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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations 575
I
prediction well. Choice (E) is an irrelevant detail; the author
of Passage 1 might agree with this, but it is not very relevant
to anything in Passage 2.
22. c
Difficulty: High
In order to make an accurate prediction, you need a good
grasp of the specific section cited for Passage 2 as well as
the general claims of Passage 1. If you have highlighted
or summarized each passage's main points, it should only
take you a few seconds to refamiliarize yourself with the
major arguments in Passage 1. The author of Passage 2 is
promoting the power of human intelligence, whereas the
author of Passage 1 generally believes that our estimation
of our own intelligence is inflated by the ease with which
we communicate. Predict that the correct answer choice will
take both of these viewpoints into account.
Choice (A) is distortion; the author of Passage 1 asserts that
only humans are capable of language, so it is unlikely that
he would consider a similar assertion unfair. Choice (B) is
an opposite; the author of Passage 1 argues that language is
actually the distinguishing factor between humans and other
animals. Choice (C) is a good fit for your prediction. Choice
(D) is out of scope; such an opinion is not within the bounds
of the arguments in Passage 1, and it misinterprets the point
being made in Passage 2. Choice (E) is an irrelevant detail;
it is actually the author of Passage 2 who mentions social
psychology, not the author of Passage 1.
23. E
Difficulty: High
The author is making a comparison between humans and
these other mammals, but he qualifies his statement by
noting that human behavior is also more complex. Predict
that the correct answer choice involves this compromise.
Choice (A) is an opposite; since the author is making
this comparison himself, it seems unlikely that he would
consider it preposterous. Choice (B) is an irrelevant
detail; this sort of thinking is more in line with the author
of Passage 1, not Passage 2. Choice (C) is distortion; the
author of Passage 2 never asserts that the human social
structure is weaker than other animals'. Choice (D) is out of
scope; there is nothing in Passage 2 to suggest this. Choice
(E) is the best match for your prediction.
24. A
Difficulty: High
This question relies on your knowledge of the main ideas
in each passage, so if you have those written down already,
it will help you to briefly go over them before formulating a
prediction. If you're having trouble making a decision, you
can always skim the passages again to see if they seem
to contradict a potential answer choice. The first author
tends to insist that human intelligence is partially an illusion
arising from the effectiveness of our communication, while
the second author assumes the more conventional belief
that humans are far more intelligent than all other animals.
Expect the correct answer choice to hinge on this distinction.
Choice (A) is a good match for your prediction. Choice (B)
is an irrelevant detail; this choice partially agrees with points
in Passage 1, but these arguments are wholly irrelevant
to the topics discussed in Passage 2. Choice (C) is out of
scope; neither passage focuses on the relative influences
of society and genetics on intelligence. Choice (D) is an
opposite; this choice directly contradicts an argument made
by the first author and distorts the arguments of the second
author. Choice (E) is out of scope; neither passage is really
concerned with humanity's moral failings or the survival of
human society.
SECTION 6
1. B
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Most people find it easier to work
with negative exponents if they are written as fractions.
Remember that a rational function is undefined when
its denominator equals zero. Can any part of f(x) be
undefined?
Getting to the Answer:
1
f (x) =x-3 +x3 = - +x3
x3
We know is undefined when x3 = 0, that is, when x = 0.
x
Therefore, f(x) is undefined when x = 0.