Module II: Reading and Writing

SAT Practice Test 6

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is seen as a crucial step towards reducing urban air pollution. Environmental analyst Karen Price suggests that this shift could ______ the air quality in cities, offering a healthier atmosphere for residents.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

contaminate

monitor

degrade

ameliorate

In a cutting-edge robotics study, engineers at the Technological Innovation Institute are evaluating the ______ of machine learning algorithms on robots' adaptability in complex environments. Their experiments are designed to test whether adaptive algorithms can improve robots' ability to navigate and perform tasks in unpredictable settings.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

2
Mark for Review

influence

discrepancy

similarity

variance

For mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, being ______ was fundamental to his scientific discovery process. By methodically questioning and mathematically proving the phenomena of the natural world, Newton’s laws of motion and universal gravitation established the foundation for classical mechanics.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

imaginative

meticulous

impulsive

dogmatic

Cybersecurity expert Elina Noor has warned that insufficient security protocols can ______ vulnerabilities in a network. Her research underscores the risks that organizations face when they fail to invest in robust cybersecurity measures, potentially leading to data breaches and loss of sensitive information.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

rectify

expose

mitigate

encrypt

In the ever-evolving world of contemporary art, artists frequently turn to unconventional materials as their medium of expression. This choice of material, far from being ______, serves not just as a visual element but often represents a deeper commentary on societal norms, expectations, and values, thereby enriching the overall context and meaning of the artwork.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

aesthetic

haphazard

visible

conserved

Mirroring the 1897 play it reconstructs—Ibsen's A Doll’s House—Tara Webb's 2019 play The Doll's Echo prominently showcases women. In both plays, the female cast ______ a variety of female personas, including a resilient mother and multiple daughters managing their personal tribulations.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

envelops

fosters

incorporates

incites

The notion that economic development invariably leads to environmental degradation is ______, as it overlooks the numerous instances of sustainable growth that prioritize ecological preservation. The argument would be more credible if it considered the policies and practices of countries that have successfully balanced economic progress with environmental stewardship.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

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Mark for Review

innovative

simplistic

visionary.

beneficial

The Cane Toad was initially found in Central and South America, and the Giant River Otter is its natural predator. In the 19th century, Cane Toads were brought to Australia, where no Giant River Otters existed. Nonetheless, the intricate web of connections between predators and their prey can endure through long periods of time and across geographical boundaries. Around the 20th century, Giant River Otters were introduced to the same area in Australia where biologist Dr. Collins had been tracking the Cane Toads. Within a span of three years, 70% of the toad population had been affected by the otters.

Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the overall structure of the text?

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Mark for Review

It states the premise that Dr. Collins and his team were examining using Cane Toads and Giant River Otters.

It introduces a general principle that is then exemplified by the specific case of the Cane Toads and Giant River Otters.

It suggests an alternative perspective to rationalize the observations of Dr. Collins and his team.

It provides necessary background information to understand the reason for the species' dispersion to new regions.

The following text is from The Lantern of Time by Horace Goodwin.

       Eleanor was not merely a chronicler of history; she was a detective of the past. She tirelessly pursued the truth hidden beneath layers of time, always seeking the unspoken tales that lay dormant in the remnants of bygone eras. Her quest was not just for knowledge; it was for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of humanity's journey. Armed with her unique perspective, she sifted through ancient texts and artifacts, each a clue in her ongoing investigation into the complexities of human existence.
Which choice best captures the essence of Eleanor's work?

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Mark for Review

Eleanor is more concerned with factual accuracy than uncovering hidden stories.

Eleanor aims to unearth the concealed narratives interwoven with established historical records.

Eleanor's primary focus is to reinterpret history through a modern lens.

Eleanor views historical artifacts as ends in themselves, rather than means to a greater understanding.

In Stars Over the Marsh, a 1910 poem by Geoffrey K. Bennett, the poem presents a tranquil marshland at twilight, with Bennett describing the stars as active figures in the landscape, writing, ______

Which quotation from Stars Over the Marsh most effectively illustrates the claim?

