1 1 .

Reading Test
65 MINUTES, 52 QUESTIONS

Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.

_DIRECTIONS_

Every passage or paired set of passages is accompanied by a number of questions. Read the passage
or paired set of passages, then use what is said or implied in what you read and in any given graphics
to choose the best answer to each question.

Questions 1-10 are based on the following “I suppose so. Mother, would it be?”
passage. “Plenty of society,” said Mrs. Honeychurch, who
The following is adapted from E.M. Forster, A Room With was trying to remember the hang of one of the
a View. Originally published in 1908. dresses.
30 Seeing that her thoughts were elsewhere, Cecil
A few days after the engagement was announced bent towards Lucy and said: “To me it seemed
Mrs. Honeychurch made Lucy and her fiancé come perfectly appalling, disastrous, portentous.”
to a little garden party in the neighborhood, for “I am so sorry that you were stranded.”
Line naturally she wanted to show people that her “Not that, but the congratulations. It is so
5 daughter was marrying a presentable man. 35 disgusting, the way an engagement is regarded as
Cecil was more than presentable; he looked public property—a kind of waste place where every
distinguished, and it was very pleasant to see his slim outsider may shoot his vulgar sentiment. All those
figure keeping step with Lucy, and his long, fair face old women smirking!”
responding when Lucy spoke to him. People “One has to go through it, I suppose. They won’t
10 congratulated Mrs. Honeychurch, which is, I believe, 40 notice us so much next time.”
a social blunder, but it pleased her, and she “But my point is that their whole attitude is wrong.
introduced Cecil rather indiscriminately to some An engagement—horrid word in the first place—is a
stuffy dowagers. private matter, and should be treated as such.”
At tea a misfortune took place: a cup of coffee Yet the smirking old women, however wrong
15 was upset over Lucy’s figured silk, and though Lucy 45 individually, were collectively correct. The spirit of
feigned indifference, her mother feigned nothing of the generations had smiled through them, rejoicing in
the sort but dragged her indoors to have the frock the engagement of Cecil and Lucy because it
treated by a sympathetic maid. They were gone some promised the continuance of life on earth. To Cecil
time, and Cecil was left with the dowagers. When and Lucy it promised something quite different—
20 they returned he was not as pleasant as he had been. 50 personal love. Hence Cecil’s irritation and Lucy’s
“Do you go to much of this sort of thing?” he belief that his irritation was just.
asked when they were driving home. “How tiresome!” she said. “Couldn’t you have
“Oh, now and then,” said Lucy, who had rather escaped to tennis?”
enjoyed herself. “I don’t play tennis—at least, not in public. The
25 “Is it typical of country society?” 55 neighborhood is deprived of the romance of me

CONTINUE

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being athletic. Such romance as I have is that of the 1
Inglese Italiano.”
“Inglese Italiano?” It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that
“È un diavolo incarnato! You know the proverb?” Mrs. Honeychurch
60 She did not. Nor did it seem applicable to a young A) thoroughly enjoys the company of Cecil.
man who had spent a quiet winter in Rome with his B) is an expert seamstress with a knack for dress-
mother. But Cecil, since his engagement, had started making.
to affect a cosmopolitan naughtiness which he was
far from possessing. C) wishes to present an impressive image to polite
65 “Well,” said he, “I cannot help it if they do society.
disapprove of me. There are certain irremovable D) is disinterested in attending the engagement
barriers between myself and them, and I must accept party.
them.”
“We all have our limitations, I suppose,” said
70 wise Lucy. 2
“Sometimes they are forced on us, though,” said Which choice provides the best evidence for the
Cecil, who saw from her remark that she did not answer to the previous question?
quite understand his position.
“How?” A) Lines 1-5 (“A few … man”)
75 “It makes a difference doesn’t it, whether we B) Lines 9-13 (“People … dowagers”)
fully fence ourselves in, or whether we are fenced C) Lines 18-19 (“They were … dowagers”)
out by the barriers of others?”
D) Lines 27-29 (“Plenty of … dresses”)
She thought a moment, and agreed that it did
make a difference.
80 “Difference?” cried Mrs. Honeychurch, suddenly
3
alert. “I don’t see any difference. Fences are fences,
especially when they are in the same place.” As used in line 37, “sentiment” most nearly means
“We were speaking of motives,” said Cecil, on A) nostalgia.
whom the interruption jarred.
85 “My dear Cecil, look here.” She spread out her B) emotion.
knees and perched her card-case on her lap. “This is C) opinion.
me. That’s Windy Corner. The rest of the pattern is D) tenderness.
the other people. Motives are all very well, but the
fence comes here.”
90 “We weren’t talking of real fences,” said Lucy, 4
laughing.
Which situation is most similar to the one described
“Oh, I see, dear—poetry.”
in lines 6-13?
A) A war hero returning to his hometown
B) A leader making concessions to his subjects
C) A prized show dog being paraded before judges
D) A criminal facing judgment in a court of law

