentions
anything about the opinions of theater practitioners who worked with Appia, so this answer choice does not relate to the
claim about Appia’s level of technical expertise made by Bremner in Text 1. Choice D is incorrect. Neither text mentions
anything about Appia’s familiarity with or ignorance of the use of music and sound in theater. Both focus on his expertise (or
lack thereof) in lighting.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 94eb800d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 94eb800d
For a 2020 exhibition, photographer and neurobiologist Okunola Jeyifous ______ a series of new images based on a series of
alphabet posters from the 1970s known as the “Black ABCs,” which featured Black children from Chicago. Jeyifous
photographed the now-adult models and layered the photos over magnified images of the models’ cells, resulting in what he
called “micro and macro portraiture.”

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. validated

B. created

C. challenged

D. restored

ID: 94eb800d Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of Jeyifous’s series of
images for the 2020 exhibition. In this context, “created” means produced. The text explains that Jeyifous, a photographer
and neurobiologist, photographed adults who had appeared as children in posters from the 1970s, then combined those
photographs with magnified images of the adults’ cells—a process that resulted in what he called “micro and macro
portraiture.” This context suggests that Jeyifous drew on his dual interests in photography and neurobiology to produce the
images for display in the exhibition.

Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Jeyifous “validated,” or corroborated, the series of
images. The text describes Jeyifous’s process for composing the images but doesn’t describe Jeyifous making an effort to
evaluate the images for their artistic or scientific legitimacy. Choice C is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to
suggest that Jeyifous “challenged,” or disputed, an aspect of the images; rather, the focus of the text is on the inspiration
behind the images and the method Jeyifous used to achieve them. Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that
Jeyifous made the images himself using a combination of photography and magnified pictures of cells, not that he
“restored,” or reconditioned, the images from a deteriorated state.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ae2b3112
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: ae2b3112
By combining Indigenous and classical music, Cree composer and cellist Cris Derksen creates works that reflect the diverse
cultural landscape of Canada. For her album Orchestral Powwow, Derksen composed new songs in the style of traditional
powwow music that were accompanied by classical arrangements played by an orchestra. But where an orchestra would
normally follow the directions of a conductor, the musicians on Orchestral Powwow are led by the beat of a powwow drum.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To examine how Derksen’s musical compositions blend cultures

B. To argue that Derksen should be recognized for creating a new style of music

C. To describe the difficulties Derksen encountered when producing her album

D. To establish a contrast between Derksen’s classical training and her Cree heritage

ID: ae2b3112 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to discuss how
Derksen’s compositions incorporate elements from both Indigenous and classical music. After introducing Derksen, the text
describes how the songs Derksen composed for her album Orchestral Powwow feature aspects of the two musical
traditions. Specifically, the text notes that Derksen wrote songs in the style of traditional powwow music but accompanied
them with classical arrangements played by an orchestra that followed the beat of a powwow drum rather than the
directions of a conductor. In this way, Derksen’s compositions blend different cultures.

Choice B is incorrect because although the text suggests that Derksen’s songs contain innovative elements since they blend
styles from two different musical traditions, it doesn’t discuss whether her compositions constitute a new style of music, let
alone whether Derksen should be recognized for creating a new style of music. Choice C is incorrect because the text
doesn’t mention any difficulties Derksen encountered when producing her album. Rather, the text describes how the songs
on the album exemplify how Derksen combines music from two different cultures. Choice D is incorrect because although
the text mentions Derksen’s Cree heritage and suggests that she relies on knowledge of both Indigenous and classical music
when she composes her songs, it doesn’t discuss her musical training. Additionally, the text is primarily focused on how
Derksen combines different cultural traditions, not on contrasting Derksen’s training with her heritage.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e7247766
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: e7247766
Horizontal gene transfer occurs when an organism of one species acquires genetic material from an organism of another
species through nonreproductive means. The genetic material can then be transferred “vertically” in the second species—
that is, through reproductive inheritance. Scientist Atma Ivancevic and her team have hypothesized infection by invertebrate
parasites as a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer between vertebrate species: while feeding, a parasite could acquire a
gene from one host, then relocate to a host from a different vertebrate species and transfer the gene to it in turn.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It explains why parasites are less susceptible to horizontal gene transfer than their hosts are.

B. It clarifies why some genes are more likely to be transferred horizontally than others are.

C. It contrasts how horizontal gene transfer occurs among vertebrates with how it occurs among invertebrates.

D. It describes a means by which horizontal gene transfer might occur among vertebrates.

ID: e7247766 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text defines horizontal gene transfer and then gives one possibility for how it happens in
vertebrates (via infection by parasites). The underlined part describes how that mechanism could work.

Choice A is incorrect. The underlined portion doesn’t do this. Parasites are only described as the mechanism that does the
transferring, not the species that gives or receives the genes. Choice B is incorrect. The underlined portion doesn’t do this.
The text never discusses which genes are more likely to be transferred. Choice C is incorrect. The underlined portion doesn’t
do this. The text never discusses how horizontal gene transfer occurs among invertebrates.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e23f50b9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: e23f50b9
The people of medieval Europe have traditionally been seen as uninterested in cleanliness and hygiene, but modern research
has shown that this is largely a myth. According to historian Eleanor Janega, most medieval towns in Europe had at least
one public bathhouse, which often offered both full-immersion baths and—more affordably—steam baths. While such
amenities were available mainly to town dwellers, regular bathing in rivers and streams or daily sponge baths at home were
common practices throughout medieval Europe.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion?

A. It asserts that in medieval Europe steam baths were more popular in rural areas than in urban ones.

B. It describes a limitation of earlier historians’ studies of medieval European bathing habits.

C. It concedes that not all people in medieval Europe had access to public bathhouses.

D. It explains why Janega decided to study the popularity of public bathhouses in medieval Europe.

ID: e23f50b9 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most effectively describes the function of the underlined portion. The text discusses
the long-standing misconception that people in medieval Europe were uninterested in cleanliness and hygiene. As evidence
that this idea is false, the text cites historian Eleanor Janega’s assertion that in medieval Europe, towns usually had at least
one bathhouse, where people could take immersion baths or steam baths for a fee. The underlined portion then notes that
mainly town dwellers had access to these bathhouses. The remainder of the text explains that those who lacked such
access were nonetheless able to bathe in outdoor waterways or take sponge baths at home. Therefore, the underlined
portion concedes that some people in medieval Europe lacked access to public bathhouses.

Choice A is incorrect. The underlined portion establishes that amenities such as steam baths were mainly available to town
dwellers, which suggests in turn that steam baths were largely unavailable to people in rural areas. Thus, the distinction
made by the underlined portion is not between the popularity of steam baths in towns versus their lack of popularity in rural
areas but instead between their presence in towns and absence in rural areas. Choice B is incorrect. Although the text does
explain that recent historians have disproved the idea that medieval Europeans rarely bathed, it doesn’t attribute that
misconception to earlier historians of medieval Europe or suggest that their research was subject to limitations. Moreover,
the underlined portion addresses a limitation of life in medieval Europe, not of historical research. Choice D is incorrect
because the underlined portion doesn’t address why historian Eleanor Janega decided to study the popularity of public
bathhouses in medieval Europe—nor does any portion of the text. The text mentions Janega in passing, but it doesn’t go into
detail about why she decided to study the popularity of public bathhouses in medieval Europe.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 48555763
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 48555763
The following text is from Herman Melville’s 1854 novel The Lightning-rod Man.
The stranger still stood in the exact middle of the cottage, where he had first planted himself. His singularity impelled a
closer scrutiny. A lean, gloomy figure. Hair dark and lank, mattedly streaked over his brow. His sunken pitfalls of eyes were
ringed by indigo halos, and played with an innocuous sort of lightning: the gleam without the bolt. The whole man was
dripping. He stood in a puddle on the bare oak floor: his strange walking-stick vertically resting at his side.

Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?

A. It elaborates on the previous sentence’s description of the character.

B. It introduces the setting that is described in the sentences that follow.

C. It establishes a contrast with the description in the previous sentence.

D. It sets up the character description presented in the sentences that follow.

ID: 48555763 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. This best states the function of the underlined sentence. The sentence basically says: “He
stood out, so I looked more closely at him.” Then the rest of the text describes him in detail.

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t state the function of the underlined sentence. The previous sentence basically says: “He
was still standing in the middle of the cottage”—it doesn’t include any description of the character himself. Choice B is
incorrect. This doesn’t state the function of the underlined sentence. The following sentences describe the character, not the
setting. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t state the function of the underlined sentence. The underlined sentence basically
says: “He stood out, so I looked more closely at him.” The previous sentence basically says: “He was still standing in the
middle of the cottage.” There’s no contrast between these two sentences.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID aa7fc89b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: aa7fc89b
The following text is adapted from Susan Glaspell’s 1912 short story “‘Out There.’” An elderly shop owner is looking at a
picture that he recently acquired and hopes to sell.
It did seem that the picture failed to fit in with the rest of the shop. A persuasive young fellow who claimed he was closing
out his stock let the old man have it for what he called a song. It was only a little out-of-the-way store which subsisted
chiefly on the framing of pictures. The old man looked around at his views of the city, his pictures of cats and dogs, his
flaming bits of landscape. “Don’t belong in here,” he fumed.
And yet the old man was secretly proud of his acquisition. There was a hidden dignity in his scowling as he shuffled about
pondering the least ridiculous place for the picture.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To reveal the shop owner’s conflicted feelings about the new picture

B. To convey the shop owner’s resentment of the person he got the new picture from

C. To describe the items that the shop owner most highly prizes

D. To explain differences between the new picture and other pictures in the shop

ID: aa7fc89b Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text begins by stating
that the new picture “failed to fit in” with the other items that the shop owner has. The text goes on to illustrate that point by
describing the other pictures the shop owner has, indicating that the shop owner is fuming because he doesn’t think the new
picture belongs in the store. In the second paragraph, however, the text indicates that the shop owner is “secretly proud of
his acquisition.” The main purpose of the text is thus to reveal the shop owner’s conflicted feelings about the new picture.

Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that the shop owner resents the young man who sold him the new
picture; in fact, the text gives no indication of the owner’s feelings about the young man at all. Choice C is incorrect. Although
the text indicates that the new picture is different from the other items in the shop, there’s no suggestion that the shop owner
prizes either the new picture or the pictures of the city, pets, and landscapes more than he prizes any other items. Choice D
is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe what the new picture looks like; rather, the text identifies some of the other
kinds of images that the shop owner has and states that they’re different from the new picture without explaining how
they’re different.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 490b205f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 490b205f
In editor Lisa Yaszek’s introduction to her anthology The Future Is Female! More Classic Science Fiction Stories by Women,
Yaszek identifies an increasing sense of ______ feminist mode of writing in the 1970s, in contrast to many woman-authored
science fiction stories of the 1920s to 1960s whose politics were less deliberately signaled.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. a prudently

B. an overtly

C. a cordially

D. an inadvertently

ID: 490b205f Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Yaszek’s introduction to her science
fiction anthology. In this context "overtly" means openly or without concealment. The text draws a contrast between the lack
of "deliberately signaled" political themes in woman-authored science fiction from the 1920s to the 1960s and what Yaszek
notes about woman-authored science fiction from the 1970s. This contrast implies that the work from the 1970s did clearly
reflect feminist political themes. In other words, the text indicates that unlike women who wrote science fiction in the 1920s
to the 1960s, the women who wrote science fiction in the 1970s expressed overtly feminist themes.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context "prudently" would mean cautiously, which might plausibly describe the women who
wrote science fiction from the 1920s to the 1960s, in that they tended to avoid revealing their political views; however, the
text contrasts these authors with the women writing science fiction in the 1970s, thereby suggesting that the authors writing
in the 1970s were not restrained in that way. Choice C is incorrect because in this context "cordially" would mean politely,
and nothing in the text indicates that politeness was a significant factor for women writing science fiction either from the
1920s to the 1960s or in the 1970s. The text draws a contrast between the lack of "deliberately signaled" political themes in
woman-authored science fiction from the 1920s to the 1960s and what Yaszek notes about woman-authored science fiction
from the 1970s. It’s unclear how "less deliberately signaled" politics and an increasing sense of politeness toward feminism
would constitute a meaningful contrast. Choice D is incorrect because in this context, "inadvertently" would mean
unintentionally, and nothing in the text suggests that Yaszek thought the feminist elements of the woman-authored science
fiction from the 1970s arose without deliberate effort.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6a1194e8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 6a1194e8
Rydra Wong, the protagonist of Samuel R. Delany’s 1966 novel Babel-17, is a poet, an occupation which, in Delany’s work, is
not ______: nearly a dozen of the characters that populate his novels are poets or writers.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. infallible

B. atypical

C. lucrative

D. tedious

ID: 6a1194e8 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Samuel R. Delany’s character Rydra
Wong. As used in this context, “atypical” would mean unrepresentative or not common. The text indicates that Wong is one
of “nearly a dozen” characters in Delany’s novels who are poets or writers. This context conveys that being a poet isn’t an
atypical occupation for a character in one of Delany’s works.

Choice A is incorrect because “infallible” means to be accurate or without fault, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The
text focuses on the fact that Delany has written many characters who are poets and writers. This context suggests that the
occupation isn’t atypical for Delany, not that the occupation isn’t infallible, or problematic. Choice C is incorrect because
“lucrative” means to be profitable, which wouldn’t make sense in context. If writing poet characters weren’t profitable, it
wouldn’t be logical to explain this by citing that Delany gave many of his characters the same occupation. Choice D is
incorrect because “tedious” means to be boring, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the fact that
Delany has written many characters who are poets and writers. This context suggests that the occupation isn’t atypical for
Delany, not that the occupation isn’t tedious.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 97360a00
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 97360a00
The following text is adapted from Gwendolyn Bennett’s 1926 poem “Street Lamps in Early Spring.”
Night wears a garment
All velvet soft, all violet blue...
And over her face she draws a veil
As shimmering fine as floating dew...
And here and there
In the black of her hair
The subtle hands of Night
Move slowly with their gem-starred light.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It presents alternating descriptions of night in a rural area and in a city.

B. It sketches an image of nightfall, then an image of sunrise.

C. It makes an extended comparison of night to a human being.

D. It portrays how night changes from one season of the year to the next.

ID: 97360a00 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. Throughout the text, the
speaker characterizes nighttime as if it were a person who wears clothing (“a garment” that is “velvet soft” and “violet blue”)
and a veil “over her face” and who moves her hands “slowly with their gem-starred light” through her dark hair. Thus, the text
is structured as an extended comparison of night to a human being.

