12.Practice.Tests.for.the.SAT_2015-2016_1128p

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12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Eleven Answers and Explanations
The essay also relies a bit too much on cliches (look on
the bright side and more than ever). Note the effective
parallelism in the first sentence, though.
Overall, it seems as if either the writer had a hard time
coming up with ideas, and rushed to write the essay in
the last few minutes, or else the writer had three ideas but
couldn't choose among them. It would have been a better
essay if the writer had selected one of these and developed
it well, instead of trying to write about all three.
2 Score Essay
I don't agree with this statement, that we can turn every
obstacle into an opportunity. Some obstacles are just the
way they are and there's nothing you can do about it. Like
if I wanted to be a NBA basketball player. In the NBA you
have to be tall as a tree, and I'm the shortest person in the
whole school. Back in elementary school too. So I'm never
going to opportunity to play the NBA. There is nothing I can
do about that.
And if you die young like from leukemia, that obstacle
doesn't give you the opportunity to do anything with your
life. There is nothing you could have done.
So it depends on the obstacle. The quote should have said
MANY obstacles or SOME obstacle. It just depends.
2 Score Critique
The essay is scored based on four basic criteria: Topic,
Support, Organization, and Language. While the author does
present a point of view clearly, this essay is deficient in both
development and presentation. It's perfectly acceptable
for the author to disagree with the stimulus statement,
but she provides hardly any support for that position. The
ideas presented are extremely thin, and there's no logical
organization to them. Finally, this essay's prose leaves
out words (So I'm never going to opportunity ...), is too
colloquial (Like if I wanted to be .. .
the rules of standard written English (Back in elementary
school too).
), and seriously violates
SECTION 2
1. B
Difficulty: Low
Don't settle for a choice that kind of works, like (C). Make
sure it captures the entire meaning of your prediction.
Catalonia is not an independent nation anymore, but it
continues to have its own language and culture. So a good
prediction might be keeps a sense of independence.
Choice (B) is a perfect match. In (A), if Catalonia were
surrendering, the word nevertheless wouldn't make sense.
Choice (C) is not out of the question, since the people of
Catalonia might feel privileged, but this doesn't have much
to do with the issue of independence. Choice (D) is too
extreme-there's nothing to indicate that the people of
Catalonia are arrogant. Choice (E) is the opposite of what
you're looking for. If the people have their own language
and culture, they probably don't feel neglected.
2. E
Difficulty: Low
This is another definition sentence. The woman fondly
remembered her childhood, so look for a choice that fits
this definition.
Choice (E) is a perfect fit. In (A), she might feel gratitude,
but that doesn't mean fondly remembering something.
There's not much support for (B) in the sentence. What
would she be determined about? For (C) and (D),
regret and melancholy are too negative; she's fondly
remembering.
3. B
Difficulty: Low
In order to predict what goes in the first blank, look at the
explanation following the colon. The scientific records and
video cameras suggest that watched or observed would
work for both the first and second blanks. Both monitored
and document fit your prediction. For (A), record is great,
but praised doesn't work here-cameras can't praise the
pandas. In (C), criticized is too negative-you're looking for
neutral words. In (D), evaluated isn't bad, but how could a
camera approve activities? In (E), anyone who questioned
the pandas would be in for a very one-sided conversation.