Module 1

The following text is adapted from Yone Noguchi’s 1914 memoir, The Story of Yone
Noguchi. Noguchi is returning home after eleven years abroad.

I reached Tsushima, my native town, at evening.

I frightened my old father at the station, who was actually trying to find me among
some other people. There is no wonder that he could not recognise me; I must have
changed a great deal.

1. As used in the text, what does the word “find” most nearly mean?

A) locate
B) Reveal
C) Persuade
D) Embarrass

WHY "LOCATE" IS CORRECT:

The father is physically searching for his son in a crowd
He's attempting to visually identify/locate his son among other people
The word "find" here refers to the physical act of spotting someone in a group

The _______ Keshni Kashyap’s book, Tina’s Mouth has been very positive. Many reviewers
have praised the book and it won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.

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

A) inspiration for
B) reception of
C) neglect of
D) confusion about

WHY "RECEPTION OF" IS CORRECT:

"Reception" means how something is received or responded to by others It directly connects
to: Reviews (how critics received it) Awards (how the literary community received it) The
word logically pairs with "has been very positive" It's the most precise term for describing
public and critical response to a book

Some social scientists argue that while a belief in the importance of reason and progress is
key to democracy, the public’s understanding of history is also central to its subsequent
comprehension of a state’s politics, and if an electorate is to function, historical issues
cannot remain the dominion only of academics. History is too _____ to leave historians
alone.

3. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) Respectable
B) Complex
C) Accessible
D) Critical

WHY "CRITICAL" IS CORRECT:

"Critical" means absolutely essential or crucial

It matches the passage's argument that:
History is central to understanding politics
The public needs to understand history
It's too important to be left only to academics
The word reinforces the passage's emphasis on history's fundamental importance to
democracy

A speaker at a recent children’s book publishing conference noted that, while many
illustrators do excellent work, in her mind, no one has ever _____ Jerry Pinkney’s work as an
illustrator of the The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South: there is no better
example of the form according to the speaker.

4. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) cited
B) eclipsed
C) augmented
D) converted

WHY "ECLIPSED" IS CORRECT:

"Eclipse" means to surpass or outshine something

It matches the speaker's view that Pinkney's work is unsurpassed
Fits with "no one has ever..." structure
Aligns with "no better example" statement
Conveys the idea of superior achievement

The Village Politicians, painted in the realist style by Wilhelm Leibl, depicts a group of
peasants clustered together in conversation and emphasizes accuracy in its portrayal of the
experiences of ordinary working people. This style largely ______ the conventions of the
romantic style evident in many paintings by Thomas Couture, which instead accentuated
their subjects' positive traits by, for example, placing them in staged settings with expensive
looking decorations and presenting them with smooth, unblemished skin.
5. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A) Rejected
B) Imitated
C) Epitomized
D) Extended

WHY "REJECTED" IS CORRECT:

The passage shows two opposing artistic approaches
Leibl's realism stands in direct opposition to romantic conventions
"Rejected" accurately describes the deliberate move away from romantic idealization
It fits the contrasting relationship established by "instead"

In the early days of television in the 1940s, many people thought that US television
programs would rely on the financial support of ad agencies and commercial sponsors,
much like radio did. But advertisers hesitated to jump into a new space, particularly at a time
when the manufacturing of new television sets was stalled due to the US's involvement in
World War II. Broadcasters, like the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), needed to
persuade advertisers to support their programming despite not knowing whether there would
be a robust television audience to begin with.

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

A) It describes how broadcasters attempted to convince advertisers to support television.

B) It explains why a type of television programming was popular at the time.
C) It identifies a specific reason behind some advertisers' hesitance to support
television.
D) It compares the beginnings of radio programming with the beginnings of television
programming in the United States.

Why C is Correct:
The phrase directly explains a key reason for advertiser hesitation
It provides concrete historical context (WWII)
It shows why advertisers might doubt audience reach (lack of TV sets)

The following text is from Armando Palacio Valdes's short story "The Love of Clotilde,”
originally published in Spanish in 1884. In the story, Don Jerónimo is a financial supporter of
artists in the theater.
Any youth from the provinces who arrived in Madrid with a drama in his pocket could
take no surer road to seeing it produced than that which led to the home of Don
Jerónimo. One and all, he received them with open arms, the good and the bad alike.
 There is no denying that, since he was rather brusque in his ways, he never spared
the young authors who asked his advice and read him their productions, but criticized
vigorously, even to the verge of insult.

7. Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It suggests that Don Jeronimo does not enjoy financially supporting playwrights.
B) It creates a contrast between the reputation of a young playwright and that of Don
Jerónimo.
C) It emphasizes the degree to which Don Jerónimo's support is consequential for
inexperienced playwrights.
D) It explains Don Jeronimo's view of the quality of theatrical works of the time.

The correct answer is C) It emphasizes the degree to which Don Jerónimo's support is
consequential for inexperienced playwrights.

Here's why:

The underlined portion states that Don Jerónimo is "a financial supporter of artists in the
theater"
The following text demonstrates how important this support was:
Young playwrights from the provinces specifically sought him out
It was described as the "surest road" to getting their work produced
He received "one and all" with "open arms"

Dubautia raillardioides is a species in a family of plants known collectively as the silversword

alliance, all of which grow only on the Hawaiian Islands. Members of this alliance exhibit an
extraordinary range of phenotypes, with some species maturing into vines and others into
shrubs and trees. All species in the alliance descended from a single ancestral tarweed plant
that arrived on the islands around 5 million years ago. The tarweed's descendants diversified
into distinct species as they adapted to live in the wide variety of habitats found on the
Hawaiian Islands.

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

A) It lists species from a family of plants found only on the Hawaiian Islands.
B) It explains why Dubautia raillardioides is unique among members of the silversword
alliance.
C) It supplies the name used to refer to a group of related plant species.
D) It provides the common name for the Dubautia raillardioides plant.

The correct answer is C) It supplies the name used to refer to a group of related plant
species.

Here's why:
The underlined phrase "known collectively as the silversword alliance" serves to introduce
the collective name for this group of related plants
The text then goes on to describe how:
All these plants are found only in Hawaii
They share a common ancestor (tarweed plant)
They evolved into different forms (phenotypes)
They are related species that adapted to different habitats

Mexican textile artist Victoria Villasana weaves stories of triumph, using her unique method
of applying colorful yarn to photographs of people. In some works, Villasana focuses on
celebrating cultural icons who are people of color, as she does in her depiction of artist Frida
Kahlo. However, in other works, Villasana honors ordinary people, as she does in her
captivating portrayal of a woman holding a baby. Villasana sees both of these approaches
as ways of depicting the power and interconnectedness of all people.

9. Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

A) Villasana's works focus on recognizing both examples of human strength and

connection. famous and everyday
B) Villasana began her artistic career by painting portraits of famous people and then
transitioned to depicting everyday people instead.
C) Villasana's portrayal of a woman holding a baby focuses more on human connection than
it does on human resilience.
D) Villasana's depiction of Frida Kahlo receives more attention from scholars than her
depiction of a woman holding a baby does.

The correct answer is A) Villasana's works focus on recognizing both famous and everyday
examples of human strength and connection.

Why: The passage shows that Villasana creates art featuring both cultural icons (like Frida
Kahlo) and ordinary people (like a woman with baby), with the unified purpose of showing
"the power and interconnectedness of all people."

Community science involves professional scientists collaborating with members of the public
to study a topic. This approach to research can promote community engagement by offering
insight into the daily life of a scientist. It's also very effective because it greatly increases the
amount of data that can be collected, such as when biologist Abbigail Merrill and colleagues
studied butterfly size and its relation to behavior and used findings reported by hundreds of
students and community members in northwestern Arkansas.

10. Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

A) Abbigail Merrill and colleagues used a community science approach in their butterfly
research and were surprised at the effect this had on public understanding of the nature of
scientists' work.
B) A community science approach can increase public understanding of the nature of
scientists' work and generate large amounts of data, benefiting both communities and
researchers.
C) A community science approach can benefit communities by increasing public
understanding of the nature of scientists' work, but it's less likely to help researchers obtain
accurate data.
D) A community science approach allows researchers to collect significantly more data even
though it's unlikely to have much of an effect on public understanding of the nature of
scientists' work.

The correct answer is B) A community science approach can increase public understanding
of the nature of scientists' work and generate large amounts of data, benefiting both
communities and researchers.

Why: The passage directly states two main benefits of community science:

It promotes community engagement by offering insight into scientists' work

It's very effective because it increases data collection (demonstrated by the butterfly study
example)

Names and Movements of Snakes during Trials

Name of snake Species name Common name Direction of

movement

Glory Acanthophis common death away from sound

antarcticus adder

Bitey Boy Aspidites ramsayi woma python toward sound

Boss Oxyuranus coastal taipan away from sound

scutellatus

Biologists Christina Zdenek, Damian Candusso, and their team exposed various snakes to
airborne sound and recorded whether they moved toward or away from the sound. The table
shows the results for three of the snakes observed in the study. Based on the table, a
student concludes that Glory and Boss behaved similarly in the sound trials.

11. Which choice best describes data from the table that support the student's conclusion?

A) Boss moved toward the sound, while Bitey Boy moved away from it.
B) Bitey Boy and Glory both moved toward the sound.
C) Glory and Boss both moved away from the sound.
 D) Boss moved toward the sound, while Glory moved away from it.

The correct answer is C) Glory and Boss both moved away from the sound.

Here's why:

Looking at the data in the table:

Glory (common death adder) moved "away from sound"

Boss (coastal taipan) moved "away from sound"
Bitey Boy (woma python) moved "toward sound"

Among the most visited art museums in the world, the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid had
approximately 4.4 million visitors in 2019. The Museo Reina Sofía also offers virtual tours
that art lovers can view online for free. Although there were initial concerns that people who
viewed the virtual tours would then consider an in-person visit unnecessary, museum
administrators claim that their surveys of in-person visitors show that those concerns were
unjustified.

12. Which statement, if true, would most directly support the administrators' claim?

A) Most surveyed visitors to the Museo Reina Sofia indicated that they lived somewhere
other than Madrid.
B) Many surveyed visitors to the Museo Reina Sofia indicated that the virtual tours
convinced them to plan an in-person visit.
C) Many surveyed visitors to the Museo Reina Sofia indicated that they would likely view the
virtual tours in order to reminisce about their in-person visit.
D) Most surveyed visitors to the Museo Reina Sofia indicated that they were unaware of the
virtual tours before their first in-person visit.

The correct answer is B) Many surveyed visitors to the Museo Reina Sofia indicated that the
virtual tours convinced them to plan an in-person visit.

Here's why:

The key concern mentioned in the passage:

There were initial worries that virtual tours would make people think in-person visits were
unnecessary
Administrators claim these concerns were "unjustified"
Option B directly addresses and counters this concern by showing that:

Virtual tours actually encouraged in-person visits

This proves the opposite of the initial worry happened
The Clouds is a 423 BCE play by Aristophanes, originally written in ancient Greek. At the
time, professional intellectuals called sophists taught customers rhetorical techniques to use
in public speaking, along with providing instruction in other subjects. In the play,
Aristophanes satirizes sophists as teaching people to speak dishonestly, as seen when the
character ________

13. Which choice most effectively uses a quotation from a translation of The Clouds to
illustrate the claim?

A) Strepsiades encourages his son to learn to be a sophist, saying, "If you have any
concern for your father's patrimony, become one of them."
B) Pheidippides says, after taking lessons from a sophist, "How pleasant it is to be
acquainted with new and clever things, and to be able to despise the established
laws!"
C) Strepsiades, taking lessons from a sophist, says he wants to become "a
fabricator of falsehoods, inventive of words, a practiced knave in lawsuits... a
fox, a sharper, a slippery knave, a dissembler, a slippery fellow, an impostor."
D) Socrates, a sophist, says to a potential customer, "I wish to briefly learn from you if
you are possessed of a good memory."

The correct answer is C) Strepsiades, taking lessons from a sophist, says he wants to
become "a fabricator of falsehoods, inventive of words, a practiced knave in lawsuits ... a
fox, a sharper, a slippery knave, a dissembler, a slippery fellow, an impostor."

Here's why:

The passage makes a specific claim:

Aristophanes satirizes sophists as teaching people to speak dishonestly

Option C best supports this claim because:

It directly shows a character describing what he hopes to learn from sophists

The quoted words ("fabricator of falsehoods," "dissembler," "impostor") explicitly relate to
dishonesty
The character's desire to become these things demonstrates how sophists taught dishonest
speaking

The musical Hadestown was produced off-Broadway in New York in 2016. A revised version
of the musical premiered on Broadway in 2019, in a larger production. In a review of the
Broadway production, theater critic Jesse Green enthusiastically praised the musical's
storytelling. However, Green also explained that he had seen the earlier version of
Hadestown in 2016 and had found the storytelling to be very confusing. This suggests that in
Green's view ________

14. Which choice most logically completes the text?

A) Hadestown improved greatly between 2016 and its premiere on Broadway.
 B) The 2016 version of Hadestown had fewer storytelling problems than the 2019
version did.
C) Hadestown should have had a larger production in 2019 than it actually did.
D) The 2019 version of Hadestown was less enjoyable than the 2016 version.

The correct answer is A) Hadestown improved greatly between 2016 and its premiere on
Broadway.

Here's why:

Key information from the passage:

2016 version: Green "found the storytelling to be very confusing"

2019 version: Green "enthusiastically praised the musical's storytelling"
This contrast shows:

A clear improvement in storytelling quality

A shift from negative (confusing) to positive (enthusiastic praise)
The change occurred between the 2016 and 2019 versions

Biochemists I. Sam Saguy and Eli J. Pinthus studied the mass and heat transfer processes
that occur when foods, such as the Indian snacks makka poha and shankarpali, are fried in
oil. During frying, water in the crust evaporates, leaving voids that oil can fill, thereby
increasing the food's fat content. As the process continues, water from the food's center
moves to the crust as long as the crust remains permeable. Therefore, the less moisture a
food loses during frying, _______

15. Which choice most logically completes the text?

A) the less the fat content is increased through frying.

B) the higher the temperature must be to fry the food.
C) the slower the crust will lose its permeability.
D) the crispier the crust will be when frying is completed.

The correct answer is A) the less the fat content is increased through frying.

Here's the logical breakdown:

Key process described in the passage:

Water in crust evaporates → creates voids

Oil fills these voids → increases fat content
Water moves from center to crust if crust stays permeable
The cause-and-effect relationship:

More moisture loss = more voids = more space for oil = higher fat content
Therefore, less moisture loss = fewer voids = less space for oil = lower fat content

Water boils at around 212°F at sea level, but in Superior, Colorado (elevation: 5,495 feet
above sea level), it boils at around 202°F. Food writer J. Kenji López-Alt, who explores the
science behind cooking, _______ that lower boiling points at higher elevations "can wreak all
sorts of havoc on recipes."

16. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) explain
B) explains
C) have explained
D) are explaining

The correct answer is B) explains

Here's why:

Subject-Verb Agreement:

Subject: "J. Kenji López-Alt" (singular)

Tense: Present simple
Therefore, needs singular verb form
Sentence Structure:

Main clause: "Food writer J. Kenji López-Alt...explains"

Who-clause: "who explores the science behind cooking"
What is explained: "that lower boiling points..."