CONTINUE

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5 8
The passage most strongly suggests that Cecil found Cecil brings up fences (lines 75-77) in order to
the engagement party “appalling” (line 32) because
A) highlight his feeling that he is different from
A) he judged the other guests at the party to be others in the community.
uninteresting. B) express his frustration at being excluded from
B) he was angered by the intrusion into his polite society.
relationship with Lucy. C) demand greater respect for his desire for a
C) he prefers playing tennis to other forms of social secluded house.
interaction. D) reveal an epiphany about the separations among
D) he would rather communicate in Italian than in human beings.
English.

9
6
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
As used in line 63, “affect” most nearly means answer to the previous question?
A) cause. A) Lines 42-43 (“An engagement … such”)
B) feign. B) Lines 54-56 (“The neighborhood … athletic”)
C) influence. C) Lines 66-68 (“There are … them”)
D) impress. D) Lines 88-89 (“Motives are … here”)

7 10
Lucy’s response to Cecil in line 74 primarily serves The comic effect of lines 85-92 comes from
to
A) Lucy’s enjoyment of the spirited exchange
A) show Lucy’s worldly sophistication compared to between Cecil and Mrs. Honeychurch.
that of her fiancé. B) Cecil’s growing irritation with Mrs.
B) express Lucy’s resignation to the narrowness of Honeychurch and Lucy’s opinions.
country society. C) Lucy’s teasing Cecil by pretending not to
C) demonstrate Lucy’s growing resentment of the understand his point.
differences between Cecil’s outlook and hers. D) Mrs. Honeychurch’s obliviousness and
D) indicate Lucy’s willingness to hear out Cecil’s inattention to the conversation.
opinions.

