Bluebook SAT Test Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Passage: "The musician's decision to record an entirely acoustic album was _____ move for an artist known for electronic production; critics were surprised but largely admiring." Which word best completes the sentence?
- a bold (Correct answer)
- an expected
- a familiar
- an unnoticed
Correct answer: a bold
Critics being surprised indicates the move was unexpected; 'a bold' captures an unexpected, daring departure from the artist's norm.
Question 2: A table shows the percentage of adults in four age groups who reported exercising regularly: ages 18–25: 62%; ages 26–35: 55%; ages 36–50: 47%; ages 51+: 38%. Which conclusion is directly supported?
- Regular exercise participation decreases with age in this sample. (Correct answer)
- Older adults exercise less because they have more health problems.
- People under 26 exercise more than any other age group in the general population.
- The difference between age groups is caused by differing access to gyms.
Correct answer: Regular exercise participation decreases with age in this sample.
The data shows a consistent decline in the percentage from youngest to oldest group, directly supporting the trend.
Question 3: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- The experiment succeeded; the results exceeded all expectations. (Correct answer)
- The experiment succeeded; because the results exceeded all expectations.
- The experiment; succeeded because the results exceeded expectations.
- The experiment succeeded, because; the results exceeded all expectations.
Correct answer: The experiment succeeded; the results exceeded all expectations.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses; it cannot precede a subordinating conjunction like 'because.'
Question 4: Text 1 argues that urban farming can meaningfully reduce food deserts in cities. Text 2 points out that urban farming typically yields far less food per acre than rural agriculture. What is the most accurate description of Text 2's relationship to Text 1?
- It presents a practical limitation that complicates Text 1's optimistic claim. (Correct answer)
- It directly confirms Text 1's argument with data.
- It argues that urban farming is entirely useless.
- It addresses a different issue than Text 1.
Correct answer: It presents a practical limitation that complicates Text 1's optimistic claim.
Lower yields don't disprove urban farming's value but limit its scale, complicating Text 1's claim without fully refuting it.
Question 5: Passage: "The explorer kept meticulous journals, recording not only geographical observations but also detailed notes on the languages, customs, and social structures of the peoples she encountered." The explorer's journals are best described as:
- Comprehensive records combining scientific and anthropological observations. (Correct answer)
- Exclusively scientific geographical surveys.
- Personal diaries focused on the explorer's emotions and reflections.
- Brief notes intended for navigation purposes only.
Correct answer: Comprehensive records combining scientific and anthropological observations.
The passage describes both 'geographical observations' and cultural/social notes, indicating comprehensive, multi-disciplinary records.
Question 6: Choose the option that best revises the following for conciseness: 'Due to the fact that the roads were icy, the school made the decision to cancel classes.'
- Because the roads were icy, the school cancelled classes. (Correct answer)
- Due to the fact that the roads were very icy, the school made a decision to cancel all classes.
- The school made the decision to cancel classes because the roads were icy and slippery.
- In light of the icy road conditions that existed, the school cancelled classes.
Correct answer: Because the roads were icy, the school cancelled classes.
'Due to the fact that' is wordy; 'because' conveys the same meaning concisely, and 'made the decision to' can be shortened to 'cancelled.'
Question 7: Passage: "Proponents of the four-day workweek argue it increases productivity; opponents contend it reduces total output and disrupts coordination across global time zones." The author presents this issue as:
- A genuinely contested debate with arguments on both sides. (Correct answer)
- A settled matter with clear evidence favoring the four-day week.
- A minor issue that affects only large multinational corporations.
- A proposal that experts uniformly oppose.
Correct answer: A genuinely contested debate with arguments on both sides.
The author presents both proponent and opponent views without endorsing either, signaling an ongoing debate.
Bluebook SAT Test Digital SAT Reading and Writing Practice 5
Passage: "The musician's decision to record an entirely acoustic album was _____ move for an artist known for electronic production; critics were surprised but largely admiring." Which word best completes the sentence?