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SAT Reading & Writing Practice Questions: Craft & Structure

SAT Practice Test
SAT
English

SAT Reading & Writing Practice Questions: Craft & Structure

Question 1

In her 2019 memoir, marine biologist Sylvia Earle reflects on decades of ocean exploration. She writes that the deep sea remains one of Earth's last frontiers, with more than eighty percent of the ocean floor still unmapped and unexplored. Earle emphasizes that understanding these hidden ecosystems is not merely an academic pursuit but a matter of planetary survival. The ocean regulates climate, produces oxygen, and sustains billions of lives. Yet, she notes, humanity has devoted far more resources to exploring outer space than to investigating the waters that cover most of our own planet.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It introduces a contrasting perspective to the author's main argument about ocean exploration.
B. It offers a detailed explanation of the scientific methods used in marine biology research.
C. It provides a reason why the exploration discussed earlier in the text is particularly urgent and significant.
D. It presents a counterargument that challenges the value of mapping the ocean floor.

Question 2

The following text is from Edith Wharton's 1905 novel The House of Mirth. Lily Bart, the protagonist, is attending an elegant social gathering. She moved forward without seeming to see him, and he felt a sudden sense of exclusion. It was as though she had passed him on a road where he had expected her to stop. The incident was trifling, yet it left him with an impression of having been somehow thrust back into the outer darkness, while she continued to move in a bright circle of warmth and light. He told himself that he was absurd to attach importance to so slight a thing, but the feeling persisted.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A. To illustrate the elaborate customs and rituals of early twentieth-century social gatherings
B. To convey a character's emotional reaction to a seemingly minor social interaction
C. To establish a contrast between two characters' differing social backgrounds
D. To criticize the superficiality of relationships in high society

Question 3

In a 2021 study, linguist Maria Chen examined how bilingual speakers switch between languages in casual conversation, a phenomenon known as code-switching. Chen found that code-switching is not random but follows specific grammatical rules and serves distinct communicative purposes. Speakers might switch languages to emphasize a point, to express an idea that is more easily conveyed in one language, or to signal group identity. Far from indicating linguistic confusion, Chen argues, code-switching demonstrates sophisticated command of multiple linguistic systems and the ability to navigate complex social contexts.
Based on the text, how would Chen most likely respond to the claim that code-switching reflects incomplete mastery of either language?
A. She would acknowledge it as true for some speakers but not others, depending on their level of education.
B. She would dispute it by pointing to evidence that code-switching follows systematic patterns and serves strategic communicative functions.
C. She would agree with it but suggest that incomplete mastery can still be communicatively effective.
D. She would concede that while code-switching is random, it does not necessarily indicate poor language skills.

Question 4

Text 1: Archaeologist David Kim argues that the construction of Stonehenge required a highly centralized authority capable of organizing massive labor forces. The precision of the monument's alignment and the coordination needed to transport stones weighing up to twenty-five tons from distant quarries suggest a powerful ruling elite with the resources to command such an undertaking. Text 2: Recent archaeological evidence challenges the centralized-authority model. Excavations near Stonehenge have revealed that workers came from diverse regions, bringing their own livestock and tools. The site shows signs of communal feasting rather than forced labor. This suggests that Stonehenge may have been built through voluntary cooperation among independent communities rather than top-down control.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the argument presented in Text 1?
A. By questioning whether the stones could actually have been transported from such distant locations
B. By suggesting that the coordination described in Text 1 could have been achieved through voluntary collaboration rather than centralized control
C. By agreeing that centralized authority was necessary but arguing that it was less powerful than Text 1 suggests
D. By proposing that the precision of Stonehenge's alignment was accidental rather than intentional

Question 5

The term 'ecosystem services' refers to the benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems, such as clean water, pollination of crops, and climate regulation. Some environmental economists argue that assigning monetary values to these services helps policymakers make informed decisions by quantifying what would otherwise remain abstract. Critics, however, contend that this approach is fundamentally flawed. They argue that reducing nature to economic terms encourages the dangerous assumption that ecosystems exist primarily to serve human needs, potentially justifying environmental destruction if the economic benefits of development outweigh the calculated value of preservation.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
A. It describes a scientific phenomenon and then explains the methodology used to study it.
B. It defines a concept, presents an argument in favor of it, and then introduces a critique of that argument.
C. It introduces two competing theories and provides evidence supporting one over the other.
D. It presents a problem, proposes a solution, and then evaluates the effectiveness of that solution.