Digital SAT Mock Test - 3 - SAT MCQ

Choice 1 is the best answer because it presents the quotation that most directly illustrates the claim that Cather portrays Alexandra as having a deep emotional connection to her natural surroundings. This quotation states that the country meant a great deal to Alexandra and then goes on to detail several ways in which her natural surroundings affect her emotionally: the insects sound like “the sweetest music,” she feels as though “her heart were hiding” in the grass “with the quail and the plover,” and near the ridges she feels “the future stirring.”
Choice 2 is incorrect because the quotation doesn’t suggest that Alexandra had a deep emotional connection to her natural surroundings but instead describes how she interacts with the people around her to learn more about crops, poultry, and experiments with clover hay.
Choice 3 is incorrect because the quotation doesn’t suggest that Alexandra has a deep emotional connection to her natural surroundings but instead describes her nighttime departure in a wagon. The quotation says nothing about Alexandra’s emotional state.
Choice 4 is incorrect because the quotation doesn’t convey Alexandra’s deep emotional connection to her natural surroundings; instead, this quotation describes how well she understands the markets and livestock.

Choice 1 is the best answer. The narrator is “embarrassed” about the route he took, which ends up leaving him lost and confused about how to get to his destination for the evening.
Choice 2 is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. The narrator is embarrassed, rather than fond, and he doesn’t describe the beauty of the place.
Choice 3 is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. We don’t know from this excerpt whether or not the narrator has visited this part of New York multiple times.
Choice 4 is incorrect. This choice doesn’t match the passage. The narrator doesn’t explain how he overcame being lost in this excerpt.

Choice 4 is the best answer because it uses data from the graph to effectively illustrate the text’s claim about general economic policy uncertainty in the United Kingdom. The graph presents values for economic policy uncertainty in tax and public spending policy, trade policy, and general economic policy in the UK from 2005 to 2010. The graph shows that in 2005, the value for general economic policy uncertainty (approximately 90) was substantially lower than the value for uncertainty about trade policy specifically (approximately 160). It also shows that in 2010, the value for general economic policy uncertainty (approximately 120) was substantially higher than the value for uncertainty about trade policy (approximately 70). The substantial differences between these values in 2005 and 2010 support the claim that a general measure may not fully reflect uncertainty about specific areas of policy.
Choice 1 is incorrect because the graph shows that the level of general economic policy uncertainty was similar to the level of uncertainty about tax and public spending policy in both 2005 (with values of approximately 90 and 100, respectively) and 2009 (with values of approximately 80 and 75, respectively).
Choice 2 is incorrect because the graph shows that general economic policy uncertainty was higher than uncertainty about tax and public spending policy in 2006, 2007, and 2009, not that it was lower each year from 2005 to 2010.
Choice 3 is incorrect because the graph shows that general economic policy uncertainty reached its highest level in 2010, which was when uncertainty about tax and public spending policy also reached its highest level, not its lowest level.

Choice 4 is the best answer because it describes data from the graph that support the researchers’ conclusion that there is a growing interest among CEOs in connecting with more departments in their companies. The graph shows the average number of individuals reporting directly to CEOs during three different time periods: the individuals are divided into managers and department leaders. The average number of department leaders directly reporting to their CEO during the 1991–1995 period was slightly more than three, during the 1996–2001 period it was four, and during the 2001–2008 period it was almost seven. Thus, the average number of department leaders reporting directly to their CEO rose over the three periods studied, which suggests that CEOs were connecting with more departments.

Choice 1 is incorrect because the average number of managers and department leaders reporting directly to their CEO rose for both categories between the 1991–1995 and 2001–2008 periods; thus, it isn’t true that the average numbers didn’t fluctuate.

Choice 2 is incorrect because the average number of managers reporting directly to their CEO was highest in the 2001–2008 period, not in the 1996–2001 period.

Choice 3 is incorrect. Although it correctly describes a feature of the graph, the observation that more department leaders than managers are reporting to CEOs does not by itself address the question of whether CEOs are connecting with more departments over time—to address that question, one needs to know whether the number of department leaders reporting to CEOs is increasing over time.

