SAT Pastpaper with Solutions

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

· The Arabic word "dinar" comes from the Latin word "denarius."

· Today, nearly a dozen different national currencies are referred to as "dinars."

· Bahrain's currency is known as the Bahraini dinar.

The student wants to provide an example of a country that uses the word "dinar" in the name of its currency. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
· Urban pigeons often adapt to city environments by nesting on buildings and bridges.
· Rural pigeons typically nest in trees or cliffs.
· A 2023 study compared the nesting success (measured by fledgling survival rates) of urban and rural pigeons.
· Urban pigeons using artificial structures (e.g., building ledges) had a 68% fledgling survival rate.
· Rural pigeons nesting in natural sites (e.g., trees) had an 82% fledgling survival rate.
· Researchers concluded that nesting environment significantly impacts pigeon reproductive success.
The student wants to emphasize a difference between urban and rural pigeons in the study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A student has taken the following notes while researching the effects of caffeine on cognitive performance:

· Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

· A 2021 study examined the impact of caffeine on memory and attention.

· Participants who consumed caffeine before a test performed better on memory tasks.

· Participants who consumed caffeine also showed improved focus during attention-based exercises.

· The study concluded that caffeine enhances both memory and attention.

The student wants to highlight a similarity between the effects of caffeine on memory and attention. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

Author Jhumpa Lahiri is celebrated for her nuanced exploration of cultural identity in works like Interpreter of Maladies. In her writing, Lahiri employs sparse yet vivid ________ frequently depict the inner lives of immigrants navigating between tradition and modernity.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

"Ancient civilizations attributed natural phenomena to the actions of capricious gods. This was not always the __________ scientific inquiry eventually revealed the underlying natural causes of these events."
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

In Norway, public schools are tuition-free, ensuring that all children have access to education._________, in the United States, the rising cost of college tuition has become a major barrier for many students.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Biologists have long assumed that symbiotic relationships between species are inherently mutualistic, with both partners benefiting equally. A 2023 study by Dr. Elena Martinez,__________revealed that in certain ant-plant symbioses, the ants aggressively prune the plant's flowers, significantly reducing its reproductive success while still protecting it from herbivores.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

In addition to being a celebrated writer, musician, and educator, Zitkala-Šá (Yankton Dakota) was the cofounder of the National Council of American___________advocated for Native American civil rights throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

With an average summer temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit, Moscow is one European__________many travelers recommend, especially from June to September.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

The words "utopia" and "nerd" both trace_________origins to books. "Utopia" first appears in Utopia by Sir Thomas More, and "nerd" first appears in If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

An art museum in Paris recently acquired a rare sketch by Claude Monet, which Monet__________during his early years as a painter in the 19th century.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Epic poetry is a literary genre characterized by lengthy narratives that emphasize the heroic or divine. The Argonautica, an epic poem of Greek origin, dates back to the____________the poem's heroic narrative still captivates modern readers.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

Water flowing around an obstruction creates vortices (patterns of swirls) of varying size; by detecting the vortices, fish can determine the size and position of the obstruction. Testing by Yuzo R. Yanagisuru, Otar Akanyeti, and James C. Liao using models of three head shapes---narrow (low ratio of width to length), intermediate, and wide (high ratio of width to length)---showed that for medium-sized vortices, fish with wide heads would be least able to distinguish between vortices and general turbulence in the water. A second research team has therefore hypothesized that in low-visibility conditions, wider-headed fish will be less likely than narrower-headed fish to detect obstructions.

Which finding, if true, would most directly support the second research team's hypothesis?

J.G. Ballard's 1984 novel Empire of the Sun is regularly described as autobiographical. That characterization is apt---there are many parallels between the experiences of the novel's protagonist, Jim Graham, and those of Ballard---but it should not be taken to mean that every person or event depicted in Empine of the Sun has a real-life analogue. Much of the novel is pure invention, and readers who neglect this fact and instead focus excessively on correspondences between the novel and Ballard's life can thus__________.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

The table presents data on the average monetized productivity loss (in Australian dollars) at two time points (12 weeks and 12 months) after participants began two types of training programs: EET and EHP.
Which statement is best supported by the data?

The bar chart presents data on the average total agricultural export growth rate of El Salvador, Mexico, and Nicaragua in the five years before and after their respective Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the United States.
Which conclusion is best supported by the data?

