21 SAT PRACTICE TEST #1 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS
SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS
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READING AND WRITING: MODULE 2
Choice A is incorrect because it wouldn’t make sense in context to refer to
Xoconochco’s location within the Aztec Empire as “unobtrusive,” or not blatant
or undesirably prominent; it’s not clear how a province’s physical location would
or wouldn’t be blatant. Instead of focusing on how noticeable Xoconochco’s
location was, the text emphasizes the province’s distance from the capital of the
empire, pointing out that because of this distance trade between the two required
“a long overland journey.” Choice B is incorrect because the text indicates that
the province of Xoconochco was located on a coast far from the capital of the
Aztec Empire, not that it was “concealed,” or kept out of sight or hidden from
view. Nothing in the text suggests that Xoconochco was actually hidden such
that people couldn’t see it, and being hidden wouldn’t necessarily result in trade
between the province and the capital requiring “a long overland journey.” ChoiceC
is incorrect because to say that Xoconochco’s location within the Aztec Empire
was “approximate” would mean that the location either wasn’t precisely correct or
was close to some other location. Neither of these meanings would make sense
in context because the text indicates that Xoconochco’s location is known and
that it was far from the empire’s capital, so there’s no reason to characterize the
location as either not precisely correct or close to another location.
QUESTION 8
Choice A is the best answer because it most accurately describes the main
purpose of the text, which is to show that while Jane calmly goes about her daily
tasks, she is experiencing internal agitation about possibly seeking a new job.
At the start of the text, Jane says, “I went on with my day’s business tranquilly,”
indicating that she is outwardly calm. This outward calmness is then contrasted
with her intense internal restlessness, as Jane says that thoughts of leaving her job
keep running through her mind, that she is “involuntarily framing advertisements”
(meaning that she can’t stop herself from thinking up potential listings for jobs),
and that she often wonders what new “situations” (or jobs) would be like.
Choice B is incorrect because the text gives no indication of Jane’s feelings,
either positive or negative, about the people she works for at Thornfield Hall.
And rather than emphasizing that Jane feels particularly loyal to her employers,
the text focuses on her constant consideration of leaving her job. Choice C is
incorrect because the text gives no indication that Jane finds her current situation
fulfilling, or satisfying. Given that much of the text is focused on Jane’s thoughts
about possibly leaving her job for a new one, it might be the case that she finds
her situation challenging, but there is no evidence in the text that Jane also finds
that situation satisfying—she says nothing positive about her current job at all, in
fact. Choice D is incorrect because the text describes Jane as wondering about
getting a new job, not as determined to definitely do so. Jane keeps thinking
about reasons why she “should” quit her current job (indicating that she hasn’t yet
decided to) and imagining possible new situations she could find, but she says
at the end of the text that these thoughts “might germinate and bear fruit if they
could,” meaning that the thoughts haven’t yet led to a decision—that Jane isn’t
yet determined to get a new job somewhere else.