Digital SAT Manual 8.0
Digital SAT Manual 8.0
Digital SAT Manual 8.0
Manual
Version 8.0
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Contributors
Very special thanks to the primary instructional authors of this book: Amy Minster,
Kenneth Brenner, Sara Kuperstein, and Scott O’Neal.
Special thanks to Deborah A. Weber for her work in producing this edition.
Special thanks also to Aaron Lindh, Christine Lindwall, Gabby Peterson, Kathy
Ruppert, and Jess Thomas.
Thank you also to the following individuals who contributed to this edition: Tania
Capone, Remy Cosse, Stacey Cowap, Wazhma Daftanai, Harrison Foster, John
Fritschie, Leiana Fung, Beth Hollingsworth, Kevin Keogh, Anthony Krupp, Ali
Landreau, Brittany Lee, Jomil London, Addie Lozjanin, Dave Mackenzie, Sion-
ainn Marcoux, Valerie Meyers, Jason Morgan, Acacia Nawrocik-Madrid, Denise
Pollard, Robert Otey, Christopher Vakulchik, and Suzanne Wint.
—Amy Minster
Content Director of
High School Programs
Contents
General Introduction............................................................................. 1
Reading
The Reading Basic Approach................................................................ 23
Vocabulary............................................................................................. 35
Purpose.................................................................................................. 55
Dual Texts.............................................................................................. 77
Retrieval................................................................................................ 93
Main Idea ............................................................................................. 105
Claims.................................................................................................... 117
Charts.................................................................................................... 135
Conclusions........................................................................................... 157
Master the POE..................................................................................... 175
Poetry.................................................................................................... 197
Advanced Skills..................................................................................... 213
Vocabulary Hit Parade........................................................................... 229
Reading Drills........................................................................................ 259
Writing
Rules Intro ........................................................................................... 277
Complete Sentences ........................................................................... 285
Connecting Clauses .............................................................................. 295
Punctuation with Describing Phrases................................................... 307
Lists ...................................................................................................... 321
No Punctuation...................................................................................... 329
Punctuation Review.............................................................................. 337
Verbs .................................................................................................... 353
Pronouns ............................................................................................... 367
Nouns.................................................................................................... 377
Modifiers............................................................................................... 385
Transitions............................................................................................. 393
Rhetorical Synthesis............................................................................. 405
Writing Drills......................................................................................... 421
Reading and Writing Module................................................................ 435
Math
Math Introduction................................................................................. 447
Plugging In the Answers....................................................................... 465
Math Vocabulary 101............................................................................ 475
Plugging In ............................................................................................ 483
Linear Solving 101................................................................................. 497
Linear Solving ..................................................................................... 503
Nonlinear Solving 101........................................................................... 519
Nonlinear Solving ................................................................................ 535
Functions .............................................................................................. 551
Representation and Interpretation....................................................... 565
Working with Data 101......................................................................... 579
Working with Data................................................................................ 593
Coordinate Geometry 101..................................................................... 607
Coordinate Geometry............................................................................ 617
Proportional Relationships 101............................................................. 633
Proportional Relationships.................................................................... 641
Geometry and Trigonometry 101.......................................................... 655
Geometry and Trigonometry................................................................. 677
Advanced Coordinate Geometry........................................................... 695
Definitions and Formulas Review......................................................... 703
Question Identification Drill.................................................................. 715
vi | Contents
DIGITAL SAT:
WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW
1
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
S ______________________
A ______________________
T ______________________
Per
so
SAT
nal
Personal SAT
GPA GPA
How many times can you take the Digital SAT? ________________________
There is no break between the two modules in the RW section and no break
between the two modules in the Math section.
There is a 10-minute break between the RW section and the Math section.
Math
Test Questions “Pretest” Questions Time
Module 1
Module 2
Notes:
Experimental Questions
College Board has stated that 2 questions in each module will be “pretest”
questions, or experimental ones. These are not marked in any way, and in the
Math section, the experimental questions could be either multiple-choice or
fill-ins.
_____________________________________________________________
SECOND MODULE:
__
___ ___________ ON AVERAGE
D o
FIRST MODULE:
consists of a broad
mix of easy, medium,
and hard questions
Do
__ SECOND MODULE:
__
_
___________ ON AVERAGE
Total Score:____________________________________________________
A good score can help get you admitted into the school of your
dreams, but it is only one part of your application. Make sure
you do your research when choosing where to apply. This in-
cludes determining how each school uses test scores and what
scores its most recent incoming first-year class had.
P _________________________
O ________________________
O ________________________
D ________________________
Pacing
The Digital SAT includes a built-in timer. The pace at which you work questions
will depend on the section of the test you’re on and your own strengths and weak-
nesses. You’ll find more information in the content chapters of this book, but here
are some general strategies that will help with pacing and POOD.
Think of POOD as taking the easy test first. You will go through each module in
two passes, first doing ALL the questions you are good at, then trying some of the
harder ones and guessing on the rest. When you are deciding what to do with the
question on the screen, ask yourself the following and act accordingly.
Question 7 of 27
On the review page, you can see at a glance which questions are answered, unan-
swered, and marked. Here is what some questions might look like on the review
page after you have done some work.
4 5 6 7
The boxes that appear gray here will be blue on your screen. What is true of these
questions?
_____________________________________________________________
Which of these questions will this student try on the second pass?
_____________________________________________________________
Why?_________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Of course, you don’t want to run out of time without entering an answer for every
What are some tools you can use to keep track of your thoughts about a given
question in the testing app?
_____________________________________________________________
What are some ways to do the same while working in your test prep books?
_____________________________________________________________
Eliminating Answers
P _________________________
O _________________________
E _________________________
The Digital SAT testing app includes an Answer Eliminator tool, which you can
activate by clicking the ABC button above the question. This can help you keep
track of your thoughts as you work through a question by only showing you the
answers that are still in the running.
A rejects Undo
B provides Undo
C harmonizes C
D fuses D
These cross-outs will stay on the question, so if you Mark and Move but then come
back to the question, you’ll be able to see which answers you eliminated already.
And if you end up needing to guess, you’ve improved your odds of getting it right.
Guessing
So, what should you do for those few questions you never want to tackle?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
• This isn’t school. We don’t give you a grade, but we do expect you to
realize that YOUR score improvement reflects the amount of work
YOU put into the course.
• The homework assigned is, therefore, for YOUR benefit.
• Try to do at least a half an hour of practice for the Digital SAT each
day. Like playing an instrument or a sport, preparing for the Digital
SAT will be easier (and you will improve faster) if you do at least
some work each day. Cramming in three hours of Digital SAT prac-
tice the night before class won’t give you a significant improvement.
Consistent daily practice is the best way to ensure success.
• Review your work! When you complete your homework online, you’ll
get an explanation for each question. Always build in time to read the
explanations and assess your performance. This is the most efficient
way to improve.
• You must use the techniques. Many will seem strange at first. You will
get used to them, but only if you practice them.
Setting Goals
Of course, all students want to improve their scores. A big difference between
those who succeed and those who don’t is whether they set realistic goals and pur-
sue them systematically. Also keep in mind that learning doesn’t always happen
in a linear fashion or overnight; sometimes it takes a step backwards to take two
steps forwards. Don’t be discouraged! Keep working with your instructor, and you
will enjoy success in the long run.
Your first homework assignment is to set some specific goals for yourself. Fill out
the following exercise using your score report from the first test.
My present score:
My target score:
_____________________________________________________________
What are my biggest areas to improve based on the first practice test?
_____________________________________________________________
Content:
What content areas do you need work on? Be specific (not just “grammar” but
“subject-verb agreement,” not just “algebra” but “solving systems of equations”).
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Writing: _______________________________________________________
Math: ________________________________________________________
Strategy:
Many content areas have specific strategies that you’ll learn in this book. Which
general strategies for taking the Digital SAT do you need to learn?
Pacing:
How was your pacing on the Math modules of the first test?
Accuracy:
On the RW modules, how many of the questions you got wrong were due to care-
less errors?
On the Math modules, how many of the questions you got wrong were due to
careless errors?
Based on your pacing and accuracy, how will you alter your approach to the next
test?
RW: __________________________________________________________
Math: ________________________________________________________
How do you plan to assess your progress toward your goals as you learn?
_____________________________________________________________
13
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
Each text (or pair of texts) has _________ question associated with it.
READING
The first set of Reading questions will test _______________________. The rest of
this section tests Reading Comprehension and will generally ask you for the mean-
ing or purpose of some or all of the text. Additionally, any text that is literature
RULES
Rules questions test __________________ and __________________. They always
have the same question: Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the
conventions of Standard English?
RHETORIC
These questions fall into two categories: _____________________________ and
These topics represent the five main skills you’ll need for the RW portion of the
Digital SAT. Learn to recognize what each one looks like, and you’ll be able to
move through the section in your Personal Order of Difficulty based on your
strengths and weaknesses in these skill areas.
Which Category?
College Board has a number of different question types in the Reading and
Writing section. The question types will always appear in the same order, but it’s
important to know what question phrasing goes with what question type.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a
whole?
Based on the texts, how would Douglass (Text 1) most likely respond to Lincoln
(Text 2)?
Which quotation from the poem most effectively illustrates the claim?
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to illustrate the claim?
Do any of these questions Which choice most logically completes the text?
look like they might not be in
your POOD right now? Vocabulary Reading Rules Transitions Rhetorical
Comprehension Synthesis
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard
English?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish
this goal?
POOD is all about doing the questions that are easiest for you first. In the RW mod-
ules, we recommend doing that within each category, rather than making a full pass
through the module looking for easy questions. Why is this an advantage?
_____________________________________________________________
Start with your strongest category and answer all of the questions in that category
before moving on to your second-strongest one. You may guess on some of the
questions that aren’t in your POOD, but it’s best not to plan to come back to a
category once you’ve already moved on.
RW Basic Approach
For all questions in Reading and Writing, use the same Basic Approach:
Throughout this course, you’ll learn strategies for how to approach every type of
question you can expect to see on the Reading and Writing section. Once you
have established what type of question you’re looking at, you’ll then apply the ap-
propriate strategy for that question type.
Bluebook
22%
Section 1: Reading and Writing 31:37
Directions Hide Annotate More
Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and 1 Mark for Review ABC
contemporary trap beats, American and Middle Eastern: Danny Asadi’s
music ______ a variety of influences to create a sound all his own. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word
or phrase?
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
Bluebook
22%
Section 1: Reading and Writing 31:37
Directions Hide Annotate More
Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and 1 Mark for Review ABC
contemporary trap beats, American and Middle Eastern: Danny Asadi’s
music ______ a variety of influences to create a sound all his own. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word
or phrase?
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
New Annotation: “Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and contemporary trap beats, American and Middle Eastern:” CLOSE
blends together
Save Cancel
Bluebook
22%
Section 1: Reading and Writing 31:37
Directions Hide Annotate More
blends together
Traditional Persian instruments and a drum machine, folk music and 1 Mark for Review ABC
A rejects
B provides
C harmonizes
D fuses
Once you have made an annotation, you can use what you wrote down to apply
Process of Elimination with the Answer Eliminator tool.
As you work through this book, make sure to have a highlighter on hand. Even
though your test will be digital rather than on paper, using your highlighter in
this book just as you would use the Highlighter tool on the test will help you re-
hearse what you need to do on test day. You can also practice writing annotations
with your pencil or pen.
Test 1 Analysis
Reading – Vocabulary:
Rules:
Rhetoric – Transitions:
Strengths:
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Rules: ________________________________________________________
Rhetoric: ______________________________________________________
Areas of Improvement:
Reading: ______________________________________________________
Rules: ________________________________________________________
Rhetoric: ______________________________________________________
• The three categories of questions in the RW section, in order, are _________________, _________________,
and _________________.
___________________________________________________________________________
• What tools are only available on the RW section and will be very useful?
__________________________
__________________________
23
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
Structural Components
Reading questions are always before / after Writing questions in each Reading and
MATH
Writing module.
There are typically ________ Reading questions within each of the two Reading
and Writing modules.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Each text (or pair of texts) will be accompanied by exactly ________ question(s).
READING
What’s Your Type?
College Board comes up with a lot of different ways to ask its questions, but all of
the questions can be placed into eight categories, or question types. As you saw in
the RW introduction, understanding what type of question you’re being asked is
the first step towards improving your RW score!
WRITING
Vocabulary Pick a good vocabulary word for a blank in the text or
define an existing word in context.
Purpose Determine why the author wrote the text, why the author
included a sentence, or how the author structured the text.
Dual Texts Understand how a person from one text would agree or
disagree with a person or idea from another text.
MATH
Retrieval Determine what the author said about a person, place, or
idea.
Main Idea Determine the main topic for the text overall.
Claims Choose an answer that best illustrates, strengthens, or
weakens a claim from the text.
Charts Choose information from a chart that would illustrate a
concept, strengthen or weaken a claim, or complete an
example.
Conclusions Choose the most logical concluding phrase or sentence to
a text.
The question types should appear in the same order you see
above, but not every question type will appear on every
module. Remember that within each question type, questions
will generally increase in difficulty. The more questions of a
single type you have, the more you’ll notice this increase in
difficulty across that question type.
Let’s learn the steps by tackling one of the more straightforward question types
you’ll see, a Retrieval question.
READING
Step 2: Identify the Question Type
Different question types will require different information from the text. Identify-
ing the question type tells you exactly what needs to be found in the text in order
to answer the question.
WRITING
According to the text, why did Kraemer and his
team suggest that high-skill gamers were more
excited at the start of the game?
Based on the list you saw previously, this question is which of the eight question
MATH
types?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Which sentence states that Kraemer and his team suggested that high-skill gamers
were more excited at the start of the game?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Step 4: Highlight What Can Help
(and Annotate if Needed)
For each Reading question, you’ll use the Highlight function to highlight infor-
mation in the text that either directly answers the question or provides evidence
that should support the correct answer. For certain question types, you’ll also
write down a word or phrase in the Annotation box that can help you separate
WRITING
right answers from wrong answers.
In 2016, researcher William J. Kraemer and
colleagues at The Ohio State University looked to
establish a link between competitive electronic
gaming and physiological stress responses.
Kraemer and his team chose 32 participants
of both high and low skill levels to participate
in an online game and monitored their heart
MATH
rates continuously throughout the game. The
researchers noted that while the high-skill
players began the game with an elevated heart
rate that only rose slightly throughout the course
of the game, low-skill players exhibited a normal
heart rate at the start of the game that increased
dramatically as the game progressed. This led
Kraemer and his team to hypothesize that while
high-skill gamers may be more excited at the
start of the game, they are not as stressed by the
events of an online game as low-skill gamers are.
Which sentence explains what led Kraemer and his team to their conclusion?
_____________________________________________________________
Which phrase from that sentence answers the question? Highlight this phrase in
your book.
With this particular question type, the answer you found in the text is as far as
you need to go—since the answer is stated in the text, you don’t need to annotate,
so you can move on to the answer choices.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READING
C Because the high-skill gamers knew their
experience would give them an edge over
the low-skill gamers
WRITING
Why or why not?
_____________________________________________________________
MATH
Because the high-skill gamers played with
superior connection speeds compared
with those of the low-skill gamers
_____________________________________________________________
POE in a Nutshell
You may have noticed that some of the previous answers repeated exact words
from the text in an attempt to trick you or sounded logical but had no support.
We call these answers “trap answers,” and they are designed to attract students
away from the correct answer. We’ll examine these traps throughout this book,
but here are some of College Board’s favorite traps:
READING
POOD and You
As you tackle these questions, you’ll need to (rather efficiently) decide whether a
question is within your Personal Order of Difficulty or not. Here are three basic
ideas to consider:
WRITING
great starting point to apply your POOD is deciding to start with either Vocabulary
(the first question type) or Reading Comprehension (the other seven question
types). We’ll cover Vocabulary in the very next chapter and Reading Comprehen-
sion in the chapters after. Use those chapters, as well as drills, homework, and
practice tests, to determine which type of Reading questions you’d rather start
with.
MATH
________________________: Fictional passages will contain a blurb introducing
the author and title. This will help you quickly decide whether or not to do these
passages. You’ll also spot poems quickly, and your strengths and weaknesses will
tell you when to do those.
____________: For non-literature passages, you may be able to tell from glancing at
the passage whether it is about natural science, social science, or history/culture. If
you have significant topic-based strengths and weaknesses, use that knowledge to
decide your POOD.
Pace Yourself
With just 1 minute and 11 seconds per question, time management is key:
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________
6. _______________________________
7. _______________________________
8. _______________________________
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
not _____________________________________________.
35
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
Vocabulary texts will usually be ____________ than the texts for the other Read-
ing question types.
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—VOCABULARY
1. ____________________________.
WRITING
• most logical and precise word or phrase
MATH
4. __________________________________________________________.
• Highlight a clue word or phrase in the text that describes the who
or what that the blank is referring to.
• Be on the lookout for transition words that can switch the
direction of the sentence.
• Write down your own word or phrase for the blank in the
Annotation box.
and family would often say. Blah Which choice completes the text
blah blah blah blah blah blah… with the most logical and precise
word or phrase?
A hostile
B cheerful
MATH
C sincere
D prepared
The problem is that any of these answers can “sound” logical in the sentence if we
don’t consider the rest of the text. If the sentence after the first one in the example
said:
“There was no trick about him or his demeanor, and he would be as genuine to
his wife as he was to a complete stranger on the bus.”
On the other hand, consider if the next sentence were the following:
“If the weather forecast showed even the slightest chance of rain, you could bet
that an umbrella, poncho, and backup pairs of both shoes and socks would be
added to his workbag immediately.”
Now which answer would be most consistent with those highlights? _____
The correct word for the blank will be based on the clues in
the surrounding text, not on how the answer choice sounds.
The Basic Approach can help you choose the most accurate
word for the blank.
READING
Learn the Basics
With its iridescent and seemingly
1 Mark for Review
balloon-like features, the metallic
sculpture Rabbit by artist Jeff Which choice completes the text
Koons might appear like a with the most logical and precise
fantastic rendering from a child’s word or phrase?
imagination, but in 2019 it was sold
WRITING
for the ________ price of $91 million, A creative
making it the most expensive
artwork ever sold at auction by a
living artist. B bizarre
C economical
MATH
D astronomical
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Based on the clue, what would be a good word or phrase for the Annotation box
that describes the price of the artwork?
_____________________________________________________________
actors, such as certain species of with the most logical and precise
ants, can positively influence their word or phrase?
environments. One study found
that an increased presence of ants A enhanced
_______ damage to plants in a field
when compared to fields with
minimal ant presence. B confirmed
MATH
C maintained
D reduced
Highlight the word or phrase in the question indicating that this is a Vocabulary
question.
_____________________________________________________________
Is there a clue that describes the who or what in the same sentence as the blank?
___________
Based on the clue, what would be a good word or phrase for the Annotation box
that describes how the presence of ants affects damage to plants?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Switching It Up On You
Be on the lookout for transition words that could affect the direction of the sen-
tence.
WRITING
that belief. A fossil discovery in with the most logical and precise
Montana of a vampyropod, an word or phrase?
ancestor of both octopuses and
vampire squid, is believed to be A obscured
330 million years old. Previous
If you weren’t sure what
discoveries revealed vampyropod
fossils that were only 240 million B revitalized
“obscured” means, be
years old, which would have placed sure to study the
MATH
them after the age of dinosaurs. Vocabulary Hit Parade.
C challenged
D supported
_____________________________________________________________
What is the transition word in the sentence? Does it keep the sentence headed in
the same direction or does it change the sentence’s direction?
_____________________________________________________________
Based on the clue and transition, what would be a good word or phrase for the
Annotation box to describe what the singular finding has done to the scientists’
belief ?
_____________________________________________________________
iii. Jennifer was a _________________ of the new school dress code, but
the rest of her friend group thought it stifled creativity and personal
MATH
expression.
D competitions
Which answers can be eliminated using the context that Fletcher and everyone
else in the text are playwrights? __________
Of the remaining answers, which one is less consistent with the descriptions of
Fletcher and the other playwrights given towards the end of the text? _____
READING
Beware of the Opposition
Once you’ve come up with a great word or phrase for the blank, make sure to stay
consistent with the tone or direction of your word.
WRITING
the major trade route famously with the most logical and precise
known as the Silk Road. Its ______ word or phrase?
Iran, from which it received large
shipments of silk directly from the A contrast with
Persian city of Isfahan, combined
Which answers can be
with its accessibility to European
ports such as Marseilles, made it an B similarity to
eliminated right away
ideal trading hub. because they are the
MATH
opposite of your word?
C proximity to
D detachment from
D entertainer of
Choices (A) and (C) are examples of answers that are _______________________.
Devious Distractions
Sometimes, College Board will pull words (or their synonyms) from the wrong
part of the text and throw them into the answer choices. Don’t let those recycled
words distract you from the evidence you highlighted and the word you anno-
tated.
C imaginative
D aesthetic
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Try It Out: Identifying Vocabulary Traps
Many times, coming up with a good word for the blank will be enough to elimi-
nate all three answers. If you get stuck, immediately ask yourself, “Which of these
answers is a trap?”
Consider the following sentence: Fans of third-wave ska music appreciate the
_________ of punk rock chord progressions and brass instruments. Detractors of the
WRITING
genre have criticized this synthesis, calling it “ discordant” and “abrasive.”
Using the Vocabulary Basic Approach, what would be your own word or phrase
for the blank? ___________________________________
Consider the following four answers and determine which is the correct answer as
well as which trap the other three answers fall into:
MATH
A) history
B) separation
C) critique
D) combination
_____________________________________________________________
If three answers have been eliminated and you don’t know the remaining word,
READING
A “Novel” Approach
Literature excerpts can contain dialogue, and sometimes you’ll need to examine
multiple pieces of dialogue to determine a word for the blank.
WRITING
The main character, Sherlock word “imperiled” most nearly
Holmes, is speaking with one of his mean?
clients, Mr. Merryweather, as they
attempt to prevent a robbery. A Evaluated
“You are not very vulnerable
from above,” Holmes remarked,
as he held up the lantern and B Underscored
If you weren’t sure what
gazed about him.
MATH
“underscored” means,
“Nor from below,” said Mr. C Salvaged be sure to study the
Merryweather, striking his stick Vocabulary Hit Parade.
upon the flags which lined the
floor. “Why, dear me, it sounds D Hazarded
quite hollow!” he remarked,
looking up in surprise.
Between a word you sort of know and a word you don’t know, you should
___________________________________________________________________.
Vexing Verbosity
The more Vocabulary questions that your module has, the more likely you’ll
notice an increase in the difficulty of the words as you go. Use POE when you can,
and on practice tests, make a note to yourself to study any words you didn’t know
so you will catch them next time.
D pervasive
If you don’t know three of the words but think the fourth word might work, you
should _____________________________________.
READING
Three Cheers for the Hit Parade!
Throughout this chapter, you may have noticed a reference to the Vocabulary Hit
Parade, located on page 229 of this book. Creating a plan to study vocabulary is
one effective way to maximize your RW score. Here are three ways you can get
started:
WRITING
fill out a word or synonym for each Hit Parade word located in the
Vocabulary Quick Check right before the chapter Summary.
MATH
3. It’s Your Hit Parade: If you come across other words that you don’t
know in texts, questions, or answers while prepping for the Digital
SAT, add them to the blank space at the end of the Hit Parade on
page 243.
VOCABULARY DRILL
Time: 9 minutes
bats reside only in caves, but a more common ________ devoted a significant part of his career to ________ the
for bats is forests. In fact, without bats to prey on the molecular behavior and structure of proteins active
insects that feast on tree seedlings, the forests would in T-cell responses, and his investigations have led to
rapidly diminish. advances in understanding how treatments can help
prevent the growth of cancer cells.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase?
MATH
A passage
A teaching
B habitat
B guiding
C diet
C exploring
D legend
D tailoring
A coincidence
B fortune
C destiny
D harmony
READING
While empathy and nurturing are qualities that some Microbiologist Craig Cameron’s work is focused on
primates demonstrate, certain breeds of parrots go helping scientists to study and combat the spread of
one step further. When researchers at ETH Zurich in viruses. Concentrating on RNA virus infections, he
Switzerland provided their parrots with metal rings has developed antivirals that inhibit the function
as a “currency” to ________ food, the birds shared the of certain genes, thus stopping the spread of deadly
rings with each other, helping each parrot make a viruses in the body by ________ their replication.
beneficial transaction.
WRITING
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
and precise word or phrase?
A animating
A exchange for
B incubating
B substitute as
MATH
C promoting
C plea for
D hindering
D distribute as
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? and precise word or phrase?
A reviewed A regulate
B rejected B shield
C depicted C bolster
D bridged D strike
The following text is from Charles Reade’s 1857 story Already established as one of the most eminent
“The Box Tunnel.” In the story, the narrator describes painters of the twentieth century, British artist David
a man accused of a crime, and the narrator’s friend Hockney ________ discovered a new form of photo
responds. collage during a project in the 1980s. When he had
“I am inclined to believe that he is innocent,” I taken a series of Polaroid pictures to prepare for an
replied. “He showed no embarrassment when I interior painting, he was so pleased with the Cubist
addressed him, and no uneasiness when the guard effect of the photos that he made them the focus of
WRITING
came round. His conversation was open to a fault. the artwork itself, discarding the painting he had
I might almost say that he talked too freely of the originally intended to make.
business which he had in hand.”
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
“That again is strange, for I know no one more and precise word or phrase?
reticent on such subjects. He actually told you that
he had the seventy-five thousand pounds in his A despondently
pocket?”
MATH
As used in the text, what does the word “reticent” B deliberately
most nearly mean?
C inadvertently
A Withdrawn
D paradoxically
B Confident
C Suspicious
A blatant
B innocuous
C latent
D confounding
obscure
advocate (n.)
deference
underscore
dormant
tenuous
pervasive
___________________________________.
• Watch out for ___________________________________ that may change the direction of the sentence.
• Write down your own ___________ or ___________ for the blank in the Annotation box.
______________________.
55
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
_____________________________________, or ______________________________
____________________________.
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—PURPOSE
1. ____________________________. As you read, highlight key terms in
the question stem so you know which of the three tasks you are being
given.
WRITING
help you identify a Purpose question.
• main purpose
• overall structure
• function
MATH
3. ____________________________. As you read, make sure to pay
attention to structural words and phrases that might explain the
organization or purpose of the text or sentence.
4. __________________________________________________________.
What answer would you probably pick if you only considered what happens in the
text? ________
Which answer would you probably pick if you asked, What is the biggest, most
READING
Three Purposes
Almost every piece of evidence that an author can include in the text is there to
accomplish one of three purposes:
WRITING
• To support. These pieces of evidence are meant to advocate for or
back up a given claim or viewpoint, which may or may not be the
author’s.
MATH
not be the author’s.
_____________________________________________________________
Who or what is the main focus of the text? Highlight this focus.
What does the text say about the main focus? Highlight this evidence.
Based on the highlighting, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box
that captures the author’s goal and the main focus?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Putting the Fun in Function
A Purpose question can also ask for the function of a sentence in the text. The sen-
tence in question will always be underlined, and the surrounding sentences are the
key to understanding the underlined sentence’s function.
WRITING
Chicxulub crater off the coast of Which choice best describes the
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula during function of the second sentence in
the Cretaceous period caused the the overall structure of the text?
extinction of the dinosaurs. A
more contentious issue, however, A It refutes the theory that the
is whether the asteroid impact was asteroid was the sole cause
the sole cause of the extinction, as of extinction.
opposed to simply one of myriad
If you weren’t sure what
MATH
adverse factors that ultimately
induced the animals’ demise. B It illustrates why most “refutes” means, be sure
Some contend that climatic and paleontologists agree that to study the Vocabulary
atmospheric changes, largely the asteroid caused the Hit Parade.
caused by volcanic activity and an dinosaur extinction.
increase in the size of the oceans
due to continental shifts, imperiled
the dinosaurs centuries before C It details the evidence
the Chicxulub asteroid struck the discounting the asteroid
Earth. strike as the sole cause of
extinction.