CONTINUE

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Questions 11-20 are based on the following advances in seafaring technology and agriculture,
passage and supplementary material. has led to overexploitation of fragile ecosystems,
The following is adapted from James Levine, The Start of introduction of invasive species, and pollution,
the Anthropocene. Originally published in 2015. causing many extinctions. Scientists have estimated
45 the rate of extinction by studying the fossil record,
Human beings are in the process of dramatically monitoring existing species, and using statistical
reshaping the Earth’s ecosystems. As far back as the models to estimate the number of undiscovered
19th century, some scientists have noted that the species that have been lost. Estimates vary, but most
Line current era is defined mainly by the impact of human scientists believe that diverse species are going extinct
5 activity. Now, there is an emerging consensus among 50 at hundreds or thousands of times the natural rate.
Earth scientists that we have indeed entered a new Indeed, the International Union for the Conservation
period of geological time, the Anthropocene epoch. of Nature has found that, of species surveyed on its
Scientists who study the history of the Earth Red List of Threatened Species, about a fifth of all
usually divide geological time according to major mammals and reptiles and nearly a third of amphibians
10 changes to the ecology and climate of the Earth. 55 are in danger of extinction. This ongoing, rapid loss of
For instance, the Cambrian period, some five species has been described as a mass extinction, as
hundred million years ago, is distinguished by a severe as the event that wiped out the dinosaurs sixty-
sudden explosion in the diversity of life, including five million years ago. To some ecologists, this steep
the emergence of the ancestors of many modern decline in biodiversity suggests that the Anthropocene
15 species. More recently, the Pleistocene epoch, which 60 epoch began in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the
ended about ten thousand years ago, is notable for its rate of extinction shot up dramatically.
glaciers that swept over much of the Earth. The new Human activity is also altering the climate as a
Anthropocene epoch would be distinguished from all whole. Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th
earlier times in Earth’s history by the dramatic and 19th centuries, humans have significantly altered
20 impact of human activity on the Earth. 65 the atmosphere by mining and burning fossil fuels
Though Earth scientists debate exactly when the such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Some byproducts
Anthropocene began, there is a clear consensus that of the use of these fuels, such as carbon dioxide, are
human changes to the environment are real and greenhouse gases that trap solar energy in the Earth’s
extreme. For example, many life forms have atmosphere. To assess the impact of these greenhouse
25 become, and are becoming, extinct as a direct result 70 gases on the Earth, scientists have had to investigate
of human activity. Some paleontologists thus argue the history of the Earth’s climate. Ice cores, samples
that the human impact of the Anthropocene began at of ice layers that have trapped atmospheric chemicals
the end of the last Ice Age, around ten thousand over time, have supplied scientists with millennia of
years ago. The fossil record indicates that around year-by-year information about greenhouse gas
30 that time, many large animals, like woolly 75 concentrations and atmospheric temperature.
mammoths and giant sloths, went extinct shortly Evidence from ice cores clearly shows that the
after humans arrived in their ranges. Their sudden Industrial Revolution brought about a sudden jump in
disappearance suggests that habitat destruction and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, along with an
overhunting by humans may have contributed to increase in temperatures. There is a scientific
35 their demise. Indeed, many large animals, like 80 consensus that this ongoing rise in temperatures has
elephants and gorillas, are endangered for those resulted in warming of the oceans, rising sea levels,
same reasons today. and more frequent extreme weather events. Thus,
The pace of human-caused extinctions has only some climatologists propose that the Anthropocene’s
increased in the past several hundred years. The onset occurred with the Industrial Revolution and its
40 growth and spread of human populations, caused by 85 effects on Earth’s atmosphere.

CONTINUE

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Whenever the Anthropocene is judged to have 12
begun, its impact is undeniable. Human activity has
changed the face of the planet; the global ecosystem The author’s attitude is best described as
has been and is being reshaped, the composition of A) dejected.
90 the atmosphere has been altered, and even weather B) concerned.
patterns are changing in response to human activity.
C) jaded.
The consequences of these changes will affect life on
Earth for millions of years to come, leaving a mark of D) uncertain.
human activity that will long outlive humanity itself.

13
Mammals
As used in line 13, “explosion” most nearly means
Birds
A) shattering.
Reptiles B) catastrophe.
C) growth.
Amphibians
D) outburst.
Fishes

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 14

Number of species threatened The main rhetorical effect of lines 55-58 (“This
Total number of species on Red List ongoing … ago”) is to

The graph above shows the total number of species listed under
A) suggest that the dinosaurs did not become
any conservation status on the IUCN Red List by class, and the extinct due to natural causes.
number of species listed as “threatened” or worse (including B) stress the extreme nature of the current
endangered and near-extinct species).
extinction event.

11 C) imply that humans themselves are now in

danger of extinction.
The main purpose of the passage is to
D) emphasize humanity’s connections to earlier
A) respond to controversial claims made by rival forms of life on earth.
scientists.
B) argue for potential solutions to the problems
posed by climate change.
C) describe human impacts on the Earth’s
environment.
D) account for recent changes in global biodiversity.

CONTINUE

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15 18
Based on the passage, which choice best describes The passage most strongly suggests that
the relationship between carbon dioxide and ice
A) some species are going extinct before being
cores?
discovered by humans.
A) Carbon dioxide destroys ice cores, which are a B) all extinctions in the last century have resulted
major source of information. from irresponsible human activity.
B) Ice cores remove carbon dioxide from the C) modern extinctions have reversed the
atmosphere, reducing its effects on the climate. biodiversity generated in the Cambrian period.
C) Carbon dioxide is extracted from ice cores and D) the recent increase in the extinction rate was
used to fuel industrial processes. caused solely by natural climate change.
D) Ice cores can be studied to track changes in
atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
19
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
16
answer to the previous question?
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
A) Lines 11-15 (“For instance … species”)
answer to the previous question?
B) Lines 29-32 (“The fossil … ranges”)
A) Lines 66-68 (“Some byproducts … Earth”)
C) Lines 44-48 (“Scientists … lost”)
B) Lines 71-75 (“Ice … temperature”)
D) Lines 87-91 (“Human … activity”)
C) Lines 79-82 (“There is … events”)
D) Lines 92-94 (“The consequences … itself”)
20

