SAT Section 3 Critical Reading
This section is filled with reading comprehension and sentence completion questions.
- 1.
Our once thriving High School Nature Club is now ____ ; the programs have had to be canceled due to lack of support.
- A.
Defunct
- B.
Extant
- C.
Resurgent
- D.
Burgeoning
- E.
Renovated
Correct Answer
A. DefunctExplanation
‘Once’ followed by ‘now’ indicates that things have changed. Where once the club did well (it was thriving) it is now doing badly. Furthermore, the sentence tells us that the programs have been canceled and so we can choose defunct, which means no longer working.
(extant = still in existence; resurgent = reviving; burgeoning = growing; renovated = redecorated)Rate this question:
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- 2.
____ by nature, Jones spoke very little even to his own family members.
- A.
Garrulous
- B.
Equivocal
- C.
Taciturn
- D.
Arrogant
- E.
Gregarious
Correct Answer
C. TaciturnExplanation
He ‘spoke very little’ and so he uses few words.
Therefore, taciturn is the best word.
(garrulous = talkative; equivocal = ambiguous; gregarious = sociable)Rate this question:
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- 3.
Questions 3 and 4 are based on the following passage. Much of what goes by the name of pleasure is simply an effort to destroy consciousness. If one started by asking, what is man? what are his needs? how can he best express himself? one would discover that merely having the power to avoid work 5 and live one’s life from birth to death in electric light and to the tune of tinned music is not a reason for doing so. Man needs warmth, society, leisure, comfort and security: he also needs solitude, creative work and the sense of wonder. If he recognized this he could use the products of science and 10 industrialism eclectically, applying always the same test: does this make me more human or less human? He would then learn that the highest happiness does not lie in relaxing, resting, playing poker, drinking and making love simultaneously. Adapted from an essay by George Orwell The author implies that the answers to the questions in sentence two would reveal that human beings _________________.
- A.
Are less human when they seek pleasure
- B.
Need to evaluate their purpose in life
- C.
Are being alienated from their true nature by technology
- D.
Have needs beyond physical comforts
- E.
Are always seeking the meaning of life
Correct Answer
D. Have needs beyond pHysical comfortsExplanation
The main point of the passage is to show that so-called pleasure is not enough to justify existence. By answering these questions we will apparently reveal that pleasure and physical comforts are only part of what a human being needs. (We also need “solitude, creative work and the sense of wonder”.) These ideas are best conveyed by answer D.Rate this question:
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- 4.
The author would apparently agree that playing poker is ___________________.
- A.
Often an effort to avoid thinking
- B.
Something that gives true pleasure
- C.
An example of man’s need for society
- D.
Something that man must learn to avoid
- E.
Inhuman
Correct Answer
A. Often an effort to avoid thinkingExplanation
Poker is mentioned as part of the list of things that do not bring us the highest happiness. We need to relate this list to the first sentence to get the answer. Poker is apparently an example of “what goes by the name of pleasure” and which the author says is an “effort to destroy consciousness”. Answer A is best because it paraphrases this idea. (“Destroy consciousness” is changed to “avoid thinking”).Rate this question:
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- 5.
Questions 5 and 6 are based on the following passage. I have previously defined a sanctuary as a place where man is passive and the rest of Nature active. But this general definition is too absolute for any special case. The mere fact that man has to protect a sanctuary does away with his 5 purely passive attitude. Then, he can be beneficially active by destroying pests and parasites, like bot-flies or mosquitoes, and by finding antidotes for diseases like the epidemic which periodically kills off the rabbits and thus starves many of the carnivora to death. But, except in cases 10 where experiment has proved his intervention to be beneficial, the less he upsets the balance of Nature the better, even when he tries to be an earthly Providence. Adapted from: Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador, W Wood (1911) The author implies that his first definition of a sanctuary is ____________.
- A.
Totally wrong
- B.
Somewhat idealistic
- C.
Unhelpful
- D.
Indefensible
- E.
Immutable
Correct Answer
B. Somewhat idealisticExplanation
The author says in sentence two that his previous definition was “too absolute”. Yet he admits that the less man “upsets the balance of Nature” the better. Hence his definition is not entirely right (because it is too idealistic) but it is not entirely wrong either. It is now easy to eliminate answers A, C, D, and E because they are strongly negative.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The author’s argument that destroying bot-flies and mosquitoes would be a beneficial action is most weakened by all of the following except ______________.
- A.
Parasites have an important role to play in the regulation of populations
- B.