D It states a limitation in
current paleontological
knowledge regarding the
extinction of the dinosaurs.
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Does the underlined sentence explain, support, or contradict the sentence before?
_____________
Does the sentence after the underlined sentence explain, support, or contradict the
Based on the above, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________
what the author said about malls or why the author said something about malls
Now consider the sentence before: “I’m not meeting up with Jaya. Malls are my
least favorite place.”
MATH
Now consider the sentence after: “I suggest that we order pizza. Every time we try
to order individual dishes, it just takes way too long.”
Finally, consider the following: “I just find the stock market really confusing.”
Now consider the sentence before: “My friends want me to start playing the
stock market game with them. I just find the stock market really confusing.”
Now consider the sentence after: “My friends want me to start playing the stock
market game with them. I just find the stock market really confusing. My mind goes
blank when I’m assaulted with a bunch of numbers and lines on graphs.”
Does this sentence explain more about what the author finds confusing or more
about why the author mentions confusion?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Don’t Panic
The longer the answers, the more likely you’ll be able to use POE and eliminate
answers that don’t match the function of the underlined sentence.
WRITING
some people attempt to raise the overall structure of the text?
their primate “cousins” as
human children, believing that a A It provides additional
pampered infant chimp dressed insight into why
in baby clothes will grow up just chimpanzees have an
like its human “siblings.” But instinctive tendency toward
nature cannot be subjugated by aggressive behavior.
wishful thinking. Chimpanzees
MATH
can be dangerously ferocious
when provoked or otherwise B It summarizes the theory
angered. As noted in a recent that the researchers from
study by a prominent zoological the zoological society
society, there are numerous cases attempted to prove by
of chimpanzees being raised by conducting their study.
humans ultimately attacking their
“parents.”
C It states a general principle
that is illustrated by the
information about
chimpanzees provided in
the text.
D It offers a different
interpretation of the
zoological society’s findings
about aggressive
chimpanzees.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Try It Out: Explain, Support, or Contradict
Consider the following sentence: Originally conceived in the 1960s, timeshares are
properties with divided ownership or use rights.
Sentence 2: The concept behind them is that travelers get to experience the thrill of a
luxury vacation home at a fraction of the cost.
WRITING
Does Sentence 2 Explain, Support, or Contradict the previous sentence?
Sentence 3: Indeed, it’s true that timeshare ownership costs less per year on average
than purchasing and maintaining a private vacation home.
MATH
Sentence 4: However, timeshares, like all things, have their detractors.
Sentence 5: Critics of the practice have cited that timeshare owners of the same prop-
erty often want to reserve the same vacation dates, which forces some owners to accept
less-than-ideal windows for their trips.
D To lament that Elizabeth
was less focused on
intellectual pursuits than
Victor and did not apply
herself to them as fiercely
READING
Stay the Course
No matter the task, keep identifying what the text or sentence in question is focus-
ing on and how the sentences around it explain, support, or contradict it.
WRITING
in the text as a whole?
He is not easy to describe.
There is something wrong with
A It identifies a puzzling
his appearance; something
situation that is resolved by
displeasing, something
the sentences that follow.
downright detestable. I never
saw a man I so disliked, and yet
I scarce know why. He must be B It elaborates on the
MATH
deformed somewhere; he gives phenomenon introduced by
a strong feeling of deformity, the previous two sentences.
although I couldn’t specify the
point. He’s an extraordinary-
looking man, and yet I really can C It offers observations that
name nothing out of the way. No, contradict those stated in
sir; I can make no hand of it; I the previous sentence.
can’t describe him. And it’s not
want of memory; for I declare I
can see him this moment. D It presents an idea that is
rejected in the next three
sentences.
incorporate more anaerobic exercise into their products, particularly in the form of
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training. HIIT intentionally deprives the body of
oxygen, forcing the body to utilize other metabolic processes to break down those
same carbohydrates.
Consider the following four answers and determine which is the correct answer as
well as which trap the other three answers fall into:
C) I t details two ideologies, then includes evidence that proves the latter to be
correct.
READING
Purpose and Poetry
Poems deviate from regular texts, as they often focus more on tone and imagery
than evidence or explanation. When you see a poem, you just need to adjust what
you’re looking for in the text.
WRITING
from Prison.” The speaker, a Which choice best states the main question types, including
prisoner, is addressing Althea, a purpose of the text? Purpose. Be on the look-
woman whom he longs to see again. out for poetry examples
Stone walls do not a prison make, A To express the speaker’s joy throughout the question
Nor iron bars a cage: despite his being in prison type chapters, and there’s
Minds innocent and quiet take even a chapter just for
That for an hermitage. Poetry questions.
If I have freedom in my love, B To show confidence in the
MATH
And in my soul am free, speaker’s belief that he will
Angels alone, that soar above, eventually be released from
Enjoy such liberty. prison
D To end the speaker’s
relationship with Althea so
he can finally stop longing
for her
_____________________________________________________________
What tone does the author take towards the focus? ________________________
House by the Side of the Road.” Which choice best describes the
overall structure of the text?
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat
Nor hurl the cynic’s ban—
A The speaker rejects two
Let me live in a house by the side
possible approaches, then
of the road
describes one he considers
And be a friend to man.
superior and plans to
implement.
I see from my house by the side of
MATH
READING
PURPOSE DRILL
Time: 10 minutes
WRITING
Worrall, conducted a systematic literature review 1892 short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The speaker,
that suggests that support groups are valuable tools a woman recovering from illness on a rented summer
for helping individuals who suffer from mental estate, writes in her journal about the room in which
illness. Examining research spanning from 1989 to she is staying.
2017, the team reviewed 57 studies that dealt with It is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with
the effectiveness of support groups for persons living windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine
with mental illness and, in some instances, for their galore. It was nursery first and then playground and
caregivers. The team found consistent evidence for
MATH
gymnasium, I should judge; for the windows are
the efficacy of professionally-facilitated, family-led barred for little children, and there are rings and
support groups; professionally-facilitated, program- things in the walls.
based support groups; and psychoeducational support
groups for caregivers. The paint and paper look as if a boys’ school had
used it. It is stripped off—the paper—in great
Which choice best states the function of the patches all around the head of my bed, about as far
underlined sentence in the overall structure of the as I can reach, and in a great place on the other side
text? of the room low down. I never saw a worse paper in
my life.
A To demonstrate the challenges faced by the
team in collecting its data Which choice best states the main purpose of the
text?
B To summarize the results of the team’s review A To validate any negative feelings the nursery
children may have had about the wallpaper
C To discuss a specific earlier study that
exemplifies the team’s findings B To describe the speaker’s current
surroundings and remark upon a feature of
those surroundings
D To present the specific process by which the
team arrived at its conclusions
C To describe the aesthetic deficiencies and
unpleasant nature of the wallpaper
The following is adapted from Tennessee Williams’s Not all bears hibernate throughout the winter
1944 play The Glass Menagerie. The speaker, Tom months. Rather, there are degrees of hibernation, and
Wingfield, recalls his mother’s plans to find a suitor the extent to which an individual bear hibernates,
for Tom’s sister, Laura. if at all, depends on factors such as species, climate,
It became an obsession. Like some archetype of the pregnancy, and food availability. Zoo bears, for which
universal unconscious, the image of the gentleman food is typically provided daily, may consequently
caller haunted our small apartment. ... never hibernate, although they may sleep more
WRITING
READING
The following text is from John Steinbeck’s 1937 The following is from Sir Walter Scott’s 1919 poem
novella Of Mice and Men. As George and his “Love of Country.”
companion Lennie travel through rural California, Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Lennie drinks from a river and George addresses him Who never to himself hath said,
in response. This is my own, my native land!
“You never oughta drink water when it ain’t Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d,
running, Lennie,” he said hopelessly. “You’d drink As home his footsteps he hath turn’d,
WRITING
out of gutter if you was thirsty.” He threw a scoop From wandering on a foreign strand!
of water into his face and rubbed it about with his If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
hand, under his chin and around the back of his For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back High though his titles, proud his name,
from the river, drew up his knees and embraced Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up The wretch, concentred all in self,
his knees, embraced them, looked over to George Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
MATH
to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat And, doubly dying, shall go down
down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s
hat was. Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined portion in the text as a whole?
Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined sentence in the text as a whole? A It lists the seemingly desirable assets that
actually lead one to self-destruction.
A It illustrates an interpersonal dynamic that
exists between George and Lennie.
B It expresses the speaker’s disdain for those
who are rich and powerful.
B It reveals the conflicting aspects of Lennie’s
personality that appear in response to
criticism. C It summarizes circumstances that the speaker
believes are outweighed by personal values.
The following is from Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s 1883 The following is from Ernest Hemingway’s 1952
poem “Solitude.” novella The Old Man and the Sea. Santiago, an
Laugh, and the world laughs with you; impoverished elderly fisherman, is walking with his
Weep, and you weep alone; young companion.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, “Santiago,” the boy said to him as they climbed the
But has trouble enough of its own. bank from where the skiff was hauled up. “I could
Sing, and the hills will answer; go with you again. We’ve made some money.” The
WRITING
Sigh, it is lost on the air; old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy
The echoes bound to a joyful sound, loved him. “No,” the old man said. “You’re with a
But shrink from voicing care. lucky boat. Stay with them.” “But remember how
you went eighty-seven days without fish and then
Which choice best states the main purpose of the we caught big ones every day for three weeks.”
text? “I remember,” the old man said. “I know you did
not leave me because you doubted.” “It was papa
made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him.” “I
A To acknowledge that people are drawn to
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C It depicts one character’s persistent attempts
to persuade another, then explains the other
character’s rationale for agreeing to the
request.
D It establishes one character’s concern for
another, then outlines the reasons why that
concern is not reciprocated.
refute
assert
advocate (v.)
• Remember that Purpose questions are asking for ____________________________ rather than
____________________________.
• Start each Purpose question by asking _______ or _______ is the main focus of the text.
• Then, find and highlight evidence discussing the focus, and determine whether the evidence
• On poetry questions, pay careful attention to the _________ of the text and eliminate answers that are
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Purpose questions are ____________________________
and ____________________________.
77
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Adapt the Reading Basic Approach for use on Dual Texts questions
• Apply the Reading Basic Approach to Dual Texts questions
• Learn to highlight and identify claims within text(s)
• Differentiate between multiple points of view
WRITING
____________________________.
Dual Texts questions will often ask you how how ____________________ from
___________________ from another text. They can also ask for an ____________
agree.
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—DUAL TEXTS
It will be pretty obvious when you’re confronted with a Dual Texts question, so
let’s modify the Basic Approach to tackle the question as efficiently as possible.
WRITING
but if a question asks
If the question is looking for an idea about which both texts would you to identify Text 1’s
agree, proceed to Step 2. response to Text 2, work
the texts in reverse
2. ___________________________________________________________ order instead.
MATH
question is more general.
3. ____________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________.
Three Responses
Text 1
1 Mark for Review
Biologists once classified dinosaur
Based on the texts, how would Lida
species as reptiles, as they were
and McKellar (Text 2) most likely
vertebrates, laid eggs, had some
respond to the claim made by the
sharp teeth, and contained bone
“biologists” presented in Text 1?
structures in the shape of scales.
This taxonomy was retained until
the 1980s, when cladistics, a type A By confirming the
of classification system, was used assumption that reptiles
to prove that birds descended from and birds are equally
extinct dinosaur species. related to dinosaurs
Text 2
If you weren’t sure what Chinese paleontologist Xing Lida B By stating that the biologists
“retained” means, be sure found a preserved dinosaur tail in neglected to mention that
to study the Vocabulary amber dated to 99 million years bone structure is the most
Hit Parade. ago. Lida noticed that the fossil important characteristic
had the remnants of vertebrae and when comparing species
feathers, and Ryan McKellar, a
Canadian paleontologist, cites the
C By recognizing the validity
fossil as evidence that birds and
dinosaurs are very closely related. of the claim based on their
McKellar and Lida maintain that own research into shared
dinosaurs and birds share many features between species
characteristics, such as laying
eggs, walking upright on two legs,
D By disagreeing with the
having feathers, and being warm-
premise that dinosaurs
blooded.
were reptiles as their own
research supports a
different conclusion
READING
As you read the text, highlight the claim or idea from Text 1, then find the person
or group from Text 2 who will be responding and highlight that view.
_____________________________________________________________
WRITING
So, what would be a good summary of the relationship between the texts for the
MATH
Conditions, Conditions
Good writers will acknowledge the other side of their argument when necessary,
and College Board texts are no exception. If a text supports or contradicts the
other text but includes something that acknowledges the other side, highlight that
acknowledgment because the correct answer will often account for that wrinkle.
WRITING
Text 1
2 Mark for Review
Parkinson’s disease is very
Based on the texts, what would the
challenging to detect until it
scientists in Text 2 most likely say
progresses, especially due to
about the researchers’ claim in
the wide varieties in which
Text 1?
it manifests. Analyzing
cerebrospinal fluid for biomarkers
MATH
_____________
Highlight the phrase or sentence in Text 2 that goes in the opposite direction of
your answer to the previous question.
READING
No Cutting Corners
Answers to Dual Texts questions can often be longer and consist of two separate
parts. Make sure to read to the end of each answer before deciding whether that
answer is consistent with the highlighting and annotation.
WRITING
Text 1
3 Mark for Review
When did human ancestors
Based on the texts, how would
obtain the ability to walk upright?
Guy and his team (Text 2) most
Scientists have attempted to use
likely describe the hypothesis of
the fossil record to find out. A
Bergeret-Medina and Macchiarelli
femur fragment was found in 2004
presented in Text 1?
by student Aude Bergeret-Medina
and paleoanthropologist Roberto
MATH
Macchiarelli. The researchers A It holds true but only in
hypothesized that the remains specific circumstances like
likely didn’t belong to a human those in Guy and his team’s
species that consistently walked study.
upright, based on the fact that a
bony ridge found in the specimen is
lacking in modern human anatomy. B It is mostly correct, but it
requires marginal
Text 2 adjustments based on the
Franck Guy, a paleoanthropologist new analysis by Guy’s team.
who initially agreed with Bergeret-
Medina and Macchiarelli, studied
C It holds little intrigue as a
the femur bone and concluded that
it did in fact belong to a species that theory, despite the findings
consistently walked upright on two regarding bipedalism from
limbs, a form of locomotion known Guy and his team.
as bipedalism. Guy and his team
identified at least 12 features that
D It may seem reasonable
correspond to upright locomotion
based on one trait, but it is
in addition to the single trait that
not supported by further
indicated a lack of bipedalism.
analysis incorporating
Based on this research, Guy asserts
many traits.
that a combination of traits should
be used to determine bipedalism,
rather than any single trait within
a species.
b. as the fees are easy to forget and can come as an unwelcome
surprise each year.
MATH
c. though many accept them without first reading the fine print on
the agreement.
b. and recent online polls show that most individuals surveyed share
Rashida’s beliefs.
c. and while this may be true regarding tax policy, it doesn’t apply to
environmental programs.
READING
Topics Change, but Approaches Stay the Same
It’s most common for Dual Texts to focus on natural science, but it’s possible to
see topics on social science or even culture. Luckily, the Basic Approach works
exactly the same regardless of topic. That said, don’t forget the value of coming
back to a question on a topic with which you’re less comfortable.
WRITING
Text 1
4 Mark for Review
Andalusian is a dialect of Spanish
Based on the texts, how would
rather than its own unique
the author of Text 2 most likely
language. The dialect shares
respond to the claims of the author
fundamental characteristics with
of Text 1?
traditional Spanish, such as the
same word for the second person
MATH
plural informal subject pronoun A By emphasizing that
and the same pronunciation for Andalusian features
certain letter sounds. The push distinctive grammar and
to define Andalusian as its own sounds even if the language
language is largely driven by shares some similarities
those focused on preserving their with Spanish
own culture rather than by those
focused on proper categorization of
languages. B By stating that a person who
speaks Andalusian will also
Text 2 be able to understand
Andalusian is a unique series Spanish
of patterns and words that
deserves recognition as its own
C By clarifying that
language. Many sounds that are
differentiated in Spanish have Andalusian is a much more
been merged into single unique challenging language to
sounds in Andalusian. Speakers master than Spanish
of Andalusian use different object
pronouns, different verb forms,
D By agreeing that most
and different gender forms to craft
linguists don’t think
their spoken word. Andalusian also
differences between sounds
uses many unique words not found
and other word types are
in the Spanish dictionary.
significant
Text 1
5 Mark for Review
Despite the fact that the deep
Based on the texts, how would the
ocean, which begins at 200 meters
researchers in Text 2 most likely
below sea level, contains more
respond to the underlined claim in
than 90% of the total seawater,
Text 1?
only about a third of modern fish
species reside in the ocean’s depths.
MATH
READING
A Polite Fight
Not every text is going to “disagree” and “criticize” the other text, like you’ve seen
in some of the previous questions. If a person or group from Text 2 suggests that
someone from Text 1 needs to consider an alternative explanation or expand his or
her research somehow, these answers count as contradictions as well!
WRITING
Text 1
6 Mark for Review
Both terrestrial and gas planets
Based on the texts, how would the
are capable of supporting natural
researchers at the University of
satellites, more commonly known
Texas (Text 2) most likely respond
as moons. One of the limiting
to Quarles’s findings (Text 1)?
factors that can determine how
many moons a terrestrial planet,
MATH
such as Earth, can support is the A They would claim that tidal
size of the moons themselves. heating has a different
Using a computer simulation, Dr. effect on the stability of a
Billy Quarles at Valdosta State moon’s orbit around a
University found that Earth could planet than a moon’s size
support more than ten small moons does.
(average radius of 470 km), six
medium moons (average radius If you weren’t sure what
of 1,190 km), or four large moons B They would assert that over
“repudiate” means, be
(average radius of 1,736 km). an extended period the tidal
sure to study the Vocabu-
heating experienced by a
Text 2 moon will vary.
lary Hit Parade.
Researchers at the University of
Texas have argued that fewer
C They would suggest that the
moons can be supported by a
planet than previously thought findings may not account for
due to the many factors affecting all of the factors that affect
moons as they orbit a planet. For the number of moons a
example, tidal heating, which planet can support.
causes stretching and compressing
of a moon, affects the stability of a
D They would repudiate
moon’s orbit and how many moons
Quarles and his team for
could orbit near each other at a
ignoring the effects of
time. The researchers’ estimates
compression on tidal
indicate that Earth could support
heating.
seven small moons, four medium
moons, or three large moons.
Text 1 Text 1
Nanoparticles are miniscule particles invisible to Most social media users are not able to assess which
the naked eye that behave in unique ways governed posts contain factual statements and which contain
by Ostwald ripening. According to this phenomenon, erroneous ones. Therefore, social media sites have
nanoparticles dissolve and distribute onto larger a responsibility to filter posts for users to help them
particles. This occurs because larger particles have see posts with statements validated by fact-checking
a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio and are more software. Without these filters, people will see posts
thermodynamically stable. with inaccurate data and believe they are true,
MATH
A Nanoparticles group together to achieve a Based on the texts, how would the MIT researchers
structural benefit. from Text 2 most likely describe the argument
presented in Text 1?
B Irregular edges on nanoparticles prevent them A It is no longer worthy of discussion based on
from forming larger particles. the results of the MIT group’s research.
C Nanoparticles are used in a wide variety of B It is primarily correct, but it requires minor
fields, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. refinement based on the MIT group’s research.
D Nanoparticles cannot be seen by humans C It may be well-intentioned, but it can have
unless special techniques are used. unintended consequences based on the MIT
group’s research.
READING
Text 1 Text 1
Moisture-driven electricity generation (MEG) devices According to a 2010 study, people living in households
are a promising field, as this technology could be used making up to $75,000 a year experience greater levels
to power wearable devices, such as heart monitors. of happiness corresponding with greater income
These devices harness moisture from the atmosphere levels, but the pattern did not remain consistent once
to generate electricity using thin fabric, salt, and a the total household income of individuals in the study
WRITING
water-absorbent gel. This technology could provide a exceeded $75,000 a year. The study concluded that
clean source of energy for years to come. there is a correlation between personal happiness
and household income up to that $75,000 threshold.
Text 2
While they can generate small amounts of energy Text 2
from water in the air, MEG devices are not a sufficient Matthew Killingsworth expanded upon a 2010
source of energy due to their reliance on uncertain study to determine whether households with higher
weather conditions. When there is too much moisture incomes experienced increased life satisfaction and
MATH
in the air, these devices become saturated and positive experiences. According to his own study,
cease to function. They also do not generate enough higher incomes did contribute to greater levels of
electricity to feasibly power other devices. happiness, but he did not find any plateau to this
trend. Killingsworth concluded that households
Based on the texts, the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 making beyond $75,000 a year should experience
would both agree with which of the following higher levels of life satisfaction than those making
statements? equal to or less than $75,000 a year.
A MEG devices benefit a wide range of scientific Based on the texts, how would Killingsworth from
fields. Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined
conclusion in Text 1?
B MEG devices can generate some electricity A By identifying that the claim has merit, but his
from moisture in the air. research proved that the pattern does not top
out at a certain income level
D By largely agreeing with the claim but
objecting that the pattern is more likely to
exist at higher income levels
Text 1 Text 1
Many biologists believe that acoustic communication When the predator population in a region increases
among vertebrates developed differently depending significantly, it places a correspondingly increased
on the species. There is considerable variability strain on local prey populations. One method for
among specific hearing structures and the sensitivity protecting these prey populations is chemical
of those structures depending upon the family to camouflage. Researchers in Finland spread the
WRITING
which a species belongs. Further differences in the chemical odor of birds throughout a habitat to see
vocal tracts of vertebrate species support a conclusion if this camouflage made it harder for the birds’
that acoustic communication likely evolved predators to find the birds’ nests. The initial results
independently at various times in different species. indicated that the chemical significantly reduced
predation of the birds by red foxes.
Text 2
In a 2022 paper, Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen and his Text 2
research team hypothesized a common origin of According to scientists at the Latvian State Forest
MATH
acoustic communication 400 million years ago for all Research Institute (SILAVA), more research is
choanate (possessing internal nostrils) vertebrates. needed in order to increase the efficacy of chemical
Investigating a far broader range of species than camouflage across multiple predators. While a
that of previous studies, the team identified various chemical odor may have reduced predation of birds
structures related to acoustic communication that by red foxes, other predators, such as raccoon dogs,
were common to all of the species investigated. They were not affected. This could be due to the fact that
also found evidence of acoustic communication raccoon dogs don’t rely on their sense of smell to find
in groups previously believed to lack acoustic bird habitats as much as red foxes do.
communication, including certain species of
salamanders, frogs, and turtles. Based on the texts, what would the scientists in Text 2
most likely say about the researchers’ initial results
Based on the texts, how would Jorgewich-Cohen and in Text 1?
his team (Text 2) most likely respond to the belief of
the biologists presented in Text 1? A They are flawed because the scientists
incorrectly assumed that a chemical odor
A By challenging the assumption that different would work for all predator species.
hearing structures will result in different
hearing sensitivities
B They are rational because the chemical odor
deterred predation by red foxes and raccoon
B By conceding that the variability in vocal dogs equally.
tracts of the studied species is likely indicative
of variability in other related structures
C They are confusing because there is no proof
that introducing a chemical odor actually
C By disputing the idea that specific structural reduces the number of prey animals consumed
variations related to a trait in some species by predators.
preclude a common origin of that trait
D They are respectable because they do identify
D By accepting that choanate vertebrates are one way to use chemical camouflage to protect
almost certainly anomalous in sharing a some prey, but there is more to be learned to
common origin of acoustic communication improve the process.
retain
undermine
repudiate
• Dual Texts questions often ask how a _____________ or _____________________ from one text will
• On the text that contains the statement, find and highlight the _______ or _______ from the question.
• On text that will be responding, find and highlight what the __________ or _________ from the
question says about that same claim or idea.
• Determine whether Text 2 __________ or ________________ the claim or idea from Text 1.
• If the question asks about an idea on which the texts would most likely agree, find and high-
light the _______________________ from Text 1, and then find and highlight what is said about the
_____________________________ in Text 2.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Dual Texts questions are
93
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
not __________________________________________.
Retrieval questions ask you to find __________ from the text, such as _________
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—RETRIEVAL
1. ____________________________. As you read, highlight the person or
idea(s) that you are being asked to retrieve information about.
WRITING
identify a Retrieval question.
MATH
sentence and phrase of the text that specifically deal with the person
or idea(s) from the question.
4. _________________________________________________________.
D They often lack futuristic
themes in an effort to evoke
a more traditional social
gathering.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Reason ≠ Purpose
Even if a question includes the word “why,” as long as you see according to the text
or based on the text, you have a Retrieval question. Retrieval questions never ask for
the author’s purpose, but they could ask why or how something happens in a text.
WRITING
The following is adapted from
2 Mark for Review
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1896
novel A Lady of Quality. The young Based on the text, why does the
woman of the house has been chaplain bow to the young woman?
dressed in boys’ clothes throughout
her childhood, and a chaplain is A He attempts to offer a swift
meeting her for the first time. apology for criticizing the
The chaplain gave such a start young woman’s attire.
MATH
as made him drop his shovel If you weren’t sure what
hat. “Mistress!” And this was “deference” means, be
she—this fine young creature B He wishes to retrieve his sure to study the
who was tall and grandly dropped shovel hat from the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
enough built and knit to seem a floor in a dignified manner.
radiant being even when clad in
masculine attire. He picked up
C He wants to show deference
his hat and bowed so low that
towards the woman for her
it almost swept the floor in his
beauty and demeanor
obeisance. He was not used to
towards him.
female beauty which deigned to
cast great smiling eyes upon him,
for at my Lord Twemlow’s table
D He wants to demonstrate
he sat so far below the salt that
how he would greet dinner
women looked not his way.
guests at Lord Twemlow’s
table.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Try It Out: Info, Not Infer
Consider the following three sentences. For each sentence, circle all of the options
that are supported by the sentence and cross out those that are not supported.
i. Jaya feels overwhelmed by the number of essays she has due
tomorrow, though she knows that she could have spaced them out
more appropriately.
WRITING
a. Jaya was assigned all of the essays on the same day, as they all have
the same due date.
b. Jaya did not space her essay assignments out as well as she could
have.
MATH
c. Jaya had at least an entire week to complete each of the essays.
d. Jaya’s current feelings of stress are at least partially due to her own
decisions.
ii. Though they typically stick to their historical habitat in the Arctic
Circle, beluga whales have been spotted as far south as San Diego, a
city on the coast of California.
iii. An avid soccer fan, Miguel was saddened to see which team his
favorite club had drawn for its opening round match.
a. Miguel believes that the matchup will be a difficult game for his
soccer club to win.
b. Miguel was inconsolable despite the efforts of his family and close
friends.
with traffic,
If you weren’t sure what Bearing among the passers-by B They become obscured
“obscured” means, be your beauty, when viewed in direct
sure to study the Unsullied, wild, and delicate as a sunlight.
Vocabulary Hit Parade. flower.
And then I knew, past doubt or
C They cause congestion,
peradventure,
which adds to the city’s
Our loved and mighty Eleusinian
traffic problems.
mother
Had taken thought of me for her
pure worship.
D They create a backdrop
against which something
can stand out.
Highlight the word in the text that indicates where a comparison takes place.
Based on the comparison, what would be a good phrase for the Annotation box
that would describe the similarity between passers-by and meadow grasses?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
When All Else Fails
Retrieval questions can sometimes ask you about a person or idea that is the focus
of the entire text. If are not sure what to highlight in the text because of this, go
directly to the answers and eliminate the answers that are not consistent with what
you can see in the text.