Choice 2 is the best answer. The claim is that some concentrations of H₂S led to increased germination rates, and this choice accurately shows that seeds treated with 10 micromoles per liter of H₂S tended to germinate faster than untreated seeds.
Choice 1 is incorrect. This choice doesn’t justify the claim. The claim compares the germination rates of seeds exposed to certain concentrations of H₂S to untreated seeds, but this choice only discusses one concentration of H₂S, so it can’t support any comparison between treated and untreated groups.
Choice 3 is incorrect. This choice misreads the graph. At 168 hours, only about 85% of seeds treated with H₂S at 500 micromoles per liter and well over 70% of untreated seeds had germinated (about 80%).
Choice 4 is incorrect. This choice misreads the graph. At 48 hours, about 70% of seeds treated with H₂S at 10 micromoles per liter and about 50% of untreated seeds had germinated.

Choice 3 is the best answer because it describes something that is true of Mother, as presented in the text.
The text indicates that in addition to other activities, Mother writes stories for her children while they are at school and makes up “funny pieces of poetry” for certain occasions.
Choice 1 is incorrect because the text suggests that Mother prefers to spend her time with her children and doesn’t sit at home hoping that ladies will visit her.
Choice 2 is incorrect because the text says only that Mother makes up poetry for the children’s birthdays, not that she likes birthdays more than other special occasions.
Choice 3 is incorrect because the text doesn’t suggest that Mother prefers reading to her children over the other activities she does with them, such as playing with them and writing stories and poems for them.

Choice 4 is the best answer because. This quotation specifically describes a "sense of detachment from ordinary day," which matches the claim’s focus on "escape from everyday life."
Choice 1 is incorrect. While this quotation describes new opportunities associated with Whiting’s experience, it doesn’t frame these opportunities as "an escape," and it doesn’t directly compare Whiting’s journey with "everyday life."
Choice 2 is incorrect. While this quotation includes a positive characterization of Whiting’s journey, it doesn’t specifically address the idea of an "escape from everyday life," which is the focus of the claim.
Choice 3 is incorrect. This quotation focuses on where the journey begins, not on how it feels like an "escape from everyday life."

Choice 3 is the best answer because it most accurately states the main idea of the text. The text begins by stating that the Black Pearl orchestra performs classical music, and then goes on to explain that the orchestra offers an iConduct! program. According to the text, this program offers community members the opportunity to learn some basics about conducting and then apply what they learn by conducting the orchestra themselves. Thus, the main idea of the text is that community members can both listen to and participate in a classical music performance.

Choice 1 is incorrect. Although the text states that the Black Pearl orchestra is based in Philadelphia, it doesn’t indicate that most of the music it plays was composed by Philadelphians.

Choice 2 is incorrect. Although the text does state that Johnson founded the Black Pearl orchestra, this is just a detail and not the main focus of the text. Moreover, while the text does say that the orchestra sometimes plays music by Montgomery, it doesn’t assert that the orchestra was founded solely for the purpose of performing Montgomery’s work.

Choice 4 is incorrect. Although the text explains that community members are invited to conduct the Black Pearl orchestra after participating in the iConduct! program, the text doesn’t indicate that Johnson allows community members to do this for the specific purpose of showing how difficult the task is.

Choice 2 is the best answer because it presents a statement about Dorian that is directly supported by the text. The narrator of the text says that when Dorian sees his portrait, “his cheeks flushed for a moment with pleasure” and “a look of joy came into his eyes.” The narrator goes on to say that Dorian looked at the portrait “in wonder” and presents him as being so entranced by the portrait that he doesn’t notice what Hallward is saying to him. All these details support the description of Dorian as being delighted by what he sees in the portrait.

Choice 1 is incorrect because Dorian isn’t depicted as interested in Hallward’s opinion of the portrait but rather as so enraptured by the painting that he’s hardly even aware of Hallward.

Choice 3 is incorrect because the portrait of Dorian is the only painting that is mentioned in the text, so there’s no evidence that Dorian prefers portraits to other types of paintings. Although Dorian is depicted as delighted with this particular portrait, there’s no way of knowing from the text whether he likes portraits better than other kinds of paintings.

Choice 4 is incorrect because nothing in the text suggests that Dorian is uncertain about Hallward’s talent. Instead, the text is focused on Dorian’s delight with the portrait.