The elimination of any species can have unpredictable effects on the balance of nature
- C.
The pests themselves are part of the food chain
- D.
These insects have been introduced to the area by human activities
- E.
Elimination of these insects would require the use of insecticides that kill a wide range of insects
Correct Answer
D. These insects have been introduced to the area by human activitiesExplanation
In “except” questions find the true statements first. In this case find four statements that WEAKEN the idea that destroying pests is beneficial. That means finding statements that show that it is NOT a good idea to destroy the pests. Answers A, B, C, and E give reasons why destroying these insects might be a mistake. D, however, is the right answer because it suggests that eliminating these insects might not be wrong, since they are not even natural inhabitants of the area.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Questions 7-18 are based on the following passage. The extract is taken from Darwin's book The Voyage of the Beagle.In the book he describes his voyage around the world as a ship's naturalist. On this voyage he gathered evidence that was to lead him to put forward his Theory of Evolution. That large animals require a luxuriant vegetation, has been a general assumption which has passed from one work to another; but I do not hesitate to say that it is completely false, and that it has vitiated the 5 reasoning of geologists on some points of great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been derived from India, and the Indian islands, where troops of elephants, noble forests, and impenetrable jungles, are associated 10 together in every one's mind. If, however, we refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa, we shall find allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country, or to the numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same 15 thing is rendered evident by the many engravings which have been published of various parts of the interior. Dr. Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn, informs me that, 20 taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa, there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts there are some fine forests, but with these exceptions, the traveller may pass for days together through open plains, 25 covered by a poor and scanty vegetation. Now, if we look to the animals inhabiting these wide plains, we shall find their numbers extraordinarily great, and their bulk immense. We must enumerate the elephant, three species of rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, the 30 giraffe, the bos caffer, two zebras, two gnus, and several antelopes even larger than these latter animals. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous, the individuals of each kind are few. By the kindness of Dr. Smith, I am enabled to show 35 that the case is very different. He informs me, that in lat. 24', in one day's march with the bullock-wagons, he saw, without wandering to any great distance on either side, between one hundred and one hundred and fifty rhinoceroses - the same day he saw several 40 herds of giraffes, amounting together to nearly a hundred. At the distance of a little more than one hour's march from their place of encampment on the previous night, his party actually killed at one spot eight hippopotamuses, and saw many more. In this 45 same river there were likewise crocodiles. Of course it was a case quite extraordinary, to see so many great animals crowded together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr. Smith describes the country passed through that day, as 'being thinly 50 covered with grass, and bushes about four feet high, and still more thinly with mimosa-trees.' Besides these large animals, every one the least acquainted with the natural history of the Cape, has read of the herds of antelopes, which can be 55 compared only with the flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther, and hyena, and the multitude of birds of prey, plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds: one evening seven lions were counted at the same time 60 prowling round Dr. Smith's encampment. As this able naturalist remarked to me, the carnage each day in Southern Africa must indeed he terrific! I confess it is truly surprising how such a number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food. The 65 larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it; and their food chiefly consists of underwood, which probably contains much nutriment in a small bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a part 70 consumed, than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt, however, that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. 75 The belief that where large quadrupeds exist, the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant, is the more remarkable, because the converse is far from true. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil, nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of 80 the South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his Travels, he has suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data) of an equal number of the largest 85 herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be extremely curious. If we take on the one side, the elephants hippopotamus, giraffe, bos caffer, elan,five species of rhinoceros; and on the American side, two tapirs, the guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, 90 capybara (after which we must choose from the monkeys to complete the number), and then place these two groups alongside each other it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude, against 95 anterior probability, that among the mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the species, and the quantity of the vegetation, in the countries which they inhabit. Adapted from: Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin (1890) The author is primarily concerned with __________.
- A.
Discussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of vegetation in their habitats
- B.
Contrasting ecological conditions in India and Africa
- C.
Proving the large animals do not require much food
- D.
Describing the size of animals in various parts of the world
- E.
Explaining that the reasoning of some geologists is completely false
Correct Answer
A. Discussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of vegetation in their habitatsExplanation
Both the first and the last sentence of the excerpt indicate that the author is concerned with the size of mammals and the amount of vegetation. Hence answer A. (Note that strong words like ‘prove’ and ‘completely’ are not usually answers to primary purpose questions. This fact can help you eliminate answer choices.)Rate this question:
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- 8.
The word ‘vitiated’ (line 4) most nearly means ___________.
- A.
Infiltrated
- B.
Occupied
- C.