WRITING
The following text is from Jane
5 Mark for Review
Austen’s 1817 novel Northanger
Abbey. Catherine is the oldest According to the text, what is true
daughter in a middle-class family. about Catherine?
The day which dismissed the
music-master was one of the A Catherine is not a
happiest of Catherine’s life. particularly studious
MATH
Her taste for drawing was not individual.
superior; though whenever she
could obtain the outside of a
letter from her mother or seize B Catherine frequently
upon any other odd piece of debates with her music-
paper, she did what she could master but neglects to
in that way, by drawing houses appreciate his expertise.
and trees, hens and chickens,
all very much like one another.
C Catherine can be unfairly
Writing and accounts she was
critical when examining
taught by her father; French by
others’ drawings.
her mother: her proficiency in
either was not remarkable, and
she shirked her lessons in both
D Catherine believes her
whenever she could.
music-master is a good
instructor.
RETRIEVAL DRILL
Time: 5 minutes
Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner. The adolescent “1861,” written in that same year.
narrator has grown up in the village of Moonfleet, Armed year! year of the struggle!
which is located near a vast bay.
Our village lies near the centre of Moonfleet Bay, a No dainty rhymes or sentimental love verses for
great bight twenty miles across, and a death-trap you, terrible year!
to up-channel sailors in a south-westerly gale. For Not you as some pale poetling, seated at a desk,
with that wind blowing strong from south, if you lisping cadenzas piano;
cannot double the Snout, you must most surely
MATH
come ashore; and many a good ship failing to round But as a strong man, erect, clothed in blue clothes,
that point has beat up and down the bay all day, advancing, carrying a rifle on your shoulder,
but come to beach in the evening. And once on the
With well-gristled body and sunburnt face and
beach, the sea has little mercy, for the water is deep
hands—with a knife in the belt at your side.
right in, and the waves curl over full on the pebbles
with a weight no timbers can withstand.
Based on the text, in what way is the year like a
According to the text, what is true of Moonfleet Bay? man?
A It can be navigated safely by most good ships. A It contains a longing for peace amidst battle.
B It has the strongest winds in the region. B It is full of love and romance.
C It is dangerous during gusty weather C It has been marked by losses from war.
conditions.
READING
Ophthalmologist Patricia Bath’s career began A team lead by Eduardo Mayoral at the Universidad
at the Yeshiva University and Harlem Hospital de Huelva in Spain investigated a series of footprints
Center, where she researched the relationships left by hominins, human ancestors, on the Iberian
among cancer, diet, and stress. In a program at Peninsula (on which Spain is located). Mayoral and
the Center led by Rabbi Moses D. Tendler, Bath his team determined that the footprints, known as
examined the impact of streptomycin residue on the Matalascañas footprints, were most likely made
bacteria. Based on this research, she later concluded by individuals from the Neanderthal evolutionary
WRITING
that cancer is a catabolic disease and that tumor lineage. The Matalascañas footprints are the first
growth is a symptom of cancer. She also formulated palaeoanthropological evidence discovered on the
a mathematical equation that could be used to Iberian Peninsula that dates from the Pleistocene era,
accurately predict the growth of cancer cells. which was 300,000 years ago. Thus, the Matalascañas
footprints are an important piece of evidence for
According to the text, what led Bath to conclude that understanding early human movements during the
cancer is a catabolic disease? Pleistocene Era.
MATH
A She researched the links among diet, stress, Based on the text, why do the authors suggest that the
and cancer progression. Matalascañas footprints are important?
D She discovered that tumor growth is a C The footprints confirm that the Matalascañas
symptom of cancer. hominins were native to the Iberian
Peninsula.
D The footprints are evidence of a definite
categorization that can be applied to all
hominid footprints of this era.
deference
vexation
obscure
• Two phrases that identify a Retrieval question are _______________________________ and ___________
________________________________.
________________________.
• Start each Retrieval question by highlighting _______ or _______ is the main focus of the question.
• Even if a Retrieval question asks you _______ or ______, it’s still looking for ___________.
• _________ the information in the text and then _____________, but don’t forget to ____________________
when a text or question is more complex.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Purpose questions are ____________________,
105
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
about details, but rather, what ____________________ those details are supporting.
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—MAIN IDEA
WRITING
be phrased one way:
MATH
text supports.
4. ____________________________________________________________.
places, such as playgrounds. To A Although ivy does not have
test their hypothesis, Maher and the smooth waxy leaves that
her team planted adult western are optimal for pollution
red cedar trees near one suburban control, ivy is still a viable
playground and planted ivy, alternative to western red
another common pollution reducer, cedar.
at a different suburban playground
in an area with a similar pollutant
If you weren’t sure what
MATH
mix. The team then monitored the B Because of the texture of its
“viable” means, be sure
air quality at both playgrounds leaves, western red cedar
to study the Vocabulary
over a period of time. They found can help to cleanse the
Hit Parade.
that the small, rough, evergreen atmosphere around
leaves of the western red cedar suburban playgrounds.
acted like a filter that captured
particulate pollution and prevented
it from circulating back into the C Because its evergreen leaves
atmosphere, while the smooth, are so rough, western red
waxy leaves of the ivy plants did cedar is ineffective at
not capture particulate pollution capturing particulate
nearly as well. pollution.
D The studies have proved
that planting western red
cedar is the most effective
solution to the problem of
pollution around children’s
playgrounds.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
The Sum of Its Parts
Authors of literature texts do not always directly state their main ideas, as their
focus often lies more on entertainment than explanation or supporting an argu-
ment. When you see a text that is a continuous description of a character or an
idea, use the Annotation box to write a brief summary of the text before going to
POE.
WRITING
The following text is adapted from
2 Mark for Review
Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886
novel Kidnapped, in which the Which choice best states the main
narrator, Balfour, is kidnapped and idea of the text?
taken to sea. He has just met the
ship’s cabin attendant, Ransome. A Ransome suffered traumatic
MATH
He told me his name was events as a sailor that
Ransome, and that he had caused him to experience
followed the sea since he was memory loss.
nine, but could not say how
old he was, as he had lost his
reckoning. He showed me tattoo B Ransome has problems
marks, baring his breast in the remembering facts and
teeth of the wind and in spite of never properly finished
my remonstrances, for I thought school.
it was enough to kill him; he
swore horribly whenever he
C Ransome wants to convey a
remembered, but more like a
particular image of himself
silly schoolboy than a man; and
to the narrator.
boasted of many wild and bad
things that he had done.
D Ransome wishes to frighten
the narrator through his
description of horrible
misdeeds.
Based on the description provided in the text, what would be a good summary of
Ransome’s interaction with the narrator to enter into the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________
D A teacher receives positive
news upon his return to
work, with a condition.
READING
Try It Out: Main Ideas and Details
For each of the following paragraphs, highlight the sentence that contains the
main idea, which should be the sentence that the other two sentences in the
paragraph are supporting.
i. Social media event planning has both its challenges and its draw-
backs. It’s relatively straightforward to create an event, and it’s easy
WRITING
to see which guests have confirmed as attending or not. However,
because of the convenience, it’s common for guests to not reply until
hours or even minutes before the event itself, leading to last-minute
phone calls and text messages that create stress.
ii. Many college hopefuls list the possibility of living in a new state or
region of the world as among the biggest draws towards attending a
MATH
four-year university. Despite this exciting prospect, the issue is most
certainly a complex one. Should any particular newly-minted college
students unexpectedly dislike their new surroundings, those indi-
viduals may not have the option to immediately transfer to a better
setting.
Based on the details of the poem, what are the main points made about the storm
that could be entered into the Annotation box?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
MAIN IDEA DRILL
Time: 5 Minutes
WRITING
1867 poem “With Antecedents.” The speaker is a Moonfleet, by John Meade Falkner. The narrator, John,
young man contemplating his recent and ancient is describing the town of Moonfleet, where he grew
ancestors. up.
As for me, (torn, stormy, even as I, amid these Now, there were not two hundred souls in
vehement days;) Moonfleet, and yet the houses that held them
straggled sadly over half a mile, lying at intervals
I have the idea of all, and am all, and believe in all; along either side of the road. Nothing was ever
MATH
I believe materialism is true, and spiritualism is made new in the village; if a house wanted repair
true--I reject no part. badly, it was pulled down, and so there were
toothless gaps in the street, and overrun gardens
Have I forgotten any part? with broken-down walls, and many of the houses
that yet stood looked as though they could stand but
Come to me, whoever and whatever, till I give you
little longer.
recognition.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
What is the main idea of the text?
B Moonfleet has expanded to its current size to
B The speaker is having trouble accounting for
hold the increased population.
contrasting belief systems.
The following text is from William Shakespeare’s In 2009, microbiologist Paul Davies hypothesized
1606 play The Tragedy of Macbeth. Lord Macbeth is that basic forms of life emerged at multiple times
discussing the medical condition of his wife, Lady and that other unique branches of the tree of life
Macbeth, with her doctor. would most likely be found in Earth’s harshest
Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind environments. While most scientists still believe that
diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, all life on Earth shares a common ancestor, recently
raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with the accumulation of examples of a “dark biome”—a
WRITING
some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed collection of organisms previously unknown to
bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon her science—has grown. For example, in 2023, researcher
heart? Armando Azua-Bustos found that almost half his
samples of bacteria from the brutally arid Atacama
What is the main idea of the text? Desert in Chile were substantially different from any
known forms of life on Earth.
A Lord Macbeth is challenging the doctor to
come up with a solution for his wife’s Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
MATH
affliction.
A The dark biome is difficult to study because of
the harsh environments in which it is likely to
B Lord Macbeth is mocking the idea that the be found.
doctor can cure Lady Macbeth.
B There is increasing evidence for the possibility
C Lord Macbeth is expressing his belief that the that basic life forms emerged separately on
doctor is intentionally withholding an antidote Earth more than once.
for his wife’s condition.
C The ability of researchers to identify different
D Lord Macbeth is questioning the doctor’s forms of life in harsh environments has
assessment of Lady Macbeth’s condition. increased due to technological advances.
D Arid environments are the most likely location
for the emergence of new forms of
microorganisms.
viable
impose
retain
• Remember that, like Retrieval questions, Main Idea questions are asking for _______________________
• As you read, look for the _________ or _________ that the details in the text are supporting.
• _________ the main claim or focus in the text and then _______________________.
• Don’t forget to ____________________ when a text is more of a description and doesn’t include a clear
____________________.
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Main Idea questions are
_____________________________.
117
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• illustrates
• support
• weaken or undermine
• claim, argument, hypothesis, or prediction
READING
4. ____________________________________________________________.
WRITING
evidence if needed) when using POE.
MATH
________________.
A claim is part of a text’s main idea but not the exact same thing as a main idea.
Your focus on Claims questions should be to find the argument mentioned in the
question itself.
B “The poetry of earth is
ceasing never.”
MATH
D “That is the Grasshopper’s—
he takes the lead.”
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Claims and Poetry
As you can already see from the first example, Claims is another question type
that may be accompanied by poetry texts. The good news is that you only need to
read the lines in each answer choice and ask whether they provide an example of
the highlighted claim—no advanced poetry degree required!
WRITING
“Occoneechee, The Maid of the
2 Mark for Review
Mystic Lake” is a 1916 poem
by Robert Frank Jarrett. The Which quotation from “Occoneechee,
poem describes the life of The Maid of the Mystic Lake” most
Occoneechee, the daughter of a effectively illustrates the claim?
Native American chief, as one of
loneliness and quiet: __________ A “Junaluska, chief, her father, /
Occoneechee was his pride, / In
MATH
the lonely little wigwam, / High
upon the mountain side.”
B “Though the life of
Occoneechee / Was one lonely
strange career, / And the
solitude and silence / Made the
romance of it drear.”
C “Occoneechee’s Mother Qualla
/ Passed away from earth to
God, / When this maiden was a
baby / And was covered by the
sod.”
D “Years had flown since
Occoneechee / Saw her loving
Whippoorwill, / High upon the
Smoky Mountain, / Near the
crystal rippling rill;”
Quotation Qualms
Most questions that ask you to illustrate a claim are followed by four excerpts from
a piece of literature which can sometimes run long. Focus on reading carefully and
don’t dismiss these longer quotes before you get to the end of them.
WRITING
B “Somewhere high overhead,
probably on the tower, I
heard the voice of the Count
calling in his harsh,
metallic whisper. His call
seemed to be answered from
far and wide by the howling
of wolves.”
C “I suppose one ought to pity
any thing so hunted as is the
Count. That is just it: this
Thing is not human—not
even beast. To read Dr.
Seward’s account of poor
Lucy’s death, and what
followed, is enough to dry
up the springs of pity in
one’s heart.”
D “It gave me almost a turn to
see again one of the letters
which I had seen on the
Count’s table before I knew
of his diabolical plans.
Everything had been
carefully thought out, and
done systematically and
with precision.”
READING
Half Right = All Wrong
Claims that you are asked to illustrate will often have two (or more) components
to them. When applying POE, be on the lookout for answers that address just one
of the components from the claim but neglect the other(s).
WRITING
“Astrophel” is an 1894 poem by
4 Mark for Review
Algernon Charles Swinburne. In
the poem, which describes the Which quotation from “Astrophel”
changing sky after a sunset over a most effectively illustrates the
garden, Swinburne describes this claim?
celestial event using elements from
the garden, writing, __________ A “The letters and lines on the
pages / That sundered mine
MATH
eyes and the flowers / Wax
faint as the shadows of ages
/ That sunder their season
and ours.”
B “A star in the moondawn of
Maytime, / A star in the
cloudland of change; / Too
splendid and sad for the
daytime / To cheer or eclipse
or estrange.”
C “A star in the silence that
follows / The song of the
death of the sun / Speaks
music in heaven, and the
hollows / And heights of the
world are as one.”
D “The flowers of the sun that
is sunken / Hang heavy of
heart as of head. The bees
that have eaten and
drunken / The soul of their
sweetness are fled.”
Researchers working on
5 Mark for Review
conservation efforts in rainforests
predict that nearly 500 species of Which finding, if true, would most
birds, most of which live in tropical directly support the researchers’
regions such as rainforests, are at prediction?
risk of being removed from their
native homes and entered into the A Pet shops report an
MATH
D Additional species of
uniquely colored birds have
been discovered in non-
tropical regions of the
world.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
The Right Pieces of the Puzzle
It’s entirely possible for a text to include multiple claims or for multiple answers to
begin the same way. Make sure to highlight the correct claim based on what the
question asks for, and read to the end of each answer when applying POE.
WRITING
“Inattentional blindness” is a
6 Mark for Review
phenomenon in which people
miss unexpected objects when Which finding, if true, would most
asked to perform a visual task. directly support Utz and her team’s
Some researchers believed that hypothesis?
only eyesight would be prone
to such a lapse as the eyes are A On average, subjects
most often confronted with counted the beats correctly
MATH
irrelevant details and trained to but missed most of the
discard those details. However, animal sounds.
researcher Sandra Utz and her
team hypothesized that a similar
“inattentional deafness” may occur B Most subjects identified
in the right circumstances. To test animal sounds in all music
this hypothesis, the team inserted tracks they heard.
animal sounds into music tracks
and then asked human subjects to
count the beats in the track. The C Most subjects reported that
team then surveyed the subjects it was easier to make out the
regarding the nature of what they animal sounds than it was
heard. to count the beats properly.
D On average, subjects
reported noticing the
animal sounds quickly and
losing track of the beat
count.
If you weren’t sure while also becoming the first Black the themes Meriwether
what “proponent” story analyst in Hollywood. In an explored in her bracing
means, be sure to article, a journalist asserts that coming-of-age novel have
study the Vocabulary Meriwether dedicated both her never been more relevant or
Hit Parade. professional and personal efforts to radical.”
staying involved with the current
events of her day.
B “For Meriwether, joining the
fight for Black liberation
was not a matter of if, but
when.”
C “In 1961, she became a
reporter for The Los Angeles
Sentinel...She was also
socially engaged, joining
the Congress of Racial
Equality.”
D “Her circle of friends
encompassed still more
writers, including Maya
Angelou and Sonia
Sanchez.”
READING
Try It Out: Strengthen, Weaken, or Irrelevant
Wrong answers on questions that ask you to support a claim don’t necessarily need
to weaken that claim. They can also be irrelevant to the claim entirely.
For each of the following claims, determine whether each piece of evidence would
strengthen its corresponding claim, would weaken its claim, or is irrelevant to
its claim.
WRITING
Claim 1: Mel Brooks’s comedy films parody specific works rather than entire
genres.
a. His film Young Frankenstein presents the characters and story of Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein novel in a humorous light.
MATH
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Claim 2: The primary difference between the phoenix and the firebird is in their
origins—the phoenix is most commonly associated with Greek mythology while
the firebird comes from Slavic folklore.
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Claim 3: Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb, widely con-
sidered his most famous invention.
___________________________
___________________________
MATH
___________________________
READING
Confidence with Contradictions
Occasionally, College Board will ask you for an answer that weakens a claim rather
than illustrates or supports it. Make sure to highlight words like weaken or
undermine in the question stem so you don’t forget and eliminate answers that do
the Opposite—in this case, that would be answers that strengthen or support the
claim.
WRITING
Astronomers have theorized that
8 Mark for Review
the Moon formed as a result of
a collision between Earth and Which finding, if true, would most
a Mars-size protoplanet named directly weaken the astronomers’
Theia (a scenario known as the theory?
Giant Impact Hypothesis), which
MATH
sent debris from the collision A Elements similar to those
into orbit around the Earth and found in Earth’s mantle
eventually formed what is now the have also been found in
Moon. Proponents of the theory meteorites.
cite research performed on lunar
samples collected during the Apollo
program that shows the presence B More meticulous studies
of similar elements in both the reveal that lower quantities
Moon’s and the Earth’s mantles. of certain elements are
found in the lunar samples
than were found in a recent
sampling of the Earth’s If you weren’t sure what
mantle. “meticulous” means, be
sure to study the
Vocabulary Hit Parade.
C Elements known to have a
low heat of vaporization are
found in larger quantities in
the Earth’s mantle than they
are in lunar rock samples.
D Celestial satellites such as
moons often form at the
same time as their planets
and thus consist of similar
elements.
_____________________________________________________________
CLAIMS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes
Tarkington. In the story, Penrod and Sam, a pair of rehearsing for an upcoming performance when they
boys, find a stray horse they name Whitey. While the decide to take a break and start harmonizing on a
boys believe the horse is simply hungry, the narrator popular song. One member suggests that they take
instead describes the horse as ill, as when Tarkington video of their harmonies to share on social media, but
writes of the horse, _________ the group’s advisor asserts that doing so would get
the post and the group blocked on social media due to
Which quotation from “A Reward of Merit” most copyright infringement.
effectively illustrates the claim?
MATH
READING
Researchers Eti Ben Simon and Matthew Walker Castle Richmond is an 1861 novel by Anthony Trollope.
claim to have found that altruistic behaviors—the In the book, Trollope suggests that in times of great
desire and willingness for humans to help each tragedy, he does not believe that people should seek
other—occurred less frequently when there was divine intervention, or aid from a deity: _________
a decrease in the quantity and quality of sleep.
Ben Simon, Walker, and colleagues Raphael Vallat Which quotation from Castle Richmond most
and Aubrey Rossi assessed results from a study in effectively illustrates the claim?
WRITING
which participants were either allowed eight hours
(considered a sufficient amount) of uninterrupted A “We so beg, thinking that God’s anger is hot
sleep or six hours of interrupted sleep. The next day, also against us. But, lo! the famine passes by,
the researchers provided each participant with a and a land that had been brought to the dust
pamphlet asking for donations to a local charity. by man’s folly is once more prosperous and
happy.”
Which finding from the researchers’ study, if true,
would most strongly support their claim?
MATH
B “The fault had been the lowness of education
A Participants who slept sufficiently and had and consequent want of principle among the
uninterrupted sleep were as willing to hold an middle classes; and this fault had been found
elevator door open for a stranger as were as strongly marked among the Protestants as it
participants who slept less and had had been among the Roman Catholics.”
interrupted sleep.
C “But on no Christian basis can I understand
B Participants who had received a sufficient the justice or acknowledge the propriety of
amount of uninterrupted sleep were more asking our Lord to abate his wrath in detail, or
likely to make a charitable donation than were to alter his settled purpose.”
those who had received reduced and
interrupted sleep.
D “The destruction of the potato was the work of
God; and it was natural to attribute the
C Participants who made charitable donations at sufferings which at once overwhelmed the
the conclusion of the experiment reported unfortunate country to God’s anger—to his
longer bouts of uninterrupted sleep in a wrath for the misdeeds of which that country
follow-up survey than did those who did not had been guilty.”
make charitable donations.
D Participants who did not make charitable
donations were proportionally much more
likely to report feelings of loneliness in a
follow-up survey, regardless of how long and
how well they slept.
“Cities” is a 1916 poem by Hilda Doolittle, who moved Using complex staging and an assortment of sounds
to London after growing up and attending college in and images to incorporate different storylines,
Pennsylvania. The poem reflects Doolittle’s positivity Canadian Métis playwright Marie Clements explores
towards the city of London through the description of the interconnectedness of diverse historical paths.
a fictitious creator of cities: _________ The nonlinear nature of her play Burning Visions,
for example, brings characters from different
Which quotation from “Cities” most effectively timeframes and locations into conversation. In a
WRITING
illustrates the claim? master’s thesis, one graduate student claims that
a particular strength of Burning Visions is the
A “ For alas, / he had crowded the city so full / connections woven among the diverse individuals
that men could not grasp beauty, / beauty was who populate Clements’s story.
over them.”
Which quotation from a scholarly review of Burning
Visions best supports the student’s claim?
B “So he built a new city, / ah can we believe, not
MATH
ironically / but for new splendour / constructed A “Although the play’s characters exist in
new people / to lift through slow growth.” different time periods and different parts of
the world, Clements creates relationships
among the characters that defy such temporal
C “And in these dark cells, / packed street after and geographic divisions.”
street, / souls live, hideous yet— / O disfigured,
defaced.”
B “By dividing the play into movements, rather
than acts, Clements de-emphasizes the human
D “Though we wander about, / find no honey of activity of the characters and instead focuses
flowers in this waste, / is our task the less the audience’s attention on the importance of
sweet— / who recall the old splendour.” place.”
C “Clements is truly an avant-garde playwright.
Her multimedia productions incorporate
elements of theater and film in new and
inventive ways.”
D “Unlike most Western apocalyptic tales, which
portray the end of the world as happening at
some unspecified time in the future, many
indigenous narratives depict the apocalypse as
having already occurred.”
READING
“The White Butterfly” is an 1850 short story by Tyrannosaurus rex lived between approximately 66
Jose Selgas. The focus of the story is a young and 90 million years ago. Dr. Stephan Lautenschlager
woman’s transition to adulthood after a prolonged analyzed the shape of the eye socket—or orbit—of
adolescence of frivolity and adventure. The young more than 400 species that lived between 66 and 252
woman’s disposition prior to that metamorphosis million years ago looking for a correlation between
is exemplified when Selgas describes her as having the shapes of their orbits and their diets and body
_________ sizes. Lautenschlager found that among carnivorous
WRITING
dinosaurs with large skulls, such as T. rex, the orbit
Which quotation from “The White Butterfly” most was keyhole-shaped. Lautenschlager claimed that
effectively illustrates the claim? the primary reason for the keyhole shape of the eye
socket was to reduce impact stress on the skull from
A “passed her life without thinking of anything high bite forces due to the species’ carnivorous diets.
more serious than the innocent pranks of
childhood; she was a child up to the age of Which finding, if true, would most directly
seventeen, but a boisterous, gay, restless, undermine Lautenschlager’s claim?
MATH
daring, mischievous child.”
A Of the species analyzed, eye sockets that were
keyhole-shaped were found largely in species
B “hair like gold and a complexion as fair as of varying sizes known to be carnivorous.
snow; ardent and impassioned in speech, and
with steadfast, searching, and melancholy
eyes, blue as the blue of deep waters.” B Fossil records of many of the species analyzed
are known to be incomplete, making it difficult
to determine the species’ actual sizes.
C “shone with a strange light, and in the fearless
expression of her countenance was to be
divined the strength of an unalterable C The fossilized skulls of herbivorous species
resolution.” analyzed in the study had a nearly equivalent
distribution of circular and keyhole-shaped
orbits, even though the size of the skulls was
D “seemed to have been seized by a sudden fit of smaller than those of carnivorous species.
restlessness that would not let her sit still for a
moment. She went to and fro, upstairs and
down, out and in, with the mechanical D Fossils of a large, carnivorous species similar
movement of an automaton.” to T. rex that Lautenschlager did not examine
revealed that keyhole-shaped orbits
principally developed to support large, wide-
set eyes that improved depth perception for
hunting.
prevalent
proponent
meticulous
• The primary phrases that identify Claims question are __________________, __________________, and
_______________________________.
_____________________, or _______________________.
• Whether you are asked to illustrate, support, or weaken a claim, always start by _____________________
• Wrong answers on support or weaken questions don’t need to do the _________________ of the question
• The other trap answers you will see most often on Claims questions are _______________________,
135
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
The three types of figures you may see on Charts questions are
READING
THE READING BASIC APPROACH—CHARTS
As with Dual Texts questions, it will be fairly obvious when you encounter a
Charts question, so we can modify the Basic Approach to suit the question type.
1. ___________________________________________________________.
Make sure you understand whether you are being asked to support
or weaken a claim or to complete a statement or example of a claim or
WRITING
conclusion.
2. ___________________________________________________________.
Familiarize yourself with the figure so you can more quickly access
the data needed to address the text and the question.
3. ___________________________________________________________.
MATH
Look for the claim made by the text regarding the data in the figure,
not the background information that gives the figure context.
4. ___________________________________________________________.
You won’t need to annotate on Charts questions often, but do so if
the claim and/or example are lengthy and a summary may be helpful
when using POE.
_____________________________________.
The bottom line for Charts: not only does the correct answer
need to describe the data from the figure accurately, but it
must also address the claim included in the question.
(USD) (units)
Magnavox Odyssey 100 350,000 A The Magnavox Odyssey and Home Pong had
launch prices that were approximately the
TV Tennis Electrotennis 66 20,000 same, yet the Magnavox Odyssey sold more
Home Pong 98.95 150,000 than double the number of units of Home
Pong.
Coleco Telstar 50 1,000,000
Color TV-Game 36 3,000,000
MATH
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
READING
You Complete Me
Instead of supporting a claim, you could also be asked to complete a statement or example based on a claim. You’ll still
highlight the claim in the text, but you’ll also want to stay consistent with the statement or example stated at the end of
the text.
WRITING
of Four Exoplanets
Which choice most effectively uses data from the
Exoplanet Mass Radius Average table to complete the example?
(ME) (RE) temperature
(K) A K2-384 e’s radius is 1.35 RE .
K2-384 e 2.34 1.35 370
Kepler-1704 b 1,319 11.94 254 B Kepler-1704 b’s average temperature is
MATH
TOI-2180 b 875.54 11.32 348 254 K.
160
MATH
140
B The average number of internal details
120 generated was less for those who consumed
100 alcohol when compared to those who
80 consumed a placebo.
60
40 C The average number of internal details was
greater than the average number of external
20
details for both those who consumed alcohol
0 and those who consumed a placebo.
Past Future Past Future
Internal details External details
D The average number of internal details
alcohol
generated for the alcohol group was higher
placebo
when describing the future than when
describing the past.
An international team of researchers led by If you weren’t sure what “viable” means, be sure
psychopharmacologist Morgan Elliott investigated to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
the effects of alcohol on the ability for someone to
imagine him- or herself in the past or in the future.
