The sat critical reading section 10 pot

23. The main purpose of the passage is to
a. discuss trends in fashion
b. relate the history of commerce
c. lament the passing of old traditions
d. help the reader discover his or her own true
identity
e. discuss commercialism’s powerful influence
upon personal identity
24. What does the author mean by the commercial
range of options (line 2)?
a. the variety of commercials on television and
radio
b. the numerous products available to today’s
consumer
c. the ability to shop on the Internet
d. let the buyer beware
e. technology’s impact upon the world
25. The author would agree with all the following
statements EXCEPT
a. a person wearing a New York Yankees baseball
hat is not necessarily a fan of the team or a
resident of New York
b. pride in our school or community is not as
strong today as it was years ago
c. in today’s society, being trendy is more impor-
tant than keeping tradition
d. you can tell a lot about somebody by what he
or she is wearing
e. the market has many choices but few values
26. The author uses all of the following techniques to
convince the reader EXCEPT

a. an informal style
b. specific examples that readers can relate to
c. references to religious doctrine
d. use of the first-person plural pronoun we
e. avoiding absolute statements
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
87
Questions 27–29 are based on the following passage about the physical activity of American adolescents.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), a vast number of American teens are not vigor-
ously active on a regular basis, contributing to a trend of sluggishness among Americans of all ages. In Feb-
ruary of 2004, the American Academy of Family Physicians reported that physical activity among American
adolescents continues to decline substantially with each year. This is particularly true among adolescent
girls, 48% of whom report low levels of physical activity by the time they are in the 12th grade. Unfortu-
nately, the sedentary habits of young couch potatoes often continue into adulthood. Presently, less than
one-third of Americans meet the federal recommendations to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate
physical activity at least five days a week. Inactivity can be a serious health risk factor; setting the stage for
obesity and associated chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. The benefits of exercise include build-
ing bone and muscle; maintaining healthy joints; controlling weight; and preventing the development of
high blood pressure.
Line
(5)
(10)
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27. The passage serves all of the following purposes
EXCEPT to
a. provide statistical information to support the
claim that teenagers do not exercise enough
b. list long-term health risks associated with lack
of exercise
c. express skepticism that teenagers can change

their exercise habits
d. show a correlation between inactive teenagers
and inactive adults
e. highlight some health benefits of exercise
28. In line 2, sluggishness most nearly means
a. unemployment
b. lethargy
c. willingness
d. animation
e. energy
29. The primary purpose of the passage is to
a. refute an argument
b. make a prediction
c. praise an outcome
d. promote change
e. justify a conclusion
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
88
Questions 30–34 are based on the following passage about affirmative action.
The United Sates is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not provide healthcare to all of
its citizens. Instead, healthcare for those under 65 is managed by a complex web of insurance companies,
representing mostly for-profit business. This results in exorbitant healthcare premiums, leaving approxi-
mately 45 million citizens uninsured and unable to receive regular healthcare. And this is not limited to
those who are unemployed. Many businesses can’t afford to provide their employees with health insurance,
leaving not just the poor, but also the working middle-class to fend for themselves. The best solution to
this crisis is to move toward a single-payer system. Simply put, this would entail financing healthcare
through a single source, most likely the federal government. Everyone would be covered under this sys-
tem, regardless of age, preexisting conditions, or employment status. Although income and sales taxes would
be progressively increased to fund universal healthcare, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. For
instance, this public system would be more inexpensive to run than the current system. Administrative costs

would be centralized and therefore greatly reduced. Money would no longer be spent frivolously as it is
now in the for-profit sector. Currently, insurance companies spend millions on advertisements, market
analysis, utilization review, patient tracking, and CEO salaries. All of that money could be used instead for
what it should be, the provision of medical services. In Canada, for instance, which acknowledges that
healthcare is a right of every citizen and implements the single-payer system, spends only 8% on admin-
istration, whereas the United States spends approximately 24% for the same purpose. Also, the single-payer
system puts healthcare back in the hands of the physicians. They will be able to make decisions based on
what is best for their patients, not on what insurance companies deem allowable. Furthermore, universal
healthcare will increase the mortality of U.S. citizens by 25%. Studies suggest that in countries where health-
care is universal, citizens visit their primary care physicians more frequently, and as a result, stay health-
ier by taking preventative measures.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
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30. Based on the tone of the passage, it can be
inferred that the author
a. is indifferent to the healthcare crisis
b. is a Democrat
c. favors implementing the single-payer system
d. writes for a newspaper
e. is a physician
31. In line 3, exorbitant most nearly means
a. modest
b. costly
c. unreliable
d. powerful
e. valuable

