SAT Pastpaper with Solutions

Chapter 5

2026.8 : B-B(analysis included)

READING 1 · 27 questions

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Although the scientist's theory was initially dismissed as speculative, newly uncovered evidence has forced even its harshest critics to reconsider their position. The discovery does not conclusively validate every aspect of the theory, but it does __________ the longstanding claim that the hypothesis lacked any credible empirical foundation.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

AundermineBreinforceCanticipateDobscure

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

For decades, automotive technicians focused almost exclusively on mechanical systems. However, the rapid adoption of electric vehicles has__________ this approach, as technicians must now master high-voltage safety protocols, battery management systems, and specialized diagnostic procedures that were entirely unnecessary in the era of internal combustion engines.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

AprecededBstandardizedCmisrepresentedDupended

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

In 2019, the Netherlands, which has strong democratic institutions, experienced an inflation rate of 2.63% much higher than the 0.76% rate seen in Jordan, which has relatively weak democratic institutions. Such a result is __________, however: Raj Desai et al. have shown that democratic institution strength tends to restrain inflationary pressures.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

AinexplicableBanomalousCfacetiousDunfounded

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Nok Culture, a civilizational group known to have thrived in Western Africa before 200CE, appears, on the basis of recent excavations, to have devised smelting technologies so effective that this group ___________ an expected progression from stone to bronze to iron tools. From working in stone, Nok artisans moved almost exclusively to iron.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

AbypassedBcountermandedCoutwittedDprefigured

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

A superficial survey of the architecture of the Mughal emperor Akbar's palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri might suggest a haphazard assembly of disparate regional structures, but closer spatial analysis reveals a remarkably_________layout, deliberately aligning sandston pavilions along precise cardinal axes to signify royal authority and balance.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

ArudimentaryBprecariousCcoherentDsuperfluous

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

The following text is adapted from an 1898 journal kept by a naturalist during an expedition through a mountainous region. Here, the speaker reflects on an important choice.

Though my companions urged that we press onward before the weather turned, I could not persuade myself that haste would serve us well. The trail ahead had grown uncertain, and the maps upon which we had so confidently relied no longer corresponded with the landscape before us. To continue merely because we had already come so far seemed to me an invitation to needless danger. I therefore proposed that we remain where we were until daylight afforded a clearer view, believing that prudence, however disappointing in the moment, would ultimately prove the wiser course.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

ATo clarify why the speaker rejects a course of action while emphasizing the reasoning behind a more cautious decision.BTo explain why the speaker postpones a course of action while emphasizing the uncertainty of the surrounding conditions.CTo describe the unfamiliar terrain while illustrating how the speaker gradually becomes fascinated by it.DTo recount a sequence of unexpected events while arguing that careful planning is often ineffective.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Traditionally, Chinese shadow puppets were crafted from cut paper or leather surfaces. A lamp would then illuminate a few puppets at a time as these figures acted out simple scenes, with the figures' black shadows projected against a white sheet for background. Rudimentary though this setup seems,the creators of China's shadow puppets brought a remarkable range of expression to the performances. The craftsmanship behind the puppets,which often had exaggerated facial features and dramatically contoured bodies,was partially responsible, as were some of the "special effects"—wisps of smoke,bursts of music,well-placed swatches of colorful translucent fabric—that China's puppeteers deployed.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlned portion in the text as a whole?

AIt provides a visual description of a spectacle that the author further analyzes in terms of emotional effect.BIt indicates how an artistic innovation rendered a range of emotion compatible with a seemingly simple setup.CIt specifies the physical traits that account for the versatility and popularity of a specific type of entertainment.DIt clarifies a few of the reasons that a traditional method remained resistant to change.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Text 1

In parts of New Zealand, the stoat is a major predator of the house mouse. Researcher G. L. Blackwell and colleagues found that when this predation pressure on house mice was temporarily reduced, their numbers significantly increased. This finding illustrates a foundational ecological principle: predators control prey population numbers.

Text 2

François Potvin and colleagues found that excluding wolves from a site in Quebec, Canada, where they typically prey on white-tailed deer had no significant effect on white-tailed deer abundance. Many other predation-reduction studies show an increase in prey abundance, but those studies often focus on small, rapidly reproducing prey, like birds, mice, and frogs, rather than large, slowly reproducing prey, like white-tailed deer, which could account for the difference between these results and Potvin and colleagues' results

Based on the texts, the author of Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement about the "principle" mentioned in Text 1?