Elliott and the team asked participants, some of
whom consumed alcohol while others consumed a
placebo, to describe events that happened in the past
or that may occur in the future. The participants
were additionally asked to give both internal details,
such as how they might feel emotionally during the
past or future event, as well as external details, such
as descriptions of their surroundings. According to
the researchers, the findings suggest that alcohol may
impair an individual’s ability to describe internal
details.
READING
Don’t Dive Deep Into the Data
The figures on Charts questions often include more data than is needed to answer the question. Before you spend
time analyzing every last facet of graph or table, use the highlighted claim or conclusion in the text to narrow down
the data to only what you actually need.
WRITING
100 Which choice most effectively uses data from the
90 graph to complete the example?
80
Percentage of trials
MATH
30 B Tsimane’ adults, US adults, 3-to-4-year-old
20 children, and monkeys had similar
10 percentages of trials in which they produced
0 crossed sequences.
US Tsimane’ 3-to-4 monkeys crows
adults adults year olds
C Both US and Tsimane’ adults produced center-
center-embedded
embedded sequences in more than 50 percent
crossed
of their respective trials, whereas 3-to-4-year-
tail-embedded
old children did not.
Disease Transmission R
WRITING
READING
Holding the Line
The last type of figure you can see on Charts questions is a line graph, which is useful for tracking changes over time
but can be used for any type of numeric scale. As with bar graphs, you can be asked to both support or weaken a
claim or to complete a statement.
WRITING
Leghorn Chicks over 30 Minutes by Age
Which choice most effectively uses data from the
120 graph to justify the underlined claim?
Number of observations
100
A The chicks were observed to play
80
approximately 90 times in 30 minutes at 28
60 days of age and 65 times in 30 minutes at 56
40
days of age.
MATH
20
0 B The greatest number of observations of play
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 was approximately 10 in 30 minutes at 4 days
Age (days) of age.
A group of researchers led by business professor If you weren’t sure what “divergent” means, be
Karthik Srinivasan studied the effects of sound sure to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
levels on the physiological well-being (measured by
heart rate monitors and periodic surveys) of a group
of US federal employees. Srinivasan and his team
discovered that certain characteristics of individuals,
such as medical conditions, correlate with divergent
responses to sound levels. For instance, while most
employees had the greatest physiological well-being
at sound levels of 50 dB, those with high blood
pressure had ___________
READING
The Task Tells All
No matter what type of figure you are presented with, keep your question task in mind—should a question ask you
to weaken, rather than support, a claim, you need to find data that goes against the claim made in the text while still
referencing the same variables and units as the text.
WRITING
Which choice best describes data from the graph that
300
weaken the student’s hypothesis?
250
A
Change in Yield (kh/ha)
150
B
MATH
Bats and birds had a much greater impact on
100
crop yield than did squirrels.
50
POE = Efficiency
You will occasionally see some longer answers on Charts questions, depending on how much of the statement you are
asked to complete or how involved the claim in the text is. Stay consistent with the claim and eliminate answers as
soon as any portion of the answer contradicts the text or data.
READING
CHARTS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes
WRITING
Which choice most effectively uses data from the
Year table to complete the statement?
1955 1975 1995 2015
A 1955 with the choice percentages for 1975.
Football
22% 23% 25% 48%
(Ages 12 to 39)
Baseball B 1975 with the choice percentages for 1995.
36% 23% 21% 10%
(Ages 12 to 39)
MATH
Basketball C 1955 with the choice percentages for 1995.
10% 4% 10% 11%
(Ages 12 to 39)
Football
(Ages 40 and 31% 22% 37% 29% D 1955 with the choice percentages for 2015.
above)
Baseball
(Ages 40 and 36% 34% 33% 18%
above)
Basketball
(Ages 40 and 11% 5% 10% 15%
above)
30
25 B Broadway had approximately 35 new
20 productions in 2007 and approximately 45 in
2016.
15
10
C The lowest total number of new productions
5 on Broadway during the years shown was
MATH
0 approximately 45 in 2013.
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
D The greatest total number of new productions
Total on Broadway during the years shown was
approximately 41 in 2012.
Broadway productions in New York City consist of
musicals, plays, and specials. The graph shows the
number of new productions of all types opened
on Broadway in New York City from 2007 to 2016.
According to a theater student, although the number
of new Broadway productions per year varied
significantly over the years shown, the overall
number of new productions increased over the given
time period.
READING
Candidates for US Senate
Which choice best describes data from the graph that
1,250,000
support the students’ suggestion?
1,000,000
A The total amount of donations to senators in
US dollars
WRITING
500,000
B The total amount of donations to senators in
250,000 both states that allow and do not allow
fracking did not increase much from 2004 to
0 2006.
2004 2006 2008
Years
C The total amount of donations to senators in
MATH
states with fracking states that do not allow fracking was the
states without fracking highest in 2006.
5
A reached their highest level in the same year
Satisfaction level
3 lowest levels.
2
B aligned fairly closely with satisfaction levels
1 for behavioral therapy in 1960 but differed
from satisfaction levels for behavioral therapy
0
1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 by a large amount in 2020.
Year
MATH
The various schools of psychological thought D were substantially higher than satisfaction
have very different approaches to treating phobic levels for behavioral therapy in 1940 but
disorders, although comprehensive studies substantially lower than satisfaction levels for
evaluating client satisfaction with each type of behavioral therapy in 1980.
intervention are rare. To explore this issue, a
group of research psychologists collected both
recent and archival self-report data concerning
individuals suffering from phobias and their levels of
reported satisfaction subsequent to their respective
therapeutic interventions. One revelation of the
study was that types of therapy and their treatment
modalities tend to fall in and out of favor with the
client population, as is the case with psychodynamic
therapy, the satisfaction levels for which ____________
READING
Poverty Status over a 22-Month Period
20 Which choice most effectively uses data from the
graph to complete the conclusion?
A the difference between the unemployment
rates of urban and rural counties with
Unemployment rate percent)
15
persistent poverty was greater than the
WRITING
difference between the unemployment rates in
urban and rural counties without persistent
poverty.
10
B the four types of counties studied differed
greatly in their unemployment rates at various
5 times throughout the given period but began
the period with similar unemployment rates.
MATH
C urban counties with persistent poverty
0 displayed a slight increase in unemployment
Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct
rates and then a sharp decrease early in the
2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009
given period, whereas urban counties without
rural, persistent poverty persistent poverty displayed a sharp decrease
rural, without persistent poverty in unemployment rates followed by a slight
urban, persistent poverty
increase early in the given period.
urban, without persistent poverty
To determine the factors that can affect D rural counties with persistent poverty had
unemployment rates, researchers at the US lower unemployment rates at certain points
Department of Agriculture compiled data from over the given period than did rural counties
both rural and urban counties and determined without persistent poverty.
whether each county had persistent poverty or not.
Persistent poverty exists when twenty percent or
more of a county population has incomes below
the poverty level threshold for a period of forty or
more consecutive years. The researchers concluded
that whether a county was urban or rural affected
unemployment rates in counties with persistent
poverty more than it did in counties without
persistent poverty: ____________
between cylinder 2 0
C Big brown bats were able to complete only the
wall thickness at
cylinder contents task, while dolphins were
0.1 millimeters (mm)
able to complete both the cylinder contents
Average frequency of and the cylinder wall thickness tasks.
180 110
signal in kilohertz (kHz)
Dolphins and bats use echolocation, a sonar-like D The vast majority of the animals in the study
method of detection. The animal emits a signal were unsuccessful at discriminating cylinder-
that bounces off an object, and the echo provides wall thickness at 0.1 millimeters.
information about that object’s size and distance.
However, the echolocation abilities of the two species
vary. A researcher conducted an experiment in which
17 dolphins and 15 bats had to discriminate between
two seemingly identical cylinders based on their
hidden contents, and then discriminate between two
additional seemingly identical cylinders based on
wall thickness. He hypothesized that the dolphins,
whose echolocation signals are penetrative, would
be able to perform both tasks, but the bats, whose
echolocation signals are indiscriminate, would have
difficulty with the cylinder wall thickness task.
READING
Weekend Admissions
Which choices best describes data from the graph
15
14 that weaken the board’s theory?
13
Percentage of occurrence
12 A Of the events that occurred post-intervention,
11
10 ten percent were patient mortalities and one
9 percent were CPR events.
WRITING
8
7
6
B A larger percentage of the events both pre- and
5
4 post-intervention were patient mortalities
3 than either ICU admissions or CPR events.
2
1
0
ICU CPR Patient C The percentage of events that were ICU
admission event mortality admissions was larger post-intervention than
MATH
Type of event it was pre-intervention.
pre-intervention post-intervention
D The percentage of CPR events pre-intervention
was roughly double the percentage of CPR
In Taiwan, administrators of hospitals frequently events post-intervention.
seek recommendations from medical advisors to
decrease the occurrence of negative outcomes for
patients admitted on the weekend, when hospitals
typically carry fewer staff and are less able to
respond to medical emergencies. A medical advisory
board theorized that hospitals are likely to see a
reduction in negative outcomes, such as patient
admission to the ICU (intensive care unit), the
need for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), or
patient mortality (death), if the hospitals approve
intervention measures such as additional training
for weekend staff on medical procedures and
equipment. The board contacted several hospitals
throughout Taiwan, offering a training program for
the hospitals’ weekend staff and asking to collect data
from the hospitals on the percent occurrence of ICU
admissions, CPR events, and patient mortality both
before and after the training program.
viable
divergent
assert
• The types of figures you will see on Charts questions are ___________________, ____________________
• Find and highlight the _______________________ or _______________________ in the text that uses the
same keywords as the figure.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Charts questions are
157
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
_______________________________________________.
READING
4. ____________________________________________________________.
WRITING
but keep your focus primarily on the highlighting when using
POE.
MATH
___________________________, and ___________________________.
baseball, table tennis, and cricket, A tend to have hand-eye
are left-handed. One explanation coordination that is no
for this phenomenon might be that better than that of their
left-handedness offers a particular left-handed opponents.
advantage in such sports, since
right-handed players ____________
B have less exposure to and
are therefore unfamiliar
MATH
C are naturally more inclined
to pursue individual sports
such as track and field or
swimming.
D would prefer to play against
left-handed competitors
when possible.
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Follow the Argument
Many Conclusions questions will operate similarly to Charts questions that ask
you to complete a statement. The best conclusion to the text will often be related
to a claim or argument made in the same sentence as the blank or the sentence
before.
WRITING
health warnings on cigarette packs
and reduce the pervasiveness Which choice most logically
of smoking, several countries completes the text?
have introduced legislation
requiring that cigarettes be sold in A encourage consumers to
standard packaging free of logos disregard warnings about
and other brand images. Critics the health risks associated
argue that plain packaging is with smoking.
MATH
counterproductive. For example,
since the packages now look alike, If you weren’t sure what
smokers tend to buy the least B allow legislators to focus on “pervasiveness” means,
expensive cigarettes rather than more pressing societal be sure to study the
their preferred brands as they once concerns than cigarette Vocabulary Hit Parade.
did. Thus, critics contend, far from packaging.
reducing the overall number of
cigarettes that people smoke, plain
packaging laws ____________ C encourage the tobacco
industry to spend more
money on marketing
campaigns that target young
people.
D enable cigarette smokers to
support their habit at a
lower cost, potentially
increasing rates of smoking.
States. Those who regard Tagore B are overly critical of
only as a poet, therefore, ____________ Tagore’s later work and
unfairly dismiss his artistic
efforts.
C assume that his paintings
explore similar cross-
cultural themes as his
poems.
D value works that receive
global recognition over
those that only receive local
recognition.
READING
Try It Out: Conclusions from Evidence
For each of the sets of evidence below, choose the most logical conclusion. Then,
identify which sentence is most consistent with the answer you chose.
WRITING
“Ebay” discusses a series of whimsical and unnecessary purchases “juxtaposes” means,
from the popular auction website, while the original song “I Want It be sure to study the
That Way” by the Backstreet Boys discusses love and its impact on Vocabulary Hit Parade.
human relationships. Similarly, his song “Couch Potato” describes
a character who is obsessed with every show on television, while the
original song “Lose Yourself” by Eminem focuses on the hurdles
and obstacles one must overcome to pursue their passion. Therefore,
MATH
____________
Highlight the sentence that is most consistent with the answer you chose.
What role do the other sentences of the text serve in relation to the sentence that
you highlighted?
_____________________________________________________________
proved hours, vacation time, and room quality as they move up the
ranks of the cruise ship. Therefore, ____________
Highlight the sentence that is most consistent with the answer you chose.
Which word or phrase indicates that a shift occurs within the text?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
POE Parses the Pairs
Some Conclusions questions will feature two pairs of answers with similar ideas or
structures in them. If you can identify what is or is not the focus of the text, you
can eliminate half of the answer choices immediately.
WRITING
based foods and beverages, offer Which choice most logically
a wide variety of health benefits completes the text?
because of their antioxidative
and anti-inflammatory effects. A A most people may be
great deal has been written about uncertain about how to
the benefits of drinking green tea introduce catechins to their
for balancing cholesterol levels diets.
and maintaining cardiovascular
MATH
health. A recent study also found
that the catechins in green tea can B most people drink large
help improve cognitive function quantities of green tea to
in the hippocampus, the part of improve cognitive function.
the brain vital to learning and
memory. These findings suggest
that ____________ C green tea consumption
might be even more
beneficial than was once
believed.
D green tea consumption
benefits cognitive function
more than it benefits
cardiovascular health.
READING
Using the Right Words the Right Way
All answers can use Recycled Language, but it’s particularly common on
Conclusions questions with science-based texts, in which technical language can
be widespread. Make sure the terms in each answer are being used exactly as they
were in the text.
WRITING
line between the solar system’s
inner rocky planets and outer gas Which choice most logically
giants. Some astronomers theorize completes the text?
that the region was once heavily
populated with planetesimals, A support the conventional
rocky materials that formed view that the asteroid belt
there but were prevented from contains the remnants of a
coalescing into larger planets by region that was once heavily
MATH
Mars and Jupiter’s gravitational populated.
pulls. According to this theory,
roughly 99% of the material
originally present in the asteroid B prove that the asteroid belt
belt was pulled away from the once contained a much
belt over time. Researchers have larger planet that suffered
discovered, however, that the an internal explosion.
two largest objects remaining
in the asteroid belt—Ceres and
Vesta—have notably different C suggest that the asteroid belt
compositions from each other, was formed in part by the
suggesting that they originated accumulation of materials
in vastly different primordial from elsewhere in the solar
environments. These findings system.
____________
D contradict widely held
assumptions about the force
of Jupiter’s gravitational
pull.
D eliminate the need for lead
surgeons and their teams to
attend postoperative
debriefings.
READING
In Summary
Occasionally, a Conclusions question can operate more like a Retrieval or Main
Idea question, looking for a summary of part or all of the text rather than a com-
pletion of the text. On these problems, highlight exactly what the question is ask-
ing for and don’t forget about the Annotation box if a summary will help make
your POE more efficient.
WRITING
Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson
8 Mark for Review
employs a range of everyday
materials and objects, many with Which choice best describes
autobiographical significance, Johnson’s approach to art, as
in a body of work that includes presented in the text?
photographs, sculptures, paintings,
films, mosaics, and more. Several of A His early experiences as a
his installations include items from biographer helped to inform
MATH
the artist’s own life: houseplants, his visual art.
books, album covers, CB radios,
and—a familiar motif in much of
Johnson’s work—shea butter. By B His body of work offers
utilizing items associated with cultural commentary
his own childhood and placing through a diverse array of
them within the larger context of media.
African American history, Johnson
examines the complex intersection
of personal, racial, and cultural C He uses found objects in his
identity. art primarily to minimize
production costs.
D By focusing solely on his
personal past, he avoids the
complications of larger
social themes.
_____________________________________________________________
CONCLUSIONS DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes
pandemic in Europe, which began with the Black area for cultivation and provided the newly cleared
Death of 1348 and lasted intermittently until the mid- land with a nutrient-rich layer to help fertilize the
19th century, involves the long-term presence of the soil. The benefits were only temporary, though, and
bacterium Yersinia pestis in wild rodents and their after several years the area would be left fallow.
fleas. Recent research has shown, however, that the Modern slash-and-burn tends to operate on a larger
environmental conditions within Europe itself at the scale and contributes significantly to soil degradation
time would have prevented the presence of persistent, and biodiversity loss. Alternatives such as alley-
long-term animal reservoirs of the bacterium. These cropping, therefore, _______________
MATH
READING
Ancient DNA extracted from an infant girl’s The Wari civilization flourished in the south-central
11,500-year-old remains discovered in Alaska Andes and the coastal area of modern-day Peru
supports the theory that the Americas were settled during the Middle Horizon period (c. 550–1000 CE).
in part by migrants from Siberia who crossed the The steep, rugged terrain of the mountains made
Bering land bridge beginning about 20,000 years farming difficult, so the Wari cut terraces into the
ago. A more recent finding revealed traces of Native hillsides. In addition to allowing people to grow
American ancestry in the DNA of ten people whose crops in vast, previously uncultivated areas, the
WRITING
remains were unearthed in Siberia, with the oldest terrace system prolonged the growing season and
sample dating back 7,500 years. Taken together, the provided an effective means of conserving scarce
two discoveries suggest that _______________ water. The practice was expanded by the Incas but
discontinued under Spanish conquest. Inspired by
Which choice most logically completes the text? recent archeological findings, however, some present-
day farmers in the region _______________
A once the Bering land bridge was submerged,
populations on both sides remained isolated Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
from one another for 20,000 years.
A endeavor to resurrect some of the traditional
practices.
B considerably more archeological discoveries
have been made in Siberia than in Alaska.
B recognize the futility of planting crops in such
a mountainous region.
C early migrations between Siberia and Alaska
may have occurred in both directions.
C advocate for shortening the growing season in
order to conserve water.
D the Bering land bridge theory was most likely
mistaken, as it is incompatible with the more
recent findings. D question the efficacy of traditional Wari
agricultural methods.
Archeologists who excavated the ancient city Many mammals, including macaque monkeys and
of Çatalhöyük (located in present-day Türkiye) various species of otters, interact with inanimate
uncovered a figurine of a seated woman. The objects as a form of play. Researchers at Queen Mary
research team surmised that the woman was sitting University of London tested whether such object play
on a throne and that the abstract shape between the could also be detected among organisms with less
woman’s ankles represented a newborn child. From complex brains, such as bumblebees. When given
this, they concluded that the people of Çatalhöyük the option to proceed through an unobstructed path
WRITING
worshipped a fertility goddess. Journalist Annalee to a feeding area or else deviate from the path to roll
Newitz points out, however, that such figurines wooden balls, the bees repeatedly went out of their
were hastily molded and typically found in trash way to roll the balls. The ball-rolling did not confer
piles rather than wall displays. This suggests that any survival benefits, suggesting that _______________
_______________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A the bees were tricked into believing they
MATH
A Çatalhöyük was most likely a matriarchal would gain more food as a reward for rolling
society. the balls than they would get from proceeding
directly to the feeding area.
B the figurine might not have been an object of
reverence. B bumblebees do not also engage in social play,
which can improve muscle coordination and
locomotor versatility while simultaneously
C figurines of newborn children were frequently strengthening social bonds.
included in Turkish wall displays.
C the tendency to engage in object play, which
D most artifacts at the Çatalhöyük site were seems to confer only intrinsic rewards, might
found in trash piles. not be limited to species with highly complex
brains.
READING
In some of the early research designed to measure the The pathogenic fungus chestnut blight (Cryphonectria
effects of occupational noise on employee well-being parasitica) is native to East and Southeast Asia. It
and job performance, researchers failed to control was introduced to both Europe and North America
for other environmental stressors. Office spaces with in the early 1900s, where it has devastated the
superior air quality, comfortable temperatures, and ecologically, economically, and culturally important
efficient lighting, for example, were evaluated based chestnut trees, with profound effects on associated
only on their noise levels, as were office spaces with ecosystems. Because of the often severe impacts of
WRITING
poor air quality, inconsistent temperatures, and invasive species in new environs, tracing the route
inadequate lighting. One study investigating open- of transmission of such species around the globe
plan offices concluded that elevated noise levels were receives much attention. Often, agricultural trade
to blame for decreased well-being, which in turn is to blame. Given that chestnut blight was first
led to reduced motivation, focus, and productivity identified in a European country in 1938 but was
among at least some workers. The early research known to exist in North America as early as 1904, it
_______________ can be concluded that _______________
MATH
Which choice most logically completes the text? Which choice most logically completes the text?
A indicates that the findings regarding noise and A chestnut blight in Europe likely came from
job performance are equally applicable to North America rather than from Asia.
employees in more traditional office
environments.
B an agricultural source is likely responsible for
chestnut blight in North America, but not in
B rules out the possibility that occupational Europe.
noise can contribute to stress and a loss of
productivity among workers in open plan
offices. C a single country in Asia is likely the source of
chestnut blight in both North America and
Europe.
C proves that workers in open-plan offices are,
on average, less productive than their
counterparts in traditional office spaces due to D it is likely that the first transmission of
poor worker morale. chestnut blight to North America did not come
from Europe.
D could suggest that office acoustics have a
greater impact on employee well-being and job
performance than they do in reality.
pervasive
juxtapose
foster
_______________________________________________________________________.
• Find and highlight the ___________ or ____________________ that is most relevant to the incomplete
sentence in the text.
• When in doubt, choose the answer that is ____________________ with as much of the text as possible.
• If there are two pairs of answers, try to ____________________ one of the two pairs for being inconsis-
tent with the focus of the text.
• The trap answers you will see most often on Conclusions questions are ________________________,
175
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Remind yourself about the six main types of trap answers you will see
on the Digital SAT
• Understand the different ways each trap answer can appear
• Use Process of Elimination to effectively eliminate trap answers
WRITING
2.___________________________________________________________ .
3.___________________________________________________________ .
4.___________________________________________________________ .
5.___________________________________________________________ .
READING
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
The two best times to look for trap answers are the following situations:
1. You can’t find something to highlight in the text that would serve as
an answer to the question.
2. You have two or three answers remaining and can’t decide between
WRITING
them.
When either of these occurs, compare each answer back to the text and ask, “Is
this answer supported by the text? Why or why not?” If you can’t find support for
the answer, you’ve probably found a trap answer.
MATH
THE SIX MOST COMMON TRAP ANSWERS
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
POE ORIENTATION
Consider the following sentence and question:
This year, after hearing numerous pleas from the students, our high school admin-
istration finally created a volleyball team.
a. To declare that the students at the high school have always wanted a
volleyball team
c. To state that the high school finally disbanded the school’s volleyball
team
d. To imply that some students may have opposed the creation of the
school’s volleyball team
READING
e. To explain that the high school’s volleyball team pleaded with the
administration to be allowed to participate in the finals this year
WRITING
f. To identify the sport that has been approved for a team by the high
school administration
MATH
g. To indicate that a specific request regarding an athletic organization
has been granted
OPPOSITE
Opposite traps involve words or phrases that go against the text in some way.
a. commended
b. rebuked
c. disregarded
ii. Which of the following choices represent the opposite attitude that
the author takes towards da Vinci’s approximation?
READING
iv. Which of the following choices, if true, would weaken the author’s
claims regarding da Vinci instead of strengthening them?
WRITING
clusions drawn by da Vinci that Newton’s own work confirmed.
c. An analysis published by an art historian states that da Vinci was
most certainly a skilled artist, but each of his techniques can be
traced back to an artistic predecessor.
MATH
text?
EXTREME LANGUAGE
Extreme Language traps involve words or phrases that go further in degree than
what the text can support.
a. incredulity
b. skepticism
c. astonishment
ii. Which of the following choices take the opinion of the academics and
turn it into a judgment or recommendation?
a. The academics would claim that the premise of a theory may not
be true in reality.
b. The academics would criticize Hardin for not doing proper
research before publishing his work.
c. The academics believe that the tragedy of the commons must be
tested in a laboratory before it can be accepted as truth.
READING
iv. Which of the following choices contain an absolute word that invali-
dates them?
WRITING
c. For academics, the only concern regarding the tragedy of the com-
mons is its applicability to the real world.
MATH
idea to be presented since the 1960s.
b. The academics have less certainty regarding the validity of the
tragedy of the commons than Hardin did.
c. Academics consider the tragedy of the commons to be a worst-case
scenario when it comes to natural resources.
RECYCLED LANGUAGE
Recycled Language traps take exact words or phrases from the text but use them
in a way that is different from how the author used those words or phrases.
ii. Which of the following choices contain words out of context that
have been taken from completely different parts of the passage?
iii. Which of the following choices take two things that are discussed
together in the text and create an unsupported relationship between
those things?
READING
RIGHT ANSWER, WRONG QUESTION
Right Answer, Wrong Question traps will be accurate based on the text or figure
but will not address the question task in some way.
WRITING
It was late in November, 1456. The snow fell over Paris with
rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a
sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a
lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air,
silent, circuitous, interminable. To poor people, looking up
under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came
from. Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative
MATH
that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter
plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels
moulting? He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and
as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not
venture to conclude.
ii. Which of the following choices only reference a detail from the text
rather than the main idea of the text?
iii. Which of the following choices only reference a detail from the text
rather than the purpose of the text?
READING
iii. Which of the following choices make use of outside knowledge to
make themselves more appealing?
WRITING
c. The speaker notes that survivors of wartime tragedies can com-
memorate those tragedies decades later thanks to a longer human
lifespan than in ages past.
iv. Which of the following choices make predictions of the future that
are not supported by the text?
MATH
a. The area is likely to be attacked again, as it has already proven a
vulnerable target.
b. The song is meant to serve as a warning of a fate that could befall
Rome again.
c. The bold Tribunes will continue to stand by the good men of the
Commons for many years to come.
HALF-RIGHT
Half-Right traps are a special category of trap that can catch test-takers if they
don’t do two specific things: read every word of each answer choice and stay con-
sistent with the entire claim within a text.
WRITING
i. Which of the following choices have only one half supported by the
text?
READING
“The Banshee” is a traditional Irish short story attributed to
an unknown author. In the short story, the author describes
the mythical banshee as being a herald of death whose
disturbed emotional state reflects the manner of death that
will be experienced by the individual she has chosen to haunt:
____________
WRITING
ii. Which of the following choices address only part of the claim refer-
enced in the text above?
MATH
her lamentations.”
b. “Some would fain have it that this strange being is actuated by
a feeling quite inimical to the interests of the family which she
haunts, and that she comes with joy and triumph to announce
their misfortunes.”
c. “She always comes at night, a short time previous to the death
of the fated one, and takes her stand outside, convenient to the
house, and there utters the most plaintive cries and lamentations,
generally in some unknown language, and in a tone of voice re-
sembling a human female.”
each successive generation of pitchers has thrown computer algorithms will eventually replace many
the ball faster than its predecessors. In 1995 in the aspects of legal practice currently performed by
United States, it was _____________ to see a pitcher hit human beings. When and whether lawyers can
the magical mark of one hundred miles per hour be entirely replaced by the automated reasoning
during a game. Just twenty short years later, it was capacities of electronic brains remains to be seen,
not uncommon for multiple pitchers to exceed one however, as no machine has yet demonstrated the
hundred miles per hour in the same game. ability to emulate the cognitive functions required
for complex legal analysis. Professor Michael
MATH
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Livermore, an expert in computational legal
and precise word or phrase? scholarship, observes that while computers can
perform functions like apply existing law to a set
A routine of facts, they cannot currently grasp the abstract
concepts necessary to assess an intricate legal issue.
B miraculous Which choice best describes the function of the
second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
C
remarkable A It discusses the possible replacement of
lawyers by the automated reasoning capacities
of electronic brains.
D exciting
B It explains how the observations of Livermore
were received by engineers in the field of
artificial intelligence.
