SAT Pastpaper with Solutions

The MacArthur Fellowship, often called a "genius grant," is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity in their fields. One recipient, artist and architect Maya Lin, was honored for her lifetime_______innovative designs that have transformed the landscape of American public art.

 

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

Californian painter Helen Lundeberg had__________style: her works from the 1930s through the 1950s were inspired by European Surrealism, but her works in the 1960s and 1970s became more distinctly her own as she moved toward abstract geometry and bold colors.

 

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

The following text is adapted from Edith Wharton's 1916 novel Xingu.

 

Mrs. Ballinger is one of the ladies who pursue Culture in bands, as though it were dangerous to meet alone. To this end she had founded the Lunch Club, an association composed of herself and several other indomitable huntresses of erudition. The Lunch Club, after three or four winters of lunching and debate, had acquired such local distinction that the entertainment of distinguished strangers became one of its accepted functions. The club was to meet at Mrs. Ballinger's. The other members, behind her back, were of one voice in deploring her unwillingness to cede her rights in favor of Mrs. Plinth, whose house made a more impressive setting for the entertainment of celebrities; while, as Mrs. Leveret observed, there was always the picture-gallery to fall back on.

According to the text, what is true about Mrs. Ballinger?

The following text is adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 novel The Beautiful and Damned.

 

The night was alive with thaw; it was so nearly warm that a breeze drifting low along the sidewalk brought to Anthony a vision of an unhoped-for hyacinthine spring. Above in the blue oblong of sky, around them in the caress of the drifting air, the illusion of a new season carried relief from the stiff and breathed-over atmosphere they had left, and for a hushed moment the traffic sounds and the murmur of water flowing in the gutters seemed an illusive and rarefied prolongation of that music to which they had lately danced.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

In Tagalog, an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines, "aral" means "lesson" or "study," while "aral-aral" conveys the idea of studying persistently or repeatedly. This doubling of a root word to indicate repetition or intensity is known as reduplication.  "In this case, the base word 'aral' is repeated to emphasize a more enduring or habitual action." Reduplication is a widespread linguistic phenomenon, appearing in many languages across the world.

 

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

The following passage is adapted from a scientific study on animal behavior:

 

"Researchers have long known that certain species of birds migrate long distances. However, until recently, little was known about how they navigate during their journeys. In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Laura Fields and her team set up an experiment to observe how migratory birds responded to changes in magnetic fields. The team used a special setup to alter the Earth's magnetic field around the birds. The results revealed that the birds could still navigate accurately despite changes in the magnetic field, suggesting they use other cues, such as the position of the sun or landmarks, to guide their migration. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that birds rely solely on magnetic fields for navigation."

Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

 

A geography student is conducting a comparative analysis of the areas of five cities and observes that Columbia spans 123.4 square miles. The student is now interested in examining how this measurement compares to the area of Jefferson City. Upon consulting the table, the student finds that the total area of Columbia is 3,472.0 square miles, while the total area of Jefferson City is__________.

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the comparison?

 

The table provided offers a detailed summary of the average number of frost days observed per winter across various agricultural regions, with the data carefully compiled and analyzed over a five-year period to ensure accuracy and reliability. This information serves as a valuable resource for understanding the relationship between geographical factors and climatic conditions that impact agricultural productivity. An agronomist has put forth a hypothesis suggesting that regions situated at higher altitudes tend to experience a greater number of frost days each winter. This assertion is based on the premise that higher elevations are generally characterized by cooler temperatures and atmospheric conditions conducive to frost formation.

Which choice best describes the data in the table that supports the agronomist's hypothesis?

The works of William Shakespeare have been foundational to the development of English literature, and many of his plays continue to influence writers today. One of his most famous plays, Hamlet, was written around 1600 and explores themes of revenge, morality, and the complexity of human nature. Another of his major plays, Macbeth, written around 1606, examines ambition, guilt, and the consequences of unchecked power. While Macbeth and Hamlet share some thematic similarities, Macbeth is generally considered to be a more focused and tightly structured play. The difference in structure suggests that________.

 

Which choice most logically completes the text?

 

Recent studies have examined the effects of various organic fertilizers on crop yields. The table below summarizes the yields of three different crops when treated with two types of organic fertilizers: compost and manure. Maria Lopez and colleagues reported that manure contributed significantly to the yield of tomatoes, while James Chen and colleagues found a smaller increase with carrots relative to manure. Researchers raised questions that the effectiveness of one type of fertilizer does not seem to be consistent across various crops. However, this doesn't seem to be the case:______.

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the assertion?

Lisa Fenk and her team at The Rockefeller University used a combination of approaches to understand more precisely how fruit_________allow for the tracking of visual patterns.

