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SAT Reading & Writing

R&W

Digital SAT Reading & Writing is a two-module adaptive section covering information & ideas, craft & structure, expression of ideas, and standard English conventions.

Exam BoardCollege Board
LevelDigital SAT
AssessmentDigital Adaptive

Papers

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Module 1 – Sample Questions

5 sample questions on this topic.

EasyMediumHard
Topics
EasyQ1
[1 mark]

The rapidity of the current, which in its whole course runs at the rate of from four to six knots an hour, is perhaps its most remarkable feature. The water is of a fine blue colour, but with a slight milky tinge, and not so transparent as at first sight would have been expected.

The Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin (1839)· Project Gutenberg

Which of the following best describes the primary focus of this passage?

  • A

    The historical context of the current's discovery.

  • B

    A detailed description of the current's physical properties.

  • C

    The challenges of navigating the current.

  • D

    The origin of the current's milky tinge.

MediumQ2
[1 mark]

The harp is the travelling patterer for the Universe’s Insurance Company, recommending its laws, and our little goodness is all the assessment that we pay. Though the youth at last grows indifferent, the laws of the universe are not indifferent, but are forever on the side of the most sensitive.

Walden, Henry David Thoreau (1854)· Project Gutenberg

As used in the text, what does the word "assessment" most nearly mean?

  • A

    a critical judgment

  • B

    a financial evaluation

  • C

    a required payment

  • D

    a personal opinion

MediumQ3
[1 mark]

Even the bison, to some extent, keeps pace with the seasons, cropping the pastures of the Colorado only till a greener and sweeter grass awaits him by the Yellowstone. Yet we think that if rail-fences are pulled down, and stone-walls piled up on our farms, bounds are henceforth set to our lives and our fates decided.

Walden, Henry David Thoreau (1854)· Project Gutenberg

The passage primarily suggests that humans, unlike animals, tend to

  • A

    adapt more readily to changing environmental conditions.

  • B

    impose artificial limitations on their own existence.

  • C

    migrate seasonally in search of better resources.

  • D

    prioritize agricultural development over natural landscapes.

HardQ4
Text 1

Many proponents of artificial intelligence in creative fields argue that AI is not a replacement for human artistry but rather a powerful new collaborator. AI tools can generate novel melodies, suggest intricate brushwork patterns, or draft preliminary story outlines, allowing human artists to overcome creative blocks and explore avenues they might not have discovered alone. This perspective emphasizes AI's role as an assistant, expanding the palette of possibilities available to creators and ultimately fostering greater innovation.

Text 2

Critics of AI's burgeoning role in creative endeavors often voice concerns about the potential erosion of human artistic value. They argue that as AI-generated content becomes indistinguishable from human work, the unique emotional depth and personal experience inherent in human creation could be devalued. Furthermore, the economic implications are significant, with fears that AI could displace human artists from industries, leading to a loss of livelihoods and a homogenization of cultural output.

Which statement best describes how Text 2 responds to the perspective presented in Text 1 regarding the impact of AI on creative fields?

  • A

    Text 2 presents a critical perspective that directly challenges the optimistic claims made in Text 1 regarding AI's contribution to artistic innovation.

  • B

    Text 2 offers a historical overview that contextualizes the current applications of AI in art as described in Text 1.

  • C

    Text 2 expands on the technical processes by which AI enhances human creativity, further illustrating points made in Text 1.

  • D

    Text 2 provides anecdotal evidence that supports the positive outlook on AI's role in creative fields outlined in Text 1.

[1 mark]
HardQ5
Text 1

Early exoplanet discoveries, predominantly achieved through the radial velocity method, largely identified massive, Jupiter-like gas giants orbiting their stars at close proximity. This was primarily due to the method's sensitivity to the gravitational tug of very large planets on their host stars, making smaller or more distant planets difficult to detect. Consequently, the initial understanding of exoplanetary systems was heavily skewed towards these 'hot Jupiters,' leading some scientists to speculate that such systems might be the norm.

Text 2

The launch of missions like the Kepler Space Telescope revolutionized exoplanet research by employing the transit method, observing slight dips in a star's brightness as a planet passes in front of it. This technique proved highly effective at discovering smaller, potentially rocky planets, including super-Earths and even Earth-sized worlds, some located within their stars' habitable zones. This surge in diverse planetary findings significantly broadened the scope of exoplanetary studies, shifting focus towards the prevalence of smaller planets and the search for conditions conducive to life.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between Text 1's description of early exoplanet discoveries and Text 2's account of subsequent findings?

  • A

    Text 2 introduces new evidence that broadens and revises the understanding of exoplanetary systems suggested by the data presented in Text 1.

  • B

    Text 2 refutes the accuracy of the detection methods discussed in Text 1 by highlighting their inherent flaws.

  • C

    Text 2 provides historical context for the scientific breakthroughs introduced in Text 1.

  • D

    Text 2 demonstrates that the initial theories proposed in Text 1 were entirely unfounded.

[1 mark]
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