Choice 1 is the best answer because it best states the main idea of the text. According to the text, jalis’ traditional role has been to maintain information about families’ histories and significant events. The text goes on to say that although technological changes have altered jalis’ role somewhat, jalis are still valued for preserving the histories of their communities.

Choice 2 is incorrect because the text says nothing about jalis’ views of the various tasks they perform. There is no information to support the idea that many jalis prefer teaching to other tasks.
Choice 3 is incorrect because the text doesn’t describe jalis as being sources of entertainment. Rather, jalis are presented as valued sources of knowledge. Additionally, the text gives no indication of how long jalis have been serving their communities.
Choice 4 is incorrect because the main focus of the text is on jalis’ role and their continued value despite the effects of technology, not on what technology can now do. Although the text indicates that jalis’ role has changed as a result of technological changes, the text doesn’t present any specific information about technology performing tasks that jalis once performed.

Choice 1 is the best answer. This quote most effectively illustrates the claim. The claim is that the narrator describes Mr. Johnson as arrogant and self-important. This basically says that Mr. Johnson always looks like he’s congratulating himself for something, which definitely supports the idea that Mr. Johnson is arrogant! .

Choice 2 is incorrect. This quote doesn’t illustrate the claim. The claim is that the narrator describes Mr. Johnson’s appearance as conveying his arrogance. This describes his appearance, but the description doesn’t suggest a sense of arrogance.

Choice 3 is incorrect. This quote doesn’t illustrate the claim. The claim is that the narrator describes Mr. Johnson’s appearance as conveying his arrogance. This doesn’t describe Mr. Johnson’s appearance very much, and it doesn’t suggest a sense of arrogance.

Choice 4 is incorrect. This quote doesn’t effectively illustrate the claim. It describes Mr. Johnson’s tone of voice as “large and important,” but it doesn’t describe his appearance as conveying a sense of self-importance.

Choice 3 is the best answer because it illustrates the student’s claim about some historians viewing Lumumba primarily as a symbol. This quotation argues that Lumumba “warrants” (or deserves) “scholarly attention” as a symbol and not for his “practical accomplishments”—that is, his actions as prime minister—which “can be passed over quickly,” or dismissed as being of comparatively little importance. Thus, the quotation expresses the view that the student criticizes some historians for holding.

Choice 1 is incorrect. Although this quotation touches on the difficulty of evaluating Lumumba’s legacy, it doesn’t address how historians of modern African politics view him as a symbol.

Choice 2 is incorrect. While this quotation mentions Lumumba’s political beliefs, it doesn’t discuss historians viewing him as a symbol.

Choice 4 is incorrect. This quotation touches on Lumumba’s vision for his country, but it doesn’t discuss historians viewing him as a symbol.

• Choice D is the best answer. The sentence presents both the study and its findings, noting the study’s date and the researcher’s name as well as describing what the researcher determined about the jawbones and how she determined it.
• Choice A is incorrect. While the sentence describes the study and the researcher’s initial assessment, it doesn’t present the study’s findings.
• Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence describes the study and its focus, it doesn’t present the study’s findings or the name of the researcher who conducted it.
• Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the study’s methodology and provides information about pterosaurs, it doesn’t present the study’s findings.

• Choice B is the best answer. The sentence compares the lengths of the two rail tunnels, noting that the Channel Tunnel (about 31 miles long) is slightly shorter than the Seikan Tunnel (roughly 33 miles long).
• Choice A is incorrect. The sentence makes a generalization about the length of some rail tunnels; it doesn’t compare the lengths of the two rail tunnels.
• Choice C is incorrect. The sentence describes a single rail tunnel; it doesn’t compare the lengths of the two rail tunnels.
• Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence mentions the two rail tunnels, it doesn’t compare their lengths.

