Answers to SAT Official Practice Test

Section #2: View Explanations
Explanation for Correct Answer C.
Choice (C) is correct. If is more than then and

The value of is then
Choice (C) is correct. Let be the number in question. Since the result when
is divided by is equal to the result when is divided by it is true that
Therefore, and
Explanation for Correct Answer E.
Choice (E) is correct. The letter E CANNOT be folded along a vertical line so
that its left half would coincide with its right half. See the figure below.
Explanation for Correct Answer A.
Choice (A) is correct. Since vertical angles have equal measure, it follows that
Substituting for and for in this equation gives
Therefore,
Explanation for Correct Answer B.

Choice (B) is correct. Each of the five pairs satisfies the equation
is true; is true; is
true; is true; and is true.
Choice (C) is correct. The ratio of David’s car expenses to his food expenses
is Since he spends per month on food, he spends
dollars per month on his car.
Choice (B) is correct. Substituting for in the equation gives

It follows that Since and cannot be equal to
the equation is equivalent to
Choice (A) is correct. The regular price of the refrigerator is At

percent off the regular price, the price would be or
At percent off the regular price, the price would be or
an additional discount of percent off this price would give a final
price of or Therefore, the savings from buying the
refrigerator at percent off the regular price rather than buying it on sale at
percent off the regular price with an additional discount of percent off
the sale price is or
Choice (E) is correct. Since it follows that

and therefore,
10
Choice (C) is correct. If a triangle has one side of length and another of
length then the measure of the angle joining the sides of length and
can have measure greater than equal to or less then as shown
below.
In each of these three cases, the area of the triangle is given by where
is the height of the triangle. The area of the triangle will be greatest when is
greatest. In the case where the angle joining the sides of length and has
measure the value of is and the area of the triangle is In the cases
where the angle joining the sides of length and has measure greater than
or less than the value of is less than so the area of the triangle is
less than All triangles with one side of length and another of length
fall into one of these three categories, so the greatest possible area of such a
triangle is
11
Choice (C) is correct. Since Garcia won the vote over Pérez by a ratio of to
Garcia received of the votes and Pérez received of the votes. There
were a total of votes cast for Garcia and Pérez. Thus, Pérez received
of these votes. Therefore, the number of votes cast for Pérez was
or
12

Choice (C) is correct. The inequality is equivalent to or Thus,
of the positive integers that are less than or equal to the only ones
that satisfy the inequality are and Therefore, the probability in
question is
13
Explanation for Correct Answer D.
Choice (D) is correct. If is a number greater than then The amount
by which is greater than can be expressed as
14
Choice (C) is correct. The segment connecting the center of the top base of the
cylinder to a point on the circumference of the other base is the hypotenuse of
a right triangle whose legs are as follows: one leg is the altitude of the cylinder
that connects the center of the top base to the center of the bottom base, and
the other leg is the radius of the bottom base drawn to the given point on the
circumference. Thus, the legs of this right triangle have lengths (height of
the cylinder) and (half the diameter). Therefore, by the Pythagorean

theorem, the distance from the center of one base to a point on the
circumference of the other base is
15
Choice (B) is correct. If and are integers such that and if
then and are factors of Since the only cases that need to be
considered are in which case in which case and in
which case However, the second set of equations is the only one that has
integer solutions ( and ), so is the only possible value for
Therefore, the correct answer is choice (B), II only.
16
Choice (D) is correct. To travel along the streets from the firehouse to the
building at a fire truck can go blocks left and blocks up. This is
a total of blocks. The fire truck can also go block left, block up,
block left, and block up; this is also a total of blocks. The fire
truck can also go block up, blocks left, and block up, which is
likewise a total of blocks. Any other route from the firehouse to the
building at requires the fire truck to travel more than blocks.

Therefore, the minimum number of blocks the fire truck must travel from the
firehouse to reach the building at is which means the -distance
of the building at from the firehouse is
17
Choice (A) is correct. The -distance between point and point is
because point is blocks away from point Starting at point
in order to arrive at point a fire truck must arrive at a point that is
blocks down and blocks to the left of point The blocks
down and blocks to the left can be traveled in any order: (1) down, down,
left, left; (2) down, left, down, left; (3) down, left, left, down; (4) left, down,
down, left; (5) left, down, left, down; or (6) left, left, down, down. Therefore,
there are six different routes that a fire truck can travel the minimum -
distance from to
Another way of counting the number of different -block routes from
to is to see that the blocks to the left can be chosen to be any of
the blocks in a route from to Therefore, the number of different
routes is
18
Choice (B) is correct. All of the buildings in the town that are an -
distance of from the firehouse ( ) lie on a square. The figure below
shows all points that are an -distance of from and the square on
which they lie.
The vertices of the square are the points that are units away from
along the vertical or horizontal grid line passing through and the sides of
the square have slope or
19
Choice (C) is correct. If and are positive integers, then It
follows that
20
Choice (A) is correct. Since and are consecutive integers such
that it follows that The units digit of the product is so

and must each be odd numbers. If the units digit of were then
the units digit of would be and the units digit of would be
not If the units digit of were then the units digit of would
be and the units digit of would be not If the units digit of
were then the units digit of would be and the units digit of
would be not If the units digit of were then the units
digit of would be and the units digit of would be not
If the units digit of is then the units digit of is and the units
digit of is Thus, it must be true that the units digit of is
Therefore, the units digit of is

