Question ID d995ff9d

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: d995ff9d
Historians have argued that a crucial component of the Civil Rights Movement’s success in the 1960s was
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Citizen Education Program (CEP), which invited promising
activists from across the South to its one-week training sessions in Dorchester, Georgia. Led by experienced
organizers such as Dorothy Cotton and Septima Clark, CEP attendees—more than 7,000 in all—participated in
workshops on topics ranging from public speaking to legal doctrine before returning home and using their
newly acquired knowledge to spearhead local civil rights initiatives.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A. It underscores the extent of the CEP’s impact on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

B. It illustrates the CEP organizers’ efforts to educate participants on a wide variety of topics.

C. It suggests that CEP attendees held a diverse array of opinions about the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference’s political philosophy.

D. It establishes that criticism of the CEP was limited to a few individuals in the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference.

ID: d995ff9d Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a
whole. The first sentence of the text states that the CEP had a positive impact on the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
The next sentence explains that the CEP organized workshops for attendees, who later used the knowledge they gained to
lead civil rights initiatives. And the underlined portion indicates the number of activists—more than 7,000—who participated
in the workshops. Thus, the underlined portion provides a number that underscores the extent of the CEP’s impact on the
Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

Choice B is incorrect. Although the sentence that contains the underlined portion mentions some CEP workshop topics, the
underlined portion itself addresses the number of participants in the CEP workshops, not the number of topics covered.
Choice C is incorrect. Although the underlined portion refers to attendees of the CEP workshops, nothing in the underlined
portion or the text as a whole addresses the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s philosophy or the attendees’
opinions thereof. Choice D is incorrect because neither the underlined portion nor the text as a whole mentions any criticism
of the CEP by members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 401e1856
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 401e1856
Changes to vegetation cover and other human activities influence carbon and nitrogen levels in soil, though
how deep these effects extend is unclear. Hypothesizing that differences in land use lead to differences in
carbon and nitrogen levels that are not restricted to the topsoil layer (0–30 cm deep), Chukwuebuka Okolo
and colleagues sampled soils across multiple land-use types (e.g., grazing land, cropland, forest) within each
of several Ethiopian locations. They found, though, that across land-use types, carbon and nitrogen
decreased to comparably low levels beyond depths of 30 cm.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

A. It describes a phenomenon that scientists do not fully understand, explains a research team’s hypothesis
about that phenomenon, and then describes a finding that led the team to refine the hypothesis.

B. It introduces an unresolved scientific question, presents a research team’s hypothesis pertaining to that
question, and then describes an observation made by the team that conflicts with that hypothesis.

C. It discusses a process that scientists are somewhat unclear about, introduces competing hypotheses
about that process, and then explains how a research team concluded that one of those hypotheses is
likely correct.

D. It explains a hypothesis that has been the subject of scientific debate, discusses how a research team
tested that hypothesis, and then presents data the team collected that validate the hypothesis.

ID: 401e1856 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the overall structure of the text. The text begins by
explaining that human activities influence carbon and nitrogen levels in soil, but how deeply these effects are seen in the soil
remains an unresolved question. Next, the text summarizes Okolo and colleagues’ hypothesis regarding this question—
which is that the different effects on carbon and nitrogen levels associated with different types of land use would also be
observed below the topsoil layer—and then briefly explains the methods they used to test this hypothesis. Finally, the text
states that the researchers found that at depths below the topsoil layer, carbon and nitrogen decreased to similarly low
levels across all land-use types, a finding that conflicts with the team’s hypothesis presented earlier in the text. Thus, the text
introduces an unresolved scientific question, presents a research team’s hypothesis pertaining to that question, and then
describes an observation that the team made that conflicted with their hypothesis.

Choice A is incorrect. Although the text introduces a phenomenon (the fact that human activities influence carbon and
nitrogen levels in the soil) that isn’t fully understood by scientists and explains a research team’s hypothesis about the
phenomenon, the text doesn’t describe how the team refined their hypothesis when a research finding contradicted it. Choice
C is incorrect because the text doesn’t discuss a process at all; rather, it poses an unsolved scientific question and presents
a hypothesis that Okolo and colleagues tested to answer that question. Moreover, the text only describes one hypothesis; it
doesn’t mention any competing hypotheses, nor does it suggest that Okolo’s team was able to determine which hypothesis
was correct. Choice D is incorrect because the text doesn’t begin by presenting a hypothesis that is under scientific debate;
rather, it presents a question that scientists have been unable to answer and then introduces a hypothesis formulated by
Okolo and colleagues. While the text does explain how Okolo’s team tested their hypothesis, the text goes on to say that their
data conflicted with their hypothesis, not that the data validated, or supported, their hypothesis.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID bfcbec2d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: bfcbec2d
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

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

ID: bfcbec2d 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 da17503b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: da17503b
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?

