Official October 21, 2006 PSAT Discussion

<p>i knew it had to be that tho b/c all the other ones were like 3(X+Y)=10(X+Y) which is impossible unless X + Y = 0</p>

<p>yeah...</p>

<p>what did we decide on the FDA one? no error?</p>

<p>No, there was an error for the FDA one, also regarding verb tense (but I can't remember the specifics).</p>

<p>yeah, the FDA one was were instead of (D)are</p>

<p>On the two short passages regarding the british biographer:</p>

<p>What was mentioned in both parragraphs
What was not mentioned in paragraph 1 but in 2?
It can be assumed that previous biographys were ?? I thought overly analyzed but im probably wrong</p>

<p>I answered that both passages called him a gifted writer (choice A), that only the second passage mentioned his impact on future biographers, and that nineteenth-century biographers were overall uncritical of their subjects.</p>

<p>Quote (bschenkel):
"attempt at humor by using different meaning of the same word" (choice B) for the question that referred to the excerpt, "Newton was right...Yes, the clouds were gross" (I debated between choices B and C, but I chose the former because choice C, which maybe said "citation of a reputable authority," just didn't seem right.)"</p>

<p>How is it not C?
Newton is the "reputable authority."
How were two "different meanings of the same word" used?</p>

<p>It's not C because the guy is not citing that Newton, the reputable authority, is saying that clouds are gross. He is using the other definition of gross (disgusting) for humor.</p>

<p>It definitely is two different meanings of the same word. Newton meant grosser as in larger. The author used gross as in the more common meaning.</p>

<p>exaggeration or euphemism?</p>

<p>Newton is, of course, a reputable authority, but the question asked for the best function of the phrase, "clouds are gross." The tone seemed ironic because "gross" is taken out of context and becomes a play on words. Yes, Newton is the reputable authority, but I'm not convinced that choice C is necessarily the best answer.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I answered that both passages called him a gifted writer (choice A), that only the second passage mentioned his impact on future biographers, and that nineteenth-century biographers were overall uncritical of their subjects.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I did too... but I was guessing. Anyone sure these are the right answers? The last one - about the 19th century biographer's I'm sure about, but the other two I'm not.</p>

<p>
[quote]
How is it not C?
Newton is the "reputable authority."
How were two "different meanings of the same word" used?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I thought it was gross because Newton meant the clouds as being "big" and the author meant that the clouds were a nuisance. To me, it was a bad attempt at humor.</p>

<p>fk. What do you guys think 2 wrong, 1 blank will be on CR for this test?</p>

<p>The answer was (E) "euphemism" rather than (C) "excoriation." Although people nowadays tend to speak explicitly, they still resort to euphemisms--polite expressions, such as "passed away" instead of "died"--so that others aren't offended. On the other hand, excoriation means scathing criticism and would not fit in the sentence.</p>

<p>what did you guys get for the 1st question about the twinkling stars passage?</p>

<p>nice bschenkel, thats what i put, 80 CR here I come!</p>

<p>it looks like i got an 80 math and 80 writing but cr i did terribly</p>

<p>i put garrulousness, not euphemism or excoriation</p>

<p>garrulous=loquacious</p>

<p>'nuff said.</p>

<p>garroulousness (gross spelling mistake) doesnt have anything to do with speaking explicitly...</p>