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

12 Practice Tests for t h e SAT
Practice Test Seven Answers and Explanations I
643
13. D
Difficulty: Medium
T h is is t h e first question of t h e set, w h ic h means t h at t h e
answer can most l ike l y be found near t h e beginning of
t h e passage. T h e aut h or says in t h e second sentence t h at
E l eanor is suppressing a momentary surge of panic as s h e
gets out of bed; in ot h er words, s h e is trying to quell her
apprehension, (D).
14. D
Difficulty: Low
A l ways go back to t h e cited l ine an d read t h e surrounding
sentences to understand t context. E l eanor t h inks of
Haro l d's wardrobe w h en s h e ref l ects t h at Harold was a
creature of habit T h erefore, t h e aut h or is using t h e description
of t h e wardrobe to revea l Haro l d's adherence to routine, (D).
15. c
Difficulty: Medium
Avoid t h e temptation on Vocabu l ary-in-Context questions
to back
se l ect an answer from among t h e c h oices wit h out going
and reading t h e sentence: It strikes E l eanor as fitting
t h at Haro l d is wearing a bl ac k
suit-black for mourning is
appropriate to h ow s h e fee l s. In t h is context, fitting means
apt, (C).
16. E
Difficulty: Medium
T h is question h as no l ine reference, but since t h e questions
in eac h set go t h roug h t h e passage in order, simp l y scan
down t e passage from t h e l ines near t h e end of paragrap h
2, w h ic h was tested in t h e previous question, to find t h e
reference to wisps of steam. E l eanor t h inks t h at, to Haro l d,
s e must be mere l y a wisp of steam. To find out w h y s h e
th h inks t h at, read t h e surrounding sentences. Haro l d ignores
er, or appears not to notice her presence, (E), w h i l e h e's
eating breakfast.
17. D
Difficulty: Low
Read t h e sentence rig h t before t h e cited sentence. E l eanor
reso l ves never to forget Harold's utter lack of courtesy and
consideration. T h is is w h y they would never be friends.
T h e best parap h rase of Harold's utter lack of courtesy and
consideration among t h e answer c h oices is (D), Harold
behaves so thoughtlessly.
18. A
Difficulty: Medium
T h e sentences preceding t h e cited l ines in dicate t h at
E l eanor feels her resolve crumbling
because Haro l d h as
announced to h er, as h e is l eaving, t h at h e l oves h er. S h e
certain l y h ad not expected Harold to express his feelings,
(A), an d now h e h as t h rown a temporary emotiona l wrenc
into h er p l ans to l eave h im.
h
19. B
Difficulty: Hig h
By packing up h er suitcases, w h ic h promise a new life of
independence and self-worth, E l eanor is trying to bring
an end to on l y one t h ing- h er marriage. S h e views h er
marriage as loveless and as a suffocating compromise.
20. c
Difficulty: Medium
Once again, it's important to read t h e sentences before and
after t h e cited l ine. T h e aut h or says t h at it seemed to Eleanor
that her departure, once begun, gained momentum with
each passing second. T h is is w h at makes h er fee l like a bird
taking wing -s h e h as finally begun her departure, (C).
21. B
Difficulty: Hig
E l eanor fee l h
s twenty-nine years of marriage drawing her
back, like gravity w h en s h e's pu ll ing out of t h e driveway.
In t h e fo ll owing few sentences, s h e experiences grief and
doubts about l eaving Haro l d. Given t h is context, it's c l ear t h at
t h e aut h or uses t h e image of gravity to emp h asize E l eanor's
emotional investment in her life with Harold, (B).
22. A
Difficulty: Medium
In t h e context of t h e sentence in w h ic h respite appears, t h e
word means vacation, or rest, (A).
23. E
Difficulty: Medium
T h is question tests understanding of t h e tone of t h e end
of t h e passage. Reading t h roug h t h e second h a l f of t h e l ast
paragrap h , it seems t h at E l eanor is experiencing conf l icting
fee ings: s h e wants to be free of h er marriage, but s h e a l so
fee l s drawn back. As s h e drives away, s h e h as not made t h e