1
Choice (E) is correct. “Benefactors” are people who give gifts. If one were to
insert this term into the text, the sentence would read “Many private
universities depend heavily on benefactors, the wealthy individuals who
support them with gifts and bequests.” This sentence makes complete sense.
Wealthy individuals who support private universities would rightly be referred
to as “benefactors.”
2
Choice (A) is correct. “Rebellious” means inclined to oppose authority. If one

were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read “One of the
characters in Milton Murayama’s novel is considered rebellious because he
deliberately defies an oppressive hierarchical society.” An “oppressive
hierarchical society” is a type of authority, and any character who deliberately
defies it would be considered “rebellious.”
3
Choice (B) is correct. “Blended” means combined such that lines of separation
cannot be distinguished. To “discern” is to detect. If one were to insert these
terms into the text, the sentence would read “Nightjars possess a camouflage
perhaps unparalleled in the bird world: by day they roost hidden in shady
woods, so blended with their surroundings that they are nearly impossible to
discern.” This sentence makes sense: if the nightjars had unparalleled
camouflage, then they would blend into their surroundings so well that they
could not easily be discerned, or detected.
4
Choice (A) is correct. “Indulged” means gratified. An “apportionment” is a

planned distribution. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the
sentence would read “Many economists believe that since resources are scarce
and human desires cannot all be indulged, a method of apportionment is
needed.” It makes sense to say that a combination of scarce resources and
human desires that cannot all be fulfilled would require a plan to distribute the
available resources fairly among all people. Such a distribution could be called
an “apportionment” of resources.
5
Choice (A) is correct. “Circumscribed” means constricted in range of activity.

If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read “The
range of colors that homeowners could use on the exterior of their houses was
circumscribed by the community’s stringent rules regarding upkeep of
property.” This sentence makes complete sense. If the community has
stringent rules about how homeowners should maintain their property, it is
quite possible that they would circumscribe, or restrict, the range of colors
homeowners could paint the exterior of their houses.
6
Choice (E) is correct. The author of Passage 1 highlights a concern by

describing the inconveniences of receiving “spam.” Most Internet users suffer
these inconveniences, and the author highlights a common concern over
unsolicited bulk e-mails by describing typical abuses and quoting an expert
who describes the effects of spam on computer networks.
7
Choice (E) is correct. The primary purpose of Passage 2 is to “lay the
foundation for a course of action” by describing the reasoning and conclusions
of a Supreme Court case and an Act passed by Congress that could be used as
an example for how to decide the question of whether a vendor has the right to
send unsolicited bulk e-mail to Internet users.
8
Choice (C) is correct. Lines 16-21 of Passage 2 (“Nothing...another”) cite the

argument that a vendor does not have a right to send unwanted material into
our homes. Although the author of Passage 1 does not explicitly state an
opinion about unsolicited e-mail, the author’s opinion comes through when he
or she refers to “spam” as “fraud and obscenity” and to vendors who distribute
spam as “hucksters and con artists.” One could conclude, therefore, that the
author of Passage 1 would agree with the argument cited in lines 16-21 of
Passage 2 and hope that it would be applied to spam.
9
Choice (C) is correct. Although the authors of both passages view the growth
of unsolicited bulk e-mails as a problem, the author of Passage 1 describes the
problem, whereas the author of Passage 2 proposes a specific solution:
extending the Protection Act of 1991 making it illegal in the United States to
send unsolicited faxes to include unsolicited bulk e-mail.
10
Choice (A) is correct. Cecil states with great conviction that Lucy has no
faults. Cecil obviously thinks highly of Lucy, having just asked her to marry
him. The author illustrates that Cecil means exactly what he says by indicating
that Cecil made the remarks with “grave sincerity.” Furthermore, Cecil’s
repeated questions to Mr. Beebe’s cynical remarks about Lucy reveal his
conviction about Lucy’s perfection.
11
Choice (D) is correct. Mr. Beebe is noting an apparent inconsistency he sees in

Miss Honeychurch’s life. He thinks that the distinctive way she plays the
piano does not match the ordinary way she lives her life. He refers to her
inconsistency by claiming that her life contains “water-tight compartments.”
He hopes that eventually Lucy’s life will become more consistent with the
wonderful way in which she plays the piano.
12
Choice (C) is correct. Mr. Beebe states that Lucy’s life contains “water-tight
compartments” in order to illustrate his opinion that she plays the piano much
more passionately than she lives the rest of her life. He says that the
compartments will eventually “break down” and she will live her life as she
plays piano—with great passion.
13
Choice (E) is correct. “Sense” in this context is closest in meaning to

