What experts say about this book!

The questions are in the SAT style and well explained and they cover most question types on
the Digital SAT.

– Praveen Sharma, Director, Wizius Careers

I appreciate the order of the questions with the divisions (Information and Ideas/ Craft
and Structure/Expression of Ideas/Standard English Conventions) and their subdivisions. I
believe that for a student or a teacher helping students, these divisions are of great benefit.

I also appreciate the different kinds of genres depicted in the questions. The “key
explanations” for the correct answers were on point and I appreciate the inclusion of the
distractor explanations as well. The inclusion of the “difficulty level” and “Skill/Knowledge” is
great.

Overall, because of the breadth, depth, and organization, I would recommend this book to
students and teachers

– Motz Maria, Purchasing Dept, School Board Sarasota County

 TM

TEST PREP SERIES

Digital SAT ®

READING AND WRITING

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

2023
Latest information about the
Digital SAT®

300 Reading and Writing

practice questions as per
the Digital SAT® format

Detailed answer explanations

including distractor explanations

Questions classified into

easy, medium, and hard

SAT® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is

not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.
 Digital SAT Reading and Writing
®

Practice Questions

© 2023, By Vibrant Publishers, USA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any
form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Paperback ISBN–10: 1–63651–158–9

Paperback ISBN–13: 978–1–63651–158–0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022951785

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered.
The Author has made every effort in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information. However,
information in this book is sold without warranty either expressed or implied. The Author or the Publisher will not be liable
for any damages caused or alleged to be caused either directly or indirectly by this book.

Vibrant Publishers books are available at special quantity discount for sales promotions, or for use in corporate training
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 Table of Contents

Chapter 1 About the Digital SAT 1

Chapter 2 Overview of the Reading and Writing section 13

Chapter 3 Information and Ideas 29

Central Ideas and Details 30

Command of Evidence 55 

Inferences 83

Chapter 4 Craft and Structure 99

Words in Context 100

Text Structure and Purpose 120

Cross–Text Connections 146

Chapter 5 Expression of Ideas 157

Rhetorical Synthesis 158

Transitions 192

Chapter 6 Standard English Conventions 211

Boundaries 212

Form, Structure, and Sense 230

Chapter 7 Reading and Writing Test 249

Module 1 250

Module 2 264

Answer Key 278

Answers 279
Dear Student,

Thank you for purchasing Digital SAT® Reading and Writing Practice Questions. We are committed to publishing
books that are content–rich, concise and approachable enabling more students to read and make the fullest use of
them. We hope this book provides the most enriching learning experience as you prepare for your SAT exam. Should
you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email us at [email protected]. Thanks again for
your purchase. Good luck for your Digital SAT!

– Vibrant Publishers Team

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for the ACT For ACT Essay Writing:
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 How to use this book
This book is designed to empower you to approach your SAT Reading and Writing section with boldness. The
information presented here will only make you fully understand every aspect of the section but also is necessary for
you to achieve a high score on your SAT test.

First, read the About the Digital SAT chapter to get acquainted with the various features of the digital test. From
this chapter, you will learn in detail the differences between the paper-based SAT and the digital one. After reading
this chapter, move on to the next chapter on the Reading and Writing section. This chapter contains a plethora of
information on the different question types that will be asked in that section.

This book is a compilation of Reading and Writing practice questions from all four domains - Information and
Ideas, Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. Start by practicing answering
questions of the first domain and after you have mastered them, move on to the next one. While practicing, make a
habit of checking your answers from the answer section and reading the detailed answer explanations and distractor
explanations.

Recognize a pattern for the same types of questions; this will make it easier for you to classify them on the actual test
day and answer them quickly. Learn to analyze the question stems as they will give you a better idea of the question
type and what is required to be done.

After thoroughly practicing the different types of questions, you will also find a full-length Reading and Writing test
at the end. This test, with a mix of questions like the actual SAT, will give you an authentic testing experience and help
you evaluate your test readiness. Appear for this test with the mindset of giving the actual test.

To get complete practice of the Math section, you can also pick up the book Digital SAT Math Practice Questions
which also has 300 practice questions. After becoming well-versed with the two sections, you can give 5 full-length
practice tests from the book Practice Tests For The Digital SAT.

To take advantage of the essential information provided in this practice book, read it carefully and attempt the
available practice questions with an open mind. Good luck!
 Chapter 1
About the
Digital SAT
 Introduction
Now that you have made the important decision to head to college/university, there is one last thing you need to
do to achieve your goal—taking the SAT (Standardized Aptitude Test). Most universities or colleges, including the
IVY league schools such as Yale, Harvard, and others expect you to have a good SAT score to secure admission in any
course of your choice.