32. From the information provided in the passage,
one can conclude that the author
a. has lived in Canada
b. is unemployed
c. believes that universal healthcare is an attain-
able goal
d. is uninsured
e. favors tax increases
33. The author uses all of the following techniques to
convince the reader EXCEPT
a. provide statistics to support his or her
viewpoint
b. compare the U.S. healthcare system to
Canada’s
c. explain some of the problems associated with
the current system
d. provide a solution to the healthcare crisis
e. present an opposing point of view on the issue
34. The primary purpose of the passage is
a. to introduce the single-payer healthcare
system
b. to compare the U.S. healthcare system to
Canada’s
c. to propose a solution to the current healthcare
crisis
d. to empower physicians
e. to smear the reputation of insurance
companies
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
89

Questions 35–36 are based on the following passage about geometry’s Divine Proportion.
PHI, the Divine Proportion of 1.618, is the ratio of any two sequential numbers in the Fibonacci sequence.
If you take the numbers 0 and 1, then create each subsequent number in the sequence by adding the pre-
vious two numbers, you get the Fibonacci sequence. For example, 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144.
If you sum the squares of any series of Fibonacci numbers, they will equal the last Fibonacci number used
in the series times the next Fibonacci number. This property results in the Fibonacci spiral seen in every-
thing from seashells to galaxies, and is written mathematically as: 1
2
+ 1
2
+ 2
2
+ 3
2
+ 5
2
= 5 ϫ 8. Plants
illustrate the Fibonacci series in the numbers of leaves, the arrangement of leaves around the stem, and in
the positioning of leaves, sections, and seeds. A sunflower seed illustrates this principal as the number of
clockwise spirals is 55 and the number of counterclockwise spirals is 89; 89 divided by 55 = 1.618, the Divine
Proportion. Pinecones and pineapples illustrate similar spirals of successive Fibonacci numbers.
Line
(5)
(10)
5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 89
Questions 37–40 are based on the following passage about the design of New York City’s Central Park.
Although it is called Central Park, New York City’s great green space has no “center”—no formal walkway
down the middle of the park, no central monument or body of water, no single orienting feature. The paths
wind, the landscape constantly shifts and changes, the sections spill into one another in a seemingly ran-
dom manner. But this “decentering” was precisely the intent of the park’s innovative design. Made to look

as natural as possible, Frederick Law Olmsted’s 1858 plan for Central Park had as its main goal the cre-
ation of a democratic playground—a place with many centers to reflect the multiplicity of its uses and users.
Olmsted designed the park to allow interaction among the various members of society, without giving pref-
erence to one group or class. Thus, Olmsted’s ideal of a “commonplace civilization” could be realized.
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
90
Line
(5)
37. In lines 1–4, the author describes specific park
features to
a. provide evidence that the park has no center
b. present the park in a favorable light
c. present both sides of an argument
d. demonstrate how large the park is
e. show how well the author knows the park
38. The main idea of this passage is that
a. New York City is a democratic city
b. Olmsted was a brilliant designer
c. more parks should be designed without
centers
d. Central Park is used by many people for many
different purposes
e. Central Park is democratic by design
39. The passage suggests that Olmsted’s design
a. was like most other parks being designed at
the time
b. was radically different from other park designs
c. was initially very unpopular with
New Yorkers
d. was inspired by similar parks in Europe

e. did not succeed in creating a democratic
playground
40. In line 6, a democratic playground most nearly
means a
a. playground that is free of charge
b. place where the visitors have a say in the
design
c. place that is for kids as well as adults
d. park that is for all people, regardless of class
e. park that is easily accessible
35. According to the passage, PHI is
a. rare in nature
b. a reflection of nature’s genius
c. prevalent throughout the universe
d. artificially created order
e. a little-known mathematical concept
36. The passage relies primarily on which of the fol-
lowing techniques to explain PHI?
a. explanation of terms
b. comparison of different arguments
c. contrast of opposing views
d. generalized statement
e. illustration by example
5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 90

Paragraph-Length Critical
Reading Answers
1. b. Lines 2–3 state that public art is specifically
designed for a public arena where the art will be
encountered by people in their normal day-to-

day activities. This is in contrast to private art,
which is less accessible because it is kept in
specific, non-public places such as museums
and galleries. The passage does not discuss the
ideas or emotions conveyed through either
public or private art, so choice a is incorrect. It
also does not discuss the value (real or per-
ceived) of either public or private art, so
choice c is incorrect. The passage notes that
people may be surprised by how much impact
public art may have on them, but it does not
discuss the importance of public versus pri-
vate art (choice d), and although it mentions
Picasso, it does not discuss the difference in
recognition that public and private artists may
receive (choice e).
2. b. To sequester is to seclude or isolate. Thus, the
use of this word suggests that the author feels
private art is too isolated and cut off from the
public. Sequestered emphasizes the separation
of the art from the public, so accessibility is
the key issue, not whether one kind of art is
better than the other (choice a), more difficult
to understand (choice d), or more controver-
sial (choice e). Admission fees may further
isolate works of private art (choice c), but the
word sequestered does not imply cost and
many museums and other private art galleries
are free to the public.
3. a. The passage defines public art in several ways.

