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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations 573
I
In paragraph 1 of Passage 2, the author criticizes Americans'
easy acceptance of the country's bipartisan system but
says that political scientists who have a background in
anthropology or social psychology understand the system's
appeal. In paragraph 2, the author writes humans are and
have always been social animals and that conforming
means surviving-no one wants to be an outsider. In
paragraph 3, he claims that the two political parties have
survived because of the tendency to surround oneself with
similar-minded people who will attack potential enemies.
13. A
Difficulty: Medium
This question doesn't refer to a specific part of the passage,
but nevertheless you should make sure the answer choice
you select is supported by the text. Wrong answer choices
will appear in Passage 2 only, both passages, or neither;
only one answer choice makes an appearance in Passage 1
alone. Work through the choices to find it.
Choice (A) is a good choice; only Passage 1 uses the
word you to speak to the reader directly. Choice (B) is an
irrelevant detail; this example is found in Passage 2 but not
Passage 1. Choice (C) is distortion; this example occurs
in both passages. Choice (0) is an irrelevant detail; this
example is found in Passage 2 but not Passage 1. Choice
(E) is extreme. Neither passage is guilty of a vicious attack;
both are fairly calm.
14. B
Difficulty: Medium
Go back to the passage and read the quoted sentence and
the one before it for context. Although this is an Inference
question, the correct choice should still stick close to the
argument found in these sentences. The clause following
the quoted one finishes the thought by saying, none of
them is truly unique to the human species, so predict that
the author believes such qualities are good to have, but
they are not unique as some claim them to be.
Choice (A) is an opposite; in fact, the author is saying that
these traits do not uniquely define human beings. Choice
(B) is a good choice that matches your prediction closely.
Choice (C) is distortion; the author is only arguing that other
animals share these characteristics, not that they have no
survival value. Choice (0) is an opposite; the following
sentences go on to describe the author's belief that language
use distinguishes humans from other animals. Choice (E) is
out of scope; the author never discusses how well humans
would cope without the adaptations they currently have.
15. B
Difficulty: Low
Go back to the original sentence, cross out the quoted
word, and try to find another word or phrase that fills in the
blank and preserves the author's original meaning. This
should form the basis of your prediction. The sentence is
essentially saying that these noises function as, or at least
assist in, communication; find the answer choice that agrees
with this idea.
Choice (A) is out of scope; this is one definition of serve,
but it makes no sense in the context of the original
sentence. Choice (B) is a good pick; the noises help
animals to communicate. Choice (C) is out of scope; again,
it is an alternate definition of serve that does not fit this
context. Choice (0) is distortion; this is a bit closer to the
correct meaning, but it still doesn't quite fit when plugged
back into the original sentence. Choice (E) is out of scope;
this choice makes no sense in the original context.
16. E
Difficulty: Medium
Go back to the sentence in question and reread it; make
sure you understand the author's tone and know what the
material within the quotation marks is before you make
your prediction. The phrase language acquisition device
seems to be some sort of linguistic jargon, so predict that
the author is using the quotation marks as an efficient way
of introducing the term.
Choice (A) is out of scope; the author gives no indication of
being sarcastic in this passage. Choice (B) is out of scope;
the context makes clear that he is not directly quoting any
particular source. Choice (C) is distortion; although the
quotation marks do draw attention, nothing in the passage
suggests that this phrase is particularly crucial to the author's
argument. Choice (0) is distortion; nothing about the tone
of the sentence suggests that the author disagrees with this
piece of terminology. Choice (E) is a good match for your
prediction.
17. A
Difficulty: Medium
Go back to the passage and read the entire sentence;
it is always easier to make an accurate prediction about