Many Farms Chapter is one of the 110 chapters of the Navajo Nation (Naabeehó
Binahásdzo). The chapter, known as Da'ak'eh Halani in the Navajo language (Diné bizaad),
was the subject of a profile ________ in the Navajo Times on August 22, 2013.

17. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) appearing
B) has appeared
C) appeared
D) appears

The correct answer is C) appeared

Here's why:
Time Context:

The event happened on a specific date in the past (August 22, 2013)
This requires a simple past tense verb
Sentence Structure:

"was the subject of a profile [verb] in the Navajo Times..."

The main verb "was" is in past tense, so we need consistency

With the short documentary Rick Bartow: The Man Who Made Marks, Osage and Cherokee
director Nanette Kelley joined the growing number of Indigenous women adding their voices
to North American _____ film, a selection of the Native Women in Film Festival, is about the
art of painter and musician Rick Bartow.

18. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) cinema, her
B) Cinema. Her
C) cinema and her
D) cinema her

The correct answer is B) Cinema. Her

Here's why:

Sentence Structure Issue:

The original sentence is a run-on sentence with two independent clauses

A period is needed to separate these clauses properly
Capitalization:

"Cinema" should be capitalized as it starts a new independent clause

This occurs after properly separating the run-on sentence
Breaking down the two independent clauses:

First clause: "With the short documentary..., Osage and Cherokee director Nanette Kelley
joined the growing number of Indigenous women adding their voices to North American
Cinema."
Second clause: "Her film, a selection of the Native Women in Film Festival, is about the art
of painter and musician Rick Bartow."

Working with equipment designed for a billionths of a meter scale, ____________

19. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) nanoengineers have synthesized silica nanoparticles that are used to

administer medicines to specific cells in the body.
B) nanoengineers' synthesized silica nanoparticles are used to administer medicines to
specific cells in the body.
C) silica nanoparticles that have been synthesized by nanoengineers are used to
administer medicines to specific cells in the body.
D) synthesized silica nanoparticles used to administer medicines to specific cells in the
body have been created by nanoengineers.

The correct answer is A) nanoengineers have synthesized silica nanoparticles that are used
to administer medicines to specific cells in the body.

Here's why:

Sentence Structure:

The sentence begins with an introductory phrase: "Working with equipment designed for a
billionths of a meter scale,"
This requires a clear subject and predicate to follow

Option A provides a logical, clear subject (nanoengineers) followed by a proper verb (have
synthesized)

Just as the Arrhenius equation in chemistry is named not after its first discoverer but after
the physicist who further developed the equation, so too does the Cavendish balance in
physics take its name from a _____________ who was not the first to construct the device.

20. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) natural philosopher: in this case, Henry Cavendish, A

B) natural philosopher in this case, Henry Cavendish,
C) natural philosopher in this case, Henry Cavendish.
D) natural philosopher-in this case, Henry Cavendish–

The correct answer is C) natural philosopher in this case, Henry Cavendish.

Here's why:

Sentence Structure:

The sentence requires an appositive phrase (explaining who the natural philosopher is)
The phrase "in this case, Henry Cavendish" is an appositive that provides additional
information
The sentence needs to end with a period as it completes the main thought

Jetties–long, narrow structures that extend from a landmass into the water–are often
constructed to protect coastlines from erosion. Jetties can sometimes have the opposite
________ obstructing the natural flow of sand along the shore can lead to increased erosion
in some areas.

21. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) effect, though,
B) effect, though;
C) effect, though
D) effect: though

The correct answer is B) effect, though;

Here's why:
Sentence Structure Analysis:

The sentence contains two independent clauses:

"Jetties can sometimes have the opposite effect"
"obstructing the natural flow of sand along the shore can lead to increased erosion in some
areas"
These independent clauses need proper punctuation to connect them
Why B is correct:

The semicolon (;) is the appropriate punctuation mark here because:

It joins two related independent clauses
The second clause explains or elaborates on the first clause
No coordinating conjunction is used

The editors of Home Ground: A Guide to the American Landscape turned to Arturo Longoria,
a nonfiction writer, to craft the entry for "arroyo," a term referring to the bed of an
intermittently dry stream or creek. For "lek," however, the editors chose the _____ author of
The Very Rich Hours.

22. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) poet, Emily Hiestand,

B) poet, Emily Hiestand
C) poet Emily Hiestand
 D) poet Emily Hiestand,

D) "poet Emily Hiestand," is correct.

Title + Name Rule:

When a simple occupational title (like "poet") directly precedes a name, NO commas should
separate the title from the name
Incorrect: "poet, Emily Hiestand" (Option A)
Correct: "poet Emily Hiestand" (as in Option D)

Guard cells are specialized cells that are part of a plant's pores. These cells help regulate
the amount of carbon dioxide a plant takes in. ______ they help regulate a plant's water
loss.

23. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) In conclusion,
B) Additionally,
C) Instead,
D) Previously,

The correct answer is B) Additionally,

Let's analyze why this is the most logical transition:

Context Analysis:

The first sentence introduces guard cells and their role in regulating carbon dioxide
The second sentence needs to add another function of guard cells (regulating water loss)
Why "Additionally" works best:

It shows that we're adding another related function

It maintains a positive connection between two similar ideas
It indicates an extension of information about the same topic

Elara, one of the eighty known moons of Jupiter, is designated as Jupiter VII ("VII" means
"7"). Roman numerals typically indicate the order in which the moons were named rather
than the order of their proximity to Jupiter. It is incorrect to assume, _______ that Elara is the
seventh moon from Jupiter in terms of proximity.

24. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) however,
B) then,
C) moreover,
 D) Finally,

The correct answer is A) however,

Let's analyze why "however" is the most logical transition here:

Structure of the Passage:

First part: States that Elara is Jupiter VII (7)

Second part: Explains that Roman numerals indicate naming order
Final part: Contrasts with what one might assume about the numbering
Why "however" works best:

Creates a contrast between:

The fact that Elara is labeled as "VII" (7)
The misconception is that this means it's the 7th moon from Jupiter

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

● Dinosaur fossil specimens can be found at science museums all over the world.
● A dinosaur fossil specimen nicknamed Stan is housed at the Black Hills Institute in
Hill City, South Dakota.
● Stan, a Tyrannosaurus, lived in the Late Cretaceous period.
● A dinosaur fossil specimen nicknamed Horridus is housed at the Melbourne Museum
in Melbourne, Australia.
● Horridus, a Triceratops, lived in the Late Cretaceous period.

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

A) Both the Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen Stan and the Triceratops fossil
specimen Horridus lived in the Late Cretaceous period.
B) While the Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen Stan is in Hill City, South Dakota, the
Triceratops fossil specimen Horridus is in Melbourne, Australia.
C) Dinosaur fossil specimens can be found at science museums all over the world,
including in Hill City, South Dakota, and Melbourne. Australia.
D) The Black Hills Institute is home to Stan, a Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen from the
Late Cretaceous period.

The correct answer is A) Both the Tyrannosaurus fossil specimen Stan and the Triceratops
fossil specimen Horridus lived in the Late Cretaceous period.

Let's analyze why:

Question Goal:

To emphasize a SIMILARITY between the two specimens

Must use relevant information from the notes
Key Information from Notes:

Stan (Tyrannosaurus) → Late Cretaceous period

Horridus (Triceratops) → Late Cretaceous period
This is the main similarity between them
Why Option A is Best:

Directly states the shared characteristic (Late Cretaceous period)

Includes both specimens
Focuses on the similarity rather than differences

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

● Grimanesa Amoros is a Peruvian American artist well known for her LED light
sculptures.
● Her sculpture Uros House is made of smooth multicolored LED domes.
● It occupies 250 cubic feet of space.
● Her sculpture Ocupante is made of entangled blue and white LED tubes.
● It occupies 80,000 cubic feet of space.

