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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
484
Practice Test Five Answers and Explanations
accepted (line 56) and uses the Beatles as an example.
In lines 97-99, the author of Passage 2 views herself as
a progressive artisC working on the fringe, but steadily
moving closer to being realized by the kids who watch
MTV. Look for the explanation that best describes what is
suggested by these examples.
Choice (A) is distortion; though Passage 2 mentions
turntablists who press their own original material (lines
104-1 05), neither author suggests it is better to do so.
Choice (B) is an opposite; rather, both passages suggest
the contrary. Choice (C) is distortion; Passage 2's author
may agree with this statement, but the fact that the author
of Passage 1 states that he take(s) great offense to the
suggestion (lines 24-25) that he is not a musician rules
this choice out. Choice (D) matches your prediction well.
Choice (E) is distortion; both authors relate the skill and
dedication required to be competent at the turntables;
Passage 1 even directly compares learning the turntables to
learning to play guitar; however, neither author suggests that
one instrument is more difficult to master than the other.
15. E
Difficulty: Low
Read for context and make a prediction before looking
at the choices. Though this is a relatively obscure word,
in context it is not difficult to decipher its meaning. In
lines 29-3 1, the author relates how, like his guitar, the
turntables were difficult to master. Then he goes on to
tell how after countless hours of woodshedding different
techniques for the turntables, he achieved that mastery. You
could predict something like refining or fine-tuning.
Choice (A) is out of scope; this makes no sense in context.
Choice (B) is out of scope; theorizing also makes no
sense in context. One can only theorize on a subject after
one has a solid grasp of it. Choice (C) is distortion; do not
make the mistake of associating experimenting (line 32)
with improvising. These words are not synonymous, and
improvisation does not lead to mastery. Choice (D) is an
opposite; it is impossible to master anything by rejecting it.
Choice (E) is a match for your prediction.
16. B
Difficulty: Medium
When asked to infer what one author would say about
another, begin by establishing the tone of the first
author's passage. It can be inferred from the statement in
lines 21-25 that the author of Passage 1 takes the debate
seriously, for he takes offense that someone would suggest
he is not a musician. The author of Passage 2, however,
characterizes the debate over whether DJs and turntablists
are actually musicians as silly because according to her,
the true definition of a musician is extremely vague and
eternally arguable (lines 7 4-76). In other words, she
believes it's a pointless argument. Approach this question
from her point of view and look for the answer that would
best describe how she would probably characterize the
author's statement from Passage 1.
Choice (A) is an opposite; the author of Passage 2's
statements regarding the definition of a musician as vague
and arguable directly contradict this choice. Choice (B)
matches your prediction. Choice (C) is distortion; though
Passage 2's author does not consider herself a musician
and also uses the music of others, she would probably
not characterize the author's statements in Passage 1 as
false because of her general indifference to the debate.
Choice (D) is distortion; Passage 2's author says that some
music professors consider turntablists distortionists, but the
author herself never makes this distinction. Choice (E) is an
opposite; Passage 2's author states that being a musician or
artist is no more culturally valid or important than the other.
17. A
Difficulty: Medium
Reread the sentence and make a prediction first; then look
for a match among the choices. In these statements, the
author presents an argument (some traditional music is
not 100 percent original) and then proceeds to back it up
with seemingly sound points about traditional musicians,
invoking examples of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton to
support point of view. Look for the answer choice that best
sums up what type of argument this could be classified as.
Choice (A) matches your prediction. Choice (B) is out of
scope; the author's argument cannot be characterized as
humorous. Choice (C) is out of scope; nothing in either
passage indicates the author's argument is simplistic. Choice
(D) is an opposite; there is nothing offered in the passage
to indicate that this is not true. Choice (E) is an opposite;
the author offers a sound argument with solid points to
back it up. It is hardly irrational.