But, there is a major change in how students will give the SAT. The College Board has decided to transition the
famous pencil–and–paper test into a fully digital one. The College Board’s decision to go digital is based on giving a
fair testing experience to students. The digital test will be easier to take, easier to administer, will be more secure, and
more relevant.

For giving the new test, you need to be aware of the format of the test, the time that will be given to you to answer
each question, the possible complexity of the questions, and the scoring method employed to assess your performance
in the test. In this chapter, you will discover important information all that including the SAT policy of inclusive
accessibility, the newly introduced Multistage Adaptive Testing feature, the modular format of the test, and much
more.

The College Board has also streamlined the method of delivery of the digital SAT. With the latest test delivery
platform for the digital SAT Suite assessments, students can have access to all their tests and their content, as well
as enjoy the chance of practicing with the full–length, adaptive practice test offered for free on the platform so that
students can be aware of their knowledge levels before taking the real tests. More so, every question on the digital SAT
Suite is in a discrete (standalone) format. This indicates that test takers can answer each question independently. They
don’t necessarily need to refer to a common stimulus such as an extended passage.

If you are attempting the SAT for the first time, it could be scary not knowing exactly what to expect in the test.
This is why this book is specifically designed to expose you to everything you need to know about successfully taking
the Digital SAT Suite test.

Customized Test Delivery Platform

The College Board sets up a customized test delivery platform for the Digital SAT Suite assessments. This platform
is designed according to the principles of UDA (Universal Design for Assessment) and the main goal of it is to make
the testing experience accessible to maximum number of students. The most useful features of this platform are that:
(i) all test takers can have complete access to the tests and their content; (ii) students will be able to take full–length,
adaptive practice tests for free on the platform so that they can assess their knowledge levels or have an understanding
of similar test materials before attempting the real tests.

Multistage Adaptive Testing

The College Board is changing from a linear testing mode, which has been the primary mode of SAT
administration to an adaptive mode.

The main difference between the linear and adaptive testing modes is that for the linear testing mode, students are
given a test form that contains some questions that have already been set before the test day and do not change during
testing, irrespective of the student’s performance.

On the other hand, the adaptive testing model makes it possible for the test delivery platform to adjust the
questions’ difficulty level based on the performance of the individual test takers. Therefore, each student will be given
test questions that match their level of understanding.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 2

 This adaptive test mode used for the Digital SAT Suite is known as Multistage Adaptive Testing (MST). The MST
is administered in 2 stages, and each stage comprises a module or set of questions. The first module consists of test
questions with different ranges of difficulty levels (easy, medium, and hard). The performance of the test takers in the
first module is appropriately assessed, and the results are used to determine the level of difficulty of questions to be
administered to them in the second module.

The set of an administered first–stage module and its second–stage module are referred to as a panel.

Module 1 Module 2
A mix of easy, Mix of questions
medium, and varying in difficulty
hard questions based on the
performance in the
first module

Embedded Pretesting
The digital SAT Suite also includes embedded pretesting in its design. What this means is that a small number
of pretest (unscored) questions are incorporated among the operational (scored) questions. Even though they are
not administered for a score, students may not be able to distinguish these pretest questions from the operational
questions on which their scores are based. It is advisable that students pay maximum attention and effort to these
questions, which can be used in estimating their understanding levels to the difficulty of the questions. The number of
pretest questions is few so you will not be asked to focus mainly on questions that won’t be used to estimate your final
SAT score. It is important to note that answers to pretest questions won’t contribute to your final score. The pretest
questions are mainly used to gather students’ performance information so that it can be utilized later to assess if these
questions are appropriate for operational use later.

Discrete Questions
One interesting aspect of the Digital SAT is that all their questions are in discreet format; that is they are
standalone. You can answer each question on its own, which doesn't necessarily require any reference to a common
stimulus such as an extended passage. This is one of the striking differences between the paper–and–pencil SAT and
the Digital SAT in the sense that the former uses both discrete and question sets. In practice, the question sets expect
you to reference a common stimulus.

Scoring
Students will obtain a section score based on their final performance on the Reading and Writing and Math
section. For the SAT, students can get a score between 400–1600. Hence, for each of the tests of the Digital SAT, there
will be 3 scores reported: (1) A Reading and Writing section score; (2) A Math section score; (3) A total score, which
is the sum of the two section scores. It is important to note that the scales for these scores have the same ranges as for
the paper–based SAT Suite. This indicates that the digital SAT total score is on the familiar 400–1600 scale.