A. It describes an experiment that addressed an unresolved question about the extent to which lunar regolith
resembles 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: da17503b 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 6a9bf335
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 6a9bf335
Studying late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century artifacts from an agricultural and domestic site in
Texas, archaeologist Ayana O. Flewellen found that Black women employed as farm workers utilized hook-
and-eye closures to fasten their clothes at the waist, giving themselves a silhouette similar to the one that
was popular in contemporary fashion and typically achieved through more restrictive garments such as
corsets. Flewellen argues that this sartorial practice shows that these women balanced hegemonic ideals of
femininity with the requirements of their physically demanding occupation.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To describe an unexpected discovery that altered a researcher’s view of how rapidly fashions among
Black female farmworkers in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Texas changed during the period

B. To discuss research that investigated the ways in which Black female farmworkers in late nineteenth- and
early twentieth-century Texas used fashion practices to resist traditional gender ideals

C. To evaluate a scholarly work that offers explanations for the impact of urban fashion ideals on Black
female farmworkers in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Texas

D. To summarize the findings of a study that explored factors influencing a fashion practice among Black
female farmworkers in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Texas

ID: 6a9bf335 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The text provides an overview of a scholarly work discussing the fashion practices of Black
female farmworkers in late 19th- and early 20th-century Texas, and how these practices were influenced by both the fashion
ideals of the time and the demands of farmwork.

Choice A is incorrect. The text never discusses the rate of fashion change among Black female farmworkers. The text also
never categorizes Flewellen’s findings as "unexpected." Choice B is incorrect. The text actually explains that Black female
farmworkers were trying to achieve traditional feminine ideals, not resist them. Choice C is incorrect. The text doesn’t
evaluate a scholarly work but rather simply describes it. Furthermore, the text is focused on "agricultural and domestic"
fashion, not urban fashion as this choice suggests.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 674aae7d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 674aae7d
Astronomers are confident that the star Betelgeuse will eventually consume all the helium in its core and
explode in a supernova. They are much less confident, however, about when this will happen, since that
depends on internal characteristics of Betelgeuse that are largely unknown. Astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry
Nance and colleagues recently investigated whether acoustic waves in the star could be used to determine
internal stellar states but concluded that this method could not sufficiently reveal Betelgeuse’s internal
characteristics to allow its evolutionary state to be firmly fixed.

Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A. It describes a serious limitation of the method used by Nance and colleagues.

B. It presents the central finding reported by Nance and colleagues.

C. It identifies the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but did not.

D. It explains how the work of Nance and colleagues was received by others in the field.

ID: 674aae7d Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer because it best describes how the second sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence establishes something astronomers believe with some certainty: that Betelgeuse will explode in a supernova. The
second sentence then introduces a problem: astronomers aren’t certain when Betelgeuse will explode because they don’t
have enough information about the star’s internal characteristics. Finally, the third sentence indicates that researcher
Sarafina El-Badry Nance and colleagues investigated a possible method of obtaining the necessary information about
Betelgeuse’s internal characteristics, though they found that the method wouldn’t be sufficient. Thus, the function of the
second sentence is to identify the problem that Nance and colleagues attempted to solve but didn’t.

Choice A is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped to solve,
not a serious limitation of how Nance and colleagues tried to solve it. It is the third sentence that introduces Nance and
colleagues, but no serious limitation of their approach to studying a method of determining internal stellar states is
described. Choice B is incorrect because the second sentence introduces the general problem Nance and colleagues hoped
to solve, not the central finding they ultimately reported. It is the third sentence that presents Nance and colleagues’
conclusion that a potential method for determining internal stellar states would be insufficient. Choice D is incorrect
because the second sentence doesn’t indicate how other astronomers or astrophysicists responded to the work done by
Nance and colleagues; the text doesn’t address this information at all.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 83e4ea9a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 83e4ea9a
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?

