SAT READING | DETAILS 03
1. The following text is from a 19th-century short story that explores the isolation of a reclusive scientist.
The people of the small village rarely speak of the old man who lives on the hill, though there is much
speculation about him. Some say he once worked on secret government projects during the war, while
others claim he is a brilliant inventor who retired to solitude after a great tragedy. His house, hidden
among tall trees, is filled with peculiar machines, and at night, strange lights can be seen glowing from
the windows. Few dare approach him, for his mysterious past and reclusive nature keep most townsfolk
at bay.
Based on the text, what is true about the old man?
A) His mysterious background discourages the villagers from approaching him.
B) He retired after completing a secret government project during the war.
C) His house is surrounded by tall trees that block it from view.
D) The machines in his house are remnants of his inventions from a former career.
2. In recent years, the concept of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new
neural connections—has gained widespread attention. Dr. Helen Matthews of Oxford University has
suggested that neuroplasticity is key to understanding how the brain recovers from trauma and injury. To
investigate this, Matthews and her team conducted a study in which they introduced various brain
injuries to lab animals and tracked their neural recovery over time. Their findings suggest that
neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt to damage by rerouting neural pathways, often restoring
function in areas previously thought irreparable.
According to the text, what is true about Matthews’ study?
A) Her study provided evidence that neuroplasticity helps the brain recover from injuries.
B) She believed neuroplasticity played a role in both cognitive improvement and decline.
C) She focused on brain injuries in human patients to understand the long-term effects.
D) She observed the formation of new neural connections in patients with chronic conditions.
SAT READING | DETAILS 03
3. Marine biologist Dr. Serena Torres has dedicated much of her career to studying the delicate balance of
ecosystems in coastal areas. Torres believes that one of the greatest threats to marine life is the
destruction of coastal mangrove forests, which serve as nurseries for young fish and protect shorelines
from erosion. Her research involves collaborating with local fishing communities to implement
conservation strategies, such as setting up no-fishing zones to allow fish populations to recover. By
combining her scientific knowledge with traditional fishing practices, Torres has been able to show that
sustainable management of these ecosystems benefits both the environment and the livelihoods of the
coastal communities.
Based on the text, what is true about Torres?
A) She advises communities to prevent fishing altogether to protect marine life.
B) She has demonstrated that sustainable management practices help marine ecosystems and local
communities.
C) She divides her time between research and organizing protests against deforestation.
D) She works primarily with government officials to implement marine conservation policies.
4. Hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, has gained popularity among urban farmers in
recent years. By using a water-based nutrient solution, plants can grow more efficiently in smaller
spaces. Hydroponic systems often utilize materials like coconut coir or rock wool as a base for plant
roots. However, a crucial factor in hydroponics is ensuring that the nutrient mix contains the right
balance of minerals, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Without the correct blend, plants
may struggle to grow, regardless of the quality of the base material. This has led hydroponic experts to
stress that nutrient management is more important than the choice of growing medium.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the experts’ claim?
A) Coconut coir is the most environmentally friendly substrate used in hydroponic farming.
B) Plants with proper nutrient mixes show strong growth even when grown in less optimal substrates.
C) Plants will grow in hydroponic systems as long as they receive plenty of sunlight.
D) Nutrient solutions are the most expensive aspect of running a hydroponic farm.
SAT READING | DETAILS 03
5. Visitors to the rainforests of Borneo often describe hearing the calls of the gibbons, small apes known
for their agility and long arms. These calls, according to primatologist Dr. Mira Sanborn, are highly
structured and serve as a form of communication between groups of gibbons. Sanborn and her research
team have analyzed over 500 hours of gibbon vocalizations, discovering that the calls follow distinct
patterns based on factors like time of day and social interactions. This suggests that gibbon
communication is far more complex than previously thought, with calls that serve multiple purposes
within their communities.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Sanborn’s claim?
A) The analysis indicates that gibbon calls are structured and follow consistent patterns.
B) The analysis reveals that gibbon calls are random and show no discernible structure.
C) The study shows that gibbons make fewer calls when they are alone compared to when they are in
groups.
D) The study indicates that different species of gibbons have entirely unique vocalizations.
6. In the deserts of Arizona, the natural spring known as Crystal Pool is home to two endangered species
of frogs: the Arizona tree frog and the canyon leopard frog. Despite human activity around the spring,
including the construction of nearby homes and recreational areas, the populations of both frog species
have increased in recent years. Ecologist Dr. Luis Ramirez theorizes that the increased development has
forced frogs that once lived in the surrounding areas into the spring itself, which has led to a higher
concentration of frogs in the pool.