Choice A is incorrect because the text never mentions any particular location; instead, it focuses on presenting a single
description of night as a person with certain clothing and features. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t make any
reference to the sun or sunrise; instead, it focuses on presenting a single image of night as a person with certain clothing
and features. Choice D is incorrect. Rather than describing how nighttime changes seasonally (or in any other way), the text
presents a single image of night as a person with certain clothing and features.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6c64a8f3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 6c64a8f3
Ecologist Exequiel Ezcurra and colleagues found that the inhabitants of the Mexica empire used natural landmarks to track
time with a high degree of ______. By observing the sun’s position in relation to various points on the mountains surrounding
the Basin of Mexico, the Mexica were able to precisely identify the dates when significant events such as solstices occurred.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. precariousness

B. exactitude

C. resilience

D. inconspicuousness

ID: 6c64a8f3 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the method the inhabitants of the
Mexica empire used to track time. In this context, "exactitude" means precision. The text indicates that the Mexica used the
sun’s position relative to various natural landmarks to track the passage of time, explaining that such methods allowed the
Mexica to accurately determine the dates of important events such as solstices. This context supports the idea that the
Mexica people were able to track time with a high degree of precision, or exactitude.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context "precariousness" would mean instability, and there’s nothing in the text to
suggest that the method used by the Mexica people to track time was unstable or produced unstable results. Rather, the text
indicates that the method yielded precise results, allowing the Mexica to accurately determine the dates of significant
events. Choice C is incorrect because in this context "resilience" would mean persistence, and there’s nothing in the text to
suggest that the Mexica worked stubbornly in spite of obstacles in order to track time. Choice D is incorrect because in this
context "inconspicuousness" would mean discreetness, and there’s nothing in the text to suggest that the Mexica wanted to
track time without being noticed.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d69bc408
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: d69bc408
The following text is adapted from Aphra Behn’s 1689 novel The Lucky Mistake. Atlante and Rinaldo are neighbors who have
been secretly exchanging letters through Charlot, Atlante’s sister.
[Atlante] gave this letter to Charlot; who immediately ran into the balcony with it, where she still found Rinaldo in a
melancholy posture, leaning his head on his hand: She showed him the letter, but was afraid to toss it to him, for fear it
might fall to the ground; so he ran and fetched a long cane, which he cleft at one end, and held it while she put the letter
into the cleft, and stayed not to hear what he said to it. But never was man so transported with joy, as he was at the
reading of this letter; it gives him new wounds; for to the generous, nothing obliges love so much as love.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It describes the delivery of a letter, and then portrays a character’s happiness at reading that letter.

It establishes that a character is desperate to receive a letter, and then explains why another character has not yet written
B. that letter.

C. It presents a character’s concerns about delivering a letter, and then details the contents of that letter.

It reveals the inspiration behind a character’s letter, and then emphasizes the excitement that another character feels
D. upon receiving that letter.

ID: d69bc408 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. The narrator begins by
explaining how Charlot carefully delivers Atlante’s letter to Rinaldo, and then relates that Rinaldo feels “transported with joy”
after reading the letter. Therefore, the overall structure of the text is best described as a description of the delivery of a letter
followed by the portrayal of a character’s happiness after reading the letter.

Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that the letter has been written; there’s no explanation why another character
hasn’t written one. In addition, the text’s description of Rinaldo “in a melancholy posture” suggests that he’s sad and
thoughtful, not that he’s desperate to receive the letter. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text states that Charlot won’t toss
the letter to Rinaldo because she doesn’t want it to fall, the text doesn’t refer to the contents of the letter. Instead, the text
describes how happy Rinaldo feels after reading it. Choice D is incorrect. Although the text does describe Rinaldo’s reaction
to the letter, the text doesn’t begin by discussing Atlante’s inspiration for writing the letter. Instead, the text begins by
discussing the delivery of the letter.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9c35759f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9c35759f
Novelist N. K. Jemisin declines to ______ the conventions of the science fiction genre in which she writes, and she has
suggested that her readers appreciate her work precisely because of this willingness to thwart expectations and avoid
formulaic plots and themes.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. question

B. react to

C. perceive

D. conform to

ID: 9c35759f Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Jemisin’s writing. In this context,
“conform to” means to act in accordance with something. The text suggests that in her science fiction writing, Jemisin’s
willingness to go against expectations and not use plots and themes that seem to follow a formula reflects how she treats
the standard practices of the genre. This context conveys that Jemisin chooses not to act in accordance with those
conventions.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, “question” would mean doubt or object to. The text indicates that Jemisin is willing to
go against expectations and not use formulaic plots and themes in her science fiction writing, suggesting that she may
actually object to those conventions of the genre, not that she chooses not to question them. Choice B is incorrect because
the text indicates that in her science fiction writing, Jemisin is willing to go against expectations and not use formulaic plots
and themes. Rather than suggesting that Jemisin chooses not to “react to,” or act in response to, the standard practices of
the genre, this context suggests that she is acting in response to such conventions by deliberately avoiding them. Choice C
is incorrect. In this context, “perceive” would mean become aware of or understand. The text indicates that in her science
fiction writing, Jemisin is willing to go against expectations and not use formulaic plots and themes. This context conveys
that Jemisin is aware of and deliberately avoids those conventions of the genre, not that she chooses not to be aware of
them.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 27d9bb69
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 27d9bb69
Text 1
Many studies in psychology have shown that people seek out information even when they know in advance that they have no
immediate use for it and that they won’t directly benefit from it. Such findings support the consensus view among
researchers of curiosity: namely, that curiosity is not instrumental but instead represents a drive to acquire information for its
own sake.
Text 2
While acknowledging that acquiring information is a powerful motivator, Rachit Dubey and colleagues ran an experiment to
test whether emphasizing the usefulness of scientific information could increase curiosity about it. They found that when
research involving rats and fruit flies was presented as having medical applications for humans, participants expressed
greater interest in learning about it than when the research was not presented as useful.

Based on the texts, how would Dubey and colleagues (Text 2) most likely respond to the consensus view discussed in Text
1?

A. By suggesting that curiosity may not be exclusively motivated by the desire to merely acquire information

By conceding that people may seek out information that serves no immediate purpose only because they think they can
B. use it later

C. By pointing out that it is challenging to determine when information-seeking serves no goal beyond acquiring information

D. By disputing the idea that curiosity can help explain apparently purposeless information-seeking behaviors

ID: 27d9bb69 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The researchers in Text 2 recognize that acquiring information is a powerful motivator, but
showed that this motivation can still be affected by other factors, like whether or not the information is expected to be useful
or not. This suggests that other desires may play a part in driving people to acquire information.

Choice B is incorrect. The consensus view in Text 1 is that people acquire information regardless of whether they think they
can use it later. Dubey and colleagues acknowledge this fact (so they don’t claim people seek out information “only” because
it might be useful later). Choice C is incorrect. This choice misreads the results of Dubey and colleagues’ study in Text 2.
Neither text discusses the difficulty of determining the motivation for information-seeking. Choice D is incorrect. This choice
contradicts Text 2, which starts with Dubey and colleagues “acknowledging that acquiring information is a powerful
motivator” (i.e., agreeing that curiosity explains the seeking of apparently purposeless information). The research in Text 2
simply suggests that more than just curiosity can motivate information-seeking behavior when the information has a
purpose.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID d7dccee7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d7dccee7
In a 2019 study, Jeremy Gunawardena and colleagues found that the single-celled protozoan Stentor roeseli not only uses
strategies to escape irritating stimuli but also switches strategies when one fails. This evidence of protozoans
sophisticatedly “changing their minds” demonstrates that single-celled organisms may not be limited to ______ behaviors.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. aggressive

B. rudimentary

C. evolving

D. advantageous

ID: d7dccee7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of single-celled organism behavior. As
used in this context, “rudimentary” means basic or unsophisticated. According to the text, a study of the single-celled
protozoan Stentor roeseli showed that the organisms can switch strategies for escaping certain stimuli, “sophisticatedly
‘changing their minds’” and using new strategies should other strategies fail. This context suggests that single-celled
organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are basic or rudimentary, since the study showed that single-celled
protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“aggressive,” or threatening. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.
Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“evolving,” or advancing. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behavior that is
“advantageous,” or helpful. Rather, the text suggests that single-celled organisms may not be limited to behaviors that are
basic, since the study of Stentor roeseli showed that single-celled protozoans can respond complexly to irritating stimuli.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1107e7dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1107e7dc
Economists often assert that countries looking to increase their reliance on solar energy should expand their capacity for
storage; having an ample reserve of stored energy can mitigate the effects of ______ solar energy collection caused by
unpredictable shifts in cloud cover and haze.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. developments of

B. fluctuations in

C. calibrations with

D. incentives for

ID: 1107e7dc Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of solar energy collection and storage.
In this context, "fluctuations in" means irregular changes in. The text notes that economists recommend that countries that
want to rely more on solar energy (energy captured from sunlight) should attempt to expand their storage capacity. The text
goes on to explain that having a large amount of stored solar energy can lessen the negative effect of "unpredictable shifts
in cloud cover and haze"—that is, unpredictable changes in environmental conditions that at times limit sunlight. This context
suggests that having ample solar energy stored and ready to use can mitigate the issue of fluctuations in solar energy
collection caused by irregular patterns of sunlight availability.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, "developments of solar energy collection" would most clearly refer to the
creation of ways to collect solar energy (energy captured from sunlight). The text focuses on collection and the idea that
having stored energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem caused by unpredictable changes that affect
sunlight ("cloud cover and haze"); there’s no reason to think that the creation of new collection methods would be viewed as
a problem that would need to be mitigated. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "calibrations with" would most
clearly refer to precise adjustments for a particular purpose. The text focuses on the collection of solar energy (energy
captured from sunlight) and the idea that having stored energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem
caused by unpredictable changes that affect sunlight ("cloud cover and haze"); there’s no reason to think that precision in
something related to solar energy collection would be viewed as a problem that would need to be mitigated. Choice D is
incorrect. The text focuses on the collection of solar energy (energy captured from sunlight) and the idea that having stored
energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem caused by unpredictable changes that affect sunlight ("cloud
cover and haze"); nothing in the text suggests that "incentives for," or rewards for, solar energy collection would be viewed as
a problem that would need to be mitigated, especially in countries that want to rely more on solar energy than they already
do.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 19688783
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 19688783
The following text is from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables. Anne, an eleven-year-old girl, has
come to live on a farm with a woman named Marilla in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Anne reveled in the world of color about her.

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I’m so
glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November,
wouldn’t it? Look at these maple branches. Don’t they give you a thrill—several thrills? I’m going to decorate my room
with them.”
“Messy things,” said Marilla, whose aesthetic sense was not noticeably developed. “You clutter up your room entirely
too much with out-of-doors stuff, Anne. Bedrooms were made to sleep in.”

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To demonstrate that Anne has a newly developed appreciation of nature

B. To describe an argument that Anne and Marilla often have

C. To emphasize Marilla’s disapproval of how Anne has decorated her room

D. To show that Anne and Marilla have very different personalities

ID: 19688783 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text begins by noting
that Anne “reveled in the world of color about her”—that is, she takes great delight in colorful things. It then relates a scene
when she enthusiastically enters the house with autumn foliage and announces that she will decorate her room with it. The
focus of the text then shifts to Marilla, who has an undeveloped “aesthetic sense,” or appreciation of beauty, as can be seen
when she dismisses the maple leaves as “messy things” and criticizes Anne for cluttering her room with objects from
outside. This episode thus illustrates that Anne and Marilla differ in their appreciation of beauty and, more generally, in their
basic character: Anne is exuberant and joyful, while Marilla is stern and critical. Therefore, the purpose of the text is to show
that Anne and Marilla have very different personalities.

Choice A is incorrect because the text presents Anne’s appreciation of nature as a basic personality trait, not as a newfound
enthusiasm, and never indicates how recently she developed that appreciation. Choice B is incorrect. Although the text
portrays Anne and Marilla as having different personalities and attitudes toward natural beauty and home decoration, it
doesn’t show them engaging in an argument about this difference or suggest that they often argue about it. Choice C is
incorrect. Although the text does indicate that Marilla disapproves of how Anne plans to decorate her room, Marilla’s
disapproval is a supporting detail that serves to develop her personality, which the text as a whole contrasts with Anne’s
personality.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 590f0ad2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 590f0ad2
Industrial activity is often assumed to be a threat to wildlife, but that isn’t always so. Consider the silver-studded blue
butterfly (Plebejus argus): as forest growth has reduced grasslands in northern Germany, many of these butterflies have left
meadow habitats and are now thriving in active limestone quarries. In a survey of multiple active quarries and patches of
maintained grassland, an ecologist found silver-studded blue butterflies in 100% of the quarries but only 57% of the
grassland patches. Moreover, butterfly populations in the quarries were four times larger than those in the meadows.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It challenges a common assumption about the species under investigation in the research referred to in the text.

B. It introduces discussion of a specific example that supports the general claim made in the previous sentence.

C. It suggests that a certain species should be included in additional studies like the one mentioned later in the text.

D. It provides a definition for an unfamiliar term that is central to the main argument in the text.

ID: 590f0ad2 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The first sentence presents the general claim that industrial activity is not always a threat to wildlife. The underlined
portion of the sentence that follows suggests that the silver-studded blue butterfly is an example of wildlife thriving in areas
of industrial activity: active limestone quarries. Thus, the function of the underlined portion is to introduce a specific example
in support of the general claim in the previous sentence.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the first sentence indicates that “industrial activity is often assumed” to harm wildlife, in the
case of the silver-studded blue butterfly the text mentions neither an assumption about this species nor any challenge to
such an assumption. Choice C is incorrect because the text mentions only one study: the “survey.” Additional studies are not
mentioned in the text. Choice D is incorrect because neither the underlined portion nor any other portion of the text provides
a definition for any of the terms used in the text’s argument.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6d44060a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 6d44060a
Works of moral philosophy, such as Plato’s Republic or Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, are partly concerned with how to live
a morally good life. But philosopher Jonathan Barnes argues that works that present a method of living such a life without
also supplying a motive are inherently useful only to those already wishing to be morally good—those with no desire for
moral goodness will not choose to follow their rules. However, some works of moral philosophy attempt to describe what
constitutes a morally good life while also proposing reasons for living one.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It provides a characterization about a field of thought by noting two works in it and then details a way in which some
A. works in that field are more comprehensive than others.

It mentions two renowned works and then claims that despite their popularity it is impossible for these works to serve
B. the purpose their authors intended.