17 Based on the passage and graph, which of the

following statements can reasonably be inferred?
As used in line 93, “mark” most nearly means
A) Birds are less susceptible to human threats
A) grade. because they can fly to new habitats.
B) symbol. B) Of the species on the Red List, amphibian
C) target. species are more likely to be threatened than
D) indication. species of any other class.
C) mammals are more sensitive to human impacts
on the environment than any other class of
animal.
D) about 2500 species of fish have recently gone
extinct.

CONTINUE

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 1 1 .
Questions 21-31 are based on the following ratings too. And the answers are pretty clear: it is
passage. almost always the comics, followed by advice to the
The following is adapted from Newton N. Minow, lovelorn columns. But, ladies and gentlemen, the
“Television and the Public Interest.” Originally delivered 40 news is still on the front page of all newspapers; the
in 1961. Minow was the chairman of the Federal editorials are not replaced by more comics; and the
Communications Commission, which regulates television newspapers have not become one long collection of
and other forms of communication in the United States, advice to the lovelorn. Yet newspapers do not even
and was speaking to television executives. need a license from the government to be in business;
45 they do not use public property. But in television,
Certainly, I hope you will agree that ratings*
where your responsibilities as public trustees are so
should have little influence where children are
plain, the moment that the ratings indicate that
concerned. The best estimates indicate that during
westerns are popular there are new imitations of
Line the hours of 5 to 6 PM sixty percent of your audience
westerns on the air faster than the old coaxial cable
5 is composed of children under twelve. And most
50 could take us from Hollywood to New York.
young children today, believe it or not, spend as
Broadcasting cannot continue to live by the numbers.
much time watching television as they do in the
You and I both know that the rating services
schoolroom.
themselves would agree.
I repeat—let that sink in, ladies and gentlemen—
Let me make clear that what I am talking about is
10 most young children today spend as much time
55 balance. I believe that the public interest is made up
watching television as they do in the schoolroom. It
of many interests. There are many people in this
used to be said that there were three great influences
great country and you must serve all of us. You will
on a child: home, school, and church. Today, there is
get no argument from me if you say that, given a
a fourth great influence, and you ladies and
choice between a western and a symphony, more
15 gentlemen in this room control it.
60 people will watch the western. I like westerns too,
If parents, teachers, and ministers conducted their
but a steady diet for the whole country is obviously
responsibilities by following the ratings, children
not in the public interest. We all know that people
would have a steady diet of ice cream, school
would more often prefer to be entertained than
holidays, and no Sunday school. What about your
stimulated or informed. But your obligations are not
20 responsibilities? Is there no room on television to
65 satisfied if you look only to popularity as a test of
teach, to inform, to uplift, to stretch, to enlarge the
what to broadcast. You are not only in show
capacities of our children? Is there no room for
business; you are free to communicate ideas as well
programs deepening their understanding of children
as relaxation.
in other lands? Is there no room for a children’s news
And as Governor Collins said to you yesterday
25 show explaining something to them about the world
70 when he encouraged you to editorialize—as you
at their level of understanding? Is there no room for
know the FCC has now encouraged editorializing for
reading the great literature of the past, for teaching
years—we want you to do this; we want you to
them the great traditions of freedom? There are some
editorialize, take positions. We only ask that you do
fine children’s shows, but they are drowned out in
it in a fair and a responsible manner. Those stations
30 the massive doses of cartoons, violence, and more
75 that have editorialized have demonstrated to you that
violence. Must these be your trademarks? Search
the FCC will always encourage a fair and responsible
your consciences and see if you cannot offer more to
clash of opinion.
your young beneficiaries whose future you guide so
many hours each and every day. *Ratings refer to the size of the audience for a given show, and
35 Now what about adult programming and ratings? are used to measure a show’s popularity.
You know, newspaper publishers take popularity