Reading and Writing Math Total Score

Between 200–800 Between 200–800 Between 400–1600

www.vibrantpublishers.com 3
 Overall Test Specifications
The Digital SAT is made up of two sections: A Reading and Writing (RW) section and a Math section. In the
linear model, the test has separate sections for Reading and Writing. However, in the Digital SAT, both the Reading
and Writing tests are combined in one section. The questions in these two sections concentrate primarily on the skills
and knowledge that students need to use in college and/or for getting ready for their careers. The main parts of the
digital SAT tests are similar to those of the paper–and–pencil SAT test assessments. More so, all the testing programs
within the digital SAT Suite, whether it is the SAT, PSAT 10, PSAT 8/9, or PSAT/NMSQT have similar designs.
Although, these tests allow for differences in test takers’ ages and levels of understanding.

Digital SAT Suite: Overall Test Specifications

Characteristic Reading and Writing section Math section

Administration Two–stage adaptive design; this Two–stage adaptive design; this

section contains two separately section contains two separately
timed modules timed modules

Number of questions 54 questions; 25 questions in each 44 questions; 20 questions in each

module with 2 pretest question module with 2 pretest question

Time 64 minutes 70 minutes

Time per question 1.19 minutes 1.59 minutes

Time per module 32 minutes 35 minutes

Content domains Information and Ideas, Craft and Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem–
Structure, Expression of Ideas, Solving and Data Analysis,
Standard English Conventions Geometry and Trigonometry

Test Length
There are a total of 54 questions for the Reading and Writing section. These 54 questions are divided into two
equal–length modules; that is, one for each of the section’s two stages. Out of the 27 questions for each module, 25
questions are operational—which means that test takers’ performance on them is used to calculate their section
score, and 2 questions are pretests.

For the Math section, the first module has 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions. Then the second
module consists of 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions. In total, the Math section will comprise 44
questions.

Time Per Module

You will have 32 minutes to complete each module of the Reading and Writing section and 35 minutes
to complete each module of the Math section. Once the time for the first module has expired, test takers are
automatically advanced to the second module. The second module may contain questions that are of higher or lower
difficulty, depending on your performance in the first module. You will not have the opportunity to return to the first–
module questions.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 4

Total Number of Questions
The Reading and Writing section consists of 54 questions (4 of which are pretest), while the Math section consists
of 44 questions (4 of which are, again, pretest questions)

Total Time Allotted

You will have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes to complete the Math
section.

Average Time Per Question

You will, on average, have 1.19 minutes to answer each Reading and Writing question and 1.59 minutes to answer
each Math question.

Question Format(s) used

The Reading and Writing section mostly utilizes four–option multiple–choice questions, and each question has
a single best answer (which is referred to as the keyed response or key). Roughly 75 percent of questions in the
Math section also adopt the same four–option multiple–choice format, while the remaining part of the test utilizes
the student–produced response (SPR) format. This means that students will be required to answer the latter type of
questions by giving their own responses and putting their responses in the field next to the question. These questions
measure your ability to be able to solve math problems by yourself. It is possible for the SPR questions to have more
than one correct response; however, you are required to provide only one answer.

Text Complexity
It is assumed that the complexity test takers can read is directly related to how ready they are for college and their
careers. Therefore, the idea of text complexity is strictly considered when designing and developing the digital SAT
Suite. The texts in the Reading and Writing section are given three complexity bands (grades 6–8, grades 9–11, and
grades 12–14).

Texts for grades 12–14 have the highest complexity, followed by the texts for grades 9–11, while grades 6–8 have
texts with the lowest complexity. While it is possible to use the same texts for grades 12–14 and grades 9–11, those
difficult texts cannot be used for grades 6–8 because they don’t appropriately assess the literacy knowledge and skills
of students in eighth and ninth grades.

On the other hand, text complexity is not an issue in the Math section, because it is not formally measured. It is
estimated that about 70 percent of Math questions don’t necessarily have a context. You are only required to use the
information/data provided to solve some questions that may be related to science, social studies, history, etc.

www.vibrantpublishers.com 5
 What is Changing
The College Board continues to maintain fairness and high quality in its administration of SAT Suite, and some
aspects of its operations are changing. These changes include:
• Transitioning to digital testing by 2023 or 2024 latest. Once the transition is completed, students can no
longer take the paper–and–pencil SAT tests.
• The digital SAT Suite tests are particularly shorter than their paper–and–pencil predecessors—it can be taken
in 2 hours 14 minutes instead of 3 hours.
• Test takers now have more time on their hands to answer each question.
• It is now possible for you to receive scores in days instead of weeks, faster than the predecessor paper–and–
pencil SAT.
• The SAT Suite now connects students to opportunities based on their scores. They can be connected to
information and resources concerning local 2–year colleges, career options, and workforce training programs.
• States, schools, and districts will be given more flexibility concerning when they could give the SAT Suite
tests.
• The digital SAT will now have a single Reading and Writing section instead of separate Reading and Writing
and Language sections. More importantly, the Reading and Writing section’s passages are significantly shorter
and more diverse.
• A single (discrete) question is associated with each passage (or passage pair) instead of having several
questions associated with a small number of longer passages, as it is for the paper–and–pencil SAT Suite tests.
• You can now use calculators throughout the Math section.

