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

12 Practice Tests for t h e SAT
Practice Test Seven Answers and Explanations I
639
Answers and
Explanations
SECTION 1
6 Score Essay
Nobody l ikes a w h iner, t h e person w h o sits back and points
out w h at is wrong wit h everyt h ing but does not h ing to c h ange
t h ings. However, comp l aining can be t h e first step toward
making a c h ange. Simp l y expressing dissatisfaction wit h a
situation is a way of recognizing an injustice. One person's
comp l aint can h e l p ot h ers voice t h eir frustration or anger, and
t h is "comp l aining" can bui l d to a movement for c h ange. T h e
inverse, accepting a bad situation and l earning to l ive wit h it,
can h e l p perpetuate injustice. T h is is especia ll y true for deep l y
rooted injustices-t h ose t h at permeate an entire society. To
t h e individua l suc h injustice can seem impossibl e to c h ange.
For examp l e, an African American l iving in t h e Sout h of
e 1950s mig h t h ave fe l t t h at segregation was somet ing
t at was part of l ife. In response s h e mig h t-be l ieving t h at
s cou l d not c h ange Sout h ern society and being wit h out
t h e means to move to a l ess h osti l e p l ace- h ave decided
to h c h ange h er attitude toward segregation. She might
ave decided to l ook for t h e positive side of t h is injustice,
per h aps seeing h ow segregation h l ped bui l d a strong
African American community. W h i l e t h is sort of "grin-andbear-it"
attitude can h e l p a person cope on a day-to-day
basis, it demonstrates to t h e community t h at t h e unjust
society works. T h e w h ite Sout h erners w h o supported
segregation cou l d point to t h is sort of coping to prove t h at
bot communities, w h ite and bl ac k, were h appy l iving apart.
decided
In t h e same situation, anot h er African American mig h t h ave
not to l ook for t h e positive side of h aving to eat in
separate restaurants, attend separate sc oo l s, and ride in
th h e back of t h e bus. Instead, s h e mig h t h ave comp l ained to
er re l atives an d friends about h ow unfair Sout ern society
was. By simp l y comp l aining, t h is person wou l d h ave been
making a sma ll protest against injustice. And, h er friends
and
h fami l y mig h t h ave agreed wit h h er. T h is comp l aining
as t h e potentia l to gat h er momentum an d deve l op into
somet h ing l arger, somet h ing more t h an comp l aining.
T h e Civi l Rig h ts Movement was certain l y not a movement
of w h iners. It was a movement of peop l e committed to
c h ange. But, if most African Americans in t h e Sout h h ad
opted to c h ange t h eir attitude toward segregation rat h er
t h an to comp l ain about t h e injustice, t h e Civi l Rig h ts
Movement mig h t not h ave caug h t fire. Comp l aining is a
way of recognizing injustice t h at can keep a person open to
c h ange. T h is unwi ll ingness to adapt to injustice is t h e soi
out of w h ic h a ll movements for c h ange grow.
l
6 Score Critique
A ll essays are graded on four basic criteria: Topic, Support,
Organization, and Language. T h e aut or sticks to t h e
assignment, and t h essay s h ows a t h oroug h deve l opment
of h is stance on t h e topic. He exp l ains h is supporting
examp l e in detai l , offers specific situations to back it up, and
communicates h is ideas in concise, persuasive l anguage.
T essay is h ig hl y organized. T h e first paragrap h introduces
t h e writer's point of view-comp l aining does not h ave to
be w h ining; often it can be t h e spark t h at brings about
great c h ange. T h e second paragrap h introduces h is main
supporting examp l e-t h e civi l rig h ts movement was one
instance w h ere "comp l aining" against unjust po l icies l ed
to c h anging society as a w h o l e. T h e fo ll owing paragrap h s
offer co l orfu l examp l es to back up h is point, and h is l ast
hparagrap h wraps up his argument by wondering w h at might
ave h appene d h a d peop l e not comp l ained.
e writer's l anguage and grammar are strong t h roug h out.
T h ere is p l entifu l and meaningfu l variation in sentence
structure, from s h ort and simp l e sentences to l onger, comp l ex
sentences. Additiona ll y, t h e essay is essentia ll y error-free.
4 Score Essay
T h e squeaky w h ee l gets t h e grease. T h is saying says if you
comp l ain you wi ll get w h at you want. T h ere is some trut
in t h is saying, it is important to stick up for yourse l f and to
h
comp l ain if necessary. Last year, I worked as an sa l es c l erk
in a department store. I worked a few h ours after sc h oo
and one day on t h e weekend. I enjoyed t h e job because
l
I am interested in fas h ion and retai l . However, one of
my coworkers took dis l ike to me because s h e t h oug h t
I h ad to l d everyone a secret of h ers. S h e started to make
probl ems for me at wor k. For examp l e, s h e wou l d stea
my time card so I wou l d not be abl l
e to punc h back in after