26. The student wants to emphasize a similarity between Uros House and Ocupante. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) At 80,000 cubic feet in size, Grimanesa Amoros's Ocupante cuts a larger figure than
the 250-cubic foot Uros House.
B) Uros House is an LED light sculpture made by Grimanesa Amoros, as is
Ocupante.
C) The smooth LED domes of Grimanesa Amoros's Uros House stand in contrast to the
tangled LED tubes of Ocupante.
D) Grimanesa Amoros is the artist behind Uros House–a sculpture made of smooth
multicolored LED domes.

The correct answer is B) Uros House is an LED light sculpture made by Grimanesa Amoros,
as is Ocupante.

Let's analyze why:

Question Goal:

To emphasize a SIMILARITY between Uros House and Ocupante

Must use relevant information from the notes
Key Similarities from Notes:

Both are LED light sculptures

Both are made by Grimanesa Amoros
Why Option B is Best:

Highlights TWO key similarities:

Both are LED light sculptures
Both are created by the same artist
Uses parallel structure to emphasize the comparison
Focuses on shared characteristics rather than differences

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

● Researchers in a 2021 study wanted to determine the rate at which 17 languages

conveyed both information and syllables.
● They calculated the bits of information conveyed per second (the IR, or eyed
information rate).
● The IR was found to be approximately consistent across the 17 languages (an
average of 39 bits per second).
● They calculated the number of syllables spoken per second (the SR, or syllable rate).
● Spanish had the second-fastest SR (7.7 syllables per second).
● Vietnamese had the sixteenth-fastest SR (5.3 syllables per second).

27. The student wants to present an overview of the study's findings. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Though some of the languages differed in number of syllables spoken per

second, all 17 conveyed information at roughly the same rate.
B) The 2021 study determined the information rate (IR) of 17 languages in bits of
information conveyed per second.
C) Vietnamese had the sixteenth-fastest syllable rate, lower than that of Spanish, which
had the second-fastest; however, Spanish had the lower information rate of the two.
D) Researchers found that information was conveyed more quickly in Spanish, at 7.7
syllables per second, than in Vietnamese, at 5.3 syllables per second.

The correct answer is A) Though some of the languages differed in number of syllables
spoken per second, all 17 conveyed information at roughly the same rate.

Let's analyze why:

Question Goal:

Present an OVERVIEW of the study's findings

Use relevant information from the notes effectively
Key Findings from the Study:

IR (Information Rate) was consistent across languages (~39 bits/second)

SR (Syllable Rate) varied between languages
17 languages were studied

Why Option A is Best: This option effectively summarizes the study's key finding: despite
variations in syllable rates (SR) across languages, the information rate (IR) remained
consistent at approximately 39 bits per second for all 17 languages. This captures the main
conclusion of the research.

Captures the study's main finding: consistent information rate despite varying syllable rates
Provides a comprehensive overview
Highlights the key contrast in the findings
Includes the scope (17 languages)

MODULE 2

When it comes to crafting policy recommendations to protect species at risk, lessons from
previous declines in biodiversity can be especially _________. The factors that contributed
to the extinction of the Caribbean ground sloth around 3000 BCE, for example, may be
applicable to endangered species today.

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

A) idiosyncratic
B) simplified
C) relevant
D) debatable

Answer: C) relevant

Brief explanation: The word "relevant" fits best because the passage suggests that historical
examples (like the Caribbean ground sloth's extinction) can be meaningfully applied to
current conservation efforts. The lessons from past biodiversity declines are "applicable" to
today's endangered species, making them "relevant" to current policy-making. Other options
like "idiosyncratic" (peculiar), "simplified" (made simpler), or "debatable" (arguable) don't
capture this direct usefulness and applicability of past examples.

The Pacific halibut is an ectothermic (cold-blooded) fish, whereas the yellowfin tuna is a
regional endotherm; unlike that of ectotherms, its body temperature remains above the
ambient water temperature. The basking shark had been classified as a full ectotherm, but
researchers Haley R. Dolton et al. found that its body temperature remains 1.0 to 1.5°C
above ambient, which is _______ that classification.

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

A) incongruous with
B) subordinate to
C) opportune for
D) indicative of
Answer: A) incongruous with

Brief explanation: The word "incongruous with" is the best choice because the findings (that
the basking shark maintains a body temperature above ambient) contradict or are
inconsistent with its previous classification as a full ectotherm. True ectotherms don't
maintain body temperatures above ambient, so this discovery is "incongruous with" (not in
agreement with) the original classification.
● The other options fail to convey contradiction:
● Subordinate to = less important than → Irrelevant.
● Opportune for = convenient/timely for → Doesn’t fit the
context.
● Indicative of = suggests/supports → Opposite of the required
meaning.

In the late 2010s, the price of vintage cards from the game Magic: The Gathering rose
dramatically, which had the counterintuitive effect of _______ Gathering demand: buyers
who hadn't previously wanted to purchase Magic: The Gathering cards thronged the market,
believing prices would continue to rise and the cards could be resold later at a profit.

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

A) capitalizing
B) exploiting
C) eliciting
D) satisfying

Answer: C) eliciting

Brief explanation: "Eliciting" (drawing forth or bringing out) is the most logical and precise
choice because the passage describes how rising prices unexpectedly brought out or
prompted more demand, rather than decreasing it as might be expected. The other options
don't capture this cause-and-effect relationship as accurately:

"Capitalizing" suggests taking advantage of something

"Exploiting" implies unfair use
"Satisfying" means fulfilling existing demand rather than creating new demand
The counterintuitive nature of the situation is that higher prices actually "elicited" (brought
forth) more buyers rather than deterring them.

Spanning the 1920s to the 1980s, Mexican architect Luis Barragán's prolific career evolved
through distinct phases. As epitomized by the house in Calle Pedro Loza in Guadalajara,
many of Barragán's first projects integrated traditional Mexican building techniques into
Mediterranean designs. Extensive travels abroad later sparked an engagement with
modernist and functionalist aesthetics–styles whose emphasis on utility and whose
repudiation of traditional architecture's more ornamental elements are readily apparent in
Barragán's Pizarro Suárez House.

4. Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A) It presents a general claim about a particular architect's career, describes a design

approach that typified the early stages of that career, and then explains a later shift in
that career.
B) It names a famous architect, outlines the primary aesthetic model evident in his work,
and then offers examples illustrating his commitment to that model.
C) It provides famous examples of an architect's projects, describes the original
inspiration for those projects, and then suggests that lesser-known projects by that
architect arose from other sources of inspiration.
D) It summarizes the career of a particular architect, states how that architect's heritage
influenced his career choice, and then emphasizes the impact of that architect's
career.

Answer: A) It presents a general claim about a particular architect's career, describes a

design approach that typified the early stages of that career, and then explains a later shift in
that career.

Let's break down why this is the best answer by analyzing the text's structure:

General claim:
First sentence introduces Barragán's career spanning from 1920s-1980s and mentions it
evolved through phases
Early career approach:
Describes his early work using the Calle Pedro Loza house as an example
Shows how he combined Mexican techniques with Mediterranean designs
Later career shift:
Explains how travel influenced a change toward modernist and functionalist styles
Uses the Pizarro Suárez House to demonstrate this shift

Individual elephants and Arctic herbivores such as caribou tend to have fixed geographic
ranges throughout their lifetimes, which had prompted some researchers to speculate that
the Arctic woolly mammoth, an extinct elephantid, might have exhibited similar behavior.
Mammoth tusks grew in sequential layers, incorporating ingested minerals and organics, and
so each ivory stratum reflects the ratio of strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in the local
environment; thus, the sequence of strata shows where the animal roamed during life.
Recent analysis of the strontium ratios in the strata of one Arctic woolly mammoth tusk in
relation to the geographic distribution of strontium ratios in the environment shows the
animal's range begin to expand as it reached sexual maturity, only to contract again in its
final 1.5 years.

