Blue Book practice test 1 CR questions

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>So, I took my first blue book practice test today. While I am fairly happy with my math (2 wrong) and writing (0 wrong) scores, I am very disappointed in my CR results - I missed 7. This is especially disappointing because I’ve been doing a lot of work on that section and thought I had made some improvement. I’m hoping you guys can clear up some of the answer explanations for me, because while I recognize the validity of most of the correct answers, I don’t understand why some of the ones I got wrong are incorrect.</p>

<li><p>p. 391 #9 (dolphin passages) - While I understand why E is correct, I don’t see why C isn’t also right. The passage calls the ability to identify oneself “something achieved by very few animals.” Doesn’t that make their intelligence unique?</p></li>
<li><p>p. 404 #13 (painting passage) - Again, while I can see that C is true, I don’t see what’s wrong with E. Isn’t the author upset that he has “no wall and no room” to surround the painting with? In fact, don’t C and E basically express the same idea?</p></li>
<li><p>p. 404 #15 (same passage) - I’m really not sure about this one at all. I chose A, but the answer is C. While there isn’t really any strong support for A, I don’t much support for C either.</p></li>
<li><p>p. 422 #18 (paired passages about changing social status) - I actually got this question right, but I don’t know what makes A different from C. Aren’t they basically saying the same thing with different words?</p></li>
<li><p>p. 422 #19 (same passage) - Is E really true? I agree that both authors started out with that view, but didn’t the character in passage 1 eventually forge a new identity for himself and didn’t the author of passage 2 realize that his social class had changed? Basically, both characters seem to have changed their social status - meaning their status in America wasn’t as important to them any more.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Any help/advice would be appreciated. What really bothers me isn’t that I get questions wrong, but that I still can’t understand how to get the answer even when I know which one is right. Am I missing something?</p>

2

<p>I don't have the BB right now, but I can help you with one of these questions from memory: </p>

<ol>
<li>Careful! In the dictionary and on the SAT, "unique" does not mean "exceptional"; it means literally "one-of-a-kind" or "without compare." Since people (and some other animals as well as dolphins) can also recognize themselves in a mirror, we have no evidence to suggest that dolphin intelligence is completely unique. In the world of the SAT, "unique" is an example of very strong language and is very rarely found in the correct answer. (Like, almost never.)</li>
</ol>

3

<p>^ Thanks, that clears that one up quite a bit.</p>

4

<p>Anyone have explanations for the others? I don't want to move on to the next practice test until I get these cleared up.</p>

<p>One CR question I have is about the approach to the passages. Originally I would read the entire passage before answering the questions, but that made me struggle with the line-specific questions because I would get various concepts from the passages jumbled together. So I switched to the read-and-answer-simultaneously method, which has helped me with detail-oriented questions, but I've started missing some of the "big picture" questions. How can I answer questions as I read the passage without losing sight of the overall flow of the passage? I find this especially difficult with paired passages.</p>

5

<p>404, #13: The simplest problem with E is that "exceptional paintings" is plural, referring to all exceptional paintings or to exceptional paintings in general, whereas "a work of art" in choice C is singular, referring only to the specific painting mentioned in the passage. This is a crucial difference: it will bite you in the butt, so watch out. Singular nouns, used to refer in a sneaky way to some specific thing from the passage, are a good sign. Generalized plurals like "exceptional paintings" are often bad.</p>

<p>Also, we can say that "no walls and no room" in no way equals "elegant." If the choice said "adequate" or "appropriate" or "suitable" or "fitting," maybe. But elegant means "gracious, luxurious." That's out of place here. </p>

<p>404, #15: Be very careful now: you are not being asked about the word "folly"; you are being asked to go identify the metaphor used to describe folly, and then answer a question about that specific metaphor. What metaphor is used to describe folly? Look back at the psg. Folly is being described by the metaphor of "divorce." That's what you're being asked about: how and why is the loss of the painting like a divorce? Well, in that it hurts like hell; that's the author's point, anyway. Right? It is <em>only</em> like a divorce in that it makes the author feel a certain way. Choice C is the only possible answer. Choice A may have something to do with the passage but it has nothing to do with the <em>metaphor</em> you are being asked about here (that of divorce).</p>

<p>422, #18: Compare choice A, "determined by external ** and internal ** factors," with choice C, "imposed by others." Choice A says that both external and internal factors are in play. Choice C says that only external factors (i.e., "others") are at work.</p>

<p>For question #19, choice E is correct, or at least justifiable enough :) to be a correct answer. Jerry falsifies his status in American society, suggesting that he still cares enough about that status for it to be worth so much deception. The author of Psg 2 cares deeply about his own status and its implications; he is a bit of a "reverse snob." While he feels deeply conflicted about his own social status, he never really reaches a point of indiffference about it. Also, perhaps more importantly, every other choice here is absolutely squirrelly. A is irrelevant and also contains an implausible comparison (more...than or less...than or same...as answers tend to be wrong). B uses the word "only," typically the kiss of death, and is also contradicted by the passage. C also uses "only" and is far too narrow for the passage. D is too broad: we cannot reasonably make a generalization about all "Americans" on the basis of these two passages. (See my explanation above, about the crucial difference between plurals and singulars). E is the only plausible choice here.</p>

<p>Hope some of it helps. If any of it is confusing or seems completely wrong :) , it might be: I typed it fast, 'cause I'm in the middle of something else. But this is basically the idea.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for such a detailed response lotf; that helps me tremendously. I had no idea that each individual word had to be examined so carefully. I think this will help me a lot - thanks :)</p>

7

<p>It's funny, shortly after taking the first BB practice test I took an old PSAT and got a perfect CR score - is the SAT really that much harder than the PSAT?</p>