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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
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Practice Test Twelve Answers and Explanations
1089
I
7. E
Difficulty: Medium
When asked to describe or characterize an author's
argument in one word, make sure to characterize the
author's tone and pick the answer choice that matches. The
author of the first passage uses arguments based on fact,
experience, and logic. Find the word that describes them in
that way.
Choice (A) is an opposite; the author employs reason, not
emotion. Choice (B) is distortion; each argument makes
a distinct point. Choice (C) is out of scope; politics never
enters the discussion in the first passage. Choice (D) is also
out of scope; allegory employs representational characters
or situations to portray themes and arguments. This author
does not use such a tactic. Choice (E) is correct; this choice
suggests an argument based on facts, experience, and logic
in line with the prediction.
8. D
Difficulty: Medium
Some Vocab-in-Context questions function similarly to
Inference questions in that they require you to infer the
sense or meaning that the author seeks to communicate
through a word or phrase. The author states that many
users had slower dial-up access, which precluded them
from fully exploiting the conveniences developed by the
dot-cams. The exploitation to which the author refers is an
exploitation of a good or service. You should predict that in
this context, exploiting must refer to use and enjoyment.
Choice (A) is distortion; this refers to the most common
use of the word, but it makes no sense within the context.
Choice (B) is out of scope; this refers to the noun exploit
which means a heroic or successful act. Choice (C) is out
of scope; politics never enters the discussion in the first
passage. Choice (D) is correct; this matches the prediction.
Choice (E) is out of scope; this doesn't make sense in
context.
9. B
Difficulty: High
Don't eliminate an answer choice in an Inference question
simply because it seems too obvious. Valid inferences
often seem obvious, since they must be true based on the
information in question. Either your notes or a skimming of
the passage for the words second factor should point you
to the third paragraph of Passage 1. The author states, The
second factor that indicates a dot-com resurgence is the
entry of traditional, established companies into the market.
He explains that in the 1990s, dot-corns tried to provide
traditional services and retailing, but now brick-and-mortar
companies are using the Internet to sell their own catalog of
goods. Use this as your prediction.
Choice (A) is an opposite; the author states that traditional,
brick-and-mortar companies will enter e-tailing in some
of the places where dot-corns failed. Choice (B) is correct;
this is an example of what the author calls brick-and-mortar
companies getting involved in the Internet. Choice (C) is a
misused detail; this is the author's first factor. Choice (D)
is a misused detail; this is an argument by the author of
Passage 2. Choice (E) is extreme; the author states that
traditional companies will enter the market but never states
that they will replace dot-cams and take over the market.
10. E
Difficulty: Medium
Characterize the author's tone then vertically scan the first
word of each answer choice and eliminate any that do not
match. Fully read only the remaining answer choices to find
the correct one. Your reading of the passage and your notes
should indicate that the author certainly conveys an opinion
in this passage, so a vertical scan should immediately
eliminate (B) and (D) since describe and explain are too
neutral. Further, your reading of the passage and your
notes should lead you to predict that the author argues or
advocates that the dot-com industry will return. At this point,
you should eliminate (A) since this author argues for his
own opinion, not against someone else's. Now fully read
the remaining (C) and (E) and select the one that best
matches your prediction.
Choice (A) is an opposite; this author argues for his or
her own opinion, not against another's. Choice (B) is
out of scope; in the first paragraph, the author describes
the current state of the Internet economy only as an
introduction to the overall purpose. Choice (C) is out of
scope; this author does predict which types of dot-cams will
succeed in the future, but this is a supporting detail for the
second part of the argument, not the overall purpose of the
passage. Choice (D) is also out of scope; this author does
explain why dot-cams failed in the first paragraph but uses
this explanation as an introduction to the overall purpose.
Choice (E) is correct; this matches the author's tone and
purpose.