5. Which choice best describes the function of the underlined statement in the text as a
whole?
 A) It discusses a characteristic shared by certain animals in order to explain why
researchers raised a possibility that turned out not to be supported by data described
later in the text.
B) It illustrates a pattern of behavior among certain animals in order to present a theory
about exceptions to that pattern that is weakened by a finding described later in the
text.
C) It describes a similarity in the behavior of certain animals in order to show why a
certain method described later in the text did not reveal whether another animal also
showed that behavior.
D) It introduces a trait shared by certain animals in order to contextualize a hypothesis
about the origin of that trait that is advanced later in the text.

Answer: A) It discusses a characteristic shared by certain animals in order to explain why

researchers raised a possibility that turned out not to be supported by data described later in
the text.

Let's break this down:

The underlined statement:

Establishes that elephants and Arctic herbivores (like caribou) typically have fixed
geographic ranges
This led researchers to hypothesize that woolly mammoths might behave similarly
Why A is correct:
The shared characteristic: fixed geographic ranges
The possibility raised: woolly mammoths might have similar fixed ranges
The contradicting data: analysis showed the mammoth's range actually expanded during
sexual maturity and later contracted

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.

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

A) Many Impressionist painters were intentional about the frames they selected for their
works.
 B) Degas's preferred framing style was different from that of most Impressionist
painters.
C) The colors in an Impressionist painting were often chosen to complement the colors
of the frame it would be placed in.
D) Gold frames were considered especially desirable by those who purchased works
from Impressionist painters.

Answer: A) Many Impressionist painters were intentional about the frames they selected for
their works.

Let's analyze why this is the best answer by examining both texts:

Text 1 shows intentionality through:

Degas insisted on keeping original frames

Impressionists deliberately used painted frames to distinguish themselves from convention
They consciously contrasted with gold frames used at Paris Salon

Text 2 reinforces intentionality by:

Frames were chosen for aesthetic reasons

Colors were selected to harmonize with paintings
They deliberately avoided gold frames that could distract from the artwork

The following text is from Thomas Mann's 1924 novel The Magic Mountain, translated by
John E. Woods in 1995.

The story of Hans Castorp that we intend to tell here — not for his sake (for the
reader will come to know him as a perfectly ordinary, if engaging young man), but for
the sake of the story itself, which seems to us to be very much worth telling (although
in Hans Castorp's favor it should be noted that it is his story, and that not every story
happens to everybody) — is a story that took place long ago, and is, so to speak,
covered with the patina of history and must necessarily be told with verbs whose
tense is that of the deepest past.
©1995 by Alfred A. Knopt. Inc.

7. What does the text most strongly suggest about the story of Hans Hans Castorp?

A) Though it is true that stories of even the most uninteresting people are themselves
interesting because all people are unique, the reason this story is interesting is
nonetheless difficult to understand because of the passage of time.
B) Even though it is a story of a person of no particular importance, its age and the
manner in which it therefore must be told are both indicators that the story itself is
important.
C) It is a remarkable story that happened to an unremarkable person, though one could
plausibly argue that because the story is valuable, some of its value accrues to the
person at its center.
 D) Like all stories about the lives of inconsequential people, this story must necessarily
be related in a particular way if the reason the story is consequential is to be made
evident to the audience.

Answer: B) Even though it is a story of a person of no particular importance, its age and the
manner in which it therefore must be told are both indicators that the story itself is important.

Let's analyze why this is correct by breaking down the key elements of the text:

Character vs Story Importance:

Hans is described as "perfectly ordinary"
The narrator explicitly states it's told "not for his sake"
The story is told "for the sake of the story itself"
Historical Significance:
"took place long ago"
"covered with the patina of history"
Must be told with "verbs whose tense is that of the deepest past"

Monthly Temperatures and Wing Centroid Sizes of Fruit Fly Specimens

Month Average high Average low Average male Average female

(°F) (°F) wing centroid wing centroid
size (mm) size (mm)

May 73 50 1.98 2.27

July 87 62 2.02 2.31

September 80 54 1.98 2.27

October 67 44 1.98 2.29

Drosophila (fruit flies) have generation times of 10-12 days, so seasonal changes in rainfall
and other environmental conditions can drive seasonal fluctuations in chromosome
rearrangements in species such as D. persimilis and D. mediopunctata. Drosophila body
size (for which wing centroid size serves as a proxy measure) correlates with life span. Banu
Şebnem Önder and Cansu Fidan Aksoy measured the wing sizes of members of a D.
melanogaster population in Yeşilöz, Turkey, that were collected monthly between May and
October over three years. Their research suggests that Drosophila collected in relatively
warmer months should tend to have a longer life span, as is illustrated by the finding that
_______.

8. Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the assertion?

A) the average male wing centroid size was larger in July than in May.
 B) the average female wing centroid size was consistently larger than the average male
wing centroid size in all four months in the table.
C) the average monthly low temperature was higher in September than in May.
D) the average female wing centroid size was 2.02 mm in July but was 2.29 mm in
October.

Answer: A) the average male wing centroid size was larger in July than in May.

Let's analyze why this is the best answer:

Context from the passage:

The text suggests that Drosophila collected in warmer months should have longer life spans
Wing centroid size serves as a proxy for body size
Body size correlates with life span
Evidence from the data:
July is the warmest month (highest temperatures: 87°F high, 62°F low)
Male wing centroid size in July: 2.02 mm
Male wing centroid size in May: 1.98 mm

Picocoulombs (pC)

For Various Pollinators

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Charge

European peacock caterpillars

Foraging honeybees

Red mason bees

Hemerocallis sp. plants typically carry a negative electrical charge, while bees and other
pollinators tend to accumulate a positive charge. Given that negatively and positively
charged objects attract, a research team hypothesized that the difference in charges could
attract Hemerocallis sp. stamens to the plants' pollinators. Based on the team's experiments,
the hypothesis was well supported for positive charges above a certain threshold. The team
found that foraging honeybees exceeded that threshold, which suggests that ______.

9. Which choice most effectively uses data from the graph to complete the text?

A) red mason bees can also attract the stamens.

B) red mason bees and European peacock caterpillars, with greater peacock maximum
charges than foraging honeybees have, cannot attract the stamens.
C) European peacock caterpillars tend to repel the stamens.
D) the threshold positive charge for a pollinator to attract the stamens must be greater
than 100 pC.

Answer: A) red mason bees can also attract the stamens.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Information from the passage:

Hemerocallis sp. plants have negative charge
Pollinators have positive charge
Opposite charges attract
Honeybees exceed the threshold needed for attraction
Evidence from the graph:
Red mason bees have the highest charge (~750 picocoulombs)
Foraging honeybees have a medium charge (~150 picocoulombs)
European peacock caterpillars have the lowest charge (~30 picocoulombs)
Logical reasoning:
If honeybees exceed the threshold with ~150 pC
Then red mason bees, with ~750 pC, would definitely exceed the threshold
Therefore, red mason bees can also attract the stamens
Why other options are incorrect:

B) Contradicts the data - if honeybees can attract stamens, red mason bees with higher
charge would also attract them

C) Doesn't effectively use the graph data and contradicts the physics principle stated
(opposite charges attract)

D) Sets an arbitrary threshold that isn't supported by the data

Option A is best because it:

Logically follows from the data

Aligns with the physics principle of charge attraction
Builds on the established fact about honeybees exceeding the threshold
Makes appropriate use of the relative charge measurements shown in the graph

Growing seasons in Alaska have been extending further into the year in response to climate
warming, potentially enabling increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption through greater
productivity of marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) plants and other vegetation, but also
potentially enabling increased CO₂ output through greater heterotrophic respiration (CO₂
generated by the activity of soil microorganisms). Hydrologist Yonghong Yi and her
colleagues developed a model incorporating numerous inputs — years of solar radiation and
snow cover data among them — to evaluate the effects of warming on the CO₂ balance in
Alaska, concluding that net CO₂ is likely to increase if warming hastens spring snow melt.

10. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' conclusion?

A) Early snow melt extends the period in which plant species such as C. palustre can
absorb CO₂ but has no effect on the rate of heterotrophic respiration.
B) Early snow melt slows the growth of plant species such as C. palustre by reducing
soil insulation, and it suppresses heterotrophic respiration.
C) Early snow melt reduces the amount of soil moisture available for the growth of plant
species such as C. palustre, and it raises the rate of heterotrophic respiration.
D) Early snow melt amplifies the effect of solar radiation on the growth of plant species
such as C. palustre and on the rate of heterotrophic respiration.

Answer: C) Early snow melt reduces the amount of soil moisture available for the growth of
plant species such as C. palustre, and it raises the rate of heterotrophic respiration.

Let's analyze why this is the best answer:

Context from the passage:

Researchers conclude net CO2 will increase with earlier snow melt
Two main factors affect CO2 balance:
CO2 absorption by plants
CO2 output through heterotrophic respiration

Why C is correct:

● Option 3 directly supports this conclusion by:

● Reducing soil moisture (limiting plant growth → less CO₂
absorption).
● Increasing heterotrophic respiration (more CO₂ released).
This dual effect creates a clear imbalance toward higher net CO₂.
● Why other options fail:
● Option 1: Extending the plant absorption period without affecting
respiration would likely lower net CO₂, contradicting the conclusion.
● Option 2: Slowing plant growth and suppressing respiration creates an
ambiguous net effect.
 ● Option 4: Amplifying both processes doesn’t guarantee respiration outweighs
absorption; the conclusion hinges on respiration dominating.

A team of public transportation experts in Detroit is creating a new streetcar stop for the
Woodward Avenue Streetcar system that will service a neighborhood in which a stop does
not currently exist. To decide where to place the stop, the team is using a survey from ten
years ago that asked how far neighborhood residents would be willing to walk to a streetcar
stop. The team also looked at studies showing that people's willingness to walk to public
transit is influenced by factors like weather and the presence of paved sidewalks and
available crosswalks. A researcher has argued that the survey does not accurately reflect
the feelings of today's residents of this neighborhood.

11. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' claim?

A) The number of sidewalks and crosswalks in the neighborhood that the streetcar stop
will service has increased substantially in the last ten years.
B) Residents of Detroit are much less likely to use public transit on rainy days than on
clear days.
C) There has been a sharp increase in the last ten years in cyclists who use the roads in
the neighborhood that the streetcar stop will service.
D) Current users of the Woodward Avenue Streetcar are satisfied with the number of
stops along the line.

Answer: A) The number of sidewalks and crosswalks in the neighborhood that the streetcar
stop will service has increased substantially in the last ten years.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Context:
Team is using a 10-year-old survey about walking distances
Studies show walking willingness is influenced by sidewalks and crosswalks
Researcher claims survey doesn't reflect current residents' feelings
Why A is correct:
● Option 1 supports the researcher’s claim because improved infrastructure
(more sidewalks/crosswalks) would increase residents’ willingness to walk
compared to a decade ago. This undermines the old survey’s relevance, as
the neighborhood’s walkability has changed.
● Why other options fail:
● Option 2 (weather impact) does not address changes in the
neighborhood’s conditions over time.
● Option 3 (cyclists) is irrelevant to walking preferences.
● Option 4 (satisfaction with existing stops) does not relate to the new
stop’s placement or residents’ walking habits.
Some food packaging contains silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), which can leach into
waterways and soils via wastewater. In a 2015 study, Tina Ramskov and colleagues found
that Ag-NPs can accumulate in the bodies of marine annelid worms (Capitella teleta). While
bioaccumulation of manufactured nanoparticles may be inherently worrisome, it has been
hypothesized that Ag-NP bioaccumulation in invertebrates like C. teleta could serve a
valuable proxy role, obviating the need for manufacturers to conduct costly and intrusive
sampling of vertebrate species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), commonly used in
regulatory compliance testing — for nanoparticle bioaccumulation, as environmental
protection laws currently require.

12. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the hypothesis presented in the text?

A) When C. teleta and S. salar are exposed to similar levels of Ag-NPs, individuals of
the two species tend to accumulate similar amounts of Ag-NPs, adjusted for body
size.
B) Ag-NP concentrations in C. teleta correlate strongly with Ag-NP levels in the
environment, whereas Ag-NP concentrations in S. salar are fairly stable regardless of
environment.
C) Compared with S. salar, C. teleta can tolerate significantly higher Ag-NP
concentrations without displaying any negative effects. y negative effects.
D) It is easier to detect low and harmless concentrations of Ag-NPs in C. teleta than it is
to detect high and harmful concentrations of Ag-NPs in S. salar.

Answer: A) When C. teleta and S. salar are exposed to similar levels of Ag-NPs, individuals
of the two species tend to accumulate similar amounts of Ag-NPs, adjusted for body size.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Context:
Hypothesis: C. teleta could serve as a proxy for testing Ag-NP bioaccumulation
Goal: Replace costly and intrusive sampling of S. salar (Atlantic salmon)
Purpose: Regulatory compliance testing
Why A is correct:
● Option 1 directly supports this by showing proportional bioaccumulation between
species. If both accumulate similar Ag-NP levels relative to body size when exposed
equally, C. teleta reliably predicts salmon bioaccumulation.
● Why other options fail:
● Option 2: If salmon Ag-NP levels are stable regardless of environment, C.
teleta’s correlation with environmental levels would not mirror salmon’s,
making it a poor proxy.
● Option 3: Tolerance differences (no harm in worms) are irrelevant to
bioaccumulation equivalence, the hypothesis’s core requirement.
● Option 4: Ease of detection in worms doesn’t ensure their accumulation levels
reflect salmon’s, which is critical for regulatory testing
To address the susceptibility of materials used in components of high-performance
machinery, such as aircraft engines, to creep (deformation that is induced by persistent
mechanical stress and that often occurs at elevated temperatures), materials researchers
have developed silicon carbide (SiC) fibers for producing aerospace composites. Testing the
thermomechanical properties of several commercially available SiC fibers, Ramakrishna T.
Bhatt et al. found that in comparison with two polymer-derived SiC fibers, a nitrogen-treated
SiC fiber exhibited a lower minimum creep rate, a measure of the rate at which a stress-
exposed material deforms at a constant temperature and uniaxial load. The finding suggests
that ______

13. Which choice most logically completes the text?

A) unlike the two polymer-derived SiC fibers, the nitrogen-treated SiC fiber can
substantially inhibit creep, provided that temperatures and loads are consistent.
B) aerospace composites containing the nitrogen-treated SiC fiber may have the ability
to withstand mechanical stress for a longer period of time than can aerospace
composites containing either of the two polymer-derived SiC fibers.
C) composites based on the two polymer-derived SiC fibers have chemical properties
that may improve the mechanical and thermal stability of aerospace equipment to a
greater extent than do composites based on the nitrogen-treated SiC fiber.
D) the two polymer-derived SiC fibers likely hold similar potential for reducing the creep
resistance of materials exposed to stress and elevated temperatures, thus prolonging
the life span of aerospace machinery.