Impaired
- D.
Invigorated
- E.
Strengthened
Correct Answer
C. ImpairedExplanation
‘Vitiated’ usually means ‘weakened’. Here the author argues that false ideas have ‘vitiated the reasoning of geologists’. False ideas would harm or ‘impair’ reasoning. Hence, answer C.Rate this question:
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- 9.
According to the author, the ‘prejudice’ (line 7) has lead to ________________.
- A.
Errors in the reasoning of biologists
- B.
False ideas about animals in Africa
- C.
Incorrect assumptions on the part of geologists
- D.
Doubt in the mind of the author
- E.
Confusion in natural history
Correct Answer
C. Incorrect assumptions on the part of geologistsExplanation
The ‘prejudice’ talked about here is the same as the false reasoning in sentence 1. This prejudice/false reasoning has led to false ideas on the part of geologists. Answer C.Rate this question:
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- 10.
The author uses information provided by Dr. Smith to ___________. I supply information on quality and quantity of plant life in South Africa II indicate the presence of large numbers of animals III give evidence of numbers of carnivorous animals
- A.
I only
- B.
II only
- C.
III only
- D.
I and II only
- E.
I, II, and III
Correct Answer
E. I, II, and IIIExplanation
Dr. Smith is mentioned extensively. His experience is quoted on all of the points mentioned in the question. Plant life in lines 49-51, large numbers of animals in lines 38 onwards, and number of carnivores in lines 56-60. Hence, answer E.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The flocks of migratory birds (line 55) are mentioned to _____________.
- A.
Describe an aspect of the fauna of South Africa
- B.
Illustrate a possible source of food for large carnivores
- C.
Contrast with the habits of the antelope
- D.
Contrast with the habits of the antelope
- E.
Indicate the abundance of wildlife
Correct Answer
D. Contrast with the habits of the antelopeExplanation
Dr. Smith is mentioned extensively. His experience is quoted on all of the points mentioned in the question. Plant life in lines 49-51, large numbers of animals in lines 38 onwards, and number of carnivores in lines 56-60. Hence, answer E.Rate this question:
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- 12.
The ‘carnage’ (line 61) refers to the ______________.
- A.
Number of animals killed by hunters
- B.
Number of prey animals killed by predators
- C.
Number of people killed by lions
- D.
Amount of food eaten by all species
- E.
Damage caused by large animals
Correct Answer
B. Number of prey animals killed by predatorsExplanation
To be sure of the answer we need to read the sentence before the reference to carnage. The mention of predators such as the lion, panther and hyena, as well as the birds of prey, indicates that the author is thinking of all the animals that must be killed by these predators each day. Hence, answer B.Rate this question:
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- 13.
To account for the ‘surprising’ (line 63) number of animals in a ‘country producing so little food’ (line 64), Darwin suggests all of the following as partial explanations except __________________.
- A.
Food which is a concentrated source of nutrients
- B.
Rapid regrowth of plant mat
- C.
Large area for animals to forage in
- D.
Mainly carnivorous animals
- E.
Food requirements have been overestimated
Correct Answer
D. Mainly carnivorous animalsExplanation
Remember that this is an ‘except’ question. Four choices will give things that the author does suggest as an explanation for the numbers, and one (the right answer) will not. That the food contains a concentrated source of nutrients is given by the phrase ‘much nutriment in small bulk’ (line 67). Rapid regrowth is covered by ‘has a rapid growth' (line 69). Large area by ‘roam over wide tracts’ (line 65). Overestimate of requirements is covered by ‘much exaggerated’ (line 74). This leaves D as the right answer.Rate this question:
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- 14.
The author makes his point by reference to all of the following except _______________.
- A.
Travel books
- B.
Published illustrations
- C.
Private communications
- D.
Recorded observations
- E.
Historical documents
Correct Answer
E. Historical documentsExplanation
The author mentions travel books (line 11), illustrations (engravings, line 15), private communication (Dr. Smith informed the author personally, line 19), and he refers to recorded observations in various places (e.g. line 82). But there are no mentions of historical documents (only contemporary ones are mentioned). This makes E the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Darwin quotes Burchell’s observations in order to __________________.
- A.
Counter a popular misconception
- B.
Describe a region of great splendor
- C.
Prove a hypothesis
- D.
Illustrate a well-known phenomenon
- E.