It summarizes the history of a field of thought by discussing two works and then proposes a topic of further research for
C. specialists in that field.

D. It describes two influential works and then explains why one is more widely read than the other.

ID: 6d44060a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The text starts by stating what moral philosophy is concerned with and naming two examples
of works in the field. Then it describes a shortcoming of some works in that field (they say how but not why), and finally it
states that other works try to avoid that shortcoming (by including both how and why to live a morally good life).

Choice B is incorrect. This is too extreme. The text never mentions whether the two works are popular or not, and it never
argues that these works don’t serve their intended purpose of describing how to live a morally good life. Rather, the text
claims that works of moral philosophy that don’t include both how and why to be moral are not useful to readers who don’t
already want to be moral. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text never discusses the history of moral
philosophy at all, and it doesn’t propose any topic for further research. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure.
The text never discusses which of the two works is more widely read.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID bce627d9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: bce627d9
Mineralogical differences are detectable in samples collected from two locations on the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, but such
differences may not indicate substantial compositional variations in the asteroid. Cosmochemist Kazuhide Nagashima and
colleagues note that at the small scale of the samples, the distribution of minerals is unlikely to be ______.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. neglected

B. redundant

C. ongoing

D. uniform

ID: bce627d9 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text tells us that the samples are too "small scale" to reflect the composition of the
asteroid, which probably doesn’t show the same variation on a large scale. This suggests that the mineral composition of the
samples are unlikely to be exactly the same from sample to sample.

Choice A is incorrect. "Neglected" means "suffering a lack of proper care" or "abandoned," which doesn’t work here. The text
never suggests that the distribution of minerals in the samples would be neglected, so this statement doesn’t logically
follow. Choice B is incorrect. "Redundant" means "not or no longer useful or needed," which is too strong. The text doesn’t
suggest that the variation between the samples isn’t a useful finding at all—just that we can’t assume that the large-scale
composition of the asteroid will show the same variation. But the composition of the samples might be useful for something
else. Choice C is incorrect. "Ongoing" means "still in progress," which doesn’t make sense: the distribution of minerals in a
sample can’t be "ongoing."

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e56b66e5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e56b66e5
Set in a world where science fiction tropes exist as everyday realities, Charles Yu’s 2010 novel How to Live Safely in a Science
Fictional Universe traces a time traveler’s quest to find his father. Because the journey at the novel’s center is so ______, with
the protagonist ricocheting chaotically across time, the reader often wonders whether the pair will ever be reunited.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. haphazard

B. premeditated

C. inspirational

D. fruitless

ID: e56b66e5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Yu’s novel. In this context,
“haphazard” means marked by a lack of plan or order. The text indicates that the quest featured in the novel, which involves
the protagonist bouncing across time, is chaotic and causes the reader to often wonder what will happen. This context
suggests that the protagonist’s journey seems to be marked by a lack of order.

Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that the journey featured in Yu’s novel involves a character “ricocheting
chaotically,” or bouncing in a disordered way, across time and causes the reader to often wonder what will happen. It
wouldn’t make sense to say that a chaotic journey seems “premeditated,” or characterized by forethought and planning.
Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t give any indication that readers regard the journey in Yu’s novel as
“inspirational,” or as causing extraordinarily creative or brilliant thoughts or actions; instead, the text focuses on the idea that
the protagonist’s journey is chaotic, or disordered, and doesn’t give readers a clear sense of what will happen. Choice D is
incorrect. Rather than suggesting that the journey featured in Yu’s novel is “fruitless,” or has an unsuccessful outcome, the
text focuses on the idea that while reading about the protagonist’s chaotic movements across time, readers are often unsure
of what will happen—that is, they don’t know whether the protagonist will be successful in finding his father.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 14b7dced
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 14b7dced
The following text is from Walt Whitman’s 1860 poem “Calamus 24.”
I HEAR it is charged against me that I seek to destroy institutions; But really I am neither for nor against institutions
(What indeed have I in common with them?—Or what with the destruction of them?),
Only I will establish in the Mannahatta [Manhattan] and in every city of These States, inland and seaboard,
And in the fields and woods, and above every keel [ship] little or large, that dents the water,
Without edifices, or rules, or trustees, or any argument, The institution of the dear love of comrades.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. The speaker questions an increasingly prevalent attitude, then summarizes his worldview.

B. The speaker regrets his isolation from others, then predicts a profound change in society.

C. The speaker concedes his personal shortcomings, then boasts of his many achievements.

D. The speaker addresses a criticism leveled against him, then announces a grand ambition of his.

ID: 14b7dced Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it best describes the overall structure of the text. The speaker begins by stating that he
has heard that others are accusing him of seeking to destroy institutions. The speaker then addresses this criticism by
stating that he is “neither for nor against institutions.” Instead, the speaker states that his ultimate goal is to instill “the
institution of the dear love of comrades” everywhere in the country. Therefore, the overall structure of the text is best
described as an address of criticism followed by an announcement of a grand ambition.

Choice A is incorrect. While the speaker does address an opinion of him that he believes to be untrue, he doesn’t indicate
that this attitude has become increasingly prevalent. The speaker also concludes by explaining his goal for the future rather
than his current worldview. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t portray the speaker as isolated or regretful, and the
speaker gestures toward a hope for societal change but doesn’t offer an explicit prediction that it will happen. Choice C is
incorrect because the speaker addresses a criticism of him that he believes to be false; he doesn’t admit any personal
shortcomings. Moreover, the speaker concludes by stating a goal he has rather than showcasing his achievements.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f4166aae
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f4166aae
In addition to being an accomplished psychologist himself, Francis Cecil Sumner was a ______ increasing the opportunity for
Black students to study psychology, helping to found the psychology department at Howard University, a historically Black
university, in 1930.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. proponent of

B. supplement to

C. beneficiary of

D. distraction for

ID: f4166aae Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Francis Cecil Sumner. As used in
this context, “proponent of” means supporter of. The text says that Sumner helped to found the psychology department at
historically Black Howard University in 1930. This is evidence that Sumner supported increasing the opportunity for Black
students to study psychology.

Choice B is incorrect because the phrase “supplement to,” or addition to, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text discusses
Sumner’s efforts to increase the number of Black psychology students, but it doesn’t make sense to describe him as an
addition to his efforts. Choice C is incorrect because Sumner was already an accomplished psychologist himself when he
helped to found the Howard University psychology department. While Black students were the beneficiaries of his efforts—
that is, they received help because of his efforts—it wouldn’t make sense in this context to describe Sumner as a “beneficiary
of” opportunities, because he was the one doing the helping. Choice D is incorrect because founding a psychology
department at Howard University wouldn’t be a “distraction for” Sumner’s aim to increase the opportunity for Black students
to study psychology—that is, it wouldn’t be something that draws Sumner’s attention away from that goal, but rather the
opposite.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1fbf276a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1fbf276a
Interruptions in the supply chain for microchips used in personal electronics have challenged an economist’s assertion that
retailers can expect robust growth in sales of those devices in the coming months. The delays are unlikely to ______ her
projection entirely but will almost certainly extend its time frame.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. dispute

B. withdraw

C. underscore

D. invalidate

ID: 1fbf276a Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the economist’s claim about sales
of personal electronic devices. In this context, “invalidate” most nearly means nullify or make invalid. The text indicates that
interruptions in the supply of microchips for personal electronics “have challenged” the economist’s claim that sales of
personal electronics will show strong growth in the coming months. The text goes on to clarify the effect of the delays on the
economist’s projection, stating that the delays are very likely to extend the time frame over which the projected growth in
sales will occur. This context suggests that the delays are unlikely to invalidate the economist’s projection entirely—the
delays will probably alter the time frame of the projection, not nullify it or make it invalid.

Choice A is incorrect because saying that the delays are unlikely to “dispute,” or argue against, the economist’s projection
wouldn’t make sense. Since the delays are an inanimate circumstance, they couldn’t argue against a prediction about the
sales of personal electronics. Choice B is incorrect because saying that the delays are unlikely to “withdraw,” or remove from
consideration, the economist’s projection wouldn’t make sense. Although the economist could withdraw her projection
because of the delays, the delays themselves couldn’t withdraw her projection since they’re an inanimate circumstance and
thus can’t choose to remove something from consideration. Choice C is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to
suggest that the delays will “underscore,” or emphasize, the economist’s projection. Instead, the text suggests that the
delays are likely to extend the time frame of the economist’s projection but not to undermine the projection entirely.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c19b2f77
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: c19b2f77
Text 1
Little is known about how plate tectonics—wherein slabs of Earth’s crust move over, under, away from, and against one
another—began. Some researchers contend that tectonic movements began around 3 billion years ago, often noting that
computer models of Earth’s mantle temperature at the time indicate that the mantle would have been sufficiently molten to
enable the plates to move.
Text 2
Ultimately, any plausible claim about the inception of tectonic movement must rest on empirical evidence from the
geological record. Researcher Wriju Chowdhury and his team analyzed the geochemistry of zircon crystals to gain insight
into the chemical composition of the magma from which the crystals formed and, based on the data, compellingly argue that
plate tectonics may have been occurring as early as 4.2 billion years ago.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to what “some researchers contend” as described in
Text 1?

By suggesting that the temperature of Earth’s mantle 3 billion years ago was likely insufficient to allow for the level of
A. tectonic movement predicted by computer models

By distinguishing between computer models of Earth’s mantle temperature that reliably predict the onset of plate
B. tectonics and those that do not

By indicating that computer models of Earth’s mantle temperature are still being improved such that new models tend to
C. be much more reliable than their predecessors

By asserting that a more definitive form of evidence than the computer models suggests a different timeline for the
D. onset of plate tectonics on Earth

ID: c19b2f77 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to what the researchers
mentioned in Text 1 contend. Text 1 discusses the lack of knowledge of how plate tectonics on Earth began. Text 1 also
mentions researchers who contend that movements of tectonic plates began around 3 billion years ago. As support for this
assertion, these researchers cite computer models (which are simulations, not empirical evidence) of the temperature in
Earth’s mantle that show that at that time, the mantle would have been sufficiently molten for plates to move. However, the
author of Text 2 asserts that empirical evidence from the geological record is necessary to make plausible claims about
when tectonic movement began. Text 2 mentions an analysis performed by Wriju Chowdhury and his team of the
geochemistry of zircon crystals (which would constitute empirical evidence). Chowdhury and his team argue, based on this
analysis, that tectonic plates may have begun to move as early as 4.2 billion years ago. Therefore, since the author of Text 2
would consider Chowdhury et al.’s empirical evidence to be more conclusive than the computer models cited in Text 1, the
author of Text 2 would most likely assert that a more definitive form of evidence than the computer models suggests a
different timeline for the onset of plate tectonics on Earth.

Choice A is incorrect because the author of Text 2 makes no claims about the temperature of Earth’s mantle and therefore
wouldn’t argue that the temperature of Earth’s mantle 3 billion years ago was insufficient to allow tectonic movement. Choice
B is incorrect because the author of Text 2 claims that empirical evidence is needed to fix the earliest date of tectonic
movement. Computer models are simulations, not empirical evidence, so the author of Text 2 wouldn’t distinguish between
different kinds of computer models but would instead argue that no computer models can reliably predict the onset of plate
tectonics. Choice C is incorrect because the author of Text 2 wouldn’t consider any computer model to be able to provide
evidence to support a plausible claim about tectonic movement, no matter how much such models were improved. The
author of Text 2 would only accept empirical evidence.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID faee8ec7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: faee8ec7
Text 1
It seems clear that emotional contagion (the unintentional transfer of an emotional state from one person to another)
requires physical interaction and the observation of body language. After all, research shows that talking to someone who is
smiling and expressing positive feelings often causes people to respond in a comparably positive way. Similarly, displays of
nervous fidgeting have been found to prompt others to begin behaving more nervously, too.
Text 2
In an experiment using a social networking service, Zeyao Yang and Emilio Ferrara found evidence of emotional contagion in
text-based online interactions. The researchers discovered that reading social media posts that expressed a positive outlook
led people to make more positive posts themselves, while posts with a negative emotional tone led people to make more
negative posts.

Based on the texts, what would the researchers in Text 2 most likely say about the claim underlined in Text 1?

It perpetuates a flawed understanding of emotional contagion, because there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that
A. smiling is a sign of emotional contagion.

It reflects an incomplete view of emotional contagion, because this phenomenon can occur even without in-person
B. interaction.

It’s fairly persuasive, because studies attempting to identify emotional contagion in situations without in-person
C. interaction have thus far yielded unclear results.

It’s mostly accurate, because the social networking study confirmed that emotional contagion primarily occurs in
D. response to negative emotions like nervousness.

ID: faee8ec7 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it represents how the researchers in Text 2 would most likely respond to the underlined
claim in Text 1. Text 1 begins by asserting that the unintended transfer of feelings from one person to another, known as
emotional contagion, seems to rely on both people being physically present and able to observe body language. Text 1 then
references research that supports this assertion. Text 2 describes an experiment conducted by the researchers Yang and
Ferrara in which they found evidence of emotional contagion in the absence of physical interaction, namely through text-
based interactions on social media. The researchers in Text 2 wouldn’t completely agree with what is asserted in the
underlined portion of Text 1 (that emotional contagion seems to require physical proximity), because their study, which used
a social media networking service, found that physical interaction isn’t the only way that emotional contagion can take place.
Thus, the researchers in Text 2 would most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1 by stating that it reflects an
incomplete view of emotional contagion, because the phenomenon can occur without an in-person interaction.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the researchers in Text 2 would likely agree that the underlined statement in Text 1
perpetuates a flawed conclusion that emotional contagion requires physical interaction, Text 2 doesn’t address what the
researchers thought about smiling as a sign of emotional contagion. Choice C is incorrect because the researchers in Text 2
wouldn’t say that the underlined claim in Text 1 is fairly persuasive. According to Text 2, the researchers conducted a study
that found emotional contagion didn’t require physical interaction, because they found evidence of it in text-based online
interactions. Choice D is incorrect because neither of the texts claim that emotional contagion primarily occurs when a
person is exposed to negativity. Instead, Text 1 claims that physical interaction is required for emotional contagion to occur,
and Text 2 describes a study that suggests emotional contagion can occur in text-based online interactions.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d9e55268
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: d9e55268
The following text is adapted from Louise Erdrich’s 2020 novel The Night Watchman. Louis Pipestone is collecting signatures
for a petition from fellow members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa on the tribe’s reservation in North Dakota.