CONTINUE

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21 24
The passage primarily focuses on Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) the poor taste and habits of the American people.
B) the unhealthy effects television has on children. A) Lines 5-8 (“And most … schoolroom”)

C) the responsibilities of broadcasters to the public. B) Lines 31-34 (“Search your … day”)
D) the failure of newspapers to educate the populace C) Lines 43-45 (“Yet newspapers … property”)
D) Lines 62-64 (“We all … informed”)

22
The main purpose of the passage is to 25

A) compare and contrast various television show The author mentions the potential consequences of
genres. “following the ratings” (line 17) in order to

B) call for higher standards in television A) suggest that children do not necessarily know
programming. what is best for them.
C) denounce television as a harmful pastime for B) imply that parents and teachers are sometimes
children. overly restrictive.
D) note that other forms of media are as important C) prove that television should educate children
as television. about healthy diets.
D) lament the negligence of parents and teachers
during his era.
23
The author primarily seeks to convince his audience
of his point by 26

A) suggesting that television could be incorporated As used in line 18, “steady” most nearly means
into school curricula. A) motionless.
B) mentioning the profits to be gained from B) firm.
attracting young audiences.
C) consistent.
C) raising fears that newspapers are becoming tough
D) rooted.
competition for television.
D) making appeals to morality and a sense of civic
obligation.

CONTINUE

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27 30
In the fourth paragraph (lines 35-53), the author As used in line 65, “satisfied” most nearly means
states that, unlike television networks, newspapers
A) convinced.
A) can be easily transported and enjoyed anywhere. B) fulfilled.
B) pander to their audiences in order to stay in C) sated.
business.
D) pleased.
C) require a license from the government to operate.
D) emphasize information over entertainment.
31
Which of the following situations is most analogous
28
to the situation presented in lines 28-31 (“There are
The author suggests that television networks can … violence”)?
improve their content by
A) An enjoyable piece of music cannot be heard due
A) making an effort to air more westerns. to loud construction work nearby.
B) consulting the operators of the rating services. B) A few healthy items at a buffet are surrounded
C) creating programming that informs and educates by unhealthy, but tasty, options.
the public. C) An elected representative suppresses the
D) airing shows that encourage adults rather than viewpoints of her ideological opponent.
children to tune in. D) A small number of protestors disrupt a large
event taking place on a campus.

29
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Line 35 (“Now what … ratings”)
B) Lines 52-53 (“You and … agree”)
C) Lines 57-60 (“You will … western”)
D) Lines 66-68 (“You are … relaxation”)

