ID: 458b4a11

To understand how temperature change affects microorganism-mediated cycling of soil nutrients in alpine ecosystems,
Eva Kaštovská et al. collected plant-soil cores in the Tatra Mountains at elevations around 2,100 meters and transplanted
them to elevations of 1,700–1,800 meters, where the mean air temperature was warmer by 2°C. Microorganism-mediated
nutrient cycling was accelerated in the transplanted cores; crucially, microorganism community composition was
unchanged, allowing Kaštovská et al. to attribute the acceleration to temperature-induced increases in microorganism
activity.

It can most reasonably be inferred from the text that the finding about the microorganism community composition was
important for which reason?

A. It provided preliminary evidence that microorganism-mediated nutrient cycling was accelerated in the transplanted
cores.

B. It suggested that temperature-induced changes in microorganism activity may be occurring at increasingly high
elevations.

C. It ruled out a potential alternative explanation for the acceleration in microorganism-mediated nutrient cycling.

D. It clarified that microorganism activity levels in the plant-soil cores varied depending on which microorganisms
comprised the community.
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Researchers recently found that disruptions to an enjoyable experience, like a short series of advertisements during a
television show, often increase viewers’ reported enjoyment. Suspecting that disruptions to an unpleasant experience
would have the opposite effect, the researchers had participants listen to construction noise for 30 minutes and
anticipated that those whose listening experience was frequently interrupted with short breaks of silence would thus
______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

A. find the disruptions more irritating as time went on.

B. rate the listening experience as more negative than those whose listening experience was uninterrupted.

C. rate the experience of listening to construction noise as lasting for less time than it actually lasted.

D. perceive the volume of the construction noise as growing softer over time.
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In the early nineteenth century, some Euro-American farmers in the northeastern United States used agricultural
techniques developed by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people centuries earlier, but it seems that few of those farmers
had actually seen Haudenosaunee farms firsthand. Barring the possibility of several farmers of the same era
independently developing techniques that the Haudenosaunee people had already invented, these facts most strongly
suggest that ______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

A. those farmers learned the techniques from other people who were more directly influenced by Haudenosaunee
practices.

B. the crops typically cultivated by Euro-American farmers in the northeastern United States were not well suited to
Haudenosaunee farming techniques.

C. Haudenosaunee farming techniques were widely used in regions outside the northeastern United States.

D. Euro-American farmers only began to recognize the benefits of Haudenosaunee farming techniques late in the
nineteenth century.
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In 1934 physicist Eugene Wigner posited the existence of a crystal consisting entirely of electrons in a honeycomb-like
structure. The so-called Wigner crystal remained largely conjecture, however, until Feng Wang and colleagues announced
in 2021 that they had captured an image of one. The researchers trapped electrons between two semiconductors and then
cooled the apparatus, causing the electrons to settle into a crystalline structure. By inserting an ultrathin sheet of
graphene above the crystal, the researchers obtained an impression—the first visual confirmation of the Wigner crystal.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

A. Researchers have obtained the most definitive evidence to date of the existence of the Wigner crystal.

B. Researchers have identified an innovative new method for working with unusual crystalline structures.

C. Graphene is the most important of the components required to capture an image of a Wigner crystal.

D. It’s difficult to acquire an image of a Wigner crystal because of the crystal’s honeycomb structure.
 ID: 4b3d6062
The Mammillaria cactus M. boolii occurs naturally only in the state of Sonora in Mexico, and the smallness of its range
makes it especially vulnerable to extinction. The traditional single-species approach to conservation emphasizes the need
to focus on individual species most at risk, like M. boolii, but recently, conservationists have argued that an ecosystem-
based approach that incorporates the many interactions between the climate, terrain, and various species of a given
geographical area may lead to better outcomes for all the species in a given location. If this view is correct, the single-
species approach to the conservation of M. boolii could thus ______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

A. lead to a better understanding of how the distribution of Mammillaria species throughout Mexico has affected their
survival.

B. allow conservationists to better consider how climatic changes affecting Sonora may reduce the number of species
competing with M. boolii.

C. erroneously shift the focus of conservation efforts away from M. boolii itself.

D. fail to consider the ways in which the survival of M. boolii may be influenced by changes in the populations of other
species that inhabit Sonora.
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The following text is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s 1849 story “Landor’s Cottage.”