The first sentence explains how public art is
different from private art, the second sentence
describes the general types of public art (orna-
mental and functional), and the third and
fourth sentences list the most common forms
of public art. After reading the passage,
readers may be more aware of the public art
around them (choice b), but the emphasis of
the passage is the definition of public art. The
author does not compare public to private art
beyond the issue of intended audience, so
choice c cannot be correct. Choices d and e are
both part of the larger purpose of defining
public art.
4. c. The phrase broken up into long, thin fibers,
used to describe asbestos bundles in line 1,
suggests that friable means easily broken
down. Although asbestos is a serious health
hazard, it is not poisonous (choice d). None of
the other choices is supported by or makes
sense in the context of the passage.
5. a. While the passage does explain some of the
properties of asbestos (choice b) and includes
a list of materials that may include asbestos
(choice d), these elements serve the larger
purpose of the passage, which is to teach
asbestos awareness in the home and school.
The passage does state that lung cancer can be
caused by exposure to asbestos, but it does not
discuss preventative measures such as screen-

ing for lung cancer (choice c). Readers may be
frightened by the prospect of asbestos in older
homes, but the passage does not aim to scare
readers into purchasing newer homes (choice
e). Instead, it creates awareness of the possible
presence and dangers of asbestos in homes as
well as other buildings.
6. e. Ubiquitous means being everywhere at the
same time, omnipresent. This definition,
combined with the very long list of building
materials that could contain asbestos,
emphasize how common asbestos is in older
homes. It may cause readers to want to check
their homes for asbestos (choice d), but the
primary goal is to highlight the extent of
asbestos usage. The sheer number of building
materials would likely increase rather than
allay fears about asbestos, so choice a is
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
91
5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 91
incorrect. The passage suggests that building
materials have changed since 1970; these
asbestos-laden materials were used prior to
1970 before the various studies that show the
link between asbestos and lung cancer. Thus,
reforms in building materials have already
been made, and choice b is incorrect. The
passage describes effects of asbestos on
health, but not on the home, so choice c can-

not be correct.
7. c. The tone of this passage is informative, serving
to instruct the reader about asbestos. Choices a
and d (cautionary and admonitory) are syn-
onyms, and while the passage does show the
dangers of asbestos, the general tone is not
cautionary. Apathetic (choice b) means indif-
ferent and idiosyncratic (choice e) means dis-
tinctive, neither of which applies.
8. e. The author is writing for a lay person, mean-
ing a homeowner, parent, or student. Choices
a and d describe professionals, while b and c
describe people you would find in a school
setting, all of whom may be interested in this
information, but none of whom is the specific,
targeted audience.
9. c. This is the only choice that makes sense in the
given context. A clue to the correct answer can
be found in the prefix of the word itself—neo
means new.
10. b. While the blues may do all of the things listed
in the other answer choices, the primary pur-
pose of the blues is to lift the spirits of the lis-
tener. The passage states that it is a
fundamental principle of the blues that the
music have the power to overcome sadness
(lines 5–6).
11. a. The repetition of raw fish in the form of a
question suggests surprise, even shock, that
raw fish be included in a list of fast-food items

in the first sentence. Sushi is indeed very dif-
ferent from other types of fast foods, but the
repetition/question serves to register surprise,
not emphasize difference (choice b). The
author does not express his personal opinion
anywhere in the passage, so choice c is incor-
rect. Most sushi is raw fish, but if the author
were defining sushi (choice d), then he
wouldn’t express it as a question. The passage
does argue that sushi is much healthier than
other fast foods (choice e), but this is not sug-
gested by the repetition/question.
12. e. Line 9 states that sushi consumption in America
is 40% higher than it was in the late 1990s (five
years ago). While the other answers might be
true, they are not described in the passage.
13. b. Unpalatable may be defined as not agreeable
to taste. You might know the word palate as
the roof of the mouth, so unpalatable most
likely has to do with the sense of taste. A key
context clue is the phrase tastes have changed
(lines 2–3), suggesting that Americans have
learned to like something they once would not
have eaten.
14. d. The main idea of the passage is that sushi is a
healthy and popular fast-food alternative in
America. This is supported by specific statis-
tics cited in the passage—a 40% increase in
sushi consumption (lines 8–9) and the over
5,000 sushi bars in supermarkets (lines 11–12).

The passage does describe a few places where
sushi is sold (choice a), but that does far less to
support the main idea than the impressive
numbers. The passage does not provide any
real history of sushi in the United States before
1970, so choice b is incorrect. There is no spe-
cific comparison of sushi to other fast-food
options (choice c), just a general discussion of
a shift toward a healthier diet. The passage
does not discuss how sushi is made, so choice e
is incorrect.
–THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION–
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