READING
Text 1 Bees and other pollinators are critical components
Traditional methods of assessing the “viability” of a of ecological systems and modern agriculture.
species—the likelihood that the species would not go It is known that bees under stress during
extinct within a certain time frame—considered the early development exhibit deformities such as
overall population size across its habitat range, along asymmetrical wings. One such stressor for bees,
with average rates of reproduction and mortality. according to many biologists, is climate change. To
The effects of habitat loss from human projects were investigate this connection between climate change
WRITING
assessed based on the extent to which they reduced and bee deformity, entomologist Dr. Andres Arce
the overall area of habitat available. applied DNA analysis methods, previously used
only on ancient human remains, on insect samples.
Text 2 His work introduces the possibility of utilizing a
In 1986, ecologists David Soulé and Mike Gilpin vast trove of museum insect samples to develop a
asserted that the effects of a planned reservoir in greater understanding of the impacts of climate on
Central Texas on a local snake species could not be pollinating insects.
assessed simply by calculating the acreage of habitat
MATH
that would be flooded. The ecologists pointed out that According to the text, why is Arce and his team’s
the snake’s remaining habitat would be segmented research significant?
into three isolated populations. Prior surveys showed
that all previous populations of the snake that had A It expands the available data sources for
become thusly isolated had died out. investigating the impacts of climate on bees.
D By accepting that reliance on overall habitat
loss calculations in assessing viability is
typically the best approach
The following text is adapted from Charles Dickens’s Certain birds are able to learn vocalizations by
1843 novel A Christmas Carol. Tut, one of the listening to them. Researchers have been able
characters in the novel, has returned home bearing to identify specific clusters of nerve cells in the
gifts on Christmas, and his children react to his area of the brain that controls the vocalization
arrival. learning abilities of bird species such as songbirds.
Then the shouting and the struggling, and the Biologist Matthew Fuxjager and colleagues
onslaught that was made on the defenceless investigated whether Dryobates pubescens—downy
WRITING
porter! The scaling him with chairs for ladders to woodpeckers—share these neural features. They
dive into his pockets, despoil him of brown-paper subjected D. pubescens to audio recordings of
parcels, hold on tight by his cravat, hug him round other downy woodpeckers drumming, or pecking
his neck, pommel his back, and kick his legs in their bills against an object, and monitored the
irrepressible affection! subjects’ neural activity during this process. The
downy woodpeckers in the study responded to the
recordings with their own aggressive territorial
Which choices best states the main idea of the text?
drumming, and their neural activity was similar
MATH
C Other species of birds without vocal learning
ability perform aggressive drumming during
territorial disputes.
D A genetic marker linked to vocal learning is
determined to exist within the nerve cells of
both D. pubescens and songbirds.
READING
Maximum Weight of Dogs When Fully Grown The Law of the River is the collective name for the
body of treaties, laws, and regulations governing the
Dog type Maximum weight Sheds allocation of the water of the Colorado River from
(pounds) its headwaters in the state of Colorado down to its
Standard Poodle 70 No delta in Mexico. The Law meticulously dictates the
allocation of all water that enters the Colorado River
Scottish Terrier 22 No system. However, unbeknownst to the politicians and
WRITING
Lhasa Apso 20 No organizations that developed the Law of the River,
the provisions made in the Law were developed
Pomeranian 7 Yes during a period of abnormally high rainfall. Thus,
Chihuahua 6 Yes some environmentalists in Mexico object that even
with strict compliance with the allocations, an
With the rise in popularity of animal adoption and unintentional result is that _____________
re-homing in the earliest twenty-first century, animal
adoption and rescue centers have had to become Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
increasingly selective as to which living situation to
place each of their animal wards into. Among other A Mexico’s allocated share of water is too low in
considerations, the size of the animal as well as comparison to Colorado’s share.
potential allergens from shedding species can affect
which homes popular pets such as dogs may adjust
to without the need for future re-homing. After an B during normal or low rainfall years, the river
interview with a prospective family, an advisor at may have less water than is accounted for by
a shelter needs to recommend a dog breed from the the Law.
breeds available at the shelter that won’t shed and
won’t grow heavier than 20 pounds. Upon comparing
the characteristics of five of the available dog breeds, C the state of Colorado is able to exercise
the advisor recommends a _____________ dictatorial control over the water allocation
system.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the
table to complete the text?
D Mexico will be subject to catastrophic flood
risks due to the uneven distribution of water
A Pomeranian.
resources.
B Scottish Terrier. If you weren’t sure what “meticulously” means, be
sure to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade.
C Standard Poodle.
D Lhasa Apso.
dispute
concede
meticulous
• The six most common Reading traps on the Digital SAT are
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
• When either of the above happens, the most important questions are
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
197
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Identify which question types are most likely to feature poetry texts
• Understand how to apply the Reading Basic Approach to questions
with poetry texts
• Learn the common poetic conventions and literary devices that will
WRITING
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________ .
3.___________________________________________________________ .
4.___________________________________________________________ .
5.___________________________________________________________ .
READING
Poetry Conventions 101
In order to keep their meter—or number of syllables per line—consistent, poets
use their own types of contractions and abbreviations. Below are some of the most
common abbreviations you will see on the Digital SAT.
WRITING
’twas
o’er
ne’er
ere
MATH
e’en
o’
an’
D It emphasizes the dignity
of those who love their
respective countries.
which he wrote as his own epitaph, or Which choice best states the main
statement about a deceased person. purpose of the text?
Here he lies where he longed to be; B To convey the speaker’s
Home is the sailor, home from sea, view of death as an accepted
And the hunter home from the hill. and welcomed conclusion to
his life
C To lament the suffering that
human beings endure and
explain that death is
preferable to life
D To discredit the notion that
living a long life is a worthy
goal for a human being to
pursue
READING
Poetry and Retrieval
Just as with prose-based literature texts, anything you can conclude about a per-
son or idea from a poem needs to be supported by information you can physically
highlight in the text itself.
WRITING
Margaret.” The speaker, a man, is According to the text, what is true
describing a woman whom he has about the speaker?
just seen again after some time.
A He is speculating upon
Ay, I saw her, we have met,—
Margaret’s emotional state.
Married eyes how sweet they be,—
Are you happier, Margaret,
Than you might have been with B He often pleads with If you weren’t sure what
me? “speculating” means,
MATH
Margaret but is unable to
Silence! make no more ado! sway her from her be sure to study the
Did she think I should forget? commitments. Vocabulary Hit Parade.
Matters nothing, though I knew,
Margaret, Margaret.
C He can be overly emotional
when describing his past
relationships.
Common Comparisons
You do not need to know and will not be asked to name the different ways poets
on the Digital SAT will draw comparisons, but having some familiarity with the
types of comparisons themselves may help you approach the texts with more con-
fidence.
Device
analogy a comparison between two Pain, our fire alarm.
things, typically for the purpose
of explanation or clarification The sharpness of our pain
Alerts us to an issue
And rings inside our brain.
MATH
simile a figure of speech involving the He’s got a heart as warm as solid ice,
comparison of one thing with
another thing of a different A smile as pleasing as spoiled milk,
kind, used to make a descrip- An embrace as comforting as a vice,
tion more emphatic or vivid –
typically uses “like” or “as” And bright eyes that shine like a
ruined silk.
metaphor a figure of speech in which a Our blue car sailed gracefully
word or phrase is directly
applied to an object or action Through the nasty traffic sea,
to which it is not literally We navigated waters rough
applicable – does not use “like”
or “as” With wisdom of a captain tough.
READING
Find! That! Comparison!
Poets often use analogies, similes, and metaphors to describe one person or idea in
terms of another. If a Retrieval question asks about a comparison, find and high-
light that comparison in the text.
WRITING
Athenaeum” by Amy Lowell. Based on the text, in what way is a
book like a flower?
And as in some gay garden
stretched upon
A Its essence is used up in the
A genial southern slope, warmed
act of savoring it.
by the sun,
If you weren’t sure what
The flowers give their fragrance
“congenial” means,
joyously B It can only be truly be sure to study the
To the caressing touch of the hot
MATH
appreciated by good- Vocabulary Hit Parade.
noon; natured people.
So books give up the all of what
they mean
Only in a congenial atmosphere, C It is more pleasant to
Only when touched by reverent interact with during the
hands, and read daytime.
By those who love and feel as well
as think.
D Its fullest enjoyment
depends on proper
conditions.
Of calm and liquid moonshine. B The narrator discovers the
From inside source of the noises he is
Come shouts and streams of hearing and explains how
laughter, and a snatch he determined the source.
Of song, soon drowned and lost
again in mirth,
The clip of tankards on a table top, C The narrator details the
And stir of booted heels. Against visual aspects of an
the patch unfamiliar town during a
Of candle-light a shadow falls, its short visit.
girth
Proclaims the host himself, and
master of his shop. D The narrator remembers the
beautiful and joyous
atmosphere that
surrounded a shop he
recently visited.
READING
POEtry
Because poems often contain descriptive language and imagery, it can be tempt-
ing to choose answers that repeat some of the same language that the poem used.
However, be on the lookout for Recycled Language—words or ideas repeated
from the poem but used incorrectly by the answers.
WRITING
Sir Henry John Newbolt’s 1897 poem
“The Fighting Téméraire.” The poem What is the main idea of the text?
describes a warship of the British
Royal Navy. A The ship is receiving
updated weaponry, which
It was noontide ringing,
has caused a celebration
When the ship her way was If you weren’t sure what
among its crew.
winging, “dormant” means,
And the gunner’s lads were singing be sure to study the
MATH
As they loaded every gun. B The ship is docked and Vocabulary Hit Parade.
There’ll be many grim and gory, being prepared to lie
Téméraire! Téméraire! dormant for a time.
There’ll be few to tell the story,
Téméraire! Téméraire!
C The ship is being prepared
There’ll be many grim and gory, for battle by a crew with
There’ll be few to tell the story, mixed emotions regarding
But we’ll all be one in glory that battle.
With the Fighting Téméraire.
D The ship is too battered to
continue its mission for the
remainder of the day.
B “The thunder and the storm
of praise / In crowded
tumults heard and hurled.”
C “I would not be a flower to
stand / The stare of every
passer-bye.”
D “But in some nook of
fairyland, / Seen in the
praise of beauty’s eye.”
READING
It Goes On, and On, and On
On Claims questions, excerpts from poems can be among the lengthier answers
you see on the Digital SAT. Keep your eyes reading to the very end of each answer
choice, but eliminate answers as soon as you are sure they do not contain at least
one component from the question’s claim.
WRITING
an 1818 poem by John Keats. The
narrator describes both the grandeur Which quotation from “Endymion:
and the vitality of the natural setting A Poetic Romance” most effectively
used for the events of the story: illustrates the claim?
_________
A “Some moulder’d steps lead
into this cool cell, / Far as
the slabbed margin of a
MATH
well, / Whose patient level
peeps its crystal eye / Right
upward, through the
bushes, to the sky.”
B “Thus ending, on the shrine
he heap’d a spire / Of
teeming sweets, enkindling
sacred fire; / Anon he stain’d
the thick and spongy sod /
With wine, in honour of the
shepherd-god.”
C “But in the self-same fixed
trance he kept, / Like one
who on the earth had never
slept. / Aye, even as dead-
still as a marble man, /
Frozen in that old tale
Arabian.”
D “Upon the sides of Latmos
was outspread / A mighty
forest; for the moist earth
fed / So plenteously all
weed-hidden roots / Into
o’er-hanging boughs, and
precious fruits.”
POETRY DRILL
Time: 10 Minutes
Sleep thou in the bosom And, Moon, slip past the ladders of air
Of the tender comrade, In a single flash, while your streaming hair
While the living water Catches the stars and pulls them down
Whispers in the well-run, To shine on some slumbering Chinese town.
And the oleanders O Kindly Sun! Understanding Moon!
Glimmer in the moonlight. Bring evening to crowd the footsteps of noon.
MATH
Soon, ah, soon the shy birds But when that long awaited day
Will be at their fluting, Hangs ripe in the heavens, your voyaging stay
And the morning planet Be morning, O Sun! with the lark in song,
Rise above the garden; Be afternoon for ages long.
For there is a measure And, Moon, let you and your lesser lights
Set to all things mortal. Watch over a century of nights.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the Which of the following best describes the function of
text? the underlined portion of the text in the poem?
A To contrast the mortality of human beings A It draws a contrast between the intensity of
with the immortality of rivers and waterways the sun and that of the moon.
B To emphasize a focus on rest and peacefulness B It describes the evening as coming on too
at night in anticipation of the coming dawn abruptly after a fruitful day.
C To describe the behavior of birds in the garden C It expresses a plea to have time pass more
during the early morning hours quickly.
D To rejoice in the infinite beauty and vitality D It demonstrates that the speaker is weary of
found in the natural world the crowds that surround him.
READING
The following text is from Walt Whitman’s 1867 poem The following text is excerpted from William
“Bathed in War’s Perfume.” Wordsworth’s 1798 poem “Lines Written in Early
Spring.”
Bathed in war’s perfume—delicate flag!
O to hear you call the sailors and the soldiers! flag The birds around me hopp’d and play’d:
like a beautiful woman! Their thoughts I cannot measure,
But the least motion which they made,
O to hear the tramp, tramp, of a million answering It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.
WRITING
men! O the ships they arm with joy!
O to see you leap and beckon from the tall masts of The budding twigs spread out their fan,
ships! To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
O to see you peering down on the sailors on the
That there was pleasure there.
decks!
Flag like the eyes of women. If I these thoughts may not prevent,
If such be of my creed the plan,
MATH
Based on the text, in what way is a flag like a Have I not reason to lament
beautiful woman? What man has made of man?
A It is a symbol of grace under immense Based on the text, how does the speaker respond to
pressure. the natural activity around him?
A He comments upon how nature seems joyful in
B It is associated with a medley of striking its vitality and offers a conflicting viewpoint
colors. regarding the state of humanity.
C It signals the departure of sailors as they go off B He laments the negative effect that nature has
to sea. had on humans, even though he sees the
beauty of the activity around him.
D He states that he is revitalized by the
playfulness of the birds and the fresh air
provided by the flowering trees.
The following text is adapted from Jean Ingelow’s The following text is from Algernon Charles
1863 poem “A Dead Year.” The poem describes the Swinburne’s 1855 poem “A Channel Passage.” The
author’s attempt to repress the memories of a past poem describes the passage of a steamboat through a
year. channel, or narrow waterway connecting two larger
bodies of water.
I take the year back to my life and story,
The dead year, and say, “I will share in thy tomb. Forth from Calais, at dawn of night, when sunset
‘All the kings of the nations lie in glory;’ summer on autumn shone,
WRITING
D A ship makes its way through calm ocean
waters, the appearance of which is enhanced
by the surrounding atmosphere.
READING
“Love” is an 1844 poem by James Russell Lowell. In “The Union” is a 1917 poem by Alfred Noyes. In the
the poem, Lowell admires the rare ability of a woman poem, the speaker speculates on the reaction of an
he knows to tend to the smallest cares of others, individual when a desire becomes a reality: _________
writing, _________
Which quotation from “The Union” most effectively
Which quotation from “Love” most effectively illustrates the claim?
illustrates the claim?
WRITING
A “You that have gathered together the sons of
A “Not as all other women are / Is she that to my all races, / And welded them into one, / Lifting
soul is dear.” the torch of your Freedom on hungering faces /
That sailed to the setting sun.”
B “She doeth little kindnesses / Which most leave
undone, or despise.” B “You that have made of mankind in your own
proud regions / The music of man to be, / How
MATH
should the old earth sing of you, now, as your
C “Great feelings hath she of her own / Which legions / Rise to set all men free?”
lesser souls may never know.”
C “How should the singer that knew the proud
D “She is most fair, and thereunto / Her life doth vision and loved it, / In the days when not all
rightly harmonize.” men knew, / Gaze through his tears, on the
light, now the world has approved it; / Or
dream, when the dream comes true?”
D “How should he sing when the Spirit of
Freedom in thunder / Speaks, and the wine-
press is red; / And the sea-winds are loud with
the chains that are broken asunder / And
nations that rise from the dead?”
speculate
congenial
dormant
• The main question types that feature poetry are _______________________, _____________________,
• If asked for the function of a set of lines on a Purpose question about poems, consider the lines immedi-
______________________ as these will often guide you to the correct answer on Purpose, Retrieval, and
Main Idea questions about poems.
• On Claims questions about poems, make sure the correct answer addresses ________________________
of the claim.
• When it’s difficult to highlight an answer in the poem, ______________________ by comparing the
• The trap answers you will see most often on Poetry questions are _____________________________,
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary is one of the most frequent of the eight question types to appear on
MATH
the test, which means that you’ll likely be able to notice the difficulty increase
(unlike with other question types that may have only 1 or 2 questions in an RW
module). Similarly, should you do well enough on RW Module 1 to get the harder
RW Module 2, you’ll notice more difficult vocabulary words on that module.
Additionally, difficult vocabulary words can show up in the texts and answers of
any of the other seven question types as well.
Prefixes
In a pinch, knowing some common English prefixes can help you use POE on
more difficult Vocabulary questions.
READING
Context
When confronted with an unfamiliar word or phrase, check the surrounding sen-
tences to see if they offer a clue to help you define that word in context.
i. At first, no one could determine who was responsible for the budget
shortfall on the construction project. Only by a cross-examination of
material purchase orders and business expense reports did the senior
WRITING
staff determine that one of the team’s accountants had underestimat-
ed labor costs and therefore bore culpability for the shortfall.
____________________________________________________________
MATH
ii. My mother is an avid reader, yet her books take up just a single wall
of our media room. My father, on the other hand, is a dedicated
musician, and the sheer volume of musical instruments that he has
collected over the years threatens to engulf the media room whole.
When my friends come over, they often laugh at the juxtaposition of
the components of these two hobbies.
____________________________________________________________
iii. The town council had staunchly opposed the construction of parking
structures for decades, claiming that the structures were an eyesore
and would ruin the aesthetic appeal of the council’s carefully crafted
suburban neighborhood. However, the appeal of said neighborhood
had an unintended consequence: residents from the city nearby began
moving to the town in record numbers, exceeding the limits of the
available street parking. This forced the town council to make a major
concession and announce that construction of a parking structure for
town residents would commence immediately.
____________________________________________________________
Tone
When all else fails, consider whether the tone of the word to go in the blank
should be positive, negative, or neutral, and eliminate answers that are inconsistent
with that tone.
among the notes and that the song should be scrapped entirely.
A) cohesion
B) equilibrium
C) dissonance
D) ambiguity
MATH
C a divergence from
D an undermining of
READING
2 Mark for Review
Nixon was accused of an improper
use of funds and gifts from his Which choice completes the text
supporters. In his famous 1952 with the most logical and precise
“Checkers speech,” Nixon attacked word or phrase?
his political opponents and stated
that he would keep one single gift A consensus
from his supporters: a black-and-
WRITING
white cocker spaniel named Checkers
that his children had fallen in love B inequity
with. In the scope of American
political history, the speech
introduced a new rhetorical device of C bias
humanizing a candidate and turning
a possible _____________ into an asset.
The American public responded D impediment
MATH
positively to the speech, and Nixon’s
popularity was bolstered.
D apprehensive
SENTENCE FUNCTION
If you’re finding it difficult to navigate a text but can determine which function
each sentence is serving, this can help you zero in on the one or two sentences
you need in order to capture the main idea or understand the link between ideas.
Keep in mind that the below sentence functions are much more common in non-
literature texts (such as science) than in literature texts.
WRITING
The most common functions a sentence can perform on the Digital SAT are
as follows:
READING
Consider the following text:
WRITING
contamination that can cause immense environmental damage and
even kill plant and animal life. A group of researchers has posited that
proper drainage of pool water can help to reverse the damage done to
suburban environments. In a survey conducted on soil surrounding
residential pools in various American suburbs, the researchers found the
toxicity of soil surrounding pools in which the owner had followed the
manufacturer’s drainage instructions to be 46% lower than the toxicity
levels of soil surrounding pools for which the instructions had been
MATH
followed improperly.
Now let’s examine the passage one sentence at a time to determine the function of
each one.
READING
What Should Come Next?
For each of the below sentences, determine which answer would be the most ap-
propriate follow-up to go in place of the blank.
WRITING
What should most logically come next?
MATH
c. An Objection to the previous sentence indicating that there was
actually no challenge for the United State government.
d. A piece of Evidence that explains the argument made in the previ-
ous sentence.
ii. Many film experts categorize the original Star Wars as a science fic-
tion film. However, __________________________
iii. The current proposal for improvements to the city’s light rail network
must be approved immediately. __________________________
ii. After a barrage of early morning inquires from her employees, Darla
finally had an opportunity to peruse her appointment list for the day.
iii. “To meet someone of your esteem, your pedigree, your reputation as
an artist, is an honor of no small degree.”
READING
iv. “To be frank, I’d rather have the information without the sarcasm.”
WRITING
v. The other guests assumed that Ms. Stanhope was at the auction to
acquire new pieces for her personal collection, but actually, she was
observing the bidders themselves, not the pieces for which they bid.
MATH
b. The narrator is aware of Ms. Stanhope’s true motivation for at-
tending the auction.
c. The narrator is seeking to educate the reader about how auctions
are conducted.
d. The narrator is disguising his relative lack of knowledge regarding
the auction process.
fundamental changes since the middle of the neurological or psychological disorders by having a
twentieth century, and one such change has been patient swim with a dolphin under the supervision of
that potential host cities have expressed a desire to both a therapist and a dolphin trainer. Some animal
be more involved during the host selection process rights advocates maintain that the perceived benefits
than they were previously. Sports analysts ____________ are outweighed by the potential change in behavior
that the future process of selecting a host city will demonstrated by the dolphins involved, as the
no longer be the responsibility of a single entity but unfamiliar stimulation from the interactions with
will more likely be a collaborative effort between humans can cause the dolphins to become ____________
MATH
national governments and the International Olympic and potentially take their frustrations out on their
Committee. human companions.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice completes the text with the most logical
and precise word or phrase? and precise word or phrase?
A assert A enervated
B dread B resilient
C doubt C vexed
D refute D meticulous
READING
Australian artist Ben Quilty has ____________ extensive While a century ago a large company might have
acclaim from fellow citizens in his native country for paid minimal attention to maintaining its workplace
his work in drawing attention to the achievements of culture, today’s corporations devote substantial
others, including a groundbreaking effort in which resources to establishing an appropriate environment
he embedded himself within an Australian army for employees. Constant training is ____________ in
unit on active duty in Afghanistan in 2011. In turn, order to eliminate any questions about the proper
to gain similar recognition for the efforts of fellow code of conduct for every employee, from the chief
WRITING
Australian artists, he established the first gallery in executive officer to a temporary hire.
the Southern Highlands in an old dairy farm.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
and precise word or phrase?
A undermined
A disputed
MATH
B mandated
B garnered
C renounced
C precluded
D inevitable
D repressed
Originally known only in the tropical regions from The following text is excerpted from William
which it is harvested, watermelon rose to worldwide Wordsworth’s 1798 poem “Lines Left Upon a Seat In a
prominence in the seventeenth century with the Yew-Tree Which Stands Near the Lake Of Esthwaite,
development of global shipping channels. Some of On a Desolate Part Of The Shore, Yet Commanding a
the initial evidence of watermelon in the human diet Beautiful Prospect.”
dates from the Neolithic era, where it was consumed If thou be one whose heart the holy forms
in what is now Libya. Archeological evidence Of young imagination have kept pure,
WRITING
indicates that watermelon pulp was eaten in ancient Stranger! henceforth be warned; and know, that
Egypt around 4300 BCE. Biologists from the National pride,
Engineering Researcher Center in Beijing, China, Howe’er disguised in its own majesty,
pondered whether the ancient Egyptians consumed Is littleness; that he, who feels contempt
the same sweet fruit that people do in modern times For any living thing, hath faculties
or a bitter version of the fruit commonly harvested Which he has never used; that thought with him
for its valuable seeds. Using genomic sequencing, Is in its infancy. The man, whose eye
these biologists determined that it’s improbable Is ever on himself, doth look on one,
MATH
that the “sweeter” watermelon we know today had The least of nature’s works, one who might move
developed by the time of the ancient Egyptians. The wise man to that scorn which wisdom holds
Unlawful, ever. O, be wiser thou!
Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined sentence as a whole?
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
READING
Wolves are apex predators capable of preying The original articulation of evolution based
upon species domesticated or hunted by humans, on natural selection is generally recognized as
including livestock such as sheep and cattle. In exclusively the consequence of Charles Darwin’s
order to preclude the loss of livestock from wolf groundbreaking work based on his observations of
predation, some states have attempted to repress species of the Galapagos Islands. However, several
wolf populations through hunting activity. However, historians have repudiated this conclusion, claiming
ecologists have noted that livestock depredations that while Darwin spent years in London fastidiously
WRITING
often increase rather than decrease in the years formulating his theories, fellow English naturalist
following wolf hunts. The ecologists assert that Alfred Wallace was toiling in isolation in the Malay
hunting by humans is more likely than natural Archipelago, independently reaching convergent
mortality to kill high-ranking pack members, which conclusions. Thus, those who proclaim Darwin as the
in a stable pack exist only to breed. The ecologists solitary originator of the thesis of natural selection
hypothesize that breeding practices involving the ____________
surviving lower-ranking wolves after the demise of
those high-ranking members can bolster overall pack Which choice most logically completes the text?
MATH
size, as well as cause a less experienced but outsized
pack to rely more on easy prey, such as livestock, even A improperly attribute work done by Alfred
if such reliance risks interactions with humans that Wallace to Charles Darwin.
wolves typically avoid.
Which finding, if true, would most directly B do not adequately comprehend the theory of
undermine the ecologists’ hypothesis? evolution based on natural selection.
A In several packs not subject to human hunting,
the loss of high-ranking members to natural C discount the significant contributions of
mortality similarly resulted in an overall Wallace towards the field of evolution.
increased pack size.
C In some packs subject to human hunting, the
loss of low-ranking members to natural
mortality did not appear to affect pack size the
following year.
D In several packs not subject to human hunting,
the loss of high-ranking members to natural
mortality did not result in overall increased
pack size.
• Three tools that can help you on difficult Vocabulary questions are __________________,
• Make sure to continue to study the Vocabulary Hit Parade for _________ minutes every ___________.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
Example: Upon his appointment, the new vice president of the company prom-
ised to advocate for increased vacation time for all employees.
Example: I didn’t mean to allude to your past breakup when discussing celeb-
rity romances that ended badly.
Example: The rocking of a ship against the waves has been described by some
as analogous to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
Example: Our professor opened the semester with a number of humorous anec-
dotes about excuses he has heard from students who missed class.
READING
Speech
Example: Lauren was apprehensive about her upcoming violin recital: she had
WRITING
practiced enough but had never performed in front of more than four or five
people.
Example: The town’s enforcement of parking rules felt arbitrary, as some days
MATH
the rules would be strictly enforced and other days it seemed impossible to get
a ticket no matter how severe the infraction.
Example: After listening to the rest of the board members shout over each oth-
er, Dominic felt the need to assert that this time could have been better spent
offering practical solutions to the issue.
Example: Though she promised to be free of bias, it became evident very quickly
that my mom preferred a dog over a cat as a potential pet.
Example: To bolster the thesis of his history paper, Jeremy cited a series of works
by other authors who had argued against single-house legislatures.
Example: Sabrina’s notes were known for their brevity, as entire concepts were
often summed up into a small series of words and phrases.
Example: The commissioner has promised to train 30 new recruits by the end
of the year in order to buttress the police force as the city’s borders expand.
Speech
Example: With many of her colleagues away on vacation, Linda hoped to capi-
WRITING
talize on the relative calm around the office in order to accelerate the comple-
tion of her project.
Example: Having forgotten the password to his email account, Aiden was able
to circumvent the login screen by having a code sent to his phone.