CONTINUE

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Questions 32-42 are based on the following ultraviolet light, a major component of sunlight,
passage. have found that it too could have caused organic
Passage 1 is adapted from Laurel Perkins, “The Origins of 40 compounds to form on Earth during the Hadean eon.
Life on Earth.” ©2015 by Ivy Global. Passage 2 is adapted This has led to speculation on the part of many
from James Levine, “Tracing Earth’s Origins Through the scientists that these molecules, once synthesized in
Universe.” ©2015 by James Levine. the early Earth’s oceans, could have become
organized into self-replicating structures that
Passage 1
45 developed into life as we know it. Nucleic acids, for
The origins of life on Earth are shrouded in instance, can both carry genetic information and
mystery. Scientists agree that life arose almost four catalyze chemical reactions; simple nucleic acids
billion years ago from non-living chemicals, a thus could have replicated themselves and even
Line process called abiogenesis. However, many created proteins from amino acids, like modern life
5 competing hypotheses exist to explain how this 50 forms do. Indeed, many scientists now believe that
might have happened. Because Earth is the only today’s life descends from an “RNA world” that
planet in the universe known to harbor life, studying formed in this way.
the unique chemical environment of early Earth can
allow us to develop a deeper understanding of the Passage 2
10 causes of abiogenesis. It turns out that the conditions for life to arise
During the earliest phase of Earth’s existence, the may actually be quite common throughout the
Hadean eon, conditions on the newly formed planet 55 universe. At the very least, the building blocks of life
were very different from those found today. The as we know it—amino acids, simple sugars, and
young Earth was intensely hot, with highly active other organic compounds—seem to show up
15 volcanoes and frequent meteorite impacts. Unlike wherever we point our telescopes.
today’s atmosphere, which is predominantly made of For instance, organic molecules form quite
nitrogen and oxygen, the Hadean atmosphere is 60 readily in the clouds of dust and gas that hang
thought to have consisted mainly of carbon dioxide, between and around stars. A number of studies have
hydrogen, water vapor, and volcanic gases. Thanks found that certain organic molecules, called PAHs,
20 to the intense pressure of this thick atmosphere, may be present in the nebulae and star systems all
liquid water oceans probably existed despite the over the universe. These molecules, made up of rings
boiling temperatures on Earth’s surface. 65 of carbon and hydrogen, have structures that might
Although these conditions would be totally allow them to help RNA strands self-assemble in the
inhospitable to modern life, this unique environment oceans of planets; NASA scientists estimate that
25 could have produced many of the building blocks of these molecules contain as much as 20 percent of the
life. Scientists have discovered this by replicating universe’s carbon and may have formed shortly after
the conditions of the Hadean eon in laboratories. 70 the universe began.
The earliest and most famous of these experiments, Scientists have also found organic molecules
conducted by Stanley Miller in the 1950s, involved closer to home, within our own galaxy and Solar
30 passing electricity through the particular mixture of System. In the massive nursery of new star systems
gases in the early Earth’s atmosphere. Miller found at the heart of the Milky Way, a simple form of sugar
that electricity, such as that delivered by lightning 75 has been detected. The formation of this sugar is a
strikes, could have triggered chemical reactions in key step in the creation of the more complex sugars
the Hadean atmosphere, producing amino acids, the in nucleic acids. This suggests that the raw materials
35 building blocks of proteins, as well as the nitrogenous for nucleic acids, and perhaps other key components
bases and sugars that make up nucleic acids such as of life, might be commonly incorporated into forming
DNA and RNA. More recent experiments using

CONTINUE

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 1 1 .
80 star systems. This certainly seems to have happened 34
around our Sun. A number of Solar System bodies,
such as the Murchison meteorite, have crashed to The purpose of lines 37-40 (“More recent … eon”) is
Earth bearing nitrogenous bases and amino acids that primarily to
were formed in space, and comets currently orbiting A) refute the idea that lightning strikes are
85 our Sun have been found to carry amino acids as responsible for creating early organic
well. If the early Earth was seeded with organic compounds.
molecules, either during its formation or by meteorite B) emphasize the importance of the Sun to the
and comet impacts, it is plausible that this could have origins of life.
paved the way for abiogenesis to take place soon
C) suggest an alternative energy source for the
90 thereafter.
formation of organic compounds.
Taken together, this evidence suggests that the
building blocks of life appear throughout the Milky D) propose that organic compounds may have
Way galaxy and elsewhere in the universe. Earth’s originated in outer space.
status as the cradle of life may not be so special after
95 all.
35
32 Passage 1 suggests that many scientists believe that
modern life descends from an “RNA world” (line 51)
The main purpose of Passage 1 is to
because
A) argue that Earth is the only planet in the universe
A) RNA can perform some basic functions needed
that could support life.
to sustain a living organism.
B) explain how the conditions of the early Earth
B) RNA organisms would have been uniquely
could have given rise to life.
suited to the conditions of the Hadean eon.
C) describe a period of Earth’s history that is very
C) RNA molecules were rarely produced in Stanley
different from the modern day.
Miller’s experiments.
D) propose a method for creating artificial life in a
D) RNA is more stable than other nucleic acids.
laboratory.

