PSAT READING AND WRITING

At eight paragraphs long, the preamble to the constitution of ______blank country in Western Asia—is much longer than the one-paragraph preamble to the United States Constitution. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. Bahrain—a B. Bahrain, a C. Bahrain a D. Bahrain: a

A. Bahrain—a

Native to Latin America, the cane toad was introduced to Australia in the 1930s. In recent decades, tadpoles in the Australian population have been shown to consume eggs of their own species. A 2022 study showed that when presented with cane toad eggs as well as eggs of native Australian amphibians, cane toad tadpoles disproportionately consumed eggs of their own species. This behavior results from their attraction to bufadienolide, a chemical produced by the eggs of cane toads but not by the eggs of native amphibians. However, using data from this study, a student wishes to argue that the presence of bufadienolide doesn't entirely explain the cane toad tadpoles' preference for certain eggs over others. Which choice best describes data from the table that support the student's argument? A. The tadpoles consumed a higher percentage of the striped burrowing frog eggs than they did of the eggs of the dainty green tree frog. B. The tadpoles left a certain percentage of the eggs of each of the five species unharmed, thus ultimately allowing them to hatch. C. The tadpoles consumed a lower percentage of the short-footed frog eggs than they did of the eggs of their own species. D. The tadpoles

A. The tadpoles consumed a higher percentage of the striped burrowing frog eggs than they did of the eggs of the dainty green

What a night it was! My soul had left its body to lose itself in the wild unrestrained beauty around me—from where it came—and only left a trembling suggestion of its existence within me. The other passengers moved around me like shadows, and again and again my eyes drank in all the glory and wealth of that night. As used in the text, what does the word "suggestion" most nearly mean? A. Trace B. Opinion C. Dispute D. Command

A.Trace

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Roughly 96% of Australia's estimated 200,000 animal species are invertebrates. Invertebrates of the order Hymenoptera, which consists of sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants, are estimated to total 14,800 species in Australia. Invertebrates of the order Coleoptera, which consists of beetles and weevils, are estimated to total 28,200 species in Australia. Some of these invertebrates' populations are threatened by invasive bird and fish species. The student wants to emphasize the different orders in which Australia's invertebrate animals are classified. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A. In Australia, 28,200 species are estimated to be beetles and weevils, both classified as invertebrates of the order Coleoptera. B. Among Australia's many invertebrates, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, while beetles and weevils belong to the order Coleoptera. C. Many sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants of the order Hymenoptera are threatened by some of Australia's invasive bird and fish species. D. The order Hymenoptera is estimated to make up 14,800 o

B. Among Australia's many invertebrates, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, while beetles and weevils belong to the order Coleoptera.

In response to adverse environmental conditions, many plants produce abscisic acid (ABA), a stress hormone. ABA triggers a slowdown in the biological processes of most plants. ______blank when the mustard plant Schrenkiella parvula produces ABA in response to an environmental stressor, the hormone triggers accelerated growth. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Moreover, B. In contrast, C. For example, D. Thus,

B. In contrast,

Modern dog breeds are largely the result of 160 years of owners crossbreeding certain dogs in order to select for particular physical appearances. Owners often say that some breeds are also more likely than others to have particular personality traits—basset hounds are affectionate; boxers are easy to train—but Kathleen Morrill and colleagues found through a combination of owner surveys and DNA sequencing of 2,000 dogs that while physical traits are predictably heritable among purebred dogs, behavior varies widely among dogs of the same breed. Which choice best states the main idea of the text? A. Dog breeds would not exist without many years of human intervention in dogs' reproduction. B. Research fails to confirm a commonly held belief about dog breeds and behavior. C. The dog breeds most popular among owners have often changed over the past 160 years. D. A study of dog breeds is notable for its usage of both opinion surveys and DNA sequencing.

B. Research fails to confirm a commonly held belief about dog breeds and behavior.

Some Astyanax mexicanus, a river-dwelling fish found in northeast Mexico, have colonized caves in the region. Although there is little genetic difference between river and cave A. mexicanus and all members of the species can emit the same sounds, biologist Carole Hyacinthe and colleagues found that the context and significance of those sounds vary by location—e.g., the click that river-dwelling A. mexicanus use to signal aggression is used by cave dwellers when foraging—and the acoustic properties of cave fish sounds show some cave-specific variations as well. Hyacinthe and colleagues note that differences in sonic communication could accumulate to the point of inhibiting interbreeding among fish from different locations, suggesting that ______ Which choice most logically completes the text? A. although A. mexicanus living in rivers are genetically similar to those living in caves, river fish rely on sonic communication less than cave fish do. B. although A. mexicanus is a single species at present, it could be in the process of splitting into distinct populations with different characteristics. C. although all A. mexicanus emit sounds, the fish living in rivers produce some sounds tha

B. although A. mexicanus is a single species at present, it could be in the process of splitting into distinct populations with different characteristics.

