So I was practicing with one of Collegeboard’s released practice SAT exams, particularly the Reading section. I only got a couple wrong and I checked the answer explanations. For some reason, I believe that the answer choice I chose(which was wrong) could correctly work for the question. As I include analyzing correct answer explanations as part of my SAT studying plan, it frustrates me when I can’t seem to see why my chosen answer is not correct for the corresponding question. How am I supposed to know that the answer choice that I chose was completely wrong? Thanks.
The link to the question and answer explanation as a reference: Question #49 I chose answer C instead of answer D https://s3.amazonaws.com/KA-share/sat/2-5KSA09-Practice1.pdf
answer explanation: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sat-practice-test-1-answers.pdf
Could this be the same problem my daughter has? Many off the questions have multiple plausible answers but they are looking for the best answer. It actually says best answer in the directions.
I think it is because the second passage is not saying that the first passage’s suggestions would be difficult or impractical. Instead, it states that while those suggestions would work, there are moral/legal arguments against it. The key point is that there are moral/theoretical flaws and not practical flaws, if that makes sense (Sorry that I can’t explain it very well.)
Which statement best describes the relationship between the passages?
A) Passage 2 refutes the central claim advanced in Passage 1.
B) Passage 2 illustrates the phenomenon described in more general terms in Passage 1.
C) Passage 2 argues against the practicality of the proposals put forth in Passage 1.
D) Passage 2 expresses reservations about developments discussed in Passage 1.
C was completely wrong because the passage never ONCE refutes the mining proposal as impractical.
This passage really sums up the main point of passage 2. When you consider such answer choices, apply them to the passage and see if any one answer choice fits. Does the author ever ACTUALLY suggest the mining as impractical? No; he warns of consequences, but never refutes that it might actually be practical. He does, however, “express reservations”;
“Without consensus, claims will be disputed, investments risky, and the gains made insecure. It is in all of our long-term interests to seek one out.”
Sounds like he is being very cautions about the situation, saying that everything needs to be considered when analyzing the potential situations. “But its consequences —both here on Earth and in space—merit careful consideration.” If that is not “express[ing] reservations about developments discussed in Passage 1,” I don’t know what is.
Remember in the future that nothing in these tests is ever actually “opinionated” and there will always be a definitive right answer and the other 3 will be definitively wrong. If there is one example that refutes an answer choice (or there are no examples that fit, as is in this case), that one is wrong. Best of luck in your studies
@myactualname thanks for the help! I think my problem was that I didn’t quite understand what “practical” means. I know this sounds very dumb but can you explain what “pracitcal means” IN DEPTH. Dictionary.com doesn’t help. lol
I think my problem was that I didn’t exactly know what “impractical” and “express reservations” mean. I know this sounds dumb, but can you explain to me what the terms “impractical” and “express reservations” mean? Thanks for you help your response helped! @MON824
@LegendaryJohn Practical meaning viable. If a solution is “practical”, it means that it can be achieved and will have the desirable impacts. In this case, a dismissal of space mining as impractical would likely target facts like maybe how such mining would cost hundreds of billions of dollars on a large scale, or the few benefits would be completely marginalized by the effort and time requirements, or maybe this is just some absurd idea that should stay in sci-fi books and the minds of the delusional.
@MON824 Ohhhhhhh. Now i understand. And what about “express reservations”.
Express reservations means having some reluctance due to concerns, or, simply put, wanting to be cautions. For example, I express reservations to eating food straight off of the ground due to possibilities of getting sick (I’ll still say that you should do it if you’re about to die of starvation), or the senator expresses reservations (reserves himself from full embracement) for the implementation of Common Core in his school district due to the impacts it may have “on the children” despite overwhelming support from his in-state constituencies (to whom he can state that he “expresses reservations” towards the proposal to sound nice and considerate, but just cautious).
@LegendaryJohn ‘express reservations’ means ‘show doubt about.’