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Mark for Review

“The stars flicker and converse with the reeds, their twinkling a language known only to the dusk.”

“Silent and unmoving, the marsh lies beneath a blanket of twilight, the stars mere silent sentinels.”

“Each star’s reflection ripples in the water, a painter dabbing light on a canvas of darkening blue.”

“The constellations parade across the sky, indifferent to the hushed world of the marsh below.”

The pattern of social media usage reflects the levels of engagement and familiarity with digital technology. A 2020 study by the Institute for Digital Society revealed trends in social media usage across different age groups. The data showed that younger individuals tend to spend more time on social media, with a noticeable decrease in usage as age increases. According to the study, individuals aged 16-24 spent an average of 3.6 hours daily on social media, and ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the graph to complete the text
?

11
Mark for Review

the 35-44 age group used social media more than any other age group.

individuals aged 65+ spent more time on social media than those in the 16-24 age group.

those aged 55-64 spent an average of 2.0 hours daily on social media.

the 45-54 age group had the lowest average daily social media use.

Social psychologists Ravi Mehta and Rui Zhu have proposed that a moderate level of ambient noise, as opposed to high or low levels, enhances creativity by promoting abstract thinking. The researchers conducted a study in which they simulated the noise environment of a quiet room (50 decibels, low level), a café (70 decibels, moderate level), and a noisy traffic intersection (85 decibels, high level) to test their theory. Participants were asked to complete tasks requiring creative thinking in each of these environments. For instance, one task involved coming up with an innovative marketing plan for a new product.

Which finding from the researchers' study, if true, would most strongly support their claim?

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Mark for Review

Participants who were used to working in a café environment performed better in the café noise condition.

Participants in the café condition performed better than participants in the traffic intersection condition, but performed slightly worse than participants in the quiet room condition.

Participants who scored high on a pre-test measure of creativity tended to perform better across all noise conditions.

Participants in the café noise condition came up with significantly more creative marketing plans than those in both the quiet room and traffic intersection conditions.

Echoes in an Amber Gaze is a 1921 novel by Marcella Carver. In the novel, Carver conveys that protagonist Major Sterling gains an uncanny sense of self-awareness after observing the golden eyes of his horse: ______
Which quotation from Echoes in an Amber Gaze most effectively illustrates the claim?

13
Mark for Review

"Sterling always found solace in the rhythmic gallops of his horse, its eyes reflecting a world he yearned to conquer."

"He found himself in the reflections of those golden eyes, a self he didn't recognize, yet somehow knew intimately. It was both alienating and enlightening."

"The open fields, the endless horizon, the freedom of the wild, all seemed to call out to him, a beckoning he couldn't ignore."

"He admired the strength and resilience of the horse, qualities he sought to imbibe in his own life."

In the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution began to take hold in Britain, marked by a shift from hand production methods to machines and the rise of factory systems. The introduction of steam power significantly boosted production capabilities and the transport of goods. This transformation led to the rapid growth of cities as people moved from rural areas to urban centers for work. Consequently, the British ______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

14
Mark for Review

continued to rely on manual labor as the primary means of production.

saw a decline in urban population growth as factories required fewer workers.

faced challenges related to urban planning and public health.

reverted to agricultural economies due to the inefficiency of machines.

In a study of the spatial recognition abilities of African elephants (Loxodonta africana), researchers failed to control for the complexity of the spatial layouts the elephants were exposed to. The spatial recognition abilities of L.africana exposed to simple layouts, such as a linear sequence of objects, were judged by the same criteria as those of elephants exposed to complex arrangements, such as a radial pattern of objects. The results of the study, therefore, ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?

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Mark for Review

may suggest differences in spatial recognition abilities among L.africana that may not actually exist.

can identify spatial layouts that the elephants can recognize but not the ones they find challenging.

should not be generalized to infer the spatial recognition abilities of any other elephant species.

reveal more about L.africana's ability to handle lab-set tasks than naturally occurring ones.