Account for a curious situation
Correct Answer
A. Counter a popular misconceptionExplanation
Darwin quotes Burchell to show how the latter was struck by the luxuriant vegetation and absence of large mammals in South America. He does this to contradict the belief that large animals are found where there is abundant vegetation (line 75). Since a misconception is a wrong belief, answer A is correct.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Darwin apparently regards Dr. Smith as ____________________.
- A.
Reliable and imaginative
- B.
Intrepid and competent
- C.
Observant and excitable
- D.
Foolhardy and tiresome
- E.
Incontrovertible and peerless
Correct Answer
B. Intrepid and competentExplanation
Darwin places heavy reliance on Dr. Smith’s observations. So we can eliminate D because of the negative words. Reliable in A is a good word, but imaginative is inappropriate for one who records facts. There is no evidence that he is excitable, which leaves us to consider B and E. The discussion of the expedition (lines 18 onwards ) supports the idea that Darwin thinks him intrepid (brave and adventurous), and B is the best choice. (The words in E are really too strong. Incontrovertible means cannot be contradicted, and peerless means without equal).Rate this question:
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- 17.
Darwin’s parenthetical remark (line 83-84) indicates that ________________.
- A.
Burchell’s data are not reliable
- B.
Burchell’s ideas are not to be given much weight
- C.
Comparison of the weights of herbivores is largely speculative
- D.
Darwin’s views differ from Burchell’s
- E.
More figures are needed before any comparison can be attempted
Correct Answer
C. Comparison of the weights of herbivores is largely speculativeExplanation
The remarks indicate that there are not enough data, and so an actual comparison cannot be made. The comparison attempted here is, therefore, highly speculative. (Speculative means based on guesswork or supposition.) Answer C.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Anterior probability (line 95) refers to _________________.
- A.
What might have been expected
- B.
Ideas of earlier explorers
- C.
Ideas of earlier explorers
- D.
Hypotheses of other scientists
- E.
Former information
Correct Answer
A. What might have been expectedExplanation
Anterior probability here suggests that the observations contradict what might have been expected, answer A.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Questions 19-22 are based on the following passage. Paragraph one That Priestley's contributions to the knowledge of chemical fact were of the greatest importance is unquestionable; but it must be admitted that he had no comprehension of the deeper significance of his work; and, so far from 5 contributing anything to the theory of the facts which he discovered, or assisting in their rational explanation, his influence to the end of his life was warmly exerted in favor of error. From first to last, he was a stiff adherent of the phlogiston doctrine which was prevalent when his 10 studies commenced; and, by a curious irony of fate, the man who by the discovery of what he called "dephlogisticated air" furnished the essential datum for the true theory of combustion, of respiration, and of the composition of water, to the end of his days fought against the inevitable 15 corollaries from his own labors. Paragraph two It is a trying ordeal for any man to be compared with Black and Cavendish, and Priestley cannot be said to stand on their level. Nevertheless his achievements are truly wonderful if we consider the disadvantages under which he 20 labored. Without the careful scientific training of Black, without the leisure and appliances secured by the wealth of Cavendish, he scaled the walls of science; and trusting to mother wit to supply the place of training, and to ingenuity to create apparatus out of washing tubs, he discovered more 25 new gases (including oxygen, which he termed “dephlogisticated air”) than all his predecessors put together had done. Both passages adapted from: Science & Education, T H Huxley (1893)Which pairing best reflects the main emphasis of the two passages? The first focuses mainly on Priestley’s ________________.
- A.
Discoveries of chemical fact; the second on his ingenuity
- B.
Discovery of “dephlogisticated air”; the second on his discoveries of gases
- C.
Lack of theoretical understanding; the second on his lack of training
- D.
Importance to future science; the second on his status in relation to his contemporaries
- E.
Theoretical misconceptions; the second on his success in the face of disadvantage
Correct Answer
E. Theoretical misconceptions; the second on his success in the face of disadvantageExplanation
The main point of paragraph one is that, though Priestley made important contributions to factual knowledge, “he had no comprehension of the deeper significance of his work”, and. in fact, spent his life defending wrong ideas. This suggests that the first part of answer C and E could be right. The main point of paragraph two is that, though Priestley was not as great as some other scientists, he managed to make important discoveries that were “truly wonderful if we consider the disadvantages under which he labored”. This idea is most accurately conveyed in answer E.Rate this question:
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- 20.
It can be inferred that “dephlogisticated air” is I a misnomer, but relating to something important II a gaseous substance discovered by Priestley II something not fully understood by Preistley
- A.
I only
- B.
II only
- C.
I and III
- D.
II and III
- E.