Which finding, if true, would mostly support Ramirez’s theory?
A) A large number of frogs were released into the pool as part of a conservation effort.
B) The frog population in the surrounding areas has declined as the population in the pool has increased.
C) A different species of frog that preys on the Arizona tree frog has been removed from the ecosystem.
D) The construction of homes near the spring has resulted in better protection for the frogs living there.
SAT READING | DETAILS 03
7. The “Courtroom Drama Effect” is a phenomenon where modern jurors have unrealistic expectations of
legal proceedings due to the influence of television shows, which often portray dramatic courtroom
scenes. Researchers Sarah Michaels and David Cheng hypothesized that jurors who frequently watched
courtroom dramas would be more confident in their verdicts when presented with high-profile, media-
heavy cases. They conducted a study in which they presented jurors with different case scenarios, varying
the amount of media attention and the complexity of the legal arguments. The researchers found that
jurors who regularly watched courtroom dramas felt more confident in their verdicts during high-profile
cases than in lower-profile ones.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers’ hypothesis?
A) Jurors who watched more courtroom dramas were significantly more confident in their verdicts for
high-profile cases.
B) Jurors who watched more courtroom dramas were significantly more confident in their verdicts for
lower-profile cases.
C) Jurors who watched fewer courtroom dramas took longer to reach a verdict in both high and low-
profile cases.
D) Jurors who watched more courtroom dramas provided longer explanations for their decisions than
other jurors.
8. Neuroscientist Dr. Emily Zhang and her team at Stanford University have suggested that the human
brain has the capacity to store and recall an enormous number of visual memories under the right
conditions. To test this hypothesis, Zhang’s team conducted an experiment in which participants were
shown 4,000 unique images of various objects, such as landscapes, animals, and man-made structures.
Afterward, the participants were shown pairs of images—one from the original set and one entirely
new—and asked to identify the image they had seen before. The participants’ accuracy was measured to
evaluate their ability to recall the previously seen images.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Zhang’s claim?
A) Most participants demonstrated an accuracy rate of 90% or higher in identifying previously seen
images.
B) Most participants struggled to differentiate between the original images and the new ones, resulting
in a low accuracy rate.
C) A small subset of participants experienced difficulty with the task due to vision problems, affecting
their overall performance.
D) The study results varied widely among participants, with some showing high accuracy and others
showing low accuracy..
SAT READING | DETAILS 03
9. In the early 20th century, renowned linguist Dr. Samuel Hargrove argued that modern communication
technologies, such as the telegraph and radio, were accelerating the shift from prescriptive to descriptive
approaches to language. Prescriptivism emphasizes the enforcement of strict language rules, while
descriptivism focuses on observing and describing how language is actually used. According to Hargrove,
as communication became faster and more widespread, people naturally adapted the rules of language to
suit their needs, making prescriptivism less relevant. He believed that the rise of new technologies was
forcing scholars to reconsider their approach to linguistic analysis.
Which finding, if true, would most support Hargrove’s argument?
A) A group of linguists agrees that new communication technologies have led to a more flexible approach
to language.
B) A historian argues that the rise of digital communication is making people more careless with their
language use.
C) Several universities have begun to ban the use of modern communication technologies in academic
writing.
D) Linguists continue to insist that prescriptive language rules should be taught in schools, despite
changing communication methods
10. Astronomers use the light emitted by distant stars and galaxies to determine their distance from
Earth. The redder the light appears, the farther the object is from Earth, as red light has a longer
wavelength than blue light. Dr. Maria Alvarez and her team at the National Observatory discovered a
galaxy they named GX-456, which they believe is the most distant galaxy ever recorded. To test this
theory, Alvarez’s team analyzed the galaxy’s light and compared it to the wavelengths of other distant
galaxies. They found that the light from GX-456 was significantly redder than any other galaxy they had
observed, suggesting that it is indeed the most distant galaxy discovered so far.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Alvarez’s claim?
A) The analysis confirmed that GX-456 emits redder light than any previously recorded galaxy.
B) The analysis revealed that GX-456 emits light with a wavelength shorter than other galaxies.
C) A new galaxy was discovered that emits light with a longer wavelength than GX-456.
D) An updated analysis showed that the red light from GX-456 was a result of interference from nearby
stars.