AIt has been challenged by some studies, but the findings of those studies have not been widely accepted.BIt is plausible, but many of the studies that support it have methodological flaws.CIt has some evidential support, but it should not be regarded as universally applicable.DIt may be true for some predators but only because those predators share certain physical characteristics.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

A restaurant is installing window film to create a more comfortable indoor atmosphere. This is because during dinner service, the sunlight gets in people's eyes while they eat. The restaurant owner wants to reduce the glare but still let customers enjoy the sunset. To help meet these goals, a window-film technician recommends selecting a film that reduces glare as much as possible while still allowing more than 15% of visible light to pass through the windows. The table shows the performance data for several different films.

Based on the window-film technician's recommendation and the data in the table, which film should the restaurant owner choose?

ABronze ShineBShield ViewCShade BlockDGlow Guard

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Industrialization in England occurred largely in between 1760 and 1840, according to standard views of the timeframe for the Industrial Revolution. Beyond these decades, industrial infrastructure buildup—much of it involving railroad track expansion—in the United Kingdom at large did not halt by any means, yet other countries industrialized more extensively by the same metric, as ________.

Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the table to complete the statement?

AGermany increased its miles of railroad track by a factor of nearly 100 from 1840 to 1900, while the United Kingdom expanded its railroad network by a factor of 10 during the same period.Bthe United States in 1840 had a larger network of railroads, as measured by miles of track, than the United Kingdom did in the same year.Cthe United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany all increased their miles of railroad track between 1860 and 1900.DGermany and the United States saw consistent increases in miles of railroad track between 1840 and 1880, while the United Kingdom witnessed a brief decline in track mileage during this period.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

A film studies student is researching early 20th-century film serials, which consisted of individual episodes of a single long story that were shown weekly in theaters. The Shadow of the Eagle is a 1932 serial that, over its 12 episodes, kept its audience interested with the suspense and drama that are typical of the crime genre. The student, however, claims that ultimately audiences of the time preferred resolution and closure over ongoing tension.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the student's claim?

AAudiences of the time considered The Shadow of the Eagle to belong to a genre other than the crime genre.BThe 12th episode of The Shadow of the Eagle was the most expensive episode of the series to produce.CModern critics generally regard the first episode as the best installment of The Shadow of the Eagle.DThe 12th episode of The Shadow of the Eagle was viewed by more people than was any previous episode in the series.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Described by archaeologist Larry Barham as representing a "disruptive discovery," two logs discovered in the African nation of Zambia might furnish new insights for those who seek to understand the origins of carpentry, building craft, and architecture as we know these traits of human activity. Here, though, there is a twist: the two logs evince signs of having been intentionally crafted to serve a purpose (perhaps, as hinted by Barham and others, a fishing platform), yet some of the researchers who unearthed these 475,000 year-old logs speculate that this prehistoric structure could illustrate carpentry abilities among an intelligent hominid species related to humans rather than among early humans themselves.

Which fact, if true, would best support the speculation of the researchers?

ALogs that were crafted much more recently than 475,000 years ago have also been found in Zambia.BHumans spread throughout Africa only 300,000 years ago and only began building permanent structures shortly after this dispersal began.CSpecies known to be human ancestors could be found in Africa as recently as 20,000 years ago.DSome hominid species exhibited rudimentary tool usage more than 475,000 years ago.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

It is hard for publisherss and printers to create very long books that balance the requirements of readability, durability, and cost. Among some exceptionally long novels published in English, Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote (translated from Spanish) was published in a 1,239-page edition and runs to an estimated 590,000 words, while Margaret Young's Miss Macintosh, My Darling (written originally in English) was published in a 1,198-page edition and runs to an estimated 750,000 words. This suggests that __________.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

Areaders will, on average, take the same time to read Miss Macintosh, My Darling as they will to read Don Quixote.Bthe edition of Don Quixote was less expensive to print than the edition of Miss Macintosh, My Darling.Cthe edition of Miss Macintosh, My Darling has more words per page than the edition of Don Quixote.DDon Quixote likely has a lower word count in its original Spanish edition.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