“impression.” Mr. Beebe is talking about the impression that he got from Miss
Honeychurch when he last saw her. She gave him a sense that she was being
constrained by the influence of Miss Bartlett. He describes this impression to
Cecil using the metaphor of a kite.
14
Choice (D) is correct. Mr. Beebe describes two pictures from his diary. The
first is of Miss Bartlett holding a kite, with the kite representing Lucy. The
second depicts the string breaking and the kite flying free. In other words, Mr.
Beebe feels Miss Bartlett’s discipline and influence are holding Lucy back
from living as passionately as she could. According to his “pet theory,” Lucy
will eventually break free from Miss Bartlett. Thus, picture two represents an
outcome that Mr. Beebe is happily anticipating.
15
Choice (C) is correct. Cecil is embarrassed by his own comment. Continuing

with the metaphor Mr. Beebe has used to illustrate the relationship between
Lucy and Miss Bartlett, Cecil states that the string between Lucy and Miss
Bartlett is “broken now.” The passage states that Cecil immediately regrets
making the remark, which he considers an inappropriate and conceited way to
announce his engagement—“embarrassingly inapt.” Ultimately he feels like
he should not have continued with the kite metaphor when speaking of Lucy.
16
Choice (B) is correct. Cecil fears that his remarks to Mr. Beebe have made
him appear vain. Cecil uses Mr. Beebe’s kite metaphor for the relationship
between Lucy and Miss Bartlett to introduce the topic of his engagement.
Cecil suggests that by getting engaged to him, Lucy is breaking the string that
tied her to Miss Bartlett. Immediately he regrets the image and regrets
suggesting that “he was a star and that Lucy was soaring up to reach him,” an
image he fears has made him appear conceited.
17
Choice (E) is correct. The “dark cloud” in line 4 refers to an apparent

contradiction between two important theories in the contemporary field of
physics. Although physicists have been using both theories, these physicists
know that the theories contradict each other and cannot both be true. This
contradiction hangs, then, like a cloud over the success of the theories.
18
Choice (A) is correct. “Big and little” well characterizes the two models of the
universe presented in the first paragraph. The “big” model, general relativity,
“provides a theoretical framework for understanding the universe on the
largest of scales: stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and beyond to the
immense expanse of the universe itself.” The “little” model, quantum
mechanics, “provides a theoretical framework for understanding the universe
on the smallest of scales: molecules, atoms, and all the way down to
subatomic particles like electrons and quarks.”
19
Choice (D) is correct. The author italicizes “cannot both be right” to

“underscore a surprising point.” In the first paragraph the author presents a
“problem”: there are two major theories that have supported huge advances in
the field of physics. They both work, but seem to be independent of one
another. The problem is that they contradict each other, or in other words, they
“cannot both be right.” Using italics highlights that this is surprising, given the
importance and success of two theories that appear to contradict each other.
20
Choice (C) is correct. The automobile in lines 45-46 is described as “decrepit.”

It is not functioning well. The author uses this image to describe the problems
that occur when the equations of relativity theory and quantum mechanics are
combined. These equations “begin to shake, rattle, and gush with steam” as a
decrepit automobile would. In other words, the equations “do not work
together effectively.”
21
Choice (E) is correct. The author claims that the “young upstart” theory,
superstring theory, demonstrates that a single theory can explain the laws
governing the entire universe, regardless of the size of the objects being
studied. At the end of the third paragraph the author asks, “Can it really be that
the universe at its most fundamental level is divided, requiring one set of laws
when things are large and a different, incompatible set when things are
small?” Superstring theory suggests otherwise. Unlike relativity theory or
quantum mechanics, which work only within specific scientific domains, the
author asserts that superstring theory reconciles explanations of large and
small objects in the physical world. “Proof that the laws governing the
universe depend on the size of the system being studied,” then, would directly
refute this main claim about superstring theory.
22
Choice (E) is correct. According to the passage, the theory mentioned in line
57, superstring theory, is useful because it successfully combines relativity
theory and quantum mechanics. Throughout the first part of the passage, the
author describes relativity theory and quantum mechanics as “mutually
incompatible,” arguing that they “cannot both be right.” In the last paragraph
the author introduces superstring theory, claiming that this new theory
demonstrates not only how the two older theories can co-exist, but how they
actually “require one another” to make sense.
23
Choice (E) is correct. The “conclusion” in line 18 is that relativity theory and
quantum mechanics cannot both be true. The “marriage” referred to in line 68
is the logical joining of the two theories through superstring theory. Those
who conclude that relativity theory and quantum mechanics cannot both be
true would consider combining them through superstring theory an
“impossible outcome.”
24
Choice (B) is correct. The author uses dance imagery in lines 71-72 to
“highlight the extremes found in the physical world.” The “frantic dance”
describing the movement of subatomic quarks suggests the rapid and chaotic
nature of the minute particles. In contrast, the “stately waltz,” which describes
the “orbiting binary stars,” suggests that the huge bodies move majestically
and in a well-ordered manner. Consequently, the two types of dance imagery
highlight the way superstring theory can be used to understand the extremes of
the physical world.

1
Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by using the
present perfect progressive tense to indicate an action that began at a specific
time in the past (“last September”) and is ongoing.
2
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the errors of the original by providing a main
verb, “have compiled,” and by beginning the main clause with “juniors and
seniors,” which can be logically modified by the opening phrase “To help
freshmen and sophomores in selecting their courses.”
3
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the parallelism error of the original by

correctly completing the correlative conjunction begun by “not only” with
“but also,” and by following each part with parallel verbs (“benefit” and
“foster”).
4
Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by providing a
relative clause (“where deer roam freely”) to modify “areas.”
5
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing a relative
clause (“which typically hovers . . .”) to modify the noun “cost.”
6
Choice (C) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by replacing the
awkward and ambiguous “many were known there to live” with the clear
“many of the people there were known to live.”
7
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the comma-splice error of the original by

