Question ID e1befb41

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: e1befb41 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID afd48140
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: afd48140
In 1877, 85% of California’s railways were already controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The company further solidified
its ______ in rail access to the state’s Pacific coast when it completed the Sunset Route in 1883: running from Louisiana to
Southern California, the route established the first transcontinental rail line across the southern United States.

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

A. dominance

B. creativity

C. insignificance

D. neutrality

ID: afd48140 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of the Southern Pacific
Railroad. As used in this context, "dominance" means the state of being more successful than others. The text states that
the Southern Pacific Railroad already controlled 85% of California’s railways in 1877, and that the Sunset Route it constructed
in 1883 was the first transcontinental rail line across the southern United States. Therefore, the Southern Pacific Railroad
would be more successful than other railroads in the area, and the construction of the Sunset Route would further solidify its
dominance in rail access to California’s coast.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the construction of the Sunset Route must have required some creativity, or use of
imagination, the word "creativity" would not also encompass the fact that the Southern Pacific Railroad already controlled
85% of California’s railways. The text is more focused on the railroad’s control of the field and overall success rather than its
imaginative thought processes. Choice C is incorrect because if the Southern Pacific Railroad controlled the majority of
California’s railways, it would not make sense to refer to its "insignificance," or the state of being unimportant. Rather, the
opposite would be true. Choice D is incorrect because in context it would not make sense to refer to the Southern Pacific
Railroad’s "neutrality," or absence of strong opinion on a matter, since no opinions are mentioned. Nor would "neutrality" in
the sense of impartiality in a conflict be a logical or precise choice since no conflict is explicitly described. There might be an
implied conflict between the Southern Pacific Railroad and other railroads doing business in California, but that is not a
conflict in which the Southern Pacific Railroad would take an impartial position.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID b4887dae
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: b4887dae
Mathematician Claude Shannon is widely regarded as a foundational figure in information theory. His most important paper,
“A Mathematical Theory of Communication,” published in 1948 when he was employed at Bell Labs, utilized a concept called
a “binary digit” (shortened to “bit”) to measure the amount of information in any signal and determine the fastest rate at
which information could be transmitted while still being reliably decipherable. Robert Gallagher, one of Shannon’s colleagues,
said that the bit was “[Shannon’s] discovery, and from it the whole communications revolution has sprung.”

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It presents a theoretical concept, illustrates how the name of the concept has changed, and shows how the name has
A. entered common usage.

It introduces a respected researcher, describes an aspect of his work, and suggests why the work is historically
B. significant.

It names the company where an important mathematician worked, details the mathematician’s career at the company,
C. and provides an example of the recognition he received there.

D. It mentions a paper, offers a summary of the paper’s findings, and presents a researcher’s commentary on the paper.

ID: b4887dae Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The text starts with a general statement that introduces Shannon, then describes a specific
contribution from one of his papers, then provides a quote that illustrates just how important this contribution was.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text only mentions very briefly, in parentheses, that “binary digit”
was shortened to “bit.” It doesn’t go into detail about this name change, and it doesn’t discuss any “common usage” of the
name at all. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. Shannon’s employment at Bell Labs is only mentioned once,
very briefly: the text never goes into detail about his career there, and it never mentions any recognition he received there.
Choice D is incorrect. This is too narrow. Overall, the text is about Shannon’s importance in his field, not just this one paper of
his.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c68ceeff
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: c68ceeff
Text 1
Today the starchy root cassava is found in many dishes across West Africa, but its rise to popularity was slow. Portuguese
traders brought cassava from Brazil to the West African coast in the 1500s. But at this time, people living in the capitals
further inland had little contact with coastal communities. Thus, cassava remained relatively unknown to most of the
region’s inhabitants until the 1800s.
Text 2
Cassava’s slow adoption into the diet of West Africans is mainly due to the nature of the crop itself. If not cooked properly,
cassava can be toxic. Knowledge of how to properly prepare cassava needed to spread before the food could grow in
popularity. The arrival of formerly enslaved people from Brazil in the 1800s, who brought their knowledge of cassava and its
preparation with them, thus directly fueled the spread of this crop.

Based on the texts, the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement?

A. Cassava did not become a significant crop in West Africa until long after it was first introduced.

B. Several of the most commonly grown crops in West Africa are originally from Brazil.

C. The climate of the West African coast in the 1500s prevented cassava’s spread in the region.

D. The most commonly used methods to cook cassava today date to the 1500s.

ID: c68ceeff Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. Text 1 states that cassava’s “rise to popularity was slow” in West Africa. Text 2 also describes
cassava’s “slow adoption into the diet of West Africans.” While the two texts identify different causes for this slow adoption,
both agree that cassava took a long time to catch on.

Choice B is incorrect. This isn’t something that either text claims. Cassava is the only crop discussed in the passages, so we
have no basis to draw conclusions about what the authors might say about “several” crops. Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t
something that either text claims. Neither text mentions the “climate of the West African coast,” so we have no evidence that
either author would agree with this. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t something that either text claims. The 1500s were when
cassava was brought to West Africa, but neither text describes how cassava is cooked, nor do they make any claims about
when cooking methods were developed.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID cf9a00e0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: cf9a00e0 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9b22bf7b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9b22bf7b
The following text is from the 1989 novel The Ancient Child by Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday. The main character has
achieved tremendous commercial success as a painter.

More and more often he was asked to compromise his art or himself in one way or another, and more often than not he
did so, for he was inclined to be passive and naïve; it was difficult for him to say no. Those who exhibited his work, who
praised and purchased it, and who demanded its proliferation began to determine it.
©1989 by N. Scott Momaday

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

A. Conclude

B. Dictate

C. Evaluate

D. Select

ID: 9b22bf7b Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because as used in the text "determine" most nearly means "dictate." The text describes the
relationship between the main character and those who exhibit, praise, and purchase his artwork. The text states that the
main character is often asked to change his art or himself based on outside influences, and he usually acquiesces. Because
the main character admits that those who support his work often shape it based on their demands, it follows that those
outside influences dictate, or guide or dominate, the direction his work takes.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that outside influences "conclude," or end, the main character’s work.
The text states that many supporters of the main character’s art "demand its proliferation," not its conclusion. Choice C is
incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that outside influences are "evaluating," or judging the main character’s work.
According to the text, the main character’s art has already achieved great commercial success, with many people exhibiting,
purchasing, and praising his work. Thus, outsiders have already supported the main character’s work and are not questioning
or evaluating its success or worth. They are instead influencing its initial direction. Choice D is incorrect because the text
doesn’t suggest that outside influences "select," or choose the main character’s work. According to the text, the main
character’s art has already achieved great commercial success, with many people exhibiting, purchasing, and praising his
work. Thus, outsiders have already supported the main character’s work and are not selecting it. They are instead influencing
its initial direction.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID daaed806
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: daaed806
Mônica Lopes-Ferreira and others at Brazil’s Butantan Institute are studying the freshwater stingray species Potamotrygon
rex to determine whether biological characteristics such as the rays’ age and sex have ______ effect on the toxicity of their
venom—that is, to see if differences in these traits are associated with considerable variations in venom potency.

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

A. a disconcerting

B. an acceptable

C. an imperceptible

D. a substantial

ID: daaed806 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the research that Lopes-Ferreira
and her colleagues are conducting on the stingray species Potamotrygon rex. As used in this context, “a substantial” effect
means an effect that is sizable or noteworthy. The text indicates that the researchers are seeking to determine whether there
are “considerable variations” in the potency of stingray venom that are associated with variation in the stingrays’ age and
sex. This context suggests that the researchers want to find out whether stingray age and sex have a substantial effect on
venom toxicity.

Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text that suggests that the researchers have been studying whether the
stingrays’ age and sex have “a disconcerting,” or an unsettling and disturbing, effect on the stingrays’ venom. The text
indicates that the researchers wish to determine if stingray age and sex cause large variations in the toxicity of stingray
venom, not if the effect of age and sex is disconcerting. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that researchers
want to find out whether differences in stingray age and sex produce differences in stingray venom, not that the researchers
want to find out whether age and sex have “an acceptable,” or a satisfactory, effect on venom. The text makes no mention of
what would make an effect on venom toxicity acceptable and gives no indication that the researchers are interested in that
question. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for the researchers to be looking for “an
imperceptible,” or an unnoticeable, effect of age and sex on stingray venom. The text says that the researchers are trying to
determine if there are “considerable variations” in venom toxicity linked to age and sex, not that the researchers are trying to
find effects that they can’t perceive.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 5514fd1f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 5514fd1f
Archaeologist Erika Karuzas works with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana to preserve culturally
significant sites. In 2015 they decided that creating a new national trail connecting many of these sites would ______ their
preservation efforts, because the US government provides some protections to national trails that aren’t given to other areas.

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

A. inspire

B. ignore

C. promote

D. reduce

ID: 5514fd1f Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the preservation efforts undertaken
by Erika Karuzas and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana. In this context, "promote" means play a part
in the success or growth of something or someone. The text indicates that Karuzas and the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes work to preserve culturally important sites. It goes on to say that their decision to create a national trail
connecting the sites was motivated by the fact that such a trail would receive protections from the US government that the
sites wouldn’t otherwise receive. Thus, such a decision would promote the preservation efforts.

Choice A is incorrect because "inspire" means motivate or influence, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text
establishes that Karuzas and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana work to preserve culturally significant
sites and that their decision to create a new national trail occurred as a result of a desire to add protections to the sites that
they wouldn’t otherwise receive. Thus, creating the trail wouldn’t inspire the efforts to preserve the sites; instead, it would
promote the efforts. Choice B is incorrect because "ignore" means overlook, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text
indicates that Karuzas and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana work to preserve culturally significant
sites and that they decided to create a national trail connecting the sites because such a trail would receive protections from
the US government that the sites wouldn’t otherwise receive. Thus, the creation of the trail would promote, not ignore, the
preservation efforts. Choice D is incorrect because "reduce" means decrease or restrict, which wouldn’t make sense in
context. The text indicates that Karuzas and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Montana work to preserve
culturally significant sites and that they decided to create a national trail connecting the sites because such a trail would
receive protections from the US government that the sites wouldn’t otherwise receive. The decision would therefore promote,
not reduce, the preservation efforts.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 3e6ad72d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 3e6ad72d
A study by a team including finance professor Madhu Veeraraghavan suggests that exposure to sunshine during the
workday can lead to overly optimistic behavior. Using data spanning from 1994 to 2010 for a set of US companies, the team
compared over 29,000 annual earnings forecasts to the actual earnings later reported by those companies. The team found
that the greater the exposure to sunshine at work in the two weeks before a manager submitted an earnings forecast, the
more the manager’s forecast exceeded what the company actually earned that year.

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

A. To summarize the results of the team’s analysis

B. To present a specific example that illustrates the study’s findings

C. To explain part of the methodology used in the team’s study

D. To call out a challenge the team faced in conducting its analysis

ID: 3e6ad72d Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence presents the implications of Veeraraghavan’s team’s study: sunshine exposure during work hours can cause overly
optimistic behavior. The underlined sentence then describes the data the team consulted and how they were used
(comparing predictions about earnings to what the companies actually earned), and the final sentence presents what the
team found in their examination of the data. Thus, the underlined sentence mainly functions to explain part of the
methodology used in the team’s study.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined sentence explains in part how the team conducted their analysis of the effect
of sunshine but doesn’t address what the team found; a broad summary is instead given in the other two sentences. Choice
B is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t present any specific examples from the team’s comparisons of
29,000 earnings predictions to actual earnings; it simply explains in part how the team conducted their analysis. Choice D is
incorrect because the underlined sentence simply explains in part how the team conducted their analysis; the text never
mentions any challenges that the team encountered in their study.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f3c45b4f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f3c45b4f
Text 1
Fossils of the hominin Australopithecus africanus have been found in the Sterkfontein Caves of South Africa, but assigning
an age to the fossils is challenging because of the unreliability of dating methods in this context. The geology of Sterkfontein
has caused soil layers from different periods to mix, impeding stratigraphic dating, and dates cannot be reliably imputed
from those of nearby animal bones since the bones may have been relocated by flooding.
Text 2
Archaeologists used new cosmogenic nuclide dating techniques to reevaluate the ages of A. africanus fossils found in the
Sterkfontein Caves. This technique involves analyzing the cosmogenic nucleotides in the breccia—the matrix of rock
fragments immediately surrounding the fossils. The researchers assert that this approach avoids the potential for misdating
associated with assigning ages based on Sterkfontein’s soil layers or animal bones.

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

They would emphasize the fact that the A. africanus fossils found in the Sterkfontein Caves may have been corrupted in
A. some way over the years.

They would contend that if analyses of surrounding layers and bones in the Sterkfontein Caves were combined, then the
B. dating of the fossils there would be more accurate.

They would argue that their techniques are better suited than other methods to the unique challenges posed by the
C. Sterkfontein Caves.

They would claim that cosmogenic nuclide dating is reliable in the context of the Sterkfontein Caves because it is applied
D. to the fossils directly.

ID: f3c45b4f Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. Text 2 states that the researchers used cosmogenic nuclide dating to "avoid the potential for
misdating" caused by the geology of Sterkfontein, which Text 1 describes as "challenging" and unreliable.

Choice A is incorrect. Neither text suggests that the A. africanus fossils have been "corrupted," but only that traditional dating
methods are difficult in Sterkfontein because of floods and soil mixing where the fossils were found. Nothing is implied to
have compromised the fossils themselves. Choice B is incorrect. This choice misreads Text 2. Text 2 agrees that
stratigraphy and other methods are prone to error in the context of Sterkfontein: there’s a "potential for misdating" when
evaluating age based on soil layers and bones. Choice D is incorrect. Text 2 does not state that cosmogenic nuclide dating is
applied to the fossils directly but rather to the breccia that surrounds them.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID bdab32fc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: bdab32fc
Cucurbits, a group of plants that includes squash and melons, relied on mastodons to spread their seeds in the Ice Age.
When these animals died out, cucurbits faced extinction in turn, having lost their means of seed dispersal. Around this time,
however, the ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North America began raising cucurbits as crops, thus ______ the plants’
survival.

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

A. verifying

B. multiplying

C. comforting

D. ensuring

ID: bdab32fc Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of cucurbits. In this context, “ensuring”
means guaranteeing, or making sure of, the cucurbits’ survival. The text states that cucurbits faced extinction in the past
because their means of seed dispersal disappeared, but the ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North America began
farming cucurbits around that same time, so the crops were no longer threatened. Therefore, the context supports the idea
that the ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North America helped with ensuring the cucurbits’ survival.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context verifying means making sure that something is accurate. In the text, the
ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North America were ensuring the survival, not the accuracy of, the cucurbits. Choice B is
incorrect. Although the cucurbit crops themselves were multiplying, or growing in number, as a result of the work of the
ancestors of Indigenous peoples in North America, it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that the survival of the plants
was multiplying. Choice C is incorrect because according to the text, in raising cucurbits as crops, the ancestors of
Indigenous peoples in North America were attempting to help the plants grow and survive; they weren’t attempting to
comfort, or free the plants from pain.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID e8c26398
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. a collaboration

B. an accessory

C. a contradiction

D. an analogy

ID: e8c26398 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4830ab87
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. inhibited by

B. contingent on

C. obligated to

D. reserved for

ID: 4830ab87 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5336f2e4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 5336f2e4
The following text is adapted from Zora Neale Hurston’s 1921 short story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” John is a child who
lives in a town in the woods.
Perhaps ten-year-old John was puzzling to the folk there in the Florida woods for he was an imaginative child and fond of
day-dreams. The St. John River flowed a scarce three hundred feet from his back door. On its banks at this point grow
numerous palms, luxuriant magnolias and bay trees. On the bosom of the stream float millions of delicately colored
hyacinths. [John Redding] loved to wander down to the water’s edge, and, casting in dry twigs, watch them sail away down
stream to Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world and [he] wanted to follow them.

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

A. It provides an extended description of a location that John likes to visit.

B. It reveals that some residents of John’s town are confused by his behavior.

C. It illustrates the uniqueness of John’s imagination compared to the imaginations of other children.

D. It suggests that John longs to experience a larger life outside the Florida woods.

ID: 5336f2e4 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it accurately describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole.
The text establishes that John has a strong imagination and then goes on to describe the St. John River near John’s home in
the Florida woods. The underlined sentence depicts John sending twigs sailing down the river while he imagines them
reaching “Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world,” where he wishes he could follow. This suggests that John longs to expand
his life experiences beyond the Florida woods.

Choice A is incorrect because the second and third sentences of the text provide an extended description of the riverbank
where John likes to go, whereas the underlined sentence describes what John does at that location. Choice B is incorrect
because the first sentence of the text suggests that John’s behavior “was puzzling” to others around him, whereas the
underlined sentence concerns the content of John’s imaginings. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined sentence
elaborates on John’s imagination but doesn’t mention any other children to whom John could be compared.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 6f5fc289
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 6f5fc289 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1455b754
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1455b754
While recent scholarship has undermined claims that the works of twelfth-century Islamic philosopher Ibn Rushd were ______
other Muslim philosophers of his time, it is indisputable that his location in the Muslim-ruled area of what is now Spain
meant that his works were primarily available thousands of miles west of the era’s center of Islamic thought.

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

A. controversial among

B. antagonistic toward

C. imitated by

D. inconsequential to

ID: 1455b754 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the twelfth-century Islamic
philosopher Ibn Rushd. As used in this context, "inconsequential to" means not significant to. According to the text, Ibn
Rushd’s works were primarily available in Spain, where he lived, far from central areas of the Muslim world, a fact that could
support the conclusion that his influence on Muslim contemporaries was limited. The text implies, however, that recent
scholarship has shown that his works still had an impact on other Muslim philosophers of his time. This context supports
the idea that his works weren’t inconsequential to Islamic thought in this period.

Choice A is incorrect because the issue under consideration in the text is whether other Muslim philosophers of Ibn Rushd’s
time had access to his works, not whether his works were "controversial among," or causing dispute among, other
philosophers. Choice B is incorrect. The text implies that other Muslim philosophers of Ibn Rushd’s era were aware of his
works, not that they were "antagonistic toward," or hostile toward, them. There is no suggestion that Ibn Rushd’s writings
elicited hostility from his contemporaries. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "imitated by" would mean followed
as a model by. Although the text implies that Ibn Rushd’s works were at least somewhat available in regions that were at the
center of Islamic thought during the period, it doesn’t specifically address in what ways his works influenced contemporary
Muslim philosophers. Thus, the text doesn’t support the idea that other philosophers modeled their own works after Ibn
Rushd’s works.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 7bc05fa2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 7bc05fa2
Whether the reign of a French monarch such as Hugh Capet or Henry I was historically consequential or relatively uneventful,
its trajectory was shaped by questions of legitimacy and therefore cannot be understood without a corollary understanding
of the factors that allowed the monarch to ______ his right to hold the throne.

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

A. disengage

B. annotate

C. buttress

D. reciprocate

ID: 7bc05fa2 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the legitimacy of the reigns of
French monarchs such as Hugh Capet and Henry I. As used in this context, “buttress” means to strengthen or defend. The
text indicates that regardless of whether a French monarch’s reign was significant or uneventful, each monarch faced
questions about his right to the throne. The text goes on to say that in order to understand the path of a French monarch’s
reign, it’s important to understand what contributed to the monarch’s ability to “hold the throne.” This context suggests that
French monarchs such as Hugh Capet and Henry I had to buttress, or defend, their right to be monarch.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to discuss factors that enabled a monarch to “disengage,” or
withdraw his right to the French throne. The text focuses on an examination of people who reigned as French monarchs, not
on people who didn’t choose to rule. Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to discuss factors that
enabled a monarch to “annotate,” or add notes to or explain, his right to the French throne. Nothing in the text suggests that
the monarchs were writing notes about their right to the throne; instead, faced with questions about the legitimacy of their
reign, the monarchs defended their right. Choice D is incorrect. Saying that a monarch who is faced with questions about the
legitimacy of his reign was able to “reciprocate” his right to the French throne would mean that he either returned his right to
the throne or that he responded in kind to the challenge. Neither of these meanings would make sense in context because
the text focuses on people who did reign as French monarchs and defended their right to do so.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b92c13fa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b92c13fa
According to statistician Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the best way to predict the amount of time a nonperishable entity (such as
a building or a technology) will continue to exist is to examine how long it has survived so far. In this view, an item’s age is
the strongest ______ how much longer it will last.

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

A. uncertainty about

B. indicator of

C. motivation for

D. criticism of

ID: b92c13fa Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. “Indicator” means “something that shows or suggests,” which matches Taleb’s argument that an
item’s age can suggest how much longer it will last.

Choice A is incorrect. The passage tells us that examining an item’s age is the best way to predict how much longer it will
last. Therefore, according to Taleb’s theory, an item’s age should add more certainty about how much longer it will last.
Choice C is incorrect. A “motivation” is “a reason for doing.” Items don’t have feelings and motivations, so it wouldn’t make
sense to say that their age is a motivation for how much longer they will last. Choice D is incorrect. “Criticism” can mean
“describing faults or problems” or “an analysis of an artistic work.” Neither of these definitions makes sense here. An item’s
age can’t criticize how much longer it will last.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f7c02e89
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: f7c02e89
Text 1
Films and television shows commonly include a long list of credits naming the people involved in a production. Credit
sequences may not be exciting, but they generally ensure that everyone’s contributions are duly acknowledged. Because they
are highly standardized, film and television credits are also valuable to anyone researching the careers of pioneering cast
and crew members who have worked in the mediums.
Text 2
Video game scholars face a major challenge in the industry’s failure to consistently credit the artists, designers, and other
contributors involved in making video games. Without a reliable record of which people worked on which games, questions
about the medium’s development can be difficult to answer, and the accomplishments of all but its best-known innovators
can be difficult to trace.

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

By recommending that the scholars mentioned in Text 2 consider employing the methods regularly used by film and
A. television researchers

By pointing out that credits have a different intended purpose in film and television than in the medium addressed by the
B. scholars mentioned in Text 2

By suggesting that the scholars mentioned in Text 2 rely more heavily on credits as a source of information than film and
C. television researchers do

By observing that a widespread practice in film and television largely prevents the kind of problem faced by the scholars
D. mentioned in Text 2

ID: f7c02e89 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 1 would most likely respond to Text 2 based on the
information provided. Text 2 discusses how the inconsistent use of credits to identify the contributors to video games can
pose an obstacle to scholars of the medium, who rely on such credits to answer questions about the medium’s development.
Text 1 notes that in film and television, on the other hand, credits are used consistently and are valuable to researchers
studying the cast and crew members in these mediums. Since Text 1 asserts how the consistent use of credits benefits
scholars of film and television, it can be inferred that this text’s author would respond to the discussion in Text 2 by
observing that the kind of problem faced by scholars of video games—the inability to know who contributed to a particular
production and how—is, in film and television studies, largely prevented by the widespread practice of credits in these
mediums.

Choice A is incorrect. Although Text 1 discusses a method used by film and television researchers—namely, relying on
credits to research the careers of cast and crew members—the author doesn’t explicitly recommend that or any other
method. Moreover, Text 1 states that films and television shows themselves, not their researchers, regularly use the method
of listing credits. Choice B is incorrect. It can be inferred from Text 2 that when video games do feature credits, they have
essentially the same function as credits in film and television—namely, to identify the individuals who worked on a particular
production. Therefore, it is unlikely that the author of Text 1 would characterize video game credits as differing in purpose
from film and television credits. Choice C is incorrect because, as Text 2 explains, credits are not consistently used in video
games. Therefore, it is unlikely that the author of Text 1 would argue that scholars of the medium discussed in this text—
video games—rely more heavily on credits than scholars of film and television, two mediums where credits consistently
appear.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b44066dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. nullify

B. denigrate

C. underestimate

D. misconstrue

ID: b44066dc Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 74ee7737
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 74ee7737
Whether Carmen Lomas Garza is creating small paintings and illustrations or large public artworks—such as Baile, a copper
cutout of traditional Mexican dance in the San Francisco International Airport—she is ______ direct experience, drawing from
memories of her childhood in Texas or details of her current surroundings in California.

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

A. complimented by

B. uncertain about

C. unbothered by

D. inspired by

ID: 74ee7737 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Carmen Lomas Garza’s artistic
process. In this context, "inspired by" means influenced by or motivated by. The text refers to how, regardless of the scale of
the work, Garza uses her memories of Texas and details from California to create her art. If Garza is basing her work on her
direct experiences, then they play a part in her artistic process. This context thus suggests that Garza’s art is inspired by the
experiences of her childhood in Texas and her current life in California.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make logical sense to indicate that Garza is "complimented by"—or praised by—
something inanimate such as direct experience. Choice B is incorrect because describing Garza as "uncertain about"—or
unsure or doubtful of—direct experience would suggest that she had misgivings about it. If Garza were unsure of her
experiences, that would suggest that she couldn’t recall them, and Garza wouldn’t be able to represent direct experience in
her art if she were uncertain of the memories or details. Choice C is incorrect because describing Garza as "unbothered by"—
or uninterested in—her experience would imply the opposite of what the text suggests about Garza’s artistic process. The
text indicates that Garza’s art comes from memories of her childhood in Texas and details of her surroundings in California.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 82c05b34
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 82c05b34 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 849bf8d7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 849bf8d7
In the mid-nineteenth century, some abolitionist newspapers ______ westward migration in the United States; by printing a
letter that described the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California during the Gold Rush, Frederick
Douglass’s newspaper North Star was one such publication that inspired readers to relocate.

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

A. stimulated

B. assigned

C. opposed

D. disregarded

ID: 849bf8d7 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. "Stimulated" means "encouraged interest or increased activity in." Because the newspapers
discussed the benefits of westward migration and "inspired readers to relocate," we can infer that they encouraged people to
move west.

Choice B is incorrect. "Assigned" means "gave a job or duty." Newspapers do not have the power to assign people to move
west, although they can encourage it. Choice C is incorrect. "Opposed" means "disapproved of." We can tell that this isn’t the
case, because the newspapers discussed "the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California" and "inspired
readers to relocate." Choice D is incorrect. "Disregarded" means "ignored." If the newspapers are writing about the west and
"inspir[ing] readers to relocate," they can’t be ignoring it at the same time.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f7d58b53
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f7d58b53
Like other tribal nations, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is self-governing; its National Council generates laws regulating
aspects of community life such as land use and healthcare, while the principal chief and cabinet officials ______ those laws
by devising policies and administering services in accordance with them.

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

A. implement

B. presume

C. improvise

D. mimic

ID: f7d58b53 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of self-government among the
Muscogee (Creek) Nation. In this context, “implement” means to carry out or put into effect. The text states that the National
Council generates laws, while the principal chief and cabinet officials are responsible for “devising policies and administering
services in accordance with” those laws. This context suggests that the principal chief and cabinet officials implement the
laws: they put the laws into effect by creating policies and administering services that accord with those laws.

Choice B is incorrect because “presume” in this context would mean to assume based on incomplete information, and the
text does not suggest that the principal chief and cabinet officials either made assumptions about the content of the laws or
had incomplete information about them. Choice C is incorrect because in this context “improvise” would mean to create
something without preparation, and the text does not suggest that the principal chief and cabinet officials create policies
and administer services without advance preparation. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the
principal chief and cabinet officials “mimic,” or imitate, the laws generated by the National Council. To mimic laws would
mean to generate new laws that are imitations of existing laws, but the text indicates that the National Council, not the
principal chief and cabinet officials, is responsible for generating laws. Instead of generating laws, the principal chief and
cabinet officials put laws into effect by “devising policies and administering services in accordance with” the laws.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 6286dd96
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 6286dd96
The following text is adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 novel A Little Princess. Sara is a young student at a
school in London.

