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

12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Ten Answers and Explanations 895
I
Answers and
Explanations
SECTION 1
6 Score Essay
In my opinion, it may be hard to know whether imagination
or facts are most important, because we need them both.
Without facts, scientists and inventors would have nothing
to think about. But then again, being able to see things in
your mind seems crucial to making new discoveries and
inventing new products.
To conduct even a basic experiment requires an imagination.
Scientists begin with what they know. Then they have to
imagine a result so they can state a hypothesis or theory.
Then, if experimenting can't prove the theory, the scientist
has to combine the same facts or new ones and use his or
her imagination again to make another educated guess.
In 2003, a robot was invented that could be controlled by
a monkey's mind. Someone had to imagine the robot and
to believe it was possible to build it. I believe that many
people must have also been imagining this machine for a
long time. For example, paraplegics might have dreamt of
a useful invention like this. Some lazy people who have no
handicaps might also fantasize about a machine that makes
it so they never have to lift a finger.
Most inventive people are always using their imaginations.
The man who invented the microwave oven was doing
radar research, testing a new vacuum tube, and noticed
that the candy bar in his pocket melted. So he put a few
popcorn kernels near the tube and they popped. Art Fry
invented the post-it because he was irritated when his
bookmark kept falling out of his hymnal at church. He
worked with adhesives, and suddenly realized one of them
would make a removable but secure bookmark.
I think most inventions are a result of facts and imagination.
Perhaps that's what an imagination is, to combine facts in a
unique and surprising way. In this way the imagination and
information are partners in discovery.
6 Score Critique
The essay is scored based on four basic criteria: Topic,
Support, Organization, and Language. This essay does well
on all counts, so it earns a 6.
This essay demonstrates an especially strong grasp of the
writing assignment, earning high points for topic, support,
and organization. The author states a thesis in paragraph 1
and then provides several specific, relevant examples of
how the imagination and facts are used together by both
scientists and inventors.
The writing stays on track, using the writer's previous
knowledge to discuss the topic comfortably. The writer uses
key phrases such as in my opinion, but then again, and
for example to link connected ideas. Vocabulary is strong
(crucial, hypothesis, and fantasize, for example). The closing
paragraph sums up the writer's opinion, and although it could
use a few supporting details, it nevertheless leaves the reader
with a summary understanding. This oversight doesn't affect
the generally high quality of the essay.
4 Score Essay
I think that for most people imagination is the most
important thing. We all love superheroes, because they
have superhuman traits that we can imagine ourselves
having as well. In novels, normal people solve problems by
using their imaginations. And the ideas a person thinks of
that no one else thinks of, is what makes them the person
that they are.
And anyway, people are always using their imaginations.
Politicians need to have a vision for a better future. Then,
advertisers try to get us to use our imaginations so we
buy products we didn't even want. Then, this morning in
geometry, our teacher asks us to use our imaginations to
see the shapes of an equation. Then, in science, I always
have to imagine black holes in outer space. In history, I have
to imagine important places and things that happened. If I
didn't use my imagination, I couldn't understand these facts.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that imagination
is much more important to me than facts and information
and anyway I like to use my imagination to reach my goals.
When I have a problem, I usually solve it by imagining my
way out. When I have a goal, such as winning the track
competition, I always begin training by imagining myself
winning. Then I can do the work I need to do. And anyway,
if I was thinking only about facts, I would never even try.