Louis Pipestone tended the petition like a garden. He kept it with him at all times. In town, his eyes sharpened when he
noticed a tribal member who hadn’t yet signed. Wherever they were—at the gas pump, mercantile [general store], at
Henry’s [Café], on the road, or outside the clinic and hospital—Louis cornered them. If they were waiting for a baby to be
born, he’d have them sign. If they were laughing, if they were arguing. If they were taking a child home from school, they
signed.
©2020 by Louise Erdrich

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To suggest that some tribal members refuse to sign the petition because they dislike Louis Pipestone

B. To show that attitudes toward the petition within the tribal community change over time

C. To demonstrate that most tribal members are enthusiastic about signing the petition

D. To portray Louis Pipestone’s strong commitment to collecting signatures for the petition

ID: d9e55268 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately states the text’s main purpose. The text indicates that Louis always
had his petition with him, asked everyone he encountered to sign it if they hadn’t already, and lists several comical
circumstances in which he might try to get someone to sign. Thus, the main purpose of the text is to illustrate Louis’s
dedicated focus on getting people to sign the petition.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text suggests that Louis was aggressive in seeking signatures for the petition—for
example, saying that he "cornered" people—nothing in the text addresses how those people feel toward Louis, let alone that
they are refusing his request. Choice B is incorrect because, other than portraying Louis’s commitment to gathering
signatures, the text doesn’t discuss community members’ attitudes toward Louis or the petition. Choice C is incorrect
because the text never mentions the attitudes of the people Louis approaches toward the petition, but the text does indicate
that he "cornered" prospective signatories, strongly suggesting that their enthusiasm was neither needed nor considered.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f653b273
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f653b273
Text 1
A tiny, unusual fossil in a piece of 99-million-year-old amber is of the extinct species Oculudentavis khaungraae. The O.
khaungraae fossil consists of a rounded skull with a thin snout and a large eye socket. Because these features look like they
are avian, or related to birds, researchers initially thought that the fossil might be the smallest avian dinosaur ever found.
Text 2
Paleontologists were excited to discover a second small fossil that is similar to the strange O. khaungraae fossil but has part
of the lower body along with a birdlike skull. Detailed studies of both fossils revealed several traits that are found in lizards
but not in dinosaurs or birds. Therefore, paleontologists think the two creatures were probably unusual lizards, even though
the skulls looked avian at first.

Based on the texts, what would the paleontologists in Text 2 most likely say about the researchers’ initial thought in Text 1?

It is understandable because the fossil does look like it could be related to birds, even though O. khaungraae is probably a
A. lizard.

B. It is confusing because it isn’t clear what caused the researchers to think that O. khaungraae might be related to birds.

C. It is flawed because the researchers mistakenly assumed that O. khaungraae must be a lizard.

It is reasonable because the O. khaungraae skull is about the same size as the skull of the second fossil but is shaped
D. differently.

ID: f653b273 Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it reflects what the paleontologists in Text 2 would most likely say about what the
researchers in Text 1 initially thought. Text 1 focuses on the discovery of a strange fossil consisting of the skull of the extinct
species Oculudentavis khaungraae. According to Text 1, the fossil has features that appear to be avian, or related to birds,
which led researchers to initially think that the fossil might be a very small avian dinosaur. Text 2 begins by noting the
discovery of a second fossil similar to the one discussed in Text 1, then explains that based on detailed studies of both
fossils, paleontologists think that the two creatures were probably unusual lizards, even though the skulls appeared avian at
first. This suggests that the paleontologists in Text 2 recognize that the fossils do indeed look like they could be related to
birds. For this reason, the paleontologists in Text 2 would most likely say that the initial thought of the researchers in Text 1—
that the fossil was avian—is understandable, even if the fossil is probably not avian but rather is from a lizard.

Choice B is incorrect because Text 2 indicates that the fossils initially looked avian, so the paleontologists described in Text
2 wouldn’t be confused by the researchers in Text 1 initially thinking that O. khaungraae might be related to birds. The
paleontologists would find that initial thought understandable, not confusing. Choice C is incorrect because Text 1 never
mentions lizards, so it wouldn’t make sense for the paleontologists in Text 2 to say that the researchers in Text 1 mistakenly
assumed that O. khaungraae must be a lizard. Choice D is incorrect. Although the paleontologists in Text 2 might agree that
the initial thought of the researchers in Text 1 was reasonable, nothing in Text 2 suggests that the two skulls were shaped
differently.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d8d1ecaa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d8d1ecaa
Business researcher Melanie Brucks and colleagues found that remote video conference meetings may be less conducive to
brainstorming than in-person meetings are. The researchers suspect that video meeting participants are focused on staring
at the speaker on the screen and don’t allow their eyes or mind to wander as much, which may ultimately ______ creativity.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. recommend

B. criticize

C. impede

D. construct

ID: d8d1ecaa Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The first sentence tells us that video meetings are “less conducive to” (meaning less good for)
brainstorming. This suggests that the video meeting participants’ focus is bad for their creativity. “Impede” means “delay” or
“prevent,” which works perfectly in this context.

Choice A is incorrect. This choice is too positive to fit the context. The first sentence tells us that video meetings are “less
conducive to” (meaning less good for) brainstorming. This suggests that the video meeting participants’ focus is bad for
their creativity. Choice B is incorrect. This choice doesn’t make sense. The participants’ intense focus on the screen is the
subject of the missing verb. It wouldn’t make sense to say that their over-focusing “criticizes” their creativity. Choice D is
incorrect. “Construct” means “build” or “make,” which is too positive to fit the context. The first sentence tells us that video
meetings are “less conducive to” (meaning less good for) brainstorming. This suggests that the video meeting participants’
focus is bad for their creativity.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b4c6cff6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b4c6cff6
The following text is adapted from Karel Čapek’s 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), translated by Paul Selver and
Nigel Playfair in 1923. Fabry and Busman are telling Miss Glory why their company manufactures robots.
FABRY: One Robot can replace two and a half workmen. The human machine, Miss Glory, was terribly imperfect. It had to
be removed sooner or later.
BUSMAN: It was too expensive.
FABRY: It was not effective. It no longer answers the requirements of modern engineering. Nature has no idea of keeping
pace with modern labor.

As used in the text, what does the word “answers” most nearly mean?

A. Explains

B. Rebuts

C. Defends

D. Fulfills

ID: b4c6cff6 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because as used in the text, “answers” most nearly means fulfills. In the text, Fabry and Busman
claim that the robots manufactured by their company are more efficient than human workers, which they refer to as “the
human machine.” Fabry observes that the human machine “no longer answers the requirements of modern engineering.” That
is, human workers are incapable of meeting the rigorous needs of modern, industrialized workplaces.

Choice A is incorrect. Although in some contexts “answers” can mean explains, it doesn’t have that meaning in this context
because the topic under discussion is human beings’ inability to perform labor efficiently, not their inability to engage in
discussion or explanation. Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts “answers” can mean rebuts, or proves a claim or
argument to be false, it wouldn’t make sense to speak of proving requirements to be false; requirements might or might not
be reasonable, but they can’t be verified as truthful or untruthful, as claims or accusations can. Choice C is incorrect.
Although in some contexts, “answers” can mean defends against criticism, or justifies, it doesn’t have that meaning in this
context because the opinion that Fabry expresses is that human workers can no longer fulfill the requirements of modern
workplaces, not that they have ceased to justify those requirements or to defend them against criticism; indeed, there is no
suggestion in the text that workers ever defended those requirements.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a2be625e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: a2be625e
The following text is from Sarah Orne Jewett’s 1899 short story “Martha’s Lady.” Martha is employed by Miss Pyne as a
maid.

Miss Pyne sat by the window watching, in her best dress, looking stately and calm; she seldom went out now, and it
was almost time for the carriage. Martha was just coming in from the garden with the strawberries, and with more
flowers in her apron. It was a bright cool evening in June, the golden robins sang in the elms, and the sun was going
down behind the apple-trees at the foot of the garden. The beautiful old house stood wide open to the long-expected
guest.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To convey the worries brought about by a new guest

B. To describe how the characters have changed over time

C. To contrast the activity indoors with the stillness outside

D. To depict the setting as the characters await a visitor’s arrival

ID: a2be625e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately reflects the main purpose of the text. The text portrays Miss Pyne as
awaiting the arrival of a carriage while Martha brings strawberries and flowers from the garden into the house. The text also
describes the surroundings of the scene, stating that Miss Pyne looks "stately and calm," the evening is bright and cool, and
birds are singing in the garden as the sun sets. Then the last sentence states that the house was "wide open to the long-
expected guest," which strongly suggests that Miss Pyne’s anticipation and Martha’s activities were in preparation for the
guest who is expected to arrive in the carriage. Thus, the text depicts the setting and conveys what these characters are
doing as they await the arrival of their visitor.

Choice A is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that the characters feel any worry about the guest’s
arrival. The text indicates that the guest was "long-expected," but characterizing Miss Pyne as "stately and calm" conflicts
with the idea that the characters are worried about the guest. Choice B is incorrect because the text describes a moment in
time when two characters are awaiting the arrival of a visitor rather than an extended period over which characters could be
seen changing. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text describes the activity indoors (Miss Pyne sitting calmly), it describes
a higher level of activity, not stillness, outside (Martha bringing fruit and flowers and birds singing).

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ab56a107
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: ab56a107
Text 1
Digital art, the use of digital technology to create or display images, isn’t really art at all. It doesn’t require as much skill as
creating physical art. “Painting” with a tablet and stylus is much easier than using paint and a brush: the technology is doing
most of the work.
Text 2
The painting programs used to create digital art involve more than just pressing a few buttons. In addition to knowing the
fundamentals of art, digital artists need to be familiar with sophisticated software. Many artists will start by drawing an
image on paper before transforming the piece to a digital format, where they can apply a variety of colors and techniques
that would otherwise require many different traditional tools.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the claims of the author of Text 1?

A. By arguing that a piece of art created digitally can still be displayed traditionally

B. By explaining that it’s actually much harder to use a tablet and stylus to create art than to use paint and a brush

C. By insisting that digital art requires artistic abilities and skill even if it employs less traditional tools

D. By admitting that most digital artists don’t think fundamental drawing skills are important

ID: ab56a107 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would respond to the claims in Text 1. Both texts
address skills needed to produce digital art. Text 1 claims that digital art doesn’t require the same amount of skill as creating
physical art and that “the technology is doing most of the work.” Text 2 states that digital art requires “knowing the
fundamentals of art” and that many digital artists begin their work on paper and then transfer it to a digital format using
“sophisticated software” and “a variety of colors and techniques.” Therefore, the author of Text 2 would most likely insist that
digital art requires artistic abilities even if it employs less traditional tools.

Choice A is incorrect because neither text discusses nondigital means of displaying art. Choice B is incorrect because the
author of Text 2 doesn’t address whether it’s harder to use a tablet and stylus than it is to use paint and a brush. Text 2 does
argue that digital art requires skills that aren’t part of the traditional methods for producing art, but the text doesn’t address
relative difficulty. Choice D is incorrect because the author of Text 2 states that digital artists still need to know “the
fundamentals of art” and that many digital artists begin their work by drafting on paper before transferring the work to a
digital format.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID cd2ce51f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: cd2ce51f
Like the 1945 play it reimagines—Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba—Marcus Gardley’s 2014 play The
House That Will Not Stand prominently features women. In both plays, the all-female cast ______ an array of female
characters, including a strong mother and several daughters dealing with individual struggles.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. engulfs

B. encourages

C. comprises

D. provokes

ID: cd2ce51f Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Gardley’s play. In this context,
“comprises” means constitutes or makes up the totality of, and the text indicates that The House That Will Not Stand had an
“all-female cast” that stands in some relationship to “an array of female characters” in the play. Because all cast members
are female, the characters must be played by these female cast members; therefore the cast constitutes, or comprises, the
collection of characters.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, “engulfs” would mean encloses or overwhelms, and although it is fairly common to
describe an actor as embodying (or personifying realistically) a character, there is nothing in the text to suggest that the cast
members enclosed or overwhelmed the characters they played. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “encourages”
would mean inspires with courage or hope. Although the text does mention “a strong mother and several daughters dealing
with individual struggles,” which might suggest that there are moments of encouragement among the characters during the
play, there is nothing to suggest that the cast members encouraged the characters they portrayed. Choice D is incorrect
because, in this context, “provokes” would mean instigates or incites to anger. Nothing in the text addresses provocation or
what it might mean for actors to provoke the characters they are playing.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 62a18353
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 62a18353
The following text is adapted from Zora Neale Hurston’s 1921 short story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” John wants to travel
far beyond the village where he lives near his mother, Matty.

[John] had on several occasions attempted to reconcile his mother to the notion, but found it a difficult task. Matty
always took refuge in self-pity and tears. Her son’s desires were incomprehensible to her, that was all.

As used in the text, what does the phrase “reconcile his mother to” most nearly mean?

A. Get his mother to accept

B. Get his mother to apologize for

C. Get his mother to match

D. Get his mother to reunite with

ID: 62a18353 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The expression “reconcile to” means “to cause (a person) to accept something difficult or
disagreeable.” The text suggests that John wants his mother to accept his desire to travel, even though she doesn’t like that
idea.

Choice B is incorrect. This doesn’t make sense. John doesn’t want his mother to apologize for his own desire to travel—he
wants her to accept his desire to travel. Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t suggest that John wants his mother to match
his desire to travel. Rather, he wants her to accept his desire to travel even though she doesn’t like it. Choice D is incorrect.
This is tempting, because it seems to pick up on the idea of people “reconciling” after a fight, but it actually doesn’t make
sense. The text never suggests that John’s mother was “united with” the idea of him traveling in the past—if anything, it
seems like she’s always been against it. Besides, it would be strange to say that a person “reunites with” a notion.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1fa751f1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1fa751f1
Handedness, a preferential use of either the right or left hand, typically is easy to observe in humans. Because this trait is
present but less ______ in many other animals, animal-behavior researchers often employ tasks specially designed to reveal
individual animals’ preferences for a certain hand or paw.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. recognizable

B. intriguing

C. significant

D. useful

ID: 1fa751f1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about handedness in animals. As used
in this context, “recognizable” means apparent or identifiable. The text indicates that handedness is “easy to observe in
humans,” but that animal-behavior researchers use special tasks to determine handedness in other animals. This context
and the use of “less” before the blank indicate that compared with handedness in humans, handedness in other animals is
less recognizable.