providing a relative clause (“which . . . productions”) that modifies the
sentence’s main clause.
8
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by providing three
parallel noun phrases to describe what “Many . . . Romantic poets” believed in
(“rebellion against social conventions,” “the expression of strong emotions,”
and “the power of imagination”).
9
Choice (D) is correct. It avoids the subject-verb agreement error of the original
by using the past-tense verb “met,” which agrees with the singular subject of
the sentence, “proposal,” and is needed to indicate a time in the past (“1787”).
10
Choice (E) is correct. It avoids the error of the original by eliminating the
redundant “and could happen in the future.”
11
Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by using a
subordinate clause introduced by “if” to concisely describe the relationship
among “Intimacy, love, and marriage.
12
Corrected Sentence:
America’s first roller coaster ride, which opened in 1884 at Coney Island,
Brooklyn, was capable of a top speed of only six miles per hour.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where a sentence fragment is created.
The sentence has no main verb. The conjunction “and” should be replaced
with the singular verb “was” to indicate that the roller coaster was “capable of
a top speed of only six miles an hour.”
13
Corrected Sentence:
The inflation rate in that country is so high that even with adjusted wages,
most workers can barely pay for food and shelter.
There is no error in this sentence.

14
Corrected Sentence:
Over the past two years, apparel manufacturers have worked to meet the
revised federal standards for the design of uniforms.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there is an inappropriate verb
form. The participle “meeting” should be changed to “meet” so that the
sentence’s main verb “have worked” is properly joined with the infinitive “to
meet” to communicate what the manufacturers have worked to do.
15
Corrected Sentence:
Storing bread in the refrigerator delays drying and the growth of mold but
increases the rate at which the bread loses flavor.
The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where there is subject-verb

disagreement. The singular subject of the sentence, “Storing,” does not agree
with the plural verb “increase.” The singular “increases” should be used
instead.
16
Corrected Sentence:
According to last week’s survey, most voters were disappointed by legislators’

inability to work together on key issues.
form. The sentence has no main verb. The participle “working” should be
changed to the infinitive “to work.”
17
Corrected Sentence:
When Marie Curie shared the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics with two other
scientists—her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel—she became the
first woman to win the prize.
form. The action of the sentence happens at a specific time (in 1903) and does
not continue to the present, so the past progressive tense “had been” is not
appropriate. The simple past-tense verb “became” should be used instead.
18
Corrected Sentence:
Every spring in rural Vermont the sound of sap dripping into galvanized metal
buckets signals the beginning of the traditional season for gathering maple
syrup.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there is subject-verb

disagreement. The plural verb “signal” does not agree with the singular noun
“the sound.” The singular verb “signals” should be used instead.
19
Corrected Sentence:
Those investors who sold stocks just before the stock market crashed in 1929
were either wise or exceptionally lucky.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is faulty word choice. The
adjective “exceptional” cannot modify the adjective “lucky.” The adverb
“exceptionally” should be used instead.
20
Corrected Sentence:
Most of the sediment and nutrients of the Mississippi River no longer reach
the coastal wetlands, a phenomenon that has adversely affected the region's
ecological balance.

21
Corrected Sentence:
Most major air pollutants cannot be seen, although large amounts of them
concentrated in cities are visible as smog.

22
Corrected Sentence:
The light emitted by high-intensity-discharge headlights is very effective in

activating the reflective paints of road markers, thereby making driving at
night safer.
The error in this sentence occurs at (A), where there is subject-verb

disagreement. The plural verb “are” does not agree with the singular noun
“The light.” The singular verb “is” should be used instead.
23
Corrected Sentence:
During the nineteenth century, Greek mythology acquired renewed

significance when both poets and painters turned to the ancient myths for
subject matter.

24
Corrected Sentence:
The museum is submitting proposals to several foundations in the hope of

gaining funds to build a tropical butterfly conservatory.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is an improper verb form
that produces unidiomatic phrasing. The infinitive “to gain” should be
replaced with the phrase “of gaining” to yield the idiomatic “in the hope of
gaining.”
25
Corrected Sentence:
In order for the audience to believe in and be engaged by a Shakespearean

character, the character has to come across as a real person on the stage.
The error in this sentence occurs at (C), where there is an illogical pronoun
reference. The plural verb “they” cannot logically refer to anything in the
sentence. The phrase “the character” should be used instead, and the plural
verb “have” should be changed to the singular “has.”
26
Corrected Sentence:
Most of the hypotheses that Kepler developed to explain physical forces were
later rejected as inconsistent with Newtonian theory.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where an inappropriate preposition

produces unidiomatic phrasing. “Inconsistent to” is not an idiomatic phrase.
The preposition “to” should be replaced by the preposition “with” to yield the
idiomatic phrasing that Kepler’s hypotheses were rejected because they were
“inconsistent with” Newton’s theories.
27
Corrected Sentence:
Lynn Margulis’s theory that evolution is a process involving interdependency

rather than competition among organisms differs dramatically from the
theories of most biologists.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is an illogical