What is Staying the Same

Despite the above–mentioned changes, some aspects of the SAT Suite tests are remaining the same, such as:
• The Digital SAT will still measure skills and knowledge that you are learning in school that can be used in
college and/or your future career.
• The test will be scored on the same scales as the paper–and–pencil test.
• The test will be administered in schools and test centers with a proctor.
• You will still be connected to scholarships and the College Board National Recognition Programs.
• Support will be given to all students who need accommodations and/or support to access the tests and their
content.
• The Reading/Writing passages will cover a wide range of academic disciplines and text complexities.
• The test will still have both multiple–choice and student–produced response question formats.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 6

More Questions Answered about the Digital SAT
1. When will I be able to register for the digital SAT tests?
The first digital SAT administrations at international test centers will start in the fall 2023.

2. How will students take the digital SAT?

You can give the SAT on a laptop or tablet using a custom–built digital exam application that can be
downloaded in advance of the test day.

3. How will the Digital SAT be more secure?

At this moment, if one test form is compromised, it can mean that the scores for all the students in that group
or at the same test centers will be canceled. However, going digital will make it possible to give every student a
unique test form so that it won’t be technically possible to share answers.

4. How will the College Board address test day issues and technical support challenges?
The College Board has dedicated customer service resources ready to troubleshoot issues on test day for
students and test centers. There is a technology coordinator for each test center to provide additional support
and technical help when needed.

5. What kinds of tools will be available for students taking the digital SAT?
You can use the following tools while using the software:
• Flag questions to come back to them later
• A countdown clock to know when you are running out of time. You can decide to show or hide it at the
top of their testing screen
• A built–in graphing calculator that you can use on the entire math section (or you can bring their own
calculators)
• A reference sheet, for each math question.

www.vibrantpublishers.com 7
 Chapter 2
Overview of the Reading
and Writing section
 Introduction
The Reading and Writing section comprises 54 questions that are divided into two equal-length modules. Each
module is for each of the test’s two stages, and it has 27 questions, of which 25 are operational and 2 are pretest. But
only answers to the operational questions are used in estimating the section’s final score. This means that the answers
to the pretest questions are not included in calculating the section’s final score. The pretest questions are mainly used
to collect student performance data to assess if some questions are appropriate for the students when taking the test
in the future. So, it is advisable that students focus their attention on the pretest questions as much as they do on the
operational questions.

Table 2.1 Digital SAT Reading and Writing section specifications

Characteristic Total Score

Mode of administering the test Reading and writing section is designed according to the multi-
stage adaptive model and administered through two modules
that are timed differently.

Time per module 1st module will take 32 minutes to complete.

2nd module will take 32 minutes to complete.
The total time available for the section is 64 minutes.

Average time per question Each question will take 1.19 minutes to be completed.

Score reported You will be scored between 200–800.

The score for this section represents half of the total score

Question format used The question format is discreet, with four multiple-choice
options.

Passage subject areas Passages are based on social studies, science, literature, history,
and humanities.

Word count by passage Each passage is between 25 and 150 words, containing at least 6
characters per word.

Informational graphics Informational graphs can include line graphs, tables, and bar
graphs.

Time per section and module

Students are given a total of 64 minutes to complete their Reading and Writing section. Since this time is equally
divided between the two modules, test takers can spend 32 minutes answering the questions in each module. After
the time for the first module has been used up, test takers have to immediately proceed to the second module and
answer questions with lower or higher difficulty levels as per their initial performance in the first module. After
moving on to the second module, students will not be able to go back to the questions in the first module.

Average time per question

Every test taker has about 1.19 minutes to answer each Reading and Writing test question.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 14

Question format used
All Reading and Writing test questions are in a multiple-choice format with four answer options that you can
choose from. There will be a single best answer referred to as the keyed response or the key. The questions are
discrete in the sense that they all have their own specific passages (or passage pairs).

Passage subject areas

The passages that are used to answer questions in the Reading and Writing section are obtained from the
following subject areas: Literature, science, history/social studies, humanities, and science. However, you are not
expected to have prior knowledge of each subject.

Word count by passage

The passage (or passage pair) for each Reading and Writing test question is between 25 and 150 words. A word in
a passage is made up of six characters (these could be numbers, spaces, letters, symbols, and, of course, punctuation).
As a standard, the total number of characters in a passage is divided by six; therefore, when a test question has two
short passages as its stimuli, the final word count for the two passages must be between 25 and 150 words.

