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  »  Tips & Strategies   »  Sample Questions   »  Test Info   »  Course   »  Free Practice Test
 
 

PSAT Sample Answers

Sentence Completion:

The correct answer is (C). Your logic will tell you immediately that the sentence is one of contrast ("dumb blond" and intelligent, sensitive; as well as formerly and now). Given the choices, only (C) is a logical answer.

Critical Reading:

1. The correct answer is (D). You might pick (B) because you believe astral projection is an illusion, but remember: The question begins "According to Passage 1 . . . "

2. The correct answer is (B). The lack of sarcasm indicates a serious, accepting attitude toward the subject. There is no supporting evidence in either passage for what the authors say, which rules out choices (A) and (C). Just because a piece is interesting doesn’t mean it is based on an accepting attitude, which rules out choice (D). The allusion to birthday suit and Casper the Friendly Ghost in Passage 2 lends a mocking attitude to Passage 2, ruling out choice (E).

3. The correct answer is (B). Punctuation is more than just window dressing. In this case it implies a tongue-in-cheek attitude toward the subject matter. Quotation marks can be used for choices (A), (C), and (E), also. But remember, the question concerns the way they’re used in this passage only—not all the ways in which they can be used in the real world.

Multiple-Choice Math:

The correct answer is (E). For (a x b) to be less than zero, either a or b must be less than zero. All the other choices result in values that are either zero or greater than zero.

Grid-in:

The correct answer is 2.
Since 81 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3, then 81 = 34
n + 2 must equal 4
n = 2

Identifying Sentence Errors:

The correct answer is (B). Noun number agreement is faulty in this sentence. Janet and Tiffany are two people: a veterinarian is one person.

Improving Sentences:

The correct answer is (D). Choices (A) and (E) represent a shift from formal to informal diction. Choice (B) and (C) represent a shift in tense from past to present.

Improving Paragraphs:

The correct answer is (C). This is the least awkward and wordy of the five choices. Choice (A) is incorrect because it is wordy; "fishermen who were fishing" is redundant. Choice (B) is incorrect because the main idea of the sentence (the definition of El Niño as "unusually warm water") is put into an awkward subordinate clause. Choice (D) is a comma splice. Choice (E) is grammatically correct but awkwardly constructed.

 


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