comparison. It does not make sense to compare “Lynn Margulis’s theory” and
“most biologists.” The phrase “the theories of most biologists” should be used
instead to indicate that one theory is being compared with other theories.
28
Corrected Sentence:
The Empire State Building, the Sears Tower, the Canadian National Tower—
each of these structures was the tallest in the world at the time it was built.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is an illogical pronoun
reference. The plural pronoun “they” cannot logically refer to the singular
“each.” The singular pronoun “it” should be used instead. In addition, the
plural “were” should be changed to the singular “was.”
29
Corrected Sentence:
The cost of safely disposing of the toxic chemicals is approximately five times
what the company paid to purchase them.
The error in this sentence occurs at (D), where there is illogical pronoun
reference. The singular pronoun “it” cannot logically refer to any noun in the
sentence. The plural pronoun “them” should be used instead to indicate that
the toxic chemicals are what was purchased.
30
Choice (A) is correct. The present sentence properly uses a dependent clause
(“Acclaimed as . . . of the century”) to modify the subject of its independent
clause, “Tanner.”
31
Choice (D) is correct. The resulting sentence uses “until” to clearly identify
what was pivotal about the date 1969: it marks the end of the period in which
Tanner’s work was “largely forgotten” and the beginning of a period of “new
interest.”
32
Choice (E) is correct. This grammatically sound sentence maintains the formal
tone and third-person point of view of the paragraph.
33
Choice (B) is correct. The resulting sentence is “One of his most famous
works is the realistic painting ‘The Banjo Lesson.’” This revision removes the
awkward and unnecessary phrase “by the name of.”
34
Choice (A) is correct. The inserted sentence allows readers to visualize the
painting and identifies the figures in the painting as grandfather and grandson.
Thus, when “the boy and his grandfather” are referred to later in the
paragraph, the reader understands the reference.
35
Choice (A) is correct. The clause links the reference to photography to the rest
of the paragraph, explaining that the type of realism evident in Tanner’s
painting is different from photographic realism.

1
Choice (D) is correct. Something “strenuous” requires great strength or

exertion. “Debilitated” means weakened. If one were to insert these terms into
the text, the sentence would read “Years of strenuous lifting of heavy furniture
had left him too debilitated to be able to stand erect for long periods of time.”
Lifting heavy furniture is certainly a “strenuous” activity, or an activity
requiring great strength. Such exertion over a period of years could result in
someone’s being too weakened to stand upright for any length of time.
2
Choice (C) is correct. To be “honored” is to be recognized with respect or

saluted. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read
“Canadian Lynn Johnston was named Cartoonist of the Year in 1985, the first
woman to be so honored.” The structure of the sentence indicates that the
second part of the sentence will modify or amplify the first part, so it makes
sense to say that Johnston was “honored,” or recognized with respect, by being
named Cartoonist of the Year.
3
Choice (A) is correct. “Depicted” means represented pictorially. To “travel” is

to go on a trip. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence
would read “Because the photographer believed that wild animals should be
depicted only in their various natural surroundings, she traveled often in her
career.” The structure of the sentence suggests that the first part of the
sentence will explain why the photographer engaged in the behavior described
in the second part of the sentence. It makes sense that she “traveled” from
place to place in order to depict wild animals in their far-flung habitats.
4
Choice (B) is correct. An “emblem” is something symbolic of an object or an

idea. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read
“Folk painter Grandma Moses has become such an enduring icon that many
consider her an emblem of America.” The sentence indicates that Grandma
Moses has become “an enduring icon,” or a lasting symbol. It makes sense,
then, to say that she is considered an “emblem” of, or someone symbolic of,
America.
5
Choice (C) is correct. “Curative” means useful in the cure of diseases. “Toxic”
means poisonous. If these terms were inserted into the sentence, the sentence
would read “Whether substances are medicines or poisons often depends on
dosage, for substances that are curative in small doses can be toxic in large.”
The sentence suggests that the missing words will be opposites in meaning,
with one word describing a medicine and the other word describing a poison.
It makes sense to say that a substance that is under some circumstances
“curative,” or useful in restoring health, might in other circumstances be
poisonous.
6
Choice (C) is correct. “Simplistic” means modest and lacking in expertise. If

one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read “Critics
dismissed the engineer’s seemingly creative design as being simplistic, that is,
underdeveloped and lacking in sophistication.” The structure of the sentence
indicates that the missing word will be defined as “underdeveloped and
lacking in sophistication,” so “simplistic” fits perfectly here.
7
Choice (E) is correct. A “bent” is a strong inclination or interest. To “analyze”

something is to study it and break it down. If these terms were inserted into the
sentence, the sentence would read “The professor commented to other faculty
members that Sheila seemed temperamentally suited to the study of logic,
given her bent for analyzing intricate arguments.” The structure of the
sentence suggests that the part of the sentence following the comma will
provide a justification for the first part—that is, a reason why the professor
thinks Sheila should study logic. Logic is the study of reasoning, so it makes
sense to say that Sheila might do well in logic because of her “bent,” or
inclination, for “analyzing,” or breaking down, complex arguments.
8
Choice (E) is correct. “Prodigious” means enormous or extraordinary in

quantity. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read
“While traveling near the Sun, the comet Hale-Bopp produced a prodigious
amount of dust, much more than the comets Halley or Hyakutake.” Because
the structure of the sentence suggests that the missing word will describe an
amount of dust larger than that produced by two other comets, the term
“prodigious” makes sense here.
9
Choice (D) is correct. The passage describes Mencken as a “force of nature”