Informational graphics
You will find some informational graphics in certain passages in the Reading and Writing section. They are
basically provided to assess your ability to identify and interpret data. Some examples of informational graphics
include bar graphs, tables, and line graphs, being the most common methods of displaying information/data in the
subjects the questions are prepared from. However, you are not required to perform any mathematical calculations
on the provided data in the informational graphics. In fact, you will not be allowed to bring in calculators while
appearing for this section. You need to use your quantitative and literacy skills to discover the relevant information in
the graphics, interpret it, and then use that information to make a reasonable conclusion about the appropriate answer
for each question.

Domain structure
The questions in the Reading and Writing section depict one of four content domains, which are as follows:

• Information and Ideas: This requires you to utilize your knowledge, comprehension, and analytical skills
to understand what is stated and implied in texts. You must use the associated informational graphics to
identify, interpret, evaluate, and process the information and ideas.

• Craft and Structure: In this case, you are expected to use your synthesis, comprehension, vocabulary,
analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge to discover the meaning of high-utility academic words and
phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make supportable connections between multiple topically
related texts.

• Expression of Ideas: For this, it is important that you use your revision skills and knowledge to make the
written expression effective based on the expected rhetorical goals.

• Standard English Conventions: You will be expected to utilize your editing skills and knowledge which
should be in accordance with the core conventions of Standard English sentence usage, structure, and
punctuation.

www.vibrantpublishers.com 15
 Chapter 3
Information and
Ideas
This chapter includes questions on the following topics:
• Central Ideas and Details
• Command of Evidence
Textual
Quantitative
• Inferences
 INFORMATION AND IDEAS

1 2

Our observations suggest increasingly that Earth– The following text is adapted from Charles
size planets orbiting within the habitable zone Stearns’ 1849 article, “The Way to Abolish
may be common in the galaxy—current estimates Slavery.”
suggest that more than 40 percent of stars have
at least one. But are any of them inhabited? With The Government of the United States creates
no ability to send probes there to sample, we will no Slaves; it only recognises as lawful the
have to derive the answer from the light and other Slavery existing in the several States, or to use
radiation that come to us from these faraway the words of the Constitution, "held to service
systems. If we manage to separate out a clean or labor, under the laws thereof." The laws of
signal from the planet and find some features in the several slave-holding States are made the
the light spectrum that might be indicative of life, standard for the general government's action
we will need to work hard to think of any non upon this subject. No quibble can possibly
biological process that might account for them. evade this. From this decision there is no
We also might not be able to detect biospheres appeal. What then is necessary to be done
even if they exist. to remove this prop from under the colossal
statue of Slavery? Plainly, to repeal all laws
Which is most likely true according to recognising its existence. Do this, and refuse
information suggested in the text? to obey any of the claims of the South in
reference to this matter, and Slavery ceases as
A) Even if life is present on other planets, we may soon as the earth would cease to turn upon its
not be able to recognize it. axis.

B) Life probably exists on about 40 percent of all Which choice best states the central idea of the
the planets in the galaxy. text?
C) It is impossible to find life on other planets
using currently available technology. A) The U.S. government has no binding authority
regarding slavery.
D) Theories about life on other planets have not
considered the practicality of finding it. B) The US government rather than states should
make laws regarding slavery.
C) Slaveholders should be responsible for
proving ownership of slaves.
D) Any legislation that upholds slavery should be
rescinded.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 30

 Central Ideas and Details

3 4

Scientist James Clark and graduate student Studies have shown that a single, subanesthetic–
Jason McLachlan of Duke University conducted dose (a lower dose than would cause anesthesia)
a study to address a central scientific problem ketamine infusion can often rapidly relieve
in explaining the diversity of tree species in a depressive symptoms within hours in people
forest. "In the mathematical models ecologists who have not responded to conventional
use to describe how different species compete for antidepressants, which typically take weeks or
resources such as light, moisture and nutrients, it months to work. However, widespread off–label
can be difficult to get species to coexist," he said. use of intravenous subanesthetic–dose ketamine
"In models, slight advantages allow one species for treatment–resistant depression has raised
to 'out–compete' the other, leading to extinction, concerns about side effects, especially given its
that is, loss of biodiversity. And so, ecologists have history as a drug of abuse.
put a lot of effort into trying to understand the
differences among species that allow one species According to the text, why is ketamine a preferred
to coexist with another species." Explaining such drug for treating serious depressive symptoms?
coexistence that occurs routinely in real life is
critical, if ecologists are to truly understand forest A) Because it acts faster than traditional
biodiversity and the forces that sustain or reduce medications for depression
it. B) Because it has fewer side effects that most
other depression medications do
According to the text, why does Clark feel that
mathematical models are insufficient to study C) Because there is no apparent risk of addiction
biodiversity? when administered long–term
D) Because it can be administered to the patient
A) They do not account for changes that take in multiple different ways
place over the course of centuries.
B) Their results do not accurately reflect
observations in the natural world.
C) They do not include enough different species
of plants from a specific area.
D) Their calculations are based on obsolete data
that needs to be updated.