Sara not only could tell stories, but she adored telling them. When she sat or stood in the midst of a circle and began to
invent wonderful things, her green eyes grew big and shining, her cheeks flushed, and, without knowing that she was
doing it, she began to act and made what she told lovely or alarming by the raising or dropping of her voice.

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

A. Mislead

B. Disguise

C. Create

D. Discover

ID: 6286dd96 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because as used in the text, "invent" most nearly means create or make up. The text begins by
stating that Sara likes to tell stories and thoroughly enjoys telling them. The rest of the text describes how she looks and
acts when she invents, or creates, "wonderful things" in her stories ("what she told").

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text suggests that Sara makes up "wonderful things," nothing suggests that she does so
to mislead, or intentionally deceive, others; there is no reason to assume that Sara’s listeners don’t know that she’s creating
the stories she shares. Choice B is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Sara is disguising, or trying to cover
up or conceal, "wonderful things" when she tells stories; rather, she is creating them and presenting them in ways that make
them "lovely or alarming" for her listeners. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Sara is
discovering, or unexpectedly finding, "wonderful things" in the stories she loves to tell; rather, that she is making things up as
she tells the stories.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 8b46bb51
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. exposed

B. asserted

C. discovered

D. doubted

ID: 8b46bb51 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 44cc5f75
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 44cc5f75
Artificially delivering biomolecules to plant cells is an important component of protecting plants from pathogens, but it is
difficult to transmit biomolecules through the layers of the plant cell wall. Markita del Carpio Landry and her colleagues have
shown that it may be possible to ______ this problem by transmitting molecules through carbon nanotubes, which can cross
cell walls.

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

A. conceptualize

B. neglect

C. illustrate

D. overcome

ID: 44cc5f75 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of delivering biomolecules to plant
cells. In this context, “overcome” means to succeed in dealing with an obstacle. The text suggests that although it’s difficult
to move biomolecules through plant cell walls, Landry and her colleagues have shown that carbon nanotubes may be useful,
since they can cross cell walls. This context conveys that Landry and her colleagues think it’s possible, using carbon
nanotubes, to succeed in dealing with the obstacle of transmitting biomolecules to plant cells.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that Landry and her colleagues have shown that it
may be possible to “conceptualize,” or form an idea of, the difficulty of transmitting biomolecules through the walls of plant
cells. The text presents this difficulty as a known problem that Landry and her colleagues think they may have solved, not as
a mysterious occurrence that they have yet to form ideas about. Choice B is incorrect because the text suggests that Landry
and her colleagues think it may be possible to successfully deal with the problem of transmitting biomolecules through the
walls of plant cells, not that Landry and her colleagues think it may be possible to “neglect,” or simply to disregard and ignore
the problem. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that Landry and her colleagues have
shown that it may be possible to “illustrate,” or demonstrate, the difficulty of transmitting biomolecules through the walls of
plant cells by using carbon nanotubes. According to the text, carbon nanotubes allow molecules to be transmitted to plant
cells—something that is otherwise difficult to do. The text therefore presents carbon nanotubes as a way of possibly solving
a problem, not as a means of demonstrating the problem.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID aaa3ee7c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: aaa3ee7c
Critics have asserted that fine art and fashion rarely ______ in a world where artists create timeless works for exhibition and
designers periodically produce new styles for the public to buy. Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock beadwork artist and designer
Jamie Okuma challenges this view: her work can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and purchased through her
online boutique.

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

A. prevail

B. succumb

C. diverge

D. intersect

ID: aaa3ee7c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about the relationship between fine art
and fashion. As used in this context, “intersect” means to connect or overlap. The text indicates that Jamie Okuma
challenges the position held by critics because her work can be seen at an art museum and can be bought by the public from
her online boutique. The text also presents the critics’ view as being influenced by a perception that fine artists create works
that are “timeless” and meant for exhibition, whereas fashion designers periodically produce new styles that are meant for
purchase. This context suggests that the critics believe that fine art and fashion tend not to overlap—in other words, that
they rarely intersect.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that critics contend that fine art and fashion rarely
“prevail,” or prove to be triumphant or widespread. The text indicates that Okuma is an example of an artist who
demonstrates that it’s possible to make fine art that is also available to the public as fashion. Choice B is incorrect because
it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that fine art and fashion rarely “succumb,” or surrender. The text establishes that
unlike what critics believe, Okuma creates works that are in art museums and available for the public to purchase,
suggesting that critics believe fine art and fashion rarely overlap, not that they rarely succumb. Choice C is incorrect because
saying that critics believe that fine art and fashion rarely “diverge,” or disagree or move in different directions, wouldn’t make
sense in context. The text presents Okuma’s work as both fine art and fashion, thereby undermining what the critics assert.
This suggests that the critics believe that fine art and fashion rarely intersect rather than that the two rarely diverge.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID afd2a9eb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: afd2a9eb
Manul cats are small, shy felines. They live mostly alone in out-of-the-way parts of Asia, such as on Mount Everest. These
cats have been difficult to research because their habitats are so ______ large populations of humans.

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

A. full of

B. drawn to

C. responsible for

D. distant from

ID: afd2a9eb Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of manul cats. The text states that
manul cats live in "out-of-the-way parts of Asia" (citing the famously remote Mount Everest as an example) and indicates that
it is difficult to research the cats because of the location of their habitats. By emphasizing that the habitats are remote in
relation to humans, the text conveys that being "distant from," or far from, large groups of humans makes manul cats
challenging to study.

Choice A is incorrect because saying that the habitats of manul cats are "full of large populations of humans" would indicate
that the cats cohabitate with many humans, which would directly contradict the text’s claim that the cats live in "out-of-the-
way" areas. Choice B is incorrect because the missing words describe an aspect of manul cats’ habitats, or the areas where
they live, and it wouldn’t make sense to say that areas could be "drawn to," or attracted by, large groups of humans. Choice C
is incorrect. In this context, "responsible for" would mean either having an obligation to care for something or being the
cause of something, and it wouldn’t make sense to say that the habitats of manul cats (the areas where the cats live) would
need to care for humans or that the habitats somehow created large human populations.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 3654202f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3654202f
Radar and sonar can detect objects or people through walls, but they are too costly for consumer use. Researchers Fadel
Adib and Dina Katabi have shown, however, that there may be a comparatively ______ alternative: small changes to the Wi-Fi
technology used in smartphones can give users a cheap way to count people or even identify their gestures through walls.

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

A. infrequent

B. inexpensive

C. unmistakable

D. impractical

ID: 3654202f Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of ways to detect people through
walls. In this context, "inexpensive" means less costly or low in price. The passage describes two kinds of methods that can
be used to "detect objects or people through walls": radar and sonar, and changes to the Wi-Fi technology used in
smartphones. The word "comparatively" before the blank indicates that the best answer would be one that helps to describe
a comparison between the two. Radar and sonar are described as "costly," while the method that uses Wi-Fi technology is
described as "cheap"; therefore, it would be comparatively affordable, or inexpensive.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that a small modification to the smartphones that many consumers already
own would presumably result in consumers using that technology to detect objects or people through walls more regularly,
or frequently; therefore, it would not be true that such technology would be comparatively infrequent, or uncommon. Choice
C is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that either radar and sonar or changes to smartphone Wi-Fi
technology are capable of being misunderstood or mistaken for something else; therefore, it would not make sense to
describe changes to Wi-Fi smartphone technology as comparatively unmistakable, or indisputable. Choice D is incorrect
because the text indicates that a small modification to the smartphones that many consumers already own and carry with
them would be more functional or practical than radar and sonar, not more impractical, or unrealistic.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID ea971260
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: ea971260
The following text is adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s 1869 novel An Old-Fashioned Girl. Polly, a teenager, is visiting her
friend Fanny.

Fanny’s friends did not interest Polly much; she was rather afraid of them [because] they seemed so much older and
wiser than herself, even those younger in years. They talked about things of which she knew nothing and when Fanny
tried to explain, she didn’t find them interesting; indeed, some of them rather shocked and puzzled her.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To portray Polly’s reaction to Fanny’s friends

B. To identify the topics Polly talks about with Fanny’s friends

C. To explain how Fanny met some of her friends

D. To illustrate how Fanny’s friends feel about Polly

ID: ea971260 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to show how Polly
reacted to some of Fanny’s other friends. The text describes Polly as being frightened of Fanny’s friends because they
seemed “much older and wiser” to her and elaborates that they “talked about things of which” Polly was unfamiliar,
uninterested, and shocked. Thus, the main purpose of the text is to describe Polly’s impressions of Fanny’s other friends.

Choice B is incorrect because the text does not provide any of the topics Polly discussed with Fanny’s friends, stating only
that Polly found the topics unfamiliar, uninteresting, and shocking. Choice C is incorrect because the text says nothing about
how Fanny and her other friends first met. Choice D is incorrect because the focus of the text is on Polly’s feelings about
Fanny’s other friends, not on the other friends’ feelings about Polly.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 975b0602
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 975b0602
A number of Indigenous politicians have been elected to the United States Congress since 2000 as members of the country’s
two established political parties. In Canada and several Latin American countries, on the other hand, Indigenous people have
formed their own political parties to advance candidates who will advocate for the interests of their communities. This
movement has been particularly successful in Ecuador, where Guadalupe Llori, a member of the Indigenous party known as
Pachakutik, was elected president of the National Assembly in 2021.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To trace the history of an Indigenous political movement and speculate about its future development

B. To argue that Indigenous politicians in the United States should form their own political party

C. To highlight two approaches to achieving political representation for Indigenous people

To consider how Indigenous politicians in the United States have influenced Indigenous politicians in Canada and Latin
D. America

ID: 975b0602 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to illustrate two
approaches that Indigenous politicians have taken to achieve political representation for their communities. The text begins
by explaining that one approach is exemplified by Indigenous politicians in the United States who, in an effort to ensure that
the interests of their communities are represented in government, joined preexisting political parties and were subsequently
elected to Congress. The text goes on to highlight a second approach adopted by Indigenous leaders in Canada and several
Latin American countries: rather than joining established political parties, many Indigenous politicians in these countries
have instead formed their own parties to promote candidates for office who support causes that are important to their
communities.

Choice A is incorrect because the text’s focus is on the contrasting approaches adopted by different Indigenous political
movements in different countries; thus, it isn’t accurate to say that the text traces the history of one political movement.
Moreover, the text only discusses examples from 2000 to 2021, a relatively short period of time; therefore, it provides very
little in the way of discussion of larger historical developments, nor does it make any predictions about how these
movements might continue to develop in the future. Choice B is incorrect because the text never urges Indigenous
politicians in the US to alter their strategy of striving for representation through the established political parties, nor does it
suggest that this strategy is inferior to that of Indigenous politicians in Canada and Latin America, who have formed their
own parties. In fact, the text notes that both strategies have resulted in the election of Indigenous politicians to national
governments. Choice D is incorrect because the text never suggests that Indigenous politicians in the US have influenced
those in Canada and Latin America; instead, it stresses how Indigenous politicians’ approach toward achieving
representation in the US government has differed from the approach Indigenous politicians have taken to achieve
representation in national governments elsewhere in the Americas.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2b085bc6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 2b085bc6 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 03f5a9b7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 03f5a9b7
When marine biologist Brittany Williams played different ocean recordings to groups of oyster larvae, groups that heard
sounds of a healthy oyster reef were the most ______. They were twice as likely as other groups to show signs of making a
permanent home. This suggests that playing recordings of a healthy ocean reef may encourage oysters to create such a
reef.

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

A. responsive

B. inactive

C. liked

D. distressed

ID: 03f5a9b7 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of oysters and ocean recordings. As
used in this context, "responsive" means reacting positively. The text presents a finding and describes it as suggesting that
healthy ocean sounds may encourage oyster larvae to establish a reef (a permanent home): groups of oyster larvae that
heard recorded sounds of a healthy oyster reef were two times more likely to show signs of forming their own reef than
groups that heard different ocean recordings were. This context conveys that the groups that heard healthy reef sounds had
a more positive reaction than the other groups did—that is, they were the most responsive.

Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t indicate that hearing sounds of a healthy oyster reef caused some groups of
oyster larvae to become "inactive," or to stop engaging in work or activity. Instead, the text conveys that the groups that heard
those sounds were observed engaging in activity: they were two times more likely to create a reef (a permanent home) than
groups that heard different ocean sounds were. Choice C is incorrect because describing the groups of oyster larvae that
heard sounds of a healthy oyster reef as most "liked," or regarded with pleasure, wouldn’t make sense in context. The text
focuses on the idea that a study found that healthy reef sounds may encourage groups of oyster larvae to form reefs
(permanent homes), not on the idea that some of the groups in the study were liked more than others. Choice D is incorrect
because the text doesn’t indicate that hearing sounds of a healthy oyster reef caused some groups of oyster larvae to be
"distressed," or to experience difficulty or begin to decline. Instead, the text indicates that the sounds increased the likelihood
that groups of larvae would establish a reef (a permanent home), suggesting that the sounds had a positive effect on the
larvae.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID edd64a4a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: edd64a4a
The following text is adapted from Charles Chesnutt’s 1899 story “The Wife of His Youth.” Mr. Ryder is hosting a formal
gathering where he will propose marriage to the woman he has been courting.

[A] younger and less cautious man would long since have spoken. But he had made up his mind, and had only to
determine the time when he would ask her to be his wife. He decided to give a ball in her honor, and at some time
during the evening of the ball to offer her his heart and hand.

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

A. Choose

B. Influence

C. Demonstrate

D. Measure

ID: edd64a4a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, "determine" most nearly means choose or decide. The text indicates
that Mr. Ryder "had made up his mind" to ask a woman to marry him but had not yet "spoken"—that is, he had not yet asked
her. The text also indicates that Mr. Ryder "decided" to throw a party for the woman and ask her during it. This context
conveys that after making up his mind to propose, what Mr. Ryder had to do was determine, or choose, the time to do it.

Choice B is incorrect because in this context, "determine" doesn’t mean influence, or affect or control. The text isn’t indicating
that Mr. Ryder is controlling time itself; such a thing isn’t possible. Rather, the text conveys that after making up his mind to
ask a woman to marry him, Mr. Ryder had to make another decision about his own actions by selecting a time to propose.
Choice C is incorrect. The text focuses on Mr. Ryder’s plan to ask a woman to marry him and his decision about when to ask
her. This context conveys that after making up his mind to propose, Mr. Ryder had to choose the time, not that he had to
demonstrate, or show, the time; it’s not clear what it would mean to demonstrate a time. Choice D is incorrect because in this
context, "determine" doesn’t mean measure, or control with careful restraint. The text isn’t indicating that Mr. Ryder is
carefully controlling time itself; such a thing isn’t possible. Rather, the text conveys that after making up his mind to ask a
woman to marry him, Mr. Ryder had to make another decision about his own actions by selecting a time to propose; it’s Mr.
Ryder’s decision that is measured, not the time he eventually chooses.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f8ca5766
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f8ca5766
Nigerian American author Teju Cole’s ______ his two passions—photography and the written word—culminates in his 2017
book, Blind Spot, which evocatively combines his original photographs from his travels with his poetic prose.

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

A. indifference to

B. enthusiasm for

C. concern about

D. surprise at

ID: f8ca5766 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Cole’s book Blind Spot. In this
context, “enthusiasm for” means excitement about. The text explains that Blind Spot consists of original photographs as well
as poetic prose—two elements that correspond to Cole’s passions, identified in the text, for photography and the written
word. This context suggests that Cole’s excitement about photography and writing led him to create a book that successfully
combines the two mediums.

Choice A is incorrect because describing Cole as feeling “indifference to” his two passions wouldn’t make sense in context. If
Cole is indifferent to his passions, that would mean he doesn’t care about photography or writing—in which case they
wouldn’t be his passions at all. Choice C is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Cole feels “concern
about,” or uneasiness about, his passions. The text’s use of the word “culminates” indicates that Blind Spot represents a
triumphant climax of Cole’s passions, not a work that results from his sense of discomfort with photography and writing.
Choice D is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that Cole feels “surprise at,” or astonished by, his
passions. The text indicates that Cole’s feeling about his passions “culminates” in a book that “evocatively” combines
photographs and writing, suggesting that Cole has a long-standing and skillful relationship to his passions, not that he is
startled by them.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 9671d61d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9671d61d
The following text is from Claude McKay’s 1922 poem “Morning Joy.” The speaker is looking out a window and observing a
wold, or large area of land.

At night the wide and level stretch of wold, Which at high noon had basked in quiet gold,
Far as the eye could see was ghostly white; Dark was the night save for the snow’s weird light.
I drew the shades far down, crept into bed; Hearing the cold wind moaning overhead
Through the sad pines, my soul, catching its pain, Went sorrowing with it across the plain.

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

A. Pulled

B. Drained

C. Inspired

D. Sketched

ID: 9671d61d Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, “drew” most nearly means pulled. In the text, the speaker stands at
a window, looking out on a landscape at night. The speaker then “drew the shades far down, crept into bed.” That is, the
speaker pulled down, or lowered, the shades until they were completely shut before going to sleep.

Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts, “drew” can refer to draining or removing liquid, especially water, as when
someone draws water from a well, in this context it refers to the speaker pulling down window shades for the night. Choice C
is incorrect. In some contexts, “drew” can be used to describe how a person or thing inspires, or elicits, a response from
someone, as when a performer draws applause from an audience. But in this context it refers to the speaker pulling down
window shades for the night. Choice D is incorrect. Although “drew” has several meanings, including sketched, or illustrated
with a pen or pencil, in this context it refers to the speaker pulling down window shades for the night.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 213a25d1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

B. To compare the speaker to a singing shepherd

C. To portray the speaker’s excitement about farming

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

ID: 213a25d1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a06c434d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a06c434d
The work of Kiowa painter T.C. Cannon derives its power in part from the tension among his ______ influences: classic
European portraiture, with its realistic treatment of faces; the American pop art movement, with its vivid colors; and flatstyle,
the intertribal painting style that rejects the effect of depth typically achieved through shading and perspective.

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

A. complementary

B. unknown

C. disparate

D. interchangeable

ID: a06c434d Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the artistic styles that have
influenced Cannon’s work. As used in this context, “disparate” means distinct or dissimilar. The text indicates that a tension
exists among the styles that have influenced Cannon’s work and goes on to describe how those styles differ: classic
European portraiture favors realism, American pop art uses vivid colors, and intertribal flatstyle rejects the use of shading
and perspective to achieve depth. This context suggests that the styles that have influenced Cannon’s work are disparate.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that there is a tension among the influences on Cannon’s artwork, so it
wouldn’t make sense to say that the influences are “complementary,” or that they complete one another or make up for one
another’s deficiencies. Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to characterize Cannon’s influences as
“unknown,” or not familiar; it’s clear that the influences are known because the text goes on to list them. Choice D is incorrect
because the text indicates that there is a tension among the influences on Cannon’s work, not that they are
“interchangeable,” or capable of being used in one another’s place.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c8603ed7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: c8603ed7
San Francisco is known for the colorful murals painted on many of its buildings. The densest collection of murals is found
on Balmy Alley in the Mission District neighborhood. In the 1970s, Latina artists painted vivid scenes of community life on
walls along this block. As the original murals have faded, later generations of artists have painted new ones over them. As a
result, Balmy Alley has become a living showcase of San Francisco’s artistic spirit, with its murals reflecting changes in the
cultural life of the city.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To compare the Balmy Alley murals to other murals in San Francisco

B. To offer an overview of the history and importance of the Balmy Alley murals

C. To urge people to protect the murals of San Francisco from decay

D. To describe the rise of mural painting in San Francisco beginning in the 1970s

ID: c8603ed7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it best states the main purpose of the text. The text begins by briefly stating that San
Francisco is known for its murals, then transitions to a discussion of a single collection of murals, which is found on Balmy
Alley in the city’s Mission District. The text explains that the murals in this area were originally created in the 1970s, then
observes that they have changed over time: as some have faded through the decades, others have been painted in their
place. The text ends by emphasizing that these murals are significant because they reflect San Francisco’s artistic spirit and
cultural life. Therefore, the text provides an overview of the history and importance of the Balmy Alley murals.

Choice A is incorrect. Although it can be inferred from the text that there are murals in other areas of San Francisco besides
Balmy Alley, the text doesn’t specifically discuss murals in other areas or compare the murals of Balmy Alley to those in other
areas. Choice C is incorrect. By observing that some of the murals of Balmy Alley have been replaced due to fading, the text
implies that murals can decay, but it never urges readers to protect this specific collection of murals—or any murals
elsewhere in San Francisco, for that matter. Indeed, by describing the ever-changing murals of Balmy Alley as “a living
showcase of San Francisco’s artistic spirit,” the text emphasizes the positive aspects of the fact that the original Balmy Alley
murals have faded and been replaced with new murals. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe the rise of
mural painting in San Francisco generally or note when this occurred. The only historical development of the 1970s
mentioned in the text is the origin of the murals in a specific area of the city: Balmy Alley in the Mission District.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 9c759a09
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 9c759a09
Go forth, my son,
Winged by my heart’s desire!
Great reaches, yet unknown,
Await
For your possession.
I may not, if I would,
Retrace the way with you,
My pilgrimage is through,
The following text is from Georgia Douglas Johnson’s 1922 poem “Benediction.” But life is calling you!

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To express hope that a child will have the same accomplishments as his parent did

B. To suggest that raising a child involves many struggles

C. To warn a child that he will face many challenges throughout his life

D. To encourage a child to embrace the experiences life will offer

ID: 9c759a09 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it accurately states the text’s main purpose. The poem begins with the speaker urging a
child to “go forth” with her encouragement (“my heart’s desire”). The speaker goes on to suggest that new experiences
(“Great reaches, yet unknown”) lie ahead for the son that “life is calling” him to seek out. Thus, the main purpose is to
encourage a child to embrace the experiences available to him in his life.

Choice A is incorrect because the speaker encourages the child to pursue new experiences (“Great reaches”) without
knowing exactly what those experiences will be (“yet unknown”) or suggesting that they should match the speaker’s own
accomplishments. Choice B is incorrect because the speaker focuses on positive possibilities for her son (“Great reaches,
yet unknown”) and her enthusiastic encouragement to embrace those possibilities (“life is calling you!”), while there is no
mention of raising a child or associated struggles. Choice C is incorrect because the speaker frames the possibilities for her
son in a positive light when she says that “great reaches, yet unknown” are waiting for him, and this positive outlook for the
son is consistent throughout the text.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 05575bca
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 05575bca
The following text is adapted from Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Alice,
a child, is talking to her cat.

“Do you hear the snow against the window-panes, Kitty? How nice and soft it sounds! Just as if someone was kissing
the window all over outside.”

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

A. Gentle

B. Sensitive

C. Shapeless

D. Bland

ID: 05575bca Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, "soft" most nearly means gentle. The text portrays Alice speaking
about the snow falling against the window, describing it as sounding "nice" and similar to someone "kissing the window."
These details most strongly suggest that Alice thinks the sound made by the snow falling against the window is gentle.

Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts, "gentle" can mean sensitive, or caring about others’ feelings, that isn’t the
meaning in this context; it doesn’t make sense to say that Alice thinks the sound of the snow cares about anything. Choice C
is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that Alice thinks the sound of the snow is shapeless, or lacks a definite shape;
she isn’t indicating how anything looks or feels but, rather, is describing how "nice" and gentle the snow sounds. Choice D is
incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that Alice thinks the sound of the snow is bland, or uninteresting; rather, she
notices the sound and comments on how "nice" it is.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID c7265342
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: c7265342 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5a4b147c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 5a4b147c
Text 1
On April 26th, 1777, Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles by horse through Putnam County, New York, to gather up local militia.
British forces were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut, and Ludington wanted to rally rebel troops to meet them. Although
she was only 16 years old at the time, her brave feat made Ludington one of the heroes of the American Revolution. Since
then, Ludington has been widely celebrated, inspiring postage stamps, statues, and even children’s TV series.
Text 2
Historian Paula D. Hunt researched the life and legacy of Sybil Ludington but found no evidence for her famous ride.
Although many articles and books have been written about Ludington, Hunt believes writers may have been inventing details
about Ludington as they retold her story. Ludington is revered by Americans today, but there simply isn’t a strong historical
record of her heroic ride.

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

A. Sybil Ludington was crucial to the outcome of the Revolutionary War.

B. Historians have confirmed which route Sybil Ludington took.

C. Sybil Ludington was likely not a real person.

D. Many people have come to admire the story of Sybil Ludington’s ride.

ID: 5a4b147c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. Both authors agree that Ludington’s story has been widely celebrated and revered by Americans,
even if they disagree on its accuracy. Text 1 states that Ludington has inspired postage stamps, statues, and TV series, and
Text 2 states that many articles and books have been written about her. Thus, both authors acknowledge the popularity of
Ludington’s story.

Choice A is incorrect. Neither author claims that Ludington had a significant impact on the war. Text 1 doesn’t mention how
Ludington’s ride affected the war overall, and Text 2 suggests that Ludington’s ride may have been exaggerated or invented
over time. Choice B is incorrect. Neither author claims that Ludington’s route has been verified by historians. Text 1 claims
she rode 40 miles through Putnam County, but doesn’t cite any sources for this information, while Text 2 suggests the ride
may not have even happened. Choice C is incorrect. This choice misreads text 2. Neither author claims that Ludington was
not a real person, only that her ride may not have happened. Both authors seem to treat Ludington as a genuine historical
figure.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 8963273a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 8963273a Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b411eb09
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b411eb09
New and interesting research conducted by Suleiman A. Al-Sweedan and Moath Alhaj is inspired by their observation that
though there have been many studies of the effect of high altitude on blood chemistry, there is a ______ studies of the effect
on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level, such as the California towns of Salton City and Seeley.

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

A. quarrel about

B. paucity of

C. profusion of

D. verisimilitude in

ID: b411eb09 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of studies of altitude’s
effect on blood chemistry. In this context, “paucity of” means lack of. In describing the inspiration behind Al-Sweedan and
Alhaj’s research, the text uses the word “though” to suggest a contrasting relationship between two types of studies: those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of
living in locations below sea level. This contrasting relationship and the text’s use of the word “many” provide context
suggesting that there are few, if any, examples of the second type of study, whereas there are numerous examples of the first
type.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “quarrel about,” or open disagreement
about, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and
“many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on
blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea
level. There’s nothing in the text to suggest that the contrast between the two types of studies involves the extent to which
researchers broadly agree or disagree about the contents of either type. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make
sense in context for there to be a “profusion of,” or great abundance of, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in
locations below sea level. The text’s use of the words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of
amount between two types of studies: those examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. Rather than logically completing this contrast,
“profusion of” would indicate that the two types of studies are similar in terms of amount, with many examples existing of
both types. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context for there to be a “verisimilitude in,” or
appearance of truth in, studies of the effect on blood chemistry of living in locations below sea level. The text’s use of the
words “though” and “many” suggests a contrasting relationship in terms of amount between two types of studies: those
examining the effect on blood chemistry of living at a high altitude and those examining the effect on blood chemistry of
living in locations below sea level. There’s nothing in the text to suggest that the contrast between the two types of studies
involves the extent to which either type of study presents an appearance of truth.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c4900368
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: c4900368 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1ad04ea0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 1ad04ea0
In habitats with limited nutrients, certain fungus species grow on the roots of trees, engaging in mutually beneficial
relationships known as ectomycorrhizae: in this symbiotic exchange, the tree provides the fungus with carbon, a nutrient
necessary for both species, and the fungus ______ by enhancing the tree’s ability to absorb nitrogen, another key nutrient,
from the soil.