During a pedestrian trip last summer, through one or two of the river counties of New York, I found myself, as the day
declined, somewhat embarrassed about the road I was pursuing. The land undulated very remarkably; and my path,
for the last hour, had wound about and about so confusedly, in its effort to keep in the valleys, that I no longer knew in
what direction lay the sweet village of B——, where I had determined to stop for the night.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

A. The narrator remembers a trip he took and admits to getting lost.

B. The narrator recalls fond memories of a journey that he took through some beautiful river counties.

C. The narrator describes what he saw during a long trip through a frequently visited location.

D. The narrator explains the difficulties he encountered on a trip and how he overcame them.
 ID: 2312021b
In a study by Mika R. Moran, Daniel A. Rodriguez, and colleagues, residents of Quito, Ecuador, and Lima, Peru, were
surveyed about parks in their cities. Of the 618 respondents from Quito, 82.9% indicated that they use the city’s parks, and
of the 663 respondents from Lima, 72.7% indicated using city parks. Given that the percentage of Quito respondents who
reported living within a 10-minute walk of a park was much lower than that reported by Lima respondents, greater
proximity alone can’t explain the difference in park use.

The text makes which point about the difference between the proportions of Quito residents and Lima residents using
parks?

A. It was much larger than the researchers conducting the study expected.

B. It is caused by something other than the parks’ proximity to city residents.

C. It could be due to inaccuracies in the survey results.

D. It was calculated using sources that predate the survey.

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Paleontologists searching for signs of ancient life have found many fossilized specimens of prehistoric human ancestors,
including several from the Pleistocene era discovered in a geological formation in the Minatogawa quarry in Japan.
However, to study the emergence of the earliest multicellular organisms to appear on Earth, researchers must turn
elsewhere, such as to the Ediacaran geological formation at Mistaken Point in Canada. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
146-hectare reserve contains more than 10,000 fossils that together document a critical moment in evolutionary history.

What does the text indicate about the geological formation at Mistaken Point?

A. It holds a greater number of fossils but from a smaller variety of species than the formation in the Minatogawa quarry
does.

B. It has provided evidence that the earliest human species may have emerged before the Pleistocene era.

C. It is widely considered by paleontologists to be the most valuable source of information about prehistoric life forms.

D. It contains specimens from an older time period than those found in the formation in the Minatogawa quarry.
 ID: 7a1877be
Nucleobase Concentrations from Murchison Meteorite and Soil Samples in Parts per Billion

Murchison meteorite sample Murchison meteorite sample Murchison soil

Nucleobase 1 2 sample

Isoguanine 0.5 0.04 not detected

Purine 0.2 0.02 not detected

Xanthine 39 3 1

Adenine 15 1 40

Hypoxanthine 24 1 2
Employing high-performance liquid chromatography—a process that uses pressurized water to separate material into its
component molecules—astrochemist Yashiro Oba and colleagues analyzed two samples of the Murchison meteorite that
landed in Australia as well as soil from the landing zone of the meteorite to determine the concentrations of various
organic molecules. By comparing the relative concentrations of types of molecules known as nucleobases in the
Murchison meteorite with those in the soil, the team concluded that there is evidence that the nucleobases in the
Murchison meteorite formed in space and are not the result of contamination on Earth.

Which choice best describes data from the table that support the team’s conclusion?

A. Isoguanine and purine were detected in both meteorite samples but not in the soil sample.

B. Adenine and xanthine were detected in both of the meteorite samples and in the soil sample.

C. Hypoxanthine and purine were detected in both the Murchison meteorite sample 2 and in the soil sample.

D. Isoguanine and hypoxanthine were detected in the Murchison meteorite sample 1 but not in sample 2.
 ID: 040583a5

Banana Ripening Time at Different

Temperatures with and without
Ethylene Treatment
12
11
10
9
8
Time (days)

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
°C °C °C °C
14 16 18 20
Temperature (degrees Celsius)
ethylene no ethylene
A student is conducting an experiment to test the effect of temperature and ethylene treatment on the ripening speed of
bananas. The student treated some bananas with ethylene while leaving others untreated, then allowed both types of
bananas to ripen at one of four different temperatures. Comparing the data for bananas with and without ethylene, the
student concluded that ______

Which choice most effectively uses data from the graph to complete the student’s conclusion?