 

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

In 2019, marine biologist Andrew Prevett studied the effects of bioluminescent prey on grazing copepods, small crustaceans that feed on plankton. Prevett's research data showed that copepods were more likely to reject bioluminescent plankton in favor of other prey that could not flash lights. According to Prevett, there are three theories as to how bioluminescence protects plankton: the glowing acts as a warning that the animal is potentially toxic, the bright light disorients the copepods, or the lights attract attention from larger predators that scare away the copepods. Each of these three theories is supported by observational data. Therefore. Prevett summarized that_______.

 

Which choice most logically completes the text?

 

The subsequent table elucidates the annual aggregate revenue (denominated in billions of dollars) garnered by three prominent technology conglomerates---Amazon, Google and Microsoft---for the fiscal years spanning from 2016 to 2023. Each numerical entry represents the cumulative global revenue as declared by the respective corporate entity at the conclusion of its fiscal year. A business analyst reviewing the table notes a significant shift that_______.

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the text?

The works of Claude Monet, particularly his iconic series of water lilies, ________ widely regarded as a groundbreaking contribution to the Impressionist movement, forever changing the way light and color were captured in art.

 

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

Dublin-based artist Karl Gaff uses microscopic photography to capture close-up images of crystalized molecules. Presented in vivid color,________such as flowers, leaves, and feathers.

 

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

The National Day of Listening, started by the national oral history project StoryCorps in 2008, is a day encouraging Americans to record the stories of their loved________people interested in participating can access resources and recommendations about the interview process through the StoryCorps website or app.

 

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

Despite significant advancements in renewable energy, the transition to more sustainable power sources is often slowed by regulatory hurdles and high initial costs. However, energy experts and government officials remain committed to efforts that—through technological innovation and public-private________aim to make renewable energy more accessible worldwide.

 

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

During the environmental movement of the 1970s, several key events marked turning points: the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in _________ creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, which played a major role in enforcing environmental laws, is another milestone.

 

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

In her novel Beloved, Toni Morrison uses a nonlinear narrative structure, weaving together past and present to convey the trauma of slavery and its lasting effects. _________ instead of presenting events chronologically, Morrison layers memories and current experiences to reflect the fragmented and haunting nature of her characters' lives.

 

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

In her groundbreaking study on resilience, psychologist Angela Duckworth delves into the pivotal roles that grit and perseverance play in achieving long-term success. While skillfully unpacking complex psychological theories, Duckworth's research retains a profoundly practical and universally relatable quality, offering insights applicable to a wide range of challenges.________she often poses the compelling question, "What drives people to persevere in the face of adversity?"

 

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

The two key moments in the history of modern physics, Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and Niels Bohr's development of quantum mechanics, were formulated in 1905 and_________these theories revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

 

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

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

 

· Agnès Varda was a Belgian-born French director.

· In 2015, she was the first woman to recelve an honorary Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded by the Cannes Film Festival.

· Her film Cléo from 5 to 7, one of her most acclaimed and notable works, shows two hours in the life of a pop singer.

· The film mixes documentary and fiction elements, and its events are depicted in real time.

The student wants to introduce Cléo from 5 to 7 to an audience unfamiliar with the film and its director. 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:

 

· In 2022, Ruth Peters and colleagues in Australia and the UK studied the relationship between blood pressure and risk of dementia in older age.

· They found that a decrease in blood pressure was correlated with a decrease in dementia risk.

· When systolic blood pressure was 100 millimeters of mercury ( mmHg ), the risk of dementia was 0.02.

· When systolic blood pressure was 140 mmHg, the risk of dementia was 03.

· When systolic blood pressure was 180 mmHg, the risk of dementia was 04.

The student wants to summarize the study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

When electric lighting was first introduced in the late 19th century, it was hailed as a groundbreaking innovation, yet its high cost relegated it to the homes of the affluent and select public spaces._________the widespread development of electrical infrastructure, coupled with advances in technology and manufacturing, drove down costs and made electric lighting increasingly accessible.

 

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

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

 

· Rubber was an important resource for pre-Columbian Mesoamericans.

· The Olmec civilization crafted rubber balls used to play multiple games.

· Archeologists Maria del Carmen Rodriguez and Ponciano Ortiz are researching the origin and manufacture of Olmec rubber.

· They have used imaging techniques and chemical analyses to learn about Olmec rubber balls.

· They concluded that the balls were made by wrapping latex from the rubber tree around a core, gradually increasing the diameter.

The student wants to summarize Rodriguez and Ortiz's findings to an audience already familiar with the topic. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

The name Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has become synonymous with his most famous character, the rational detective Sherlock Holmes. Doyle. however, did not share the fictional detective's skill for_________inquiry. Aside from his detective stories, Doyle is most well known for his insistence in the existence of fairies. He became obsessed with a set of photographs featuring paper cutouts of fairy pictures, which two schoolgirls claimed were magical creatures. It was a simple prank, but Doyle was adamant in his defense of the fairies' authenticity. Doyle's obsession with these fairy photographs has compromised his reputation as a rational and meticulous genius similar to the fictional Holmes.

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