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

A. overreacts

B. reciprocates

C. retaliates

D. deviates

ID: 1ad04ea0 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of ectomycorrhizae relationships. In
this context, “reciprocates” means responds in kind or degree. The text indicates that the relationship between certain fungi
and trees in some habitats is “mutually beneficial” and involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the
other access an important nutrient. In other words, each organism provides the same kind of benefit it receives: the tree
provides a nutrient (carbon) for the fungus and the fungus reciprocates by helping the tree to absorb more of another
nutrient (nitrogen).

Choice A is incorrect because the text emphasizes that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats
involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the other access an important nutrient. Nothing in the text
suggests that the fungus “overreacts,” or responds too strongly, by allowing the tree to be better able to absorb a beneficial
nutrient. Choice C is incorrect because “retaliates” means responds to a harmful action with a similarly harmful action. The
text indicates that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats is “mutually beneficial” and involves a
“symbiotic exchange” in which each organism helps the other, not that the relationship is one in which the organisms harm
one another. Choice D is incorrect. In this context, “deviates” would mean departs from an established course or norm. The
text explains that the relationship between certain fungi and trees in some habitats involves a “symbiotic exchange” in which
each organism helps the other access an important nutrient. Because the relationship involves benefits for both the fungus
and the tree, it wouldn’t make sense to say that the fungus deviates by helping the tree be better able to absorb a beneficial
nutrient.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID a68239ed
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: a68239ed
The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1897 nonfiction work De Profundis.

People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going. They can’t know. In one sense of the
word it is of course necessary to know oneself: that is the first achievement of knowledge. But to recognise that the
soul of a man is unknowable, is the ultimate achievement of wisdom. The final mystery is oneself. When one has
weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star,
there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?

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

A. It reinforces the text’s skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.

B. It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge.

C. It cautions readers that the text’s directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow.

D. It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular.

ID: a68239ed Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The text repeatedly claims that true self-knowledge can’t possibly be achieved, and this
rhetorical question emphasizes that point.

Choice B is incorrect. The underlined question doesn’t do this. The text never expresses doubts about the value of self-
knowledge—rather, the text expresses doubts about the possibility of achieving self-knowledge. Choice C is incorrect. The
underlined question doesn’t do this. The text doesn’t provide directions for how to achieve self-knowledge—rather, it claims
that true self-knowledge is impossible to achieve. Choice D is incorrect. The underlined question doesn’t do this. The text
doesn’t ever define self-knowledge, and popularity isn’t mentioned in the text at all.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 422c5068
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 422c5068 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 479c7e82
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 479c7e82
Although critics believed that customers would never agree to pay to pick their own produce on farms, such concerns didn’t
______ Booker T. Whatley’s efforts to promote the practice. Thanks in part to Whatley’s determined advocacy, farms that
allow visitors to pick their own apples, pumpkins, and other produce can be found throughout the United States.

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

A. enhance

B. hinder

C. misrepresent

D. aggravate

ID: 479c7e82 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Booker T. Whatley. In this context,
“hinder” means hold back or obstruct. The text explains that Whatley encouraged farms to allow customers on site to pick
their own produce for a fee. He did so despite critics’ concerns that the customers would never pay to do so. This context
establishes that the critics’ concerns didn’t hinder Whatley’s efforts to promote the practice.

Choice A is incorrect. The text indicates that critics’ skepticism of the idea that customers would pay to pick their own
produce didn’t have some effect on Whatley’s promotion of the practice. The text illustrates this assertion by describing
Whatley’s “determined advocacy” for the practice. This context suggests that critics’ concerns didn’t obstruct Whatley’s
efforts, not that critics’ concerns didn’t “enhance,” or increase or improve, Whatley’s efforts. Choice C is incorrect because in
this context, “misrepresent” would mean portray inaccurately, and the text includes no information relevant to the issue of
how Whatley’s efforts were portrayed by critics of the practice of charging customers to pick their own produce. Choice D is
incorrect. The text indicates that critics’ skepticism of the idea that customers would pay to pick their own produce didn’t
have some effect on Whatley’s promotion of the practice. The text illustrates this assertion by describing Whatley’s
“determined advocacy” for the practice. This context suggests that critics’ concerns didn’t obstruct Whatley’s efforts, not
that critics’ concerns didn’t “aggravate,” or irritate or make more severe, Whatley’s efforts.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 52fe862a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 52fe862a
Researcher Lucy Salazar is using radiocarbon dating to study Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan fortress in the Andes
Mountains. She and her colleagues have found that the site’s age differs from the ______ estimate: it is approximately 20
years older than scholars thought when first encountering Machu Picchu in 1911.

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

A. genuine

B. intentional

C. independent

D. original

ID: 52fe862a Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the dating of Machu Picchu. In this
context, "original" means first or initial. The text indicates that Lucy Salazar and her colleagues have determined the age of
Machu Picchu and that the age differs from another estimate of the site’s age, explaining that the site is about 20 years older
than scholars thought in 1911 when they initially encountered Machu Picchu. In other words, Salazar and her team found
that the site’s age differs from the first estimate.

Choice A is incorrect. The text’s structure indicates that the missing word describes the estimate made by scholars when
they first encountered Machu Picchu in 1911 in relation to the age determined by Salazar and her colleagues. It wouldn’t
make sense to suggest that the estimate by earlier scholars was "genuine," or actual and true, while the one by Salazar’s
team wasn’t, since the text treats the finding by Salazar’s team as true and as invalidating the earlier estimate ("it is
approximately 20 years older than scholars thought"). Choice B is incorrect. The text’s structure indicates that the missing
word describes the estimate made by scholars when they first encountered Machu Picchu in 1911 in relation to the age
determined by Salazar and her colleagues. It wouldn’t make sense to suggest that the estimate by earlier scholars was
"intentional," or done on purpose, while the one by Salazar’s team wasn’t; the text indicates that Salazar and her colleagues
were deliberately using radiocarbon dating to study Machu Picchu. Choice C is incorrect. The text’s structure indicates that
the missing word describes the estimate made by scholars when they first encountered Machu Picchu in 1911 in relation to
the age determined by Salazar and her colleagues. There’s no reason to suggest that the estimate by earlier scholars was
"independent," or not controlled by or affiliated with others, while the one by Salazar’s team wasn’t; there’s no mention of any
outside influence on the work by Salazar and her team or by scholars in 1911.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 74446089
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 74446089 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2e8ab360
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. indulge

B. despise

C. moderate

D. criticize

ID: 2e8ab360 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c14daa3c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c14daa3c
Close analysis of the painting Girl with a Flute, long attributed to the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer,
has revealed subtle deviations from the artist’s signature techniques. These variations suggest that the work may be that of
a student under Vermeer’s tutelage—potentially ______ our understanding of Vermeer as a solitary artist.

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

A. negating

B. prefiguring

C. entrenching

D. substantiating

ID: c14daa3c Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. "Negating" means "reversing" or "making invalid." Proving that Vermeer worked with students
would reverse the view of him as a solitary artist.

Choice B is incorrect. "Prefiguring" means "being an early indicator of." There already existed views of Vermeer as a solitary
painter, so a new painting would not be an early indicator of those views. Rather, a painting proving that Vermeer had a
student would contradict those earlier views. Choice C is incorrect. "Entrenching" means "solidifying." A painting proving that
Vermeer had a student would not solidify views of him as solitary, but would rather contradict those views. Choice D is
incorrect. "Substantiating" means "supporting with proof." A painting proving that Vermeer had a student would not support
views of him as solitary, but would rather contradict those views.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d3ca5d59
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. innovative

B. subversive

C. profound

D. accessible

ID: d3ca5d59 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7a327791
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 7a327791
Novelist Leon Forrest admired William Faulkner’s writing style. Forrest’s novel Divine Days contains a long passage in tribute
to Faulkner that is a perfect ______ of Faulkner’s style: anyone familiar with Faulkner’s writing would see the resemblance.

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

A. forgetting

B. rejection

C. imitation

D. opinion

ID: 7a327791 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of novelist Leon Forrest’s admiration
of William Faulkner’s writing style. In this context, "imitation" means something that resembles or reproduces something
else. The text states that Forrest admired Faulkner’s style and that anyone familiar with Faulkner’s style would be able to see
the stylistic similarities between a particular passage in Forrest’s novel Divine Days and Faulkner’s writing, a fact that
supports the idea that Forrest’s novel pays tribute to Faulkner by reproducing, or imitating, Faulkner’s style.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, a "forgetting" would mean an instance in which something is overlooked or not
remembered. The text emphasizes Forrest’s admiration for Faulkner’s style and the fact that Forrest’s writing in some
instances closely resembles Faulkner’s stylistically. It therefore wouldn’t make sense to say that in trying to pay tribute to
Faulkner’s style, Forrest failed to remember it. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, a "rejection" would mean a
dismissal of something as unworthy. The text emphasizes Forrest’s admiration for Faulkner’s writing style, stating that parts
of Forrest’s writings indicate efforts to copy that style. It wouldn’t make sense therefore to suggest that Forrest had rejected
or dismissed Faulkner’s style as unworthy. Choice D is incorrect because in this context, an "opinion" would mean a view or
judgment. Although the text focuses on Forrest’s admiration of Faulkner, which suggests that Forrest had formed a positive
judgment of Faulkner’s style, the word opinion wouldn’t make sense in this sentence: the sentence doesn’t say that the
passage from Forrest’s novel expresses his view of Faulkner’s style; rather, it suggests that stylistically, the passage closely
resembles, or imitates, Faulkner’s writing.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 0ee67e09
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 0ee67e09
Anthropologist Kristian J. Carlson and colleagues examined the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of a 3.6-million-year-
old early hominin known as “Little Foot.” They found that these bones were ______ the clavicle and shoulder bones of modern
apes that are frequent climbers, such as gorillas and chimpanzees, suggesting that Little Foot had adapted to life in the
trees.

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

A. surpassed by

B. comparable to

C. independent of

D. obtained from

ID: 0ee67e09 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the fossilized bones of the hominin
known as Little Foot. As used in this context, “comparable to” would mean similar to. The text indicates that the relationship
between the fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones of Little Foot and the clavicle and shoulder bones of “frequent climbers,”
such as chimpanzees and gorillas, suggests that Little Foot had adapted to moving around in trees. This context suggests
that the relationship between the fossilized bones of Little Foot and the bones of chimpanzees and gorillas is one of
similarity—the Little Foot fossils are likely comparable to the modern ape bones.

Choice A is incorrect because if the fossilized bones of Little Foot were “surpassed by,” or exceeded by or made inferior to,
the bones of modern apes that are frequent climbers, it wouldn’t suggest, as the text says, that Little Foot was adapted to
moving around in trees. If anything, learning that Little Foot’s clavicle and shoulder bones were surpassed by those of
chimpanzees and gorillas would suggest that Little Foot was poorly adapted to climbing. Choice C is incorrect because if
Little Foot’s fossilized clavicle and shoulder bones were “independent of,” or not influenced by or affiliated with, the bones of
modern apes that climb often, it wouldn’t suggest, as the text says, that Little Foot was adapted to moving around in
trees. Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that Little Foot’s fossilized bones date to 3.6 million years ago, so they
couldn’t have been “obtained from,” or acquired from, the bones of modern apes.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 760ee1db
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 760ee1db
Although the playwrights hoped that their play would be ______ when performed live, critics generally agreed that the
production and performances had the opposite effect, wearying audiences instead of energizing them.

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

A. multifaceted

B. realistic

C. rousing

D. subtle

ID: 760ee1db Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the play’s effect on audiences. As
used in this context, “rousing” means exciting or energizing. The text indicates that critics found the play to have “the
opposite effect” on audiences of what the playwrights hoped for. The critics, the text says, thought the play was wearying
rather than energizing to viewers. This context supports the idea that the playwrights hoped live performances of the play
would be energizing, or rousing, to audiences.

Choice A is incorrect because there’s no information in the text suggesting that the playwrights hoped live performances of
the play would be “multifaceted,” or be varied or have many aspects. The text indicates that critics found the play to be
wearying to audiences and that this was the opposite of what the playwrights hoped for. Multifaceted is not the opposite of
wearying, but rousing is, which suggests that the playwrights hoped the play would be rousing. Choice B is incorrect because
there’s no information in the text suggesting that the playwrights hoped live performances of the play would be “realistic,” or
lifelike or sensible. The text says that critics found the play to be wearying to audiences and that this was the opposite of
what the playwrights hoped for. Realistic is not the opposite of wearying, but rousing is, which suggests that the playwrights
hoped the play would be rousing. Choice D is incorrect because there’s no information in the text suggesting that the
playwrights hoped live performances of the play would be subtle, or complex or understated. The text says that critics found
the play to be wearying to audiences and that this was the opposite of what the playwrights hoped for. Subtle is not the
opposite of wearying, but rousing is, which suggests that the playwrights hoped the play would be rousing.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 417f8dfa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 417f8dfa
The following text is from Darcie Little Badger’s 2021 novel A Snake Falls to Earth. Nina is looking at old family photographs.

Nina couldn’t stop looking at the sepia-toned photograph in an oak frame. Propped on the window ledge, it featured a
portrait of Great-Great-Grandmother Rosita as a young woman.
©2021 by Darcie Little Badger

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

A. Displayed

B. Questioned

C. Approved

D. Ignored

ID: 417f8dfa Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, "featured" most nearly means displayed. The text describes Nina’s
fascination with a framed photograph. It then goes on to describe what the photograph showed, or displayed, which is a
portrait of Nina’s great-great-grandmother Rosita as a young woman. Thus, the text indicates that the photograph displayed a
portrait of Rosita.

Choice B is incorrect because the text identifies the person shown in the photograph as Nina’s great-great-grandmother; it
gives no indication that the contents of the photograph were questioned, or asked about. Choice C is incorrect because
approved means expressed a favorable opinion of, and there’s nothing to suggest that the photograph of Nina’s great-great-
grandmother has received approval or been viewed favorably, only that Nina is unable to stop looking at it. Choice D is
incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the photograph Nina is fascinated with ignored, or refused to take notice
of, Nina’s great-great-grandmother Rosita. Rather, the text indicates that the photograph was a portrait of Rosita.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID c5b1afe5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. susceptible to

B. contingent on

C. saturated with

D. depleted of

ID: c5b1afe5 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 84dbd633
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 84dbd633
Text 1
The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event is usually attributed solely to an asteroid impact near Chicxulub,
Mexico. Some scientists argue that volcanic activity was the true cause, as the K-Pg event occurred relatively early in a long
period of eruption of the Deccan Traps range that initially produced huge amounts of climate-altering gases. These
dissenters note that other mass extinctions have coincided with large volcanic eruptions, while only the K-Pg event lines up
with an asteroid strike.
Text 2
In a 2020 study, Pincelli Hull and her colleagues analyzed ocean core samples and modeled climate changes around the K-
Pg event. The team concluded that Deccan Traps gases did affect global conditions prior to the event, but that the climate
returned to normal well before the extinctions began—extinctions that instead closely align with the Chicxulub impact.

Based on the texts, how would Hull’s team (Text 2) most likely respond to the argument in the underlined portion of Text 1?

A. By agreeing that the Chicxulub impact changed the climate and that the Deccan Traps eruption caused the K-Pg event

B. By declaring that the changes in climate caused by the Deccan Traps eruption weren’t the main cause of the K-Pg event

C. By questioning why those scientists assume that the Chicxulub impact caused the Deccan Traps eruption

By asserting that the Deccan Traps eruption had a more significant effect on global conditions than those scientists
D. claim

ID: 84dbd633 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it describes how Hull’s team would most likely respond to the argument in the
underlined portion of Text 1, which asserts that volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps range led to changes in the climate and
caused the K-Pg mass extinction event. According to Text 2, although Hull’s team found that activity in the Deccan Traps did
indeed alter the climate before the K-Pg event, the team determined that the climate had returned to normal before mass
extinctions began. This finding and the observation that the K-Pg extinctions closely align with the Chicxulub asteroid impact
suggest that Hull’s team would likely dispute the claim in the underlined portion of Text 1 and say that the climate changes
caused by the Deccan Traps activity were not the main cause of the extinctions.

Choice A is incorrect because Text 2 describes how Hull’s team found that the climate had recovered from the changes
brought about by the Deccan Traps activity before the K-Pg event occurred, which suggests that Hull’s team would disagree
that the Deccan Traps activity caused the K-Pg event. Additionally, the claim in the underlined portion of Text 1 says nothing
about how the Chicxulub impact changed the climate, so while Hull’s team might believe that the impact did in fact change
the climate, they could not be said to agree with the claim in Text 1 on this point. Choice C is incorrect because there is no
indication in either text that any scientists assume that the Chicxulub impact caused the Deccan Traps activity, so there is no
reason to conclude that Hull’s team would question why the scientists referred to in Text 1 make such an
assumption. Choice D is incorrect because Text 2 describes how Hull’s team found that the climate had recovered from the
changes brought about by the Deccan Traps activity before the K-Pg event occurred, which suggests that Hull’s team would
say that the Deccan Traps activity had a less enduring effect on global conditions than the scientists referenced in Text 1
believe, not that the effect on global conditions was more significant than those scientists claim.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a2dd51c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: a2dd51c1
In most building demolitions, the building materials are destroyed and sent to landfills. City officials in Portland, Oregon,
wanted to reduce this waste. The officials passed a law requiring demolition companies to deconstruct some buildings
instead. Deconstruction involves carefully taking buildings apart piece by piece. Damage to the materials is avoided so that
they can be reused in new constructions. A 2019 study found that 27 percent of materials from deconstructions in Portland
were able to be reused. The remaining materials were processed for recycling instead of going to a landfill.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To explain an effort made by the city of Portland to reduce demolition waste and some results of that effort

B. To show that popular support for measures that reduce demolition waste has increased since 2019

C. To argue that building deconstruction is not as effective as other measures at reducing demolition waste

D. To discuss laws aimed to reduce demolition waste in Portland and compare them to similar laws in other cities

ID: a2dd51c1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The author first describes a Portland law aimed at reducing demolition waste, and then goes on
to explain that 27% of materials from building deconstructions were able to be reused and the rest were recycled.

Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses the popularity of the law. Choice C is incorrect. The text never compares
building deconstruction to other measures designed to reduce demolition waste. Choice D is incorrect. The text never
mentions laws in cities other than Portland, Oregon.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 9d73c9eb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9d73c9eb
Osage Nation citizen Randy Tinker-Smith produced and directed the ballet Wahzhazhe, which vividly chronicles Osage history
and culture. Telling Osage stories through ballet is ______ choice because two of the foremost ballet dancers of the twentieth
century were Osage: sisters Maria and Marjorie Tallchief.

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

A. a suitable

B. a determined

C. an arbitrary

D. an unpredictable

ID: 9d73c9eb Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. “Suitable” means “appropriate for a particular purpose.” Since the text indicates that two of the
best ballet dancers of the twentieth century were Osage, we can infer that the author believes that ballet is a very suitable
artform for telling Osage stories.

Choice B is incorrect. The text never suggests that Tinker-Smith’s choice was determined. That would imply that Tinker-
Smith initially faced some kind of obstacle or opposition, and nothing like that is mentioned in the passage. Choice C is
incorrect. The text implies the opposite of this. “Arbitrary” means “based on random choice or whim rather than reason.” But
the text does give us a good reason behind the choice to tell Osage stories through ballet: two of the best ballet dancers of
the twentieth century were Osage. Choice D is incorrect. The text never suggests that Tinker-Smith’s choice was
“unpredictable.” Rather, the fact that two of the best ballet dancers of the twentieth century were Osage makes ballet
especially appropriate for telling Osage stories.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 81a3a607
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. indecipherable

B. ornamental

C. obscure

D. intricate

ID: 81a3a607 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 48e4021d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 48e4021d
The following text is from Holly Goldberg Sloan’s 2017 novel Short.

More than two years ago my parents bought a piano from some people who were moving to Utah. Mom and Dad gave it
to my brothers and me for Christmas. I had to act really happy because it was such a big present, but I pretty much
hated the thing from the second it was carried into the hallway upstairs, which is right next to my bedroom. The piano
glared at me. It was like a songbird in a cage. It wanted to be set free.
©2017 by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. It explains why the narrator always wanted a piano close to her bedroom.

B. It establishes how the narrator feels about the piano.

C. It suggests that the narrator’s brothers are talented piano players.

D. It describes the event that led the narrator’s parents to buy a piano.

ID: 48e4021d Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it best states the main purpose of the text, which is to establish the narrator’s feelings
about the piano. The narrator reveals that she “had to act really happy” about the piano even though she “pretty much hated
the thing” as soon as it was placed upstairs near her bedroom. The narrator also describes the piano as glaring at her and
compares it to a caged bird that wants to be set free. These details establish the narrator’s feelings about the piano,
suggesting that it makes her uneasy.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that the narrator hated having the piano upstairs right next to her bedroom,
not that she wanted a piano to be close to her bedroom. Choice C is incorrect because the only information provided in the
text about the narrator’s brothers is that they were given the piano along with the narrator. Choice D is incorrect because the
text does not describe the event that led the narrator’s parents to buy the piano from the people moving to Utah. Instead, the
text focuses on the narrator’s feelings about the piano after it was given to her and her brothers.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 8d579825
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 8d579825
The printing of Virginia Woolf’s novels featured a creative ______ between Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell: a talented
painter, Bell worked closely with Woolf to create original cover art for most of the novels.

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

A. rebellion

B. partnership

C. discovery

D. disagreement

ID: 8d579825 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the cover art of Virginia Woolf’s
novels. In this context, “partnership” means collaboration or joint effort. The text states that Woolf’s sister Vanessa Bell was
a talented painter and that Bell worked with Woolf to provide the cover art for most of Woolf’s novels. Thus, this context
suggests that Woolf and Bell pursued a creative partnership in order to produce several of Woolf’s novels.

Choice A is incorrect because there is no indication that Woolf or Bell were undergoing a “rebellion,” or revolt, against
anything in particular. Instead, the text focuses on how they worked together in some aspects of the production of Woolf’s
novels. Choice C is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to indicate that Woolf or Bell made a “discovery,” or
encountered anything new for the first time as they worked together. The text suggests that Woolf had already written her
novels and that Bell then assisted Woolf with the cover art for many of them. Choice D is incorrect because the text implies
that Woolf and Bell had a positive relationship. According to the text, the sisters “worked closely” together to produce the
cover art for many of Woolf’s novels; the text doesn’t mention whether while working together, Woolf and Bell had a
“disagreement,” or conflict.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 85083d4d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. uncontroversial

B. individualistic

C. theoretical

D. homogeneous

ID: 85083d4d Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3566120b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3566120b
The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest. CECILY: Have we got to part?
ALGERNON: I am afraid so. It’s a very painful parting.
CECILY: It is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time. The absence of old
friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been
introduced is almost unbearable.

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

A. Regret

B. Persist

C. Tolerate

D. Encourage

ID: 3566120b Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because as used in the text, “endure” most nearly means tolerate. In the text, Cecily and
Algernon discuss parting, or saying goodbye. Cecily remarks on the deep pain of saying goodbye to people whom one has
only known briefly and then comments on the equanimity, or calm steadiness, one experiences when separated from old
friends. The text sets up an ironic contrast: one can easily tolerate, or put up with, the absence of close friends, but even a
very short separation from a new acquaintance is unbearable.

Choice A is incorrect. Nothing in the text suggests that Cecily associates regret, or a feeling of sorrow, with the absence of
old friends. Rather, the text sets up an ironic contrast between the feeling of calm steadiness one feels when separated from
old friends and the unbearable pain of being separated from new acquaintances. Choice B is incorrect. Although in some
contexts “endure” can mean persist, or proceed stubbornly, it doesn’t have that meaning in this context because what is
being endured is the absence of old friends. Whereas one can persist despite the absence of someone else, one can’t persist
the absence itself. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t convey that Cecily encourages, or urges, old friends to be
absent. Although it may be that Cecily prefers new acquaintances to friends she has known for a long time, the text focuses
on her feelings as a result of others’ absences, not on her treatment of others.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f2c48e47
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: f2c48e47 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID bcc91b1e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: bcc91b1e
The spacecraft OSIRIS-REx briefly made contact with the asteroid 101955 Bennu in 2020. NASA scientist Daniella
DellaGiustina reports that despite facing the unexpected obstacle of a surface mostly covered in boulders, OSIRIS-REx
successfully ______ a sample of the surface, gathering pieces of it to bring back to Earth.

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

A. attached

B. collected

C. followed

D. replaced

ID: bcc91b1e Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft’s contact
with the asteroid 101955 Bennu. In this context, “collected” means acquired and took away. The text indicates that although
the boulders on the asteroid’s surface caused some unforeseen problems, OSIRIS-REx was able to gather a sample to return
to Earth. This context suggests that OSIRIS-REx successfully collected a sample of 101955 Bennu.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context “attached” means connected or affixed. The text indicates that OSIRIS-REx
gathered pieces of 101955 Bennu to bring to Earth; it doesn’t suggest that the spacecraft attached anything to the asteroid.
Choice C is incorrect because in this context “followed” means tracked or traveled behind and the text discusses OSIRIS-
REx’s brief encounter with 101955 Bennu during which the spacecraft gathered a sample to bring to Earth. The text doesn’t
suggest that the spacecraft tracked the sample, and it’s not clear what it would mean for the spacecraft to travel behind the
sample it collected. Choice D is incorrect because in this context “replaced” means put back or returned. The text indicates
that OSIRIS-REx gathered pieces of 101955 Bennu to bring to Earth but doesn’t suggest that anything was returned to the
asteroid.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 9645f55e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 9645f55e
Text 1
For decades, bluegrass musicians have debated whether their genre should exclude influences from mainstream genres
such as rock. Many insist that bluegrass is defined by its adherence to the folk music of the US South, out of which
bluegrass emerged. Such “purists,” as they are known, regard the recordings of Bill Monroe, which established the bluegrass
sound in the 1940s, as a standard against which the genre should still be measured.
Text 2
Bluegrass isn’t simply an extension of folk traditions into the era of recorded music. In reality, Bill Monroe created the
bluegrass sound in the 1940s by combining Southern folk music with commercial genres that had arisen only a few decades
before, such as jazz and the blues. Since bluegrass has always been a mixed genre, contemporary bluegrass musicians
should not be forbidden from incorporating into it influences from rock and other mainstream genres.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely regard the perspective of bluegrass purists, as described in
Text 1?

A. As inconsistent, since bluegrass purists themselves enjoy other musical genres

B. As unrealistic, since bluegrass purists have no way of enforcing their musical preferences

C. As shortsighted, because bluegrass could enlarge its audience by including influences from mainstream genres

D. As illogical, because the purists overlook crucial aspects of how the bluegrass sound first originated.

ID: 9645f55e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. According to Author 1, the “purists” argue that bluegrass should stick to its folk music roots.
But Author 2 points out that this isn’t how bluegrass emerged: it actually got its sound from a mix of folk, jazz, and blues.

Choice A is incorrect. There’s nothing in Text 2 about what other genres the purists enjoy, so this inference about Author 2’s
views isn’t supported. Choice B is incorrect. There’s nothing in Text 2 about whether or how purists can enforce their
preferences, so this inference about Author 2’s views isn’t supported. Choice C is incorrect. There’s nothing in Text 2 about
the size of bluegrass’s audience, so this inference about Author 2’s views isn’t supported.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f1c9d2c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: f1c9d2c1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 31d0bd9a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 31d0bd9a
The parasitic dodder plant increases its reproductive success by flowering at the same time as the host plant it has latched
onto. In 2020, Jianqiang Wu and his colleagues determined that the tiny dodder achieves this ______ with its host by
absorbing and utilizing a protein the host produces when it is about to flower.

