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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Three Answers and Explanations 283
I
my parents made their decision so I could decide that my
reaction wouldn't be so negative and then I could still be
happy unlike my friend.
So choosing how to react to events is definitely the way to
have personal happiness. If you let events rule than you
may be unhappy but if you take some control than you can
effect whether you're happy or not. And since happiness is
really important, you should make sure you take control and
always react well to whatever happens in your life.
2 Score Critique
All essays are evaluated on four basic criteria: Topic,
Support, Organization, and Language. Although this essay
begins with a clear statement of the author's opinion,
demonstrating that the author understood the prompt, the
remainder of the essay provides insufficient support for
the author's main point. The single example provided in
the second paragraph is not well developed and remains
too vague and simplistic to offer adequate support for the
author's thesis.
In addition, this essay is poorly organized with few transitions
to link paragraphs and ideas, although the writer does include
a distinct introduction and conclusion, which somewhat helps
the reader to navigate the essay. However, the essay ends
with a digression about the importance of happiness, which
is irrelevant within the context of the essay or the assignment.
This writer needs to spend more time brainstorming and
outlining his essay in order to ensure that he has sufficient
and relevant supporting examples for his thesis before he
begins to write.
Finally, the biggest flaw of this essay is that the author's
language is weak and inconsistent. Numerous sentence
fragments and run-on sentences (phrases beginning with
Some, But, So) in each paragraph, several grammatical
errors (a/at instead of a lot and their instead of his/her in
the first sentence; than instead of then and effect instead of
offed in the next-to-last sentence), and repetitive language
(experiences, really, totally, control, things, situation) all
detract from this essay and contribute to its low score.
Leaving time to proofread will help to improve this aspect of
the author's writing.
SECTION 2
1. c
Difficulty: Low
What type of action would have affected how the officer's
laziness was perceived? Start with the second blank. If the
security officer was usually ridiculed for his laziness, then
this blank is most likely describing how he was somehow
able to change the situation, perhaps by evading, or
escaping, such ridicule. And if the officer was able to escape
ridicule, then the first blank probably describes a positive
action he took with the criminal. The words at least suggest
he probably didn't capture the criminal, but maybe he
chased him. Chased and evade are good predictions here.
In (A), if the security officer had detained or held the
criminal, he would likely not have succumbed or given in
to ridicule; he would not be ridiculed in the first place. In
(8), a security officer would not likely try to escape from
a criminal, nor can ridicule actually be subverted. Choice
(C) is a great fit for your prediction. In (D), these words do
not make sense in the structure of the sentence, as the
words this time and at least indicate the security officer did
something good regarding the criminal, not that he ignored
him. In (E), denying that he even knew of the criminal
would not have necessarily made the officer enjoy the
ridicule.
2. B
Difficulty: Low
How would a passion for both sports and writing be
satisfied by becoming a sports journalist? If Diane had a
passion for both sports and writing that was satisfied by her
becoming a sports journalist a profession that requires one
to write about sports, then the blank must describe how she
brought together, or combined, these two interests. Look for
a word that means combined.
In (A), the sentence never suggests that Diane lost these
passions, so she could not then have reclaimed them.
Choice (8) is a perfect match for your prediction. In (C),
defining, or giving the precise meaning of these two interests,
would not necessarily satisfy her passion for them. In (D), she
could not have satisfied her passion for sports and writing by
abandoning, or giving up on, them. In (E), Diane would not
have satisfied her passion for these interests by transporting
or moving them.