PSAT/NMSQT Essay Writing & Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
- To state the paragraph's main idea (Correct answer)
- To cite a source
- To restate the thesis word-for-word
- To introduce the essay's hook
Correct answer: To state the paragraph's main idea
A topic sentence announces the controlling idea of its paragraph.
Question 2: An author uses statistics showing 90% of scientists agree. Which appeal is this?
- Logos (Correct answer)
- Pathos
- Ethos
- Anaphora
Correct answer: Logos
Logos appeals to logic and reason through data, facts, and evidence.
Question 3: Which sentence demonstrates the clearest, most concise revision of "Due to the fact that it was raining, we stayed inside"?
- Because it was raining, we stayed inside. (Correct answer)
- On account of the rain occurring, we stayed inside.
- It was raining, due to which we stayed inside.
- The rain being the reason, we stayed inside.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
"Because" replaces the wordy phrase "due to the fact that" without losing meaning.
Question 4: In an analysis, what does it mean to evaluate an author's diction?
- Examining the author's word choice (Correct answer)
- Counting the paragraphs
- Checking the punctuation
- Measuring sentence length
Correct answer: Examining the author's word choice
Diction refers to an author's specific choice of words and their connotations.
Question 5: Which is the strongest concluding strategy for a rhetorical analysis essay?
- Summarize how the techniques achieve the author's purpose (Correct answer)
- Introduce a brand-new piece of evidence
- Apologize for any weaknesses
- Restate the entire passage
Correct answer: Summarize how the techniques achieve the author's purpose
A strong conclusion ties the analyzed techniques back to the author's overall purpose.
Question 6: An author juxtaposes images of wealth and poverty in consecutive sentences. This contrast is meant to:
- Highlight inequality for effect (Correct answer)
- Confuse the reader
- Fill space in the essay
- Hide the main argument
Correct answer: Highlight inequality for effect
Juxtaposition places opposites side by side to emphasize a difference, here inequality.
Question 7: Which revision corrects the unclear pronoun reference: "When Maria spoke to Lena, she was nervous"?
- When Maria spoke to Lena, Maria was nervous. (Correct answer)
- When Maria spoke to Lena, she felt it.
- Maria, nervous, spoke to Lena and she.
- When she spoke to her, she was nervous.
Correct answer: When Maria spoke to Lena, Maria was nervous.
Replacing the ambiguous "she" with "Maria" clarifies who was nervous.
PSAT/NMSQT Essay Writing & Analysis 3
What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?