36
33
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
As used in line 30, “particular” most nearly means
answer to the previous question?
A) fastidious.
A) Lines 15-19 (“Unlike today’s … gases”)
B) individual.
B) Lines 23-26 (“Although these … life”)
C) detailed.
C) Lines 31-37 (“Miller found … RNA”)
D) specific.
D) Lines 47-50 (“simple nucleic acids … do”)

CONTINUE

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37 40
It can reasonably be inferred from Passage 2 that Based on Passage 2, which choice best describes the
relationship between PAHs and RNA?
A) living organisms must have come to Earth from
elsewhere in the universe. A) PAHs can be combined to form RNA molecules
B) the environment of the early Earth would have in the presence of water.
destroyed organic compounds. B) PAHs can provide support for the synthesis of
C) our Solar System is unique in containing organic RNA molecules.
compounds. C) PAHs can only synthesize with the help of RNA.
D) abiogenesis could have taken place when the D) PAHs make the synthesis of RNA molecules
universe was fairly young. possible only in deep space nebulae.

38 41
Which choice provides the best evidence for the Based on the passages, both authors would agree
answer to the previous question? with which of the following claims?
A) Lines 55-58 (“At the … telescopes”) A) Life arose on Earth from non-living organic
B) Lines 64-70 (“These molecules … began”) compounds.

C) Lines 80-81 (“This certainly … Sun”) B) Earth’s environment is uniquely conducive to the
formation of organic compounds.
D) Lines 91-93 (“Taken together … universe”)
C) Earth is certainly not the only planet on which
life exists.
39 D) Life on Earth could only have begun with an
As used in line 60, “readily” most nearly means RNA world.

A) preparedly.
B) easily. 42
C) willingly. How would the author of Passage 2 most likely
D) happily. respond to the claim made in lines 6-10 (“Because
Earth … abiogenesis”) of Passage 1?
A) Life probably developed in a distant nebula
before arriving on Earth.
B) Scientists do not know exactly what the early
atmosphere of Earth was like.
C) The chemical precursors of life can form in a
wide variety of environments.
D) Modern organisms would not have been able to
survive during Earth’s Hadean eon.

CONTINUE

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 1 1 .
Questions 43-52 are based on the following minority groups and small, single-issue parties to
passage and supplementary material. have a voice in government. However, these small
This passage is adapted from James Levine, “Electoral 40 parties can cause problems when they join ruling
Systems.” ©2015 by Ivy Global. coalitions. They can force the government to focus
on niche agendas by threatening to leave the
Democracies generally organize and carry out coalition if ignored. In some cases, radical parties
their elections in one of two ways. In first-past-the- that actively oppose or threaten democracy, like
post (FPTP) elections, voters choose individual 45 fascist or communist parties, can gain seats in PR
Line candidates for office, and the candidate with the most elections. This occurred most famously in Germany’s
5 votes wins. Elections in this kind of system are also Weimar Republic in the 1930s, when democratic
called “winner-take-all.” In a democracy with elections gave the Nazi Party the opportunity to take
proportional representation (PR), parties, not power.
individuals, win seats in a legislature according to the 50 Each electoral system also results in different
percent of votes they receive in an election. Parties levels of voter participation. First-past-the-post
10 then form coalitions with each other to gain control systems generally result in lower overall voter
of the government. Which system a country uses can participation. This could be because the rules of
greatly affect its politics; each has its merits and FPTP elections discourage voters who support
disadvantages. 55 candidates or parties who are not likely to win.
These two types of election tend to foster very Because votes for a losing candidate count for
15 different styles of political debate. First-past-the-post nothing in an FPTP election, votes for opposition
elections tend to lead to more moderate political parties are effectively wasted. In elections for US
discussions at the national level. In elections for the Senate seats and the US presidency, for instance,
presidency of the United States, for example, 60 many states are consistently won by candidates from
candidates need support from every part of the one party. Opposition voters in these states have little
20 country. They cannot alienate large groups by reason to show up at the polls. However, some
expressing extreme views, so they must be moderate political scientists argue that because voters vote for
in order to have broad appeal. This moderation has specific candidates in FPTP elections, those elected
its downsides, however. For one, uncommon 65 officials are more personally accountable to the
opinions tend to be left out of public discussion. This citizens that voted for them. This sense of
25 can result in an elected government that may not accountability could lead to more citizen engagement
fully represent citizens’ views. Extreme parties are between elections.
also reduced to the role of spoilers in national Proportional representation generally encourages
elections: unable to win, but able to hurt larger 70 higher levels of participation. Voters will be
parties with similar, but more moderate, viewpoints. represented even if they are in the minority, so there
30 During the US election for president in 1992, a far- are far fewer wasted votes in PR elections. On the
right candidate, Ross Perot, drew votes from the other hand, voters in PR elections generally vote for
sitting president, the center-right George H.W. Bush. parties rather than individuals. Because the parties
This may have allowed the center-left candidate, Bill 75 appoint legislators to their seats, politicians may feel
Clinton, to win the presidency. more accountable to their parties than to voters. This
35 Proportional representation, for better or worse, can lead officials to focus on within-party politics
allows more extreme viewpoints to be represented at rather than the wishes of the people.
the national level. This can be a good thing, allowing

