PSAT/NMSQT (2015 edition) Reading Test — (C) The College Board
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1. Which choice best summarizes the passage? A) A catastrophic event occurs, and the resulting disorder is analyzed. B) A painful confession is made, and several close relationships unravel. C) A long-standing commitment is broken, and a series of repercussions follows. D) An unexpected discovery is made, and the events occurring after that discovery are described.
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D, An unexpected discovery is made, and the events occurring after that discovery are described.
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2. What does the passage suggest about how Papa relates to the narrator compared to how Mama relates? A) Papa is a stricter disciplinarian with the narrator than Mama is. B) Papa is more privy to the narrator's confidences than Mama is. C) Papa is more complimentary of the narrator's poetry than mama is. D) Papa is more tolerant of the narrator's rebellious nature than Mama is.
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B, Papa is more privy to the narrator's confidences than Mama is.
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3. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 3-4 (\"When...open\") B) Line 15 (\"My...pride\") C) Lines 20-21 (\"It...secret\") D) Lines 51-52 (\"Why...him\")
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C, Lines 20-21 (\"It...secret\")
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4. It can reasonably be inferred that Papa's \"scared look\" (line 2) is caused by his concerns about A) his friends' and neighbors' opinions B) his family's safety and well-being C) the relationship between the narrator and her mother. D) the narrator's desire to become a writer.
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B, his family's safety and well-being
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5. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 10-13 (\"Papa...close it\") B) Lines 13-14 (\"After...seditious\") C) Lines 18-20 (\"Papa...mother\") D) Lines 52-53 (\"I...killed\")
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D, Lines 52-53 (\"I...killed\")
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6. As used in line 8, \"scouring\" most nearly means A) searching. B) eroding. C) purging. D) waving.
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A, searching.
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7. As used in line 15, \"fierce\" most nearly means A) distressing B) struggling C) intense D) hostile
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C, intense
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8. The italicized words in lines 37-39 serve mainly to A) convey the lyrical cadence of Herminia's words B) illustrate the defiant nature of Herminia's poetry C) represent the urgent wishes of Dominican exiles D) demonstrate the uplifting effects of patriotic verse
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B, illustrate the defiant nature of Herminia's poetry
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9. The main purpose of lines 56-68 is to A) convey the kind of inspiration the narrator requires to help her write poetry B) demonstrate the inhibiting impact that Papa's words have had on the narrator C) provide a sense of foreboding about the influence that the narrator's poems may have. D) reveal the effect that the publication of her poems has had on the narrator
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D, reveal the effect that the publication of her poems has had on the narrator
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10. In line 8, the author places the word \"rational\" in quotes to A) imply that the usage of the word in this instance is a matter of understatement B) indicate that a particular assertion will later be disproved C) suggest that seemingly reasonable decisions overlooked important factors D) emphasize the important of evidence-based research to economists
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C, suggest that seemingly reasonable decisions overlooked important factors
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11. According to the passage, the industrialization of food production has recently led to an increase in the A) availability of fresh foods B) risk of food-borne illness C) number of food producers D) nutritional value of food
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B, risk of food-borne illness
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12. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 3-6 (\"Following...supermarkets\") B) Lines 16-19 (\"At...returns\") C) Lines 19-21(\"Today...frequently\") D) Lines 22-26 (\"More...past\")
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C, Lines 19-21(\"Today...frequently\")
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13. The author indicates that the cost of food in farmers markets A) is typically greater than the cost of food in other types of markets. B) compares favorably to that of food that is mass-produced C) is low considering the food's superior quality D) has gradually risen over time.
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A, is typically greater than the cost of food in other types of markets.
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14. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 32-34 (\"He...markets\") B) Lines 41-43 (\"However...flavor\") C) Lines 63-64 (\"Farmers...too\") D) Line 64 (\"It...income\")
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A, Lines 32-34 (\"He...markets\")
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15. As used in line 35, \"sheer\" most nearly means A) insubstantial B) genuine C) simple D) clear
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C, simple
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16. As used in line 64, \"regular\" most nearly means A) common. B) stereotypical. C) steady. D) generous.