Answer: B) aerospace composites containing the nitrogen-treated SiC fiber may have the
ability to withstand mechanical stress for a longer period of time than can aerospace
composites containing either of the two polymer-derived SiC fibers.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Context:
Problem: Materials in aircraft engines are susceptible to creep
Finding: Nitrogen-treated SiC fiber showed lower minimum creep rate
Comparison: Against two polymer-derived SiC fibers
Conditions: Constant temperature and uniaxial load
Why B is correct:
Directly connects the lower creep rate to practical implications
Logically extends the finding to composite performance
Maintains the comparative aspect between fiber types
Focuses on the key concern: withstanding mechanical stress over time

Chelsea Wood et al. tracked temperature-driven changes in the abundance of Gonocerca

sp. (a complex life cycle parasite, or CLP, that requires three host species throughout its life
cycle), Gyrodactylus sp. (a directly transmitted parasite, which requires only one host
species), and 83 other parasite taxa found on eight fish species. CLPs are transmitted when
an infected host is ingested by an individual of another species, typically shielding CLPs
from the external environment, whereas directly transmitted parasites are exposed to
external conditions during transmission. However, Wood et al. found that three-host CLP
abundance decreased as sea temperatures rose, whereas directly transmitted parasite
abundance was largely stable, suggesting that ________

14. Which choice most logically completes the text?

A) as the number of host species involved in a parasite's transmission increases, the

parasite is better protected against rising temperatures.
B) directly transmitted parasites identified in the study were more likely to use
transmission strategies that shield them from warming temperatures than were three-
host CLPs.
C) CLPs primarily transmitted by ingestion were less dependent on host species
adversely affected by warming temperatures than were CLPs that use other
transmission strategies.
D) any advantages that the transmission strategy used by three-host CLPs may have
conferred did not completely offset the negative effects of other temperature-driven
factors on CLP abundance.

Answer: D) any advantages that the transmission strategy used by three-host CLPs may
have conferred did not completely offset the negative effects of other temperature-driven
factors on CLP abundance.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Facts from the Text:

CLPs require three host species and are transmitted through ingestion
CLPs are typically shielded from external environment during transmission
Directly transmitted parasites are exposed to external conditions
Finding: CLP abundance decreased with rising temperatures while directly transmitted
parasites remained stable
Why D is correct:
Acknowledges the supposed advantage of CLPs (being shielded during transmission)
Explains why CLPs still declined despite this protection
Accounts for the unexpected result (CLPs declining while exposed parasites remained
stable)
Suggests other temperature-related factors affected CLPs beyond transmission

1. Why Other Options Fail:

● Option 1: Incorrect. More host species increased CLP vulnerability, as
seen in their decline.
● Option 2: Illogical. Directly transmitted parasites are not shielded
during transmission, yet their abundance remained stable.
 ● Option 3: Contradicts the data. The study explicitly links CLP decline to
rising temperatures, not host dependency variations.

Scientists recently created a model to predict how shorter winters will affect future mammal
population sizes in US national forests. Unfortunately, when the model is applied to large
forests, its predictions for large-mammal populations are too high, and when applied to small
forests, its predictions for small-mammal populations are too high. Tuskegee National Forest
in Alabama is a small forest, covering less than 100,000 acres. If used to evaluate the effect
of shorter winters on this forest in ten years, the model would likely therefore _________

15. Which choice most logically completes the text?

A) exaggerate the effect of shorter winters on large mammals.

B) reflect factors affecting small mammals other than shorter winters.
C) overestimate the actual population sizes of small mammals.
D) ignore the predator-prey relationships between large and small mammals.

Answer: C) overestimate the actual population sizes of small mammals.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Key Facts from the Text:

The model has two known issues:
Predicts too high for large-mammal populations in large forests
Predicts too high for small-mammal populations in small forests
Tuskegee National Forest is specifically identified as a small forest (<100,000 acres)
Why C is correct:
Directly applies the stated pattern (high predictions for small mammals in small forests)
Matches the specific context (Tuskegee is a small forest)
Follows the logical connection between forest size and prediction accuracy
Aligns with the model's known limitations

The hypothesized protolangauge from which all Kartvelian languages have descended,
_________

16. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) the linguistic properties of the language's descendants were used by experts to infer
the properties of and reconstruct Proto-Kartvelian.
B) Proto-Kartvelian has been reconstructed by experts, who inferred the language's
linguistic properties from those of its descendants.
 C) Proto-Kartvelian's descendants' linguistic properties were used by experts to infer the
language's properties and reconstruct it.
D) the experts who reconstructed Proto-Kartvelian inferred the language's linguistic
properties from those of its descendants.

Answer: B) Proto-Kartvelian has been reconstructed by experts, who inferred the language's
linguistic properties from those of its descendants.

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Sentence Structure Requirements:

The opening phrase "The hypothesized protolanguage from which all Kartvelian languages
have descended" needs a proper completion
The completion must form a grammatically complete and coherent sentence
Why B is correct:
Creates a complete, grammatical sentence
Uses proper comma placement
Maintains clear subject-verb agreement
Expresses the idea clearly and concisely
Uses appropriate relative clause structure

In a chemical reaction, the value known as molar mass helps convert between the mass of
the reactants and the mass of the product. The gaseous ______ have molar masses of
42.08 and 44.10 g/mol, respectively.

17. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) compounds, propylene and propane,

B) compounds propylene and propane
C) compounds propylene and propane,
D) compounds, propylene and propane

Answer: A) compounds, propylene and propane,

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Context Analysis:
The sentence introduces gaseous compounds
Two specific compounds are named: propylene and propane
These form an appositive phrase explaining what the "gaseous compounds" are
Why A is correct:
Uses correct comma placement for an appositive phrase
The first comma after "compounds" sets off the explanatory phrase
The second comma properly closes the appositive phrase
Follows standard English conventions for appositives
The Roman historian Suetonius's De vita caesarum, a biography of the Roman Empire's first
leaders, is an extant work: it can still be read. By contrast, Suetonius's book on
miscellaneous topics, Pratum, no copies of which _______ is a lost work: it can be accessed
only indirectly, through references to it in extant works.

18. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) having survived,
B) to survive,
C) survive,
D) surviving,

Answer: C) survive,

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

The correct answer is "survive," making the full sentence:

"By contrast, Suetonius's book on miscellaneous topics, Pratum, no copies of which

survive, is a lost work: it can be accessed only indirectly, through references to it in extant
works."

Explanation:
● The phrase "no copies of which" is the subject of the relative clause, and the verb
must agree with "copies."
● "Survive" is the correct verb form because it matches the plural subject "copies."
● The sentence follows a common structure: "no copies survive," which is
grammatically correct and idiomatic.

The other choices are incorrect because:

● "Having survived" suggests the copies still exist, which contradicts the meaning.
● "To survive" is an infinitive, which does not fit grammatically.
● "Surviving" would suggest an ongoing state rather than a completed fact.

Within Earth's biomes, there are four main types of desert: arid, semiarid, coastal, and cold.
The Australian Desert in Australasia is an arid _____ with a total area of about 2,700,000
km², it is one of the largest deserts of any type.

19. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) desert,
 B) desert, and
C) desert and
D) desert

Answer: B) desert,and

The correct answer is:

"desert, and"

Corrected Sentence:
"The Australian Desert in Australasia is an arid desert, and with a total area of about
2,700,000 km², it is one of the largest deserts of any type."

Explanation:
● The sentence contains two independent clauses:
1. "The Australian Desert in Australasia is an arid desert,"
2. "with a total area of about 2,700,000 km², it is one of the largest deserts of
any type."
● These two clauses need to be connected correctly.
● The comma + "and" structure correctly joins them in accordance with SAT
grammar rules.

On most of the world's beaches, sand is a predictable cream or beige color. The sand at
Talofofo Beach in Guam is an ______ sand gets its shade from deposits of gray-and tan-
hued quartz and feldspar, deposits of crushed olivine crystal and other organic matter lend
the sand at Talofofo Beach a colorful green tint.

20. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) exception, though most

B) exception: though most
C) exception, though, most
D) exception, though. Most

Answer: D) exception, though. Most

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Sentence Structure Analysis:

The passage discusses two contrasting ideas about beach sand colors
The sentence needs proper punctuation to separate these ideas clearly
There's a transition needed between the contrasting statements
Why D is correct:
"exception, though." properly ends the first independent clause
Creates a clear break between contrasting ideas
"Most" starts a new sentence, which is appropriate for the new information
Follows proper punctuation rules for independent clauses

The parks of Austin, Texas, seem to be making people happier. In 2022, a team of
researchers _____ to find connections between the physical location in which a social
media post was created and the content of that post analyzed geotagged social media posts
from various sites in Austin. The team found that posts from the city's parks contained more
words associated with happiness than did the other posts.

21. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?

A) were hoping
B) hoped
C) was hoping
D) hoping

Answer: B) hoped

Let's analyze why this is the correct answer:

Sentence Structure Analysis:

The subject is "a team of researchers" (singular)
The event occurred in 2022 (past tense)
The sentence describes a completed action in the past
Why B is correct:
"hoped" is the simple past tense form
Matches the singular subject "team"
Maintains consistent past tense with the rest of the passage
Creates concise, clear meaning without unnecessary words

The near-Earth asteroid Atira is orbited by the moonlet S/2017 (163693). In 2022, scientists
studying asteroid deflection intentionally crashed a probe into a similar moonlet, Dimorphos,
shortening its orbital period by 32 minutes. ________ it used to take Dimorphos 11 hours, 55
minutes to orbit the near-Earth asteroid Didymos; now it takes 11 hours, 23 minutes.

22. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) That is,
B) Furthermore,
C) Meanwhile,
D) For example,
The answer is A) That is,

Explanation:
The sentence provides a clarification about the orbital period of Dimorphos before
and after the probe crash. The phrase following the blank explains the specific
change in the orbital period, making "That is," the most logical choice as it indicates
that what follows is a restatement or elaboration on the information just presented.

In his 2020 poem "This Town," Saad Ali contemplates Ivan Aivazovsky's 1859 painting
Lunar Night on the Black Sea. Translating the painting's depiction of a seascape into vivid
figurative phrases—such as "a dozen sea shells converse" — suggests the fluid interplay of
poetry and painting. _________ Ali's poem highlights fundamental tensions between these
modes of representation.

23. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A) At the same time,

B) Therefore,
C) Specifically,
D) In other words,

The answer is A) At the same time,

Here's why:

Structure Analysis:
First part discusses how Ali translates the painting into poetic phrases
Second part introduces a contrasting idea about tensions between poetry and painting
The transition needs to connect these two seemingly opposing ideas
Why "At the same time" works best:
It signals a simultaneous but contrasting relationship
It acknowledges that while there's "fluid interplay" between poetry and painting
It introduces the paradox that there are also "fundamental tensions" between them

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

● Georeferencing is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to an image.
● This process enables mapping software to place the image in its real-world location.
● A 2017 project by Tania López Marrero and colleagues georeferenced a set of aerial
photographs of Puerto Rico's coastline taken in 1930.
● These photographs are the earliest known aerial photographs of Puerto Rico.
● López Marrero's project provided data that can help researchers analyze changes in
Puerto Rico's coastline.
24. The student wants to define the term "georeferencing." Which choice most effectively
uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Tania López Marrero and colleagues used georeferencing in their analysis of the
earliest known aerial photographs of Puerto Rico.
B) Georeferencing is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to an image so
that mapping software can place it in its real-world location.
C) A 2017 project by Tania López Marrero and colleagues assigned geographic
coordinates to photographs of Puerto Rico's coastline and also used georeferencing.
D) Georeferenced aerial photographs from 1930 can help researchers analyze changes
in Puerto Rico's coastline.

The answer is B) Georeferencing is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to an

image so that mapping software can place it in its real-world location.

Here's why:

Best Definition Elements:

Combines the two key definitional notes from the source material
Includes both WHAT georeferencing is (assigning coordinates)
Includes WHY it's done (to place in real-world location)

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

● Copyright prevents a book's contents from being reproduced (published) without
permission from the copyright holder.
● When a book's copyright expires, the book enters the public domain and can be
legally reproduced by anyone.
● Cane is a novel by Jean Toomer.
● It entered the public domain in 2019.
● Billy Budd, Sailor is a novella by Herman Melville.
● It entered the public domain in 2020.

25. The student wants to emphasize a similarity between Jean Toomer and Herman Melville.
Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this
goal?

A) Cane, a novel by Jean Toomer, entered the public domain in 2019, unlike Herman
Melville's novella Billy Budd, Sailor.
B) Both Cane and Billy Budd, Sailor are in the public domain; however, one is a novel
and the other a novella.
C) The year was 2020, and the copyright to Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor had
finally expired.
D) Jean Toomer and Herman Melville are two authors whose works recently entered the
public domain.
The answer is D) Jean Toomer and Herman Melville are two authors whose works recently
entered the public domain.

Here's why:

Question Goal:
To emphasize a SIMILARITY between the two authors
Must use relevant information from the notes
Should focus on what they have in common
Why D is the best answer:
Focuses on the key similarity: both authors' works entered public domain recently
Combines information without highlighting differences
Uses the most relevant information from the notes
Maintains focus on the shared characteristic

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

● Maya Lin is an American artist known for her memorials and works of installation art.
● She completed the Women's Table in 1993.
● It is a memorial sculpture consisting of a thirty-two-ton granite fountain, and it is
designed to commemorate female students at Yale University.
● She completed Silver Upper White River in 2015.
● It is an installation composed of recycled silver that fills an entire gallery wall.

26. The student wants to describe Silver Upper White River to a new audience. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information from notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Completed in 2015, Maya Lin's Silver Upper White River is a large-scale installation
artwork composed of recycled silver that fills an entire gallery wall.
B) Artist Maya Lin is well known for her installation art, such as Silver Upper White River
(2015), and for her memorials.
C) Maya Lin's Women's Table is a granite memorial sculpture that commemorates
female students at Yale University, while Silver Upper White River is an installation
artwork.
D) Though Maya Lin's Silver Upper White River (2015) is not a memorial, its gallery-
filling scale may call to mind the imposing Women's Table. which consists of a thirty-
two-ton granite fountain.

The answer is A) Completed in 2015, Maya Lin's Silver Upper White River is a large-scale
installation artwork composed of recycled silver that fills an entire gallery wall.

Here's why:
Question Goal:
Describe Silver Upper White River to a new audience
Must use relevant information from the notes
Should focus on this specific artwork
Why A is the best answer:
Includes all key information about the artwork:
Year of completion (2015)
Artist's name
Material used (recycled silver)
Scale (fills entire gallery wall)
Presents information clearly and concisely
Focuses solely on describing the artwork in question

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

● A multiyear study called GREEN SURGE examined forty-four different types of UNAs
(urban natural areas) in cities throughout Europe.
● A primary aim of the study was to determine the benefits of UNAs in these cities.
● Large urban parks are among the types of UNAs included in the study.
● Large urban parks are defined as green city areas reserved for recreational use.
● They can benefit urban environments by contributing to biodiversity.

27. The student wants to emphasize an objective of the GREEN SURGE study. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information from notes to accomplish this goal?

A) For multiple years, the GREEN SURGE study was conducted in cities throughout
Europe.
B) To achieve its main objective, the GREEN SURGE study examined forty-four
different types of UNAs, including large urban parks.
C) Determining the benefits of UNAs in European cities was a primary aim of the
GREEN SURGE study.
D) Large urban parks, which were included in the GREEN SURGE study, can benefit
urban environments by contributing to biodiversity.

The answer is C) Determining the benefits of UNAs in European cities was a primary aim of
the GREEN SURGE study.

Here's why:

Question Goal:
Emphasize an objective/aim of the GREEN SURGE study
Must use relevant information from the notes
Should focus on the study's purpose
Why C is the best answer:
Directly states the primary aim of the study
Uses information explicitly stated in the notes: "A primary aim of the study was to determine
the benefits of UNAs in these cities"
Maintains focus on the study's objective
Uses clear, straightforward language