Choice B is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that handedness is less “intriguing,” or fascinating, in
nonhuman animals than it is in humans. The text focuses on how easy it is to observe handedness in humans as compared
with other animals; the text doesn’t suggest that handedness is more fascinating in humans. Choice C is incorrect because
there’s nothing in the text to suggest that handedness is less “significant,” or important or meaningful, in nonhuman animals
than it is in humans. The text focuses on how easy it is to observe handedness in humans as compared with other animals;
the text doesn’t suggest that handedness is more significant in humans. Choice D is incorrect because “useful,” or functional
or helpful, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the ease with which researchers can determine whether an
animal or person is right- or left-handed, not on how useful handedness in nonhuman animals is compared with handedness
in humans.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 54c6128b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 54c6128b
When ancient oak planks were unearthed during subway construction in Rome, Mauro Bernabei and his team examined the
growth rings in the wood to determine where these planks came from. By comparing the growth rings on the planks to
records of similar rings in oaks from Europe, the team could trace the wood to the Jura region of France, hundreds of
kilometers from Rome. Because timber could only have been transported from distant Jura to Rome by boat, the team’s
findings suggest the complexity of Roman trade routes.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A. It presents a conclusion about Roman trade routes based on the team’s findings.

B. It questions how the team was able to conclude that the planks were used to build a boat.

C. It explains why the planks were made from oak rather than a different kind of wood.

D. It describes common methods used in Roman subway construction.

ID: 54c6128b Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a
whole. The first sentence explains that Bernabei and his team studied growth rings to obtain information about the ancient
oak planks found during a construction project in Rome. The next sentence presents what the researchers learned: the wood
from the planks came from France’s Jura region, which is far from Rome. The underlined sentence then presents the
implications of the findings about the planks: the wood must have been brought to Rome by boat, a difficult task that
suggests Roman trade routes were complex. Thus, the underlined sentence mainly functions to present a conclusion about
Roman trade routes based on the team’s findings.

Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that the team thought the ancient planks were used in the
construction of a boat, nor does the underlined sentence question that conclusion. Instead, the text states that the wood
could only have been transported from Jura to Rome in a boat. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined sentence simply
offers a conclusion drawn from the team’s findings about the likely place of origin of the ancient planks; the text never
mentions why oak was chosen for the planks instead of other wood. Choice D is incorrect because neither the underlined
sentence nor the text as a whole addresses any methods that Romans used in constructing subways. Instead, the underlined
sentence offers a conclusion drawn from the team’s findings about the likely place of origin of the ancient wooden planks
discovered.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f0ae0da3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-text

Connections

ID: f0ae0da3
Text 1
When companies in the same industry propose merging with one another, they often claim that the merger will benefit
consumers by increasing efficiency and therefore lowering prices. Economist Ying Fan investigated this notion in the context
of the United States newspaper market. She modeled a hypothetical merger of Minneapolis-area newspapers and found that
subscription prices would rise following a merger.
Text 2
Economists Dario Focarelli and Fabio Panetta have argued that research on the effect of mergers on prices has focused
excessively on short-term effects, which tend to be adverse for consumers. Using the case of consumer banking in Italy, they
show that over the long term (several years, in their study), the efficiency gains realized by merged companies do result in
economic benefits for consumers.

Based on the texts, how would Focarelli and Panetta (Text 2) most likely respond to Fan’s findings (Text 1)?

They would recommend that Fan compare the near-term effect of a merger on subscription prices in the Minneapolis
A. area with the effect of a merger in another newspaper market.

B. They would argue that over the long term the expenses incurred by the merged newspaper company will also increase.

They would encourage Fan to investigate whether the projected effect on subscription prices persists over an extended
C. period.

They would claim that mergers have a different effect on consumer prices in the newspaper industry than in most other
D. industries.

ID: f0ae0da3 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because, based on the information presented in the texts, it represents how Focarelli and
Panetta would most likely respond to Fan’s findings. Text 1 indicates that Fan found that a newspaper merger would result in
a rise in subscription prices. This rise wouldn’t benefit customers, who would have to pay more for news after a merger. Text
2 presents Focarelli and Panetta’s argument that merger research tends to focus too much on what happens immediately
after the merger. Text 2 goes on to describe their finding that mergers can be economically beneficial for consumers over the
long term. This suggests that Focarelli and Panetta would encourage Fan to investigate the long-term effect of the
hypothetical newspaper merger on subscription prices.

Choice A is incorrect because Text 2 doesn’t indicate that Focarelli and Panetta connect the effects of mergers to specific
locations. Instead, Focarelli and Panetta focus on the length of time over which the effects of mergers should be evaluated.
Choice B is incorrect because Text 2 indicates that Focarelli and Panetta found that merged companies experience
"efficiency gains" over the long term, meaning that their expenses go down relative to their output, not that their expenses
increase. Choice D is incorrect because there’s no indication in Text 2 that Focarelli and Panetta believe that the newspaper
industry is different from any other industry when it comes to the effects of mergers. Although their own research was about
consumer banking, Text 2 suggests that they view their conclusions as applicable to mergers in general.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e37b9e34
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e37b9e34
Some researchers believe that the genes that enable groundhogs and certain other mammals to hibernate through the
winter by slowing their breathing and heart rates and lowering their body temperature may be ______ in humans: present yet
having essentially no effect on our bodily processes.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. decisive

B. lacking

C. variable

D. dormant

ID: e37b9e34 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it logically completes the text’s discussion about genes related to hibernation. In this
context, “dormant” means inactive. The text explains that the same genes that enable certain nonhuman mammal species to
hibernate during the winter by altering their bodily processes are also found in our species but have “essentially no effect” on
humans’ bodily processes. In other words, these genes don’t function in humans.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, “decisive” means has the power to affect the outcome of something, but the
text states that genes related to hibernation are instead inactive in humans—that is, the genes don’t affect humans’ bodily
processes, although they are present in their bodies. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “lacking” means missing,
but the text states that the genes are present in humans, though inactive. Choice C is incorrect because “variable” means
characterized by the potential to change, but the text indicates that these genes don’t change in their effect on humans’
bodily processes; instead, the genes are consistently inactive in humans.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5127fc1e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 5127fc1e
The north celestial pole (NCP)—the fixed point around which stars in the Northern Hemisphere (including the Sun) appear to
rotate—is discernible only at night. Inspired by the navigational strategies of some insects and birds, researchers devised a
method for locating the NCP in daytime using skylight polarization, which occurs as atmospheric particles scatter sunlight.
A polarimetric camera captures images of polarization patterns, which rotate as the Sun’s position in the sky changes;
temporal variances across images can then be used to determine an observer’s latitude and bearing relative to the NCP.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It illustrates how most navigational tools utilize the NCP, recounts how researchers discovered that certain animals are
able to navigate without using the NCP, and then proposes that this discovery could be used to avoid problems in
A. navigation associated with reliance on the NCP.

It presents a celestial-based method of navigation, enumerates the comparative benefits of an alternative method used
by certain animals that is based on an unrelated natural occurrence, and then indicates how researchers assessed the
B. relative accuracy of the two methods.

It explains how the NCP is typically located, emphasizes a key difference between how humans and certain animals use
the NCP for navigation, and then suggests an alternative way of using the NCP to improve existing navigational
C. instruments.

It notes an obstacle to observing an astronomical phenomenon, mentions a navigational ability of certain animals that
D. inspired a solution to that obstacle, and then explains how researchers used an optical device to mimic that ability.

ID: 5127fc1e Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it accurately describes the overall structure of the text. The text begins by pointing out
an obstacle to observing the astronomical phenomenon of the NCP: the NCP is visible only at night. The text then indicates
that, inspired by the ability of some insects and birds to navigate using visualizations of polarized sunlight, researchers
devised a way to locate the NCP during daylight. The text then indicates that the researchers mimicked the insects’ and
birds’ polarized-light visualization capabilities using a polarimetric camera. Thus, the text notes an obstacle to observing an
astronomical phenomenon, mentions a navigational ability of certain animals that inspired a solution to that obstacle, and
then explains how researchers used an optical device to mimic that ability.

Choice A is incorrect. Although it’s reasonable to conjecture that humans have used the NCP for navigation, the text doesn’t
indicate this is the case, let alone that the NCP is relevant to a majority of navigational tools. Furthermore, the text doesn’t
state that researchers discovered that insects and birds navigate without the NCP; rather, it indicates that it’s known that
some animals navigate by using skylight polarization to locate the NCP during the day and that this knowledge inspired the
method the researchers devised. Choice B is incorrect. Although it’s reasonable to conjecture that humans have used the
NCP for navigation, the text doesn’t state that this is the case. Furthermore, the text discusses how some animals’ use of
navigational strategies based on the same celestial occurrence served as the inspiration for the researchers’ polarized-light
approach, not as the basis for a comparison of the relative effectiveness of animal and human methods of navigation.
Choice C is incorrect. Although the text implies that humans have typically been able to locate the NCP visually at night and
indicates that some animals use the NCP to navigate, the text doesn’t state that humans use the NCP for navigation. The
text therefore doesn’t emphasize a difference between how humans and animals use the NCP for this purpose. Furthermore,
the text doesn’t suggest that existing navigational instruments will be augmented with polarimetric technologies.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID af43b0bd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: af43b0bd
Researchers have long hypothesized that woolly mammoths were hunted to extinction in North America by humans using
spears with grooved tips known as Clovis points. One anthropologist set out to test this hypothesis. Using a mechanical
spear-thrower, he launched spears with Clovis points into mounds of clay—substitutes for the animals’ large bodies. The
projectiles generally penetrated only a few inches into the clay, an amount insufficient to have harmed most woolly
mammoths. This led the anthropologist to conclude that hunters using spears with Clovis points likely weren’t the principal
drivers of the extinction.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To argue for the significance of new findings amid an ongoing debate among researchers

B. To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the method used in an experiment

C. To summarize two competing hypotheses and a major finding associated with each one

D. To describe an experiment whose results cast doubt on an established hypothesis

ID: af43b0bd Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately states the main purpose of the text, which is to describe an
experiment whose results cast doubt on an established hypothesis. The text begins by noting that researchers have long
believed that woolly mammoths were hunted to extinction in North America by humans using spears with Clovis points. The
text then describes an experiment conducted by an anthropologist to test this hypothesis. According to the text, the results
of the experiment led the anthropologist to conclude that hunters using spears with Clovis points likely weren’t the primary
cause of the extinction. The anthropologist’s results cast doubt on the long-held hypothesis presented at the beginning of
the text and suggest that woolly mammoths may have become extinct in North America due to some other cause.

Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that researchers have been involved in an ongoing
debate. On the contrary, the text suggests that most researchers agree on the cause of the woolly mammoth’s extinction in
North America. Choice B is incorrect because the text never mentions any advantages or disadvantages of the method used
in the experiment, focusing instead on the results achieved using that method. Choice C is incorrect because the text
addresses only one hypothesis, that mammoths were hunted to extinction in North America by humans using spears with
Clovis points. Rather than present a competing hypothesis, the text explains how one anthropologist designed an experiment
to test this long-held hypothesis.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 12d81fc1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 12d81fc1
Text 1
Because literacy in Nahuatl script, the writing system of the Aztec Empire, was lost after Spain invaded central Mexico in the
1500s, it is unclear exactly how meaning was encoded in the script’s symbols. Although many scholars had assumed that
the symbols signified entire words, linguist Alfonso Lacadena theorized in 2008 that they signified units of language smaller
than words: individual syllables.
Text 2
The growing consensus among scholars of Nahuatl script is that many of its symbols could signify either words or syllables,
depending on syntax and content at any given site within a text. For example, the symbol signifying the word huipil (blouse)
in some contexts could signify the syllable “pil” in others, as in the place name “Chipiltepec.” Thus, for the Aztecs, reading
required a determination of how such symbols functioned each time they appeared in a text.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely characterize Lacadena’s theory, as described in Text 1?

A. By praising the theory for recognizing that the script’s symbols could represent entire words

B. By arguing that the theory is overly influenced by the work of earlier scholars

C. By approving of the theory’s emphasis on how the script changed over time

D. By cautioning that the theory overlooks certain important aspects of how the script functioned

ID: 12d81fc1 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. Lacadena’s theory is that Nahuatl script symbols signified syllables, but the consensus
described in Text 2 is that they can signify either symbols or full words, depending on the context. So the author of Text 2
would likely consider Lacadena’s theory too simplistic: it’s missing the importance of the context in determining the meaning
of a symbol.

Choice A is incorrect. This conflicts with Text 1’s description of Lacadena’s theory. Lacadena’s theory is that Nahuatl script
symbols signified syllables. Choice B is incorrect. This conflicts with Text 1’s description of Lacadena’s theory. Text 1 states
that Lacadena’s theory differed from what earlier scholars believed. Choice C is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how the
author of Text 2 would characterize Lacadena’s theory. Neither text mentions how or even if the script changed over time.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2d77660e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 2d77660e
In the late 1800s, Spanish-language newspapers flourished in cities across Texas. San Antonio alone produced eleven
newspapers in Spanish between 1890 and 1900. But El Paso surpassed all other cities in the state. This city produced
twenty-two newspapers in Spanish during that period. El Paso is located on the border with Mexico and has always had a
large population of Spanish speakers. Thus, it is unsurprising that this city became such a rich site for Spanish-language
journalism.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To compare Spanish-language newspapers published in Texas today with ones published there during the late 1800s

B. To explain that Spanish-language newspapers thrived in Texas and especially in El Paso during the late 1800s

To argue that Spanish-language newspapers published in El Paso influenced the ones published in San Antonio during
C. the late 1800s

D. To explain why Spanish-language newspapers published in Texas were so popular in Mexico during the late 1800s

ID: 2d77660e Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text begins by stating
that there were many Spanish-language newspapers in cities across Texas in the late 1800s, citing San Antonio as a city that
produced eleven such newspapers. The text then goes on to note that in El Paso, there were twenty-two newspapers
published in Spanish in the late 1800s, more than any other Texas city. The text then concludes by explaining that the reason
for this large number of Spanish-language newspapers was likely El Paso’s location near Mexico and its large population of
Spanish speakers. Therefore, the main purpose of the text is to explain that Spanish-language newspapers thrived in Texas
cities, especially in El Paso, in the late 1800s.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t discuss Spanish-language newspapers published in Texas today, let alone
compare them with newspapers that were published in the 1800s. Choice C is incorrect. Although the text characterizes El
Paso as a particularly rich site for Spanish-language journalism in the late 1800s, the text doesn’t discuss whether
newspapers published in El Paso influenced the newspapers published in other cities across Texas, including San Antonio.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t mention whether Spanish-language newspapers published in Texas were also
widely read in Mexico. The text only focuses on the popularity of Spanish-language newspapers within Texas, and especially
in El Paso.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d4e8662d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d4e8662d
The percentage of US forest land that a 2023 federal report identified as being either mature or old growth exceeds other
recent estimates. Given how little ______ there is among scientists regarding the scope of these categories, this discrepancy
shouldn’t be surprising: forest researchers regularly dispute one another’s classifications.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. deliberation

B. vigilance

C. interest

D. consensus

ID: d4e8662d Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of US forest land classifications. In
this context, "consensus" means agreement. The text indicates that a percentage given in a US forest land report differs
from other estimates and that this discrepancy isn’t surprising, given that forest researchers regularly dispute one another’s
classifications of parts of US forest land as either mature or old growth. This context conveys that there is little agreement
when it comes to these categories.