and states in lines 4-5 that he “seized each day” and “shook it to within an inch
of its life.” In this context, the words “seized” and “shook” help establish
Mencken’s “intensity,” or his extreme degree of energy and zeal.
10
Choice (B) is correct. The public response described in lines 5-6 suggests that
Mencken’s writings were “controversial.” The passage states that his writings
were “quoted widely” and “debated hotly.” Such a response implies that
Mencken’s work sparked controversy, or dispute.
11
Choice (D) is correct. In lines 5-6 the reference to beetles is used to emphasize
an important aspect of negotiation, the importance of “identifying with a
different viewpoint.” The author states that simply examining opponents’
views (“study them like beetles under a microscope”) is not enough;
“effective” negotiators must essentially become the opponents (“‘try on’ their
views,” “know what it feels like to be a beetle”) in order to fully understand
them and their viewpoints.
12
Choice (B) is correct. The primary purpose of the passage is to “indicate a

specific ability that is useful in negotiation.” The passage states that “the
ability to see the situation as your opponents see it” (or to “know more than
simply that they see things differently”) is “one of the most important skills” a
negotiator can possess.
13
Choice (C) is correct. The author of Passage 1 speaks of “the misuse and
overquotation” of the speech, and of how people “remember the first time they
heard [it]”; for the author of Passage 2, “I have a dream” may be “the most
famous four words ever uttered by a Black American.” Both authors, then,
acknowledge the speech’s “profound impact.”
14
Choice (D) is correct. The quotation from Julian Bond calls attention to the
tendency to separate “the dreamer” from a more strident side of Martin Luther
King and says that the former is not “the complete Martin Luther King.” The
first sentence of the passage mentions a tendency to “highlight King’s early
career at the expense of his later career.” When combined, the two references
imply, then, that Bond would like to see King’s “earlier concerns” and “his
later ones” be treated equally.
15
Choice (E) is correct. Bond’s statement is about the dichotomy in the popular
imagination between “King the dreamer” and “King the activist”; the author of
Passage 2, who asserts that “many of King’s admirers are uncomfortable with
a focus on his mature beliefs” and says that the later King was in favor of
“sweeping social change,” would undoubtedly agree completely with Bond’s
assessment.
16
Choice (A) is correct. “Endured” is the closest synonym here for “suffered” as
it is used in the passage; the sentence is saying, in other words, that the “I
Have a Dream” speech has had to undergo various kinds of misreading since
King’s death but has nonetheless remained strong.
17
Choice (D) is correct. In these lines of the passage, the author is making the
point that “segregation in the South has been dismantled”; to support, or
illustrate, this point, the author uses the examples of the “‘Whites Only’ signs”
and the “segregationist governors.” The lines clearly, then, “illustrate a point
[by using] particular examples.”
18
Choice (E) is correct. In the section of Passage 1 that the question refers to, the
author first mentions, then summarizes King’s “Ingratitude” sermon, which
deals with people failing to realize “their dependence on others.” In the next
sentence, the author discusses the annual Martin Luther King holiday,
reminding readers that it is “a time for the nation to recognize the immense
debt it owes to King” and to other civil rights leaders. In making this implicit
connection between instances of gratitude, then, the author of the passage is
calling attention to the “significant obligation”—the debt of gratitude—the
nation owes to King.
19
Choice (D) is correct. In these lines, the author of Passage 1 is expressing

unqualified gratitude to King and to other civil rights leaders, saying that the
annual holiday “is properly a day of national thanksgiving.” Because the
author of Passage 2 says that King’s image is covered by “a cloth of
superhuman heroism,” a “romantic tissue,” and that King’s “strengths have
been exaggerated, his weaknesses overplayed,” it makes sense to say that this
more temperate writer would consider the description from Passage 1
“simplistic,” or oversimplified to the point of lacking complexity.
20
Choice (A) is correct. The paragraph preceding these lines discusses a seldom-
mentioned (to the author) summary of “King’s views”; the sentence referred to
in the question begins a discussion of popularly held views of King, views the
author critiques and does not share.
21
Choice (B) is correct. In these lines, the author of Passage 2 is speaking of the
ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to appeal to anyone who “has dreamed
of a better world”—“the edifying universality of those four words”—and
attributing their “durability,” or persistence, to this universality. Because the
author of Passage 1 is largely concerned with the speech’s profundity (“upon
hearing the speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius”), it
makes sense to say that the author of Passage 2 is “providing an
explanation”—that is, the speech’s universality—for the view of the speech
expressed in Passage 1—that is, it is a speech that has profoundly moved
many people.
22
Choice (A) is correct. In the first paragraph of Passage 1, the author refers to
“One King scholar [who] has proposed a ten-year moratorium on...the ‘I Have
a Dream’ speech,” going on to conclude that “this proposal...concedes that
King’s magnificent address cannot be recovered from...misuse and
overquotation.” After citing this authority, however, the author disagrees with
this conclusion: “But it is not clear that this is so.” In praising the speech’s
greatness, then, the author cites an authority with whom he or she disagrees.
The author of Passage 2 does not use any similar device.
23
Choice (C) is correct. In the quotation from Passage 1, Julian Bond contrasts
“King the dreamer” with “King the activist.” The author of Passage 2 calls
attention to this same dichotomy, saying that the “I Have a Dream” speech,
although not representative of King’s later thought, is both “universal” and
“comforting”—or “reassuring.”
24
Choice (B) is correct. In Passage 1, the author speaks of “the misuse and
overquotation” of the “I Have a Dream” speech but then defends the speech’s
profundity and originality: “Many people can still remember the first time they
heard ‘I Have a Dream,’ and they tend to speak of that memory with the
reverence reserved for a religious experience.” The author of Passage 2
provides possible explanations for, or accounts for, the continuing reverence
for the speech: its “edifying universality,” but also the “comfort” it provides.