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

A. synchronization

B. hibernation

C. prediction

D. moderation

ID: 31d0bd9a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of a relationship between the dodder
plant and its host plant. As used in this context, “synchronization” means the act of things happening at the same time. The
text indicates that the dodder and its host plant flower in unison and that this synchronization occurs because the dodder
makes use of a protein produced by the host shortly before flowering.

Choice B is incorrect because referring to “hibernation,” or the state of being dormant or inactive, wouldn’t make sense in
context. The text focuses on something the dodder plant actively engages in—making use of a protein and producing
flowers. Choice C is incorrect because stating that the dodder plant and its host engage together in “prediction,” or the act of
declaring or indicating something in advance, wouldn’t make sense in context. Rather than indicating that the dodder plant
and its host plant make a prediction about flowering activity, the text suggests that the host produces a protein as part of its
regular flowering process and that the dodder then absorbs and uses that protein to flower at the same time. Choice D is
incorrect because referring to “moderation,” or the act of causing something to become less intense or extreme, wouldn’t
make sense in context. Although the text states that the dodder plant absorbs and uses a protein made by its host plant, it
doesn’t suggest that the dodder lessens the host plant’s flowering activity; the two plants simply flower in unison.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID dc043599
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: dc043599
Text 1
Most scientists agree that the moon was likely formed after a collision between Earth and a large planet named Theia. This
collision likely created a huge debris field, made up of material from both Earth and Theia. Based on models of this event,
scientists believe that the moon was formed from this debris over the course of thousands of years.
Text 2
Researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center used a computer to model how the moon could have formed. Although
simulations of the moon’s formation have been done in the past, the team from NASA ran simulations that were much more
detailed. They found that the formation of the moon was likely not a slow process that took many years. Instead, it’s
probable that the moon’s formation happened immediately after impact, taking just a few hours.

Which choice best describes a difference in how the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 view the evidence for the
formation of the moon?

A. The author of Text 1 argues that the formation of the moon occurred much earlier than the author of Text 2 argues.

The author of Text 1 suggests there is more evidence confirming the existence of Theia than the author of Text 2
B. suggests.

C. The author of Text 1 claims that the moon’s surface is more similar to Earth’s surface than the author of Text 2 claims.

D. The author of Text 1 believes that the moon formed more slowly than the author of Text 2 believes.

ID: dc043599 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. Text 1 states that the moon was formed from the debris “over the course of thousands of
years,” while Text 2 states that the moon’s formation happened “immediately after impact, taking just a few hours.” This
shows a clear difference in how the authors view the evidence for the speed of the moon’s formation.

Choice A is incorrect. While Text 2 suggests that the moon formed over “just a few hours” and Text 1 says it took “thousands
of years,” neither one mentions when that formation occurred. Choice B is incorrect. While Theia isn’t mentioned in Text 2,
neither text describes or disputes evidence of Theia’s existence. Choice C is incorrect. Neither text makes any claims about
the similarity or difference between the moon’s surface and Earth’s surface.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID cf9a3f34
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: cf9a3f34
The following text is adapted from Elizabeth von Arnim’s 1922 novel The Enchanted April. Mrs. Wilkins and her friend Rose
are traveling in Italy.

“I’m going to have one of these gorgeous oranges,” said Mrs. Wilkins, staying where she was and reaching across to a
black bowl piled with them. “Rose, how can you resist them. Look—have this one. Do have this beauty—” And she held
out a big one.

As used in the text, what does the phrase “reaching across to” most nearly mean?

A. Joining with

B. Gaining on

C. Stretching toward

D. Arriving at

ID: cf9a3f34 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because as used in the text "reaching across to" most nearly means stretching toward. The text
begins with Mrs. Wilkins stating that she wants to have one of the oranges that she’s admiring. The text then indicates that
Mrs. Wilkins, staying where she is, holds out a big orange to her friend. This context suggests that when the text describes
Mrs. Wilkins as reaching across to the bowl of oranges, it means that she is stretching toward the bowl.

Choice A is incorrect because the text never suggests that Mrs. Wilkins is joining with, or becoming attached to, the bowl of
oranges. Rather, the text indicates that she is stretching toward the bowl so she can pick out oranges for herself and her
friend Rose to eat. Choice B is incorrect because the text never suggests that Mrs. Wilkins is gaining on, or overtaking in a
competition or race, the bowl of oranges. The text suggests instead that the bowl is sitting still on a surface and that Mrs.
Wilkins is extending her arm toward the bowl so she can pick out oranges for herself and her friend Rose to eat. Choice D is
incorrect because the text doesn’t indicate that Mrs. Wilkins is arriving at the bowl of oranges. In fact, the text states that
Mrs. Wilkins stays where she is when reaching across to the bowl, meaning that she remains at a distance from it.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 1b5d4e3e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1b5d4e3e
Were penguins always flightless? Theresa Cole and her team argue that penguins could fly at some point, but that they lost
that ability more than 60 million years ago as they adapted to marine life. After examining various penguin fossils and
genetic information, the researchers concluded that over time penguins developed underwater vision, blood oxygenation,
and bone density better suited for swimming than flying. Thus, environmental conditions might have driven penguins to
change from flyers to swimmers.

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

A. It defines a scientific term used in the sentence that follows.

B. It contradicts a description in the sentence that follows.

C. It provides an answer to the question in the previous sentence.

D. It notes that the question in the previous sentence has not been researched.

ID: 1b5d4e3e Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The text
begins with a question: have penguins always been unable to fly? The underlined sentence then presents an answer that has
been offered by researchers, indicating that Theresa Cole and her team believe that penguins were once able to fly but lost
that ability long ago as they began living in the sea. The text then describes the research that led to that answer. Thus, the
function of the underlined sentence is to provide an answer to the question in the previous sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because none of the terms used in the sentence that follows are defined in the underlined sentence; no
definitions are given at all. Instead, the sentence presents Theresa Cole and her team’s answer to the earlier question about
penguins’ ability to fly. Choice B is incorrect because there is no contradiction between the underlined sentence and the
sentence that follows since both convey that at some point penguins underwent adaptations that limited their ability to fly
and helped them swim and live in the sea. Instead of contradicting later information, the underlined sentence presents an
answer to the earlier question about penguins’ ability to fly. Choice D is incorrect because the question in the previous
sentence is about penguins’ ability to fly and the underlined sentence presents Theresa Cole and her team’s answer to that
question based on their research into penguin flight, which is described in the rest of the text.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 47955354
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 47955354
Sumerian civilization (which lasted from around 3300 to 2000 BCE) ______ many concepts that persist into present-day
civilizations: for example, the first description of the seven-day week appears in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh.

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

A. transformed

B. introduced

C. inherited

D. overlooked

ID: 47955354 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the contributions of the Sumerian
civilization. In this context, “introduced” means brought into practice or use. The text states that the first reference to a
seven-day week appears in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. The text presents this information about the seven-day week as
an example of a concept introduced by the Sumerian civilization that persists into present-day civilizations.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the Sumerian civilization “transformed,” or changed the
nature of, concepts that persist into present-day civilizations. Instead, the text’s presentation of a Sumerian literary work that
contains the first description of the seven-day week is an example of the phenomenon described in the first half of the
sentence, suggesting that the Sumerians invented many concepts that still persist. Choice C is incorrect because the
information that a Sumerian literary work includes the first description of the seven-day week suggests that Sumerian
civilization may have originated the seven-day week and other concepts that persist into present-day civilizations, not that it
“inherited” the concepts, or received them from an ancestral figure or culture. Choice D is incorrect because the information
that Sumerian civilization produced the first description of the seven-day week is presented as an example of the
phenomenon described in the first half of the sentence, suggesting that Sumerian civilization originated this and other
concepts that still persist, not that the Sumerians “overlooked,” or failed to notice or consider, such concepts.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID a3761c7e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a3761c7e
Physicist Joseph Weber performed ______ work in gravitational wave research in the 1960s and 1970s, conducting key
experiments that scientists later used as the basis for their own investigations that led to the first verified detection of a
gravitational wave in 2015.

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

A. foundational

B. supplementary

C. repetitive

D. ineffective

ID: a3761c7e Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of physicist Joseph Webster’s
research on gravitational waves. In this context “foundational” means the basis on which something else develops. The text
indicates that Webster’s experiments in the 1960s and 1970s were earlier than, and “key” to, the work of later scientists in
the field; thus, Webster’s work was foundational to the later scientists’ experiments and the eventual detection of a
gravitational wave in 2015.

Choice B is incorrect because the text does not suggest that Webster’s work was supplementary, or an additional element of
an existing, larger project, but rather it was “the basis for” later experiments. Choice C is incorrect because the text does not
assert that Webster’s work was repetitive, or involved doing something the same way many times. Rather, the text indicates
that Webster’s work formed the basis for later investigations in the field of gravitational wave research. Choice D is incorrect
because the text does not state that Webster’s work was ineffective, or failed to produce the desired outcome. Rather, the
text strongly implies that Webster’s work was productive and extremely important to later work in the field of gravitational
wave research.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 34d7bb25
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 34d7bb25
According to Indian economist and sociologist Radhakamal Mukerjee (1889–1968), the Eurocentric concepts that informed
early twentieth-century social scientific methods—for example, the idea that all social relations are reducible to struggles
between individuals—had little relevance for India. Making the social sciences more responsive to Indians’ needs, Mukerjee
argued, required constructing analytical categories informed by India’s cultural and ecological circumstances. Mukerjee thus
proposed the communalist “Indian village” as the ideal model on which to base Indian economic and social policy.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

The text recounts Mukerjee’s early training in the social scientific disciplines and then lists social policies whose
A. implementation Mukerjee oversaw.

The text mentions some of Mukerjee’s economic theories and then traces their impact on other Indian social scientists of
B. the twentieth century.

The text presents Mukerjee’s critique of the social sciences and then provides an example of his attempts to address
C. issues he identified in his critique.

The text explains an influential economic theory and then demonstrates how that theory was more important to
D. Mukerjee’s work than other social scientists have acknowledged.

ID: 34d7bb25 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The text does indeed present Mukerjee’s critique of the social sciences—that they were too
Eurocentric—and then provides an example of how he attempted to address the issues he identified: by suggesting a social
science model based on the Indian village.

Choice A is incorrect. The text doesn’t discuss Mukerjee’s early training or his oversight of the implementation of social
policies at all. Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses any other Indian social scientists. Choice D is incorrect. The
text never mentions other social scientists’ responses to Mukerjee’s work.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c0e1b70a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

Which choice best describes the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: c0e1b70a Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

Choice B is incorrect because the text makes no reference to possible companions. Although the text does indicate that the
narrator sometimes used the cultural framework she acquired growing up in Japan to explain some experiences she’s had,
there is no suggestion that this was in service of making friends. And although “no one seemed to know” strongly implies
that the narrator has interacted with other people in the United States, there is no indication that these conversations
involved her discussing Japanese customs. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the narrator was
hesitant to ask questions. In fact, the narrator indicates that “no one seemed to know the origin” of various customs, which
provides evidence that, rather than being hesitant, she sought information from several people. Choice D is incorrect
because the text makes no reference to the physical distance between Japan and the United States. Although the narrator
indicates that the two countries differ “widely” and likens them to “two separate worlds,” these descriptions relate to cultural
aspects of the countries and the narrator’s feelings about the two countries, not the physical distance between them.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID f631132b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: f631132b Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 80ebb189
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 80ebb189
As an architect in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Helen Liu Fong became known for avoiding ______ designs in her buildings.
Instead of using standard shapes and colors, she typically explored innovative forms and daring hues.

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

A. creative

B. bold

C. traditional

D. understandable

ID: 80ebb189 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Helen Liu Fong’s architectural
designs. In this context, “traditional” means conventional. The text states that rather than use “standard shapes and colors,”
Fong pursued “innovative” and “daring” design choices in her work. Fong’s style is depicted as inventive, so it therefore
makes sense in this context that she avoided mainstream, traditional designs in her buildings.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that Fong’s work is innovative and experimental. Thus, Fong’s design
choices could reasonably be considered creative, or original. She likely would have pursued creative designs, not avoided
them. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that Fong used “daring” hues in her designs. Thus, Fong likely would
have pursued bold, or brave and vivid design choices; she wouldn’t have avoided them. Choice D is incorrect because the text
doesn’t address whether Fong’s designs are understandable, or reasonable or expected. The text focuses on certain
characteristics of Fong’s designs, not on how people received or understood them.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID e7d37666
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e7d37666
It is by no means ______ to recognize the influence of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch on Ali Banisadr’s paintings; indeed,
Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an inspiration. However, some scholars have suggested that the ancient Mesopotamian
poem Epic of Gilgamesh may have had a far greater impact on Banisadr’s work.

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

A. substantial

B. satisfying

C. unimportant

D. appropriate

ID: e7d37666 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the sentence about the influences on Banisadr’s work. In
context, “It is by no means” followed by “unimportant” conveys how it is relevant to recognize Bosch’s influence on Banisadr.
The text points out that the artist himself cites Bosch as an inspiration, and then goes on to claim that The Epic of Gilgamesh
has had a more significant influence than Bosch.

Choice A is incorrect because “substantial,” which means weighty or meaningful, incorrectly suggests that it wouldn’t be
meaningful to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed, Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an
inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion. Choice B is incorrect because “satisfying,” which means pleasing, incorrectly
suggests that it wouldn’t be pleasing to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed, Banisadr himself
cites Bosch as an inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion. Choice D is incorrect because “appropriate,” which means
suitable, incorrectly suggests that it wouldn’t be proper to acknowledge Bosch’s influence on Banisadr. The phrase “indeed,
Banisadr himself cites Bosch as an inspiration” doesn’t support this suggestion.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 570970cd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 570970cd
The following text is adapted from Indian Boyhood, a 1902 memoir by Ohiyesa (Charles A. Eastman), a Santee Dakota writer.
In the text, Ohiyesa recalls how the women in his tribe harvested maple syrup during his childhood.
Now the women began to test the trees—moving leisurely among them, axe in hand, and striking a single quick blow, to
see if the sap would appear. The trees, like people, have their individual characters; some were ready to yield up their life-
blood, while others were more reluctant. Now one of the birchen basins was set under each tree, and a hardwood chip
driven deep into the cut which the axe had made. From the corners of this chip—at first drop by drop, then more freely—the
sap trickled into the little dishes.

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

A. It portrays the range of personality traits displayed by the women as they work.

B. It foregrounds the beneficial relationship between humans and maple trees.

C. It demonstrates how human behavior can be influenced by the natural environment.

D. It elaborates on an aspect of the maple trees that the women evaluate.

ID: 570970cd Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text’s overall portrayal
of how the women in Ohiyesa’s tribe harvested maple syrup. The text states that the women used an axe to strike the maple
trees in order to find out which ones would produce sap. The underlined sentence compares the trees to people, with the sap
described as the trees’ “life-blood.” Some of the trees are ready to give out their sap, while others are unwilling to do so.
Using personification, the sentence provides greater detail about the aspect of the maple trees—their potential to give sap—
that the women are evaluating.

Choice A is incorrect because the personalities of the women are not discussed in the text. Although the underlined
sentence does mention “individual characters,” this reference is not to the women in the text but rather to the maple trees,
which the sentence compares to people with individual character traits. Choice B is incorrect because the underlined
sentence focuses on the trees’ willingness or refusal to yield sap, not on the beneficial relationship between the women and
the trees. Additionally, although the text does suggest that the women and their tribe benefit from the maple trees since the
trees allow the women to harvest syrup, there is nothing in the text to suggest that the trees benefit from this relationship in
turn. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined sentence is comparing maple trees to humans, not addressing the
influence of the natural environment on how the actual humans in the text, the women, behave.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 683f66c9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 683f66c9
Though not closely related, the hedgehog tenrecs of Madagascar share basic ______ true hedgehogs, including protective
spines, pointed snouts, and small body size—traits the two groups of mammals independently developed in response to
equivalent roles in their respective habitats.

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

A. examples of

B. concerns about

C. indications of

D. similarities with

ID: 683f66c9 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because in context, sharing "similarities with" means having some resemblance to. The text
establishes a comparison between two groups of mammals, stating that although they aren’t closely related, hedgehog
tenrecs and true hedgehogs play similar roles in their habitats, a circumstance that has resulted in the independent
development of some of the same physical traits. This context supports the idea that hedgehog tenrecs resemble, or share
basic similarities with, true hedgehogs in some respects.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that hedgehog tenrecs are "examples of," or representative of, true
hedgehogs. The text states that despite some shared physical traits, the two groups of mammals aren’t closely related;
therefore, hedgehog tenrecs can’t be examples of true hedgehogs. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, "concerns
about" would mean worries about or interests in. The text focuses on the various physical traits that hedgehog tenrecs and
true hedgehogs share. There’s nothing in the text to suggest why hedgehog tenrecs would be worried about true hedgehogs,
or why they would be interested in them. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "indications of" would mean evidence
of. By listing a set of traits that hedgehog tenrecs share with true hedgehogs, the text establishes a comparison between the
two groups of mammals, and saying that the traits shared within one group of mammals provide evidence of another group
of mammals wouldn’t be an effective way to establish the similarities between the two groups.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID eae66bf9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: eae66bf9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a1ff8ce3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a1ff8ce3
As discussed by scholar Anna Mladentseva, many artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s exclusively for
exhibition on the internet, such as Sinae Kim’s Genesis (2001), have become inaccessible because viewing them requires the
use of ______ software (most notably Adobe Flash, discontinued in 2021).

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

A. defunct

B. arcane

C. ubiquitous

D. extraneous

ID: a1ff8ce3 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of artworks that were produced for
exhibition on the internet. In this context, "defunct" means no longer existing or functioning. According to the text, many
artworks that were produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s for exhibition on the internet have become inaccessible
due to their reliance on certain software. As an example, the text cites Sinae Kim’s Genesis, which relied on software that
was discontinued in 2021. This context supports the idea that the software is defunct.

Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that viewing artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s for
exhibition on the internet requires the use of software. Artists generally want their works to be seen by many people, so it
wouldn’t make sense for creators of internet art to require the use of software that is "arcane," or known or knowable to only
a few people. Moreover, the text states that a prominent example of software used to view these artworks is Adobe Flash,
which was discontinued in 2021, meaning it’s now defunct. Choice C is incorrect because "ubiquitous" would mean found
everywhere, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text indicates that the reason why many artworks that were
produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s for exhibition on the internet have become inaccessible has to do with the
software required for viewing them. According to the text, one example of such software is Adobe Flash, which was
discontinued in 2021, meaning it’s now defunct. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the software
used to view artworks produced in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s for exhibition on the internet is "extraneous," or
irrelevant. Instead, the text indicates that use of specific software is required to view certain artworks from this period and
that the discontinuation of the software renders the works inaccessible.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 7b4dde72
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 7b4dde72
In 1891, design artist William Morris cofounded the Kelmscott Press, which printed editions of books using preindustrial
methods. Historians argue that Morris’s repudiation of industrialization is ______ the Kelmscott editions’ use of handmade
materials and intricate ornamentation reminiscent of medieval manuscripts: these meticulously handcrafted elements
exemplify the artistry involved.

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

A. insensible to

B. manifest in

C. scrutinized by

D. complicated by

ID: 7b4dde72 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Kelmscott Press’s books. In this
context, "manifest in" means evident or apparent from. The text states that the Kelmscott Press, which was cofounded by
William Morris, produced its books using preindustrial methods. The text notes the similarity between those methods, which
include the use of handmade materials and intricate ornamentation, and methods used in the creation of medieval
manuscripts. This context suggests that Morris’s repudiation of industrialization is apparent from, or manifest in, the
methods and materials his company employed.

Choice A is incorrect because there is nothing in the text to suggest that Morris’s repudiation of industrialization is
"insensible to," or unaware of or lacking perception of, the use of handmade materials and intricate ornamentation in the
production of the Kelmscott editions. Instead, the text suggests that the methods and materials used to produce the
Kelmscott editions are evidence of Morris’s repudiation of industrialization. Choice C is incorrect because it would not make
sense to say that Morris’s repudiation of industrialization was "scrutinized by," or examined closely by, the Kelmscott editions’
use of handmade materials and intricate ornamentation. Although creating the Kelmscott editions may have involved
examining the books closely, the text does not mention this aspect of Morris’s work, and in any case, the action of using
certain materials to create those editions cannot scrutinize Morris’s attitude toward industrialization. Choice D is incorrect
because the text gives no indication that Morris’s repudiation of industrialization is "complicated by," or made more complex
or difficult by, the Kelmscott Press’s use of preindustrial methods and handcrafted elements to produce books. Instead, the
text presents those methods as exemplifying Morris’s repudiation of industrialization.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a60b0004
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a60b0004
Scholarly discussions of gender in Shakespeare’s comedies often celebrate the rebellion of the playwright’s characters
against the rigid expectations ______ by Elizabethan society. Most of the comedies end in marriage, with characters returning
to their socially dictated gender roles after previously defying them, but there are some notable exceptions.

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

A. interjected

B. committed

C. illustrated

D. prescribed

ID: a60b0004 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of gender roles in Shakespeare’s
comedies. As used in this context, “prescribed” would mean laid down as rules. The text indicates that the characters in the
comedies often defy gender roles that are “socially dictated” (even if most characters do return to those roles eventually)
and that scholars have been very interested in these acts of defiance. This context indicates that what the characters are
rebelling against are standards of behavior prescribed by the society of the time.

Choice A is incorrect because saying that expectations about gender were “interjected,” or suddenly inserted between other
things, wouldn’t make sense in context. There’s no suggestion in the text that the issue of gender roles was inserted between
other things or was an interruption in a larger discussion. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that Shakespeare
depicts characters rebelling against expectations about gender that have been “socially dictated,” not expectations that
society has “committed,” or carried out, entrusted, or promised. Choice C is incorrect because the text indicates that
Shakespeare depicts characters rebelling against expectations about gender that have been “socially dictated,” not
expectations that have been “illustrated,” or clarified with examples. Although it’s possible for expectations about gender
roles to be illustrated, there’s nothing in the text to indicate that characters in Shakespeare’s comedies rebel against
illustrations of gender expectations.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 03080769
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 03080769 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b0ea8c28
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b0ea8c28
Sueño de Familia is an exhibition of drawings, paintings, and ceramics that explores the artistic heritage of US-based artist
Yolanda González. The exhibition ______ five generations, featuring works by González’s great-grandfather, grandmother,
mother, and niece as well as González herself.

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

A. borrows

B. spans

C. judges

D. neglects

ID: b0ea8c28 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the Sueño de Familia art exhibition.
In this context, “spans” means extends across or covers. The text states that the exhibition explores González’s artistic
heritage and features artwork by her great-grandfather, grandmother, mother, and niece. This context conveys the idea that
the exhibition spans, or extends across, five generations of González’s family.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that the exhibition “borrows,” or acquires, five generations of
González’s family. The text indicates that the exhibition features artwork by family members from five generations, not that
the five generations themselves have been acquired for inclusion in the exhibition. Choice C is incorrect because the text
indicates that the purpose of the exhibition is to highlight artwork, not to “judge,” or give an opinion on, five generations of the
artist’s family. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that the exhibition “neglects,” or gives little attention to,
five generations of González’s family. On the contrary, the text indicates that the exhibition is dedicated to exploring
González’s artistic heritage and therefore designed to bring attention to her family members and their artwork.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 749f3334
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 749f3334 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID fce80a36
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. speculate about

B. dismiss

C. expand on

D. catalog

ID: fce80a36 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e4e2aeb3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: e4e2aeb3
Text 1
Like the work of Ralph Ellison before her, Toni Morrison’s novels feature scenes in which characters deliver sermons of such
length and verbal dexterity that for a time, the text exchanges the formal parameters of fiction for those of oral literature.
Given the many other echoes of Ellison in Morrison’s novels, both in structure and prose style, these scenes suggest Ellison’s
direct influence on Morrison.
Text 2
In their destabilizing effect on literary form, the sermons in Morrison’s works recall those in Ellison’s. Yet literature by Black
Americans abounds in moments where interpolated speech erodes the division between oral and written forms that
literature in English has traditionally observed. Morrison’s use of the sermon is attributable not only to the influence of Ellison
but also to a community-wide strategy of resistance to externally imposed literary conventions.

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

As failing to consider Ellison’s and Morrison’s equivalent uses of the sermon within the wider cultural context in which
A. they wrote

B. As misunderstanding the function of sermons in novels by Black American writers other than Ellison and Morrison

C. As disregarding points of structural and stylistic divergence between the works of Ellison and those of Morrison

As being indebted to the tradition of resisting literary conventions that privilege written forms, such as novels, over
D. sermons and other oral forms

ID: e4e2aeb3 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The author of Text 2 argues that Morrison’s use of the sermon is not only influenced by Ellison,
but also by a “community-wide strategy of resistance” to literary conventions practiced by Black American authors. Ellison,
Text 2 alleges, is only one of many influences on Morrison.

Choice B is incorrect. Neither text specifically mentions sermons in works by authors other than Morrison or Ellison, only a
tendency towards eroding “the division between oral and written forms” among Black American writers. Choice C is
incorrect. Both texts describe similarities between the works of Ellison and Morrison, and neither points out instances of
divergence. Text 2 simply suggests that Morrison was influenced by more than just Ellison. Choice D is incorrect. While Text
2 does discuss Morrison’s resistance to certain literary conventions, it’s unclear what it would mean for the underlined claim
to be “indebted” to that tradition. This choice recycles language from the text, but not in a way that makes any coherent
point.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0d402146
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 0d402146
US traffic signals didn’t always contain the familiar three lights (red, yellow, and green). Traffic lights only ______ red and
green lights until the three-light traffic signal was developed in the 1920s.

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

A. avoided

B. featured

C. appreciated

D. disregarded

ID: 0d402146 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of traffic signals. As used in this
context, “featured” means had as a characteristic or part. The text indicates that although US traffic signals have lights of
three different colors (red, yellow, and green), this wasn’t the case until the 1920s, when the three-light signal was first
developed. Before then, the text suggests, traffic signals had fewer lights (as indicated by the word “only” in the second
sentence). This context supports the idea that before the 1920s, traffic signals featured only red and green lights.

Choice A is incorrect because “avoided” means kept away from someone or something or prevented something from
occurring, neither of which would make sense in context. The text doesn’t discuss keeping away from someone or
something but instead focuses on what US traffic signals look like. The text states that they didn’t have lights of three
different colors until the three-light signal was developed in the 1920s. Choice C is incorrect because “appreciated” means
admired or increased in value, neither of which would make sense in context. The text focuses solely on the fact that US
traffic signals have contained lights of three colors only since the three-light signal was developed in the 1920s. The text
doesn’t mention how this characteristic or traffic signals in general are perceived or what their value is. Moreover, the blank
portion of the text describes “traffic signals,” which are lifeless objects and therefore unable to admire or increase the value
of something. Choice D is incorrect because “disregarded” means ignored or treated something as unworthy of notice,
neither of which would make sense in context. The text doesn’t discuss how people react to traffic signals; rather, it
addresses the idea that US traffic signals have contained lights of three colors only since the three-light signal was
developed in the 1920s. Moreover, the blank portion of the text describes “traffic signals,” which are lifeless objects and
therefore unable to ignore or treat something in a particular manner.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID e5da61f1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: e5da61f1
The following text is adapted from Charles Chesnutt’s 1899 short story “Mars Jeems’s Nightmare.” The narrator and his wife
have recently moved to the southern United States, and Julius is their carriage driver.

