SAT Pastpaper with Solutions

Sports, in all their variations, are an important social and economic component of global culture. In hopes of________the origins of sports, athletic paleobiologists study how the physical ability needed for athletics arose from traits that made humans better hunters.

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

With a background in theoretical physics and modern abstract art, Mumbai-based artist Sukant Saran creates abstract, geometric sculptures made of clay, metal, and polymers that are________of science and humanities.

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

The following text is adapted from Laurence Housman's 1916 play Bird in Hand.
Professor Braintree, a famous scientist, is examining a series of letters in his study when he is greeted by his secretary, Miss Tuckey.

Miss Tuckey: Good-morning, Sir.

Professor: Miss Tuckey, there is something broken over there, will you please see it removed? And will you kindly make a note to write to Messrs. Spink and Wedge, and say that these new glasses don't suit me- l find them very trying to the-to the eyes. And I must ask you to fetch those proofs which came yesterday. I tried to catch you just now, but you had gone.

As used in the text, what does the word "trying" most nearly mean?

As a celebrated historian, William Cronon has a _______ examining the relationship between humans and the environment, particularly in his influential work, Changes in the Land, which explores the ecological transformation of New England.

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

Although the European starling and the American robin are distinct species, they exhibit remarkable _______ in behavior, often foraging for food in similar environments and displaying similar social structures.

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

Many modern artists embrace digital technologies in their work, using tools like 3D printing and virtual reality to create pieces that challenge traditional boundaries. For example, the artist Jenny Holzer often uses LED displays and projections to convey political messages, while the renowned artist Salvador Dalí, known for his surrealist work, did not have access to such tools during his lifetime. This contrast suggests that, for contemporary artists, the use of digital technology tends to_______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

The following text is adapted from Mary Imlay Taylor's 1913 novel The Long Way.
Rachel stopped on the landing and laid both hands on the banister. She was experiencing a new and curious sensation of unreality, and her impulse to touch something solid was rather to assure herself that she had survived unchanged, than from any physical need of support. The contact of her fingers with the polished wood was a relief; it convinced her that her sensations, so vague, like a nebulous mist, were not actualities at all. but only a fleeting deflection from a commonplace mood, that the uneasiness she had felt all the evening was a mere figment of her imagination, a shadowy specter which had no place in this charming scene. For she was aware of the heavy perfume of flowers, of the vivid gleam of electric lights that hung in the midst of the tall ferns and giant palms of the conservatory; while through the vista of greenery, she caught a glimpse of the flashing wings of parrots.

Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?

In his analysis of 19th-century European art, Richard Danto argues that the concept of "art" evolved dramatically with the advent of modernism. Before this shift, art was primarily defined by its adherence to certain forms and techniques, often rooted in classical traditions. However, with the rise of modernism, particularly during the early 20th century, artists began to challenge these traditional notions, experimenting with abstraction, non-representational forms, and new materials. Danto suggests that this break from tradition was not a rejection of the past but rather a redefinition of what could be considered art. For Danto, the most important aspect of modern art is not its formal qualities but the philosophical questions it raises about the nature of representation and the role of the artist in society.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

The table presents data on internet access rates and the percentage of the population with a college degree across several countries for 2022. Notably, in the context of analyzing educational outcomes, the United States boasts an internet access rate of 90%; however, the percentage of its population with a college degree stands at ________, prompting deeper questions about the extent to which digital access shapes higher education attainment.

Which choice most effectively completes the statement?

The line graph meticulously delineates the percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions attributed to four distinct sectors---Transportation, Industry, Energy Production, and Agriculture---within a specific country spanning from 2005 to 2020. During this temporal interval,significant policy changes were enacted to reduce emissions, particularly in the Energy Production sector. A student analyzing the data notes a key trend in 2015 for the Transportation sector suggesting that_______.

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

As part of a class project, a student is undertaking a detailed comparative analysis of the areas of several forest reserves. To place this measurement into context, the student turns their attention to Pisgah National Forest for comparison. By consulting the provided table, the student ascertains that while Coconino National Forest encompasses a total area of 1,865.2 square miles, Pisgah National Forest covers__________.

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

An agricultural scientist studied the effects of irrigation levels on the yield of three crops: Corn, Soybeans, and Wheat. The scientist hypothesized that crops grown with high irrigation levels would consistently produce higher yields (measured in tons per hectare) compared to those grown with moderate or low irrigation levels.