A. 20°C is the ideal temperature at which to store bananas to slow ripening time.

B. for those bananas that were not treated with ethylene, differences in temperature were not associated with absolute
differences in ripening time.

C. bananas treated with ethylene ripen faster at 14°C and 16°C than at 18°C and 20°C.

D. ethylene was associated with a greater absolute change in ripening time at 14°C, 16°C, and 18°C than at 20°C.
 ID: 0147b080
Pyramids in Egypt and the Americas

Pyramid Country Height (meters) Age (years before present)

The Great Pyramid Mexico 33 2,050 to 2,400

The Pyramid of Djoser Egypt 60 4,600 to 4,700

The Pyramid of Sahure Egypt 47 4,400 to 4,500

El Castillo Belize 40 1,100 to 1,400

A student is writing an essay about four pyramids for a history class and wants to note how long ago each pyramid was
built and how tall each pyramid is. Consulting the table, the student finds that el Castillo was built 1,100 to 1,400 years ago
and is ______

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the text?

A. 33 meters tall.

B. 47 meters tall.

C. 40 meters tall.

D. 60 meters tall.
 ID: afec1a70
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
As engineered structures, many bird nests are uniquely flexible yet cohesive.
A research team led by Yashraj Bhosale wanted to better understand the mechanics behind these structural
properties.
Bhosale’s team used laboratory models that simulated the arrangement of flexible sticks into nest-like structures.
The researchers analyzed the points where sticks touched one another.
When pressure was applied to the model nests, the number of contact points between the sticks increased,
making the structures stiffer.

The student wants to present the primary aim of the research study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Bhosale’s team wanted to better understand the mechanics behind bird nests’ uniquely flexible yet cohesive structural
properties.

B. The researchers used laboratory models that simulated the arrangement of flexible sticks and analyzed the points
where sticks touched one another.

C. After analyzing the points where sticks touched, the researchers found that the structures became stiffer when
pressure was applied.

D. As analyzed by Bhosale’s team, bird nests are uniquely flexible yet cohesive engineered structures.
 ID: af76771f
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Sue is the nickname of a dinosaur fossil specimen housed at the Field Museum of Natural History.
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Sue is a member of the genus Tyrannosaurus.
Big Mike is the nickname of a dinosaur fossil specimen housed at the Museum of the Rockies.
The Museum of the Rockies is located in Bozeman, Montana.
Big Mike is a member of the genus Tyrannosaurus.

The student wants to emphasize a similarity between the two specimens. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. The Field Museum of Natural History, where Sue is housed, is located in Chicago, Illinois.

B. Big Mike is the nickname of a Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen housed at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman,
Montana.

C. The dinosaur fossil specimens Sue and Big Mike are both members of the genus Tyrannosaurus.

D. While Sue is housed at the Field Museum of Natural History, Big Mike is housed at the Museum of the Rockies.
 ID: 064c8999
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
The Haber-Bosch process is an industrial process used to manufacture ammonia (NH3).
It was invented by chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch in 1910.
The process’s primary reaction combines nitrogen (N2) from the air with hydrogen (H2).
It requires an iron catalyst and high temperatures and pressures.
Most of the ammonia produced by this process is used in fertilizers.

The student wants to provide an overview of the Haber-Bosch process. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. The Haber-Bosch process needs nitrogen, hydrogen, and an iron catalyst.

B. The Haber-Bosch process uses an iron catalyst along with high temperatures and pressures to manufacture ammonia
from nitrogen and hydrogen.

C. Chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch invented an industrial process to manufacture ammonia to be used in fertilizers.

D. In 1910, chemists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch invented the Haber-Bosch process, which requires high temperatures and
pressures.
 ID: b46e0c8a
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Organisms release cellular material into their environment by shedding substances such as hair or skin.
The DNA in these substances is known as environmental DNA, or eDNA.
Researchers collect and analyze eDNA to detect the presence of species that are difficult to observe.
Geneticist Sara Oyler-McCance’s research team analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades to
detect invasive constrictor snake species in the area.
The study determined a 91% probability of detecting Burmese python eDNA in a given location.