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

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

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

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

ID: 83e4ea9a 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 306f6d2a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 306f6d2a
The following text is adapted from Herman Melville’s 1855 novel Israel Potter. Israel is a young man
wandering through New England during the late eighteenth century.

He hired himself out for three months; at the end of that time to receive for his wages two hundred acres
of land lying in New Hampshire. [...] His employer proving false to the contract in the matter of the land,
and there being no law in the country to force him to fulfil it, Israel—who, however brave-hearted, and
even much of a dare-devil upon a pinch, seems nevertheless to have evinced, throughout many parts of
his career, a singular patience and mildness—was obliged to look round for other means of livelihood
than clearing out a farm for himself in the wilderness.

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

A. It implies that Israel treasures a particular characteristic of his personality when that characteristic should
usually be regarded as a flaw.

B. It suggests that if not for a certain aspect of his character, Israel might not have been as easily thwarted
in his ambition to establish a farm.

C. It shows why Israel would not have been able to undertake the enormous amount of labor necessary to
run a farm even if he had owned the necessary property.

D. It explains why, when the situation requires it, Israel is able to undertake courageous acts that others
would generally avoid.

ID: 306f6d2a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer because it best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole. The text
describes the failed attempt of Israel Potter to establish a farm in New England during the late eighteenth century: according
to his contract, he was to receive two hundred acres in exchange for three months’ work, but his employer then refused to
fulfill the bargain and Israel had no recourse to law to obtain the land he was owed. Israel was therefore forced to find
another means of supporting himself. To explain why Israel was particularly susceptible to his employer’s dishonesty, the
underlined portion states that though Israel was "brave-hearted, and even much of a dare-devil upon a pinch," he also
possessed "a singular patience and mildness." In other words, Israel could be courageous in certain circumstances, but he
was usually meek and disinclined to argument, from which it is reasonable to infer that Israel was often taken advantage of.
Thus, the underlined portion suggests that if not for a certain aspect of his character, Israel might not have been as easily
thwarted in his ambition to establish a farm.
Choice A is incorrect because although the underlined portion describes aspects of Israel’s personality, it does not address
how he feels about his own personality. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined portion addresses Israel’s occasional
courage and frequent meekness but does not address whether he would have the skills and resolve necessary to operate a
farm if he owned sufficient property. Choice D is incorrect. Though the underlined portion does indicate that Israel could be
courageous in certain circumstances, it does not say that he undertook acts of courage that others avoided, but rather that
he was habitually meek. Even if the underlined portion did say that Israel was more courageous than most, this would not
explain why he found himself under the circumstances described in the text—that is, as a consequence of his meek nature,
cheated of the property to which he had a right.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c89da8bc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: c89da8bc
According to historian Vicki L. Ruiz, Mexican American women made crucial contributions to the labor
movement during World War II. At the time, food processing companies entered into contracts to supply
United States armed forces with canned goods. Increased production quotas conferred greater bargaining
power on the companies’ employees, many of whom were Mexican American women: employees insisted on
more favorable benefits, and employers, who were anxious to fulfill the contracts, complied. Thus, labor
activism became a platform for Mexican American women to assert their agency.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A. It elaborates on a claim about labor relations in a particular industry made earlier in the text.

B. It offers an example of a trend in the World War II–era economy discussed earlier in the text.

C. It notes a possible exception to the historical narrative of labor activism sketched earlier in the text.

D. It provides further details about the identities of the workers discussed earlier in the text.

ID: c89da8bc Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined portion functions in the text as a whole. The text
says that the increased production quotas of food processing companies during World War II enabled employees to make
better bargains in exchange for their labor. The underlined portion presents an example of this increased bargaining power:
employees requested more favorable benefits, and employers complied because they were under pressure to fulfill the
demanding terms of their contracts. Thus, the underlined portion of the text elaborates on a claim about labor relations in a
particular industry (food processing) made earlier in the text.

