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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Two Answers an d Exp l anations
225
I
Choice (A) matches your prediction nicely. Choice (B) is
extreme; the author says that online communications have
an isolating effect, but there is not enough evidence to
state that people who use them are completely isolated.
Choice (C) is a misused detail; we don't know for sure
whether or not the enthusiasts of convenience mentioned
are customers of the dating services referred to earlier in
the passage. Choice (D) is an opposite; the author says
that these people want to increase the number of virtual
interactions without regard for their quality or duration (line
109). Choice (E) is an opposite; the views attributed to the
enthusiasts of convenience fit quite nicely with what the
communications industry is reported to believe.
14. A
Difficu l ty: Low
Be sure to read several lines above a cited bit of text to get
the author's full intention for writing it. Faxing a blueprint is
mentioned in a list of examples that are introduced with the
words Gradually but surely, a technology that was originally
intended to bring people closer together is instead helping
them drift apart . .. (lines 24-27). The list is meant to
provide examples of technologies that make people interact
less.
Choice (A) matches your prediction nicely. Choice (B) is
a misused detail; this may be the case, but it is not the
author's point in this sentence. Choice (C) is out of scope;
there is no discussion in the passage of which technology
is superior to another. Choice (D) is a misused detail; social
accountability is discussed later in the passage and is not
relevant here. Choice (E) is out of scope; the construction
industry is never discussed in the passage.
15. B
Difficu l ty: Medium
Keep watch for any words in the passage that might indicate
the author's opinion. Communications technology has now
contributed . .. to an actual lessening of live human contact
(lines 19-23) indicates that the author disagrees with this
premise. Words like unfortunately indicate that the author
has an unfavorable view of the use of this technology.
Predict that the author opposes this stance.
Choice (A) is an opposite; the author is not appreciative
of the benefits of this technology. Choice (B) matches
your prediction. Choice (C) is extreme; an example of
snide contempt might be the use of outright insults in the
passage, which are not apparent here. Choice (D) is out of
scope; the issue is not so much that the author disbelieves
any claims she is refuting, only that she disagrees with
them. Choice (E) is an opposite; the author has a very
strong opinion about communications technology, which
she expresses in the passage.
16. A
Difficu l ty: High
One notable omission from the author's argument is that
while she objects to interactions that used to take place in
person that now occur electronically, she does not address
or refute the possible benefit of being more in touch with
people whom one previously could not reach otherwise.
If this doesn't come to mind, try eliminating answers that
seem to come from left field.
Choice (A) matches your prediction nicely. Choice (B) is a
misused detail; the use of a fax machine is overly specific
and would not affect the author's argument about human
contact in a meaningful way. Choice (C) is a misused
detail; while Facebook users' opinions might be relevant,
the author could probably make her point thoroughly
without using their input. Choice (D) is out of scope; the
author is discussing human contact, not physical wellbeing.
Choice (E) is out of scope; the distinction between
technologies is not an issue in this essay, only their
cumulative effect.
17. E
Difficu l ty: High
Remember that the correct answer to an Inference
question, while not stated directly in the passage, will be
very supportable from the information in the passage. The
author's main complaint is that as more and more virtual
connections are made, there are fewer and fewer face-toface
interactions. Most likely, the author would say that a
focus on virtual relationships is taking people away from
more human connections.
Choice (A) is an opposite; though fewer face-to-face
interactions are taking place, the author never says that
people have less need of them. Choice (B) is a misused
detail; this is given as the opinion of the communications
industry, not the author. Choice (C) is out of scope; the
issue of time for other tasks is never raised in the passage.
Choice (D) is extreme; though the author has a negative
view of these virtual interactions, she never goes so far as