CONTINUE

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 1 1 .
1992 US Election Outcomes 45
60% Based on the passage, which choice best describes the
Percentage of Popular Vote Won

relationship between proportional representation

50% elections and political extremism?

40% A) Proportional representation elections suppress

extremism by making politicians accountable to
30% the people.
B) Proportional representation elections allow
20%
extremists to have more of a voice in
10% government.
C) Proportional representation elections permit
0% extremist politicians to draw votes from
Bill Clinton George Ross Perot George
mainstream parties.
H.W. Bush H.W. Bush
plus Ross D) Proportional representation elections do not
Perot
impact the political participation of extremist
groups.
43
The passage primarily focuses on which of the
46
following aspects of democracy?
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
A) The advantages of democracy over other forms
answer to the previous question?
of governance
B) The historical development of democratic ideals A) Lines 6-9 (“In a democracy … election”)

C) The potential drawbacks of democratic systems B) Lines 26-29 (“Extreme … viewpoints”)

D) The electoral systems used in democratic nations C) Lines 35-37 (“Proportional … level”)
D) Lines 72-74 (“On the other … individuals”)

44
47
As used in line 20, “alienate” most nearly means
The author most likely mentions the 1992 US
A) isolate.
presidential election in lines 30-34 in order to
B) divert.
A) lament the defeat of the author’s preferred
C) reject. candidate in said election.
D) offend. B) demonstrate the impact that spoilers can have on
democratic elections.
C) show how extreme candidates can win seats in
first-past-the-post systems.
D) question the conventional wisdom regarding US
presidential elections.

CONTINUE

34 This exam is not licensed for commercial use. SAT Online Practice Test 1 | Ivy Global
 1 1 .
48 51
Which choice provides the best evidence for the It can reasonably be inferred from the passage and
answer to the previous question? graphic that
A) Lines 24-26 (“This can … views”) A) A candidate can win the US presidency without
B) Lines 26-29 (“Extreme parties … viewpoints”) earning the majority of votes.

C) Lines 53-58 (“This could … wasted”) B) Ross Perot would have won the 1992 election
had George H.W. Bush not been a candidate.
D) Lines 62-66 (“However … for them”)
C) Spoilers are typically the deciding factor in US
presidential elections.
49 D) Bill Clinton’s performance in the 1992 election
As used in line 67, “engagement” most nearly means was solely due to Ross Perot’s candidacy.

A) betrothal.
B) appointment. 52
C) involvement. Information from the graph best supports which of
D) conflict. the following statements?
A) Perot would have won the popular vote if he had
doubled his percentage by drawing votes away
50 from Bush.
Which situation is most similar to the one described B) Bush would have won the popular vote if he had
in lines 74-78 (“Because the … people”)? taken 10% of the total votes away from Perot.
A) A councilman answers numerous questions from C) Clinton could have won more votes if Perot had
citizens at a town meeting. not run in the election.
B) A CEO answers to her company’s board of D) Fewer votes went to Clinton and Bush combined
directors, not its shareholders. than went to Bush and Perot combined.
C) A scientist submits a research paper for review
by his colleagues.
D) A company looks at consumer trends to make
decisions about future products.

STOP
If you complete this section before the end of your allotted time, you may check your work on
this section only. Do NOT use the time to work on another section.

Ivy Global | SAT Online Practice Test 1 This exam is not licensed for commercial use. 35