Choice B is incorrect because there is no indication in the text that the economic factors that influenced food processing
also influenced other parts of the economy; thus, the bargaining described in the underlined portion of the text cannot be
called an example of a trend. Choice C is incorrect because the underlined portion supports the historical narrative of labor
activism in food processing that is sketched in the text, instead of noting an exception to that narrative. Choice D is incorrect
because while the underlined portion does discuss the demands that workers made in exchange for their labor, it does not
discuss the identities of the workers.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 939f1fe8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 939f1fe8
In Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, an almost imperceptible smile from potential suitor Henry Crawford
causes the protagonist Fanny Price to blush; her embarrassment grows when she suspects that he is aware
of it. This moment—in which Fanny not only infers Henry’s mental state through his gestures, but also infers
that he is drawing inferences about her mental state—illustrates what literary scholar George Butte calls
“deep intersubjectivity,” a technique for representing interactions between consciousnesses through which
Austen’s novels derive much of their social and psychological drama.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It states a claim about Austen’s skill at representing psychological complexity that is reinforced by an
example presented in the following sentence.

B. It advances an interpretation of an Austen protagonist who is contrasted with protagonists from other
Austen novels cited in the following sentence.

C. It describes a recurring theme in Austen’s novels that is the focus of a literary scholar’s analysis
summarized in the following sentence.

D. It provides a synopsis of an interaction in an Austen novel that illustrates a literary concept discussed in
the following sentence.

ID: 939f1fe8 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The underlined sentence provides a concrete example to ground readers’ understanding of the
“deep intersubjectivity” described in the next sentence as central to Austen’s work.

Choice A is incorrect. There is no evaluation made of Austen’s skill in this sentence, and no examples are given in the
following sentence. This choice essentially flips the paragraph: it’s this first sentence that provides an example. Choice B is
incorrect. There are no other Austen protagonists mentioned in this passage, so this couldn’t be the answer. Choice C is
incorrect. The underlined sentence doesn’t identify any “recurring theme,” but instead simply describes one interaction from
one book. This interaction exemplifies the literary technique of “deep intersubjectivity” that is introduced in the next
sentence.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 7ec676d1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 7ec676d1
The following text is from Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Jane, the narrator, works as a governess
at Thornfield Hall.
I went on with my day’s business tranquilly; but ever and anon vague suggestions kept wandering across
my brain of reasons why I should quit Thornfield; and I kept involuntarily framing advertisements and
pondering conjectures about new situations: these thoughts I did not think to check; they might germinate
and bear fruit if they could.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To convey a contrast between Jane’s outward calmness and internal restlessness

B. To emphasize Jane’s loyalty to the people she works for at Thornfield Hall

C. To demonstrate that Jane finds her situation both challenging and deeply fulfilling

D. To describe Jane’s determination to secure employment outside of Thornfield Hall

ID: 7ec676d1 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 that while
Jane calmly goes about her daily tasks, she is experiencing internal agitation about possibly seeking a new job. At the start
of the text, Jane says, “I went on with my day’s business tranquilly,” indicating that she is outwardly calm. This outward
calmness is then contrasted with her intense internal restlessness, as Jane says that thoughts of leaving her job keep
running through her mind, that she is “involuntarily framing advertisements” (meaning that she can’t stop herself from
thinking up potential listings for jobs), and that she often wonders what new “situations” (or jobs) would be like.

Choice B is incorrect because the text gives no indication of Jane’s feelings, either positive or negative, about the people she
works for at Thornfield Hall. And rather than emphasizing that Jane feels particularly loyal to her employers, the text focuses
on her constant consideration of leaving her job. Choice C is incorrect because the text gives no indication that Jane finds
her current situation fulfilling, or satisfying. Given that much of the text is focused on Jane’s thoughts about possibly leaving
her job for a new one, it might be the case that she finds her situation challenging, but there is no evidence in the text that
Jane also finds that situation satisfying—she says nothing positive about her current job at all, in fact. Choice D is incorrect
because the text describes Jane as wondering about getting a new job, not as determined to definitely do so. Jane keeps
thinking about reasons why she “should” quit her current job (indicating that she hasn’t yet decided to) and imagining
possible new situations she could find, but she says at the end of the text that these thoughts “might germinate and bear
fruit if they could,” meaning that the thoughts haven’t yet led to a decision—that Jane isn’t yet determined to get a new job
somewhere else.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID 4e8b863b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 4e8b863b
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?

