New SAT Writing and Language : New SAT Writing and Language
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for New SAT Writing and Language
All New SAT Writing and Language Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Ordering Sentences
[1] Traveling across the globe has always been a dream of mine; seeing new places, experiencing different things, and viewing sights that are thousands of years old are some of the many reasons why traveling is good for the soul. [2] Seeing the mountain ranges across the United States was first on my list. [3] I packed my bags and got my car ready for a long road trip full of camping, sight-seeing, and catching up with old friends. [4] After the mountains, I stopped along Chattanooga, Asheville, Charleston, and Philadelphia to visit with several friends and see some museums and other sights in these beautiful cities. [5] My first mountains were the Appalachians, starting in Georgia and working my way up north to the Adirondacks in New York. [6] Once reaching New York, I headed west towards the Adirondacks, a small but beautiful and serene range with views unparalleled to the Smoky Mountains. [7] I spent more time than planned in New York, but it was worth the extra days to see everything I possibly could. [8] I headed west towards the Rocky Mountains, ready to take on one of the largest mountain ranges in North America.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 5 should be placed
Where it is now
After sentence 1
After sentence 6
After sentence 3
After sentence 3
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Sentence three elaborates on the beginning of the trip, where the transition at the beginning of sentence five talks about the “first mountains” showing the beginning of the trip. Sentence four states, “After the mountains,” which shows chronologically that sentence five should follow sentence three.
Example Question #3 : Ordering Sentences
[1] While the Grand Canyon is the largest canyon system on Earth, it is not the largest in our solar system. [2] The largest known canyon system in our solar system, Valles Marineris, is four times as deep and nine times as long as the Grand Canyon. [3] If you’ve ever been to the Grand Canyon, you can understand how vast the canyon system really is. [4] Valles Marineris is found on our neighboring planet, Mars.
For the sake of the logic of the passage, sentence 3 should be placed
Where it is now
Before sentence 1
After sentence 1
After sentence 4
Before sentence 1
Whenever a question asks you to place a sentence within the context of the paragraph in order to increase the logic of the paragraph, remember that the SAT almost always puts its passages in chronological order. Sentence 3 introduces the passage details, discussing the size of the Grand Canyon, in a statement that hooks the reader. Sentence 3 will best introduce the idea of the passage, as it interrupts the flow between sentence 2 and sentence 4, which both discuss the size and location of Valles Marineris.
Example Question #1 : Graph Interpretation
The public’s perception of archaeologists has, for years, been colored by depictions of the profession in movie franchises like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy. However popular these movies are, they– like movies that depict any other profession – don’t necessarily reflect what archaeologists actually do. While fighting supernatural forces and foiling nefarious plans does make for a better movie, the primary work of archaeology is in research and preservation
The traditional view of archaeologists usually involves a college professor who spends much of his or her time digging and researching in ancient foreign libraries or a museum curator who works every day to preserve the artifacts the museum holds. While this view isn’t completely incorrect, it is incomplete, both in terms of the types of jobs available to archaeologists and in terms of the types of work within those jobs. For example, college professors may spend summers at dig sites, but much of their time is also spent writing grants, teaching students, and writing about their research projects. Additionally, although there are still many people who work in archaeology as professors and museum curators, the demand for these job far outstrips the number of positions available, making the positions difficult to acquire.
[1] The job of CRM archaeologists is to identify the potential cultural significance of a site and then document and preserve any artifacts of historical or cultural significance. [2] The surplus of people who want to work in archaeology has meant that the majority of archaeologists aren’t employed by universities or museums, but by construction companies and the government. 1 [3] Most archaeology positions in today’s economy are for what are referred to as a “cultural resource management” archaeologists, or CRM archaeologists, who are often involved in building projects as representatives of the state, Native American tribes, and historical societies. [4] While part of this analysis might involve starting a dig at the site in question to find relevant artifacts, much of this research process requires CRM archaeologists to consult historical records and talk to members of the community where the building process has been proposed.
At this point, the author is considering inserting the following graph.
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it supports the claim that archaeology is important in local government decisions.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim made in the passage.
No, because it adds information not directly related to the role of archaeologists.
