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

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12 Practice Tests for the SAT
Practice Test Ten Answers and Explanations
SECTION 4
l. c
Difficulty: Low
Don't fall for commonly paired words, like cat and curiosity.
Look for something that describes the impressive leap of
this cat.
In (A), balance might help the cat stay on top of the fence, but
it wouldn't help her jump up there. Choice (B) is an opposite;
an astonishing leap does not reveal awkwardness. Choice (C)
is a good match. In (D), the fence, not the cat, is tall. In (E),
well, a cat might show curiosity, but the leap doesn't reveal this.
2. E
Difficulty: Low
Use word charge to quickly determine whether you are
looking for a positive or a negative word. The anchorman
felt fear, so the news must have been pretty frightening.
Choice (A) doesn't address the anchor's fear. In (B),
something could be unexpected without being frightening.
In (C), the newscaster might be anxious, but the news itself
cannot be. Choice (D), like (B), lacks the negative charge of
your prediction. Choice (E) fits well.
3. D
Difficulty: Low
The word but indicates contrast. If you try the answer
choices, (D) makes the most sense with the word
imagination and completes the contrast: the public quickly
became excited about the issue, but agreement among
experts as to the significance of the scrolls has been
slower in coming. None of the other choices provide a
clear contrast of ideas. In addition, still suggests a lack of
understanding, so (A) and (C) cannot be correct.
4. c
Difficulty: Low
The missing word describes people who starve themselves
to the point of sickness or death.
Choice (C), emaciated, which means extremely thin, is the
only choice that really fits. Choices (A) and (E) are the exact
opposites of what's needed, and (B), lachrymose, means
tearful. Choice (D), superfluous, means unnecessary, which
would be a comment on the person's social, not physical,
status.
5. D
Difficulty: Low
If new editions of this book are based on more
authoritative, or more accurate, manuscripts, previous
editions would be rendered out-of-date, or obsolete, (D).
However, the new edition would not render the old edition
(A), incomprehensible, (B), interminable, (C), inaccessible,
or (E), illegible.
6. c
Difficulty: Medium
The clue word despite indicates that the brothers must have
different temperaments-making (C), dissimilar, and (D),
different, both possibilities. The second word has to contrast
with quiet and circumspect and be similar in tone to brash;
audacious, or bold, is the only choice that makes sense, so
( C) is correct.
7. E
Difficulty: Hard
It's easier to start with the second blank. You need a word
that goes with rigor and contrasts with finding things difficult
and tedious.
Choice (A), slothful, and (B), indolent, both mean lazy, so
they're the opposite of what you need. Only (D), dedicated,
and (E), disciplined, fit. Eliminate the other choices and
try (D) and (E) for the first blank. The correct choice will
be a quality held by a dedicated, rigorous scholar, so
(E), concentration, is the answer. (D), negligence, is the
opposite of what you're looking for.
8. D
Difficulty: Medium
The key to this question is the word as, which signals a
definition. You must look for a word that tells you why it was
difficult to tell what the auditor was thinking.
Choice (D), impassive, means expressionless or revealing
nothing. (A), palpable, means obvious or easily perceived.
Choice (B), salient, means prominent. Choice (C), titular,
refers to having a title, often in name only. Choice (E),
bilious, means sickly or ill-humored (long ago, physicians
thought sickly or ill-humored people had too much bile).