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

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

C. 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.

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

ID: 4e8b863b 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 4c27795c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 4c27795c
“How lifelike are they?” Many computer animators prioritize this question as they strive to create ever more
realistic environments and lighting. Generally, while characters in computer-animated films appear highly
exaggerated, environments and lighting are carefully engineered to mimic reality. But some animators, such
as Pixar’s Sanjay Patel, are focused on a different question. Rather than asking first whether the
environments and lighting they’re creating are convincingly lifelike, Patel and others are asking whether these
elements reflect their films’ unique stories.

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

A. It reflects a primary goal that many computer animators have for certain components of the animations
they produce.

B. It represents a concern of computer animators who are more interested in creating unique backgrounds
and lighting effects than realistic ones.

C. It conveys the uncertainty among many computer animators about how to create realistic animations
using current technology.

D. It illustrates a reaction that audiences typically have to the appearance of characters created by computer
animators.

ID: 4c27795c Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the underlined question in the text as a
whole. The text begins with the underlined question, “How lifelike are they?” The text then explains that many computer
animators pose this question about the environments and lighting that they create for animated films, striving for realistic
animation of those components even if the characters themselves aren’t portrayed in realistic terms. The focus of the text
then shifts to describe how some animators strive to create environments and lighting that reflect the film’s unique stories
rather than making them appear realistic. Therefore, the function of the underlined question is to reflect a primary goal that
many computer animators have for certain components of the animations they produce.

Choice B is incorrect because, as the text makes clear, the underlined question is one posed by computer animators who
wish to create realistic backgrounds and lighting effects, not by those who, instead, wish to create effects that reflect films’
unique stories and aren’t necessarily realistic; this latter group of animators is discussed later in the text. Choice C is
incorrect. As the text explains, many computer animators strive for realistic environments and lighting, while others do not;
this difference of approach relates to whether these components should be realistic, not to how realism can be achieved
using current technology, and the text never suggests that animators are uncertain how to achieve it. Choice D is incorrect
because the underlined question pertains to the perspective of computer animators, not the audience, and the text never
considers audience’s reactions to characters in animated films.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a05fe244
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: a05fe244
The 1967 release of Harold Cruse’s book The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual isolated him from almost all
other scholars and activists of the American Civil Rights Movement—though many of those thinkers
disagreed with each other, he nonetheless found ways to disagree with them all. He thought that activists
who believed that Black people such as himself should culturally assimilate were naïve. But he also sharply
criticized Black nationalists such as Marcus Garvey who wanted to establish independent, self-contained
Black economies and societies, even though Cruse himself identified as a Black nationalist.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It describes a direction that Cruse felt the Civil Rights Movement ought to take.

B. It indicates that Cruse’s reputation as a persistent antagonist of other scholars is undeserved.

C. It describes a controversy that Cruse’s work caused within the Black nationalist movement.

D. It helps explain Cruse’s position with respect to the community of civil rights thinkers.

ID: a05fe244 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer. The text as a whole claims that Cruse disagreed with virtually all other Civil Rights scholars and
activists. The underlined sentence describes one way that Cruse both did and didn’t fit in with those thinkers: he criticized
Black nationalists, even though he identified as one.

Choice A is incorrect. The underlined sentence doesn’t do this. It describes Cruse’s criticisms—it never mentions what Cruse
did want the movement to do instead. Choice B is incorrect. This conflicts with the text, which argues that Cruse did disagree
with almost all other scholars of the Civil Rights Movement. Choice C is incorrect. This is a step too far. The text never says
that Cruse’s work caused controversy within the Black nationalist movement.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0a9b75f3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 0a9b75f3
The following text is adapted from Herman Melville’s 1857 novel The Confidence-Man. Humphry Davy was a
prominent British chemist and inventor.

Years ago, a grave American savant, being in London, observed at an evening party there, a certain
coxcombical fellow, as he thought, an absurd ribbon in his lapel, and full of smart [banter], whisking
about to the admiration of as many as were disposed to admire. Great was the savant’s disdain; but,
chancing ere long to find himself in a corner with the jackanapes, got into conversation with him, when
he was somewhat ill-prepared for the good sense of the jackanapes, but was altogether thrown aback,
upon subsequently being [informed that he was] no less a personage than Sir Humphry Davy.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. It portrays the thoughts of a character who is embarrassed about his own behavior.