1
Choice (B) is correct. Since each term after the term is more than the
previous term, and the term comes terms after the term, it follows
that the term is equal to
Choice (E) is correct. If then either or

because and If then if then
Thus , could be either or Therefore, of the five choices, only
could be the value of
Choice (B) is correct. Since the average of the quantities and is it
follows that so Since the average of and is it
follows that so The average of the quantities
and is This is equal to or

Therefore, the average of and is

Choice (A) is correct. If Fred cannot swim, then he is not Kay’s brother,
because all of Kay’s brothers can swim.
Choice (D) is correct. The center of the circle is so and are radii of
the circle. Thus, the measures of and are equal. It is given that
so and is an equilateral triangle. Since
is an angle of this equilateral triangle, its measure is
Choice (A) is correct. Each of the expressions in the options is equivalent to
except for
The expression is equivalent to and the expression
is equivalent to These expressions are not equivalent. For
example, if and then but
Choice (C) is correct. Since and the measures of the angles of a

triangle sum to degrees, the measure of is
degrees. Thus, the measure of is also degrees, because vertical
angles have the same measure. Similarly, since and it follows
that and each measure degrees. The sum of the measures of
all the angles around is equal to degrees; thus, if the measure of
is equal to degrees, then and the measure of
is degrees. Finally, looking at the angles

of it follows that and so

Choice (B) is correct. From the graphs of the functions and it can be seen
that if and if If or if then
If then Therefore, all values of between
and for which are those such that
Correct Response(s):
108
Explanation:
The correct answer is . Dr. Nelson bought one-year magazine
subscriptions. Of these, subscriptions have issues per year, so her office
will receive or magazines from these subscriptions during the one
year. Dr. Nelson also bought subscriptions that have issues per year, so her
office will receive or magazines from these subscriptions. Finally, Dr.
Nelson also bought subscription that has issues per year, so her office will
receive magazines from these subscriptions. Therefore, the total number of
magazines Dr. Nelson’s office will receive from these subscriptions is
or .
10
1/2, 0.5
Explanation:
The correct answer is or . If the number is then three more than twice
the number is equal to therefore, and The

answer may be gridded as the fraction or its decimal equivalent, .
11
1300
Explanation:
The correct answer is . According to the table, the total number of copies
of Book that were sold by the end of the week of its publication was
By the end of the week, copies were sold. The number of
copies of Book sold during the week is the difference between the
number sold by the end of the week and the number sold by the end of the
week. Therefore, copies of the book were sold during
the week of its publication.
12
24
Explanation:
The correct answer is . Since and it follows that
Therefore, or and the value of is .
13
300
Explanation:
The correct answer is . Subtracting the second equation from the first
gives so Substituting the value of into the second equation
gives so .
14
11
Explanation:
The correct answer is . Each of the trays contains a cup only, a plate
only, or both a cup and a plate, so each tray contains either one or two items.
There are cups and plates, so there are items on the trays.
Thus, trays have two items each. No tray contains two plates or
two cups, so these trays must each contain both a cup and a plate.
15
2/3, .666, .667
Explanation:
The correct answer is or or . Line passes through the points
and Thus, the slope of line is given by which is
equal to Since line is perpendicular to line its slope is the negative
reciprocal of Therefore, the slope of line is or Any one of the

fraction , its truncated decimal equivalent , or its rounded decimal
equivalent may be gridded as the answer.
16
Lower Bound: x>3
Upper Bound: x<4
Explanation:
The correct answer is any number greater than and less than If
then either so that or so
that If then cannot hold, so it must be true that
It follows that Any decimal or fraction strictly between
and may be gridded as the answer.
17
2491
Explanation:
The correct answer is . The smallest prime number greater than is
The greatest prime number less than is Therefore, the product of the
smallest prime number that is greater than and the greatest prime number
that is less than is
18
70/3, 23.3
Explanation:
The correct answer is or . It is given that
Since it follows that
Thus,
Since
it follows that
Either or its
rounded decimal equivalent may be gridded as the answer.
Section 8: View Explanations:

1
Choice (C) is correct. On Wednesday, Heather’s running rate was

mile per minute. On Thursday, she ran at the same rate for minutes, so she
ran miles.
Choice (A) is correct. The expression is equivalent to because

multiplication is associative. Thus, if then Dividing both
sides of the equation by yields which is choice (A).
Choice (B) is correct. Let be the number. Since times is equal to it
follows that Dividing both sides of this equation by yields
4
Choice (B) is correct. Since is a square with area each side of the
square has length Therefore, Since is an equilateral triangle, all
of its sides have the same length; since it follows that The perimeter
of polygon can now be found by adding up the lengths of its five sides:
Since all the sides have length the perimeter is
Choice (C) is correct. The tick marks on the number line are equally spaced;
let the distance between any two adjacent tick marks be Since is
tick marks to the right of it follows that Solving this equation
for yields Thus, Similarly, the coordinates of
and are and respectively. Of these, is the
smallest positive number, so is the coordinate with the smallest positive

value.
Choice (D) is correct. If is the median of the numbers listed, then
must be the middle number when these numbers are listed in order from
least to greatest: Thus, must be at least and no greater than
Therefore, of the given choices, only could be the value of

