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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations 579
I
In (A), requisitioning, or formally demanding something, would
not necessarily make the furniture less faded and dirty. In (B),
similarly, enlarging the furniture would not necessarily make
it more attractive to a buyer. Choice (C) is a perfect match for
your prediction. In (D), one could probably not sell furniture
that had been demolished. While (E) may be tempting,
relocating faded and dirty furniture would not necessarily make
it easier to sell.
2. A
Difficulty: Low
If he had been playing vigorously with his friends
throughout the day, then most likely he was not too ill to
attend class. The words without the slightest indication
of illness suggest the student said he missed class due to
illness. If his teacher had seen him playing vigorously with
his friends throughout the day, then his absence would
probably have seemed inexcusable, a good prediction for
the blank.
Choice (A) is a good fit for your prediction. In (B), if the
teacher was aware of his absence from class, then it
could not have been done secretly. In (C), nothing in
the sentence indicates that the student was tirelessly, or
indefatigably, absent. In (D), an absence from class could
not really be deemed all-inclusive. In (E), an absence
from class would not have been seen as correcting
anything because he had been playing with his friends
all day.
3. B
Difficulty: Medium
The words was merely and has become signal that the
second blank will build on or be stronger than the first. The
words more bewilderment are key here, as they indicate
the first blank describes some degree of confusion. And
if a manuscript was considered mysterious when it was
originally discovered, then years of fruitless research and
more bewilderment would not have made it any more
understandable. Indeed, if the manuscript had been merely
confusing at first, then after years of unsuccessful attempts
to determine its meaning, it would have seemed far more
unexplainable. Confusing and unexplainable are great
predictions for the blanks.
In (A), these words do not describe a characteristic that has
become more pronounced over time, as something that
is dignified would not necessarily become mystifying after
years of unsuccessful research. Choice (B) is a great fit for
your prediction. In (C), again, these words do not describe
varying degrees of the same thing, as something that was
eccentric, or unconventional, at first would not necessarily
become emotionless after years of confusion. In (D),
years of fruitless research and more bewilderment would
not make something intriguing more reasonable. In (E),
something mysterious would probably not be considered
merely logical.
4. c
Difficulty: Medium
Although signals the sentence will describe a contrast.
Start with the first blank; if whatever Ricardo did regarding
a career in journalism was done vigorously, or with great
energy, then he must have been going after such a career.
Move on to the second blank, if his feelings here must
contrast with the actions described by the first blank, then
he must have felt he did lack the initiative necessary to
enter the newspaper business. In other words, he could not
have prevented himself from feeling this way, despite the
initiative he'd shown. Gone after and prevented are good
predictions for the blanks.
In (A), these words do not create the necessary contrast
in the sentence. In (B), one cannot really undermine
or subvert a feeling, and it doesn't make much sense
to say Ricardo escaped a career in journalism. Choice
(C) is a great fit for your prediction. In (D), again, these
words create no contrast in the sentence, nor can one
vigorously ignore something. In (E), these words don't
create a contrast, nor do they make much sense in the
sentence.
5. B
Difficulty: Medium
The word because indicates that what follows provides
a description of the nickname of Tom's dog. Thus, the
behavior described will relate to the dog's nickname. What
kind of a dog would chase harmless puppies? The dog must
be a bully or a troublemaker. Look for a word that fits this
prediction.
In (A), the dog does not necessarily make a mess of things.
Choice (B) is the correct answer; ruffians are lawless, tough,
violent hooligans. In (C), if the dog were described as being
incessant or persistent, this would work. In (D), if the dog
were small and chased after larger dogs, it would be daring,