www.vibrantpublishers.com 31
 INFORMATION AND IDEAS

1. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Central Ideas author does not want to continue slavery, so there
and Details would be no need to prove ownership of slaves.

Key Explanation: Choice A is the best answer

3. Level: Hard | Skill/Knowledge: Central Ideas and
because the passage begins by saying that many
Details
planets might potentially host life, but we only can
use “light and other radiation” to find out if they
Key Explanation: Choice B is the best answer
do. It is possible that life exists, but “we also might
because Clark says that in mathematical models,
not be able to detect biospheres even if they exist.”
“slight advantages allow one species to 'out–
compete' the other, leading to extinction, that is,
Distractor Explanations: Choice B is incorrect
loss of biodiversity,” but that in real life, species
because the passage only says that 40 percent of
coexist with each other “routinely” or “very
stars may have planets in the habitable zone. It
regularly.” Therefore, the mathematical models do
does not say that all of those planets probably
not accurately “reflect” or “demonstrate” what is
host life. Choice C is incorrect because, while
observed in natural systems.
the passage points out that identifying life will be
hard, it is still possible to do so using light and
Distractor Explanations: None of the other
other radiation detectable by current equipment.
choices are supported by evidence from the
Choice D is incorrect because the passage does
passage. There is no indication that the problem
not critique theories about extraterrestrial life; it
with mathematical models is the time frame, the
does not complain that the theories make it appear
number of plants included, or the age of the data.
easy to find.

4. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Central Ideas

2. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Central Ideas
and Details
and Details
Key Explanation: Choice A is the best answer
Key Explanation: Choice D is the best answer
because the text says that “ketamine infusion
because the author begins by saying that the
can often rapidly relieve depressive symptoms
U.S. government does not create slaves, it only
within hours in people who have not responded
recognizes laws that permit people to own slaves.
His conclusion is that if all slavery-related laws to conventional antidepressants, which typically
were “rescinded” or “removed,” then slavery would take weeks or months to work,” which indicates
no longer exist. that ketamine is “preferred” or “often used”
because it works quickly in cases where other
Distractor Explanations: Choice A is incorrect antidepressants did not work at all.
because, while the author feels that laws related
to slavery should be revoked, he accepts that the Distractor Explanations: Choice B is incorrect
laws are currently “binding” or “can be upheld.” because the text does not compare the number
Choice B is incorrect because the author feels that of side effects with those of other drugs. Choice
all laws should be ended; he does not feel that one C is incorrect because the long–term risks are
government is better than another at enforcing not assessed in the text. There are no apparent
slavery. Choice C is also incorrect because the
short–term risks of addiction when applied once.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 46

 Chapter 4
Craft and
Structure
This chapter includes questions on the following topics:
• Words in Context
• Text Structure and Purpose
• Cross–Text Connection
 CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

85 86

While life is a special _____ of complex The following text is adapted from Herman
chemistry, the elements involved are nothing Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby Dick; or The Whale.
special: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, etc., are among
the most abundant elements in the universe. Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never
Complex organic chemistry is surprisingly mind how long precisely—having little or no
common. Amino acids, just like those that make money in my purse, and nothing particular
up every protein in our bodies, have been found to interest me on shore, I thought I would
in the tails of comets. There are other organic sail about a little and see the watery part of
compounds in Martian soil. And 6,500 light years the world. Whenever I find myself growing
away, a giant cloud of space alcohol floats among grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp,
the stars. drizzly November in my soul; whenever
I find myself involuntarily pausing before
Which choice completes the text with the most coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear
logical and precise word or phrase? of every funeral I meet—then, I account it
high time to get to sea as soon as I can. With
A) model a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself
upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.
B) kind
There is nothing surprising in this. If they but
C) unit knew it, almost all men in some _____ , some
D) design time or other, cherish very nearly the same
feelings towards the ocean with me.

Which choice completes the text with the most

logical and precise word or phrase?