B. It presents an account of a misunderstanding.

C. It offers a short history of how a person came to be famous.

D. It explains why one character dislikes another.

ID: 0a9b75f3 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer. The text tells a story of a first impression that turned out to be wrong: a serious American
savant was dismissive of a goofy-looking, wisecracking guest at a British party, and then was shocked to learn that the guest
was actually a prominent British chemist and inventor.

Choice A is incorrect. This is too strong and too narrow. Only at the very end is the savant "thrown aback" by the fact that the
man was Sir Humphry Davy—he’s not "embarrassed about his own behavior." Choice C is incorrect. This isn’t the main
purpose. The text never provides the history of how Sir Humphry Davy came to be famous. Nor does it provide any history for
the American savant. Choice D is incorrect. This is too narrow. It doesn’t include the second half of the text, where the savant
gets into a conversation with the man and then finds out that the man is Sir Humphry Davy.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a5307779
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: a5307779
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?
A. It explains a discrepancy between what has been observed in study settings and what has been observed
in real-world settings that the text goes on to assert is attributable to the studies not using real-world
data.

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

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

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

ID: a5307779 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 06346bcd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 06346bcd
Some studies have suggested that posture can influence cognition, but we should not overstate this
phenomenon. A case in point: In a 2014 study, Megan O’Brien and Alaa Ahmed had subjects stand or sit
while making risky simulated economic decisions. Standing is more physically unstable and cognitively
demanding than sitting; accordingly, O’Brien and Ahmed hypothesized that standing subjects would display
more risk aversion during the decision-making tasks than sitting subjects did, since they would want to avoid
further feelings of discomfort and complicated risk evaluations. But O’Brien and Ahmed actually found no
difference in the groups’ performance.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. It argues that research findings about the effects of posture on cognition are often misunderstood, as in
the case of O’Brien and Ahmed’s study.

B. It presents the study by O’Brien and Ahmed to critique the methods and results reported in previous
studies of the effects of posture on cognition.

C. It explains a significant problem in the emerging understanding of posture’s effects on cognition and how
O’Brien and Ahmed tried to solve that problem.

D. It discusses the study by O’Brien and Ahmed to illustrate why caution is needed when making claims
about the effects of posture on cognition.

ID: 06346bcd Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main purpose of the text. The text notes that although
some studies have suggested that posture may have an effect on cognition, this phenomenon should not be overstated. In
other words, the text begins by urging caution and restraint when discussing the effects of posture on cognition, implying
that even though some studies have shown posture to affect cognition, we should not assume that posture always affects
cognition or does so in a strong way. The text goes on to discuss O’Brien and Ahmed’s study as a "case in point" (that is, as
an example of the point made previously). According to the text, O’Brien and Ahmed hypothesized that since standing is
more cognitively demanding than sitting, standing subjects in their experiment would respond differently to decision-making
tasks than sitting subjects would, which would show an effect of posture on cognition. What the researchers actually found,
however, was that the standing and sitting subjects performed the same—posture did not affect cognition. By presenting a
circumstance in which posture does not appear to affect cognition, the discussion of O’Brien and Ahmed’s study shows why
it is important not to overstate the phenomenon. The purpose of the text, therefore, is to discuss O’Brien and Ahmed’s study
to illustrate why caution is needed when making claims about posture’s effects on cognition.
Choice A is incorrect because the text discusses O’Brien and Ahmed’s study as an example of why caution is needed when
discussing posture’s effects on cognition, not as an example of how research findings related to posture and cognition are
often misunderstood. Although the text does warn against misunderstanding the scope of the relationship between posture
and cognition that has been reported in some previous studies, O’Brien and Ahmed’s study is not one of those studies, and
there is no suggestion that anyone has misunderstood O’Brien and Ahmed’s findings. Choice B is incorrect because the text
makes no mention of the methods used in previous studies of the effects of posture on cognition. Although the text does
urge caution when discussing posture’s effects on cognition, it does not critique the results of studies that suggested that
posture can affect cognition. Instead, the text suggests that such results should not be exaggerated or taken too broadly.
Choice C is incorrect because although the text implies that overstating posture’s effects on cognition would be a problem,
nothing in the text suggests that O’Brien and Ahmed share that view or that they attempted to solve that problem. O’Brien
and Ahmed are presented as hypothesizing that posture would affect cognition in their study, not as trying to resolve the
problem the text describes.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 52aa1317
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 52aa1317
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?

