Evidence-Based Reading Flashcards

A passage describes an experiment in which participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The researcher then measured outcomes in both groups. The use of random assignment primarily ensures that:

Answer: Pre-existing differences between groups are minimized by chance

Random assignment distributes pre-existing differences (potential confounding variables) roughly equally between groups by chance, allowing causal conclusions to be drawn.

In a passage about urban planning, the author argues that mixed-use zoning improves neighborhood wellbeing. She cites three cities that adopted mixed-use policies, all of which saw improvements. A skeptic argues the author's evidence is insufficient. The skeptic's best point would be:

Answer: Three cities are too few to generalize confidently to all urban environments

Using only three examples as evidence for a broad generalization is a limited sample size, which is a valid critique of the sufficiency and representativeness of the evidence.

A passage contains these two sentences: 'Traditional navigation relied on stars and landmarks. GPS satellites now triangulate position within meters.' The relationship between these sentences is best described as:

Answer: Contrast showing technological change over time

The sentences contrast an older method of navigation with a modern technological replacement, illustrating how the field has changed over time.

A passage about food deserts states: 'Residents of low-income neighborhoods often travel more than three miles to reach a supermarket, compared to less than one mile for affluent residents.' The author most likely includes this data to:

Answer: Quantify the geographic inequality in food access between income groups

The specific mileage comparison quantifies the disparity in food access between income groups, providing concrete evidence for the author's argument about inequality.

In a passage, a narrator recalls: 'My grandfather never spoke of the war, but his hands did—trembling each November when the leaves fell.' This sentence primarily uses which literary technique?

Answer: Indirect characterization through physical detail and symbol

The grandfather's character is revealed indirectly through the symbolic physical detail of trembling hands each November, rather than through explicit description or his own words.

The Digital SAT Reading section includes 'Command of Evidence' questions that ask students to identify which textual evidence best supports a previous answer. To answer these questions correctly, a student should:

Answer: Select the quote that directly and specifically supports the conclusion drawn in the prior question

Command of Evidence questions require selecting the specific textual quote that most directly substantiates the interpretation or claim made in the preceding question.

A passage states: 'The committee's decision was final, irreversible, and—to the community—incomprehensible.' The dashes around 'to the community' primarily serve to:

Answer: Insert a parenthetical aside emphasizing the community's perspective

Dashes here set off a parenthetical phrase that adds the community's point of view as an interjected aside, emphasizing their reaction within the sentence.