• Choice B is the best answer because it presents a finding that, if true, would most directly support the arts journalist’s claim about Enwezor’s work as a curator and art historian. In the text, the arts journalist asserts that Enwezor wished not just to focus on modern African artists but also to show “how their work fits into the larger context of global modern art and art history,” or how their work relates to artistic developments and work by other artists elsewhere in the world. The description of Postwar: Art Between the Pacific and the Atlantic, 1945–1965 indicates that Enwezor and Siegel’s exhibition brought works by African artists together with works by artists from other countries, thus supporting the arts journalist’s claim that Enwezor sought to show works by African artists in a context of global modern art and art history.
• Choice A is incorrect because it describes a retrospective that wouldn’t support the arts journalist’s claim that Enwezor wanted to show how works by modern African artists fit into the larger context of global modern art and art history. The description of El Anatsui: Triumphant Scale indicates that the retrospective focused only on the work of a single African artist, El Anatsui. The description doesn’t suggest that the exhibition showed how El Anatsui’s works fit into a global artistic context.
• Choice C is incorrect because it describes an exhibition that wouldn’t support the arts journalist’s claim that Enwezor wanted to show how works by modern African artists relate to the larger context of global modern art and art history. The description of The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945–1994 indicates that the exhibition showed how African artists were influenced by movements for independence from European colonial powers following the Second World War. Although this suggests that Enwezor intended the exhibition to place works by African artists in a political context, it doesn’t indicate that the works were placed in a global artistic context.
• Choice D is incorrect because it describes an exhibition that wouldn’t support the arts journalist’s claim that Enwezor wanted to show how works by modern African artists relate to the larger context of global modern art and art history. The description of In/sight: African Photographers, 1940 to the Present indicates that the exhibition was intended to reveal the broad range of approaches taken by African photographers, not that the exhibition showed how photography by African artists fits into a global artistic context.

• Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-modifier placement. This choice makes the noun phrase “many critics” the subject of the sentence and places it immediately after the modifying phrase “in assessing… Kurosawa.” In doing so, this choice clearly establishes that it is the critics—and not another noun in the sentence—who assess Kurosawa’s films.
• Choice B is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “Kurosawa’s…sources” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that his use of Western literary sources is what assesses Kurosawa’s films.
• Choice C is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the function word “there” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that “there” is what assesses Kurosawa’s films.
• Choice D is incorrect because it results in a dangling modifier. The placement of the noun phrase “the focus…critics” immediately after the modifying phrase illogically suggests that the critics’ focus is what assesses Kurosawa’s films.

• Choice D is the best answer because it provides a detail about Elinor that is established in the text. The text indicates that although Elinor is “only nineteen,” she gives good advice and exhibits such a high level of understanding and judgment that she serves as “the counsellor of her mother.” Thus, Elinor is mature beyond her years.
• Choice A is incorrect because it isn’t supported by the text: although the text says that Elinor advises her mother and often counteracts her mother’s impulses, there’s no mention of Elinor arguing with her mother or failing to change her mother’s mind.
• Choice B is incorrect because it isn’t supported by the text: although the text mentions that Elinor has strong feelings, it doesn’t indicate that she’s excessively sensitive when it comes to family issues.
• Choice C is incorrect because it isn’t supported by the text: there’s no mention of what Elinor thinks about her mother and no suggestion that she thinks her mother is a bad role model. Because she’s described as having “an excellent heart,” Elinor likely doesn’t think ill of her mother.

Choice B is the correct answer. The median of a data set is the middle value when the data points are sorted in either ascending or descending order. When the number of the data points is even, then the median is the mean of the two middle values of the sorted data. Hence, the median height of the 26 pyramids is the mean of the 13th and 14th tallest pyramids. Since the number of pyramids that are less than 30 meters high is 5 and the number of pyramids that are less than 60 meters high is 17, the median height of the 26 pyramids must be between 45 and 60 meters. Therefore, of the choices given, only 48 meters could be the median height of the 26 pyramids.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the median height of the 26 pyramids cannot be less than 45 meters or greater than 60 meters. 

