PSAT/NMSQT Reading: Command of Evidence Questions and Answers

Question 1

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered in 1873 by Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the women's suffrage movement.

Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.

The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people—women as well as men.

Based on the passage, Anthony's primary argument is that her right to vote is derived from her:

Accepted Answer

citizenship, as defined by the Constitution.

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status as a resident of her state.

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indictment for an alleged crime.

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role as a leader in a political movement.

Question 2

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

Accepted Answer

"It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution..."

Answer

"I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted..."

Answer

"The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: 'We, the people of the United States...'"

Answer

"And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them..."

Question 3

This passage is adapted from a 2017 article on the psychology of decision-making.

The phenomenon of 'analysis paralysis' is a well-documented cognitive trap. When presented with an overabundance of options, individuals often experience a decline in decision-making ability. A classic study demonstrated this with a simple experiment involving jam. Shoppers in a gourmet market were presented with a tasting booth that displayed either a small selection of six jams or a large selection of twenty-four. While the larger display attracted more onlookers, it resulted in significantly fewer purchases. The shoppers who saw the extensive display were one-tenth as likely to buy a jar of jam as those who saw the smaller selection. The study's authors concluded that the sheer number of choices can be demotivating, leading potential customers to disengage entirely rather than undertake the mentally taxing process of comparing and contrasting numerous similar options. This suggests that while we may believe we want more choices, we are often happier and more decisive with fewer.

The passage suggests that having too many options can lead to which of the following outcomes?

Accepted Answer

A feeling of being overwhelmed and making no choice at all.

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Increased customer engagement but lower sales.

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Greater interest from a wider range of shoppers.

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A tendency to purchase less expensive items.

Question 4

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

Accepted Answer

"The study's authors concluded that the sheer number of choices can be demotivating, leading potential customers to disengage entirely..."

Answer

"When presented with an overabundance of options, individuals often experience a decline in decision-making ability."

Answer

"While the larger display attracted more onlookers, it resulted in significantly fewer purchases."

Answer

"The shoppers who saw the extensive display were one-tenth as likely to buy a jar of jam as those who saw the smaller selection."

Question 5

This passage is from a 2019 essay about the role of public libraries.

In an age of digital saturation, the public library stands as a vital counterpoint. It is not merely a repository for books, but a dynamic community hub. While access to information is certainly a core function, the library's role has expanded to encompass digital literacy training, providing a safe and quiet space for work and study, and offering access to technology for those who lack it. For many, the library is the only source of free internet access, a critical tool for job searching, education, and civic engagement. Furthermore, libraries host community events, from author readings to workshops for small business owners, fostering a sense of local connection that is often absent in the digital realm. To view the library as an obsolete institution is to overlook its profound and evolving contribution to civil society.

The author's central claim about modern public libraries is that they:

Accepted Answer

serve multiple, evolving functions beyond lending books.

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have become less important due to the internet.

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are primarily used by people seeking employment.

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compete directly with digital forms of entertainment.

Question 6

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

Accepted Answer

"While access to information is certainly a core function, the library's role has expanded to encompass digital literacy training, providing a safe and quiet space for work and study, and offering access to technology for those who lack it."

Answer

"For many, the library is the only source of free internet access, a critical tool for job searching, education, and civic engagement."

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"To view the library as an obsolete institution is to overlook its profound and evolving contribution to civil society."

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"Furthermore, libraries host community events, from author readings to workshops for small business owners..."