Choice (E) is correct. The maximum possible length of is equal to the
sum of the diameters of the two spheres, which is as can be seen in the
figure below.
Choice (B) is correct. In the year 2000, there were premium members at
store and the average number of video rentals per premium member at
store was Therefore, in 2000, videos were rented by premium
members at Store In 2001, there were premium members at Store
who rented an average of videos each; thus, the total number of
rentals by premium members at Store in 2001 was In 2002, there
were premium members at Store who rented an average of

videos each; thus, the total number of rentals by premium members at Store
in 2002 was Therefore, best approximates the total number of
video rentals by premium members at Store during the years 2000–2002.
Choice (B) is correct. Since is the midpoint of and is the
midpoint of it follows that is half the length of Therefore,
and the length is
10

Choice (C) is correct. The first student cut the original rope in half, and kept
one piece, so that student had of the original rope. The second student
started with of the rope and cut that in half, so the second student had
of the original rope. Similarly, the third student had of the original
rope, and the student had of the original rope. Of the choices given,
only is equal to with an integer:
11
Choice (D) is correct. The graph of the function in this option crosses the
-axis at exactly two points between and Therefore, there are
exactly two values of between and for which
12
Choice (B) is correct. Draw the segment connecting

the two rightmost vertices, as shown above. Then considering the angle
measures in the smaller triangle gives Considering the angle measure in
the larger triangle gives which simplifies to It then follows from the
first equation that
13

Choice (B) is correct. Since it follows that since and are
integers, it follows that must be a multiple of Since the only
possible values for are and Therefore, there are two possible
values for when and when
14
Choice (D) is correct. The circumference of the large circle is so its
diameter is and its radius is The radius of the small circle is half the
radius of the large circle, so the radius of the small circle is Thus, the
circumference of the small circle is The measure of the angle
corresponding to the darkened arc is so the length of the darkened arc is
of the length of the circumference of the small circle. Therefore, the
length of the darkened arc is
15
Choice (E) is correct. Two of the points on the graph are and Thus,
the line that passes through all the points has a -intercept of and a
slope of or Therefore, the equation of this line is or
16

Choice (D) is correct. The value of can be since
Therefore, there is a nonzero integer for which

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Section #2: View Explanations

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

Choice (C) is correct. If is more than then and

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

Explanation for Correct Answer E.

Explanation for Correct Answer A.

Explanation for Correct Answer B.

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

is Since he spends per month on food, he spends

dollars per month on his car.

Explanation for Correct Answer B.

Choice (B) is correct. Substituting for in the equation gives

the equation is equivalent to

Explanation for Correct Answer A.

Choice (A) is correct. The regular price of the refrigerator is At

Explanation for Correct Answer E.

Choice (E) is correct. Since it follows that

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

that satisfy the inequality are and Therefore, the probability in

Explanation for Correct Answer D.

Choice (D) is correct. If is a number greater than then The amount

by which is greater than can be expressed as

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

the cylinder) and (half the diameter). Therefore, by the Pythagorean

circumference of the other base is

Explanation for Correct Answer B.

Choice (B) is correct. If and are integers such that and if

considered are in which case in which case and in

Explanation for Correct Answer D.

building at requires the fire truck to travel more than blocks.

firehouse to reach the building at is which means the -distance

of the building at from the firehouse is

Explanation for Correct Answer A.

Choice (A) is correct. The -distance between point and point is

because point is blocks away from point Starting at point

in order to arrive at point a fire truck must arrive at a point that is

blocks down and blocks to the left of point The blocks

to is to see that the blocks to the left can be chosen to be any of

the blocks in a route from to Therefore, the number of different

Explanation for Correct Answer B.

distance of from the firehouse ( ) lie on a square. The figure below

the square have slope or

Explanation for Correct Answer C.

Choice (C) is correct. If and are positive integers, then It

Explanation for Correct Answer A.

Choice (A) is correct. Since and are consecutive integers such

that it follows that The units digit of the product is so

the units digit of would be and the units digit of would be

be and the units digit of would be not If the units digit of

would be not If the units digit of were then the units

digit of would be and the units digit of would be not

digit of is Thus, it must be true that the units digit of is

Therefore, the units digit of is

Section #3: View Explanations

Choice (A) is correct. “Rebellious” means inclined to oppose authority. If one

Choice (A) is correct. “Indulged” means gratified. An “apportionment” is a

Choice (A) is correct. “Circumscribed” means constricted in range of activity.

Choice (E) is correct. The author of Passage 1 highlights a concern by

Choice (C) is correct. Lines 16-21 of Passage 2 (“Nothing...another”) cite the

Choice (D) is correct. Mr. Beebe is noting an apparent inconsistency he sees in

Choice (E) is correct. “Sense” in this context is closest in meaning to

Choice (C) is correct. Cecil is embarrassed by his own comment. Continuing