With her room-sized installation The Interstitium, Iranian American artist Laleh Mehran succeeded in creating a space that felt, as intended, both "familiar and distant." ______blank with a video screen placed at the far end of the coal slag-encrusted room, her installation was reminiscent of a typical movie theater—albeit one found in a subterranean coal mine. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Next, B. Nevertheless, C. Indeed, D. Instead,

C. Indeed,

A number of Indigenous politicians have been elected to the United States Congress since 2000 as members of the country's two established political parties. In Canada and several Latin American countries, on the other hand, Indigenous people have formed their own political parties to advance candidates who will advocate for the interests of their communities. This movement has been particularly successful in Ecuador, where Guadalupe Llori, a member of the Indigenous party known as Pachakutik, was elected president of the National Assembly in 2021. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A. To trace the history of an Indigenous political movement and speculate about its future development B. To argue that Indigenous politicians in the United States should form their own political party C. To highlight two approaches to achieving political representation for Indigenous people D. To consider how Indigenous politicians in the United States have influenced Indigenous politicians in Canada and Latin America

C. To highlight two approaches to achieving political representation for Indigenous people

Logically, a damaged fossil should provide less information than an intact one, but for paleontologist Brigitte Schoenemann, a broken area on a fossilized trilobite (a crustacean-like creature) ______blank fresh insight, allowing her to view the inner structure of the organism's eye. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. resolved B. adjusted C. offered D. directed

C. offered

Although the playwrights hoped that their play would be ______blank when performed live, critics generally agreed that the production and performances had the opposite effect, wearying audiences instead of energizing them. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. multifaceted B. realistic C. rousing D. subtle

C. rousing

Bicycle sharing systems allow users to rent a bicycle at one location within a city and return it to any other designated location in that city, which can cause serious problems of bicycle supply and user demand within the city's system. Tohru Ikeguchi uses open-source data and statistical modeling to identify when a high number of users making one-way trips is likely to leave some locations within the system ______blank bicycles and other areas with insufficient supply. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. susceptible to B. contingent on C. saturated with D. depleted of

C. saturated with

On sunny days, dark rooftops absorb solar energy and convert it to unwanted heat, raising the surrounding air ______blank a light-colored covering to an existing dark roof, either by attaching prefabricated reflective sheets or spraying on a paint-like coating, helps combat this effect. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. temperature; by adding B. temperature, adding C. temperature. Adding D. temperature by adding

C. temperature. Adding

Several scholars have argued that conditions in England in the late ninth through early eleventh centuries—namely, burgeoning literacy amid running conflicts between England's Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and Danish invaders—were especially conducive to the production of the Old English epic poem Beowulf, and they have dated the poem's composition accordingly. It is not inconceivable that Beowulf emerged from such a context, but privileging contextual fit over the linguistic evidence of an eighth- or even seventh-century composition requires a level of justification that thus far has not been presented. Which choice best states the main idea of the text? A. Although there are some grounds for believing that Beowulf was composed between the late ninth and early eleventh centuries, advocates for that view tend to rely on evidence that has been called into question by advocates for an earlier date. B. Although several scholars have dated Beowulf to the late ninth through early eleventh centuries, others have argued that doing so privileges a controversial interpretation of the social conditions of the period. C. Although Beowulf fits well with the historical context of England in the late ninth t

D. Although the claim of a late ninth- through early eleventh-century composition date for Beowulf has some plausibility, advocates for the claim have not compellingly addressed evidence suggesting an earlier date.

In addition to advocating for South America's independence in two political treatises, the Cartagena Manifesto and the Letter from Jamaica, Simón Bolívar personally led armies against the Spanish, liberating three South American territories—New Granada (present-day Colombia and Panama), Venezuela, and Quito (present-day ______blank from colonial rule. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. Ecuador,) B. Ecuador) C. Ecuador), D. Ecuador)—

D. Ecuador)—

In 2019, 20 previously unknown moons were confirmed to be orbiting Saturn. Three of the moons have prograde orbits (orbiting in the direction the planet spins), and the other 17 have retrograde orbits (orbiting in the opposite direction of the planet's spin). All but one of the 20 moons are thought to be remnants of bodies that orbited Saturn until they broke apart in collisions. Although the one exceptional moon orbits in the same direction as the planet's spin, its orbit is highly eccentric compared to the rest, which may suggest that it has a different origin than the other 19 moons. Based on the text, which choice best describes the moon with the eccentric orbit? A. It doesn't have a retrograde orbit, but it likely has the same origin as the moons with retrograde orbits. B. Its orbit is so tilted with respect to the other moons' orbits that it's neither prograde nor retrograde. C. It has a prograde orbit that is likely the result of having collided with another body orbiting Saturn. D. It has a prograde orbit and may not be a remnant of an earlier body that orbited Saturn.