MATH
Example: Mr. Johnson hoped that the team-building exercises he had sched-
uled for his department’s work retreat would lead to a better sense of cohesion
around the office.
Example: Despite her awareness of the mountain of homework she had to do,
Lara found the current storyline of her favorite television show too compelling
to pass up starting another episode.
Example: Known as quite the congenial host, Davante made sure the atmo-
sphere of his game nights was welcoming to friends both old and new.
Example: After several hours of voting which had seemed fated to end the as-
sembly in a stalemate, a series of clever compromises helped the majority of
voters reach a consensus.
READING
Speech
Example: The thief claimed to have an alibi at the time of the crime but could
WRITING
not produce any friend or family to corroborate his story.
Example: Though he insisted upon his innocence, it was clear from video evi-
dence and eyewitness testimony that the bank thief was indeed culpable for the
robbery.
MATH
curtail verb to reduce in extent or quantity
The new office timecard system was designed to curtail unauthorized exten-
sions of lunch and break times.
Example: Megan’s four first-half goals helped to score a decisive victory for her
field hockey team, which won the game in a shutout.
Example: Based on the hastily made bed and poorly folded clothes, Carla was
able to deduce that her son had rushed the task of cleaning his room in order to
get the chore over with.
Example: The student spoke with deference to his instructor when discussing
the proper application of a mixed martial arts technique.
Example: The harsh note taped to the bulletin board in the employee break
room was clearly meant to degrade those who were not clocking in on time.
Speech
Example: The Hawaiian Islands derive their name from Hawai’iloa, the leg-
endary Polynesian navigator who is said to have discovered the islands.
WRITING
Example: With their car’s tank running on low, the friends found the contin-
ual lack of a gas station anywhere along their route increasingly disconcerting.
upon
Example: The employee went to dispute his first paycheck when he found it to
be substantially lower than what was promised in his offer letter.
Example: Though the volcano once erupted randomly and violently for
decades, it now lies dormant and is a popular tourist attraction.
READING
Speech
Example: The three sisters were the epitome of the spirit of entrepreneurship:
through their hard work, their baking business had begun as a roadside stand
WRITING
and blossomed into a multi-million-dollar brand.
MATH
erratic adjective irregular in pattern or movement
Example: After being dropped into the pool, the cell phone displayed increas-
ingly erratic behavior: it would work perfectly one minute then freeze entirely
the next.
Example: Benjamin’s numerous social media posts within just one day of re-
turning from his vacation were clearly meant to evince the enjoyment he had
felt during his trip.
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were explicit; they were written on a
poster right above her desk.
Example: The student council opened up the vote on the new school lunch
policy to the entire student body in order to foster a greater sense of school
community participation.
© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 235
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Speech
Example: The decreasing temperatures and darkening skies mean that a rain-
storm is imminent.
WRITING
Example: The city council attempted to impede the fast-food restaurant’s efforts
to install a drive-thru window.
MATH
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were implicit; although the rules were
not openly stated anywhere, all of the students knew what they should and
should not do.
Example: The mayor has decided to impose a curfew upon residents of his town.
Example: Braden was in such a rush to complete his English essay that the
entire conclusion was deemed indecipherable by his professor.
Example: The solid wall of disgruntled supermarket workers in the parking lot
was meant to induce potential customers to shop for their groceries elsewhere.
Example: Once the school mandated a dress code, it was inevitable that the
students would test the limits of what they could get away with.
READING
Speech
WRITING
Example: The police captain’s son would often invoke his father’s name to get
himself out of trouble.
MATH
Example: It is ironic that the tech support company’s website was listed as
down for maintenance.
Example: The difficulty of the final statistics exam was such a jarring departure
from the normal simplicity of the professor’s tests that the students felt com-
pelled to ask her if there was an error.
Example: Video production teams working on horror movies will often jux-
tapose darker scenes with livelier music to create a deeper sense of tension and
discomfort within the viewer.
Example: From the moment his fingers began dancing over the keys as if he’d
been playing his whole life, it was obvious that Nikolai had a latent talent for
the piano that had hitherto gone unnoticed.
Example: The new law would mandate that employers offer tuition reimburse-
ment for continuing education courses.
Speech
Example: Knowing that he had written the entire paper in thirty minutes, Stan
was prepared to offer any explanation or excuse necessary to mitigate the very
WRITING
Example: Novel ideas, such as Galileo’s model for the Earth revolving around
the Sun, usually take time to be accepted by those comfortable with traditional
views.
MATH
Example: John’s pop culture references were so remarkably obscure that his
friends could go for hours without knowing a single actor or movie he men-
tioned.
Example: Zara was dismayed to learn her phone was considered obsolete just
one year after she purchased it.
Example: The extra forms that need to be filled out just to speak to a supervisor
needlessly obstruct what used to be a relatively streamlined process.
Example: The heat of the jungle was so oppressive that the expedition team took
breaks twice as often as planned.
READING
Speech
WRITING
reminder of sports’ past glories.
Example: The excitement in the air prior to the start of the concert was pal-
pable: you could practically see the energy emanating from the crowd before
the band even stepped on stage.
MATH
pervasive adjective spreading widely throughout an area
or a group of people, especially in an
unpleasant way
Example: The aging boat had holes in its hull and a pervasive smell of rotting
wood.
Example: The new governor’s pragmatic approach to tackling the state’s budget
deficit one step at a time was considered a welcomed departure from the radical
ideas of her predecessor.
Example: The legal concept of double jeopardy was established to preclude the
possibility of an individual being wrongly tried twice for the same criminal
offense.
Speech
to this day.
Example: Dr. Kerrigan was a huge proponent of proper intestinal health, as she
believed all disease could be traced back to the digestive system.
MATH
Example: Jennifer was so touched by the Christmas gift she received from
Isabelle that she made plans to reciprocate as soon as she could get to the mall.
Example: Scientists often publish papers meant to refute theories that they have
disproven through experimentation.
Example: In a shocking move, the king has decided to renounce his right to the
throne, sending the country into a panic.
READING
Speech
Example: Any time one of her friends advised her to try online dating, Becky
would repudiate the suggestion completely, as she had been deceived by
WRITING
inaccurate photos or descriptions too many times.
Example: Others may have crumpled under the sheer number of last-minute
reservations, but Hector was resilient, handling each frantic request with calm
MATH
professionalism.
Example: Bryce was skeptical of his order’s estimated arrival date: past orders
from the same company had taken a week longer than advertised.
Example: The lawyer refused to speculate on the outcome of the trial, but she
was hopeful that her client would be found innocent.
Example: The groundskeepers began the strenuous task of preparing the foot-
ball field and all of its associated facilities for the upcoming season.
Example: Literature texts can be subsumed under two general categories: poetry
and prose.
Speech
Example: A slight cough from a friend can be a subtle indication that the friend
WRITING
Example: With just seconds to go in the game, the team clung to a tenuous
one-point lead.
Example: Michael practically ran on his way to school, worried that a mark of
tardy would undermine his perfect attendance record.
Example: Margaux came to her presentation with a series of handouts for her
colleagues, hoping this would underscore the amount of work she had put into
her project.
Example: The clerk refused to validate my license, noting that it expired one
month ago.
Example: Despite being a work of fiction, the movie possessed such authentic
characters and believable dialogue that critics praised it for its verisimilitude.
READING
Speech
Example: Carla could not hide her vexation at her son for arriving home two
WRITING
hours past curfew without telling her ahead of time.
Example: The hiring supervisor was pleased to find that so many viable candi-
dates had applied for the position.
MATH
vindicate verb to clear someone of blame or suspicion
Example: Upset that he had been accused of staying home sick to avoid an
exam, Xander hoped that a formal doctor’s note would vindicate him in his
teacher’s eyes.
Set 1 – Arguments
Word Part of Definition
Speech
advocate verb to publicly recommend or support
MATH
Example: Upon his appointment, the new vice president of the company prom-
ised to advocate for increased vacation time for all employees.
Example: After listening to the rest of the board members shout over each
other, Dominic felt the need to assert that this time could have been better
spent offering practical solutions to the issue.
Example: To bolster the thesis of his history paper, Jeremy cited a series of works
by other authors who had argued against single-house legislatures.
Example: The employee went to dispute his first paycheck when he found it to
be substantially lower than what was promised in his offer letter.
Example: Dr. Kerrigan was a huge proponent of proper intestinal health, as she
believed all disease could be traced back to the digestive system.
READING
refute verb to prove a statement or theory to be
wrong or false; disprove
Example: Scientists often publish papers meant to refute theories that they have
disproven through experimentation.
WRITING
Example: Any time one of her friends advised her to try online dating, Becky
would repudiate the suggestion completely, as she had been deceived by
inaccurate photos or descriptions too many times.
MATH
Example: Bryce was skeptical of his order’s estimated arrival date: past orders
from the same company had taken a week longer than advertised.
Example: Michael practically ran on his way to school, worried that a mark of
tardy would undermine his perfect attendance record.
Example: The commissioner has promised to train 30 new recruits by the end
of the year in order to buttress the police force as the city’s borders expand.
Example: Mr. Johnson hoped that the team-building exercises he had sched-
uled for his department’s work retreat would lead to a better sense of cohesion
around the office.
Example: After several hours of voting which had seemed fated to end the
assembly in a stalemate, a series of clever compromises helped the majority of
voters reach a consensus.
Example: The thief claimed to have an alibi at the time of the crime but could
not produce any friend or family to corroborate his story.
Example: The student council opened up the vote on the new school lunch
policy to the entire student body in order to foster a greater sense of school
community participation.
READING
Set 3 – Rejections and Restrictions
Word Part of Definition
Speech
curtail verb to reduce in extent or quantity
WRITING
Example: The new office timecard system was designed to curtail unauthorized
extensions of lunch and break times.
Example: The harsh note taped to the bulletin board in the employee break
MATH
room was clearly meant to degrade those who were not clocking in on time.
Example: The city council attempted to impede the fast-food restaurant’s efforts
to install a drive-thru window.
Example: The mayor has decided to impose a curfew upon residents of his town.
Example: The new law would mandate that employers offer tuition reimburse-
ment for continuing education courses.
Example: The extra forms that need to be filled out just to speak to a supervisor
needlessly obstruct what used to be a relatively streamlined process.
Example: The heat of the jungle was so oppressive that the expedition team took
breaks twice as often as planned.
WRITING
Example: The legal concept of double jeopardy was established to preclude the
possibility of an individual being wrongly tried twice for the same criminal
offense.
Example: Though she promised to be free of bias, it became evident very quick-
ly that my mom preferred a dog over a cat as a potential pet.
Example: Though he insisted upon his innocence, it was clear from video evi-
dence and eyewitness testimony that the bank thief was indeed culpable for the
robbery.
Example: Megan’s four first-half goals helped to score a decisive victory for her
field hockey team, which won the game in a shutout.
READING
deduce verb to arrive at a conclusion through
reasoning
Example: Based on the hastily made bed and poorly folded clothes, Carla was
able to deduce that her son had rushed the task of cleaning his room in order to
get the chore over with.
WRITING
equity noun the quality of being fair or impartial
MATH
istic manner; practical
Example: The new governor’s pragmatic approach to tackling the state’s budget
deficit one step at a time was considered a welcomed departure from the radical
ideas of her predecessor.
Example: In a shocking move, the king has decided to renounce his right to the
throne, sending the country into a panic.
Example: The lawyer refused to speculate on the outcome of the trial, but she
was hopeful that her client would be found innocent.
Example: The clerk refused to validate my license, noting that it expired one
month ago.
Example: Upset that he had been accused of staying home sick to avoid an
exam, Xander hoped that a formal doctor’s note would vindicate him in his
teacher’s eyes.
Example: I didn’t mean to allude to your past breakup when discussing celeb-
rity romances that ended badly.
Example: Our professor opened the semester with a number of humorous anec-
dotes about excuses he has heard from students who missed class.
Example: The rocking of a ship against the waves has been described by some
as analogous to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
Example: Sabrina’s notes were known for their brevity, as entire concepts were
often summed up into a small series of words and phrases.
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were explicit; they were written on a
poster right above her desk.
Example: The teacher’s classroom rules were implicit; although the rules were
not openly stated anywhere, all of the students knew what they should and
should not do.
READING
ironic adjective happening in the opposite way from
what is expected, and typically caus-
ing amusement because of this
Example: It is ironic that the tech support company’s website was listed as
down for maintenance.
WRITING
juxtapose verb to place close together for contrasting
effect
Example: Video production teams working on horror movies will often jux-
tapose darker scenes with livelier music to create a deeper sense of tension and
discomfort within the viewer.
MATH
underscore verb to emphasize or draw attention to
Example: Margaux came to her presentation with a series of handouts for her
colleagues, hoping this would underscore the amount of work she had put into
her project.
Example: Benjamin’s numerous social media posts within just one day of re-
turning from his vacation were clearly meant to evince the enjoyment he had
felt during his trip.
Example: The solid wall of disgruntled supermarket workers in the parking lot
was meant to induce potential customers to shop for their groceries elsewhere.
Example: The police captain’s son would often invoke his father’s name to get
himself out of trouble.
Example: Jennifer was so touched by the Christmas gift she received from
Isabelle that she made plans to reciprocate as soon as she could get to the mall.
Example: Others may have crumpled under the sheer number of last-minute
reservations, but Hector was resilient, handling each frantic request with calm
professionalism.
Example: The groundskeepers began the strenuous task of preparing the foot-
ball field and all of its associated facilities for the upcoming season.
READING
Set 7 – Inconsistency and Uncertainty
Word Part of Definition
Speech
ambivalence noun the state of having mixed feelings
or contradictory ideas about something
WRITING
or someone
MATH
unpleasant will happen
Example: Lauren was apprehensive about her upcoming violin recital: she had
practiced enough but had never performed in front of more than four or five
people.
Example: The town’s enforcement of parking rules felt arbitrary, as some days
the rules would be strictly enforced and other days it seemed impossible to get
a ticket no matter how severe the infraction.
Example: With their car’s tank running on low, the friends found the contin-
ual lack of a gas station anywhere along their route increasingly disconcerting.
Example: After being dropped into the pool, the cell phone displayed increas-
ingly erratic behavior: it would work perfectly one minute then freeze entirely
the next.
Example: Braden was in such a rush to complete his English essay that the
entire conclusion was deemed indecipherable by his professor.
Example: The difficulty of the final statistics exam was such a jarring departure
from the normal simplicity of the professor’s tests that the students felt com-
pelled to ask her if there was an error.
Example: John’s pop culture references were so remarkably obscure that his
friends could go for hours without knowing a single actor or movie he men-
tioned.
Example: With just seconds to go in the game, the team clung to a tenuous
one-point lead.
Example: Carla could not hide her vexation at her son for arriving home two
hours past curfew without telling her ahead of time.
Example: Despite her awareness of the mountain of homework she had to do,
Lara found the current storyline of her favorite television show too compelling
to pass up starting another episode.
Example: Known as quite the congenial host, Davante made sure the atmo-
sphere of his game nights was welcoming to friends both old and new.
Example: The student spoke with deference to his instructor when discussing
the proper application of a mixed martial arts technique.
READING
novel adjective new or unusual in an interesting way
Example: Novel ideas, such as Galileo’s model for the Earth revolving around
the Sun, usually take time to be accepted by those comfortable with traditional
views.
WRITING
insight
MATH
Example: One of the most prominent American presidents, George Washing-
ton is often noted as having set numerous presidential precedents that continue
to this day.
Example: Despite being a work of fiction, the movie possessed such authentic
characters and believable dialogue that critics praised it for its verisimilitude.
Example: The hiring supervisor was pleased to find that so many viable candi-
dates had applied for the position.
Example: With many of her colleagues away on vacation, Linda hoped to capi-
talize on the relative calm around the office in order to accelerate the comple-
tion of her project.
Example: Having forgotten the password to his email account, Aiden was able
to circumvent the login screen by having a code sent to his phone.
Example: The Hawaiian Islands derive their name from Hawai’iloa, the leg-
endary Polynesian navigator who is said to have discovered the islands.
their papers, with some arguing multiple perspectives and some switching top-
ics altogether.
Example: The three sisters were the epitome of the spirit of entrepreneurship:
through their hard work, their baking business had begun as a roadside stand
and blossomed into a multi-million-dollar brand.
Example: Knowing that he had written the entire paper in thirty minutes, Stan
was prepared to offer any explanation or excuse necessary to mitigate the very
low grade he was likely to receive.
Example: Literature texts can be subsumed under two general categories: poetry
and prose.
READING
subtle adjective so delicate or precise as to be difficult to
analyze or describe
Example: A slight cough from a friend can be a subtle indication that the friend
wishes to depart from a social situation that is uncomfortable.
WRITING
Set 10 – Presence and Occurrence
Word Part of Definition
Speech
dormant adjective having normal physical functions sus-
MATH
pended or slowed down for a period of
time; in or as if in a deep sleep
Example: Though the volcano once erupted randomly and violently for
decades, it now lies dormant and is a popular tourist attraction.
Example: The decreasing temperatures and darkening skies mean that a rain-
storm is imminent.
Example: Once the school mandated a dress code, it was inevitable that the
students would test the limits of what they could get away with.
Example: From the moment his fingers began dancing over the keys as if he’d
been playing his whole life, it was obvious that Nikolai had a latent talent for
the piano that had hitherto gone unnoticed.
Example: Zara was dismayed to learn her phone was considered obsolete just
one year after she purchased it.
Example: The excitement in the air prior to the start of the concert was pal-
pable: you could practically see the energy emanating from the crowd before
the band even stepped on stage.
Example: The aging boat had holes in its hull and a pervasive smell of rotting
wood.
commonness
259
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
READING DRILL 1
Time: 10 Minutes
of her work to __________ both her roots in Oklahoma The text describes one of the students of the Ancient
and the gallery’s location in Manhattan. Some critics Greek philosopher Socrates, Ctesippus, who was once
noted how the title “Okla Homma to Manahatta” a student of another philosopher named Clinias.
seemed to bridge the two contrasting cultures. There was one other disciple of Socrates. Not long
before, the impetuous Ctesippus had been one of the
Which choice completes the text with the most logical most frivolous and pleasure-seeking of the Athenian
and precise word or phrase? youths. He had set up beauty as his sole god, and
had bowed before Clinias as its highest exemplar.
MATH
B To describe how Ctesippus appeared to change
his perspective
READING
Text 1 The following text is from Bliss Carman’s 1904 work
Artificial intelligence, or AI, may be artificial, in that One Hundred Lyrics, in which Carman constructs an
it was created by scientists and computer engineers, approximation of the lost texts of the famous Greek
but it is not necessarily intelligent. When a computer poet Sappho.
produces an essay or a painting by using AI, it is not Over the roofs the honey-coloured moon,
thinking on its own, but merely following algorithms With purple shadows on the silver grass,
that are essentially advanced versions of earlier
WRITING
computer languages. And the warm south-wind on the curving sea,
While we two, lovers past all turmoil now,
Text 2
Watch from the window the white sails come in,
While understanding and improving upon the Bearing what unknown ventures safe to port!
processes of how the human mind thinks has
been a goal of computer scientists since the first So falls the hour of twilight and of love
microprocessors were built, most experts agree With wizardry to loose the hearts of men,
that this endeavor—widely accepted now as
MATH
And there is nothing more in this great world
Artificial Intelligence—took a leap forward with the
Than thou and I, and the blue dome of dusk.
introduction of the neural network. Unlike before,
computers now learn how to teach themselves
and reach far beyond the ability and scope of any What is true about the hour of twilight, according to
programmer. With this major innovation, the age of the text?
true artificial intelligence is emerging.
A It brings an enchantment that inspires
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 romance.
most likely respond to the claims of the author of
Text 1?
B It brings a rising wind from the sea.
A By asserting that using algorithms represents
a fundamental change in how computers are
C It is the only time that the lovers can be alone.
now programmed
D It is full of eerie shadows cast by moonlight.
B By arguing that even if a computer isn’t
actually thinking, it is processing information
at incredible speed
D By pointing out that technological
breakthroughs in AI go beyond the creation of
more advanced algorithms
The Marciana Library was founded in 1468 when The Seagull is an 1895 play by Anton Chekhov. As
a humanist scholar donated his collection of rare an actor with years of experience behind her, Irina
manuscripts to the Republic of Venice on the Arkadina, one of the play’s main characters, is unable
condition that it be used to establish a public library. to withhold her criticisms of her son’s writing. When
Though political actors of the time desired that the questioned, she attempts to clarify her emotional
building be utilized solely as a center of learning for state, as is apparent when she remarks to a colleague,
historians and academics, the library was opened to __________
WRITING
READING
Insect Species Found Within and Outside the 5-Mile Radius of a Military Facility
WRITING
S. gregaria 67 80 147 45.6
S. gracilipes 43 54 97 44.3
L. magister 56 67 123 45.5
C. bicolor 61 70 131 46.6
MATH
A decade after a military facility was constructed in Which choice best describes data from the table that
a remote desert location in New Mexico, researchers support the researchers’ claim?
wondered whether the site was having an effect on
the population distribution of insects living within A For S. gregaria and C. bicolor, the percents of
a 15-mile radius of the facility. They posited that the populations found within the 5-mile radius
the light and energy emanating from the building were approximately equal.
might attract insects and cause their populations
to cluster. Using available data from before the
facility’s construction, the researchers noted that B For all five species, the percent of insects
approximately 35% of the total populations of found within the 5-mile radius was less than
five different insect species living within the 15- 50%.
mile radius of the facility were clustered within
just a 5-mile radius of where the facility was to be
constructed. The researchers then conducted a new C For each insect species studied, the percent of
population count following the same parameters. insects within the 5-mile radius was greater
Based on the results, they confirmed their hypothesis: than the percent of insects within the 5-mile
there was a significant increase in the population radius prior to construction.
cluster of these five species near the facility.
D The species with the least percent of its
population within the 5-mile radius was S.
gracilipes.
B people suffering from serious digestive health
problems will not benefit from the
administration of probiotic supplements.
C restoration of a healthy and diverse gut
microbiome in otherwise healthy individuals
does not require probiotic supplementation.
D the participants receiving the supplements
would have fared better if the dosage of the
probiotic organisms had been higher.
READING
READING DRILL 2
Time: 10 Minutes
WRITING
with bears are __________. For example, meticulously of artistic, cultural, and political motifs. Milhazes
washing, drying, and storing all cookware and dishes utilizes her formal training in modernist art to
will remove any scent of food that might attract both celebrate her Brazilian heritage and reflect
hungry bears. the governmental turbulence she experienced in
her childhood. Her large-scale installation Gamboa
Which choice completes the text with the most logical II abstracts the celebrations surrounding the
and precise word or phrase? annual Carnival of Brazil festival, allowing viewers
to experience the bright colors associated with
MATH
A avoidable the festival while reminding those viewers that
unrestrained artistic expression was not always
welcomed by Brazilian authorities.
B alarming
Which choice best describes the function of the
underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
C inevitable
A It reveals that certain groups within the
country of Brazil have placed restrictions on
D prevalent Milhazes and her artistry.
B It offers an extended biography of Milhazes in
an effort to describe which childhood
influences shaped her career as an artist.
C It elaborates upon the characteristics that
define Milhazes’s work by providing a specific
example.
D It emphasizes the uniqueness of Milhazes’s
creativity compared to the creative output of
other artists.
even algae to their diets. These differences aside, the in Spanish, of which language, however, I alone
diets of each dolphin species are thought at this point of the family became a master—and that more
to be well-documented. because of certain volumes of old Spanish romances
which she had by her, than for any other reason.
Text 2 From my earliest childhood I was fond of such tales,
In 2022, marine biologist Sam Ridgway documented and it was by bribing me with the promise that I
something that had never previously been observed. should read them that she persuaded me to learn
Utilizing tracking and advanced underwater camera Spanish.
MATH
Based on the text, how would Ridgway (Text 2) most C She wanted to become a writer.
likely respond to the “traditional view” presented in
Text 1?
D She learned to read Spanish.
A By admitting that his findings were likely an
aberration but claiming that situations such as
the one he observed could soon become
commonplace
B By noting that the understanding of dolphin
dietary habits should be adjusted to account
for fluctuations and aberrations based on
scarcity
C By rejecting the traditional understanding of
dolphin dietary habits and proposing that
dolphins make consistent dietary
modifications
D By accepting the traditional understanding of
dolphin dietary habits but claiming that they
are influenced by species size more than they
are by habitat
READING
The following text is adapted from James Fenimore “The Willows” is a 1907 short story by Algernon
Cooper’s 1821 novel The Spy. Blackwood. In the story, the narrator and a friend
It was near the close of the year 1780 that a solitary embark on a canoe trip on the Danube River. The
traveler was seen pursuing his way through one author uses a series of details to animate the river
of the numerous little valleys of Westchester. . . and make it a principal character in the story:
.The passage of a stranger, with an appearance of __________
somewhat doubtful character, and mounted on an
WRITING
animal which, although unfurnished with any of Which quotation from “The Willows” most effectively
the ordinary trappings of war, partook largely of illustrates the claim?
the bold and upright carriage that distinguished
his rider, gave rise to many surmises among the A “A rising river, perhaps, always suggests
gazing inmates of the different habitations; and in something of the ominous: many of the little
some instances, where conscience was more than islands I saw before me would probably have
ordinarily awake, to no little alarm. been swept away by the morning; this
resistless, thundering flood of water touched
MATH
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? the sense of awe.”
D “The Danube, more than any other river I
knew, impressed us from the very beginning
with its aliveness. From its tiny bubbling entry
into the world among the pinewood gardens of
Donaueschingen, until this moment when it
began to play the great river-game of losing
itself among the deserted swamps,
unobserved, unrestrained, it had seemed to us
like following the growth of some living
creature.”
0
on by aging.
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3
Agroecologist Theresa Ong surveyed urban gardens B markedly alleviate some of the effects of
at three sites in Northern California to study the hearing loss.
relationship between the types of plants and the
types of bees found. She discovered that gardens
C increase the ability to hear both lower
with high percentages of rare plant species would
attract correspondingly higher percentages of rare volumes and faster rates of speech.
bee species than would gardens without rare plant
species. Additionally, she noted that gardens tended
D physically change the ability of the ear to
by non-elderly females and elderly individuals
process sounds at different volumes.
regardless of gender were more likely to contain rare
plants and thus to sustain rarer species of bees than
those tend by non-elderly males. For example, while
the percentage of rare bees at the garden tended by
non-elderly males in Site 1 failed to surpass forty
percent, __________
B the percentage of rare bees in gardens
cultivated by non-elderly females in Site 2
surpassed fifty percent.
C the percentage of rare bees in gardens
cultivated by non-elderly females and elderly
individuals in Site 1 surpassed sixty percent.
READING
READING DRILL 3
Time: 10 Minutes
WRITING
architecture and décor; indeed, certain areas have for what would become the first of many direct
been deemed a near-perfect representation of this observations of chimpanzees. Prior to Goodall’s
delicately ornate and whimsical pastel-based artistic observations, it was assumed that chimpanzees
movement. However, the darker and more dramatic would not tolerate the presence of humans, nor could
baroque style actually dominates Versailles. chimpanzees craft and use tools as humans could.
Contrary to this assumption, Goodall was able to
Which choice completes the text with the most logical observe the Gombe chimpanzees from a remarkably
and precise word or phrase? close distance once the chimpanzees realized she
MATH
presented no danger to them. Goodall also noted
A fitting that the chimpanzees would use twigs to “fish” for
termites and would even strip the leaves off of the
twigs to make the twigs more effective fishing tools.
B common Goodall’s research provided valuable insight into
primate behavior that would alter how subsequent
studies on chimpanzees were conducted.
C persuasive
Which choice best states the main purpose of the
text?