As observed in a 1990 study by Kristina Sundbäck and colleagues, macroalgal proliferation may have a suppressive effect on the abundance of chlorophytes and other microphytobenthos (MPB)—chlorophyll-produding microbes inhabiting marine sediment—in part by reducing the amount of sunlight available to MPB. Examining benthic chlorophyll concentrations (widely used proxy for MPB biomass) in mudflats in Hummock Cove and other coastal sites in Virginia, Alice F. Besterman and Michael L. Pace found that those concentrations did not negatively correlate with macroalgal proliferation. However, they noted that MPB may respond to low-light conditions by producing higher-than-normal concentrations of chlorophyll, and they thus concluded that __________.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

Aresearchers ought to account for the possibility that because MPB have the capacity to compensate for reduced sunlight availability, benthic chlorophyll concentrations may not always be a reliable indicator of MPB biomass.Balthough elevated levels of macroalgae do not always correspond to increased levels of benthic chlorophyll, there is likely a larger trend in MPB biomass that is related to macroalgal presence but unrelated to light conditions.Cthe effect of macroalgal concentrations on MPB abundance that Sundbäck and colleagues reported was not observed in Hummock Cove and other Virginia sites because low-light conditions likely are not generalizable across the sites in the studies.Dalthough their finding was inconsistent with that of Sundbäck and colleagues, this discrepancy was not attributable to the ability of MPB to accelerate chlorophyll production to mitigate the negative impact of macroalgal accumulations.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Disruptive camouflage does not hide an organism from sight. Instead, an animal that exhibits this trait—the zebra for instance, with stripes that stand out from brownish savannah grasses—protects _______ through bold coloration that confuses predators, the animal's exact location and body contours hard to pin down.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

AthemselvesBitselfCthemDit

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

The evolution of the claws of insect-eating mammals represents a ___________ process by which different species exhibit similar biological structures. Here, the savannah-based giant anteater and species like the aardvark developed claws with comparable uses.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Acase of convergent evolution—aBease of convergent evolution aCcase—of convergent evolution aDcase—of convergent evolution—a

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Blacksmith and artisan Philip Simmons (1912-2009) preserved an important aspect of the art and heritage of Charleston, South Carolina—a city famous for its homely yet intricate ironwork. Normally, homeowners could swap out aging gates and ornaments for mass-produced replacements. Instead of purchasing standardized ironwork, _______ to repair and replicate the distinctive items in their homes.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?

Ait was Charleston whose residents called upon SimmonsBCharleston residents could call upon SimmonsCSimmons was called upon by Charleston residentsDcalling upon Simmons could be done by Charleston residents

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

In the jointly-authored book The Invention of Tomorrow, Thomas Suddendorf, Jon Redshaw, and Adam Bulley argue that one specific trait—foresight—played an instrumental role in human history. Foresight, note the three scientists, _______ early humans to think long-term about hunting strategies, facilitating future planning about tool usage and food sources.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Ato promptBpromptingCpromptedDhaving prompted

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Filmed in vivid technicolor to call forth lush red and icy blue accents, _______ who is arguably most famous for his iconic black-and-white cinematography.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard English?

Athe family drama Fanny and Alexander is a powerful showing by its director, Ingmar Bergman,BIngmar Bergman, as a director, had a powerful showing in the family drama Fanny and Alexander.Cdirector Ingmar Bergman showed powerfully in the family drama Fanny and Alexander,Dit was in the family drama Fanny and Alexander that Ingmar Bergman had a powerful showing,

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

When it began operations in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad could send a train across the contiguous United States—starting in New York and ending in San Francisco—in just over three days, at least in theory. _______ mechanical failures and the need for frequent transfers could slow progress across the continent considerably: some travelers, particularly those who did not pay premium rates, could take almost two weeks to cross the country.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

AFor instance,BAs noted,CIn actuality,DLikewise,

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Nellie Bly was an American investigative journalist well-known for an exposé she wrote after spending 10 days undercover in a mental institution. ____________ she set a record for traveling around the world in 72 days, a journey based on the work of Jules Verne.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

AAs a result,BLikewise,CThus,DAdditionally,

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

The eye structure of owls involves an evolutionary trade-off. Each of an owl's eyes takes a tubular or ovular shape that, structurally, enables superior vision in the dark. _____ this same structure prevents an eye from moving or pivoting within its socket, forcing an owl to turn its entire head to change the direction of its vision.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

AStill,BSubsequently,CIn other words,DLikewise,

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

Karel Capek's 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), in which artificial workers overthrow their masters, left an indelible mark on the science fiction genre, and the English language, by introducing the term "robot" (derived from the Czech word robota, meaning "indentured labor" or "drudgery"). _________ Capek's play also contributed to a venerable literary and mythological tradition: using artificial beings as mirrors and foils for humanity.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

ADespite its creation of such an iconic trope,BBy achieving such a lofty goal,CUltimately limited in its lasting influence,DBeyond the simple coining of a term,

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes

·Jeong-Eun Lee, Chul-Hwan Kim, and colleagues recently conducted analysis of EC 53, a protostar observed by the James Webb Space Telescope.