A) rank
B) degree
C) standard
D) diploma

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 100

 Words in Context

87 89

Behavioral activation is a type of talk therapy Mann’s research was conducted in two parts – a
that helps teens get unstuck from negative mood literature review and interview study. A literature
spirals by noticing a _____ between what they review of both the scientific and the popular
do and how they feel, and gradually adding literature was conducted and reviewed from
more small and enjoyable actions back into life. August to November, 2013. The interview study
Behavioral activation has the goal of decreasing involved semi–structured, one–time, in–person
avoidance, bolstering peer connection, and private interviews conducted the same year.
improving engagement in rewarding activities. Twenty vegans were interviewed, and questions
It also incorporates parent involvement so targeted personal history of veganism, related
parents gain tools for supporting their adolescent health beliefs, factors influencing the decision to
children. become vegan, and diet _____. Once all data was
obtained, it was analyzed in tandem.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase? Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) relevance
A) arrangement
B) bond
B) disposition
C) correspondence
C) constitution
D) attachment
D) amalgam

88

The researchers found that variance among

the sites did not increase over the millennia,
leading them to conclude that stabilizing forces
were maintaining forest diversity. "Our findings
indicate there are factors that _____ populations
at relative abundances that are consistent from
one place to another," said scientist James Clark.
“Our study doesn't identify what those stabilizing
forces are, however.”

Which choice completes the text with the most

logical and precise word or phrase?

A) supervise
B) manage
C) balance
D) administer

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 Words in Context (Answers)

85. Level: Easy | Skill/Knowledge: Words in Context negative mood spirals.” It is something “between
what they do and how they feel.” Choice C refers
Key Explanation: Choice B is the best answer to a close similarity or equivalence, so it shows
because the blank portion shows what part of that what the teens do is equivalent to how they
“complex chemistry” “life” is. Choice B refers to feel and vice versa.
a class or category, so fits the context of saying
that life is a category of chemistry that uses simple Distractor explanation: None of the other choices
elements. adequately explain the relationship “between what
they do and how they feel.” Choice A refers to the
Distractor Explanations: Choice A is incorrect state of being closely connected or important to
because it refers to a replica, an original that the subject of the sentence or topic at hand; it is
replicas are made from, or an ideal. None of these not typically used with “between” and two objects.
fit the context because there are no copies of the Choices B and D refer to joining or uniting two
general concept of life. Choice C is incorrect things together rather than showing a parallel
because it refers to one part of a larger set of between two ideas.
identical things. However, “life” is different from
the other parts of complex chemistry. Choice D
88. Level: Hard | Skill/Knowledge: Words in Context
refers to a pattern for something. However, life is a
changing process that does not follow a specific set
of guidelines or blueprint. Key Explanation: Choice C is the best answer
because the blank portion is what the factors do
to the populations so that the populations are
86. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Words in “at relative abundances that are consistent from
Context one place to another.” Choice C refers to making
something stable, so it fits the context of saying
Key Explanation: Choice B is the best answer that the populations are relatively the same.
because the blank should infer that most men
cherish feelings towards the ocean. Choice B Distractor Explanations: None of the other
means “quantity,” so it accurately shows that all choices fits the context of describing what the
men have some quantity of desire to go to the sea. factors do to the populations. The other choices
all refer to a deliberate action of overseeing
Distractor Explanations: All of the other choices the actions of someone or something else, but
can be eliminated because they do not describe “factors” are inanimate and cannot decide to
what most men feel about the ocean. Choice A direct anything else.
refers to status. Choice C refers to a measurement
or level of attainment. Choice D refers to an
89. Level: Hard | Skill/Knowledge: Words in Context
official document showing that a course of study
was completed.
Key Explanation: Choice C is the best answer
because the blank portion refers to an aspect of
87. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Words in the diet that Mann questioned twenty vegans
Context about. Choice C refers to the makeup or structure
of something, so fits the context of explaining that
Key Explanation: Choice C is the best answer Mann asked about the makeup or balance of parts
because the blank portion is something that is
in the diet.
noticed which helps “teens get unstuck from

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 Chapter 5
Expression of
Ideas
This chapter includes questions on the following topics:
• Rhetorical Synthesis
• Transitions
 EXPRESSION OF IDEAS

166

When researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is the most famous painting
by French artist Georges Seurat and is one of the archetypal pictures in the neo–
impressionist style.

• Sunday Afternoon was painted between 1884 and 1886 from a series of oil sketches
that Seurat made in the park and it now hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

• Seurat used a type of painting called pointillist, though he preferred the term
divisionism at the time, which involved putting small dots of color next to each other
that optically blend into an image.

• Sunday Afternoon is about 6.6 by 9.9 feet (2 × 3 meters) and was painted with many
extremely bright colors including the new zinc yellow, which started oxidizing and
becoming darker even during Seurat’s lifetime.