No, because it does not give information on the number of archaeology positions available.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim made in the passage.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is useful to treat it like you would any other question that asks you whether you should add information. Look at the reasoning behind each answer choice (what follows the "yes" or the "no") and eliminate based on that before you make the decision about whether or not the graph should be included. This often simplifies your choice immensely. "Yes, because it gives data to support a claim made in the passage." reasoning is valid since the claim it supports in the passage is that most archaeologists work for the government or for construction companies rather than for universities. "Yes, because it supports the claim that archaeology is important in local government decisions." can be eliminated because even though the graph shows that almost 20% of archaeologists work in local government it does not show their impact on policy decisions. "No, because it adds information not directly related to the role of archaeologists." can also be eliminated because the graph does offer information about the different roles archaeologists can have. And while "No, because it does not give information on the number of archaeology positions available." reasoning is correct, the passage itself isn't concerned with the total number of roles at this point in the passage, but rather is concerned with how those roles are distributed. "Yes, because it gives data to support a claim made in the passage." is correct.
Example Question #1 : Graph Interpretation
Global warming has affected so many cities across the globe. Between hurricanes, forest fires, rising sea levels, and recorded hot temperatures consistently rising, climate change has become hard to ignore. NASA scientists have observed how the sea levels have steadily increased by measuring the coastal tide gauges. Over the past 100 years, sea levels have risen dramatically, causing coastal erosion.
At this point, the author is considering inserting the following graph:
Graph Source: https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/climate-change-in-ten-graphs
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim that sea levels are rising.
No, because it adds information not directly related to climate change.
Yes, because it supports the claim that climate change is caused by rising temperatures in our atmosphere.
No, because it does not give information on the atmospheric temperature increase.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim that sea levels are rising.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses how climate change is affecting the rising sea levels. The graph shows information on the rising sea levels, therefore the option, “it supports the claim that climate change is caused by rising temperatures in our atmosphere,” would be incorrect. The graph accurately supports a claim made in the passage, and therefore should be added to the passage, eliminating the “no” options. “Yes, because it gives data to support a claim that sea levels are rising.” is correct.
Example Question #1 : Graph Interpretation
The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others affects how an individual responds in an emergency situation. Typically, in large crowds, if there is an emergency, many people assume another person will take responsibility and deal with the situation. Several studies found that people were more likely to take action in a crisis when there were only a few people around than when in larger crowds. Social psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley introduced the concept of the bystander effect following an infamous incident in New York City in 1964 when a young woman was injured outside of her apartment, and dozens of neighbors failed to step in and help, leading to the woman passing away. Many neighbors heard her pleas for help, but none assumed responsibility to assist. The two factors that can be attributed to the bystander effect are diffusion of responsibility and social influence. Diffusion of responsibility is when the more onlookers are present, the less personal responsibility the individual onlookers assume, therefore, failing to take action. Social influence is when individuals monitor the behavior of those around them to figure out how to react.
At this point the author is considering adding the following graph:
Should the author make this addition here?
No, because it does not give information on the bystander effect.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the bystanders as stated in the passage.
Yes, because it supports the claim that more people intervene than are bystanders.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses the bystander effect but never directly provides any specific percentages or numbers, therefore we would not want to add a graph at this point in the passage. The data provided in the graph is not mentioned at this point in the passage, so the responses of “yes” will be incorrect. The graph does provide information on the bystander effect, so the response, “No because it does not give information on the bystander effect,” will be incorrect, leaving the final response as the best answer.
Example Question #2 : Graph Interpretation
The Baroque period derived its name from the Italian word barocco, which was used by philosophers used to describe an obstacle in logic. The word later came to describe anything that was an irregular idea or thought, coming to mean anything out of the ordinary or bizarre in the art style of the middle ages in Europe. The term had a grotesque connotation up until the late 19th century. The term eventually came to refer to the style of art, rather than a negative term that was originally associated with the word.
At this point, the author is considering adding the following graph:
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the baroque period.
No, because it does not give information on the baroque period.
Yes, because it supports the claim that the baroque period was originally associated with only art.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses the baroque period of art history but never directly provides any specific percentages or numbers, therefore we would not want to add a graph at this point in the passage. The data provided in the graph is not mentioned at this point in the passage, so the responses of “yes” will be incorrect. The graph does provide information on the baroque period, so the response, “No because it does not give information on the baroque period,” will be incorrect, leaving the final response as the best answer as no information provided in the graph is accurately supported by anything mentioned in the passage.
Example Question #2 : Graph Interpretation
Have you ever wondered if there was life on other planets? Did you know there are planets that have been discovered outside of our solar system? There are over 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, which is 100,000 light years across. The National Aeronautical and Space Association, or NASA, have confirmed 4,284 exoplanets. Many of the exoplanets that have been discovered are very different from those in our solar system. The first exoplanets were discovered in 1992 as two rocky planets orbiting around a pulsar in the Virgo constellation. Due to the fact that the planets are so close to their star, they are unable to support any potential organic life. The amount of exoplanets discovered since 1992 has had a steady, exponential increase, with the new exoplanet discoveries exceeding 100 a year in recent years.