If the length, in centimeters, of one piece of rope is represented by q, and each piece of rope must be at least 270 centimeters and no more than 280 centimeters long, then it follows that 270 ≤ q ≤ 280. In turn, the total length x, in centimeters, of rope needed for the parachute is 18q because 18 pieces are needed. So, since x = 18q, multiplying all the terms of the inequality 270 ≤ q ≤ 280 by 18 gives (270 × 18) ≤ 18q ≤ (280 × 18), or 4,860 ≤ x ≤ 5,040.
Choice A is incorrect and may result from mistakenly using x for the length, in centimeters, of one piece of rope instead of the total length of rope. Choice B is incorrect and may result from multiplying the single-piece lower limit for length by 18 and then adding 10 to create the total upper limit, instead of multiplying both the single-piece lower and upper limits by 18. Choice D is incorrect and may result from multiplying the single-piece upper limit for length by 18 and then subtracting 10 to create the total lower limit, instead of multiplying both the single-piece lower and upper limits by 18.

In the equation h = 3a + 28.6, if a, the age of the boy, increases by 1, then h becomes h = 3(a + 1) + 28.6 = 3a + 3 + 28.6 = (3a + 28.6) + 3. Therefore, the model estimates that the boy’s height increases by 3 inches each year.
Alternatively: The height, h, is a linear function of the age, a, of the boy. The coefficient 3 can be interpreted as the rate of change of the function; in this case, the rate of change can be described as a change of 3 inches in height for every additional year in age.
Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and are likely to result from common errors in calculating the value of h or in calculating the difference between the values of h for different values of a.

We are looking for where |n - 3| - 3 is negative, so we can
set up this inequality: |n - 3| -3 < 0
Add 3 to both sides: |n - 3| < 3
If the absolute value of n - 3 is less t than 3, it must have a
value between -3 and 3: -3 < n - 3 < 3
Add 3 to each part of the inequality: 0 < n < 6

It always helps to draw a diagram for geometry and trigonometry problems. For this problem, we also have to remember the basic definitions of the trigonometric functions discussed in Chapter 10, Lesson 9: SOH CAH TOA.

Since sin A 5 0.6, this means a/c 5 0.6. Notice that cos B is also a/c, so it must also equal 0.6. This is an example of the cofunction identity we discussed in Chapter 10, Lesson 10.

The fact that the denominators are equal in both fractions suggests that multiplying both sides will simplify the equation:

Multiply by bx - 3: 12x² + 6x - 23 = -2x(bx - 3) - 23
Distribute: 12x² + 6x - 23 = -2bx² + 6x - 23
Subtract 6x - 23: 12x² = -2bx²
Divide by x²: 12 = -2b
Divide by -2: -6 = b

The line of best fit appears to cross the points (10,000°K, 10² suns) and (5,000°K, 10^-1 suns), give or take a small error. This means that a Main Sequence star with a temperature of 10,000°K is about 10² ÷ 10^-1 = 10³ = 1,000 times as bright as a Main Sequence star with a temperature of 5,000°K. Choice (C) 900 is the only choice within an acceptable margin of error.

Although this problem can be solved by “plugging in” convenient numbers for the unknowns, it is actually much more straightforward to treat this as a conversion problem. The question gives us the “initial fact” that Lauren has 6 gallons of gas in her car, and we'd like to “convert” that fact into the number of hours she can travel. Using the rates given in the problem, the conversion should look like this:

Notice that all the units on the left-hand side cancel except for hours, which is the desired unit.

Recall that if a is inversely pro-portional to b, then a = k/b where k is some positive constant. If we multiply both sides of this equation by b, we get ab = k, which means that the product ab is a constant.

Marking up the diagram with the given information, as shown, shows that three of the smaller radii make up one larger radius. Therefore, the radius of each small circle is 6/3 = 2.

Multiply by the common denominator, 2b:
6b - 2 = 3b
Add 2: 6b = 3b + 2
Subtract 3b: 3b = 2
Divide by 3: b = 2/3

The table summarizes the following list of 20 numbers: 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10. If a set of numbers is listed in increasing order, the median is the middle number (if the set contains an odd number of elements) or the average of the two middle terms (if the set contains an even number of elements). The median of a set of 20 numbers, therefore, is the average of the 10th and 11th terms. Since the 10th number is 3 and the 11th number is 5, the median is (3 + 5)/2 = 4.

The function f (x) = 2 - |x - 4| reaches its greatest value when the absolute value is minimized. Since absolute values cannot be negative, the least value |x - 4| can have is 0, which it has when x = 4:
f (4) = 2 - |4 - 4| = 2 - 0 = 2