I, II, and III
Correct Answer
E. I, II, and IIIExplanation
The words “dephlogisticated air” are placed in inverted commas because the name used by Priestley is misleading; its true nature and important role in combustion etc. had to be elucidated by others. Hence we can say that the substance was important but the name was a misnomer. (A misnomer is a wrong name.) Paragraph two clearly tells us that it was one of the gases discovered by Priestley. It is obvious from paragraph one that Preistley’s ideas about his discovery were in error, and that he had no real idea of the theoretical implications of this work. Thus all three statements are correct.Rate this question:
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- 21.
The metaphor “scaled the walls of science” conveys the idea that Priestley ______________.
- A.
Climbed to the pinnacle of science
- B.
Fought his way to the top
- C.
Escaped the confines of traditional ideas
- D.
Achieved success in a difficult endeavor
- E.
Clawed his way up against opposition
Correct Answer
D. Achieved success in a difficult endeavorExplanation
We can eliminate answer A because “the pinnacle” implies the topmost point. Priestley made important discoveries but it is obvious that the author thinks there are other scientists who are more important, making “pinnacle” too strong. There is no suggestion of “fighting”, eliminating answer B. Similarly “opposition” is wrong in E. There is no mention that he escaped “traditional ideas”; in fact paragraph one suggests that he has hampered by his adherence to old ideas. This leaves us with the idea that scaling the walls of science means succeeding in doing something difficult.Rate this question:
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- 22.
The attitude of both the passages to Priestley’s scientific work could be described as _______________.
- A.
Firm disapproval
- B.
Wholehearted praise
- C.
Qualified approval
- D.
Determined neutrality
- E.
Ambivalence
Correct Answer
C. Qualified approvalExplanation
Both passages say both positive and negative things about Priestley. So we can eliminate the entirely positive (B), and the entirely negative (A). The authors cannot be described as neutral because they take a position (eliminate D). Both are rather firm in their attitudes so ambivalence is inappropriate (eliminate E). By saying “qualified approval” we mean that the authors approve up to a point. The word “qualified” is a favorite with examiners because students often misunderstand; used in this way it actually means “modified, moderated, or limited”.Rate this question:
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- 23.
Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following passage. Could Washington, Madison, and the other framers of the Federal Constitution revisit the earth in this year 1922, it is likely that nothing would bewilder them more than the recent Prohibition Amendment. Railways, steamships, 5 the telephone, automobiles, flying machines, submarines – all these developments, unknown in their day, would fill them with amazement and admiration. They would marvel at the story of the rise and downfall of the German Empire; at the growth and present greatness of 10 the Republic they themselves had founded. None of these things, however, would seem to them to involve any essential change in the beliefs and purposes of men as they had known them. The Prohibition Amendment, on the contrary, would evidence to their minds the breaking 15 down of a principle of government which they had deemed axiomatic, the abandonment of a purpose which they had supposed immutable. Adapted from: Our Changing Constitution, C W Pierson (1922) It can be inferred that the paragraph is intended as ______________________.
- A.
An introduction to a discussion of a constitutional amendment
- B.
A summary of social and political change since the writing of the Federal Constitution
- C.
An introduction to a history of the Constitution
- D.
A clarification of the author’s view of a controversy
- E.
A summation of a discussion on political history
Correct Answer
A. An introduction to a discussion of a constitutional amendmentExplanation
The passage tells us that the framers of the Constitution would not have been so surprised at the changes in technology and other areas as they would have been by the Prohibition Amendment. It goes on to indicate that there is some fundamental change in principle involved in this amendment, but does not elaborate. We can conclude that the author is about to go into details of this amendment and why it is apparently so different. This is why we can say the passage is an introduction to a discussion of the amendment.Rate this question:
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- 24.
The author apparently believes that the “principle of government” mentioned in the last sentence is _______________.
- A.
Not implicit in the original Constitution
- B.
To be taken as true for all time
- C.
Apparently violated by the Prohibition Amendment
- D.
An essential change in the beliefs of the American people
- E.
Something that would bewilder Washington and Madison
Correct Answer
C. Apparently violated by the Prohibition AmendmentExplanation
The author refers to the breaking down of a principle that the founders would have thought “axiomatic”. Axiomatic means assumed to be true. It is the Prohibition Amendment that apparently breaks down or “violates” this principle, making C the correct answer. This principle would not have bewildered the founders; the amendment would (eliminating E). Similarly the amendment represents a change in belief (eliminating D). B is too strong because of the word “all”, and A can be ruled out because of “not”.Rate this question:
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