PSAT/NMSQT Reading: Command of Evidence 2

Question 1

In a Command of Evidence question, what does the phrase 'best supports the answer to the previous question' typically require you to do?

Accepted Answer

Identify the line or quotation in the passage that justifies your prior choice

Answer

Textual evidence questions ask you to locate the specific lines that prove your previous answer.

Question 2

A passage claims that urban gardens reduce neighborhood crime. Which sentence would best serve as supporting evidence?

Accepted Answer

A statistic showing a 20% drop in reported incidents near garden sites

Answer

A measurable statistic directly backs the claim about reduced crime.

Question 3

When a quantitative (data) Command of Evidence question accompanies a graph, what should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Read the axis labels and units before interpreting the data

Answer

Understanding axis labels and units prevents misreading the data.

Question 4

Which answer choice is LEAST likely to be correct evidence for a claim about an author's tone?

Accepted Answer

A neutral table of numerical figures

Answer

A neutral numerical table conveys no tone, so it cannot support a tone claim.

Question 5

A student selects lines 12-14 as evidence, but those lines describe an opposing viewpoint. What is the problem?

Accepted Answer

The evidence contradicts rather than supports the intended claim

Answer

Evidence must agree with the claim it is meant to prove, not oppose it.

PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test