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C, steady
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17. Which statement from the passage is best supported by figure 1? A) Lines 1-3 (\"From...farms\") B) Lines 9-12 (\"Over...health\") C) Lines 27-29 (\"Increasingly...it\") D) Lines 34-35 (\"When...price\")
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C, Lines 27-29 (\"Increasingly...it\")
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18. Figure 2 provides support for which point made in the passage? A) The nutritional value of food sold at farmers markets is greater than that of food sold at traditional supermarkets. B) Environmental concerns are not the primary reason that consumers patronize farmers markets. C) Getting a good value is more important to consumers than is supporting local farmers. D) Finding products that are free of hormones and antibiotics is the primary reason that consumers shop at farmers markets.
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B, Environmental concerns are not the primary reason that consumers patronize farmers markets.
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19. Which choice best reflects the overall structure of the passage? A) A discussion of a scientific premise is followed by a challenge to that premise. B) A description of an investigation is followed by a report of that investigation's results. C) A consideration of an abstract theory is followed by an application of that theory. D) An observation of a natural phenomenon is followed by an analysis of that phenomenon.
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B, A description of an investigation is followed by a report of that investigation's results.
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20. Which choice is an underlying assumption of the experiments described in the passage? A) If dogs and wolves meet people early in life, they will be able to learn new skills later in life B) If dogs and wolves see people as soon as they open their eyes, both species will rely on people more than they rely on other animals C) If dogs and wolves are not well socialized to people, both species will behave aggressively when competing for food. D) If dogs and wolves have similar experiences when they are young, then different behavior later must necessarily be innate.
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D, If dogs and wolves have similar experiences when they are young, then different behavior later must necessarily be innate.
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21. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 1-4 (\"Several...experiential\") B) Lines 7-9 (\"Any...genetics\") C) Lines 10-12 (\"Wolf...opened\") D) Lines 12-15 )\"For...day\")
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B, Lines 7-9 (\"Any...genetics\")
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22. As used in line 10, \"raised\" most nearly means A) elevated. B) built. C) restored. D) reared.
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D, reared.
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23. The primary purpose of the third paragraph (lines 32-36) is to A) offer alternative solutions B) indicate competing hypotheses C) describe divergent goals D) explain contradictory arguments
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B, indicate competing hypotheses
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24. As used in line 34, \"approached\" most nearly means A) approximated B) presented C) advanced D) followed
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A, approximated
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25. It can reasonably be inferred that one of the experimenters' goals in socializing the wolf and dog pups was to encourage their A) ability to master puzzles given to them by people B) development as docile companions of people C) sense of comfort with and around people D) desire to receive rewards from people
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C, sense of comfort with and around people
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26. Which choice best supports the claim that wolves possess as much aptitude for acquiring new skills as dogs do? A) Lines 54-57 (\"Not only...problem\") B) Lines 66-68(\"Then...problem\") C) Lines 76-80 (\"Both...solve\") D) Lines 86-88 (\"Only...human\")
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C, Lines 76-80 (\"Both...solve\")
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27. What main purpose do figure 1 and figure 2 serve in relation to the passage as a whole? A) They illustrate the results of different experiments discussed in the passage. B) They reconcile the outcomes of different experiments described in the passage. C) They expand on a set of findings touched upon briefly in the passage. D) They provide alternative explanations for data analyzed in the passage.
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A, They illustrate the results of different experiments discussed in the passage.
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28. Based on the information in the passage and in figure 2, the dogs in the second experiment, in general, were A) more likely to solve the rope task than the bin task B) stymied more quickly by the rope task than they were by the bin task C) quicker to attempt solutions not involving humans for the rope task than for the bin task D) slower to show affection for their caregivers during the bin task than during the rope task
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B, stymied more quickly by the rope task than they were by the bin task
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29. A) B) C) D)
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D
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30. A) B) C) D)
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C
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A) B) C) D)
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A
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A) B) C) D)
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C
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A) B) C) D)
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B
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A) B) C) D)
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C
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A) B) C) D)
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B
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A) B) C) D)
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A
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A) B) C) D)
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A
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A) B) C) D)
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C
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A) B) C) D)
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B
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A) B) C) D)
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B
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A) B) C) D)
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D
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A) B) C) D)
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D
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A) B) C) D)
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A
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A) B) C) D)
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B
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A) B) C) D)
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D
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A) B) C) D)
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A
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A) B) C) D)
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A
