2016SHSAT_English

Sample Test – VerbalExplanations of Correct AnswersBFormScrambled ParagraphsParagraph 1 (RUQST)The first sentence in each paragraph is the given sentence.In this paragraph, the given sentence is a question,and R contains the answer—the song “Take Me Outto the Ballgame.” The choice of the next sentence is moredifficult. At first glance, it appears to be Q, which refersto the composer and lyricist of the song. S continues thattrain of thought by stating when the lyricist first attendeda ballgame, and T logically follows by referring to thecomposer, who attended a ballgame 20 years later. Theresulting four-sentence paragraph (RQST) is logicallycorrect, but the remaining sentence, U, cannot follow T.The subject of U (“it”) does not have a referent in T.Thus, U must appear earlier in the paragraph. U saysthat “it” is sung, so the pronoun must refer to a song.The only song title is in R. U must follow R to form paragraphRUQST, because that is the only order that has alogical place for U. This is an example of a paragraphthat is solved by viewing it as a coherent whole, morethan the connections between individual sentences.Paragraph 2 (TSURQ)The opening sentence states a problem: cowboys used rawhidefor their gear because they did not have chemicals tosoften it. One effective way to soften leather was createdby the gauchos of South America (T). The remaining threesentences describe how they did it. S begins with “They,”referring to the gauchos in T, and describes cutting a slotinto a piece of wood. The next step (U) was to insert aleather strip into the slot. R continues the process—pullingthe strip repeatedly through the slot. (Notice thatU, which refers to inserting the strip into the slot, mustprecede R, which occurs after the strip has been inserted.)The result is a soft, supple piece of leather (Q).Paragraph 3 (USTRQ)The opening sentence is about topographical maps. Uexplains how they differ from other maps and defines theterm “contour line.” S supplies another function of contourlines—to indicate the slope of the land. T explains inmore detail how contour lines indicate slope. The last twosentences are about the depiction of streams and otherwaterways. R says that blue lines represent waterways.Q explains how the course of a waterway can be revealedby V-shaped contour lines.Paragraph 4 (QSRUT)According to the given sentence, the jingle dress dance ispopular at Native American events. Q is next, describingthe steps of the dance, which cause the decorations on thedress to jingle (S). Sentence R describes what made thedresses “jingle” in the past—shells striking each other.“The modern jingle-dress” in U contrasts past and presentdresses, explaining that nowadays shells have beenreplaced by the lids of metal cans. T contrasts the soundsof the lids and shells.Paragraph 5 (SUTQR)The given sentence states what early European tradersthought about Africa, setting the reader up for a contrastingstatement. S fills that role, stating that laterEuropean travelers to Africa changed their impressions.The reason for that change is given in U—their visits toTimbuktu. The best sentence to follow U is T. Both U andT take place in the fifteenth century, and “these stories” inT refers to the travelers’ tales in U. T also names a specificexplorer, Benedetto Dei. Q begins with the pronoun“he,” which referrs to Dei. Only R is left, and it providesa good conclusion, both chronologically (ending with thenineteenth century) and in terms of content (the rise andfall of Timbuktu).SUQTR might seem correct, but it contains a grammaticalproblem. The “he” in Q has no referent in U. Anotherpopular choice, SUTRQ, is incorrect because the sequenceRQ does not make sense. R describes the decline ofTimbuktu, while Q describes it as a thriving metropolis.Logical Reasoning11. (C) Draw a grid to show who owned each pet. An Xindicates that the person does not own the pet. We aretold that Xing does not own the hamster.RaquelTiaraXingParrot Iguana HamsterThe question asks which option makes it possible to determinewho owns the iguana. For each option, mark theinformation on the grid and figure out whether you areable to identify the owner of the iguana. If you can’t figureit out, erase the marks and try the next option. For example,mark the information for Option A, writing “yes” toindicate that Tiara owned the hamster, and filling in X’swherever you can.Option AParrot Iguana HamsterRaquelXTiara X X yesXingXX96