Which choice best describes how the data in the bar chart contradicts the scientist's hypothesis?

While exploring the Loltún cave on the Yucatán peninsula, ________ that lived over 12,000 years ago. Analyzing the DNA and composition of these bones will offer a better understanding of how the Yucatán region has changed over time.

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

Large trees are a vital part of tropical rainforests, as they provide habitat for countless species and store vast amounts of carbon. The Gigante project, which________in June 2024, looks to study large trees in the Brazilian Amazon in hopes of protecting them from decline.

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

In the early days of the Internet, the Cherokee Nation recognized that digital media could be a threat or an opportunity for cultural preservation. Many early websites were incapable of displaying text in Cherokee. The language is written with 85 symbols not seen in other languages. The tribe's Language Technology Department collaborated with the world's largest technology companies to improve support for the language. Tribe members successfully lobbied to get these symbols formally encoded into Unicode, the universal system for representing digital text. Thus, the Language Technology Department determined that________

Which choice most logically completes the text?

A central challenge when studying the impact of leadership positions on everyday behavior is establishing a suitable control group. Any study aiming to investigate the impact of leadership positions on everyday behavior needs to compare individuals in positions of leadership to those who are not but who otherwise possess similar characteristics. Because its often hard to anticipate who will rise to leadership positions, researchers_________

Which choice most logically completes the text?

The History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia, is home to the Lchashen _________ entirely of oak wood, the wagon, which dates back 4,000 years, is the oldest surviving example of a wheeled vehicle.

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

Unlike all other waterfowl, the black-headed duck does not build a ________ it deposits its eggs into other birds' nests, where they are incubated along with the parents' own eggs. According to biologist John Eadie, the duck's choice of coots for their host nests may be in response to the presence of egg-eating predators, since coots vigorously defend their clutches against predation.

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

The Marshall Plan of 1948 and the Truman Doctrine of 1947 are considered defining policies of the early Cold War________former aimed at rebuilding war-torn Europe, and the latter focused on containing the spread of communism.

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

The following text is adapted from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.

For months, Jurgis labored in the factory, his every moment consumed by the grueling, constant demands of the assembly line. The unyielding pace of the work left him with scant opportunity to rest or recuperate. The relentless rhythm of the machines governed his every action, rendering him little more than a cog in the unforgiving machinery of industry, with no reprieve from the monotonous, dehumanizing cycle.

As used in the text, what does the word "constant" most nearly mean?

In recent decades, many cities have taken significant steps to reduce their carbon emissions by adopting green technologies and sustainable practices. ________some urban areas have struggled to make similar progress, often due to economic constraints and political challenges. For instance, several cities in developing countries continue to face difficulties in implementing such changes due to limited resources.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

While excavating archaeological sites on the coast of Brazil, Simon-Pierre Gilson concluded that sharks were commonly hunted by indigenous peoples. When questioning why these pre-Columbian people risked hunting dangerous sharks when less risky aquatic options were readily________Gilson concluded that sharks were a more desirable catch because their teeth could be used to create various tools.

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?

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

· The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system.

· It is made up of over 2,900 individual reefs and stretches for more than 1,400 miles.

· The Amazon River, located in South America, is the world's largest river by discharge volume.

· It spans over 4,000 miles and flows through the Amazon rainforest.

· Both the Great Barrier Reef and the Amazon River are home to diverse ecosystems with many unique species.

The student wants to explain how the Great Barrier Reef and the Amazon River are different. 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 1914, the Panama Canal officially opened, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

· Construction of the canal took over ten years and involved workers from around the world.

· The canal reduced shipping times by providing a shortcut for maritime trade.

· The canal's opening was celebrated as a major engineering achievement.

· Today, the Panama Canal is a vital route for global commerce.

The student wants to emphasize the global significance of the Panama Canal's impact on trade. 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:

· Anthropology is the study of humans, their societies, and cultures.

· Dr. Jane Goodall is a British primatologist born in 1934.

· She is known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees.

· Archaeology is the study of human history through excavation and analysis of artifacts.

· Dr. Howard Carter was a British archaeologist born in 1874.

· He is known for discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun.

The student wants to emphasize a similarity between Dr. Goodall and Dr. Carter. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?