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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Six Answers and Explanations 583
I
16. c
Difficulty: Medium
The situation mentioned in the passage is the cancellation
of Talk Night. What one word would Randolph probably
use to describe this situation? Understanding a word's
function in context is an important clue to deciphering its
meaning. In lines 76-79, the narrator states that Randolph
was surprisingly calm, and he was unsure whether he had
grasped the true gravity of the situation. Here, gravity is a
descriptive noun that relates the state of the situation, which
is the cancellation of Randolph's show. Look for the word
that makes the most sense in context if you replace it with
gravity.
Choice (A) is an opposite; this is not a lighthearted situation.
Choice (B) is distortion; this is not a meaning of gravity
and makes no sense in context. Choice (C) is the best
choice; it makes sense that Randolph's calmness made him
wonder if he hadn't quite grasped the seriousness of his
show's cancellation. Choice (D) makes no sense in context.
Choice (E) is an opposite; the idea that the cancellation was
meaningless to Randolph is the opposite of what is implied
in context.
17. D
Difficulty: High
The passage states in line l 05 that Randolph will forever
be known as the legendary host ofTalk Night. Will this help
or hurt Randolph in the future? Many times the answer
to a question is found directly in the details by which it
is surrounded. A paradox is an apparent contradiction
that is nevertheless true. To understand the paradox of
Randolph's iconic stature (his fame), you must first look to
the surrounding details to find an apparent contradiction.
Prior to the statement about the paradox, the passage states
that Randolph would love to find another job in Tl!, but he
knew his hopes were probably slim. This seems to make
no sense; a big television star should not have a problem
finding a job in television. However, the reason for the
statement's truth is detailed in lines l 04-l 05: Randolph
would forever be Randolph Meyer, legendary host ofTalk
Night. No matter what he may do in the future, he will
always carry the stigma of being the host of Talk Night.
Look for the choice that best expresses the implications of
this truth.
Choice (A) is an opposite; this is directly contradicted by
line l 05, which states that Randolph was legendary. Choice
(B) is out of scope; nothing in the passage suggests that his
image will be tarnished from the cancellation. Choice (C) is
a misused detail; this is not a paradox. Choice (D) is correct.
The paradox of his iconic stature is that his great success on
Talk Night will actually probably keep him from succeeding
again on television. Choice (E) is an opposite; lines 45-47
state Randolph had numerous Emmys, achievement
awards, and other various accolades that filled an entire
wall of his office.
18. A
Difficulty: Medium
How could Randolph have possibly saved his show? The
details of a character's actions, besides describing what the
character does, also offer insight to his or her motives and
personality. The answer to this question lies in the secondto-last
paragraph. As Randolph begins to doubt himself for
refusing to take any of Carver's suggestions, he reassures
himself by stating that I'd rather my show be cancelled
than witness it turn into a shadow of its former self
(lines 90-92). However, this is tempered with the narrator's
revelation in the very next sentences that Randolph couldn 't
stomach the idea of Carver possibly being right and CNS's
ratings had measurably improved since the hiring of Carver.
Look for the choice that best describes the flaw suggested
by these details.
Choice (A) is your answer. Randolph's obstinate refusal
to take any of Carver's suggestions, especially after it was
revealed that Carver's methods were successful, show
Randolph to be stubborn to a fault. Choice (B) is extreme;
it can perhaps be inferred that Randolph had the inability
to trust Carver, but to say he had trusted no one is too
extreme to be correct. Choice (C) is an opposite; a person
guilty of making an egotistical error of judgment (line 12)
would probably not be considered insecure. Choice (D)
is an opposite; Randolph states he'd rather see the show
cancelled than witness it turn into a shadow of its former
self. Choice (E) is distortion; lines 29-32 state this is a trait
of Carver, not Randolph.
19. E
Difficulty: Low
How is Randolph's excitement described in line l 08? The
tone of the correct answer choice should reflect the tone of
the detail in question. Lines l 08-l 09 of the passage state
that Randolph felt the cancellation of Talk Night presented