D. It has a prograde orbit and may not be a remnant of an earlier body that orbited Saturn.

Paleontologist Lucas E. Fiorelli and colleagues have reported the discovery at a mine in Brazil of several egg clutches, partially preserved single eggs, and egg shells from the Late Cretaceous period. The researchers have concluded that the area was once a nesting and breeding site for titanosaurs, a group of sauropod dinosaurs. The finding is significant given the previous lack of known nesting sites in northern regions of South America, which led many paleontologists to assume that titanosaurs migrated south to lay eggs. What does the text most strongly suggest about the site discovered by the researchers? A. It is the earliest known example of a titanosaur nesting and breeding site. B. It was very difficult to excavate given that it was discovered in a mine. C. It may have been occupied by other sauropods in addition to titanosaurs. D. It is farther north than any other nesting site discovered in South America.

D. It is farther north than any other nesting site discovered in South America.

Although most songbirds build open, cupped nests, some species build domed nests with roofs that provide much more protection. Many ecologists have assumed that domed nests would provide protection from weather conditions and thus would allow species that build them to have larger geographic ranges than species that build open nests do. To evaluate this assumption, a research team led by evolutionary biologist Iliana Medina analyzed data for over 3,000 species of songbirds. Which finding from Medina and her colleagues' study, if true, would most directly challenge the assumption in the underlined sentence? A. Species that build open nests tend to have higher extinction rates than species that build domed nests. B. Species that build open nests tend to be smaller in size than species that build domed nests. C. Species that build open nests tend to use fewer materials to build their nests than species that build domed nests do. D. Species that build open nests tend to have larger ranges than species that build domed nests.

D. Species that build open nests tend to have larger ranges than species that build domed nests.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a band of clouds that encircles Earth in the tropics and is a major rainfall source, shifts position in response to temperature variations across Earth's hemispheres. Data from Huagapo Cave in Peru suggest the ITCZ shifted south during the Little Ice Age (circa 1300-1850), but a shift as far into South America as Huagapo should have led to dry conditions in Central America, which is inconsistent with climate models. To resolve the issue, geologist Yemane Asmerom and colleagues collected data from Yok Balum Cave in Central America and compared them with the Huagapo data. They concluded that during the Little Ice Age, the ITCZ may have expanded northward and southward rather than simply shifted. Which finding from Asmerom and colleagues' study, if true, would most directly support their conclusion? A. Neither the Yok Balum data nor the Huagapo data show significant local variations in temperature during the Little Ice Age. B. Both the Yok Balum data and the Huagapo data show increased temperatures and prolonged dry conditions during the Little Ice Age. C. The Yok Balum data show prolonged dry conditions during the same portions of the Little Ice

D. The Yok Balum data and the Huagapo data show strongly correlated patterns of high rainfall during the Little Ice Age.

Anne reveled in the world of color about her. "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill—several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them." "Messy things," said Marilla, whose aesthetic sense was not noticeably developed. "You clutter up your room entirely too much with out-of-doors stuff, Anne. Bedrooms were made to sleep in." Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A. To demonstrate that Anne has a newly developed appreciation of nature B. To describe an argument that Anne and Marilla often have C. To emphasize Marilla's disapproval of how Anne has decorated her room D. To show that Anne and Marilla have very different personalities

D. To show that Anne and Marilla have very different personalities

Historically, most conductors of major orchestras and opera companies have been European men, but a new, more diverse generation of artists is stepping up to the podium. Mexico's Alondra de la Parra took over as conductor for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 2017, ______blank and Colombia's Lina Gonzalez-Granados did the same for the Los Angeles Opera in 2022. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. in addition, B. lastly, C. granted, D. for instance,

D. for instance,

On April 5, 1977, Kitty Cone and 150 other disability rights activists entered a San Francisco federal building. After pleading for years—to no effect—for the passage of key antidiscrimination legislation, ______blank until their demands were addressed. Finally, on April 28, the legislation was signed. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. pressure on lawmakers increased when the activists staged a sit-in protest B. a sit-in protest staged by the activists increased pressure on lawmakers C. lawmakers came under increased pressure when the activists staged a sit-in protest D. the activists increased pressure on lawmakers by staging a sit-in protest

D. the activists increased pressure on lawmakers by staging a sit-in

During the American Civil War, Thomas Morris Chester braved the front lines as a war correspondent for the Philadelphia Press. Amplifying the voices and experiences of Black soldiers ______blank of particular importance to Chester, who later became an activist and lawyer during the postwar Reconstruction period. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. were B. have been C. are D. was

D. was

The haiku-like poems of Tomas Tranströmer, which present nature- and dream-influenced images in crisp, spare language, have earned the Swedish poet praise from leading contemporary ______blank them Nigerian American essayist and novelist Teju Cole, who has written that Tranströmer's works "contain a luminous simplicity." Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. writers. Among B. writers among C. writers; among D. writers, among

D. writers, among