·A protostar is an intermediary form in which a cloud of gas and dust begins cohering into a star, with planets and other bodies often cohering in a disk of material surrounding the protostar.

·Crystal silicates are forming in one of the intermediary layers of the disk surrounding EC 53.

·These silicates can be ejected outward from the protostar system and become lodged in comets that then travel to colder regions of the universe.

The student wants to explain what a protostar is by providing an example. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

ADisks of material, including crystal silicates, surround protostars such as EC 53.BGas and dust begin cohering into an actual star in the case of a protostar such as EC 53, which is surrounded by a disk of material that will cohere into bodies such as planets.CObservations by Lee, Kim, and colleagues have revealed information about the manner in which crystal silicates are ejected from the disk surrounding protostar EC 53.DCrystal silicates typically form throughout the layers of the disk surrounding a protostar, as illustrated by EC 53, which will mature into an actual star as gas and dust cohere with silicates of this sort.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

·Located in northern Pakistan, the Swat Valley experienced multiple waves of reform and modernization from the mid 1910s to the late 1960s.

·Miangul Abdul Wadood served as the region's king (1917 onwards) and then its head of state (1926 onwards).

·Wadood's reforms involved the construction of schools and the elimination of a longstanding land redistribution system that had impeded the creation of permanent farms and orchards.

·Miangul Abdul Haq Jehanzeb, Wadood's son, became head of state of the Swat Valley in 1949.

·Jehanzeb continued his father's reforms by building hospitals and schools.

The student wants to emphasize a continuity between Wadood and Jehanzeb's reforms. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

AWadood ended the Swat Valley's land redistribution system; his son Jehanzeb promoted the creation of farms and orchards.BThe Swat Valley, which experienced successive reforms under Miangul Abdul Wadood, was eventually led by Wadood's son as well.CLike his father Wadood, Jehanzeb built schools in the Swat Valley.DAspects of a trend towards modernization, Jehanzeb's reforms included the construction of hospitals and schools.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

·Performance-based compensation systems start with base salaries and reward employees based on fulfillment of specific goals and standards.

·Example: An employee in a sales position receives a base salary of $45,000 and earns commission—usually a percentage of the sale price of any item—for making sales of goods.

·Tenure-based compensation systems involve base salaries and reward employees for length of employment with a specific company or institution.

·Example: A teacher at a private school receives a base salary of $45,000 during the first year of employment, and this base salary increases by a set percentage every year.

The student wants to note a similarity between performance-based and tenure-based systems of compensation. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

AWithin a performance-based compensation system, an employee earns a base salary and commission; a tenure-based system uses the same approach.BRegardless of their differences, pay structures based on performance and based on tenure may feature base salaries.CA commission, or a percentage of a sales price earned as compensation, is one feature of a performance-based compensation system.DPerformance-based compensation and tenure-based compensation both reward long-term employees.

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Chapter 5 · 2026.8 : B-B(analysis included) · READING 1

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

·The Five Dynasties Period began in 907 CE.

·During this stage of Chinese history, five individual governments—the Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Zhou—ruled China one after the other.

·This period was a time of political instability, though scholars have also noted that Chinese art and literature flourished during this time.

·With the creation of the Song Dynasty in 960, the Five Dynasties Period came to an end.

The student wants to provide a timeline of the Five Dynasties Period. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

Starting in 907 CE, a succession of five individual governments ruled China.

During the Five Dynasties Period, China experienced important cultural achievements in art and literature despite persistent political instabilities.

Political instability was a reality of life in China between 907 CE and 960 CE, but art finally flourished after the end of the Five Dynasties Period.

A time of political instability, the Five Dynasties Period began in 907 CE and ended in 960 CE with the creation of the Song Dynasty.

READING 1 · 27 questions

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