Choice A is incorrect because the text states that there is often dispute among forest researchers about classifications of
US forest land as either mature or old growth, which directly indicates that when it comes to these categories, there is much
"deliberation," or discussion and consideration, not little deliberation. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that
there is often dispute among forest researchers about classifications of US forest land as either mature or old growth; this
doesn’t imply that there is little "vigilance," or careful attention, among researchers when it comes to these categories but
rather conveys that researchers do pay attention to forest land classifications and question one another’s decisions. Choice
C is incorrect because the text indicates that there is often dispute among forest researchers about classifications of US
forest land as either mature or old growth; this doesn’t imply that there is little "interest," or concern, among researchers
when it comes to these categories but rather conveys that researchers are concerned with forest land classifications and
pay attention to one another’s classifications.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID fce80a36
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: fce80a36
In 2008 a complete set of ancient pessoi (glass game pieces) was uncovered from beneath a paving stone in modern-day
Israel. Due to their small size, pessoi were easily misplaced, making a whole set a rare find. This has led some experts to
suggest that the set may have been buried intentionally; however, without clear evidence, archaeologists are left to ______
what happened.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. speculate about

B. dismiss

C. expand on

D. catalog

ID: fce80a36 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. "Speculate" means "to form a theory or guess without any clear evidence." This makes sense
because, due to the lack of "clear evidence," the archaeologists can only guess how the pessoi set might have come to be
there.

Choice B is incorrect. "Dismiss" can mean "send away" or "treat as unworthy of consideration." The text implies that the
archaeologists are trying to figure out the truth—they wouldn’t "dismiss" what really happened. Choice C is incorrect. "Expand
on" means "give more details about," but there aren’t any details to give. Without any "clear evidence," the archaeologists can’t
give any more details. Choice D is incorrect. "Catalog" means "carefully record" or "make a list of." However, there’s no "clear
evidence," so there’s no real information to "catalog."

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 749f3334
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 749f3334
The following text is from Charlotte Forten Grimké’s 1888 poem “At Newport.”
Oh, deep delight to watch the gladsome waves
Exultant leap upon the rugged rocks;
Ever repulsed, yet ever rushing on—
Filled with a life that will not know defeat;
To see the glorious hues of sky and sea.
The distant snowy sails, glide spirit like,
Into an unknown world, to feel the sweet
Enchantment of the sea thrill all the soul,
Clearing the clouded brain, making the heart
Leap joyous as it own bright, singing waves!

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It portrays the surroundings as an imposing and intimidating scene.

B. It characterizes the sea’s waves as a relentless and enduring force.

C. It conveys the speaker’s ambivalence about the natural world.

D. It draws a contrast between the sea’s waves and the speaker’s thoughts.

ID: 749f3334 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The text presents the speaker’s experience of viewing the sea. In the underlined portion, the speaker focuses on the
idea that the waves hitting rocks on the shore are a relentless and enduring force: they are constantly pushed back (“ever
repulsed”) but always return (“ever rushing on”), as though they have an energy that can’t be overcome (“a life that will not
know defeat”).

Choice A is incorrect. Although the underlined portion characterizes the waves as a relentless force (always “repulsed” but
still “rushing on” and never being defeated), the speaker doesn’t suggest that the surroundings are intimidating. Instead, the
speaker presents the scene in a positive way, describing the “deep delight” of the “gladsome,” or cheerful, waves and feeling
“the heart / Leap joyous” while viewing the sea. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined portion doesn’t suggest that
the speaker is ambivalent, or has mixed feelings about, the natural world. Instead, it presents a single view of one part of the
immediate surroundings: the speaker characterizes the sea’s waves as an unstoppable force, since they are constantly
pushed back but always return (“ever repulsed, yet ever rushing on”). Choice D is incorrect. Although the text later suggests
the speaker’s view of her own thoughts by referring to a “clouded brain” and a heart that leaps joyously, this reference neither
occurs within the underlined portion nor establishes a clear contrast with the relentless determination of the waves. The
underlined portion addresses only the speaker’s view of the waves and doesn’t suggest what her own thoughts might be.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c8a2af72
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: c8a2af72
Text 1
French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas insisted that his paintings be kept in their original frames after they were sold. Like
many Impressionist painters, Degas used painted frames that stood in contrast to the gold frames frequently seen at the
Paris Salon, a prestigious art exhibition that was sponsored by the French government and promoted traditional painting
styles. Impressionist painters likely chose these colorful frames to distinguish themselves from what was considered
conventional at the time.
Text 2
Impressionist painters often focused on the interplay of color and light in their works. As such, those Impressionists who
placed their works in painted frames instead of the more traditional gold ones did so for aesthetic reasons: a frame’s color
was likely chosen because it would harmonize with the colors or subjects in a painting. Gold, conversely, could distract from
the subtleties in a painted scene.

Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?

A. Gold frames were considered especially desirable by those who purchased works from Impressionist painters.

B. The colors in an Impressionist painting were often chosen to complement the colors of the frame it would be placed in.

C. Many Impressionist painters were intentional about the frames they selected for their works.

D. Degas’s preferred framing style was different from that of most Impressionist painters.

ID: c8a2af72 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it presents the statement about the use of painted frames in Impressionist painting
that both authors would be most likely to agree with. Text 1 discusses painter Edgar Degas’s insistence that his works
remain in their original painted frames, which contrasted with the gold frames that were typical of the Paris art scene at the
time. The text then argues that the preference of Degas and other French Impressionist painters for colorful frames can
likely be attributed to their desire "to distinguish themselves from what was considered conventional at the time." Text 2 also
notes that Impressionist painters "placed their works in painted frames" but argues that they probably did so for a purely
aesthetic reason: to ensure that "the frame’s color...would harmonize with the colors or subjects in a painting." Though
differing on Impressionist painters’ rationale for using painted frames, the authors of both texts would agree that many
Impressionist painters were intentional about the frames they selected for their works.

Choice A is incorrect because neither text suggests that gold frames were considered desirable by those purchasing
Impressionist works. Indeed, it can be inferred from the fact that Impressionist painters used painted frames that those who
purchased those works wouldn’t have had a strong preference for gold frames. Choice B is incorrect because neither text
suggests that Impressionist painters chose colors for their paintings based on planned frame colors. Indeed, Text 2 states
that frame colors were chosen to "harmonize with the colors or subjects in a painting," implying that the color scheme of
paintings predated and took precedence over the choice of the colors of frames. Choice D is incorrect because Text 1
presents Degas’s preference for painted frames as being typical of Impressionist painters’ attitudes toward the framing of
their works. Moreover, although Text 2 doesn’t specifically discuss Degas, it concurs with Text 1’s assertion that these
painters preferred painted frames. Thus, both texts position painted frames as a hallmark of French Impressionist painting,
not as a deviation from it.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID eae66bf9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: eae66bf9
Text 1
In 2021, a team led by Amir Siraj hypothesized that the Chicxulub impactor—the object that struck the Yucatán Peninsula
sixty-six million years ago, precipitating the mass extinction of the dinosaurs—was likely a member of the class of long-
period comets. As evidence, Siraj cited the carbonaceous chondritic composition of samples from the Chicxulub impact
crater as well as of samples obtained from long-period comet Wild 2 in 2006.
Text 2
Although long-period comets contain carbonaceous chondrites, asteroids are similarly rich in these materials. Furthermore,
some asteroids are rich in iridium, as Natalia Artemieva points out, whereas long-period comets are not. Given the
prevalence of iridium at the crater and, more broadly, in geological layers deposited worldwide following the impact,
Artemieva argues that an asteroid is a more plausible candidate for the Chicxulub impactor.

Based on the texts, how would Artemieva likely respond to Siraj’s hypothesis, as presented in Text 1?

A. By insisting that it overestimates how representative Wild 2 is of long-period comets as a class

B. By arguing that it does not account for the amount of iridium found in geological layers dating to the Chicxulub impact

C. By praising it for connecting the composition of Chicxulub crater samples to the composition of certain asteroids

D. By concurring that carbonaceous chondrites are prevalent in soil samples from sites distant from the Chicxulub crater

ID: eae66bf9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Siraj’s hypothesis is that the Chicxulub impactor was a long-period comet. But Artemieva points
to the iridium found in the crater and in “geological layers that were deposited worldwide after the impact” as evidence that it
was actually an asteroid, not a long-period comet.

Choice A is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how Artemieva would respond to Siraj’s hypothesis. Text 2 never discusses
whether Wild 2 is representative of long-period comets in general. Rather, Text 2 presents Artemieva’s argument that the
Chicxulub impactor was an asteroid, not a long-term comet. Choice C is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how Artemieva
would respond to Siraj’s hypothesis. Siraj’s hypothesis doesn’t make this connection: rather, Siraj hypothesizes that the
Chicxulub impactor was a long-term comet. Choice D is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how Artemieva would respond to
Siraj’s hypothesis. “Soil samples from sites distant from the Chicxulub crater” is too vague. Only soil samples from sites that
are connected to the impact in some way are involved in either hypothesis.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f631132b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: f631132b
In the Here and Now Storybook (1921), educator Lucy Sprague Mitchell advanced the then controversial idea that books for
very young children should imitate how they use language, since toddlers, who cannot yet grasp narrative or abstract ideas,
seek reassurance in verbal repetition and naming. The most enduring example of this idea is Margaret Wise Brown’s 1947
picture book Goodnight Moon, in which a young rabbit names the objects in his room as he drifts off to sleep. Scholars note
that the book’s emphasis on repetition, rhythm, and nonsense rhyme speaks directly to Mitchell’s influence.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

The text outlines a debate between two authors of children’s literature and then traces how that debate shaped theories
A. on early childhood education.

The text summarizes an argument about how children’s literature should be evaluated and then discusses a contrasting
B. view on that subject.

The text lists the literary characteristics that are common to many classics of children’s literature and then indicates the
C. narrative subjects that are most appropriate for young children.

The text presents a philosophy about what material is most suitable for children’s literature and then describes a book
D. influenced by that philosophy.

ID: f631132b Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text starts by introducing Mitchell’s philosophy about using simple, repetitive language in
books for young children. Then it describes a book influenced by that philosophy, Goodnight Moon.

Choice A is incorrect. Although two authors are mentioned in the text, they both agree about the type of language that should
be contained in books for young children. Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses the evaluation of children’s
literature. It does provide one view of how children’s books should be written, but never introduces a competing view. Choice
C is incorrect. The text doesn’t mention “many classics of children’s literature.” Instead, it describes an educational theory
and identifies one example of a famous children’s book that was influenced by that theory.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID dc234d74
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: dc234d74
The recently observed gamma ray burst GRB 230307A lasted for 200 seconds, ______ for a burst generated by the merger of
neutron stars. Bursts caused by neutron mergers typically last fewer than 2 seconds.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. a coincidence

B. a reprieve

C. an incident

D. an oddity

ID: dc234d74 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the duration of gamma ray burst
GRB 230307A. In this context, "an oddity" is something that is odd or unusual. The text explains that the burst lasted for 200
seconds and that other bursts generated by neutron mergers have usually lasted fewer than 2 seconds. In other words, the
duration of gamma ray burst GRB 230307A was unusual.

Choice A is incorrect because the text focuses on a difference between the duration of gamma ray burst GRB 230307A and
the typical duration of bursts caused by neutron mergers, not "a coincidence," or a point of correspondence, between them;
the text indicates that GRB 230307A lasted much longer than what is typical of other bursts. Choice B is incorrect. In this
context, "a reprieve" would be either a temporary relief from something or a delay of a punishment, neither of which would
make sense as something that the duration of a gamma ray burst could provide to the burst itself. Choice C is incorrect.
Although it would make sense to refer to gamma ray burst GRB 230307A itself as "an incident," or a thing that occurred, the
missing word describes the duration of the burst, and it doesn’t make much sense to describe a length of time as an
incident. Further, the sentence emphasizes that the burst’s duration was very unusual, not simply that the burst occurred.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 03080769
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 03080769
Text 1
Philosopher G.E. Moore’s most influential work entails the concept of common sense. He asserts that there are certain
beliefs that all people, including philosophers, know instinctively to be true, whether or not they profess otherwise: among
them, that they have bodies, or that they exist in a world with other objects that have three dimensions. Moore’s careful work
on common sense may seem obvious but was in fact groundbreaking.
Text 2
External world skepticism is a philosophical stance supposing that we cannot be sure of the existence of anything outside
our own minds. During a lecture, G.E. Moore once offered a proof refuting this stance by holding out his hands and saying,
“Here is one hand, and here is another.” Many philosophers reflexively reject this proof (Annalisa Coliva called it “an obviously
annoying failure”) but have found it a challenge to articulate exactly why the proof fails.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 1 most likely respond to proponents of the philosophical stance outlined in
Text 2?

By agreeing with those proponents that Moore’s treatment of positions that contradict his own is fundamentally
A. unserious

By suggesting that an instinctive distaste for Moore’s position is preventing external world skeptics from constructing a
B. sufficiently rigorous refutation of Moore

By arguing that if it is valid to assert that some facts are true based on instinct, it is also valid to assert that some proofs
C. are inadequate based on instinct

By pointing out that Moore would assert that external world skepticism is at odds with other beliefs those proponents
D. must unavoidably hold

ID: 03080769 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. According to the author of Text 1, Moore’s definition of common sense—things we instinctively
know are true—includes the belief that we all “exist in a world with other objects.” The author of Text 1 describes this notion
as both “obvious” and “groundbreaking.” So it’s safe to infer that the author would observe that Moore would respond to
external world skeptics by arguing that since everyone instinctively knows that things exist outside of their own minds, then
external world skepticism must be wrong.