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

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

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

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

ID: 52aa1317 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 43aa094b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 43aa094b
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?
A. It presents a trend in scholarship on the Chicano movement that the text claims has been reevaluated by
researchers in light of Herrera’s work on the movement’s participants.

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

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

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

ID: 43aa094b 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 f7ed26a4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: f7ed26a4
In 2020, rap artist and professor A.D. Carson published the first peer-reviewed rap album about his
experiences with Black masculinity called “i used to love to dream.” Typically in peer review, experts evaluate
scholarly articles prior to publication. For Carson’s album, dubbed a “mixtap/e/ssay,” peer review involved
both scholars and rap artists. In combining elements of a mixtape album with scholarly essays that connect
Carson’s lyrics to historical and contemporary contexts for listeners both inside and outside academia,
Carson’s album helped redefine how scholarship is created and shared.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A. To compare the relative public impact of scholarly articles and albums

B. To capture one scholar’s opinion of a new rap album

C. To explain why a certain rap album is particularly innovative

D. To describe how each step of the peer review process unfolds

ID: f7ed26a4 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is the best answer because it best describes the main purpose of the text, which is to explain why a certain rap
album is particularly innovative. The text mentions rap artist and professor A.D. Carson, who published "the first peer-
reviewed rap album." The text also describes the unusual process of having the work evaluated by both scholars and rap
artists before its release, and details how the album combines elements of a mixtape album with elements of scholarly
essays. All of these characteristics of the album and the way in which it was developed help to demonstrate the album’s
novelty.

Choice A is incorrect because though the text mentions an album that combines elements of scholarly essays and mixtapes,
it does not compare the relative public impact of scholarly articles and albums. Choice B is incorrect because the text does
not present the opinion of a scholar regarding the rap album. Choice D is incorrect because though the text mentions that
the album was peer reviewed, it does not detail the steps of the review.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d7048b13
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: d7048b13
The field of study called affective neuroscience seeks instinctive, physiological causes for feelings such as
pleasure or displeasure. Because these sensations are linked to a chemical component (for example, the
release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain when one receives or expects a reward), they can be
said to have a partly physiological basis. These processes have been described in mammals, but Jingnan
Huang and his colleagues have recently observed that some behaviors of honeybees (such as foraging) are
also motivated by a dopamine-based signaling process.

What choice best describes the main purpose of the text?

A. It describes an experimental method of measuring the strength of physiological responses in humans.

B. It illustrates processes by which certain insects can express how they are feeling.

C. It summarizes a finding suggesting that some mechanisms in the brains of certain insects resemble
mechanisms in mammalian brains.

D. It presents research showing that certain insects and mammals behave similarly when there is a
possibility of a reward for their actions.

ID: d7048b13 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 summarize a
finding suggesting that some mechanisms in the brains of certain insects resemble mechanisms in mammalian brains. The
text begins by explaining that feelings such as pleasure and displeasure are linked to chemical processes in the brain, such
as the release of dopamine when one receives a reward. The text then indicates that such processes have been seen in
mammals but that researchers have recently observed similar processes involving dopamine in honeybees. Taken together,
this information serves to sum up the discovery that some mechanisms in the brains of certain insects may resemble
mechanisms linked to feelings such as pleasure and displeasure in mammals.

Choice A is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe any experiments or experimental methods. Instead, the text
describes a phenomenon that has been observed in mammals and then presents the recent observations of Huang and
colleagues that this phenomenon is also seen in honeybees. Choice B is incorrect because there’s nothing in the text to
suggest that certain insects can express how they’re feeling through particular processes. The text does indicate that certain
honeybee behaviors such as foraging are linked to dopamine, but it doesn’t suggest that these behaviors enable honeybees
to communicate feelings or sensations. Choice D is incorrect because the text presents research showing that certain
honeybee behaviors such as foraging are linked to dopamine and therefore may be motivated by similar mechanisms to
those in mammalian brains, not that honeybees and mammals behave similarly when there is the possibility of reward for
their actions.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID bf2915a9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: bf2915a9
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?

