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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Five Answers and Explanations I
485
18. D
Difficulty: Medium
When in doubt, remember that the correct answer choice
will match up with the tone that the author has established
in his passage. Your first big clue to answering this question
is the author's statement that turntablists and other DJs are
unfairly lumped together. The second clue is the contrast
between his descriptions of turntablists as innovative and
groundbreaking and the dance club DJs, who simply spin
other performers' vinyl records. Look for the answer that best
describes what these two clues express about the author's
intentions for making the comparison.
Choice (A) is distortion; the author feels it is necessary to
define the difference between turntablists and dance club
DJs; radio announcers are never mentioned. Choice (B) is
out of scope; there is nothing in the passage to suggest that
the author forgot to make this clarification. Choice (C) is
distortion; the author only refers to turntablists as innovators.
Choice (D) matches your prediction. Choice (E) is extreme;
though the author does question the talents of dance club
and wedding DJs, he never makes the extreme suggestion
that it is not possible for them to possess talent.
19. c
Difficulty: Low
You should be predicting the author's purpose on every
passage you read. All you have to do then is look for the
match. In the first sentence of the first passage, the author
states that he is as equipped as anybody to offer an opinion
on the debate. In the second paragraph, the author reveals
that opinion, which is that he, a turntablist, is undoubtedly a
musician. Using examples and comparisons, he uses the rest
of the passage to support his stance on the subject. Look for
the choice that best sums this up.
Choice (A) is distortion; the turntablist techniques of cutting,
mixing, and beat juggling are mentioned in the passage,
but they are not described in any way and serve only as
supporting details. Choice (B) is distortion; this is the main
purpose of the second passage. Choice (C) matches your
prediction. Choice (D) is an opposite; the author's position
on the debate is clearly stated-he is not a neutral party.
Choice (E) is distortion. In attempting to support his side
of the argument, the author is indeed disputing the other;
however, the passage never states that this opposing view is
the more accepted of the two.
20. E
Difficulty: High
How does the author feel about the strict definitions of the
words in question? Each author uses the respective word in
quotation marks within the context of questioning the word's
strict definition. The author of Passage 1 puts stole in quotes,
as he is questioning originality in popular music; the author
of Passage 2 puts musician in quotes while attempting to
discount its strict definition. Think about why each author
would choose to put quotes around those words in those
particular situations, then look for the choice that best
reflects your prediction.
Choice (A) is an opposite; using the strictest definition of
both words would weaken each author's argument. Choice
(B) is distortion; certainly both words are important in their
respective sentences, but the quotes cannot and do not
emphasize that. Choice (C) is distortion; this is one of the
basic uses of quotation marks, but this purpose is not served
here. Choice (D) is out of scope; neither of these words
have alternate meanings in music terminology; even if
they did, the authors don't employ them here. Choice (E)
matches your prediction.
21. c
Difficulty: Medium
Read the lines around the reference, if necessary, to
establish context. One of the ways the author achieves
the passage's overall purpose is by demonstrating that the
actual definition of musician is too vague to be the basis of
an argument. The discussion about the academic point of
view is an example of this; she offers it to the reader and
subsequently challenges it to prove her point. Look for the
answer that best sums this up.
Choice (A) is extreme; to suggest that all music professors
will never consider turntablists to be musicians is much
too extreme to be a valid choice. Choice (B) is distortion;
this choice makes no sense because in the discussion
the author successfully weakens the academic argumnt.
Choice (C) matches your prediction nicely. Choice (D) is
an opposite; this discussion demonstrates that there is no
irrefutable argument. Choice (E) is out of scope; this is
never suggested in the passage.