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

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12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations
Choice (A) fits your prediction well. In (B), these two
words are opposite in tone, but in the wrong order. In (C),
banality suggests triviality, but if there were hostile protests,
the enrollment was clearly not seen as trivial. In (D), the
two words are not sufficiently opposite in tone. In (E), the
enrollment could not have had both hostile protests and
serenity.
4. D
This sentence includes contrast between the blank and the
phrase actually quite down-to-earth and approachable.
What would you call someone who was the opposite of
down-to-earth or approachable? Predict something like
snobby or cold.
Choice (A), which means fortunate, doesn't work in this
context. Choice (B) is the opposite of what you'd expect;
a well-known professor is unlikely to be unprofessional. In
(C), relaxed is also the opposite of what we're looking for.
Choice (D) is correct; haughty perfectly describes what
the students expected. Choice (E), which means hurtful,
doesn't make sense in this context.
5. c
Difficulty: High
Note the contrast indicated by the word but. The blanks
will consist of two contradictory terms. Also, the words
appear to be suggest that the first word will be in
opposition to the word in the second blank. Start with a
prediction for the first blank. Someone who supports the
people is in favor of public interests. The word in the second
blank must mean someone who doesn't appeal to the
general population but instead only to those who have
money and who donated to the political campaign.
In (A), demagogues may work in the first blank because
it refers to a person who wins support by appealing to
popular feelings and prejudices. However, a maverick is
an unorthodox or undisciplined person, not necessarily
someone who favors selected groups of people. In (B),
although politicians may be conservatives who are opposed
to change, they are never anarchists who are in favor of
abolishing the government. These words do not match the
contextual clues in the sentence. Choice (C) is the correct
answer. Look at the root of the word populists; it refers
to people or more generally to the population. A populist
is someone who supports the general public. An elitist
favors a selected group. In (D), these words do not match
the predictions. A moderate is someone who does not
hold extreme views, and a reactionary is someone who is
opposed to progress and reform. In (E), although partisans
are people who are strong supporters or devotees to a
particular cause-perhaps the rights of the general publicthe
word snobs is too extreme, as it implies that a political
figure would disdain anyone who did not give money to
support his or her campaign.
Questions 6-9
Both of these passages talk about the restaurant
industry. The author of Passage 1 focuses on the growth
of the restaurant industry during the economic downturn,
saying it is due to the laziness of Americans and the
creativity of restaurateurs. The author of Passage 2 says
that while eating out may have a positive effect on the
economy, its effect is negative when it comes to people's
health.
6. c
Difficulty: Medium
Make sure you read the text surrounding the cited
expression, since it can elaborate on or qualify the author's
view. Be aware of the author's overall tone. You can often
eliminate incorrect choices because they are inconsistent
with the tone of the text. Notice that after the author
uses the cited words, he acknowledges that this cynical
characterization is somewhat supported by a burgeoning
community of new carryout restaurants. By adding this
evidence, the author is clearly tempering the tone set by
the cited words-the tone is negative, but not overly so.
Choice (A) is distortion; by including evidence that supports
this critique, the author suggests that it perhaps has at least
some merit. Choice (B) is an opposite; the phrase suggests
that the analysts have a negative outlook, not a positive
one. Choice (C) is a nice fit for your prediction. Choice (D)
is distortion;· again, by citing evidence that supports such
cynicism, the author is agreeing on some level with
the accuracy of these analysts. Choice (E) is extreme;
nothing in the passage supports the use of such a strong
description.