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

12 Practice Tests for t h e SAT
Practice Test Seven Answers and Explanations I 649
7. E
Difficulty: Medium
It l is easy to become sidetracked by t h e quoted content and
ose sig h t of its p l ace wit h in t h e paragrap h as a w h o l e. In
t h is case, w i l e t h e question specifica ll y cites t h e aut h or's
mention of h is brot h er's taunts, t h e aut h or's purpose
extends beyond t h at actua l event toward t h e journa l and
c h i l dh oo d memories. In context, t h e memory is used as a
strong examp l e of t h e journa l 's effect on t h e aut h or, (E).
C h oice (B) may be a tempting wrong answer; not h ing in t e
passage suggests t h e game was particularly specia l , t h oug h .
Questions 8-9
T h is s h ort passage examines t h e tarantu l a, w h ic h seems
dangerous because of its size but is not. In fact, its size
makes it a target of t h e tarantu l a h awk, its most common
predator. T h e h awk catc h es t h e spider and brings it back
to its burrow, w h ere its young feast on t h e tarantu l a over
mont h s.
8. D
Difficulty: Hig h
T h e word ironic is used to describe t h e tarantu l a's l arge
size. In the first two sentences, the aut h or suggests t h at t h e
tarantu l a can easily intimidate wit h its size but t h at, in e
wi l d, t h is size is a distinct disadvantage. T h is suggests t h at
t h e aut h or uses t e cited word to underscore t h is contrast,
or incongruity. C oice (A) is a distortion; t h e paragrap
never suggests t h at t h e tarantu l a is actua ll y sma ll er t an
h
many t h ink. C h oice (B) is an irre l evant detai l . W h i l e t h e
aut h or makes t h is point, t h e context of t h e cited word
doesn't suggest t h is purpose.
9. B
Difficulty: Medium
Matc h t h e one-word answer c h oices wit h specific evidence
from t h e text, e l iminating t h ose c h oices t at are direct l y
supported by detai l s in t h e paragrap h s. C h oice (B) is t h e
on l y c h aracterization t h e aut h or does NOT use. T h e aut h or
describes t h e tarantu l a as helpless in one instance, but
t h is c h aracterization cannot be app l ied to tarantu l as in
genera l . C h oice (A), distinctive, is supported by t h e aut h or's
description of t h e tarantu l as the largest spider in the world.
C h oice (C), noticeable, is a good synonym for conspicuous,
an adjective t h e aut h or uses in t h e t h ird sentence of t h e
paragrap h . C h oice (0), vulnerable, is supported by t h e
aut h or's statement t h at t e tarantu l a is relatively easy prey
for t h e tarantu l a h awk. C h oice (E), impressive, is used in t h e
first sentence of t h e paragrap h .
Questions 1 0- 1 5
Here's a rundown of t h e passage. Paragrap h 1: W h i l e
scientists h ave various t h eories about t e extinction, definitive
proof has remained elusive. Paragrap h 2: A l varez's idea is
t h at it resu l ted from a meteor exp l osion t h at bl oc ked sun l ig h t
and messed up t h e wor l d food c h ain. Paragrap h 3: A l varez
points to a g l oba l l ayer of iridium as evidence for h is t h eory.
Paragrap h 4: Scientists' doubts about t h e A l varez t h eory
centered on t h e inabi l ity to find a big meteoric impact crater.
Paragrap h 5: A h uge crater was recent l y found, convincing
many scientists t h at A l varez is rig h t.
10. c
Difficulty: Medium
A l ways c h eck back to t h e passage to see h ow a vocabu l ary
word is used. Reread paragrap h 1 and you' ll see t h at in
t h is case, elusive refers to t h e fact t h at proof of h ow t h e
dinosaurs died out is h ard to find, (C).
11. c
Difficulty: Medium
Neit h er A l varez was a pa l eonto l ogist; opponents of t h e
A l varez t h eory-w h o were pa l eonto l ogists-criticized bot
Luis and Wa l ter for t h eorizing about t h e fie l d of pa l eonto h l ogy,
a c l ose matc h for (C). T h e ot h er c h oices represent critiques
t h at were l eve l ed at on l y one A l varez or neit h er.
12. A
Difficulty: Low
Paragrap h 1 te ll s you t h at various exp l anations for t h e
disappearance of dinosaurs h ave been offered; paragrap h 2
offers an original, or nove l , exp l anation (A).
13. D
Difficulty: Medium
T h e second paragrap h exp l ains t h e A l varez t h eory of
dinosaur extinction: a h uge meteor cras h created a c l oud of
dust, disrupting p l ant p h otosynt h esis, (0). T h at disruption