D incorrect
A To emphasize how prominent Goodall has
become
B To describe Goodall’s contributions to
primatology research
efforts to manipulate nanocrystals into more useful much like the narrator himself, has a hard time
structural arrangements yielded little in the way of keeping track of what’s real. Proponents of the work,
positive results. such as critic Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, instead
count this among the novel’s strengths: in Lehmann-
Text 2 Haupt’s opinion, the novel offers an extraordinarily
Seeking to explore practical applications of sophisticated level of intellectual entertainment.
nanocrystals, researcher Paul Alivisatos’s pioneering
work in the field of nanotechnology expanded the What does the text most strongly suggest about Zen
and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?
MATH
C Chemists are more focused on developing uses
for one-dimensional nanocrystals than they
are for two-dimensional nanocrystals.
D The rising interest in nanocrystal research has
also created a similarly rising interest in
biomedical research.
READING
Though perhaps best known for his symphonic “The Funeral” is an early 1900s poem by Walter de la
compositions and musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mare. The poem explores a contrast between activity
Mozart remains an interesting subject of study for and exhaustion: __________
some academics for quite a different reason: his
coarse sense of humor. Academic commentators Which quotation from “The Funeral” most effectively
attribute Mozart’s indelicate comedic style as a illustrates the claim?
consequence of his father’s arbitrary rules and
WRITING
expectations. Mozart’s father, Leopold, while entirely A “We stood and watched; and the wind / Came
supportive of Mozart’s musical experimentation, softly out of the sky / And blew in Susan’s hair,
tried to maintain control over most other aspects of / As I stood close by.”
his son’s life even into adulthood, and it is believed
that the harshness of Mozart’s humor developed as a
sort of rebellion to Leopold’s attempted restraints. B “They took us to the graves, / Susan and Tom
and me, / Where the long grasses grow / And
Which choice best states the main idea of the text? the funeral tree.”
MATH
A While not as well-known as his music,
Mozart’s humor may have been affected by the C “And, looking out of the window, / I heard the
circumstances of his upbringing. thrushes sing; / But Tom fell asleep in his
chair, / He was so tired, poor thing.”
B Despite the controlling and domineering
nature of a father who was overly strict, D “With branches high in the air / And daisy and
Mozart established himself as a genius. buttercup, / We heard the lark in the clouds— /
In black dressed up.”
C Developing a coarse sense of humor as a
coping mechanism is the most effective way to
deal with the expectations laid out by one’s
parents.
D As a father, Leopold was a staunch supporter
of the musical experimentations conducted by
Mozart.
es
s
y
an
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nd
in
n
an
Ko
p
Ch
a
m
St
Ja
rl
MATH
er
g
he
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on
te
et
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H
Which choice most logically completes the text?
N
U
Country
A the levels of mercury detected in central Maya
While at the tail end of the 20th century the
settlements could not have reached levels
United States and Germany were the world’s two
hazardous to human health.
largest exporters, by 2020, China had overtaken
those countries as the leader in global exports. An
economist claims that the United States and Germany B ancient civilizations in what is now southern
remained productive countries, for while China Mexico, pre-dating the Maya, were already
maintained the highest recorded percentage of global using the mineral cinnabar to make paints.
export shares, __________
Which choice most effectively uses data from the C mercury-laced cinnabar was mined outside of
graph to complete the text? the Mayan world and imported to its central
settlements for use in paints.
A the United States exported a higher percentage
of goods than Japan or Hong Kong did.
D modern sources of the mercury contamination
are more likely the culprit and need to be
B Germany and the United States still exported a identified through further investigation of the
higher percentage of goods than did any other contaminated sites.
country besides China.
C the Netherlands exported a significantly
smaller percentage of goods than China
exported.
READING
READING DRILL 4
Time: 10 Minutes
WRITING
transform the grounds of the National Observatory of part of the cultural heritage of the Guna people of
Athens. The work epitomized his __________, fantastical Panama. The molas of today derive from ancestral
style: the entire Hill of the Nymphs on which the patterns, which themselves originated in the body
observatory stands was meticulously reimagined painting customs of centuries past. The word
architecturally, ecologically, and emotionally into mola comes from the word for “shirt” in the Guna
disparate zones through the use of 46,000 different language, and accordingly, molas typically adorn
plants accenting eleven sculptural installations. women’s blouses.
MATH
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice best describes the overall structure of
and precise word or phrase? the text?
A confounding A The text explains the features that are
common to a particular art style and then
gives an example of a specific piece of art
B subtle dominated by those features.
C elaborate B The text summarizes an argument about how
a traditional art form should be executed and
then offers a modern view on the subject.
D disorganized
C The text details a debate between two
potential origins of an art form and then
examines how that debate affected the modern
presentation of the art form.
D The text presents a description of a style of art
associated with a region and then describes an
item of clothing upon which the art style is
featured.
Mercury, German astronomers Friedrich Bessel and even extreme high tides over six feet above the
Friedrich Argelander concluded that the black drop city’s elevation. However, even the sea wall has its
effect was caused by disruption from Mercury’s thin limitations. If the sea wall remains in place too long
but observable atmosphere. due to prolonged high tides, then the lagoon will lose
its normal connection to the sea and become choked
Text 2 with algae and pollutants.
Believing that the relative thinness of Mercury’s
orbit was unlikely to be the cause of the black drop According to the text, under what circumstances
would the sea wall produce negative consequences
MATH
A By noting that while the black drop effect is
C If commercial shipping lanes are re-routed in
indeed a disruption, the findings of the Cornell
response to global economic trends
researchers provide a more plausible
explanation for the phenomenon than do those
of Bessel and Argelander.
D If the people of Venice decide that commercial
concerns are more important than ecological
concerns
B By generally agreeing with the conclusion but
objecting that the connection it assumes
conflicts with the data gathered by Bessel and
Argelander.
C By criticizing the conclusion for implying that
only Venus and Mercury can produce the black
drop effect due to their position within the
solar system.
D By faulting the conclusion for being based on
the presumption that the black drop effect
could not be observed before the invention of
the telescope.
READING
The following text is adapted from Alan Dale’s 1904 “The Foreigner” is a 1914 poem by Amy Lowell. In
short story “Wanted – A Cook.” The narrator, Archie, the poem, the speaker describes being mocked and
has posted an ad looking for a cook to work in his attacked for his appearance as an outsider: __________
household.
There was a ring at the front door-bell. Letitia, Which quotation from “The Foreigner” most
wrought-up, nervously clutched my arm. For a effectively illustrates the claim?
moment a sort of paralysis seized me. Then, alertly
WRITING
as a young calf, I bounded toward the door, hope A “I make for your courteous / Reception of me, /
aroused, and expectation keen. It was rather dark in A foreigner, landed / From over the sea. / Your
the outside hall, and I could not quite perceive the welcome was fervent / I think you’ll agree.”
nature of our visitor. But I soon gladly realized that
it was something feminine, and as I held the door
open, a thin, small, soiled wisp of a woman glided in B “You said so, and laughed / At my old-fashioned
and smiled at me. hose, / At the cut of my hair, / At the length of
my nose. / To carve it to pattern / I think you
MATH
Which choices best states the main idea of the text? propose.”
295
in the eighth to tenth centuries. But in 1981, another
290 scholar noted that certain matriarchal themes in the
WRITING
260 B are difficult to determine with any scholarly
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10 legitimacy.
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Year
B The greatest number of annual visitors to the
parks during the decade surveyed was
approximately 290 million in 2010.
C The lowest number of annual visitors to the
parks during the decade surveyed was
approximately 268 million in 2003.
D The parks had approximately 280 million
visitors in 2001 and approximately 290 million
visitors in 2010.
277
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
of rules. These questions can become quick and easy once you have learned and
practiced the rules that College Board likes to test over and over.
There are ______ to ______ Rules questions between the two Reading and Writing
modules.
Unlike Reading or Rhetoric questions, Rules questions are not organized by topic;
rather, all the Rules questions are in order of difficulty.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Regardless of the category, always use the same Basic Approach:
WRITING
mine the topic.
2. Apply the rules associated with that topic.
3. Use Process of Elimination.
MATH
TOOLS FOR RULES
Many of the on-screen tools will be very useful for Rules questions.
In the following chapters, you’ll learn all of the punctuation and grammar rules that
could be tested within this section of the RW module. In the next exercise, practice
identifying the topic of the question based on what’s changing in the answers.
WRITING
B could there be another explanation?
READING
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of
Standard English?
A have discharged
B discharges
WRITING
C discharge
D were discharging
MATH
What’s changing in the answer choices? ______________________________
A them
B them,
C them:
D them—
B Handbook, written in 2014,
WRITING
A wasting
B having wasted
C wastes
D to waste
• Once you have established that a question falls into the Rules category, always _____________________
__________________.
___________________________________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
Noun:________________________________________________________
Examples: _____________________________________________________
Verb: _________________________________________________________
Examples: _____________________________________________________
READING
BECOMING COMPLETE
The Digital SAT tests your ability to properly construct sentences. But what do we
mean by a sentence?
i. They swam.
WRITING
ii. Sara rode her bike.
MATH
A complete sentence needs two things:
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
C Different forms of exercise
do affect memory and
mental health.
D Different forms of exercise
do affect memory and
mental health?
QUESTION OR STATEMENT?
Identify whether the following phrases indicate that the blank is a question or a
statement.
Question Statement
to find out.
B whether woolly mammoths
could be revived the same
way.
D whether woolly mammoths
could be revived the same
way?
READING
FORM AND FUNCTION
As previously stated, each sentence needs a verb. More specifically, each sentence
needs a main verb. Problems arise with different verb forms.
WRITING
of Arizona and Nevada. The dam that it conforms to the conventions
_______ back the water contained of Standard English?
If there are -ing or “to”
in Lake Mead, which carries the
verbs in the answers,
largest enclosed volume of water in A having held look for and highlight
the United States when full.
the main verb in the
B holds
sentence with the blank.
If you cannot find a main
MATH
verb, the blank will
C holding provide the main verb.
D to hold
Is it a complete sentence?
Yes No
B having felt
C to feel
D feeling
MATH
C is painting
D painted
READING
MULTIPLE VERBS
There is another way verb form can be tested. When a sentence contains multiple
verbs that apply to the same subject, they must be in the same form.
WRITING
Avant is a leader of the Mashpee that it conforms to the conventions
Wampanoag tribe. Within this role, of Standard English? If it seems that mul-
Avant builds cultural awareness tiple verb forms can be
among citizens and _______ day care A provides correct, look for and
and tutoring services for Native highlight other verbs in
youth. the sentence or passage.
B providing
MATH
C provided
D provide
D were displaying
ways to each other when interacting in face-to-face near the town of Manhattan. While Kansas typically
social situations. When people interact virtually in doesn’t experience a high level of seismic activity,
an online gaming or social media context, ________ local meteorologists have wondered ________
Scientists at the University of Helsinki are working on
a study to discover the answer. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A whether future earthquakes could cause
MATH
C would their brains react the same way. C could future earthquakes cause devastating
damage to the area.
A having retraced
B retracing
C retraced
D to retrace
READING
One of the driest places on Earth can be found in Despite the fact that proper nutrition helps prevent
a surprising place: Antarctica. Nearby mountains numerous diseases, education in this area is often
surround the valleys and ________ ice from flowing into inconsistent and inadequate in medical school
the area, and the low humidity levels keep moisture programs. One obstacle ________ this field is the
down. amount of content medical students already need
to learn: adding anything would require important
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to content to be deleted from the curriculum.
WRITING
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
A to prevent the conventions of Standard English?
A to improve
B having prevented
B to improving
MATH
C preventing
C improve
D prevent
D improving
• Which two verb forms can never be the main verb in a sentence? ______________ and ______________
• When multiple verb forms seem like they could work, what should you do?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
You’ve learned how to construct a basic sentence, but sometimes writers like
to make things a little more complex. In order to understand how this works,
we need to introduce a new term: independent clause. Luckily, you’ve already
learned about independent clauses, even if you haven’t realized it.
READING
Start at the beginning of the sentence. Where does the independent clause end?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
WRITING
WE’RE BOTH INDEPENDENT
Instead of ending an independent clause with a period, it’s also possible to connect
it to another clause or phrase using punctuation. Let’s start with how to connect
two independent clauses.
MATH
FANBOYS stands for
Two independent clauses can be Two independent clauses can
For
joined with… NEVER be joined with…
And
• A semicolon, anytime ; • A comma without a coordinating Nor
• A comma plus an appropriate conjunction But
coordinating conjunction • A coordinating conjunction Or
(FANBOYS) without a comma Yet
• A colon, if the second part of • No punctuation to separate the So
the sentence explains the first in independent clauses
some way :
C system,
D system;
_____________________________________________________________
Sometimes, College Board will take semicolons a step further. The writers will
READING
add a transition word in between the two independent clauses, and you’ll need to
determine whether it belongs with the first clause or the second clause.
C century; however,
D century, however;
Does the first part of the sentence contrast with the previous sentence?
_____________________________________________________________
Does the second part of the sentence contrast with the first part of the sentence?
_____________________________________________________________
C trunks, but
D trunks,
READING
You must put a comma before a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS) if there are independent clauses both before and
after the conjunction.
WRITING
COLONS
Ghanaian-American novelist Yaa
5 Mark for Review
Gyasi’s first novel, Homegoing,
was inspired by a trip she took Which choice completes the text so
to Ghana. The novel follows the that it conforms to the conventions
MATH
lives of two half-sisters and their of Standard English?
descendants. Gyasi has cited
multiple authors as her _______ Toni A inspirations:
Morrison, Gabriel García Márquez,
James Baldwin, Edward P. Jones,
and Jhumpa Lahiri. B inspirations
C inspirations.
D inspirations;
You may be very comfortable with the use of a colon when it is followed by a list.
However, colons aren’t only used for lists. A colon tells you that what comes after
is going to elaborate on or explain what came before. It could be a list, but it could
also be an explanation or a definition. In terms of structure, the part after the colon
is allowed to be an independent clause, as long as it is directly related to what comes
before the colon.
B functions:
C functions and
D functions,
It’s important to note that a colon can only come after an independent clause. On
the Digital SAT, it’s never correct to use a colon if what comes before it is not an
independent clause.
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Now that you are familiar with independent clauses, you may not be surprised to
MATH
___________________________________.
Make the independent clauses dependent using two different subordinating words.
Dependent: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Dependent: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READING
YOU CAN DEPEND ON ME
There are two ways to connect an independent clause and a dependent clause:
Independent + Dependent or Dependent + Independent. In either case, the only
punctuation that is allowed is a comma. Sometimes a comma is used and some-
times no punctuation is used, but College Board won’t test you on this distinction
unless it is clear-cut.
WRITING
Generally, a comma is used when the dependent clause comes first and when there
is a contrast. If the dependent clause comes second and doesn’t contrast (such as
clauses that begin with because or if ), there usually isn’t a comma.
MATH
joined with… can NEVER be joined with…
• A comma , • A period .
• No punctuation at all • A semicolon ;
• A colon :
• A coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS)
C acquire; the
D acquire. The
C 1980s
D 1980s but
MATH
READING
OK DRILL
Decide whether the punctuation—or lack thereof—for each question is okay, and
mark the appropriate choice to the right of each question.
OK NOT
WRITING
2. Independent Clause; Independent Clause. ���� ����
MATH
5. Independent Clause (nothing) Independent Clause. ���� ����
Kübler-Ross was in training, she began conducting confirmed until _______ first mention of them dates
interviews with terminally ill patients. She continued back to 1846—English astronomer William Lassell,
these interviews after completing her training and who discovered Neptune’s largest moon, believed he
decided to focus her career on terminally ill patients had seen a ring around the planet.
and their families. She eventually wrote a book based
on her extensive work called On Death and Dying, Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
in which she proposed five stages of _______ anger, the conventions of Standard English?
bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
MATH
A 1989 the
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
B 1989, the
A grief, denial,
C 1989. The
B grief; denial,
D 1989; the
C grief: denial,
D grief. Denial,
4 Mark for Review
Crash test dummies are widely used by car companies
to identify which safety features are the most
efficient and effective when it comes to protecting
2 Mark for Review
passengers. Samuel W. Alderson, the inventor of
Film can be used to analyze and portray social topics the crash test dummy, initially intended to use the
in order to spur thought and discussions among the invention to improve aircraft ejection _______ prior
public. John Akomfrah, a filmmaker from Ghana, to his invention, car companies were using human
grapples with some of these topics, such as race and volunteers or cadavers to test safety modifications.
_______ works focus on contrasting pieces from past
centuries against modern conditions. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A seats,
C identity his
D seats;
D identity. His
READING
Studies of decision-making have revealed that people Citizen-led expeditions can support scientific
tend to favor options for which the probability of research and foster better relationships between
a favorable outcome is known, rather than one the public and the scientific community. These
whose probability is unknown. This cognitive bias expeditions that explore hard-to-access natural
is known as the ambiguity _______ within the world environments can gather people with unique skill
of finance it explains why people may avoid higher- sets that may not be readily available in the scientific
risk investments even if such investments have been community. While many citizen-led research
WRITING
shown to provide significantly higher returns over expeditions have focused on the marine _______ others
time. have gone to remote areas on land, such as the polar
regions and the canopy of tropical forests.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
A effect and
A environment and
MATH
B effect, and
B environment, and
C effect,
C environment,
D effect
D environment
A communities:
B ways. Though
B communities and
C ways, though,
C communities,
D ways, though:
D communities
• When two independent clauses are joined in the same sentence, it’s possible to use __________________,
__________________, or __________________ .
__________________ .
• A dependent clause does / does not contain a subject and a verb. It begins with __________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________.
• An independent clause and a dependent clause, in either order, can only be connected with
__________________ or __________________ .
307
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
You’ve learned about complete sentences and what they must include. Writers of-
ten want to make sentences more detailed by adding additional information about
their subjects, which we call describing phrases. Sometimes this additional infor-
mation must use punctuation, and sometimes it should not.
B artist Bronwyn Bancroft,
C artist, Bronwyn Bancroft,
READING
2 Mark for Review
Indian _________ discovered that a
particular type of ultraviolet laser Which choice completes the text so
could etch or drill into organic that it conforms to the conventions
tissue with no thermal damage of Standard English?
to the surrounding area. He
called this phenomenon ablative A chemist, and inventor
photodecomposition, or APD. The Rangaswamy Srinivasan
WRITING
application of APD to etch corneas
in eyes led to the corrective vision
surgery known as LASIK. B chemist and inventor
Rangaswamy Srinivasan
C chemist and inventor,
Rangaswamy Srinivasan,
MATH
D chemist, and inventor
Rangaswamy Srinivasan,
We call the phrase of Kwantlen First Nation in the previous question Specify-
ing Information. That’s because it’s needed for the idea before it to make sense.
Without the phrase, Dandurand is simply described as A member, which leaves
you wondering, “A member of what?” The Specifying Information specifies what
group he is a member of.
On the other hand, A member of Kwantlen First Nation is what we call Extra
WRITING
Information. It can be removed from the sentence without leaving the reader with
any questions or uncertainty.
C places,
D places—
READING
Specifying Information Rules
1. Phrases that begin with “that” are always Specifying
and never get commas around them.
2. Prepositional phrases are usually Specifying and don’t
get commas unless they appear at the beginning of the
WRITING
sentence.
Let’s take a closer look at prepositional phrases, which always begin with a
preposition. Here are some common examples of prepositions:
MATH
Common Prepositions
of to for by with from on
in of at above among before under
toward into near within around about as
______________________ ______________________ ______________________
You will not always have to determine whether a phrase is Specifying or Extra.
That’s because the sentence may already include punctuation, or no punctuation,
before or after the phrase. It’s important to read the full sentence in order to spot
this.
READING
If only commas, dashes, and/or parentheses are changing
in the answer choices and they seem to be placed around
a certain phrase, that’s a good sign the question is testing
describing phrases.
WRITING
The double-crostic—a type of word
6 Mark for Review
puzzle similar to a crossword
_________ was invented by Elizabeth Which choice completes the text so
Kingsley, a teacher who sold that it conforms to the conventions
puzzles to Saturday Review and The of Standard English?
MATH
New York Times.
A puzzle—
B puzzle,
C puzzle;
D puzzle
C concrete:
D concrete,
B inactivation:
C inactivation;
D inactivation
MATH
B Confucianism—a system of
thought and behavior—that
emphasizes humaneness,
loyalty, and filial piety,
C Confucianism—a system of
thought and behavior that
emphasizes humaneness,
loyalty, and filial piety—
D Confucianism, a system of
thought and behavior that
emphasizes: humaneness,
loyalty, and filial piety,
READING
Extra Information Rules
1. Extra Information can come before or after the noun or
pronoun it’s describing.
2. Extra Information can be removed to leave behind a
sentence with the same meaning, just a little less detail.
WRITING
It’s not needed for specifying which person or thing
you’re talking about.
3. Extra Information must always have commas, dashes, or
parentheses both before and after the phrase.
4. If you’re not sure whether the information is Extra or
Specifying, try removing it from the sentence. If it is
MATH
Extra, its removal will not affect your understanding of
who or what the sentence is about.
SPECIFYING OR EXTRA?
Determine whether each bolded phrase is Specifying or Extra Information and add
punctuation if needed.
1. The family offered a reward to anyone who could locate the missing
dog.
2. The painting on the left is mine; the one on the right is hers.
6. Art deco a style of visual arts that was popular in the 1920s and
1930s is associated with luxury, expensive materials, and exquisite
artisanship.
If you see a word that begins a describing phrase, such as that, which, or who, in
some but not all answers, it’s a good sign that the question is testing you on how to
construct a describing phrase.
C events,
D events that
READING
PUNCTUATION WITH DESCRIBING PHRASES DRILL
Time: 10 minutes
WRITING
oldest example of an analog computer. For over a he thought were remnants of a duck-billed dinosaur
century, researchers puzzled over this artifact until known as a hadrosaur. To his _________ the fragments
_________ used sophisticated scanning technology to ended up being petrified wood, and he was driven out
read faint writing that revealed the Antikythera of the scientific community as a result of his error.
mechanism’s purpose: to predict the movement of
celestial objects and the occurrence of eclipses. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
the conventions of Standard English? A embarrassment
B astronomer, Mike Edmunds and C embarrassment,
mathematician, Tony Freeth
D embarrassment:
C astronomer, Mike Edmunds and
mathematician Tony Freeth,
D astronomer Mike Edmunds and 3 Mark for Review
mathematician Tony Freeth,
Despite the fact that every human is genetically
unique with different life experiences, it is still
possible for a person to come across one’s _________
unrelated twin.
A doppelganger, or a biologically
B doppelganger or, a biologically
C doppelganger or a biologically,
D doppelganger, or a biologically,
In 1957, a stray dog named Laika was one of the first A challenge in using mathematical models to make
animals to go to space and the first to orbit the Earth. predictions in complex fields such as biology is the
Laika flew aboard Sputnik 2, a cone-shaped Soviet inability to collect all relevant data. To address this
_________ that contained a separate sealed cabin with issue, the Messi System, developed by _________ uses
enough space for the 11-pound terrier to stand or algebraic geometry and combinatorial mathematics
lie down. The experiment demonstrated that living to validate models of biological systems.
organisms could survive spaceflight, but it was
WRITING
controversial at the time and is viewed critically Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
today, as the technology to de-orbit had not yet been the conventions of Standard English?
developed and Laika would not be returning to Earth.
A mathematician Alicia Dickenstein
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
B mathematician Alicia Dickenstein,
A spacecraft, and
MATH
D spacecraft
7 Mark for Review
El Tatio is an example of a geothermic field—an
area in which water can seep deep within the
earth’s crust, become heated, and return to the
5 Mark for Review
_________ that is home to microorganisms known as
Most modern violins are made of wood or other hyperthermophiles, which can live in extremely hot
natural materials and based on the design of the environments.
violins made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari
in the 17th and 18th centuries. Blackbird, a violin Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
made by Swedish artist Lars Widenfalk, is also based the conventions of Standard English?
on Stradivari’s design; however, instead of wood,
Widenfalk used the black igneous _________ for its A surface
construction.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to B surface—
the conventions of Standard English?
B rock diabase, D surface;
C rock diabase
D rock, diabase
READING
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is widely The international standard for brewing tea,
recognized as a part of the English literary canon published by the International Standards _________ is
today. However, at the time of its publication, many not intended to dictate how consumers prepare tea;
critics panned the novel. For instance, writing in rather, the goal is to provide a standard method that
the North British Review, James Lorimer predicted allows consistent comparisons to be made among
that “it will never be generally _________ anticipating different teas and different laboratories.
Wuthering Heights’s continued impact on the culture.
WRITING
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the conventions of Standard English?
A Organization (ISO),
A read.” Not
B Organization (ISO)
B read”; not
MATH
C Organization, (ISO),
C read,” not
D Organization, (ISO)
D read”: not
A camera that
B camera, that
C camera
D camera,
• ___________________________ should never be separated from the rest of the sentence using punctuation.
• ___________________________ must be separated from the rest of the sentence using punctuation.
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
• What should you do if the sentence already has punctuation before or after the describing phrase?
_____________________
• Labels that come before names and titles should / should not have commas.
___________________________________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
ii. Some of her favorite activities are swimming, biking, and climbing.
iv. The dog’s favorite toys were the red blanket, the green ball, and the
brown teddy bear.
v. They needed to clean their bedroom, sweep the kitchen, and mow the
lawn before leaving.
College Board will put
punctuation before the
“and” or “or” in a list,
but because this is a
disputed rule, that punc- Items in a list of three or more things need to be separated by
tuation will never be the punctuation, typically commas.
only reason the correct
answer is right.
READING
1 Mark for Review
contemporary artist Naiza Khan
is a sculptural installation titled Which choice completes the text so
Hundreds of Birds Killed, which that it conforms to the conventions
consists of maps of the eleven of Standard English?
coastal cities discussed in a 1939 Highlight the other items
archival document summarizing A software, in the list.
the year’s weather calamities.
WRITING
The maps were graphed by Khan
using imaging _______ laser-cut into B software;
plexiglass in London, and then
hand-cast in brass by artisans in
Pakistan. C software:
D software
MATH
WHEN THE LISTS GET TOUGH…
Sometimes, items in lists use commas within them, so semicolons must be used to
separate the items in the list. Here’s an example to illustrate why:
The people attending the party are Kavya, my sister, Olivia, my cousin, How many people are
and Ellie. attending the party?
vi. Some of the best-known opera houses in the world are the Metropoli-
tan Opera House in New York, US; the Teatro alla Scala in Milan,
Italy; and the Palais Garnier in Paris, France.
vii. When going to school, be sure to bring your calculator, pencils, and
protractor for math class; your shoes, your racket, and a change of
clothes for gym class; and your safety goggles, long pants, and lab
coat for chemistry class.
A twenty-year collaboration
READING
What is the order of words and punctuation in the last item in the list?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
3 Mark for Review
in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lester Wire
desired a better way to control Which choice completes the text so
traffic that wouldn’t require that it conforms to the conventions
people to stand outside for hours of Standard English?
on end. Wire developed multiple
prototypes of a stop light, including A smokestack, and a final
a wooden box, which had red and version;
WRITING
green lights on all four sides; a
metal pole, which was fashioned
from a train’s _______ which added B smokestack; and a final
yellow caution lights to the other version,
designs.