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

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

C. It names the company where an important mathematician worked, details the mathematician’s career at
the company, 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: bf2915a9 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 a1b07d88
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: a1b07d88
The mimosa tree evolved in East Asia, where the beetle Bruchidius terrenus preys on its seeds. In 1785,
mimosa trees were introduced to North America, far from any B. terrenus. But evolutionary links between
predators and their prey can persist across centuries and continents. Around 2001, B. terrenus was
introduced in southeastern North America near where botanist Shu-Mei Chang and colleagues had been
monitoring mimosa trees. Within a year, 93 percent of the trees had been attacked by the beetles.

Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A. It states the hypothesis that Chang and colleagues had set out to investigate using mimosa trees and B.
terrenus.

B. It presents a generalization that is exemplified by the discussion of the mimosa trees and B. terrenus.

C. It provides context that clarifies why the species mentioned spread to new locations.

D. It offers an alternative explanation for the findings of Chang and colleagues.

ID: a1b07d88 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is the best answer because it most accurately describes the function of the third sentence within the overall
structure of the text. The third sentence makes a generalization, asserting that evolutionary links between predators and prey
can persist across great expanses of time and distance. This generalization is exemplified by the text’s discussion of the
relationship between mimosa trees and B. terrenus beetles. When mimosa trees were introduced to North America in 1785,
no B. terrenus beetles were present, so the relationship between the trees and the beetles that exists in their native East Asia
was disrupted. When the beetles were introduced to North America more than 200 years later, however, they quickly attacked
mimosa trees, illustrating the generalization that links between predators and prey "can persist across centuries and
continents."

Choice A is incorrect because the third sentence doesn’t indicate that Chang and colleagues were investigating any
hypothesis. According to the text, Chang and colleagues were simply monitoring mimosa trees when the beetles happened
to be introduced to the area. Choice C is incorrect because the third sentence doesn’t discuss any particular species, let
alone the species mentioned elsewhere in the text, nor does the sentence explain why species spread to new locations.
Choice D is incorrect because the third sentence offers a generalization about the relationship between predators and prey,
not an explanation for the findings by Chang and colleagues that’s an "alternative" to an explanation presented elsewhere in
the text.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cd920288
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: cd920288
The following text is from Edith Wharton’s 1905 novel The House of Mirth. Lily Bart and a companion are
walking through a park.
Lily had no real intimacy with nature, but she had a passion for the appropriate and could be keenly
sensitive to a scene which was the fitting background of her own sensations. The landscape outspread
below her seemed an enlargement of her present mood, and she found something of herself in its
calmness, its breadth, its long free reaches. On the nearer slopes the sugar-maples wavered like pyres of
light; lower down was a massing of grey orchards, and here and there the lingering green of an oak-grove.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It creates a detailed image of the physical setting of the scene.

B. It establishes that a character is experiencing an internal conflict.

C. It makes an assertion that the next sentence then expands on.

D. It illustrates an idea that is introduced in the previous sentence.

ID: cd920288 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is the best answer because it best describes how the underlined sentence functions in the text as a whole. The first
sentence of the text establishes that Lily can be “keenly sensitive to” scenes that serve as a “fitting background” for her
feelings—that is, she’s very aware of when a setting seems to reflect her mood. The next sentence, which is underlined, then
demonstrates this awareness: Lily views the landscape she’s in as a large-scale reflection of her current mood, identifying
with elements such as its calmness. Thus, the function of the underlined sentence is to illustrate an idea introduced in the
previous sentence.

Choice A is incorrect because the underlined sentence describes the scene only in very general terms, referring to its
calmness, breadth, and long stretches of land. It’s the next sentence that adds specific details about colors, light, and various
trees nearby. Choice B is incorrect because nothing in the underlined sentence suggests that Lily is experiencing an internal
conflict. In fact, the sentence indicates that Lily thinks the landscape reflects her own feeling of calmness. Choice C is
incorrect because the only assertion in the underlined sentence is that Lily feels that broad aspects of the landscape, such
as its calmness, reflect her current mood, and that assertion isn’t expanded on in the next sentence. Instead, the next
sentence describes specific details of the scene without connecting them to Lily’s feelings.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9f04b826
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 9f04b826
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: 9f04b826 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 77b9ccd9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 77b9ccd9
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: 77b9ccd9 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 f78b6c18
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: f78b6c18
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: f78b6c18 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 9555ec64
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Reading and Writing Craft and Structure Text Structure and Hard
Purpose

ID: 9555ec64
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: 9555ec64 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