The student wants to explain the present condition of Sunday Afternoon. Which choice
most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) The most famous painting by Georges Seurat, Sunday Afternoon, is a classic of the
neo–impressionist style and uses tiny dots of bright colors to create a whole image.
B) Between 1884 and 1886, Georges Seurat used a style of painting now called
pointillism, which consists of tiny dots of bright colors close together, in the Sunday
Afternoon.
C) Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon is currently in the Art Institute of Chicago, though
some of the colors are darker than in 1886 when Seurat completed the painting.
D) Sunday Afternoon, Georges Seurat uses a style that he called divisionism but which is
now called pointillism to create optical effects that were brighter than mixed colors

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 158

 Rhetorical Synthesis

167

When researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

• Rathcroghan is an archaeological site in county Roscommon, Ireland, that contains

burial mounds, forts, standing stones, and other structures.

• Rathcroghan covers over two square miles and contains at least 240 sites that are
about 5,500 years old, but none have been excavated.

• There are no urban centers, so Rathcroghan was not a town, but instead the residence
of nobility or a gathering place for festivals.

• There is a cave which is said to be the entrance to the underworld.

• The holiday of Samhain, which over time turned into Halloween, is thought to have
originated at Rathcroghan.

The student wants to explain the archaeological significance of Rathcroghan. Which

choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Rathcroghan is an area of 240 unexcavated sites in Ireland with 5,500–year–old

structures such as mounds, forts, and standing stones that may be associated with a
noble’s residence or a gathering place for festivals.
B) Rathcroghan in Roscommon, Ireland, has a cave which people believed was the
entrance to the underworld, and this place is possibly the origin of the holiday
Samhain, which evolved into Halloween.
C) In Roscommon, Ireland, there is a site called Rathcroghan with structures about
5,500 years old, including burial mounts, forts, and standing stones, which may be
associated with the holiday of Samhain.
D) Though it was not a town, Rathcroghan in Roscommon, Ireland, could have had
many other uses in relation to the holiday of Samhain, but because it contains over
240 sites that have not been excavated, it is hard to determine.

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 EXPRESSION OF IDEAS

166. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Rhetorical may have different uses. Choice C describes the
Synthesis structures and a speculation about the site, but
does not include relevant details like the number
Key Explanation: Choice C is the best answer of sites, what they contain, the fact that they are
because the question is asking about the unexcavated, or what they might be for. Choice
“present condition” or “current status” of the D is incorrect because it offers very few facts. The
painting. Choice C gives specific facts about the reader knows it is not a town, but does not know
painting as it is today, where it now is and what what scientists believe the site might be, nor how
the appearance is. The date that the painting old it is, not what the sites contain.
was finished is a useful detail for the reader to
understand that the colors have been darkening
168. Level: Easy | Skill/Knowledge: Rhetorical
for over 100 years, so might be quite dark in
Synthesis
places.

Key Explanation: Choice C is the best answer

Distractor Explanations: None of the other
because it offers three facts that differentiate solar
choices adequately describe the “condition” or
flares from solar prominences: the length they
“state” of the painting now. Choice A only says it
last, the fact that prominences remain attached
is a classic. Choice B describes the painting when
whereas flares burst, and the plasma arc compared
it was made, not how it is now. Choice D explains
what the art style is now called, but not anything to a burst of radiation.
about the painting.
Distractor Explanations: Choice A explains a
difference between flares and prominences, but
167. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Rhetorical since there is only one fact, it is less complete than
Synthesis Choice C. Choice B explains what a prominence
looks like in one situation, but does not contrast
Key Explanation: Choice A is the best that with the appearance of the flare. Choice B,
answer because the question asks about the therefore, only says that they are different but does
“archaeological significance of Rathcroghan.” not help an audience visualize how the two look.
In other words, the student needs to explain Choice D is incorrect because it adds information
why it is important historically. Choice A gives not found in the notes: there is no evidence that
many pieces of valuable information from the prominences do not cause problems on Earth.
notes to achieve this goal. For example, it points
out the number of sites and that those sites are
169. Level: Medium | Skill/Knowledge: Rhetorical
unexcavated, the age and location of them, a list
Synthesis
of different objects, and the possible actual use of
the site.
Key Explanation: Choice D is the best answer
Distractor Explanations: None of the other because the student wants to explain why cheddar
choices offer as many useful details for cheese is often orange. Choice D explains that the
understanding what Rathcroghan is and why cheese is not naturally orange, but it gets that color
scientists are interested in it. Choice B only refers due to additives, and even says what the additives
to the cave, so the reader has no idea that there usually are. Choice D further offers a reason for
is an entire complex of other structures which adding the additives: to replicate the historical
appearance of the cheese.

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions 184