In the bustling city center, the new traffic light system ______ drivers to adjust their speed accordingly, aiming to reduce congestion during peak hours. Initial feedback from commuters indicates that the flow of traffic has become smoother since its implementation.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

16
Mark for Review

allows

allow

to allow

allowing

As part of their commitment to fostering an appreciation for nature, the local botanical garden and the regional science center collaborated to design an educational space. In 2012, they opened FloraFauna Interactive, an exhibit ______ combines interactive technology with live plant displays to educate visitors on ecology and conservation.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

17
Mark for Review

space,

space that

space, that

space

Known for their innovative designs in the early 20th century, architects Lina Bo Bardi and Charlotte Perriand challenged traditional concepts in their field. ______ worked with other artists and engineers to bring about a new era in modern architecture, blending functionality with artistic expression.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

18
Mark for Review

They

They’re

He

He's

Jazz musician Charlie Parker revolutionized jazz with his fast, improvisational style. His innovative playing techniques ______ a profound influence on subsequent generations of musicians and influenced the genre for years to come.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

19
Mark for Review

had

having had

to have had

having

Widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western classical music, Beethoven had a significant impact on the development of the art form. In his masterpiece Symphony No. 5, Beethoven uses sudden changes in dynamics and an unyielding four-note motif ______ his internal struggles and ultimate triumph, leaving a lasting impact on both audiences and musicians alike.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

20
Mark for Review

communicates

is communicating

communicated

to communicate

Curator Emily Shaw is a member of the committee that curates new artworks for the Modern Art Museum, which includes works like Picasso’s Guernica and Monet’s Water Lilies. Shaw doesn’t make such decisions ______ all art acquisitions have to be approved collectively by a group of four other experts from the fields of art history, art criticism, conservation, and museum management.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

21
Mark for Review

unilaterally, however;

unilaterally; however,

unilaterally, however,

unilaterally however

In the heyday of Hollywood's Golden Age, numerous notable directors and actors shaped the industry, but none more so than Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant. ______ collaborations resulted in iconic films such as North by Northwest and Notorious.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

22
Mark for Review

They’re

It’s

Their

its

In many cultures, storytelling is a revered tradition that ______ wisdom from one generation to the next. These stories often contain important moral lessons that are crucial to the community's values and beliefs.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

23
Mark for Review

pass

passes

have passed

are passing

The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and intellectual growth in Europe. It saw advancements in a variety of fields, from the arts to the sciences. ______ Leonardo da Vinci showed this spirit of innovation with his detailed studies of human anatomy, which were far ahead of his time.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

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Mark for Review

For example,

However,

Consequently,

Furthermore,

In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Despite facing resistance, civil rights activists continued to protest and coordinate efforts to end segregation on public buses. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that segregation on public transportation was unconstitutional. ______ in 1956, the Montgomery buses were desegregated.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

25
Mark for Review

Conversely,

Subsequently,

Initially,

Moreover,

The invention of the printing press in the 15th century revolutionized the way information was disseminated, making books more accessible. ______ books were laboriously copied by hand, making them expensive and rare.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

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Mark for Review

Subsequently,

Alternatively,

Interestingly,

Previously,

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
       The earliest known pottery in Japan was believed to have been made around 10,500 BCE.
      A 2020 study by archaeologist Nami Ohtsubo, however, suggests that pottery making in Japan may have started as early as 12,000 BCE.
     She found pottery fragments in a cave in Japan that were older than the previously known earliest pottery.
     The fragments match the style of pottery from the same era found elsewhere in East Asia.

The student wants to specify when pottery making may have started in Japan, according to the 2020 study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

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Mark for Review

Pottery making in Japan may have started as early as 12,000 BCE, not around 10,500 BCE as previously believed.

The earliest known pottery in Japan was believed to have been made around 10,500 BCE.

In her 2020 study, archaeologist Nami Ohtsubo found pottery fragments that were older than the previously known earliest pottery.

Pottery making in Japan may have started earlier than previously thought.