Julius [was] very useful when we moved to our new residence. He had a thorough knowledge of the neighborhood, was
familiar with the roads and the watercourses, knew the qualities of the various soils and what they would produce, and
where the best hunting and fishing were to be had. He was a marvelous hand in the management of horses and dogs.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To compare the narrator’s reaction to a new home with his wife’s reaction

B. To give an example of Julius’s knowledge about soil

C. To show that the narrator and Julius often hunt and fish together

D. To explain different ways in which Julius was helpful

ID: e5da61f1 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text, which is to explain different
ways in which Julius was helpful. The text begins with the narrator stating that Julius was very helpful to him and his wife
when they moved to their new residence. The narrator then provides a list of examples to illustrate Julius’s helpfulness. For
instance, the narrator states that Julius was familiar with the neighborhood’s roads, which suggests that he was helpful in
navigating them, and that Julius helped manage the horses and dogs. The text’s many examples of Julius’s usefulness
reinforce just how helpful he was and in how many different ways.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t portray either the narrator’s or his wife’s reaction to their new home. Rather,
the text focuses on how Julius was useful to the narrator and his wife in their new home. Choice B is incorrect. Although the
text states that Julius was knowledgeable about the soil, this is one of several supporting details that illustrate how helpful
Julius was. Moreover, the text merely states that Julius was knowledgeable about soil; it doesn’t provide an example of that
knowledge. Choice C is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest the frequency with which the narrator and
Julius hunted and fished together. In fact, it’s unclear from the text whether the narrator and Julius hunted and fished
together at all. The text merely indicates that Julius knew the best places to hunt and fish—a detail that supports the text’s
main purpose by conveying Julius’s usefulness.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 6a1dc7c5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 6a1dc7c5
Text 1
Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel Orlando is an oddity within her body of work. Her other major novels consist mainly of scenes of
everyday life and describe their characters’ interior states in great detail, whereas Orlando propels itself through a series of
fantastical events and considers its characters’ psychology more superficially. Woolf herself sometimes regarded the novel
as a minor work, even admitting once that she “began it as a joke.”
Text 2
Like Woolf’s other great novels, Orlando portrays how people’s memories inform their experience of the present. Like those
works, it examines how people navigate social interactions shaped by gender and social class. Though it is lighter in tone—
more entertaining, even—this literary “joke” nonetheless engages seriously with the themes that motivated the four or five
other novels by Woolf that have achieved the status of literary classics.

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

By conceding that Woolf’s talents were best suited to serious novels but asserting that the humor in Orlando is often
A. effective

By agreeing that Orlando is less impressive than certain other novels by Woolf but arguing that it should still be regarded
B. as a classic

By acknowledging that Orlando clearly differs from Woolf’s other major novels but insisting on its centrality to her body of
C. work nonetheless

By concurring that the reputation of Orlando as a minor work has led readers to overlook this novel but maintaining that
D. the reputation is unearned

ID: 6a1dc7c5 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the assessment of
Orlando in Text 1. Both authors agree that Orlando is unusual for Woolf: Text 1 states that the novel examines its characters’
psychologies more superficially than Woolf’s other novels do, and Text 2 describes it as being lighter in tone. However, while
Text 1 calls Orlando an “oddity” and mentions that Woolf “began it as a joke,” Text 2 asserts that Orlando engages the same
themes as Woolf’s other great novels. Hence, the author of Text 2 would most likely accept that Orlando differs from Woolf’s
other novels but would also insist on its importance in the context of Woolf’s work as a writer.

Choice A is incorrect. Text 2 does suggest that the humor in Orlando is effective. However, there’s nothing in Text 2 to
suggest that the author would agree that Woolf’s talents were best suited to serious novels. Rather, the author of Text 2
compares Orlando favorably to other novels by Woolf that are implied to be darker in tone. Choice B is incorrect because the
author of Text 2 does not indicate that Orlando is less impressive than Woolf’s other novels, but instead points out that it
engages the same themes as other novels by Woolf that are considered classics. Choice D is incorrect because there’s
nothing in Text 1 or Text 2 to suggest that readers have generally ignored Orlando because of its reputation.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5dce6cab
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 5dce6cab
Given that the conditions in binary star systems should make planetary formation nearly impossible, it’s not surprising that
the existence of planets in such systems has lacked ______ explanation. Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee shed light on the
subject when they used modeling to determine a complex set of factors that could support planets’ development.

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

A. a discernible

B. a straightforward

C. an inconclusive

D. an unbiased

ID: 5dce6cab Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s description of efforts to explain the existence of
planets in binary star systems. As used in this context, describing an explanation as “a straightforward” one would mean that
the explanation is direct and uncomplicated. The text asserts that since it should be “nearly impossible” for planets to form
in binary star systems, it’s “not surprising” that there isn’t a straightforward explanation for the existence of planets in such
systems; the fact that one potential approach involves “complex” factors offers further contextual support for this idea.

Choice A is incorrect because it would not make sense in context to say that there isn’t “a discernible” explanation—meaning
an explanation capable of being perceived—for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text discusses just such
an explanation offered by Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee, which indicates that their explanation can be
discerned. Choice C is incorrect because the text emphasizes how difficult it is to explain the existence of planets in binary
star systems, suggesting that the situation isn’t marked by the lack of “an inconclusive” explanation—an explanation that
does not resolve the issue—but rather that if any explanations have been offered, they’ve likely been inconclusive
ones. Choice D is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that there is a lack of “an unbiased,” or impartial and
unprejudiced, explanation for the existence of planets in binary star systems. The text indicates that it’s difficult to explain
the existence of planets in such systems and it describes one attempt to do so, but there is no evidence that explanations
from Roman Rafikov and Kedron Silsbee or others are biased.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d4e8662d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. deliberation

B. vigilance

C. interest

D. consensus

ID: d4e8662d Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f99847ed
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f99847ed
For her 2021 art installation Anthem, Wu Tsang joined forces with singer and composer Beverly Glenn-Copeland to produce a
piece that critics found truly ______: they praised Tsang for creatively transforming a museum rotunda into a dynamic exhibit
by projecting filmed images of Glenn-Copeland onto a massive 84-foot curtain and filling the space with the sounds of his
and other voices singing.

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

A. restrained

B. inventive

C. inexplicable

D. mystifying

ID: f99847ed Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the art installation Anthem. In this
context, “inventive” means characterized by invention and creativity. The text explains that critics’ responses to the
installation involved praise for Tsang’s creative transformation of a space into a dynamic exhibit with huge images and lots
of sound. This context conveys that the critics found the piece particularly creative.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that critics praised the installation for being dynamic and including huge
images and lots of sound, and it wouldn’t make sense to describe such an exhibit as “restrained,” or limited and not
extravagant or showy. Choice C is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that critics found the installation
“inexplicable,” or incapable of being explained or interpreted, since the critics were able to explain their praise for the
installation’s transformation of a space with huge images and lots of sound. Choice D is incorrect because the text focuses
on the idea that critics praised Tsang for creatively transforming a space into a dynamic exhibit, not that they found the
installation “mystifying,” or bewildering and hard to understand. Nothing in the text suggests that the critics couldn’t
understand the piece.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5e101c70
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 5e101c70
Text 1
Most animals can regenerate some parts of their bodies, such as skin. But when a three-banded panther worm is cut into
three pieces, each piece grows into a new worm. Researchers are investigating this feat partly to learn more about humans’
comparatively limited abilities to regenerate, and they’re making exciting progress. An especially promising discovery is that
both humans and panther worms have a gene for early growth response (EGR) linked to regeneration.
Text 2
When Mansi Srivastava and her team reported that panther worms, like humans, possess a gene for EGR, it caused
excitement. However, as the team pointed out, the gene likely functions very differently in humans than it does in panther
worms. Srivastava has likened EGR to a switch that activates other genes involved in regeneration in panther worms, but
how this switch operates in humans remains unclear.

Based on the texts, what would the author of Text 2 most likely say about Text 1’s characterization of the discovery involving
EGR?

It is reasonable given that Srivastava and her team have identified how EGR functions in both humans and panther
A. worms.

B. It is overly optimistic given additional observations from Srivastava and her team.

C. It is unexpected given that Srivastava and her team’s findings were generally met with enthusiasm.

D. It is unfairly dismissive given the progress that Srivastava and her team have reported.

ID: 5e101c70 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it reflects how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to Text 1 based on the
information provided. Text 1 discusses the discovery of a regeneration-linked gene, EGR, in both three-banded panther
worms (which are capable of full regeneration) and humans (who have relatively limited regeneration abilities). Text 1
characterizes this discovery as “especially promising” and a sign of “exciting progress” in understanding human
regeneration. The author of Text 2, on the other hand, focuses on the fact that the team that reported the EGR finding pointed
out that while EGR’s function in humans isn’t yet known, it’s likely very different from its function in panther worms.
Therefore, the author of Text 2 would most likely say that Text 1’s enthusiasm about the EGR discovery is overly optimistic
given Srivastava’s team’s observations about EGR in humans.

Choice A is incorrect because the author of Text 2 explains that Srivastava and her team explicitly reported that they haven’t
yet identified how EGR functions in humans; therefore, the author of Text 2 wouldn’t say that Text 1’s excitement is
reasonable for the stated reason. Instead, the author of Text 2 would likely characterize Text 1’s excitement as premature
and overly optimistic. Choice C is incorrect because Text 1 does treat Srivastava’s team’s findings with enthusiasm; it
describes the discovery of EGR in both three-banded panther worms and humans as promising and exciting. It would be
illogical for the author of Text 2 to say that because most others treat the discovery with enthusiasm, Text 1’s enthusiastic
characterization of the discovery is unexpected. Choice D is incorrect because Text 1 isn’t at all dismissive of Srivastava’s
team’s findings; instead, Text 1 is optimistic about the EGR discovery, characterizing it as promising and exciting. There’s
nothing in Text 2 to suggest that the author of Text 2 would say that Text 1’s praise for the discovery is dismissive, or
disdainful.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID df45f0eb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: df45f0eb
Several studies have found negligible electoral consequences for governments that impose fiscal austerity measures, yet
some European governments recently suffered electorally due to their austerity programs. Evelyne Huebscher and
colleagues attribute this incongruity to governments’ tendency—not followed in the recent European cases—to implement
austerity programs strategically to avoid electoral costs (e.g., setting spending cuts to take effect only after the next
election), which has obscured the inherent political risks of austerity measures in the election data scholars have examined.

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

It explains a discrepancy between what has been observed in study settings and what has been observed in real-world
A. settings that the text goes on to assert is attributable to the studies not using real-world data.

It identifies a conflict between research findings and recent events that the text goes on to suggest is a consequence of a
B. complicating factor in the data used to generate those findings.

It presents a long-standing divergence in research findings that the text goes on to say is due to different groups of
C. researchers using data that derive from different electoral circumstances.

It describes a recent exception to a general pattern in research findings that the text goes on to explain is a result of
D. researchers underestimating the significance of inconsistencies in the data they’ve analyzed.

ID: df45f0eb Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The
underlined sentence explains that contrary to what several studies would suggest, recent European governments suffered
electorally after the launch of fiscal austerity programs. The text goes on to indicate that the researchers generated their
findings from data that didn’t reveal the true political risk of austerity measures because the data were based on cases in
which governments had set austerity programs to take effect after the next election, a practice the European governments
that recently suffered electorally didn’t adhere to, thus introducing a complicating factor resulting in a conflict between the
research findings and recent events.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t indicate that the discrepancy described in the text is between
observations made in study settings and observations made in real-world settings. Rather, the underlined sentence indicates
that the outcome of recent events is contrary to what would be expected based on the findings of several studies.
Additionally, there is nothing in the text to suggest that the studies mentioned did not use real-world data; instead, the text
indicates that the data used was generated under potentially different circumstances than the recent events. Choice C is
incorrect because the underlined sentence doesn’t present a long-standing divergence in research findings but rather a
discrepancy between past research findings and recent events that the text goes on to attribute to researchers’ use of data
that didn’t reveal the true political risk of austerity measures. Choice D is incorrect because while the underlined sentence
notes that there have been some recent exceptions to a general pattern observed in several research studies, it does not go
on to attribute this exception to the researchers underestimating inconsistencies in the data. Rather, the text goes on to
attribute this to a circumstance (fiscal austerity measures being implemented before an election rather than after) which
adds a complicating factor into the data not accounted for in past studies.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2d77660e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 2d77660e Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 12d81fc1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 12d81fc1 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID af43b0bd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: af43b0bd Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6ae393f7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 6ae393f7
Asteroid 6478 Gault has experienced intermittent mass loss since at least 2013, but in contrast to some other asteroids with
repeated mass-loss episodes, 6478 Gault has not lost mass at its perihelion (the closest point of its orbit to the Sun), and
thus the loss is not attributable to solar energy–driven ice vaporization. And as Jane X. Luu et al. point out, the singular
nature of impact ejection makes it untenable as an account of multiple loss episodes of similar duration over several years.
Instead, Luu et al. are likely correct that 6478 Gault is shedding mass due to rotational instability.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It presents a scientific observation, describes a contrast between that observation and other observations, and then
A. explains why those other observations should not be considered credible.

It describes an astronomical finding, discusses competing theories about that finding that the author regards as flawed,
B. and then describes new evidence that supports an alternative theory.

It introduces a natural phenomenon, refutes two potential explanations for that phenomenon, and then presents a third
C. explanation for that phenomenon that the author regards as plausible.

It discusses a physical process, evaluates possible causes of that process, and then states that a persuasive account of
D. the process has yet to be put forward.

ID: 6ae393f7 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. The text begins by
introducing the natural phenomenon of intermittent mass loss with regard to Asteroid 6478 Gault and notes that it curiously
has not lost mass at its perihelion like other asteroids typically do. The text then refutes "solar energy–driven ice
vaporization" and "the singular nature of impact ejection" as two possible explanations for Asteroid 6478 Gault’s intermittent
mass loss. Finally, the text presents Luu et al.’s explanation that "6478 Gault is shedding mass due to rotational instability,"
which the author says is "likely correct." Thus, the overall structure of the text is that it introduces a natural phenomenon,
refutes two potential explanations for that phenomenon, and then presents a third explanation for that phenomenon that the
author regards as plausible.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t distinguish between multiple observations. It focuses on the single
observation that Asteroid 6478 Gault is losing mass and evaluates multiple explanations for the phenomenon. The text also
asserts that Luu et al.’s explanation is credible and "likely correct." Choice B is incorrect because the text describes a natural
phenomenon, not a specific astronomical finding. In addition, although the text does note flawed reasons for Asteroid 6478
Gault’s intermittent mass loss, it doesn’t mention that Asteroid 6478 Gault’s intermittent mass loss is based on new
evidence. Choice D is incorrect. Although the text does evaluate explanations for the cause of Asteroid 6478 Gault’s
intermittent mass loss, the text also asserts that Luu et al.’s explanation that they have put forth is persuasive and "likely
correct."

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e4f312c5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e4f312c5
While most animals are incapable of passing somatic mutations—genetic alterations that arise in an organism’s
nonreproductive cells—on to their offspring, elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) presents an intriguing ______: in a 2022 study,
researchers found that elkhorn coral produced offspring that inherited somatic mutations from a parent.

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

A. hypothesis

B. affinity

C. anomaly

D. corroboration

ID: e4f312c5 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. An "anomaly" is something that deviates from norms or expectations. In this case, the elkhorn
coral is an anomaly because it can pass on somatic mutations, whereas most other animals can’t.

Choice A is incorrect. A "hypothesis" is "a theory about something," but no theories are provided about elkhorn coral in this
text, just facts. Choice B is incorrect. "Affinity" represents "an inclination or liking toward something." As genetic mutations
tend to occur without any conscious effort, you can’t really have an inclination toward passing on somatic mutations. Choice
D is incorrect. "Corroboration" means "evidence to support or prove something." Because elkhorn coral do the opposite of
what most animals do, they do not provide corroboration of the theory that somatic mutations can’t be passed onto
offspring. Rather, they show the opposite.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a4f50d30
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a4f50d30
Scientists previously thought that all electric eels belong to a single species, but a team of researchers led by zoologist C.
David de Santana proved this idea wrong by ______ that there are in fact three distinct species of electric eels.

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

A. pretending

B. complaining

C. requiring

D. demonstrating

ID: a4f50d30 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. “Demonstrating” means “showing,” and the text describes how de Santana disproved a previous
belief in only one species of electric eel by showing that three electric eel species actually exist.

Choice A is incorrect. Pretending that there are three species of electric eel might be a fun game for marine biologists, but it
wouldn’t prove the existence of more than one species. Choice B is incorrect. Complaining won’t prove anything about eels,
so de Santana could not have proved wrong the idea of only one species of electric eel by complaining about it. Choice C is
incorrect. “Requiring” means “needing.” It wouldn’t make sense to say that de Santana “needed” there to be three distinct
species of electric eel.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID fa7a89f1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: fa7a89f1
Studying how workload affects productivity, Maryam Kouchaki and colleagues found that people who chose to do relatively
easy tasks first were less ______ compared to those who did hard tasks first. Finishing easy tasks gave participants a sense
of accomplishment, but those who tackled hard tasks first actually became more skilled and productive workers over time.

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

A. secretive

B. efficient

C. outgoing

D. unsympathetic

ID: fa7a89f1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about Kouchaki and colleagues’
research into how workload affects productivity. In context, “efficient” means effective or well organized. The text indicates
that, according to Kouchaki and colleagues’ research, people who worked on hard tasks first were “more skilled and
productive” than those who did easy tasks first. This context conveys the idea that despite their sense of accomplishment,
the people who chose to do the easy tasks first were less efficient or productive than those who tackled hard tasks first.

Choice A is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that workers who do easy tasks first are less “secretive,”
or uncommunicative or silent, than those who do hard tasks first. Rather, the text suggests that people are less skillful or
efficient if they tackle easy tasks before the hard ones. Choice C is incorrect because “outgoing” means openly friendly,
which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text focuses on Kouchaki and colleagues’ research in which people who
worked on hard tasks first were “more skilled and productive” than those who did easy tasks first and were therefore less
efficient. Choice D is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that workers who do easy tasks first are less
“unsympathetic,” or insensitive or unkind, than those who do hard tasks first. Rather, the text suggests that people are less
skillful or efficient if they tackle easy tasks before the hard ones.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID e37b9e34
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. decisive

B. lacking

C. variable

D. dormant

ID: e37b9e34 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID faa5696c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: faa5696c
Arturo A. Schomburg was dedicated to preserving books, art, and other materials from peoples of African descent around
the world. To get these items, Schomburg ______ friends and colleagues, whom he asked to bring back rare and valuable
objects from their international travels. Now, Schomburg’s collection is a valuable resource for scholars of Black history and
culture.

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

A. admired

B. disagreed with

C. warned

D. depended on

ID: faa5696c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Arturo A. Schomburg’s collection. In
this context, the phrase “depended on” means relied on. The text explains that Schomburg, wanting to preserve “books, art,
and other materials” created by peoples of African descent from around the world, built a large collection of these objects.
The text also states that in order to obtain these items, Schomburg asked friends and colleagues who were traveling
internationally to bring them back for him. This implies that he wouldn’t have been able to create his collection without help.
Thus, the context supports the idea that Schomburg relied on, or depended on, friends and colleagues to build his collection.

Choice A is incorrect because “admired” means respected and approved of. Although it’s reasonable to expect that
Schomburg respected his friends and colleagues, the text doesn’t discuss any such aspect of their relationships. The text
focuses instead on what Schomburg asked his friends and colleagues to do to help build his collection. Choice B is incorrect
because “disagreed with” means held an opposing belief, and nothing in the text suggests that Schomburg and his friends or
colleagues held opposing views on any subject. In fact, the text strongly implies that Schomburg’s friends and colleagues
supported him in his goal of preserving objects of importance for Black history and culture by bringing him such objects
from around the world. Choice C is incorrect because “warned” means informed someone in advance about something
dangerous, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. Nothing in the text suggests that Schomburg thought his friends and
colleagues were in any danger, let alone that he warned them of danger.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f0ae0da3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: f0ae0da3 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 54c6128b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 54c6128b Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2c50ed1a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 2c50ed1a
Text 1
Literary scholars have struggled with the vastness of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka’s collective works of drama (spanning
over 20 plays in total). It is best, however, to understand Soyinka’s body of work as a dramatist chronologically. Soyinka’s
progression as a playwright can be considered to fall into three periods, with each one representing a particular thematic and
stylistic cohesion: the 1960s, the two decades between 1970 and 1990, and lastly, from roughly 1990 onwards.
Text 2
It is tempting to impose a linear sense of order on the expanse of Wole Soyinka’s body of work as a dramatist. However,
critics who have considered Soyinka’s plays to fit neatly into three phases overlook potential commonalities in Soyinka’s
work that span across these phases. Additionally, this view may discount significant differences in the styles and content of
plays written around the same time.

Which choice best describes a difference in how the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 view the study of Soyinka’s
works of drama?

While the author of Text 1 believes that thinking about Soyinka’s works of theater in phases is useful, the author of Text 2
A. views such an approach as limiting.

Although the author of Text 1 claims that Soyinka’s style as a dramatist has evolved over time, the author of Text 2
B. argues that Soyinka’s style has remained consistent throughout his career.

The author of Text 1 considers Soyinka’s plays to showcase his strongest writing, whereas the author of Text 2 believes
C. that Soyinka’s poetry is where he is most skilled.

The author of Text 1 argues that Soyinka’s early plays were his most politically charged, whereas the author of Text 2
D. claims that Soyinka’s most recent plays are the most politicized.

ID: 2c50ed1a Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The author of Text 1 states that Soyinka’s progression as a playwright can be considered to fall
into three periods, implying that this is a helpful way to understand his works. The author of Text 2, on the other hand,
challenges this view and says that it overlooks potential commonalities and differences in Soyinka’s work across what Text 1
calls distinctive stylistic phases.

Choice B is incorrect. This choice overstates the central claim of Text 2. The author of Text 2 argues against the
chronological progression supported in Text 1, but does not go so far as to say that Soyinka’s style remained consistent. In
fact, Text 2 points out “significant differences in styles and content” among Soyinka’s plays. Choice C is incorrect. Neither of
the texts mention Soyinka’s poetry, nor do they rank his dramatic writing relative to his other work. Choice D is incorrect.
Neither text discusses the political aspects of Soyinka’s plays, nor do they make any claims about whether they have
changed over time.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 0ed94d4c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 0ed94d4c
Jackie Ormes’s Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem (1937–38) was the first comic strip by a Black woman to appear in a widely
read newspaper. The strip tells the story of Torchy, a young woman who leaves Mississippi to become a performer in New
York City. Torchy’s story reflects the experience of the Great Migration (1910–1970), when millions of Black Americans left
the South in search of opportunities in other parts of the United States. Torchy Brown thus shows how Ormes used comics
to comment humorously on issues affecting Black Americans, which she continued to do throughout her career.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To show how Ormes’s Torchy Brown inspired other Black women to write comic strips in the 1930s

B. To illustrate how the subjects Ormes addressed in her comic strips changed over the course of her career

C. To give an example of how Ormes presented the experiences of Black Americans in her comic strips

D. To claim that several characters in Torchy Brown were based on people that Ormes knew personally

ID: 0ed94d4c Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The text describes how Torchy Brown depicted the experiences of a young Black woman
experiencing America’s Great Migration. It further states that Ormes continued to use comics throughout her career to
humorously comment on important issues impacting Black Americans.

Choice A is incorrect. The text never mentions other Black women comic strip writers. Choice B is incorrect. The text never
mentions any changes in the subjects Ormes addressed. Choice D is incorrect. The text never mentions the inspiration for
characters in Torchy Brown.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID d8d33cc5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d8d33cc5
The early British postal system required the cost of mail delivery to be paid upon receipt, a system which encouraged
inventive strategies by the intended recipient to avoid payment. To improve this system, ______ were proposed in 1837,
including the use of a postage stamp, a small receipt pasted to the mail indicating that delivery costs had been paid by the
sender.

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

A. investigations

B. expansions

C. reforms

D. possessions

ID: d8d33cc5 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the early British postal system. In
this context, "reforms" most nearly means attempts at improving something. The text indicates that the pay-upon-delivery
postage method led to fee avoidance on the part of recipients. It then says that action was taken to improve the postal
system, giving examples such as the move to having the sender pay and affixing stamps to indicate payment had been
received. These represent revisions to the system intended to improve its functioning; therefore, "reforms" most logically
completes the text.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, "investigations" most nearly means attempts to understand something. And although it
is plausible that an attempt to improve the postal system would involve investigations, nothing in the text provides a logical
basis for understanding the example of changes like affixing stamps to letters as an investigation. Choice B is incorrect. In
this context, "expansions" most nearly means additions to something. Although the text indicates that some new policies
were adopted, nothing in the text suggests that the overall number of policies increased, which expansions would seem to
entail. Choice D is incorrect. In this context, "possessions" most nearly means items of personal property or things that
otherwise belong to, or are part of, something. The text provides no logical context for understanding changes like affixing
stamps to letters as possessions.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 79fe7550
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 79fe7550
Researcher Haesung Jung led a 2020 study showing that individual acts of kindness can ______ prosocial behavior across a
larger group. Jung and her team found that bystanders who witness a helpful act become more likely to offer help to
someone else, and in doing so, can inspire still others to act.

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

A. require

B. remember

C. foster

D. discourage

ID: 79fe7550 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Jung and her team’s study of acts
of kindness. In this context, “foster” means encourage or promote the development of. The text indicates that Jung and her
team found that seeing a helpful (or prosocial) act makes a bystander more likely to help someone else, which can in turn
inspire additional people to help others. That is, the team showed that single acts of kindness can foster additional prosocial
acts across a group.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Jung and her team found that single acts of kindness
“require,” or depend on or make obligatory, broader prosocial (or helpful) behavior across a group. There’s no suggestion in
the text that individual acts of kindness can only occur if other prosocial acts have already occurred, and the text indicates
only that an act of kindness can inspire additional helpful acts, not that it necessarily will do so. Choice B is incorrect
because the text focuses on a possible direct effect of individual acts of kindness, or single helpful actions, and it wouldn’t
make sense to suggest that actions can “remember,” or hold a memory of, something. Choice D is incorrect because the text
doesn’t indicate that Jung and her team found that single acts of kindness can “discourage,” or hinder, prosocial (or helpful)
behavior across a group. On the contrary, the text states that Jung and her team found that seeing a helpful act makes a
bystander more likely to help someone else, which can in turn inspire even more people to help others.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0a04cac5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 0a04cac5
The following text is adapted from Jane Austen’s 1814 novel Mansfield Park. The speaker, Tom, is considering staging a play
at home with a group of his friends and family.
We mean nothing but a little amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our powers in something
new. We want no audience, no publicity. We may be trusted, I think, in choosing some play most perfectly unexceptionable;
and I can conceive no greater harm or danger to any of us in conversing in the elegant written language of some
respectable author than in chattering in words of our own.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To offer Tom’s assurance that the play will be inoffensive and involve only a small number of people

B. To clarify that the play will not be performed in the manner Tom had originally intended

C. To elaborate on the idea that the people around Tom lack the skills to successfully stage a play

D. To assert that Tom believes the group performing the play will be able to successfully promote it

ID: 0a04cac5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately portrays the main purpose of the text. At the beginning of the text,
Tom asserts that he and the other people staging the play are doing so only for “a little amusement among ourselves” and
aren’t interested in attracting an audience or any attention with the production. Then, Tom promises that the play they chose
is modest and appropriate, and he further reasons that using the well-written prose of “some respectable author” is better
than using their own words. Overall, the main purpose of the text is to convey Tom’s promise that the play will be inoffensive
and involve only a few people.