At this point, the author is considering adding the following graph:
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the types of exoplanets in our galaxy.
Yes, because it supports the claim that the exoplanet discoveries have grown, exceeding more than 100 new discoveries in recent years.
No, because it does not give information on the galaxy.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Yes, because it supports the claim that the exoplanet discoveries have grown, exceeding more than 100 new discoveries in recent years.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses the amount of exoplanets and how the discoveries have increased in recent years, therefore the data in the graph matches the details provided in the passage. The data provided in the graph is mentioned in the passage, so the responses of “no” will be incorrect. The graph does provide information on the exoplanets, however the response, “Yes because it gives data to support a claim about the type of exoplanets in our galaxy,” will be incorrect, because the passage does not mention all of the types of exoplanets, nor does the information in the graph pertain to the types of exoplanets. This leaves the second response as the best answer as the information provided in the graph is supported by the information mentioned in the passage.
Example Question #3 : Graph Interpretation
Aristotle is known to be one of the most influential philosophers in western civilization. Aristotle lived from 384 BCE - 322 BCE in Ancient Greece and his work shaped philosophy for centuries, influencing great minds up through the Renaissance. His works are still studied today. Aristotle wrote an estimated 200 works, mostly in manuscripts or drafts. Aristotle observed Poetics, which is the scientific study of writing poetry, especially tragedy and epic poetry. His work explored the idea of storytelling, plots, character development, and story lines. Aristotle also studied a form of ethics and morality known as Nicomachean Ethics which explores the idea that real-world circumstances affect individual morals and values.
At this point, the author is considering adding the following graph:
Should the author make this addition here?
No, because it does not give information on Aristotle’s work.
Yes, because it supports the claim that Aristotle had more unpublished works than published works.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the types of works Aristotle wrote.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses Aristotle and some of his influential teachings and works, however the graph shows the amount of Aristotle’s work that was published or unpublished. The graph does not directly relate to any information provided in the passage and with no evidence provided, the graph does not display accurate data, eliminating the “yes” options. The graph does give information on Aristotle’s work, so the response, “No because it does not give information on Aristotle’s work,” would be incorrect, leaving the last response as the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Graph Interpretation
In 1918, there was a global pandemic of the H1N1 or Flu virus. The pandemic lasted over a year and killed over 20 million people globally. More people died from the flu in one year than died in four years of the bubonic plague in the middle ages. There was a second wave of cases in 1919 after the first world war, which caused the mortality rate of Americans to drop by 10 years.
At this point, the author is considering adding this graph:
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it supports the claim that mortality rates dropped by 10 years.
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the amount of survivors of the Influenza outbreak.
No, because it does not give information on how many people suffered from the flu.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support in the passage.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support in the passage.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses how deadly the Influenza Outbreak of 1918, however the graph shows the rates of death during 1918 and 1919 due to the flu. The graph does not directly relate to any information provided in the passage and with no evidence provided, the graph does not display accurate data, eliminating the “yes” options. The graph does give information on the deaths from the flu with no values, therefore, “No because it does not give information on how many people suffered from the flu,” would be incorrect, leaving the last response as the correct answer.
Example Question #4 : Graph Interpretation
Microeconomics is the study of individual and business decisions while macroeconomics studies the decisions made by countries and governments which is on a much larger scale than microeconomics. Microeconomics focus on supply and demand as well as forces that determine price levels of products. Macroeconomics focuses on nation-wide economies as a whole as well as trades between goods and services between nations, such as the gross domestic product, or GDP.
At this point, the author is considering adding the following graph:
The following graph displays the relationship reflecting the causal connection between microeconomic and macroeconomics displayed over time. The dotted line expresses percent change in causation on microeconomics, the solid line, the percent change in causation on macroeconomics.
Should the author make this addition here?
Yes, because it gives data to support a claim about the types of economics
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Yes, because it supports the claim about the relationship between microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
No, because it does not give information on microeconomics.
No, because it does not add information directly related to any claim made in the passage and has no support.
Although this question asks about a graph, it is important to treat it like you would any other question that asks to add information. Paying attention to the reasoning of the questions will help identify the correct choice. The passage discusses microeconomics and macroeconomics, however the graph shows the relationship between the two. The graph does not directly relate to any information provided in the passage and with no evidence provided, the graph does not display accurate data, eliminating the “yes” options. The graph does not have any evidence to support the data, so the response, “No because it does not give information on microeconomics,” would be incorrect, leaving the last response as the correct answer.
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All New SAT Writing and Language Resources
