DSAT Evidence-Based Reading 3

Question 1

A passage describes a scientist who 'spent two decades quietly collecting evidence before publishing her findings.' The word 'quietly' most likely implies that the scientist worked:

Accepted Answer

Without drawing public attention or making premature announcements

Answer

Used figuratively, 'quietly' implies the scientist worked without fanfare or publicity, suggesting patient, unpublicized dedication to her research.

Question 2

The following claim appears in a passage: 'Mandatory voting laws would solve the problem of low voter turnout.' Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this claim?

Accepted Answer

Countries with mandatory voting laws sometimes show high rates of blank or invalid ballots

Answer

High rates of blank ballots in countries with mandatory voting suggest the law may compel physical presence without ensuring meaningful participation, weakening the claim that it 'solves' the problem.

Question 3

A passage about the Industrial Revolution states: 'Child labor in 19th-century factories was not merely an economic arrangement but a moral catastrophe that society normalized through law, custom, and silence.' The word 'normalized' most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Made to appear acceptable or ordinary

Answer

In this context, 'normalized' means that society made child labor seem routine and acceptable rather than recognizing it as the moral violation it was.

Question 4

In an informational passage, the author shifts from describing a problem in paragraphs 1–2 to proposing solutions in paragraphs 3–4. This organizational structure is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Problem-solution

Answer

When a passage first establishes a problem and then proposes ways to address it, the structure is problem-solution, one of the most common organizational patterns in informational writing.

Question 5

A poem contains the lines: 'The river does not mourn the stones it leaves behind / It simply moves, as water must.' These lines most likely suggest that:

Accepted Answer

Letting go is a natural and necessary part of moving forward

Answer

The river serves as a metaphor for accepting change; just as water naturally flows forward, the poem suggests that moving on without grief is natural and necessary.

(DSAT) Digital SAT Practice Test

(DSAT) Digital SAT Practice Test

DSAT Evidence-Based Reading 3