Choice A is incorrect. We can’t infer that the author of Text 1 would respond this way to external world skeptics. If anything,
the author of Text 1 seems to agree with Moore. Choice B is incorrect. We can’t infer that the author of Text 1 would respond
this way to external world skeptics. The author of Text 1 never mentions external world skeptics directly, let alone why they
have a hard time refuting Moore’s position. Choice C is incorrect. We can’t infer that the author of Text 1 would respond this
way to external world skeptics. Text 1’s presentation of Moore’s concept of common sense only includes the idea that some
facts are true based on instinct—it doesn’t mention the idea that some proofs are inadequate based on instinct.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c0e1b70a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: c0e1b70a
The following text is adapted from Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto’s 1925 memoir A Daughter of the Samurai. As a young woman,
Sugimoto moved from feudal Japan to the United States.

The standards of my own and my adopted country differed so widely in some ways, and my love for both lands was so
sincere, that sometimes I had an odd feeling of standing upon a cloud in space, and gazing with measuring eyes upon
two separate worlds. At first I was continually trying to explain, by Japanese standards, all the queer things that came
every day before my surprised eyes; for no one seemed to know the origin or significance of even the most familiar
customs, nor why they existed and were followed.

Which choice best describes the main purpose of the text?

A. To convey the narrator’s experience of observing and making sense of differences between two cultures she embraces

B. To establish the narrator’s hope of forming connections with new companions by sharing customs she learned as a child

To reveal the narrator’s recognition that she is hesitant to ask questions about certain aspects of a culture she is newly
C. encountering

To emphasize the narrator’s wonder at discovering that the physical distance between two countries is greater than she
D. had expected

ID: c0e1b70a Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The narrator asserts that she
loves both her “own” country (Japan) and her “adopted country” (the United States) even though the two countries differ
“widely.” She also indicates that, at first, she would try to explain unfamiliar experiences that she had in the United States
using the standards ingrained in her from growing up in Japan. Thus, the main purpose of the text is to convey the narrator’s
experience of observing and making sense of the differences between two cultures she embraces.

Choice B is incorrect because the text makes no reference to possible companions. Although the text does indicate that the
narrator sometimes used the cultural framework she acquired growing up in Japan to explain some experiences she’s had,
there is no suggestion that this was in service of making friends. And although “no one seemed to know” strongly implies
that the narrator has interacted with other people in the United States, there is no indication that these conversations
involved her discussing Japanese customs. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the narrator was
hesitant to ask questions. In fact, the narrator indicates that “no one seemed to know the origin” of various customs, which
provides evidence that, rather than being hesitant, she sought information from several people. Choice D is incorrect
because the text makes no reference to the physical distance between Japan and the United States. Although the narrator
indicates that the two countries differ “widely” and likens them to “two separate worlds,” these descriptions relate to cultural
aspects of the countries and the narrator’s feelings about the two countries, not the physical distance between them.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c843d63c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c843d63c
The artisans of the Igun Eronmwon guild in Benin City, Nigeria, typically ______ the bronze- and brass-casting techniques that
have been passed down through their families since the thirteenth century, but they don’t strictly observe every tradition; for
example, guild members now use air-conditioning motors instead of handheld bellows to help heat their forges.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. experiment with

B. adhere to

C. improve on

D. grapple with

ID: c843d63c Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of bronze- and brass-casting
techniques used by the Igun Eronmwon guild. In this context “adhere to” would mean to act in accordance with. The text
states that although members of the Igun Eronmwon guild typically do something with techniques that have been passed
down since the thirteenth century, they “don’t strictly observe every tradition.” By establishing a contrast with not always
following traditions, the context suggests that guild members do typically adhere to traditional techniques.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context “experiment with” would mean to do something new with. Although using
motors rather than manual bellows is presented as a new approach, the text establishes a contrast between what the guild
members typically do with techniques that have been passed down over centuries and the idea that the members “don’t
strictly observe every tradition.” The phrase “experiment with” wouldn’t support the contrast because regularly trying new
things with the techniques would be an example of not strictly following all traditions. Choice C is incorrect because in this
context “improve on” would mean to make better. Although using motors rather than manual bellows might be an improved
approach, the text establishes a contrast between what the guild members typically do with techniques that have been
passed down over centuries and the idea that the members “don’t strictly observe every tradition.” The phrase “improve on”
wouldn’t support the contrast because regularly making changes to the techniques would be an example of not strictly
following all traditions. Choice D is incorrect because in this context “grapple with” would mean to try hard to solve a difficult
problem. Although bronze- and brass-casting are likely challenging tasks, nothing in the text suggests that the guild
members have any particular difficulties with the techniques passed down since the thirteenth century.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d168e7c5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: d168e7c5
The following text is from Annie Dillard’s 1987 autobiographical novel An American Childhood. The narrator is a young girl
living in Pittsburgh.

I walked. My mother had given me the freedom of the streets as soon as I could say our telephone number. I walked
and memorized the neighborhood. I made a mental map and located myself upon it. At night in bed I rehearsed the
small world’s scheme and set challenges: Find the store using backyards only. Imagine a route from the school to my
friend’s house.
©1987 by Annie Dillard

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It describes the narrator trying to memorize her telephone number.

B. It provides examples of what the narrator thinks about at night.

C. It gives directions to the narrator’s favorite local store.

D. It portrays the narrator’s relationship with her mother.

ID: d168e7c5 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a whole. In
the text, the narrator explains that she walks around her neighborhood, making a "mental map" of the area that she imagines
herself navigating through. She then states that she rehearses "the small world’s scheme"—that is, imagines moving through
her mental map—and challenges herself to use the map in her mind while lying in bed at night. The underlined portion
presents two such challenges (getting to the store through backyards and traveling from school to a friend’s house) and thus
provides examples of what the narrator thinks about at night.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined portion makes no mention of memorizing a telephone number. Although the
narrator mentions that she had to learn the home telephone number before her mother would give her permission to walk
around the neighborhood, there is nothing in the underlined portion or the rest of the text about memorizing the telephone
number. Choice C is incorrect. Although the underlined portion refers to navigation tasks like finding a route to a store only
through backyards, the text contains no specific directions to any store, nor is any store identified as the narrator’s favorite.
Choice D is incorrect because the underlined portion makes no mention of the narrator’s mother and doesn’t address the
narrator’s relationship with her. Although the narrator mentions that her mother gave her permission as a child to walk
around the neighborhood, there is nothing in the underlined portion or the rest of the text about the mother or her
relationship to her child.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 1090b367
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1090b367
Today composer Scott Joplin is mainly celebrated for his catchy ragtime pieces “Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer.”
However, by overlooking his less famous works, listeners will miss the full range of Joplin’s creativity. For instance, his waltz
“Pleasant Moments” and his opera Treemonisha skillfully blend ragtime and classical music. These masterpieces deserve as
much fame as Joplin’s biggest hits.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To describe the similarities and differences between ragtime music and opera

B. To argue that more attention should be given to Joplin’s lesser-known works

C. To encourage music lovers to listen to music by many different composers

D. To explain how Joplin learned to compose and perform ragtime music

ID: 1090b367 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it best states the main purpose of the text, which is to make a case for the importance
of Scott Joplin’s less famous works. The text begins by introducing Joplin’s most popular works and then goes on to assert
that gaining a full understanding of Joplin’s creativity requires a consideration of his lesser-known pieces as well. The text
concludes by characterizing the lesser-known works "Pleasant Moments" and Treemonisha as masterpieces that deserve to
be famous. These details indicate that the text’s main purpose is to argue that more attention should be given to Joplin’s
lesser-known works.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text discusses some of the ragtime music and an opera that Joplin composed, it does
not compare the two types of music in general. Instead, the text argues that Joplin’s lesser-known works, including his opera,
deserve as much attention as his more famous ragtime pieces receive. Choice C is incorrect because the text discusses only
Joplin’s music and does not ask music lovers to listen to a variety of composers. Instead, the text encourages listeners to
pay attention to Joplin’s lesser-known works in order to gain a full understanding of his creativity. Choice D is incorrect
because the text does not discuss how Joplin learned to compose and perform ragtime music. Instead, the text focuses on
Joplin’s less famous works and makes a case for their importance.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8634bf4a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 8634bf4a
Diego Velázquez was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain during the seventeenth century, but his
influence was hardly ______ Spain: realist and impressionist painters around the world employed his techniques and echoed
elements of his style.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. derived from

B. recognized in

C. confined to

D. repressed by

ID: 8634bf4a Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the discussion of the artist Diego Velázquez’s influence
outside Spain. As used in this context, “confined to” means restricted to. The text says that Velázquez was the leading artist
in the Spanish court during the seventeenth century, but it also notes that other painters around the world were influenced by
his techniques and style. Thus, Velázquez’s influence was hardly (or almost not) confined to, or restricted to, Spain.

Choice A is incorrect because if Velázquez was a leading artist in Spain, it doesn’t make logical sense to claim that his
influence was hardly (or almost not) derived from, or obtained from, Spain. Moreover, the other painters around the world
who employed Velázquez’s techniques would by definition be influenced by Spanish style. Choice B is incorrect because if
Velázquez was a leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain, then his influence must have been widely recognized, or
acknowledged, rather than being hardly (or almost not) recognized. Choice D is incorrect because the text gives no
indication that deliberately limiting Velázquez’s influence outside Spain was ever considered by anyone. Thus, even if it is
true that his influence was not repressed, or restrained, it doesn’t make logical sense to say so in this context.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f878693b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f878693b
Text 1
In 1954 George Balanchine choreographed a production of The Nutcracker, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It has since
become a tradition for hundreds of dance companies in North America to stage The Nutcracker each year. But the show is
stuck in the past, with an old-fashioned story and references, so it should no longer be produced. Ballet needs to create new
traditions if it wants to stay relevant to contemporary audiences.
Text 2
The Nutcracker is outdated, but it should be kept because it’s a holiday favorite and provides substantial income for some
dance companies. Although it can be behind the times, there are creative ways to update the show. For example, Debbie
Allen successfully modernized the story. Her show Hot Chocolate Nutcracker combines ballet, tap, hip-hop, and other styles,
and it has been gaining in popularity since it opened in 2009.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?

By questioning the idea that the story of The Nutcracker is stuck in the past and by rejecting the suggestion that
A. contemporary audiences would enjoy an updated version

By agreeing that contemporary audiences have largely stopped going to see performances of The Nutcracker because it’s
B. so old-fashioned

By pointing out that most dance companies could increase their incomes by offering modernized versions of The
C. Nutcracker

By suggesting that dance companies should consider offering revised versions of The Nutcracker instead of completely
D. rejecting the show

ID: f878693b Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the underlined claim in
Text 1. Text 1 begins by noting the success of The Nutcracker but then claims that the ballet is "stuck in the past" and should
"no longer be produced." Text 2 begins by conceding that The Nutcracker is indeed outdated but argues that it should
continue to be performed, states that the show can be updated to include more contemporary dance styles, and provides an
example of one such modernized version, Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. Hence, the author of Text 2 would most likely respond
to the underlined claim in Text 1 by suggesting that dance companies should consider offering revised versions of The
Nutcracker instead of completely rejecting the show.

Choice A is incorrect because the author of Text 2 advocates for using creative ways to update The Nutcracker and therefore
wouldn’t respond to the underlined claim by rejecting the suggestion that contemporary audiences would enjoy an updated
version. Choice B is incorrect because although the authors of both texts claim that The Nutcracker is outdated, neither text
suggests that contemporary audiences have largely stopped attending productions of the show. On the contrary, Text 2
states that The Nutcracker is a holiday favorite and generates substantial income for some dance companies. Choice C is
incorrect because although Text 2 provides an example of a contemporized version of The Nutcracker, the text doesn’t
suggest that offering modernized versions is a way to increase income for most dance companies. Rather, the author of Text
2 suggests that offering modernized versions is a way to make the ballet discussed in Text 1 feel less outdated.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 03eeecf3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 03eeecf3
The following text is from H.D.’s 1916 poem “Mid-Day.” In the poem, the speaker is on a path in an outdoor setting.

A slight wind shakes the seed-pods— my thoughts are spent as the black seeds. My thoughts tear me,
I dread their fever. I am scattered in its whirl. I am scattered like the hot shrivelled seeds.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

It illustrates a change in the natural environment that the speaker implies is responsible for the growing misgivings
A. described in the text.

It establishes an example of consistency in the natural landscape that the speaker then contrasts with the
B. unpredictability of human emotions.

It presents an observation of an occurrence in the natural world that the speaker then expands on to convey a sense of a
C. turbulent interior state.

It evokes the ordinariness of an event in nature to suggest that the critical self-evaluation the speaker engages in is a
D. common pursuit.

ID: 03eeecf3 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole. In the
text, the speaker mentions the occurrence in nature of seedpods being shaken by a slight wind. The speaker then goes on to
compare the black seeds to thoughts, using language that indicates that the speaker’s state of mind is unsettled (e.g., "my
thoughts are spent"; "My thoughts tear me, I dread their fever"). The text concludes with a comparison between the speaker’s
"scattered" state of mind and the "hot shrivelled seeds." Thus, the underlined portion of the text presents an observation of
an occurrence in the natural world that the speaker then expands on to convey a sense of a turbulent interior state.

Choice A is incorrect because the text does not indicate that the seedpods are the cause of the speaker’s state of mind; thus,
they could not be responsible for any misgivings the speaker has. Choice B is incorrect because the text does not contrast
the natural landscape with the speaker’s state of mind or describe the wind shaking the seedpods as consistent; rather, the
text suggests that the state of the natural world and the speaker’s state of mind are similar in that both are unsettled. Choice
D is incorrect because there is no indication in the text that the speaker regularly engages in critical self-evaluation, only that
in this particular instance the speaker’s state of mind is turbulent.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8bc66f89
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 8bc66f89
Part of the Atacama Desert in Peru has surprisingly rich plant life despite receiving almost no rainfall. Moisture from winter
fog sustains plants once they’re growing, but the soil’s tough crust makes it hard for seeds to germinate in the first place.
Local birds that dig nests in the ground seem to be of help: they churn the soil, exposing buried seeds to moisture and
nutrients. Indeed, in 2016 Cristina Rengifo Faiffer found that mounds of soil dug up by birds were far more fertile and
supported more seedlings than soil in undisturbed areas.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A. It elaborates on the idea that the top layer of Atacama Desert soil forms a tough crust.