Lin-Tai Ho and colleagues monitored fish populations in a tide pool in Taiwan. They found that some species were entirely absent from the tide pool at particular times of the year; for example, they did not observe even one _________.

Which choice most effectively uses data from the graph to complete the example?

A study by environmental researchers compared recycling rates in two cities: Greenvale and Hilltop. In Greenvale, 65% of households participate in recycling programs, whereas in Hilltop, only 30% do. The initial study noted that Greenvale offers financial incentives for recycling, such as tax rebates, which Hilltop does not. However, a follow-up survey revealed that Greenvale residents reported significantly stronger community education campaigns about recycling benefits. The researchers concluded that the disparity in recycling rates cannot be explained by financial incentives alone.

Which choice best describes the main conclusion of the studies?

"The Monster" is an 1898 story by Stephen Crane. In the story, whenever Jimmie, a young boy, has been scolded by his father for misbehavior, he seeks comfort from Henry Johnson, the man responsible for the care of Jimmie's father's horses. However, Henry does not always provide such comfort; Crane suggests this by writing,___________.

Which quotation from "The Monster" most effectively illustrates the claim?

Text 1

Chemically analyzing bulk rock-core samples from Australia's Mount McRae Shale, Ariel Anbar et al. found a transient but significant increase in molybdenum (Mo) at a point corresponding to roughly 2.5 billion years ago (Ga). On Earth, Mo is released mainly through oxidative weathering of minerals; Anbar et al. therefore concluded that atmospheric oxygen briefly increased 2.5 Ga, then returned to its earlier negligible level.

Text 2

Sarah Slotznick et al. reexamined the Mount McRae Shale core. Since chemically analyzing bulk samples can occlude contextual details, Slotznick et al. also employed high-resolution microscopy, which revealed volcanic debris---a known Mo host---around 2.5 Ga and microfractures in the surrounding matrix. The researchers assert that fluid could have reached the debris through the microfractures and initiated oxidative weathering long after debris deposition.

Based on the texts, Anbar et al. (Text 1) and Slotznick et al. (Text 2) would most likely disagree about the answer to which question about the portion of the Mount McRae Shale rock-core corresponding to 2.5 Ga?

The following text is adapted from a 19th-century novel. Mr. Langley is a well-respected lawyer in his town.

Mr. Langley was widely regarded as a man of impeccable judgment and refined manners. Among his colleagues, he was admired for his careful attention to legal detail, his measured speech, and his ability to navigate delicate negotiations without offending any party. Within the town, he was known for his kindness and quiet generosity, often assisting those in need without drawing attention to himself. Mr. Langley rarely expressed strong opinions in public, preferring to listen rather than argue, and he had a remarkable talent for making others feel at ease in his presence.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

Many artists associated with hyperpop, a movement in electronic music that emerged in the 2010s, conform to the model perfected by the American duo 100 gecs: bold synthesizer arrangements, propulsive beats, and electronically manipulated vocals. Yet the movement is hardly uniform: British recording artist Charli XCX incorporates pop melodies into the hyperpop sound, for example. Such stylistic diversity is encouraged in part by the musicstreaming app Spotify, whose curated playlist of hyperpop songs balances cohesion with variety.

Which statement about Charli XCX is best supported by the text?

The following text is from Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The narrator, Scout, describes her experience with a school assignment.

For the book report, I was to read Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. It was a dense, lengthy novel that seemed more daunting than it was. I was supposed to read every chapter carefully, taking notes on the themes and characters. But I skimmed through the pages, glancing at the dialogue and skipping long descriptions. I never truly engaged with the story. I imagined myself elsewhere, far from the confines of the classroom.

Based on the text, when Scout describes herself as "skimming," what does she most likely mean?

During film's early years, those who worked in the industry had a vested interest in convincing the public to embrace the new medium. As Sumiko Higashi argues, some filmmakers relied on film critics to influence the public's __________ the world of cinema. Critics who drew similarities between film and traditional art forms, like drama, could help legitimize film as an art form.

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

Cognitive science research has found that people tend to be biased against art when they think it was generated by artificial intelligence (AI) software. One hypothesis for the preference for human-created art is that people __________ the effort behind a piece of art: the more work they believe went into a piece's creation, the more likely they are to appreciate it.

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

The presence of Belarus's Mir Castle Complex on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's World Heritage List indicates that the organization has___________the site's "outstanding universal value," and that UNESCO is therefore championing its preservation and protection.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?