Choice B is incorrect because the text doesn’t indicate that Tom had earlier intentions for the play’s performance or that
anything has changed since the group first decided to stage a play. Instead, the text focuses on how harmless the entire
endeavor will be. Choice C is incorrect. Although Tom mentions that using the words of a “respectable author” will be better
than using their own words, he never addresses the idea that the people around him generally aren’t skilled enough to stage
a play. Choice D is incorrect because in the text Tom specifically says that they “want no audience, no publicity,” which
indicates that they don’t plan on promoting the play at all.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 1fa751f1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. recognizable

B. intriguing

C. significant

D. useful

ID: 1fa751f1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1d9a09c0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1d9a09c0
The following text is adapted from Jason Reynolds’s 2016 novel Ghost. The narrator, who is in middle school, is at a bus
stop.

I just go there [to the bus stop] to look at the people working out. See, the gym across the street has this big window—
like the whole wall is a window—and they have those machines that make you feel like you walking up steps and so
everybody just be facing the bus stop, looking all crazy like they’re about to pass out. And trust me, there ain’t nothing
funnier than that. So I check that out for a little while like it’s some kind of movie: The About to Pass Out Show, starring
stair-stepper person one through ten.
©2016 by Jason Reynolds

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To give a reason why the narrator is excited to start middle school

B. To describe an activity that the narrator finds amusing

C. To explain a problem that the narrator has overcome

D. To discuss a movie that the narrator saw in a theater

ID: 1d9a09c0 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text describes how the
narrator watches people working out at a gym through a window near a bus stop. The narrator says that "there ain’t nothing
funnier" than watching people try to work out on the stair climber machine. Thus, the main purpose of the text is to describe
an activity that the narrator finds amusing.

Choice A is incorrect because the text isn’t about the narrator beginning middle school. The text describes how the narrator
finds people working out at a gym amusing and makes no mention of school life. Choice C is incorrect because the text
doesn’t mention any problems that the narrator currently has or has overcome. It just describes how the narrator finds
watching people work out amusing. Choice D is incorrect because the narrator invents the made-up movie mentioned in the
text. The text doesn’t indicate that the narrator has seen a movie in a theater. The focus of the text is on the narrator
watching people at the gym, not watching a movie.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 49bbe4d7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 49bbe4d7
For painter Jacob Lawrence, being ______ was an important part of the artistic process. Because he paid close attention to
all the details of his Harlem neighborhood, Lawrence’s artwork captured nuances in the beauty and vitality of the Black
experience during the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration.

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

A. skeptical

B. observant

C. critical

D. confident

ID: 49bbe4d7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Jacob Lawrence’s artistic process.
In this context, “observant” means watchful and perceptive. The text emphasizes that the “close attention” Lawrence paid to
“all the details” of his neighborhood allowed him to reflect subtle elements of “the beauty and vitality of the Black
experience” in his artwork. This context indicates that being observant of his surroundings was an important part of
Lawrence’s work as an artist.

Choice A is incorrect because the text gives no indication that Lawrence was “skeptical,” or had an attitude of doubt in
general or about particular things, let alone that skepticism was important to him as an artist. Rather than indicating that he
was skeptical, the text focuses on how Lawrence paid careful attention to everything around him and reflected his
observations in his artwork. Choice C is incorrect because the text gives no indication that Lawrence was “critical,” which in
this context would mean inclined to criticize harshly or unfairly. Rather than indicating that Lawrence found fault in things,
the text suggests that he paid careful attention to everything around him and that his artwork reflects this careful attention.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that Lawrence was “confident,” or self-assured. Rather than
addressing how Lawrence felt about himself and how that feeling affected his artistic process, the text emphasizes the
careful attention Lawrence paid to everything around him—attention that allowed him to capture subtle elements of a
particular place and time in his artwork.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f6d1f735
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f6d1f735
Researchers have struggled to pinpoint specific causes for hiccups, which happen when a person’s diaphragm contracts
______. However, neuroscientist Kimberley Whitehead has found that these uncontrollable contractions may play an
important role in helping infants regulate their breathing.

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

A. involuntarily

B. beneficially

C. strenuously

D. smoothly

ID: f6d1f735 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of diaphragm contractions and
hiccups. In this context, “involuntarily” means done without any control, or by reflex. The text explains that when a person’s
diaphragm repeatedly contracts and results in hiccups (which may be beneficial for infants), those muscle contractions are
“uncontrollable.” This context indicates that the diaphragm contractions occur without the person’s control.

Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t support the logical relationship established in the text’s discussion of diaphragm
contractions and hiccups. The text indicates that although specific causes for hiccups haven’t been identified, it may be the
case that the muscle contractions that occur have an important purpose in infants. It wouldn’t make sense to say that even
though the contractions occur “beneficially,” or with a good or helpful effect, they might play a positive role in infants’
breathing regulation. Choice C is incorrect because the text indicates that the diaphragm contractions that result in hiccups
are “uncontrollable.” Because those muscle contractions are described as happening automatically and without the person’s
control, it wouldn’t make sense to describe them as occurring “strenuously,” or in a way that requires great effort or energy.
Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe the quality of the diaphragm contractions that result in hiccups
beyond stating that they are “uncontrollable.” Nothing in the text indicates that those muscle contractions occur “smoothly,”
or evenly and continuously.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID fcc328c6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: fcc328c6
Streams and rivers carry soil and rocks from one location to another. But there is another way for these geological materials
to move. Scientists call this process “aeolian transport.” In aeolian transport, winds move small particles of soil or rock over
potentially great distances. Geologist Melisa Diaz and her team studied dust in Antarctica to find out if it was moved by
aeolian transport. They discovered that the dust matched geological material in Australia. Aeolian transport had carried it
from one continent to another, across thousands of miles of open ocean.

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

A. It presents Melisa Diaz’s remarks about difficulties that her team encountered.

B. It introduces a scientific term that is used in the discussion that follows.

C. It emphasizes the surprising nature of the findings that are presented.

D. It explains the difference between two kinds of geological material.

ID: fcc328c6 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a
whole. The first two sentences introduce the idea that soil and rocks can be moved from one location to another by
something other than rivers and streams. The underlined sentence then states that the term used by scientists to refer to
this process is “aeolian transport.” The discussion that follows explains what aeolian transport is (the movement of small
geological materials over potentially great distances by the wind) and describes an example of a study that found that dust
particles had been moved by aeolian transport from Australia to Antarctica. Thus, the underlined portion introduces a
scientific term that is used in the discussion that follows.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined portion of the text doesn’t present any remarks from Melisa Diaz, nor does it
suggest that Diaz and her team encountered difficulties in their study. Instead, the phrase in quotation marks in the
underlined portion simply presents a term that is used by scientists to refer to a specific process discussed in the
text. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in either the underlined portion or the text as a whole suggests that the findings
of the study presented in the text were surprising or unexpected. In fact, the text suggests that Diaz and her team wanted to
see if aeolian transport could explain the appearance of certain geological materials in Antarctica, and their findings did
indeed confirm the involvement of aeolian transport. Choice D is incorrect. Although the first sentence of the text mentions
soil and rocks, which are two different kinds of geological material, the underlined portion doesn’t refer to these materials,
nor does it explain the difference between them. Rather, the underlined portion introduces the scientific term “aeolian
transport,” which is used in the discussion that follows.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 01de46bb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 01de46bb
The Menominee and Anishinaabe peoples have been growing wild rice—known as manoomin in the Ojibwe language—in the
Great Lakes region of North America for centuries, but climatic changes are causing lakes to get deeper, thereby threatening
wild rice. These plants are extremely ______ to water depth during the “floating leaf” stage of development, and if the water is
too deep, the buoyancy of the young wild-rice plants can literally uproot them from the lake bottom, destroying them.

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

A. immune

B. sensitive

C. limited

D. receptive

ID: 01de46bb Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of wild rice. As used in this context,
"sensitive" means vulnerable or easily affected. The text indicates that climate change is causing the lakes to get deeper,
which consequently threatens the wild rice that grows in the area. The text goes on to state that deep water can cause young
wild-rice plants to uproot from the bottom of the lake. This context supports the idea that the plants are sensitive to water
depth during early stages of development.

Choice A is incorrect because "immune" means protected or shielded, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text
explains that deep water can cause young wild-rice plants to become uprooted and destroyed, indicating that these plants
are harmed by deep water, not protected from it. Choice C is incorrect because "limited" means confined or restrained, which
wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text explains that water depth can negatively affect young wild-rice plants but
doesn’t suggest that water depth limits or restrains the plants. Choice D is incorrect because "receptive" means open or
tolerant, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text doesn’t indicate that the wild-rice plants are open to or tolerant
of an increase in water depth but rather the opposite: an increase in water depth can harm young wild-rice plants.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID aa7ae735
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: aa7ae735
The following text is adapted from Mohsin Hamid’s 2017 novel Exit West. Saeed lives with his mother and father.
On cloudless nights after a daytime rain, Saeed’s father would sometimes bring out the telescope, and the family would sip
green tea on their balcony, enjoying a breeze, and take turns to look up at objects whose light, often, had been emitted before
any of these three viewers had been born—light from other centuries, only now reaching Earth.
©2017 by Mohsin Hamid

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

A. Arriving at

B. Consulting with

C. Running to

D. Clinging to

ID: aa7ae735 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The word "reaching" in this text means "to arrive" at Earth. Before, the light had been traveling
across space; now, it had arrived at Earth.

Choice B is incorrect. "Consulting with" means "seeking advice or information from someone." Light is not alive, so it can’t
consult with Earth. Choice C is incorrect. It’s confusing to say that starlight is "only now running to Earth," both because light
doesn’t literally "run" and because the text is describing the moment the light touches Earth, not the period of time when it’s
traveling to Earth. Choice D is incorrect. This might be tempting, as "clinging to" has a connotation of "sticking to." It wouldn’t
make sense to say that the light was "only now" clinging to Earth.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID a7991da1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a7991da1
A unique dialect, or regional variety, of Spanish is spoken in Puerto Rico. It contains many words borrowed from the
language of the Taínos, the Indigenous people of Puerto Rico. African languages also made important contributions to the
Puerto Rican dialect. For example, the way certain vowel sounds are pronounced in it can be ______ to how they are
pronounced in Yoruba, a West African language.

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

A. traced

B. surrendered

C. announced

D. offered

ID: a7991da1 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the origins of the unique dialect of
Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico. In this context, "traced" means tracked back to. The text notes that the regional variety of
Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico has its roots in the language of the Taínos and in the West African language of Yoruba. This
context supports the idea that the way certain vowel sounds are pronounced in the Puerto Rican dialect can be traced back
to Yoruba.

Choice B is incorrect because the text presents the statement about the relationship between vowel pronunciation in the
Puerto Rican dialect of Spanish and in Yoruba as an example to support the claim that African languages have contributed
to the Puerto Rican dialect. It therefore wouldn’t make sense to say that the pronunciation of certain vowel sounds in the
Puerto Rican dialect can be "surrendered," or handed over on demand, to the pronunciation in Yoruba. Choice C is incorrect
because the text gives no indication that the way certain vowel sounds are pronounced in the Puerto Rican dialect of
Spanish has been "announced," or officially declared or proclaimed. According to the text, elements of the dialect have been
inherited or borrowed from African languages, and the relationship between the pronunciation of certain vowels in the
Puerto Rican dialect and in Yoruba is an example of this inheritance, suggesting that the pronunciation in the Puerto Rican
dialect can be traced to Yoruba. Choice D is incorrect because the text presents the statement about the relationship
between vowel pronunciation in the Puerto Rican dialect of Spanish and in Yoruba as an example to support the claim that
African languages have contributed to the Puerto Rican dialect. It therefore wouldn’t make sense to say that the
pronunciation of certain vowel sounds in the Puerto Rican dialect can be "offered," or presented as a gift, to the
pronunciation in Yoruba.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 84a7fbca
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 84a7fbca
When Mexican-American archaeologist Zelia Maria Magdalena Nuttall published her 1886 research paper on sculptures
found at the ancient Indigenous city of Teotihuacan in present-day Mexico, other researchers readily ______ her work as
groundbreaking; this recognition stemmed from her convincing demonstration that the sculptures were much older than had
previously been thought.

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

A. acknowledged

B. ensured

C. denied

D. underestimated

ID: 84a7fbca Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Nuttall’s 1886 research paper. In
this context, “acknowledged” means recognized as having a certain status. The text indicates that other researchers
recognized Nuttall’s work as groundbreaking because of its “convincing demonstration” related to the age of the ancient
sculptures. In other words, the researchers recognized the groundbreaking status of Nuttall’s work.

Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “ensured” would mean to have guaranteed or made sure something was the
case. The text states that other researchers gave Nuttall’s work recognition after it was published, but there’s no indication
that they contributed to the work or had any involvement that would have allowed them to make sure the work would be
groundbreaking. Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that other researchers “denied,” or refused to admit
or accept, that Nuttall’s work was groundbreaking; on the contrary, it indicates that researchers praised the work, recognizing
it as groundbreaking due to its “convincing demonstration” related to the age of the ancient sculptures. Choice D is incorrect
because the text doesn’t suggest that other researchers “underestimated,” or undervalued, Nuttall’s work; on the contrary, it
indicates that researchers praised the work, recognizing it as groundbreaking due to its “convincing demonstration” related
to the age of the ancient sculptures.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 5179fd36
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 5179fd36
Urban planning expert Francisco Lara-Valencia and colleagues have argued that managing environmental matters along the
US-Mexico border ______ coordination between the two countries’ governments. Since ecosystems extend across the border,
actions taken on one side can have environmental effects on the other side, making international cooperation essential.

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

A. requires

B. praises

C. reports

D. advises

ID: 5179fd36 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of environmental management along
the US and Mexican border. In this context, "requires" means needs in order to perform a task. The text indicates that
because ecosystems span the border, actions taken by the government on one side of the border can affect the environment
in the nation on the other side of the border, which makes international cooperation crucial. In other words, because actions
on one side of the US and Mexican border can affect the other side of the border, managing environmental matters along the
border requires coordination between the two governments.

Choice B is incorrect because "praises" in this context would mean to express a favorable judgment, but the text doesn’t
describe approval expressed by anyone, and it wouldn’t make sense to say that environmental management itself praises
intergovernmental coordination. Choice C is incorrect. In this context, "reports" would mean gives an account. Although
coordination between the US and Mexican governments likely would involve some sort of reporting, the text doesn’t describe
any such practice. Choice D is incorrect. In this context, "advises" would mean recommends a course of action, and although
governments can advise one another, it wouldn’t make sense to say that environmental management itself makes
recommendations.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 1f2d6173
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1f2d6173
Scholarly accounts of the Chicano movement—a movement that advocated for the social, political, and cultural
empowerment of Mexican Americans and reached its zenith in the 1960s and 1970s—tend to focus on the most militant,
outspoken figures in the movement, making it seem uniformly radical. Geographer Juan Herrera has shown, however, that if
we shift our focus toward the way the movement manifested in comparatively low-profile neighborhood institutions and
projects, we see participants espousing an array of political orientations and approaches to community activism.

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

It presents a trend in scholarship on the Chicano movement that the text claims has been reevaluated by researchers in
A. light of Herrera’s work on the movement’s participants.

It identifies an aspect of the Chicano movement that the text implies was overemphasized by scholars due to their own
B. political orientations.

It describes a common approach to studying the Chicano movement that, according to the text, obscures the ideological
C. diversity of the movement’s participants.

It summarizes the conventional method for analyzing the Chicano movement, which the text suggests creates a
D. misleading impression of the effectiveness of neighborhood institutions and projects.

ID: 1f2d6173 Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The text begins by mentioning scholarly accounts of the Chicano movement, which the underlined portion describes
as tending "to focus on the most militant, outspoken figures in the movement," making the movement as a whole seem
uniformly radical. The text then indicates that the work of geographer Juan Herrera shows that focusing less on such
militant figures and instead paying more attention to manifestations of the Chicano movement in less widely known
neighborhood institutions and projects would reveal that the movement’s participants embraced a range of political
orientations and approaches. Thus, the underlined portion describes a common approach to studying the Chicano
movement that, according to the text, obscures the ideological diversity of the movement’s participants.

Choice A is incorrect. Though the underlined portion does present a trend in scholarship on the Chicano movement, the text
does not indicate that other scholars have reevaluated their methods in light of Herrera’s work. It only indicates that Herrera’s
work suggests that the work of those other scholars does not provide a complete picture of the Chicano movement. Choice
B is incorrect. Though the underlined portion does identify an aspect of the Chicano movement that the text indicates has
been overemphasized, the text does not discuss the political orientations of the scholars whose work is mentioned in the
text. Choice D is incorrect. Though the underlined portion does summarize the conventional method for analyzing the
Chicano movement, the rest of the text does not address the effectiveness of "comparatively low-profile neighborhood
institutions and projects." Instead, the text suggests that those projects were led by people with a variety of approaches to
community activism.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 428cd2c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 428cd2c1
Some people have speculated that two helmets with attached horns discovered in Denmark in 1942 belonged to Vikings, but
scholars have long been skeptical. Archaeologist Helle Vandkilde and colleagues recently provided radiocarbon dates for the
helmets, and their findings ______ scholars’ skepticism: the helmets date to the Nordic Bronze Age, centuries before the
Vikings existed.

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

A. anticipate

B. inspect

C. reveal

D. justify

ID: 428cd2c1 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the helmets found in Denmark. In
this context, “justify” means confirm or give reasons for. The text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical about the
supposed Viking origin of two helmets found in Denmark. The radiocarbon dating of the helmets conducted by Vandkilde
and colleagues demonstrates that the helmets date from the Nordic Bronze Age, making the helmets too old to have
belonged to Vikings. This context supports the idea that the scholars’ skepticism is justified.

Choice A is incorrect because “anticipate” means expect or come before, neither of which would make sense in context. The
text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical of the idea that the helmets belonged to Vikings. Because the
skepticism has existed for a long time, Vandkilde and colleagues’ research couldn’t be said to anticipate it. Instead, the
radiocarbon dating results justify or confirm the scholar’s skepticism. Choice B is incorrect because “inspect” means
examine or review, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. Research findings are inanimate and therefore unable to
inspect scholars’ skepticism. The text focuses on the origin of two helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings.
Vandkilde and colleagues found that the helmets are from the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore much older than the Vikings.
This context suggests that the researchers’ findings justify, not inspect, the scholars’ skepticism. Choice C is incorrect
because “reveal” means uncover or report, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the origin of two
helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings. Vandkilde and colleagues tested the helmets and found that they
date to the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore are much older than the Vikings. This context suggests that the researchers’
findings confirm or justify the scholars’ skepticism, which was already known so didn’t need to be revealed.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 62a18353
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

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

A. Get his mother to accept

B. Get his mother to apologize for

C. Get his mother to match

D. Get his mother to reunite with

ID: 62a18353 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4eee64fa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 4eee64fa
Space scientists Anna-Lisa Paul, Stephen M. Elardo, and Robert Ferl planted seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana in samples of
lunar regolith—the surface material of the Moon—and, serving as a control group, in terrestrial soil. They found that while all
the seeds germinated, the roots of the regolith-grown plants were stunted compared with those in the control group.
Moreover, unlike the plants in the control group, the regolith-grown plants exhibited red pigmentation, reduced leaf size, and
inhibited growth rates—indicators of stress that were corroborated by postharvest molecular analysis.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

It describes an experiment that addressed an unresolved question about the extent to which lunar regolith resembles
A. terrestrial soils.

B. It compares two distinct methods of assessing indicators of stress in plants grown in a simulated lunar environment.

C. It presents evidence in support of the hypothesis that seed germination in lunar habitats is an unattainable goal.

D. It discusses the findings of a study that evaluated the effects of exposing a plant species to lunar soil conditions.

ID: 4eee64fa Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The text describes an experiment wherein space scientists compared plant growth in terrestrial
and lunar soil conditions. It then discusses the findings of the study, including the fact that all the seeds germinated but that
the plants grown in lunar soil exhibited signs of stress.

Choice A is incorrect. The text doesn’t address this question, and never describes any specific characteristics of either soil. It
merely describes the outcome of an experiment that exposed a plant species to lunar soil conditions. Choice B is incorrect.
The text never compares methods of assessing indicators of stress—instead, it simply mentions several stress indicators
observed in the study (red pigmentation, reduced leaf size, and inhibited growth rates). Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t
present any evidence that we could never achieve seed germination in lunar habitats, and in fact states that the seeds in the
lunar soil did germinate.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c2c26e20
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: c2c26e20
The following text is adapted from Sadakichi Hartmann’s 1894 short story “Magnolia Blossoms.” The narrator is standing on
the deck of a boat.

What a night it was! My soul had left its body to lose itself in the wild unrestrained beauty around me—from where it
came—and only left a trembling suggestion of its existence within me. The other passengers moved around me like
shadows, and again and again my eyes drank in all the glory and wealth of that night.

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

A. Trace

B. Opinion

C. Dispute

D. Command

ID: c2c26e20 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, “suggestion” most nearly means trace. The text portrays the
narrator standing on the deck of a boat, admiring the view of nature afforded by this position: “My soul had left its body to
lose itself in the wild unrestrained beauty around me,” says the narrator, “and only left a trembling suggestion of its existence
within me.” This intense response to beauty is such that the narrator’s soul seems to disengage from its body, leaving behind
only a barely detectible indication of its presence there. In other words, the narrator senses only a trace of soul left in the
body.

Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts “suggestion” can refer to an implied or indirectly expressed opinion, the text
doesn’t portray the narrator expressing an opinion; instead, the narrator is explaining an experience of intense emotion.
Choice C is incorrect. While “suggestion” might be used in some contexts to refer to the tactful expression of a differing
viewpoint, it doesn’t refer to the dispute or difference of opinion itself. Moreover, the text doesn’t portray a dispute between
characters with differing viewpoints. Choice D is incorrect. Although in some contexts, “suggestion” might be used to refer to
a politely worded command, the text doesn’t portray a scenario in which someone receives such a command.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID a70cbc53
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: a70cbc53
Raymond Antrobus, an accomplished poet and writer of prose, recently released his debut spoken word poetry album, The
First Time I Wore Hearing Aids, in collaboration with producer Ian Brennan. The album contains both autobiographical and
reflective pieces combining Antrobus’s spoken words with Brennan’s fragmented audio elements and pieces of music to
convey how people who are deaf may experience sound, both its presence and absence. Some critics suggest that the
album questions the function of sound in the world, highlighting that the experience of sound is multifaceted.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

It introduces a collaborative spoken word poetry project, details the approach taken to produce the work, and then
A. provides an example of critique the album received upon release.

It mentions a collection of spoken word poems, distinguishes one poem as being an exemplar on the album, and then
B. offers a summary of the subject matter of the whole collection.

It summarizes the efforts to produce a collection of spoken word poems, presents biographies of two people who
C. worked on the album, and speculates about the meaning behind the poetry.

It connects two artists to the same spoken word poetry project, explains the extent of their collaboration on each poem,
D. and then provides an overview of the technique used to produce the work.

ID: a70cbc53 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The text first introduces the album as being a collaboration between Antrobus and Brennan,
then describes the approach taken to produce it, then mentions how critics have said that it calls into question the function
of sound.

Choice B is incorrect. While the text does mention a collection of spoken word poems, it doesn’t single out one poem as
being particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the text doesn’t simply summarize the subject matter—it goes into detail about
the content and production of the album. Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t provide biographical information about the
two artists, and the text doesn’t speculate about the meaning behind the poetry—instead, it relays what some critics have
said about the album. Choice D is incorrect. The text doesn’t provide just an overview of the production techniques used but
instead goes into more detail about the content and audio elements of the album, as well as critical response to the album.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3d658a5a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3d658a5a
Some foraging models predict that the distance bees travel when foraging will decline as floral density increases, but
biologists Shalene Jha and Claire Kremen showed that bees’ behavior is inconsistent with this prediction if flowers in dense
patches are ______: bees will forage beyond patches of low species richness to acquire multiple resource types.

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

A. depleted

B. homogeneous

C. immature

D. dispersed

ID: 3d658a5a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Jha and Kremen’s finding about
bees’ foraging behavior. In this context, “homogeneous” means uniform or of the same kind. The text indicates that some
models predict that the distance that bees travel when they’re foraging declines as the density of flowers increases. The text
goes on to say, however, that Jha and Kremen identified a circumstance in which bees don’t behave this way. Specifically, if
bees encounter “patches of low species richness”—that is, patches in which the flowers are largely from the same species—
they’ll travel beyond those patches to get varied food resources. This context thus suggests that bees don’t behave as some
models predict if the dense patches of flowers the bees encounter are homogeneous.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that Jha and Kremen found that bees will behave differently than some
models predict if the bees encounter flower patches that are not rich in species, not if the flowers are “depleted,” or emptied
or reduced in quality or quantity. Although it could be true that bees are likely to leave depleted patches in search of more
resources, the text doesn’t indicate that Jha and Kremen investigated that possibility. Choice C is incorrect because there’s
no information in the text suggesting that bees will not behave as some models predict if flowers in patches are “immature,”
or not fully developed. Instead, the text indicates that Jha and Kremen found that bees will behave contrary to some models’
predictions if the flower patches are not rich in species. Choice D is incorrect because the text indicates that bees’ behavior
will be inconsistent with the predictions of some models if the flower patches that the bees encounter are of low species
richness, not if the flowers are in patches that are “dispersed,” or widely scattered. Although the text does describe bees as
leaving patches that are not rich in species to forage elsewhere, there’s no suggestion that Jha and Kremen found that the
distance between dense flower patches affects whether the bees behave as some models predict.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cd2ce51f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. engulfs

B. encourages

C. comprises

D. provokes

ID: cd2ce51f Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 17bf10de
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 17bf10de
Text 1
Despite its beautiful prose, The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman’s 1962 analysis of the start of World War I, has certain
weaknesses as a work of history. It fails to address events in Eastern Europe just before the outbreak of hostilities, thereby
giving the impression that Germany was the war’s principal instigator. Had Tuchman consulted secondary works available to
her by scholars such as Luigi Albertini, she would not have neglected the influence of events in Eastern Europe on Germany’s
actions.
Text 2
Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August is an engrossing if dated introduction to World War I. Tuchman’s analysis of primary
documents is laudable, but her main thesis that European powers committed themselves to a catastrophic outcome by
refusing to deviate from military plans developed prior to the conflict is implausibly reductive.

Which choice best describes a difference in how the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 view Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of
August?

The author of Text 1 argues that Tuchman should have relied more on the work of other historians, while the author of
A. Text 2 implies that Tuchman’s most interesting claims result from her original research.

The author of Text 1 believes that the scope of Tuchman’s research led her to an incorrect interpretation, while the author
B. of Text 2 believes that Tuchman’s central argument is overly simplistic.

The author of Text 1 asserts that the writing style of The Guns of August makes it worthwhile to read despite any
perceived deficiency in Tuchman’s research, while the author of Text 2 focuses exclusively on the weakness of Tuchman’s
C. interpretation of events.

The author of Text 1 claims that Tuchman would agree that World War I was largely due to events in Eastern Europe,
while the author of Text 2 maintains that Tuchman would say that Eastern European leaders were not committed to
D. military plans in the same way that other leaders were.

ID: 17bf10de Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Both texts are critical of The Guns of August, but for different reasons: the author of Text 1
argues that Tuchman missed an important factor leading up to the war because she didn’t consult secondary sources, and
the author of Text 2 argues that Tuchman’s main thesis is "reductive," which is a close synonym for "overly simplistic."