B. It describes the process by which seeds are deposited into Atacama Desert soil.

C. It identifies the reason particular bird species dig nests in Atacama Desert soil.

D. It explains how certain birds promote seed germination in Atacama Desert soil.

ID: 8bc66f89 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The first two sentences establish a natural phenomenon: there is a richness of plant life found in the Atacama Desert
despite the hard soil that makes it challenging for seeds to germinate. The next sentence, which contains the underlined
portion, offers a potential explanation for the phenomenon: local birds dig ground nests exposing seeds to moisture and
materials in the soil necessary for germination. The last sentence summarizes a study that compared the fertileness of
mounds of dirt dug up by birds to mounds that were undisturbed to support the explanation in the underlined portion. Thus,
the underlined portion mainly functions to explain how certain birds promote seed germination in the Atacama Desert soil.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined portion doesn’t address the topic of the soil’s tough crust or its formation.
Instead, the text elaborates on the idea that local birds that build ground nests may help seeds germinate in the hard
soil. Choice B is incorrect because the underlined portion describes how some birds may support seed germination in
Atacama Desert soil but doesn’t describe how the seeds are deposited into the soil before germination begins. Choice C is
incorrect because neither the underlined portion nor the text as a whole identifies a reason that a particular bird species may
choose to dig ground nests in the Atacama Desert soil.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c218cd98
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c218cd98
In 1776, the United States sent Benjamin Franklin to France to try to win the country’s support in the United States’ fight for
independence from Great Britain. Franklin was very popular in France. This ______ surely helped him to convince France to
assist the United States.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. thoughtfulness

B. esteem

C. controversy

D. sincerity

ID: c218cd98 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Benjamin Franklin’s popularity in
France. In this context, "esteem" means high regard. The text indicates that Franklin was very popular, or highly regarded, in
France, where he sought the country’s support for the United States in its fight for independence, and indicates that his
status helped him achieve his goal. The context therefore suggests that being held in high regard by the people likely helped
Franklin convince France to help the United States.

Choice A is incorrect because the text directly indicates that it was Franklin’s popularity that likely helped him convince
France to help the United States, not his "thoughtfulness" (which in this context would mean either his careful reasoning and
attention or his kind consideration of others’ needs). Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that there was
any "controversy," or dispute, about Franklin’s presence in France; instead, the text states that Franklin was very popular in
France and directly indicates that this status likely helped him convince France to help the United States. Choice D is
incorrect because the text directly indicates that it was Franklin’s popularity that likely helped him convince France to help
the United States, not his "sincerity," or his honesty.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7a0e31ea
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 7a0e31ea
The following text is from Betty Smith’s 1943 novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Francie, a young girl, visits the library often.

Francie thought that all the books in the world were in that library and she had a plan about reading all the books in the
world. She was reading a book a day in alphabetical order and not skipping the dry ones. She remembered that the first
author had been Abbott. She had been reading a book a day for a long time now and she was still in the B’s. Already she
had read about bees and buffaloes, Bermuda vacations and Byzantine architecture. For all her enthusiasm, she had to
admit that some of the B’s had been hard going. But Francie was a reader.
©1947 by Betty Smith

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To illustrate Francie’s enjoyment of an unusual topic

B. To explain why Francie prefers reading over other activities

C. To portray Francie’s determination to meet a goal

D. To describe a book that Francie greatly admires

ID: 7a0e31ea Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to portray Francie’s
determination to reach her goal of reading all the books in the world. The text indicates that to achieve this aim, Francie
works systematically and persistently: she reads all the books in the library in alphabetical order and devotes much time and
effort to the project, finishing one book per day over a long period of time. The text then suggests that even though she
progresses slowly ("she was still in the B’s") and that she struggled with some books ("some of the B’s had been hard going"),
she doesn’t give up because she thinks of herself as "a reader." These details show Francie’s resolve.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text mentions several topics (bees and buffaloes, Bermuda vacations, and Byzantine
architecture) that Francie has read about, it doesn’t indicate that any of these topics are unusual or that she especially
enjoyed reading about one of these topics in particular. If anything, the text suggests that she may have found some of these
topics to be dull, saying that she even read the "dry ones"—that is, the boring books—and that some of the books were "hard
going," meaning they were difficult to get through. Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t discuss Francie’s
involvement in other activities, only her dedication to reading. Although it’s possible that Francie dedicates herself to reading
because she prefers it to other activities, the text doesn’t indicate whether this is the case. Choice D is incorrect. Although
the text mentions one author (Abbott) whose book Francie has read as well as several topics (bees and buffaloes, Bermuda
vacations, and Byzantine architecture) she has encountered, the text doesn’t say whether Francie admires any of the books
she’s read so far. Instead, the text focuses on the time and effort she devotes to reaching her goal of reading all the books in
the world—even ones she doesn’t enjoy.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b4d29611
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: b4d29611
Michelene Pesantubbee, a historian and citizen of the Choctaw Nation, has identified a dilemma inherent to research on the
status of women in her tribe during the 1600s and 1700s: the primary sources from that era, travel narratives and other
accounts by male European colonizers, underestimate the degree of power conferred on Choctaw women by their traditional
roles in political, civic, and ceremonial life. Pesantubbee argues that the Choctaw oral tradition and findings from
archaeological sites in the tribe’s homeland supplement the written record by providing crucial insights into those roles.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It details the shortcomings of certain historical sources, then argues that research should avoid those sources
A. altogether.

It describes a problem that arises in research on a particular topic, then sketches a historian’s approach to addressing
B. that problem.

C. It lists the advantages of a particular research method, then acknowledges a historian’s criticism of that method.

It characterizes a particular topic as especially challenging to research, then suggests a related topic for historians to
D. pursue instead.

ID: b4d29611 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The text begins by stating a problem with research on the status of Choctaw women in the
1600s and 1700s: written primary sources underestimate the power they had in their traditional roles. Then it presents one
historian’s solution: looking to oral tradition and archeological findings for more insight into these roles.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text never says that research should avoid written primary sources,
just that research should also use oral tradition and archeological sites as sources. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the
overall structure. The text never mentions the advantages of using written primary sources. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t
the overall structure. The text never says that the status of Choctaw women during the 1600s and 1700s is too challenging
to research. And it doesn’t mention any other topics to research instead.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d3104a68
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d3104a68
Birds sing to communicate over potentially great distances. For this reason, many researchers believe that birds in densely
vegetated habitats generally sing at lower frequencies than birds living in comparatively sparse habitats, since dense
vegetation tends to ______ the distance that high-frequency sounds can travel.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A. exceed

B. diminish

C. encompass

D. conceal

ID: d3104a68 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of birdsong. In this context, "diminish"
means reduce or lessen. The text establishes that birds sing to communicate over potentially large distances and that
researchers believe that birds that live in densely vegetated habitats sing at lower frequencies than birds that live in
comparatively sparsely vegetated habitats. The text then explains that researchers hold this belief due to some effect of
dense vegetation on the distance that high-frequency sounds can travel. If birds sing to communicate over long distances, it
would be logical to conclude that researchers believe that birds in densely vegetated habitats sing at lower frequencies than
birds in relatively sparse habitats do because dense vegetation diminishes the distance that high-frequency sounds can
travel.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that dense vegetation can "exceed," or surpass or go beyond, the
distance that high-frequency sounds can travel. The text suggests that dense vegetation reduces the distance that high-
frequency sounds can travel, not that dense vegetation goes farther than that distance. Choice C is incorrect because it
would not be sensible to say that dense vegetation can "encompass," or enclose or encircle, the distance that high-frequency
sounds can travel. The distance that sounds can travel is not an object that can be enclosed or encircled by vegetation.
Choice D is incorrect because there is no information in the text indicating that dense vegetation can "conceal," or hide or
keep from being observed, the distance that high-frequency sounds travel. Instead, the text suggests that dense vegetation
reduces the distance that high-frequency sounds can travel.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f6352bd3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: f6352bd3
Many archaeologists assume that large-scale engineering projects in ancient societies required an elite class to plan and
direct the necessary labor. However, recent discoveries, such as the excavation of an ancient canal near the Gulf Coast of
Alabama, have complicated this picture. Using radiocarbon dating, a team of researchers concluded that the 1.39-kilometer-
long canal was most likely constructed between 576 and 650 CE by an Indigenous society that was relatively free of social
classes.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It describes a common view among archaeologists, then discusses a recent finding that challenges that view.

B. It outlines a method used in some archaeological fieldwork, then explains why an alternative method is superior to it.

It presents contradictory conclusions drawn by archaeologists, then evaluates a study that has apparently resolved that
C. contradiction.

D. It identifies a gap in scientific research, then presents a strategy used by some archaeologists to remedy that gap.

ID: f6352bd3 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The text starts by introducing a common view among archaeologists about the need for an elite
class to direct large-scale engineering projects. Then, it discusses the discovery of a large canal most likely built by a society
without an elite class, which challenges the first view.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the text discusses carbon dating as an archaeological method, it doesn’t compare it to any
other alternative methods. Choice C is incorrect. The study doesn’t resolve any contradictions—rather, it introduces a
contradiction to the one view presented at the beginning of the text. Choice D is incorrect. The text never identifies any gaps
in scientific research.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 8889d6e2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 8889d6e2
Text 1
An excavation in Chiquihuite Cave in central Mexico has upended the belief that approximately 13,000 years ago, a group
known as the Clovis people were the first human inhabitants of North America. More than 200 crude stone tools were found
embedded in a layer of earth that is up to 33,150 years old, revealing that humans occupied the cave thousands of years
before the Clovis people reached the continent.
Text 2
The objects uncovered in Chiquihuite Cave are intriguing, but it is premature to characterize them as tools. The stone pieces
are so roughly shaped that they may have simply fractured from rocks during natural geological activity in the cave.
Moreover, their unearthing has thus far not been accompanied by discoveries of other signs of human activity or even traces
of human DNA from surfaces.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?

By suggesting that it draws a plausible connection between two groups of people but will need to be confirmed with
A. further study

B. By asserting that it rests on an assumption about the stone pieces that is not sufficiently supported by available evidence

C. By acknowledging that it will most likely be proved correct when the stone pieces undergo more detailed analysis

By pointing out that it fails to account for evidence that the Clovis people were active on the continent as early as is
D. commonly thought

ID: 8889d6e2 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the underlined claim
about the Clovis people in Text 1. Text 1 explains that the idea that the Clovis people were the first human inhabitants of
North America has been overturned by the unearthing of stone tools in Chiquihuite Cave in Mexico. The tools were found in a
layer of earth that is over 33,000 years old—much older than the Clovis people’s arrival 13,000 years ago. The text ends with
the claim that the tools reveal that humans lived in the cave long before the Clovis people reached the continent. Text 2, on
the other hand, disputes the idea that the stone pieces are definitely tools. Text 2 states that the pieces are so roughly
shaped that they may have simply naturally broken off from rocks and, moreover, that no other signs of human activity have
been found in the cave. In other words, Text 2 argues that there is no proof yet that humans made the pieces as tools or were
even present in the cave. Therefore, the author of Text 2 would most likely say that the claim that humans occupied
Chiquihuite Cave long before the Clovis people reached North America rests on an assumption about the stone pieces—that
they are human-made tools—that is not sufficiently supported by available evidence.

Choice A is incorrect because Text 1 doesn’t claim that human inhabitants of Chiquihuite Cave and the Clovis people had any
connection; the author of Text 1 focuses only on the timing of each group’s presence in North America. Further, the author of
Text 2 makes no mention of the Clovis people and indicates that it isn’t clear yet that any human group did inhabit
Chiquihuite Cave. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in Text 2 suggests that the author believes the stone pieces
probably are human-made tools and will be confirmed as such by further analysis; instead, the author of Text 2 emphasizes
the current lack of evidence of human activity in the cave. Choice D is incorrect because Text 2 focuses on the issue of
characterizing the stone pieces as tools made by humans, not on the timing of any particular group’s activity in North
America; further, Text 1 seems to support the common belief that the Clovis people reached North America 13,000 years ago
and challenges only the idea that they were the continent’s first inhabitants. Therefore, there’s no reason to think the author
of Text 2 would say that the author of Text 1 overlooks evidence that the Clovis people were active as early as is commonly
thought.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f52cc78c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f52cc78c
Text 1
Polar bears sustain themselves primarily by hunting seals on the Arctic sea ice, but rising ocean temperatures are causing
the ice to diminish, raising concerns about polar bear population declines as these large predators’ seal-hunting habitats
continue to shrink. A 2020 study examining polar bear populations across the Arctic concluded that populations affected by
sea-ice loss are at great risk of extinction by the end of the twenty-first century.
Text 2
Monitoring carried out by researchers from the Norwegian Polar Institute shows that the polar bear population on the Arctic
archipelago of Svalbard remains stable and well nourished despite rapidly declining sea ice in recent years. The researchers
attribute this population’s resilience in part to a shift in feeding strategies: in addition to hunting seals, the Svalbard polar
bears have begun relying on a diet of reindeer meat and birds’ eggs.

Based on the texts, how would the researchers in Text 2 most likely respond to the conclusion presented in the underlined
portion of Text 1?

A. By noting that it neglects the possibility of some polar bear populations adapting to changes in their environment

By suggesting that it is likely incorrect about the rates at which warming ocean temperatures have caused sea ice to melt
B. in the Arctic

C. By asserting that it overlooks polar bear populations that have not yet been affected by loss of seal-hunting habitats

D. By arguing that it fails to account for polar bears’ reliance on a single seal-hunting strategy

ID: f52cc78c Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. Text 2 describes how the Svalbard polar bears have adapted to the loss of sea ice by
diversifying their diet and feeding on reindeer and seabird eggs, resulting in a “stable and well nourished” population despite
environmental challenges. This counters the underlined claim that polar bears facing a loss of sea ice are at “great risk of
extinction” by the end of the century.

Choice B is incorrect. Text 2 does not challenge the fact that sea ice is rapidly declining in the Arctic due to warming ocean
temperatures. In fact, it states that the Svalbard polar bears have faced “rapidly declining sea ice in recent years.” Choice C is
incorrect. The claim in Text 1 is specific to polar bear populations affected by the loss of seal hunting habitats, so unaffected
populations are irrelevant to the claim. Also, Text 2 doesn’t mention any polar bear populations that haven’t yet been affected
by loss of seal hunting habitats. It focuses on a population that has been affected by sea-ice loss but has managed to
survive and thrive nevertheless. Choice D is incorrect. Text 2 doesn’t imply that polar bears rely on a single seal-hunting
strategy. In fact, the researcher in Text 2 would say that Text 1 fails to account for polar bears’ ability to develop other
hunting strategies and food sources.
Question Difficulty: Medium