The student wants to present the study to an audience already familiar with environmental DNA. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades for evidence of
invasive constrictor snakes, which are difficult to observe.

B. An analysis of eDNA can detect the presence of invasive species that are difficult to observe, such as constrictor
snakes.

C. Researchers found Burmese python eDNA, or environmental DNA, in water samples; eDNA is the DNA in released
cellular materials, such as shed skin cells.

D. Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed environmental DNA (eDNA)—that is, DNA from cellular materials released
by organisms—in water samples from the Florida Everglades.
 ID: 48d0bb34
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Sam Maloof (1916–2009) was an American woodworker and furniture designer.
He was the son of Lebanese immigrants.
He received a “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1985.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, owns a rocking chair that Maloof made from walnut wood.
The armrests and the seat of the chair are sleek and contoured, and the back consists of seven spindle-like slats.

The student wants to describe the rocking chair to an audience unfamiliar with Sam Maloof. Which choice most effectively
uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. With its sleek, contoured armrests and seat, the walnut rocking chair in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is just one piece
of furniture created by American woodworker Sam Maloof.

B. Sam Maloof was born in 1916 and died in 2009, and during his life, he made a chair that you can see if you visit the
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

C. Furniture designer Sam Maloof was a recipient of one of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “genius
grants.”

D. The rocking chair is made from walnut, and it has been shaped such that its armrests and seat are sleek and
contoured.
 ID: aa7e10d0
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Species belonging to the Orchidaceae (orchid) family can be found in both tropical and temperate environments.
Orchidaceae species diversity has not been well studied in temperate forests, such as those in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández led a study to determine how many different Orchidaceae species are present
in the forests of Oaxaca.
Muñoz-Hernández and her team collected orchids each month for a year at a site in Oaxaca.
Seventy-four Orchidaceae species were present at the site.

The student wants to present the study and its findings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the
notes to accomplish this goal?

A. A study led by Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández identified a total of 74 Orchidaceae species in the temperate forests
of Oaxaca, Mexico.

B. There are orchids in many environments, but there are 74 Orchidaceae species in Oaxaca, Mexico.

C. Oaxaca, Mexico, is home to temperate forests containing 74 Orchidaceae species.

D. Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández and her team wanted to know how many different Orchidaceae species are present
in the forests of Oaxaca, Mexico, so they conducted a study to collect orchids.
 ID: e3edc138
In a heated debate in biogeography, the field is divided between dispersalists and vicariancists. ______ there are those who
argue that dispersal is the most crucial determining factor in a species’ distribution, and those who insist that vicariance
(separation due to geographic barriers) is. Biogeographer Isabel Sanmartín counts herself among neither.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. Furthermore,

B. By contrast,

C. Similarly,

D. That is,
 ID: 00221c00
In 1815, while in exile in Jamaica, Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar penned a letter praising England’s republican
government and expressing hope that Latin American nations seeking independence from Spain might achieve something
similar. The letter was addressed to a local merchant, Henry Cullen; ______ though, Bolívar’s goal was to persuade political
leaders from England and Europe to support his cause.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A. additionally,

B. ultimately,

C. accordingly,

D. consequently,
 ID: 16631d34
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
The Million Song Dataset (MSD) includes main audio features and descriptive tags for popular songs.
Audio features include acoustic traits such as loudness and pitch intervals.
Many algorithms use these audio features to predict a new song’s popularity.
These algorithms may fail to accurately identify main audio features of a song with varying acoustic traits.
Algorithms based on descriptive tags that describe fixed traits such as genre are more reliable predictors of song
popularity.

The student wants to explain a disadvantage of relying on audio features to predict a song’s popularity. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A. Many popularity-predicting algorithms are based on a song’s audio features, such as loudness and pitch intervals.

B. Algorithms based on audio features may misidentify the main features of a song with varying acoustic traits, making
such algorithms less reliable predictors of popularity than those based on fixed traits.

C. Audio features describe acoustic traits such as pitch intervals, which may vary within a song, whereas descriptive tags
describe fixed traits such as genre, which are reliable predictors of popularity.

D. The MSD’s descriptive tags are reliable predictors of a song’s popularity, as the traits they describe are fixed.