Choice A is incorrect. This doesn’t accurately describe the difference. This choice’s summary of Text 1 is accurate, but Text 2
never says that Tuchman’s most interesting claims result from her original research. Choice C is incorrect. This doesn’t
accurately describe the difference. Text 1 never says that The Guns of August is worthwhile to read despite its research
weaknesses. Text 2 does call out a weakness of Tuchman’s interpretation of events, but it also praises her analysis of
primary sources. Choice D is incorrect. This doesn’t accurately describe the difference. Text 1 actually says that Tuchman
"fails to address" the influence of events in Eastern Europe, while Text 2 says that Tuchman’s thesis was that European
powers (not Eastern European leaders) were committed to military plans.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b4c6cff6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. Explains

B. Rebuts

C. Defends

D. Fulfills

ID: b4c6cff6 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d8d1ecaa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. recommend

B. criticize

C. impede

D. construct

ID: d8d1ecaa Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d0198544
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: d0198544
Text 1
In 2007, a team led by Alice Storey analyzed a chicken bone found in El Arenal, Chile, dating it to 1321–1407 CE—over a
century before Europeans invaded the region, bringing their own chickens. Storey also found that the El Arenal chicken
shared a unique genetic mutation with the ancient chicken breeds of the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific. Thus, Polynesian
peoples, not later Europeans, probably first introduced chickens to South America.
Text 2
An Australian research team weakened the case for a Polynesian origin for the El Arenal chicken by confirming that the
mutation identified by Storey has occurred in breeds from around the world. More recently, though, a team led by Agusto
Luzuriaga-Neira found that South American chicken breeds and Polynesian breeds share other genetic markers that
European breeds lack. Thus, the preponderance of evidence now favors a Polynesian origin.

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

By broadly agreeing with the claim but objecting that the timeline it presupposes conflicts with the findings of the genetic
A. analysis conducted by Storey’s team

By faulting the claim for implying that domestic animals couldn’t have been transferred from South America to the
B. Polynesian Islands as well

By critiquing the claim for being based on an assumption that before the European invasion of South America, the
C. chickens of Europe were genetically uniform

By noting that while the claim is persuasive, the findings of Luzuriaga-Neira’s team provide stronger evidence for it than
D. the findings of the genetic analysis conducted by Storey do

ID: d0198544 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it accurately describes how the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the
underlined claim in Text 1. Text 1 indicates that Storey found a genetic mutation in South American chickens from before the
European invasion and in Polynesian chickens, which implies that chickens were first brought to South America by
Polynesian people. Text 2 explains that the genetic mutation Storey found is in chickens from all over the world, thus
undercutting the mutation as evidence of a Polynesian origin. However, Text 2 goes on to say “[m]ore recently” Luzuriaga-
Neira and colleagues found multiple genetic markers shared by South American and Polynesian chickens but “that European
breeds lack,” which strongly suggests a Polynesian origin for the South American chickens. This indicates that the author of
Text 2 believes Luzuriaga-Neira’s evidence for a Polynesian origin is compelling while Storey’s evidence has been
undermined. Thus, the author of Text 2 would most likely agree with the underlined statement and believes Luzuriaga-Neira
and colleagues’ evidence for the statement is stronger than Storey’s evidence is.

Choice A is incorrect because both texts indicate that chickens were introduced to South America before the arrival of
Europeans. Text 1 states that the El Arenal chicken bone dates from “1321–1407 CE—over a century before Europeans
invaded the region” and concludes that these chickens were likely brought to South America by Polynesians. While Text 2 is
not as explicit about the time period as Text 1 is, nothing in Text 2 undermines the timing of events ascribed to Storey’s
account in Text 1. Choice B is incorrect because both texts agree that chickens were first brought to South America by
Polynesian peoples (the underlined claim), and nothing in Text 2 suggests that this claim is in any way deficient because the
possibility that animals could have been transferred from South America to Polynesia was not explicitly addressed. Choice C
is incorrect because the criticism that Text 2 raises about the ideas in Text 1 is specifically about whether the single genetic
mutation cited by Storey in fact supports the idea of a Polynesian origin for South American chickens. There is nothing in
Text 2 to suggest that the underlined sentence (Storey’s conclusion) is deficient because it is based on an assumption about
the genetic uniformity of European chickens.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a2be625e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: a2be625e
The following text is from Sarah Orne Jewett’s 1899 short story “Martha’s Lady.” Martha is employed by Miss Pyne as a
maid.
Miss Pyne sat by the window watching, in her best dress, looking stately and calm; she seldom went out now, and it was
almost time for the carriage. Martha was just coming in from the garden with the strawberries, and with more flowers in
her apron. It was a bright cool evening in June, the golden robins sang in the elms, and the sun was going down behind the
apple-trees at the foot of the garden. The beautiful old house stood wide open to the long-expected guest.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

B. To describe how the characters have changed over time

C. To contrast the activity indoors with the stillness outside

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

ID: a2be625e Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ab56a107
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: ab56a107 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f773a56b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f773a56b
As Mexico’s first president from an Indigenous community, Benito Juarez became one of the most ______ figures in his
country’s history: among the many significant accomplishments of his long tenure in office (1858–1872), Juarez
consolidated the authority of the national government and advanced the rights of Indigenous peoples.

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

A. unpredictable

B. important

C. secretive

D. ordinary

ID: f773a56b Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Juarez. In this context, “important”
means marked by significant work or consequence. The text indicates that Juarez, who was the first president of Mexico
from an Indigenous community, became a certain kind of figure in Mexico’s history. It then supports that claim by describing
some of the “many significant accomplishments” from Juarez’s long tenure in office. This context conveys that Juarez is a
significant and consequential figure in Mexico’s history.

Choice A is incorrect because the text focuses on Juarez’s role as the first president of Mexico from an Indigenous
community and on his many major accomplishments during his lengthy time in office; nothing in the text suggests that
Juarez was “unpredictable,” or tended to behave in ways that couldn’t be predicted. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in
the text suggests that Juarez was a particularly “secretive” figure, or that he tended to keep things private or hidden from
others. Instead, the text focuses on things that are known about Juarez: that he was the first president of Mexico from an
Indigenous community, that he had a lengthy tenure, and that his many major accomplishments included consolidating the
national government’s authority and advancing Indigenous rights. Choice D is incorrect because the text focuses on the idea
that Juarez, who was the first president of Mexico from an Indigenous community, had many major accomplishments during
his lengthy time in office. Rather than suggesting that Juarez was an “ordinary,” or common and typical, figure in Mexico’s
history, this context conveys that Juarez was instead a notable figure.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f653b273
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: f653b273 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5e732e67
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 5e732e67
Many films from the early 1900s have been lost. These losses include several films by the first wave of Black women
filmmakers. We know about these lost movies only from small pieces of evidence. For example, an advertisement for Jennie
Louise Touissant Welcome’s documentary Doing Their Bit still exists. There’s a reference in a magazine to Tressie Souders’s
film A Woman’s Error. And Maria P. Williams’s The Flames of Wrath is mentioned in a letter and a newspaper article, and one
image from the movie was discovered in the 1990s.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. The text identifies a complex problem, then presents examples of unsuccessful attempts to solve that problem.

B. The text summarizes a debate among researchers, then gives reasons for supporting one side in that debate.

C. The text describes a general situation, then illustrates that situation with specific examples.

The text discusses several notable individuals, then explains commonly overlooked differences between those
D. individuals.

ID: 5e732e67 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer. The first three sentences describe the general situation: these early films have been lost, and we
only know about them from small pieces of evidence. The rest of the text offers specific examples of the small pieces of
evidence.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The fact that we only know about these lost early films from small
pieces of evidence isn’t presented as a “complex problem”—that’s too extreme. And the examples presented are not
“unsuccessful attempts” to solve it. If anything, the examples represent a success, because we discovered that these films
existed in the first place. Choice B is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. There’s no “debate” presented in the text, so
there’s no “side” for the text to support. Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t the overall structure. The text doesn’t discuss any
“differences” between the filmmakers.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID d9e55268
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: d9e55268 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID faee8ec7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: faee8ec7 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 14b7dced
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 14b7dced Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3118ca93
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3118ca93
The fashion resale market, in which consumers purchase secondhand clothing from stores and online sellers, generated
nearly $30 billion globally in 2019. Expecting to see continued growth, some analysts ______ that revenues will more than
double by 2028.

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

A. produced

B. denied

C. worried

D. predicted

ID: 3118ca93 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the fashion resale market’s
continued growth. As used in this context, “predicted” means forecast, or indicated that something would happen in the
future. The text indicates that the fashion resale market made a lot of money in 2019 and that some analysts expected the
market to continue to grow. This context suggests that the analysts believed that the fashion resale market was going to
make more money than it had already made, with the analysts indicating that revenues would more than double by 2028.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that some analysts “produced,” or manufactured or
brought about, the increase in future revenues of the fashion resale market. The analysts themselves couldn’t have brought
about the future revenue growth, since, as the text suggests, they were merely in the position of drawing conclusions about
future fashion resale market revenue based on 2019 revenue. Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that some
analysts expected the fashion resale market to continue to grow in the future, not that they “denied,” or rejected, this notion.
Nothing in the text supports the idea that these analysts thought the revenues wouldn’t grow. Choice C is incorrect because
the text indicates that some analysts expected the fashion resale market to continue to grow in the future, not that they
“worried,” or felt concerned, that revenue would significantly increase by 2028. Nothing in the text suggests that the analysts
felt concerned about the increase; rather, the text suggests that the increase would represent a favorable outcome, since it
would mean that the fashion resale market grew to generate even more revenue.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 21d95d1d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 21d95d1d
Ofelia Zepeda’s contributions to the field of linguistics are ______: her many accomplishments include working as a
linguistics professor and bilingual poet, authoring the first Tohono O’odham grammar book, and co-founding the American
Indian Language Development Institute.

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

A. pragmatic

B. controversial

C. extensive

D. universal

ID: 21d95d1d Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of how Ofelia Zepeda has contributed
to the field of linguistics. As used in this context, “extensive” means having a wide or considerable extent. The text indicates
that Zepeda’s many accomplishments in linguistics are varied, including teaching linguistics, writing poetry in more than one
language, creating a grammar book, and co-founding a language institute. This context supports the idea that Zepeda’s
contributions to the field are extensive.

Choice A is incorrect because the sentence presents Zepeda’s accomplishments as examples to support the claim made in
the first part of the sentence. It wouldn’t make sense to say that achievements as a professor, poet and author, and co-
founder of a language institute demonstrate that Zepeda’s contributions in her field are “pragmatic,” or related to practical
matters and not involving intellectual or artistic matters. Choice B is incorrect because the sentence presents Zepeda’s
accomplishments as a professor, poet and author, and co-founder of a language institute as examples to support the claim
made in the first part of the sentence. There’s no reason to believe that the positive achievements listed demonstrate that
Zepeda’s contributions in her field are “controversial,” or have caused disputes and opposing viewpoints. Choice D is
incorrect because in this context, “universal” would mean including or covering everything in a group. The sentence presents
Zepeda’s accomplishments as examples to support the claim made in the first part of the sentence, and it wouldn’t make
sense to say that these specific achievements—particularly as the author of a grammar book specific to the Tohono
O’odham language—demonstrate that Zepeda’s contributions relate to everything in the field of linguistics.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID b622fb78
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b622fb78
The following text is from the 1913 story “The King’s Coin” by Emily Pauline Johnson, a Kanienkahagen (Mohawk) writer also
known as Tekahionwake. Fox-Foot, a young Ojibwe man, is guiding a group of fur traders who are traveling by canoe and
suspects that they are being followed.

At supper time, Fox-Foot would allow no fire to be built, no landing to be made, no trace of their passing to be left. They
ate canned meat and marmalade, drank again of the stream and pushed on, until just at dusk they reached the edge of
a long, still lake, with shores of granite and dense fir forest.

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

A. Evidence

B. Blemish

C. Amount

D. Sketch

ID: b622fb78 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because the text indicates that Fox-Foot doesn’t let the group build a fire or create a canoe
landing when it’s time for supper. This context suggests that he doesn’t want anyone who might be following the group to
see any sign of them or their activities. In other words, Fox-Foot doesn’t want there to be any trace, or evidence, of the
group’s movements ("their passing") through the area.

Choice B is incorrect because the text conveys that Fox-Foot doesn’t want the group to be detected, not that he doesn’t want
their presence to create a blemish, or a spoiling flaw, in the area; human activity could disturb a natural environment, but the
context emphasizes that Fox-Foot is instead focused on avoiding giving any sign of the group’s movements through a place
("their passing") to anyone who might be following them. Choice C is incorrect because the text focuses on Fox-Foot’s desire
to avoid detection by those who might be following the group. This context conveys that Fox-Foot doesn’t want to create any
signs or evidence of the group moving through a place ("their passing"), not that he doesn’t want to leave behind some
quantity of their presence; indeed, it isn’t clear what an amount of a group’s movement would be. Choice D is incorrect
because nothing in the text suggests that the group has a sketch, or rough drawing, of their movements through that area
("their passing") that might be left behind. Rather, the context emphasizes that Fox-Foot is focused on ensuring that the
group doesn’t give any kind of indication of their presence, as he wants to avoid detection by anyone who might be following
the group.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 56ec23a0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 56ec23a0
Hiroshi Senju is known worldwide for his paintings of waterfalls. These paintings are large and tend not to show the entire
waterfall. Instead, Senju focuses on just the point where the falling water reaches the pool below, keeping the top of the
waterfall out of view. While Senju’s paintings are rooted in art movements originating in the United States, the artist uses
traditional Japanese techniques and materials that make his work instantly recognizable.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It introduces an artist and then explains some common characteristics of well-known paintings by that artist.

B. It explains a specific painting technique and then provides examples of artists who use the technique.

C. It describes a famous painting and then compares it to a lesser-known painting from the same time period.

D. It gives an opinion on an artist and then suggests multiple reasons why the artist’s work has been largely overlooked.

ID: 56ec23a0 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The first sentence introduces Senju as a famous artist, while the next three sentences describe
the defining features of his art, such as it only showing part of the waterfall and its origins in US art movements and
Japanese techniques.

Choice B is incorrect. The text doesn’t provide examples of any other artists who use Senju’s techniques. Choice C is
incorrect. The text doesn’t describe any single famous painting or make comparisons between paintings. Choice D is
incorrect. The text doesn’t provide an opinion on Senju (just facts), nor does it suggest that his art has been overlooked—in
fact, it states that he is “known worldwide.”

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID a318c1ef
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: a318c1ef
The Cambrian explosion gets its name from the sudden appearance and rapid diversification of animal remains in the fossil
record about 541 million years ago, during the Cambrian period. Some scientists argue that this ______ change in the fossil
record might be because of a shift in many organisms to body types that were more likely to be preserved.

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

A. catastrophic

B. elusive

C. abrupt

D. imminent

ID: a318c1ef Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of the fossil record from
the Cambrian period. In this context, “abrupt” means sudden. The text explains that the fossil record reflects the unexpected
appearance and rapid diversification, or increase in variety, of animal remains during the Cambrian period. This context
establishes that these remains’ entry into the fossil record was sudden.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the word “explosion” appears in the name of the event marked by the fossil record change,
the text never suggests that the change was “catastrophic,” or disastrous. In context, “explosion” refers to the rapid
diversification, or the swift increase in variety, of animal remains in the fossil record—a phenomenon that the text presents in
a relatively neutral manner, without commenting on whether it was negative or positive. Choice B is incorrect because the
text never suggests that the change toward greater diversification is “elusive,” or difficult to locate, in the fossil record.
Rather, the text notes that the change occurred about 541 million years ago, suggesting that scientists have indeed been
able to locate it. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to describe the change in the fossil record
as “imminent,” or about to occur, since the text indicates that the change already occurred millions of years ago.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID e56b66e5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. haphazard

B. premeditated

C. inspirational

D. fruitless

ID: e56b66e5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID bce627d9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. neglected

B. redundant

C. ongoing

D. uniform

ID: bce627d9 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f83f0aab
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: f83f0aab
Some scientists have suggested that mammals in the Mesozoic era were not a very ______ group, but paleontologist Zhe-Xi
Luo’s research suggests that early mammals living in the shadow of dinosaurs weren’t all ground-dwelling insectivores.
Fossils of various plant-eating mammals have been found in China, including species like Vilevolodon diplomylos, which Luo
says could glide like a flying squirrel.

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

A. predatory

B. obscure

C. diverse

D. localized

ID: f83f0aab Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the kinds of mammals alive during
the Mesozoic era. As used in this context, “diverse” means to have a significant amount of variety. The text indicates that
some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals can’t be characterized in a certain way, then contrasts the view put
forward by those scientists with Luo’s research, which shows that Mesozoic mammals “weren’t all ground-dwelling
insectivores” and instead were “various.” This context suggests that some scientists have viewed Mesozoic mammals as
being all alike, or not a very diverse group.

Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals
weren’t very “predatory,” or that they didn’t prey on other animals, since the text establishes a contrast between what some
scientists have suggested and Luo’s research showing that Mesozoic mammals “weren’t all ground-dwelling insectivores.”
This context suggests that some scientists have regarded Mesozoic mammals as all being insectivores, or animals that prey
on insects, not that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals didn’t prey on other animals. Choice B is
incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals weren’t very
“obscure,” or concealed or not well known, since the text establishes a contrast between what some scientists have
suggested and Luo’s research showing that Mesozoic mammals were a varied group. There’s no contrast between saying
that the mammals weren’t concealed or well known and the mammals being varied. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t
make sense to say that some scientists have suggested that Mesozoic mammals weren’t very “localized,” or confined to a
particular area, since the text establishes a contrast between what some scientists have suggested and Luo’s research
showing that Mesozoic mammals were a varied group. There’s no contrast between saying that the mammals weren’t
localized and the mammals being varied. Although the text mentions mammal fossils found in China, nothing in the
discussion of Luo’s research addresses the limits of Mesozoic mammal habitats.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID d5235d39
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: d5235d39
The Mule Bone, a 1930 play written by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, is perhaps the best-known of the few
examples of ______ in literature. Most writers prefer working alone, and given that working together cost Hurston and Hughes
their friendship, it is not hard to see why.

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

A. characterization

B. interpretation

C. collaboration

D. commercialization

ID: d5235d39 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it logically and precisely completes the text’s discussion of The Mule Bone, a play that
Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes wrote together. In this context, “collaboration” means working together with
someone to write a literary work. The text indicates that most writers prefer to work alone and that working together
destroyed the friendship between Hurston and Hughes. This establishes that The Mule Bone is a relatively rare example of
collaboration in literature.

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, “characterization” would mean a literary work’s portrayal of characters’
psychological experiences and motivations, but the text doesn’t discuss characterization in The Mule Bone specifically or in
collaborative works more generally. Choice B is incorrect because in this context, “interpretation” would mean the
explanation of a literary work’s meaning or significance, but the text doesn’t discuss how readers or critics have interpreted
The Mule Bone; instead, the text discusses how the play was written collaboratively and how the writing process affected the
two authors. Choice D is incorrect because in this context, “commercialization” would mean writing a literary work in such a
way as to ensure its commercial appeal, but the text never discusses commercial appeal as a factor in the writing of The
Mule Bone specifically or the writing of collaborative works more generally.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 1fbf276a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. dispute

B. withdraw

C. underscore

D. invalidate

ID: 1fbf276a Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1c6b1fa0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1c6b1fa0
In 1801, a Blackfoot chief named Ac Ko Mok Ki drew a finely detailed map of the Upper Missouri region. This work
demonstrates a vast amount of topographic knowledge, as the map features specific names of mountains and rivers, as well
as the first-known sketch of the drainage network of the Missouri River. The map is especially notable because Ac Ko Mok Ki
also included details about the numerous tribes that lived in the area.

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

A. It emphasizes Ac Ko Mok Ki’s desire to represent other tribes on the map.

B. It explains how Ac Ko Mok Ki developed an interest in mapmaking.

C. It identifies some reasons why the map is impressive.

D. It details how the map was used for hunting and trading purposes.

ID: 1c6b1fa0 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The text
presents information about a map drawn by Blackfoot chief Ac Ko Mok Ki in 1801. The underlined sentence states that the
map "demonstrates a vast amount of topographic knowledge" and mentions that it features the "specific names of
mountains and rivers" and includes the first-known sketch of the Missouri River’s drainage network. These are all
characteristics that indicate that the map was executed with remarkable skill. Thus, the underlined sentence identifies some
reasons why the map is impressive.

Choice A is incorrect. Though the sentence after the underlined sentence in the text mentions that Ac Ko Mok Ki included
information about other tribes on his map, the underlined sentence itself does not address this topic. Choice B is incorrect
because nothing in the underlined sentence indicates how Ac Ko Mok Ki became interested in mapmaking, only that his
mapmaking skills are impressive. Choice D is incorrect because though the underlined sentence describes several features
of the map, it does not specifically describe how the map was used.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID f4166aae
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. proponent of

B. supplement to

C. beneficiary of

D. distraction for

ID: f4166aae Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9b2fbb2e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 9b2fbb2e
Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one, but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann,
a broken area on a fossilized trilobite (a crustacean-like creature) ______ fresh insight, allowing her to view the inner structure
of the organism’s eye.

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

A. resolved

B. adjusted

C. offered

D. directed

ID: 9b2fbb2e Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion about how, for Schoenemann, a
damaged trilobite fossil was informative. In context, “offered” means provided or gave. The text suggests that although it
may seem counterintuitive, a broken fossilized trilobite allowed Schoenemann to observe more details of the trilobite’s eye
than an intact fossilized trilobite would. This context conveys the idea that a damaged fossil offered, or provided, fresh
insight into the structure of a trilobite’s eye.

Choice A is incorrect because “resolved” means determined or figured out, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The
text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more information from a broken fossil than an intact one. Although the
damaged fossil may have allowed her to determine certain information, as an inanimate object the fossil isn’t capable of
resolving anything. Choice B is incorrect because saying that the broken part of a trilobite fossil “adjusted,” or changed or
modified, fresh insight wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more
information from a broken fossil than an intact one. This context suggests that the fossil offered fresh insight, or
understanding, not that it adjusted fresh insight. Choice D is incorrect because “directed” means managed or instructed,
which wouldn’t make sense in this context. The text focuses on how Schoenemann was able to get more information from a
broken fossil than an intact one. This context suggests that the fossil offered fresh insight, or understanding, not that it
directed fresh insight.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 1782cdd7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 1782cdd7
In many agricultural environments, the banks of streams are kept forested to protect water quality, but it’s been unclear what
effects these forests may have on stream biodiversity. To investigate the issue, biologist Xingli Giam and colleagues studied
an Indonesian oil palm plantation, comparing the species richness of forested streams with that of nonforested streams.
Giam and colleagues found that species richness was significantly higher in forested streams, a finding the researchers
attribute to the role leaf litter plays in sheltering fish from predators and providing food resources.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

It discusses research intended to settle a debate about how agricultural yields can be increased without negative effects
A. on water quality.

It explains the differences between stream-protection strategies used in oil palm plantations and stream-protection
B. strategies used in other kinds of agricultural environments.

It describes findings that challenge a previously held view about how fish that inhabit streams in agricultural
C. environments attempt to avoid predators.

It presents a study that addresses an unresolved question about the presence of forests along streams in agricultural
D. environments.

ID: 1782cdd7 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The author first describes an unresolved question: what effect do bank forests have on stream
biodiversity? Then the author presents a study that answers the question: bank forests increase stream biodiversity.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions agricultural yields. Choice B is
incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions other kinds of agricultural environments. Choice C
is incorrect. This isn’t the main purpose of the text. The text never mentions any previously held view about how fish in these
streams try to avoid predators.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 6d44060a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 6d44060a Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 590f0ad2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 590f0ad2 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 19688783
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Anne reveled in the world of color about her.

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 19688783 Answer

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 1107e7dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. developments of

B. fluctuations in

C. calibrations with

D. incentives for

ID: 1107e7dc Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

Choice A is incorrect because in this context, "developments of solar energy collection" would most clearly refer to the
creation of ways to collect solar energy (energy captured from sunlight). The text focuses on collection and the idea that
having stored energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem caused by unpredictable changes that affect
sunlight ("cloud cover and haze"); there’s no reason to think that the creation of new collection methods would be viewed as
a problem that would need to be mitigated. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, "calibrations with" would most
clearly refer to precise adjustments for a particular purpose. The text focuses on the collection of solar energy (energy
captured from sunlight) and the idea that having stored energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem
caused by unpredictable changes that affect sunlight ("cloud cover and haze"); there’s no reason to think that precision in
something related to solar energy collection would be viewed as a problem that would need to be mitigated. Choice D is
incorrect. The text focuses on the collection of solar energy (energy captured from sunlight) and the idea that having stored
energy can mitigate, or make less bad, the effects of a problem caused by unpredictable changes that affect sunlight ("cloud
cover and haze"); nothing in the text suggests that "incentives for," or rewards for, solar energy collection would be viewed as
a problem that would need to be mitigated, especially in countries that want to rely more on solar energy than they already
do.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID d7dccee7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. aggressive

B. rudimentary

C. evolving

D. advantageous

ID: d7dccee7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d69bc408
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: d69bc408 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 22105871
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 22105871
Text 1
In a study of insect behavior, Samadi Galpayage and colleagues presented bumblebees with small wooden balls and
observed many of the bees clinging to, rolling, and dragging the objects. The researchers provided no external rewards (such
as food) to encourage these interactions. The bees simply appeared to be playing—and for no other reason than because
they were having fun.
Text 2
Insects do not have cortexes or other brain areas associated with emotions in humans. Still, Galpayage and her team have
shown that bumblebees may engage in play, possibly experiencing some kind of positive emotional state. Other studies have
suggested that bees experience negative emotional states (for example, stress), but as Galpayage and her team have
acknowledged, emotions in insects, if they do indeed exist, are likely very rudimentary.

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

A. By objecting that the bees were actually experiencing a negative feeling akin to stress rather than a positive feeling

B. By arguing that some insects other than bumblebees may be capable of experiencing complex emotional states

C. By pointing out that even humans sometimes struggle to have fun while engaging in play

D. By noting that if the bees were truly playing, any positive feelings they may have experienced were probably quite basic

ID: 22105871 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer. The author of Text 2 agrees with the author of Text 1 that bumblebees may engage in play and
possibly experience some kind of positive emotional state. However, the author of Text 2 also qualifies this claim by stating
that emotions in insects, if they do exist, are “likely very rudimentary.”

Choice A is incorrect. While Text 2 states that other studies might indicate “negative emotional states” in bees, it does not
contradict the findings from the Galpayage study—that the bees might have been having fun. Choice B is incorrect. The
author of Text 2 does not mention or imply that any insects, including bumblebees, are capable of experiencing complex
emotional states. The author of Text 2 states that if insects do feel emotions, those emotions are “likely very rudimentary.”
Choice C is incorrect. The author of Text 2 does not compare or contrast the behavior or emotions of insects and humans,
and neither does the author of Text 1.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 02e49a0c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: 02e49a0c
Genetic studies have led researchers to suggest that turtles are most closely related to the group that includes modern
crocodiles. But studies of fossils have suggested instead that turtles are most closely related to other groups, such as the
one that contains modern snakes. However, many of the fossil studies have relied on incomplete data sets. For a 2022
investigation, biologist Tiago R. Simões and colleagues examined more than 1,000 reptile fossils collected worldwide. From
this large data set, they found clear agreement with the results of the genetic studies.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence?

A. It offers an overview of the tools scientists use to examine fossils.

B. It describes a limitation of some studies about the origin of turtles.

C. It summarizes previous research on the evolution of crocodiles.

D. It criticizes a widely held belief about genetic studies of reptiles.

ID: 02e49a0c Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The sentence mentions that some fossil studies have relied on incomplete data sets,
suggesting that these studies are limited in what they can tell us about turtles’ origins.

Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the incompleteness of the data sets studied, it doesn’t mention any tools
or techniques used to examine fossils. Choice C is incorrect. The sentence doesn’t mention anything about the evolution of
crocodiles. Choice D is incorrect. This sentence doesn’t directly mention or criticize any "widely held belief," and it focuses on
a limitation of fossil studies of reptiles, not genetic studies.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 27d9bb69
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 27d9bb69 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

Choice B is incorrect. The consensus view in Text 1 is that people acquire information regardless of whether they think they
can use it later. Dubey and colleagues acknowledge this fact (so they don’t claim people seek out information “only” because
it might be useful later). Choice C is incorrect. This choice misreads the results of Dubey and colleagues’ study in Text 2.
Neither text discusses the difficulty of determining the motivation for information-seeking. Choice D is incorrect. This choice
contradicts Text 2, which starts with Dubey and colleagues “acknowledging that acquiring information is a powerful
motivator” (i.e., agreeing that curiosity explains the seeking of apparently purposeless information). The research in Text 2
simply suggests that more than just curiosity can motivate information-seeking behavior when the information has a
purpose.
Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID c885c38b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: c885c38b
Text 1
Conventional wisdom long held that human social systems evolved in stages, beginning with hunter-gatherers forming small
bands of members with roughly equal status. The shift to agriculture about 12,000 years ago sparked population growth that
led to the emergence of groups with hierarchical structures: associations of clans first, then chiefdoms, and finally,
bureaucratic states.
Text 2
In a 2021 book, anthropologist David Graeber and archaeologist David Wengrow maintain that humans have always been
socially flexible, alternately forming systems based on hierarchy and collective ones with decentralized leadership. The
authors point to evidence that as far back as 50,000 years ago some hunter-gatherers adjusted their social structures
seasonally, at times dispersing in small groups but also assembling into communities that included esteemed individuals.

Based on the texts, how would Graeber and Wengrow (Text 2) most likely respond to the “conventional wisdom” presented in
Text 1?

By conceding the importance of hierarchical systems but asserting the greater significance of decentralized collective
A. societies

B. By disputing the idea that developments in social structures have followed a linear progression through distinct stages

C. By acknowledging that hierarchical roles likely weren’t a part of social systems before the rise of agriculture

D. By challenging the assumption that groupings of hunter-gatherers were among the earliest forms of social structure

ID: c885c38b Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it describes the most likely way that Graeber and Wengrow (Text 2) would respond to
the “conventional wisdom” presented in Text 1. According to Text 1, the conventional wisdom about human social systems is
that they developed through stages, beginning with hunter-gatherer bands, then moving to clan associations, then
chiefdoms, and finally arriving at states with bureaucratic structures. Text 2 indicates that Graeber and Wengrow believe that
human social systems have been flexible, shifting between different types of structures, including both hierarchical and
collective systems, and that these shifts may have even occurred seasonally. This suggests that Graeber and Wengrow
would dispute the idea that developments in social structures have followed a linear progression through distinct stages.

Choice A is incorrect because nothing in Text 2 suggests that Graeber and Wengrow believe that decentralized collective
societies are more significant than hierarchical systems. Text 2 is focused on Graeber and Wengrow’s view that humans
have flexibly shifted among various social structures, not on the importance of particular structures relative to
others. Choice C is incorrect because Text 2 doesn’t include any information suggesting that Graeber and Wengrow believe
that hierarchies didn’t emerge until after the rise of agriculture. In fact, Text 2 indicates that Graeber and Wengrow cite
evidence suggesting that some hunter-gatherer groups formed social structures with hierarchical elements (“communities
that included esteemed individuals”) 50,000 years ago, long before the rise of agriculture, which Text 1 says occurred around
12,000 years ago. Choice D is incorrect because there’s no information in Text 2 suggesting that Graeber and Wengrow
would challenge the assumption that groupings of hunter-gatherers were among the earliest forms of social structure.
Although Text 1 does indicate that hunter-gatherer groups are assumed to be the earliest human social system, Text 2 says
only that Graeber and Wengrow believe that some hunter-gatherer groups made use of different social structures at different
times. Text 2 doesn’t imply that Graeber and Wengrow doubt that hunter-gatherer groups preceded most other social
structures.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID de2c2f57
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: de2c2f57
Text 1
The fossil record suggests that mammoths went extinct around 11 thousand years (kyr) ago. In a 2021 study of
environmental DNA (eDNA)—genetic material shed into the environment by organisms—in the Arctic, Yucheng Wang and
colleagues found mammoth eDNA in sedimentary layers formed millennia later, around 4 kyr ago. To account for this
discrepancy, Joshua H. Miller and Carl Simpson proposed that arctic temperatures could preserve a mammoth carcass on
the surface, allowing it to leach DNA into the environment, for several thousand years.
Text 2
Wang and colleagues concede that eDNA contains DNA from both living organisms and carcasses, but for DNA to leach
from remains over several millennia requires that the remains be perpetually on the surface. Scavengers and weathering in
the Arctic, however, are likely to break down surface remains well before a thousand years have passed.

Which choice best describes how Text 1 and Text 2 relate to each other?

Text 1 discusses two approaches to studying mammoth extinction without advocating for either, whereas Text 2
A. advocates for one approach over the other.

Text 1 presents findings by Wang and colleagues and gives another research team’s attempt to explain those findings,
B. whereas Text 2 provides additional detail that calls that explanation into question.

Text 1 describes Wang and colleagues’ study and a critique of their methodology, whereas Text 2 offers additional details
C. showing that methodology to be sound.

Text 1 argues that new research has undermined the standard view of when mammoths went extinct, whereas Text 2
D. suggests a way to reconcile the standard view with that new research.

ID: de2c2f57 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Text 1 introduces Wang and colleagues’ study and its surprising results, and then mentions
Miller and Simpson’s hypothesis as a possible way to explain them. Text 2, however, challenges Miller and Simpson’s
hypothesis by pointing out the difficulties of preserving mammoth carcasses on the surface for thousands of years:
“scavengers and weathering” are the additional details that complicate the Miller/Simpson hypothesis.

Choice A is incorrect. Neither text compares two different approaches for studying mammoth extinction. Text 1 describes
one study and one hypothesis pertaining to it. Text 2 critiques that hypothesis. Choice C is incorrect. Text 1 does not
describe a critique of Wang and colleagues’ methodology, but rather an interpretation of their results by Miller and Simpson.
Text 2 does not offer additional details showing that methodology to be sound, but rather casts doubt on the Miller/Simpson
explanation. Choice D is incorrect. Both components mentioned here (the new “undermining” research and the theory for
reconciling this discovery) are contained in Text 1. Text 2 then shows how the attempt to reconcile the standard view and
new research is flawed, and still fails to explain the discrepancy.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3f753a8e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 3f753a8e
Investigating whether shared false visual memories—specific but inaccurate and widely held recollections of images such as
product logos—are caused by people’s previous ______ incorrect renditions of the images, researchers Deepasri Prasad and
Wilma Bainbridge found that, in fact, such memories are often not explained by familiarity with erroneous versions of the
images.

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

A. compliance with

B. exposure to

C. criteria for

D. forfeiture of

ID: 3f753a8e Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. "Exposure to" means "having contact with." It makes sense that Prasad and Bainbridge were
investigating whether seeing false versions of images was a cause of false visual memories. Notice how "exposure to
incorrect renditions" matches the idea of "familiarity with erroneous versions," which appears later in the sentence.

Choice A is incorrect. "Compliance with" means "going along with a command or directive." False versions of images can’t
give commands or directives, so this doesn’t apply. Choice C is incorrect. "Criteria" means "standards by which to judge
something." It’s not clear how people would come to have standards for the wrong version of an image in the first place, let
alone how those standards would cause them to falsely remember the correct version. In other words, this choice would
result in a confusing, unclear sentence. Choice D is incorrect. "Forfeiture of" means "a giving up of something." It wouldn’t
make sense to say that false memories of an image might be caused by giving up the wrong version of the image.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 53542eb5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 53542eb5
Shoppers can help keep money cycling within a community by making purchases at small local businesses instead of large
retailers. Some cities are ______ programs to encourage this behavior, establishing reward points and other incentives for
shopping at small businesses.

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

A. instituting

B. occupying

C. underestimating

D. encountering

ID: 53542eb5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of programs that encourage money to
cycle within a community. In this context, "instituting" means initiating. The text indicates that making purchases at small
local businesses can help keep money cycling within a community. The text goes on to state that some cities are
establishing incentives to promote small business shopping. This context supports the idea that some cities are instituting
programs to encourage this consumer behavior.

Choice B is incorrect because saying that some cities are "occupying," or forcibly holding possession or control of, programs
that encourage shoppers to make purchases at small local businesses wouldn’t make sense in context. The text doesn’t
discuss who controls these programs but instead indicates that some cities are establishing incentives that encourage
shoppers to make purchases at small local businesses. Furthermore, it wouldn’t make sense to say that a city is occupying a
program. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that cities are "underestimating," or failing to understand
the value of, programs that encourage consumers to shop at small local businesses. The text indicates that some cities are
establishing incentives to encourage small business shopping, which suggests that these cities understand the value of
such programs. Choice D is incorrect because saying that some cities are "encountering," or coming into contact with,
programs that encourage consumers to shop at small local businesses wouldn’t make sense in context. The text indicates
that some cities are already establishing incentives to encourage shoppers to make purchases at small businesses. This
context suggests that the cities are instituting the programs, not that they are encountering them.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 6c64a8f3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. precariousness

B. exactitude

C. resilience

D. inconspicuousness

ID: 6c64a8f3 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 82b7c3b2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 82b7c3b2
The following text is from Booth Tarkington’s 1921 novel Alice Adams.

Mrs. Adams had always been fond of vases, she said, and every year her husband’s Christmas present to her was a
vase of one sort or another—whatever the clerk showed him, marked at about twelve or fourteen dollars.

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

A. Staged

B. Priced

C. Stained

D. Watched

ID: 82b7c3b2 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The text suggests that Mrs. Adam’s typical Christmas present from her husband was a vase
that cost, or was "priced at," about twelve or fourteen dollars.

Choice A is incorrect. This isn’t the meaning of "marked" as used here. It wouldn’t make sense to say that a vase was "staged
at twelve or fourteen dollars." Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the meaning of "marked" as used here. It wouldn’t make sense
to say that a vase was "stained at twelve or fourteen dollars." Choice D is incorrect. This isn’t the meaning of "marked" as
used here. It wouldn’t make sense to say that a vase was "watched at twelve or fourteen dollars."

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID d563bf65
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

ID: d563bf65
The following text is adapted from Jean Webster’s 1912 novel Daddy-Long-Legs. The narrator is a young college student
writing letters detailing her weekly experiences.

[The college is] organizing the Freshman basket-ball team and there’s just a chance that I shall make it. I’m little of
course, but terribly quick and wiry and tough. While the others are hopping about in the air, I can dodge under their feet
and grab the ball.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To compare basketball with other sports

B. To provide details of how to play basketball

C. To state how players will be chosen for the basketball team

D. To explain why the narrator thinks she might make the basketball team

ID: d563bf65 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. In the first sentence of the
text, the narrator states that she thinks there’s a chance she will become part of the basketball team at her college. She goes
on to explain that she is "quick" and "tough." Based on these characteristics, she thinks she has a chance to join the team.
Thus, the main purpose of the text is to explain why the narrator thinks she might make the basketball team.

Choice A is incorrect because the text focuses solely on basketball and doesn’t mention any other kinds of sports. Choice B
is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe aspects of the game of basketball. Instead, it provides the narrator’s reasoning
for thinking that she might make her school basketball team. Choice C is incorrect. Although the narrator explains why she
thinks she will be chosen for the basketball team at her school, the text doesn’t go into the general decision-making process
or the requirements for being picked for the team.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 159ef46d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 159ef46d
Text 1
Although food writing is one of the most widely read genres in the United States, literary scholars have long neglected it. And
within this genre, cookbooks attract the least scholarly attention of all, regardless of how well written they may be. This is
especially true of works dedicated to regional US cuisines, whose complexity and historical significance are often
overlooked.
Text 2
With her 1976 cookbook The Taste of Country Cooking, Edna Lewis popularized the refined Southern cooking she had grown
up with in Freetown, an all-Black community in Virginia. She also set a new standard for cookbook writing: the recipes and
memoir passages interspersing them are written in prose more elegant than that of most novels. Yet despite its inarguable
value as a piece of writing, Lewis’s masterpiece has received almost no attention from literary scholars.

Based on the two texts, how would the author of Text 1 most likely regard the situation presented in the underlined sentence
in Text 2?

A. As typical, because scholars are dismissive of literary works that achieve popularity with the general public

As unsurprising, because scholars tend to overlook the literary value of food writing in general and of regional cookbooks
B. in particular

As justifiable, because Lewis incorporated memoir into The Taste of Country Cooking, thus undermining its status as a
C. cookbook

As inevitable, because The Taste of Country Cooking was marketed to readers of food writing and not to readers of other
D. genres

ID: 159ef46d Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. Text 1 states that literary scholars ignore regional cookbooks most of all, even when they have
historical significance and are well written. So the author of Text 1 wouldn’t be surprised that scholars ignored Edna Lewis’s
cookbook.

Choice A is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how the author of Text 1 would regard the situation. Text 1 never suggests
that scholars are dismissive of popular works in general. Instead, Text 1 says that scholars ignore food writing specifically,
despite its popularity—and despite the fact that it can be historically significant and complex. Choice C is incorrect. We can’t
infer that this is how the author of Text 1 would regard the situation. Text 1 never suggests that elements of other genres
should be kept out of cookbooks. Choice D is incorrect. We can’t infer that this is how the author of Text 1 would regard the
situation. Text 1 never discusses how food writing is or should be marketed.
Question Difficulty: Easy
Question ID e1e89221
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e1e89221
The following text is from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel The Secret Garden. Mary, a young girl, is outside trying her
new jump rope.

The sun was shining and a little wind was blowing—not a rough wind, but one which came in delightful little gusts and
brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it. She skipped round the fountain garden, and up one walk and down
another.

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

A. Harsh

B. Scratchy

C. Basic

D. Vague

ID: e1e89221 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer because as used in the text, "rough" most nearly means harsh, or forceful and unpleasant. The
text describes Mary’s surroundings as she plays: the sun is out and there’s "a little wind." To further illustrate the wind, the
narrator contrasts the word "rough" with a description of the wind blowing in "delightful little gusts," suggesting that the wind
is not unpleasant or harsh at all.

Choice B is incorrect. Although in some contexts "rough" objects, or objects with irregular surfaces, can sometimes be
scratchy, rough doesn’t mean scratchy in this context. The text explains that the wind is not rough but rather gentle,
"delightful little gusts," which suggests that the use of "rough" here is referring to the degree of force of the wind. Choice C is
incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to suggest that the wind wasn’t "basic," or simple and uncomplicated. Instead,
the text describes the wind as blowing not roughly or harshly but in "delightful little gusts." Choice D is incorrect because the
word "vague" means not clearly expressed or seen. Nothing in the text indicates that the wind was barely noticeable to Mary
as she played outside, but rather the text states that it was delightful.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID b11bb2a3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b11bb2a3
The following text is adapted from Amy Lowell’s 1912 poem “Summer.”

It is summer, glorious, deep-toned summer, The very crown of nature’s changing year
When all her surging life is at its full. To me alone it is a time of pause, A void and silent space between two worlds,
When inspiration lags, and feeling sleeps, Gathering strength for efforts yet to come.

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

A. A useless

B. An empty

C. A forgotten

D. An incomplete

ID: b11bb2a3 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because as used in the text, a span of time is described as "a void" space, which most nearly
means an empty or vacant one. In the text, the speaker describes summertime in counterintuitive terms: although nature’s
"surging life is at its full" during the season, the speaker feels summer to be "a time of pause, / A void and silent space
between two worlds." The speaker says further that during summer, "feeling sleeps / Gathering strength" for future efforts.
Thus, the speaker regards summer as an empty stretch of time, to be followed by a period of greater activity.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text does present summer as a time of inactivity, it doesn’t characterize that inactivity as
useless, or as having no purpose; in fact, the speaker regards summer as a time when "feeling" gathers "strength for efforts
yet to come." Choice C is incorrect. Although the text characterizes summer as a time "when inspiration lags, and feeling
sleeps," it doesn’t discuss the season’s relationship to the speaker’s memory or suggest that summer can easily be
forgotten. Choice D is incorrect. In some contexts, "void" can mean devoid of, or lacking, a particular element, and such a
lack could be conceived of as incompleteness. However, the text doesn’t portray summer as not being complete or whole;
instead, it characterizes vacancy or inactivity as being an essential quality of the season, as experienced by the speaker.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 97360a00
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: 97360a00 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9c35759f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. question

B. react to

C. perceive

D. conform to

ID: 9c35759f Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6a1194e8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. infallible

B. atypical

C. lucrative

D. tedious

ID: 6a1194e8 Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 490b205f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. a prudently

B. an overtly

C. a cordially

D. an inadvertently

ID: 490b205f Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4fa7e50e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 4fa7e50e
According to a US tax policy expert, state taxes are ______ other factors when considering an interstate move. Even
significant differences in state taxation have almost no effect on most people’s decisions, while differences in employment
opportunities, housing availability, and climate are strong influences.

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

A. consistent with

B. representative of

C. overshadowed by

D. irrelevant to

ID: 4fa7e50e Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the factors that influence peoples’
decisions to move to a different state. As used in this context, “overshadowed by” means to be surpassed by or caused to
seem less important than other factors affecting a move. The text indicates that, according to a US tax policy expert, when
people think about an interstate move, state taxes have little effect on their decisions, while employment opportunities,
housing availability, and climate have a very strong effect. This context suggests that people consider these other factors to
be more important than state taxes.

Choice A is incorrect because the text indicates that state taxes aren’t as important a consideration as other factors when
people are thinking of moving to another state. The context doesn’t suggest that state taxes are “consistent with,” or in
agreement with these other factors. Choice B is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to say that state taxes
are “representative of,” or typical of, other factors. Taxes aren’t an example of employment opportunities, housing availability,
and climate, which are the other factors listed in the text. Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to
say that state taxes are “irrelevant to,” or unconnected or unimportant to other factors. State taxes are irrelevant to peoples’
decisions, not to other factors. In other words, although the text suggests that state taxes may be irrelevant to people
considering a move to another state, the other factors mentioned in the text, such as employment opportunities, are unable
to have an opinion about state taxes. Furthermore, the text indicates that significant differences in state taxes have almost
no effect on peoples’ choices to move, but they aren’t completely unimportant.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID aa7fc89b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: aa7fc89b Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e23f50b9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion?

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

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

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

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

ID: e23f50b9 Answer

Correct Answer: C

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID aad56f2b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: aad56f2b
As a young photographer in the 1950s, William Klein ______ the conventions of photography by creating images that were
high contrast and included blurred and distorted elements—features generally seen as flaws. So unorthodox was Klein’s
work that he had difficulty finding a publisher for his now-iconic 1956 photo book Life is Good & Good for You in New York.

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

A. reviewed

B. defied

C. respected

D. prevented

ID: aad56f2b Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. "Defied" means "resisted" or "deliberately disobeyed," which matches the way Klein broke from
the conventions of photography in his time by including features that were generally seen as flaws.

Choice A is incorrect. "Reviewed" means "analyzed" or "evaluated," but that doesn’t really fit the context here. Klein isn’t
directly providing any thoughtful examination of the conventions of photography: he’s just breaking all the rules. Choice C is
incorrect. "Respected" can mean "admired" or "followed" (as in the case of conventions). It’s clear that Klein didn’t respect
conventions, given his use of photographic features that were generally considered "flaws." Choice D is incorrect. "Prevented"
means "stopped," and Klein did not stop the conventions—they still existed. Instead, he made images that were seen as
"flawed" under those conventions.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 48555763
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 48555763 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e7247766
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: e7247766 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID ae2b3112
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

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

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

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

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

ID: ae2b3112 Answer

Correct Answer: A

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e7b709fc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: e7b709fc
Archaeologists studying an ancient amphitheater in Switzerland believe that it dates back to the fourth century CE. Their
discoveries of a coin made between 337 and 341 CE and era-appropriate building materials ______ evidence for this theory.

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

A. dismiss

B. provide

C. regulate

D. refuse

ID: e7b709fc Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the archaeologists’ study of the
ancient amphitheater in Switzerland. In this context, “provide” means make available or supply. The text states that the
archaeologists believe that the amphitheater dates to the fourth century CE. The text goes on to say that the archaeologists
discovered a coin made between 337 and 341 CE (that is, made during the fourth century CE) and building materials
appropriate to the era in question. This context suggests that these discoveries provide evidence for the archaeologists’
theory about the dating of the amphitheater.

Choice A is incorrect because the archaeologists’ discoveries are presented as supplying evidence in favor of their theory
about the dating of the amphitheater, not something that would “dismiss,” or reject serious consideration of, evidence for
that theory. Choice C is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that the archaeologists’ discoveries would “regulate,”
or govern or bring order to, evidence for the archaeologists’ theory about the dating of the amphitheater. The discoveries are
presented as supplying evidence for the archaeologists’ theory, not as changing how evidence for the theory is controlled or
ordered. Choice D is incorrect because the archaeologists’ discoveries are presented as supplying evidence in favor of their
theory about the dating of the amphitheater, not something that would “refuse,” or be unwilling to accept, evidence for the
archaeologists’ theory.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 94eb800d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

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

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

A. validated

B. created

C. challenged

D. restored

ID: 94eb800d Answer

Correct Answer: B

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID dc0bca21
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: dc0bca21
It would be a mistake to ______ the exhibit that artist and curator Joe Baker, who is a member of the Lenape (Delaware)
people, has organized at the Brooklyn Public Library. The exhibit, which includes Lenape beadwork from the 1850s as well as
modern works that use traditional patterns, is essential viewing.

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

A. complicate

B. amplify

C. overlook

D. assemble

ID: dc0bca21 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public
Library. In this context, "overlook" means to ignore or to miss. The text states that artist and curator Joe Baker organized an
exhibit that features Lenape beadwork in historical and modern works. The text describes the exhibit as "essential viewing,"
suggesting that it’s an important exhibit that people should make an effort to visit; this context conveys that it would be a
mistake to overlook the exhibit.

Choice A is incorrect. In this context, "complicate" would mean to add difficulty, and there’s no reason to think the text would
need to directly caution against complicating Baker’s exhibit; the text focuses on the idea that the exhibit is "essential
viewing," not on the idea of a potential difficulty that could be raised. Choice B is incorrect. In this context, "amplify" means to
increase, and there’s no reason to believe the text would indicate that it would be a mistake to increase an exhibit the text
describes as "essential viewing." Choice D is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense to say that it would be a mistake to
"assemble," or put together, Baker’s exhibit: the text makes it clear that the exhibit has already been put together and, further,
praises the exhibit as "essential viewing."

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 7b55e895
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Cross-Text

Connections

ID: 7b55e895
Text 1
Some animal species, like the leopard, can be found in many kinds of areas. On the other hand, tropical mountain bird
species tend to be limited in the types of spaces they can call home. This is because many mountain bird species are only
able to survive at very specific elevations. Over time, these species have likely become used to living at a specific
temperature. Therefore, these species struggle to survive at elevations that are warmer or colder than they are used to.
Text 2
A new study reviewed observations of nearly 3,000 bird species to understand why tropical mountain bird species live at
specific elevations. They noted that when a mountain bird species was found in an area with many other bird species, it
tended to inhabit much smaller geographic areas. It is thus likely that competition for resources with other species, not
temperature, limits where these birds can live.

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

A. Tropical mountain bird species are restricted in where they can live.

B. Scientists have better tools to observe tropical mountain birds than they did in the past.

C. Little is known about how tropical mountain birds build their nests.

D. Tropical mountain bird species that live at high elevations tend to be genetically similar.

ID: 7b55e895 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. Both texts state that tropical mountain bird species have limited ranges or habitats, although
they disagree on the reason for this. Text 1 claims that temperature is the main factor that determines where these birds can
live, while Text 2 claims that competition with other species is the main factor. However, both texts agree that these birds are
not able to survive in many kinds of areas.

Choice B is incorrect. Neither text mentions the tools or methods that scientists use to observe these birds, either now or in
the past. Choice C is incorrect. Neither text mentions anything about how these birds build their nests. Choice D is incorrect.
Neither text provides any information about the genetic similarity of these birds, so we have no evidence that either author
would agree with this statement.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID 8bc66f89
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and
Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

ID: 8bc66f89 Answer

Correct Answer: D

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

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

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 2c82068f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: 2c82068f
The following text is from Mark Oshiro’s 2018 novel Anger Is a Gift. In the novel, Moss and his friends are on a subway train
in Northern California.

Lights from the outside world then filled the train car as it rose out of the ground and climbed the elevated track. As
long as Moss had lived in West Oakland, he’d never tired of this specific view, so he pointed toward the windows.
“Check it,” he said, and the Port of Oakland began to pass by them.
©2018 by Mark Oshiro

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

A. Imaginary

B. Energetic

C. Correct

D. Particular

ID: 2c82068f Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is the best answer because as used in the text, "specific" most nearly means particular. The text is referring to the
particular view of the Port of Oakland as seen from a subway train as it rises from underground. This specific, or particular,
view has always been special to Moss, a lifetime resident of West Oakland.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text itself is a work of fiction, the view is something Moss can point out to his
companions on the train, so the view itself is presumably not imaginary. Choice B is incorrect. Although this view of the Port
of Oakland is significant to Moss, nothing in the text describes the view as particularly energetic as opposed to calming, for
example. Choice C is incorrect. The point of the text is that the view of the Port of Oakland from the subway train as it rises
from underground is significant to Moss, not whether it is described as being correct, which the text does not address.

Question Difficulty: Easy

Question ID b93428a6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Words in Context

ID: b93428a6
Animal researcher Amalia P.M. Bastos led a 2021 study about a wild kea parrot that used small stones as tools to preen its
feathers. Skeptical colleagues had initially suggested to Bastos that the kea’s interactions with the stones might simply be
______, but Bastos and her team showed that the kea was using the stones deliberately.

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

A. intriguing

B. obvious

C. accidental

D. observable

ID: b93428a6 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Bastos’s study of a wild kea parrot.
In this context, "accidental" means unplanned or unintentional. The text first describes Bastos’s study, which concerns a kea
that is observed using small stones to preen its feathers. The text then mentions colleagues who are skeptical (that is, they
have doubt) about Bastos’s findings, and finally describes how Bastos and her team responded to the skepticism of those
colleagues. Given that the colleagues mentioned in the text expressed skepticism regarding Bastos’s findings, the best
answer choice must be one that completes the text in a manner such that the skeptics’ opinion regarding the kea’s use of
stones disagrees with that held by Bastos and her team. Since Bastos and her team showed that the kea’s use of stones was
deliberate (that is, intentional), the skeptics’ opinion in this context must be that the kea’s use of stones was unintentional, or
accidental.

Choice A is incorrect because the best answer choice is one that portrays skepticism, or doubt, of Bastos’s claim that the
kea’s usage of stones was deliberate, or intentional. If the skeptics found the kea’s usage of stones "intriguing," or
fascinating, this would not be at odds with the position of Bastos and her team; in fact, it is reasonable to believe that
someone who agreed that the kea’s stone usage was deliberate would also find it intriguing. Choice B is incorrect because if
the skeptics believed that the kea’s usage of small stones was "obvious," or evident, this would not be contrary to the
observation of Bastos and her team that the kea’s usage of stones was deliberate: in fact, these opinions would be
consistent with each other. Choice D is incorrect because if the skeptics believed that the kea’s usage of small stones was
"observable," or visible, this would not conflict with the claim of Bastos and her team that the kea’s usage of stones was
deliberate: instead, these positions would agree.

Question Difficulty: Easy