MATH
D smokestack and a final
version
What is the order of words and punctuation in the first item in the list?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
LISTS DRILL
Time: 4 minutes
uses highly symbolic organic materials, such as soil, this phenomenon is known as the Droste effect.
in her works. One installation included footage shot The Droste effect has been used in many contexts:
on 8mm ________ drawings of cresting and falling in mathematics, it appears as fractals; in medieval
waves, and audio recordings of wind. ________ and in advertising, it appears within many
food logos.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A film
A art; it appears as images of books,
B film;
B art, it appears as images of books;
C film,
C art, it appears as images of books,
D film:
D art; it appears as images of books;
READING
One of the largest volcanic eruptions in history Oral poetry is often passed down through generations
occurred in 1257 in Indonesia. It started a chain and interpreted in different ways over time.
reaction of many large-scale phenomena: land Uvavnuk, an Inuk woman from the 1800s, created
alterations, such as the formation of a caldera hollow in this manner a transformation story that was
left behind when the magma was ________ such as the interpreted differently by different people, such as
volcanic winter that occurred due to the amount of Rudy Wiebe, an author who focused on the themes
dust that was kicked up into the atmosphere; and of appreciation for the Canadian ________ a critic
WRITING
atmospheric changes, such as a spike in sulfate who focused on the themes emphasizing the grand
concentrations in ice cores. experience of being Canadian; and Bernard Saladin
D’Anglure, an ethnographer who focused on the
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to themes of the Inuit third gender and shamanism.
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
A emptied; weather shifts, the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A Arctic; Robert Kroetsch,
B emptied; weather shifts
B Arctic, Robert Kroetsch;
C emptied, weather shifts;
• What clue tells you to look for a list in the sentence? __________________________________
• If one or more items within a list contains a comma, the list should be separated with _________________.
• For questions with complicated lists, ____________ a complete item and ___________________________
__________________.
329
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
READING
1 Mark for Review
attempted to improve short- and
long-term memory through brain Which choice completes the text so
stimulation techniques, which that it conforms to the conventions
involved using an oscillating of Standard English?
electrical _______ to mimic the Is there a reason to use
natural activity in the brain. A current, punctuation here?
WRITING
B current
C current:
D current;
MATH
There are a few specific rules to keep in mind that can help you identify when the
sentence definitely doesn’t need punctuation.
Add commas if they are needed. Otherwise, put a checkmark next to the sentence.
iii. Composer Jessica Curry___ led the British video game studio The
Chinese Room until 2015.
iv. British artist Mark Leckey uses themes of___ nostalgia in his works.
C her:
D her—
C boiling;
D boiling—
READING
NO PUNCTUATION DRILL
Time: 5 minutes
WRITING
professor Timothy Darvill suggests that a possible the use of bimetallic reagents for metalation
explanation for the construction of Stonehenge is reactions. These reagents, according to _______
that the monument and burial _______ was used as an are promising because they “can overcome many
ancient solar calendar consisting of 30 uniformly limitations of lithium reagents” that have previously
sized stones positioned in a circle. been used in metalation reactions.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A site; A Garden
B site, B Garden—
C site C Garden,
D site: D Garden:
The resplendent quetzal, the national animal of Abdoulaye Konaté is an artist from Mali who started
Guatemala, is a species of _______ with a colorful out as a graphic designer. His works comment
plumage of iridescent green feathers. on social affairs, such as the effects of AIDS on
individuals who suffer from the _______ and the
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to encroachment of the Sahel, a North African region
the conventions of Standard English? that has experienced overpopulation and attacks
from insurgent groups.
WRITING
A bird:
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
B bird
A disease
C bird,
B disease,
MATH
D bird—
C disease;
D disease:
4 Mark for Review
The New York City-based organization _______ was
established to teach children how to advocate for
themselves through arts-based education focused on
hip hop. When the program resulted in unexpected
benefits, such as enhanced speech development,
for participants, the organization’s founders began
partnering with clinical researchers to evaluate the
positive consequences of hip hop education.
A BEAT,
B BEAT;
C BEAT—
D BEAT
• Above all, if you can’t find a reason to use a punctuation mark, __________________________________.
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
4 What two verb forms cannot function as the main verb in a sentence?
______________________________________________________
READING
4 No punctuation should be used to separate _______________________,
as it is essential to the sentence’s meaning.
WRITING
4 A semicolon can only connect _________________________________.
______________________________________________________
MATH
4 How does FANBOYS relate to connecting independent clauses?
______________________________________________________
clauses? __________
them? __________
order, be connected?______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
The Options
WRITING
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
MATH
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
READING
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
WRITING
v Mark for Review vii Mark for Review
MATH
C astronaut, C alone however
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Describing Phrases
Connecting Clauses
Lists
Unclear
WRITING
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
READING
COMPLETE SENTENCES DRILL
For the following sentences and fragments, put a check mark if it is a complete
sentence. If not, correct it to make it complete by adding or removing punctua-
tion, removing a subordinating word, or changing the verb.
______ 1. In 2018, writer and professor Carol Anderson, published her
fourth book.
WRITING
______ 2. Starting in childhood, the siblings, born in the city of Toronto,
who studied the art of origami.
MATH
______ 4. Since the books are due on the tenth, two weeks from today.
______ 5. With a bang, the bright fireworks, launched from the pier, and
exploded colorfully in the dark sky.
______ 8. As Jaylee’s phone beeped over and over, so she had to set it to
silent.
COMMAS DRILL
Circle the option that uses commas correctly.
8. A. Head to the nearest exit if you hear the fire alarm go off.
B. Head to the nearest exit, if you hear the fire alarm go off.
READING
10. A. The best time to see a hockey game is Saturday afternoon.
WRITING
B. Originally opened in 1871, Grand Central Station is one of the
most impressive train stations in the world.
12. A. Named for the shape of its wings, the comma butterfly is found
mainly in the temperate areas in Europe and Asia.
B. Named for the shape of its wings the comma butterfly is found
MATH
mainly in the temperate areas in Europe and Asia.
PUNCTUATION DRILL
Circle the option that uses punctuation correctly.
2. A. This is a brand new suit, so you should wear it for a job interview
or something.
B. This is a brand new suit so you should wear it for a job interview
or something.
4. A. Kenzie said she would come to my party but in the end said she
couldn’t.
B. Kenzie said she would come to my party, but in the end said she
couldn’t.
READING
9. A. Every time I go to a squash match, I make sure to take my lucky
bandana and an extra racquet.
10. A. This picture is my favorite: it looks the best out of all of them.
WRITING
B. This picture is my favorite, it looks the best out of all of them.
11. A. First, she published a poem in The Atlantic. Then, she published
a whole book of poems.
MATH
whole book of poems.
invented by Granville Tailer Woods, a self-taught in Turkey and uses computational models to analyze
African American engineer who ________ on trains and biological topics. She helped develop the PRISM
streetcars. This telegraph method utilized induction (protein interactions by structural matching)
of static electricity to relay messages between trains algorithm to analyze how proteins will bond together
in motion. and assemble into larger ________ research that could
help target specific bonding sites for medications.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
C focused
C structures,
D focus
D structures
A why can’t life evolve wheels? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
B why life can’t evolve wheels. A exhibit,
C why can’t life evolve wheels. B exhibit which,
D exhibit that
READING
Social psychologist Walter Truett Anderson Julie Mehretu bases her artistic pieces on technical
hypothesizes that intelligent life required two images of ________ her pieces don’t contain any formal
significant ________ symbolic communication and points of view or perspectives and use complex
taking responsibility for one’s actions. layers to create abstract versions of the architectural
images.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING
the conventions of Standard English?
A shifts:
A architecture; despite this,
B shifts such as
B architecture, despite this;
C shifts, such as
MATH
C architecture despite this,
D shifts;
D architecture, despite this,
C pieces and B cars, and
D cars
Research shows that laws protecting paid sick leave Ithkuil is an experimental language constructed by
for employees are correlated with lower rates of John Quijada. The ________ strives to express subtle
suicide, alcohol-related accidents, and homicide. Some connections within human cognition, has extremely
developed countries that don’t have a national paid complex grammar rules and a robust library of
sick leave ________ have seen reduced mortality rates sounds.
among working adults when the amount of paid sick
leave increased. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING
A law;
B language
B law
C language which
MATH
C law,
D language, which
D law)
• Punctuation on the SAT is / is not based on how the punctuation makes you feel or whether the sentence
“looks right.”
• Master the punctuation rules on the SAT, and you will get the questions right ______________________!
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
1. ____________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________
READING
VERB NUMBER AND SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Previously, you learned that every sentence must have a subject and a verb. To take
things a step further, the subject and the verb must be consistent in number—that
is, whether they are singular or plural. If the subject is singular, the verb must also
be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.
WRITING
1 Mark for Review
“nobody’s land” in Latin, is used
in international law to describe a Which choice completes the text so
territory that doesn’t belong to any that it conforms to the conventions
state. One of the three global terra of Standard English?
nullius territories ________ Bir Tawil,
an area of land located between A is
Egypt and Sudan. Neither country
has claimed the area, which has no
MATH
settled population. B were
C are
D have been
The subject almost always comes before the verb, but it may not be right before the
verb. College Board’s favorite way to trick you on verb questions is to put words
between the subject and the verb so that you get mixed up about which word is
the subject. Often, the words that come in between are prepositional phrases.
Other kinds of phrases (like the ones we’d call Specifying or Extra Information)
can appear in between the subject and the verb, but prepositional phrases are the
most common.
WRITING
i. The car that my parents drove while on vacation for three weeks was
ill-suited for our trip.
MATH
iii. The children of Charles Seeger and Ruth Crawford Seeger include
folk musicians Peggy Seeger and Mike Seeger.
iv. The major periods of the common practice period of Western classical
music (also known as Western art music) are Baroque, Classical, and
Romantic.
v. The North Saint Georges Historic District in the village of North St.
Georges, Delaware, has nearly 70 buildings, including the Methodist
Church, Gam’s Store, and the Nuttall House.
READING
Although you won’t be explicitly asked to identify a subject or a verb on the
Digital SAT, being able to do so is key in correctly answering questions on subject-
verb agreement.
WRITING
on molecules in space ________ that it conforms to the conventions
important for understanding the of Standard English?
transformation of interstellar gas
and dust into living organisms. A has been
B was
MATH
C is
D have been
SINGULAR OR PLURAL?
Select whether each subject is singular or plural.
Singular Plural
Machine _______ _______
Erasers _______ _______
WRITING
Sometimes, you may know whether the subject is singular or plural but may not
be sure whether the verbs in the answers are singular or plural. Here’s a trick you
can use:
READING
VERB TENSE
Sometimes, verbs changing in the answers means that the question is testing verb
tense.
WRITING
Scientists have found a way to
4 Mark for Review
suspend nanoparticles, or tiny
glass spheres, in a vacuum and Which choice completes the text so
MATH
analyze how they interact with that it conforms to the conventions
each other. Researchers hope of Standard English?
that these trials _______ ways to
learn more about subatomic A provided
relationships and yield insight into
how to manipulate nanoparticles to
generate sensitive measuring tools B provide
or nanocomputers in the future.
C have provided
D will provide
Are there any answers that don’t agree with the subject?___________________
What clues in the text give insight into what tense is needed? ______________
You already know that past tense refers to things that have already happened, pres-
ent tense refers to what’s happening now, and future tense refers to what is going
to happen. There are a few tenses that may be a bit trickier to understand. It’s
important to note that you don’t need to remember the names of these tenses, but
you will need to understand how they should be used.
Present perfect always includes the helping verb has (singular) or have (plural). It’s
MATH
used to express an action that started in the past and continues to today or hap-
pened in the past at an indefinite time and could occur again.
Past perfect always includes the helping verb had. It’s used when an event from
the past happened before another past event or to express something that started
in the past and has stopped.
Example: Since I had already seen the movie, I wasn’t surprised by the ending.
Example: Prior to the big race, they had been running at the track every day.
READING
PAST VS. PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST PERFECT
Mark on the timeline when the event or events occurred.
Past Now
WRITING
Past: She went to the library last week.
Past Now
MATH
Present perfect: She has gone to the library before.
Past Now
Present perfect: She has been at the library since this morning.
Past Now
Past perfect: She had gone to the library before the renovations.
B was
C is
D will be
ii. Next month, we play / played / will play games with our friends.
WRITING
iv. Until the movie theater closed, we went / go / had gone there every
Friday.
v. Someone else reads / has read / will read this book before; there are
highlights everywhere.
MATH
C published
D had published
READING
VERBS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes
WRITING
Azerbaijan. Many women in the village practice the conflict over land disputes in the 1850s, but leaders
art of carpet weaving, and they often _______ the skill such as Irataba helped build stronger relationships
to younger generations. between the two groups to navigate diplomatic
situations. After Irataba escorted a large group of
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Europeans across the Colorado River, other explorers
the conventions of Standard English? _______ out his guidance for other expeditions.
MATH
the conventions of Standard English?
B teaches A have sought
C has taught B will seek
D is teaching C sought
D seek
B are
C would be
D had been
The electroencephalophone, an experimental musical Chinese American writer Bei Dao was exiled from
instrument that uses brain waves to manipulate China because his poetry and activism helped inspire
sounds, _______ invented by mathematical physicist Dr. the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Since 2006,
R. Furth and physiologist Dr. E. A. Bevers in the early however, he _______ allowed to return to China.
1940s.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
WRITING
C has been
C have been
MATH
D will be
D are
A determines
B is determining
C has determined
D have determined
• When number is being tested, find and ________________ the subject. Then, __________________________
__________________________.
• When number is being tested, it’s likely that only one / more than one answer will be consistent in number
with the subject.
• If verbs are changing in the answers but the question isn’t testing form or number, it’s probably testing
__________.
_________.
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
Like verbs, pronouns are all about consistency. Since a pronoun stands in for a
noun, it must be consistent in number (remember: singular or plural) with the
noun it refers back to.
C it.
D those.
READING
When pronouns are changing in the answer choices, highlight
the antecedent (what the pronoun is referring to). Make an
annotation stating whether it is singular or plural.
WRITING
Personal Pronouns
In real life, some
Singular Plural individuals prefer to use
First person I We “they” as a personal pro-
Second person noun. When it comes to
You You
the Digital SAT, however,
MATH
Third person He/she/it They “they” is always plural.
It’s important to note that you will never be asked to fill in a pronoun for a specific
person unless pronouns for that person have already been used in the text. Most
of the time, pronoun questions are really testing you on it versus they or them. To
round out the four answers, College Board will often give you pronouns such as
we, you, these, and one, but these options are almost always going to be incorrect.
D it
C it’s
D its
WHICH PRONOUN?
Highlight the antecedent and circle the correct answer.
ii. The team of chemists and physicists measured its / it’s / their success
by the number of articles written.
iii. People who study effectively for the SAT see its / their / they’re scores
increase.
iv. I invited my parents to visit, so their / they’re / he’s coming for dinner.
READING
A contraction is a shorter way of saying two words. The apostrophe stands in for
the letter or letters that have been removed. Here are some common contractions
and their meanings:
Contractions aren’t likely
It’s It is / It has to be correct answers
They’re They are on the SAT, as they are
generally considered
You’re You are
WRITING
inappropriate in formal
Who’s Who is / Who has writing.
If you see an apostrophe with a pronoun, expand it out. For example, do you want
to say “it is” or “they are” in the sentence? If not, eliminate the pronouns with
apostrophes.
MATH
Here are some common possessive pronouns and their meanings:
Its Belonging to it
Their Belonging to them
Your Belonging to you
Whose Belonging to whom
College Board loves to test its/it’s and their/they’re, as in Question 3. In fact, those
are the only pronouns you’re likely to see tested with apostrophes. As long as you
remember these simple rules, you’ll get those questions right every time.
C its
D their
READING
PRONOUNS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes
WRITING
inventions to her name, Beulah Louise Henry was on social relationships. Researchers found that
known as “Lady Edison.” One of her more well-known when a team was working on a stressful task, an
inventions was a “snap-on” parasol, which allowed expression of gratitude from one teammate enhanced
women to change ________ parasols’ coloring to match the cardiovascular efficiency of the other teammates;
different outfits. ________ bodies reacted to the task as a challenge
instead of a threat.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
the conventions of Standard English?
A they’re
A its
B their
B it’s
C it’s
C their
D its
D they’re
C such B it has
D you have
Modern driving simulators have some flaws, Dates, the edible sweet fruits, grow on the tree
including the lack of realistic background objects, Phoenix dactylifera, more commonly known as the
such as road markings and bushes. In a study, date palm. Date palms are cultivated across northern
scientists focused on improving a simulation by Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The date
making ________ have fewer repetitive patterns palm has been cultivated for such a long time that
by blending background objects differently from ________ place of origin is uncertain.
foreground objects.
WRITING
C it’s
C it
D its
D itself
• When pronouns are changing in the answer choices, find _____________________________ and
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
DON’T BE SO POSSESSIVE!
You have already learned how to use apostrophes with pronouns. Another way
apostrophes are tested is on nouns. A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. With
nouns, apostrophes are only used one way: to show possession. However, it’s easy
to mix up plural and possessive nouns because they both usually involve the letter
s. Apostrophe questions can be quick and easy, as they don’t require much reading.
All you need to do is learn a few basic rules.
READING
1 Mark for Review
of about 30 inscribed, raised stones
that describe voyages made by Which choice completes the text so
Norsemen. The stones, engraved that it conforms to the conventions
in the Old Norse language, were of Standard English?
Only nouns can be
made during the Viking Age. The
_______ include multiple mentions of
possessed. If the next
A runestones’ contents
“Greece” and “Greeks,” hence their word isn’t a noun, then
the word in question
WRITING
name.
B runestones’ contents’ shouldn’t be possessive.
C runestones contents
D runestones contents’
MATH
What’s changing in the answer choices? ______________________________
C People’s nickname’s
D Peoples nicknames
______________ decisions
READING
3 Mark for Review
of plants flowering in response
to extended exposure to cold Which choice completes the text so
temperatures, is controlled by that it conforms to the conventions
a complex set of molecules that of Standard English?
uses weather and environmental
conditions to trigger flowering A Dean’s research proves that
during the most opportune time plants’
WRITING
for the plant. Dame Caroline Dean
is a plant scientist from Britain
who strives to understand these B Dean’s research proves that
controls. _______ levels of gene plants
regulation are far beyond what was
initially thought.
C Deans research proves that
plants’
MATH
D Deans research proves that
plants
NOUNS DRILL
Time: 5 minutes
which may extend the lifespan of certain organisms, remnants of two colossal statues that were once
but long-term treatment has shown some adverse located on the shore of Lake Moeris. The statues were
effects. To combat this, scientists provided mice erected by ancient Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhat III
with a single, stronger dose at birth, and the ________ and described by the Greek historian Herodotus. The
increased with fewer negative side effects seen later ________ now known as the Pedestals of Biahmu, are
in life. the only parts that have survived.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
B mice’s lifespans B statues bases’,
READING
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is an American writer, On September 15, 1896, two locomotives crashed into
historian, and activist. She is known for her book An each other near the town of West, Texas. This event
Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Each was not an accident, however; instead, the Missouri,
of the ________ analyzes different time periods within Kansas, and Texas Railway planned the collision as
the four-hundred-year history of the colonization a publicity stunt. Tragically, the ________ exploded,
of the Americas from the perspective of Indigenous killing two people and injuring at least six others.
peoples.
WRITING
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the conventions of Standard English?
A locomotives boilers
A books chapters
B locomotives’ boilers
B book’s chapters’
MATH
C locomotives boilers’
C book’s chapters
D locomotives’ boilers’
D books’ chapters’
A works in exhibitions’
B works’ in exhibitions
C works’ in exhibitions’
D works in exhibitions
• To make a plural noun that ends with -s or -es possessive, add __________________.
• If the word that comes after a noun is not another noun, then the first noun cannot be
____________________.
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
2. ____________________________________________________________
MATH
3. ____________________________________________________________
READING
1 Mark for Review
libraries in Italy is the Marciana
Library. Founded by Cardinal Which choice completes the text so
Bessarion in 1468, _______ The that it conforms to the conventions
library now consists of over 13,000 of Standard English?
manuscripts and functions as both
library and museum. A the original collection of the
library contained over 500
WRITING
Greek and Latin
manuscripts.
B the library’s collection
originally contained over
500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts.
MATH
C over 500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts made up the
library’s original collection.
D the library originally
contained a collection of
over 500 Greek and Latin
manuscripts.
the modifier?___________________________________________________
MISPLACED MODIFIERS
Highlight the misplaced modifier. Draw an arrow to what it’s currently modifying.
Circle the noun that the modifier should be modifying.
ii. Built on an overlook, Mark enjoyed the view from his home.
WRITING
iii. Lily wore shoes on her feet that were too small.
A sentence with a misplaced modifier error may still “make sense.” You may un-
derstand perfectly well what the author meant to say, but that isn’t good enough.
In order for the sentence to be correct, the modifier must always come as close as
possible to the person or thing it is describing.
B the Appalachian Trail’s
hiking length extends
almost 2,200 miles in the
United States.
C the Appalachian Trail is a
hiking trail in the United
States that extends almost
2,200 miles.
D there are 2,200 miles of
hiking on the Appalachian
Trail in the United States.
Modifiers can be made tricky by the use of possessive nouns. Determine whether
READING
the following are OK or not.
OK NOT
WRITING
ii. Frightened by the main character, Paul’s book was too ���� ����
scary to read right before bed.
iv. Running for over an hour, the teacher’s lesson left every- ���� ����
MATH
one exhausted.
v. Rowing down the stream, Leslie’s canoe started taking ���� ����
on water.
B scientists’ predictions of sea
level rise in the future will
be better.
D sea level rise in the future
can be better predicted by
scientists.
MODIFIERS DRILL
Time: 6 minutes
Jemison was the first Black woman to travel into of American Samoa who is credited with the revival
space. She worked as a doctor for several years before of the art of siapo, a cloth handmade from plants.
joining NASA in 1987. Serving as a mission specialist, Used for clothing as well as bedding and ceremonies,
________ ________ begins with the bark of paper mulberry trees.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
A Jemison orbited the Earth on the space shuttle A there are few people today who can produce
Endeavour in September 1992. this cloth, which
B the space shuttle Endeavour orbited the Earth B siapo is one of the oldest cultural art forms in
in September 1992 with Jemison on board. American Samoa and
C the Earth was orbited by Jemison and the C Pritchard grew up around siapo and mastered
space shuttle Endeavour in September 1992. the process for making it, which
D Jemison’s mission on the space shuttle D siapo’s color comes from natural dyes, and the
Endeavour involved orbiting the Earth in process for creating siapo
September 1992.
READING
A chapbook is a small collection of short pieces of Aboriginal Australian artist Rover Thomas was one of
writing. The winner of numerous chapbook awards, the pioneers of the East Kimberley School. Comparing
________ and he has also managed virtual health himself to American artist Mark Rothko, ________
projects.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
the conventions of Standard English?
WRITING
A Thomas’s art incorporates elements of both
A some collections of medical poems have been modern and Indigenous art.
written by Tolu Oloruntoba,
B Thomas noted that his art incorporates
B this type of writing has been exemplified by elements of both modern and Indigenous art.
Tolu Oloruntoba, who has written many
medical poems in this format,
MATH
C elements of Indigenous and modern art were
incorporated by Thomas.
C Tolu Oloruntoba’s poems have a medical theme
and have appeared in this format,
D elements of modern art were incorporated
with Indigenous art in Thomas’s art.
D Tolu Oloruntoba has written many of these
collections of poems with a medical theme,
• Look for a modifier if you see __________________ changing in the answer choices.
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
These questions are different from the preceding Rules questions. Instead of deal-
TRANSITIONS
You’ll be able to spot transition questions easily. They always appear after the
Rules questions, so once you notice that you aren’t being asked the standard Rules
question anymore, you’ll know you’ve moved on to Rhetoric. Furthermore, tran-
sition questions have their own standard question that will easily clue you in to
their topic.
READING
1 Mark for Review
more common in education, and
many video platforms allow Which choice completes the text
viewers to play videos at a faster with the most logical transition?
rate. Researchers looked into the
effect of watching sped-up videos A Along those lines,
on learning, perceived workload,
and viewing preferences. Watching
B
WRITING
videos sped up to double the rate Likewise,
had minimal effects on learning.
________ watching videos sped up
1.5x did lead to negative effects, C However,
specifically increased perceived
workload and reduced preference.
D Regardless,
MATH
What ideas before and after the blank either support or contradict each other? Highlight the content that
supports or contradicts.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
C In addition,
D Therefore,
MATH
What ideas before and after the blank either support or contradict each other?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
READING
COMMON TRANSITIONS
For the most part, College Board uses the same transitions over and over. Here are
the test-writers’ favorites:
WRITING
For instance Agree Disagree ___________________________
MATH
In addition Agree Disagree ___________________________
D Nevertheless,
MATH
C After all,
READING
TRICKY TRANSITIONS
Here are some of the trickier transitions that College Board occasionally uses:
WRITING
Actually Agree Disagree ___________________________
MATH
In any case Agree Disagree ___________________________
B Meanwhile,
C In other words,
D Overall,
In other words,
C Despite this,
D Moreover,
MATH
READING
TRANSITIONS DRILL
Time: 12 minutes
WRITING
dysfunction, a recent study found that there may be with several teachers before starting his career on
some ways to reduce the risk. ________ older dogs who Broadway. First, he worked with Oscar Hammerstein
engaged in more physical activity were less likely to II, who co-wrote musicals such as Oklahoma!, South
have the disease. Pacific, and The Sound of Music. ________ Sondheim was
taught by Robert Barrow and Milton Babbitt while
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Sondheim was a student at Williams College.
transition?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
MATH
A Also, transition?
A Therefore,
B Furthermore,
B In fact,
C Instead,
C Nevertheless,
D For example,
D Next,
A for example,
B Similarly,
B however,
C Thus,
C in addition,
D Therefore,
D therefore,
Researchers studied dogs and tear production to see Scientists are having difficulty identifying the species
whether emotional arousal in dogs can lead to tears. of one particular whale. While the frequency of blue
To find out, the researchers measured dogs’ tears whale calls is between 10 and 39 hertz (Hz), and
when dogs reunited with their owners and with the frequency of fin whales is around 20 Hz, this
familiar non-owners. When dogs reunited with their individual whale calls at around 52 Hz. This species
owners, their tear volume increased. ________ when the of whale, nicknamed the 52-hertz whale, cannot be
dogs reunited with familiar non-owners, there was determined by its call. ________ no one has made visual
WRITING
Which choice completes the text with the most logical Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition? transition?
A Likewise, A Moreover,
B B
MATH
D Afterward, D Nevertheless,
C As a result,
C Ultimately,
D Furthermore,
D Thus,
READING
Reggae is a music genre known for its distinctive Genevieve Caulfield lost her sight due to an accident
rhythms. ________ staccato chords are played on the at two months old. However, this challenge did not
offbeats by a guitar or piano. prevent her from succeeding; ________ Caulfield was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963
Which choice completes the text with the most logical for her work for the blind in Asia.
transition?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
WRITING
A Specifically, transition?
A therefore,
B Indubitably,
B indeed,
C Finally,
MATH
C furthermore,
D Fortunately,
D similarly,
__________________________
• For transition questions, _______________ ideas in the sentence(s) that ____________ or _______________.
405
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
Rhetorical Synthesis questions have two other features that help you identify
them:
READING
1 Mark for Review
student has taken the following
notes: The student wants to emphasize a
similarity between Eris and Pluto.
• E
ris is a dwarf planet
Which choice most effectively uses
discovered in 2005 by a team
relevant information from the
at the Palomar Observatory.
notes to accomplish this goal?
• I nitially, scientists thought that
Eris was larger than Pluto and
WRITING
A Pluto was the ninth planet
thus described it as the tenth
and Eris was described as
planet of the Solar System.
the tenth planet of the Solar
• N
ot everyone agreed that System.
it should be classified as a
planet.
B The International
• I n 2006, the International
Astronomical Union created
Astronomical Union created
MATH
the definition of “planet,”
the official definition of
which Eris did not meet.
“planet.”
• E
ris did not meet the
definition and was classified C Eris and Pluto were both
as a dwarf planet. considered planets by some
• P
luto, originally the ninth before they were classified
planet, was also classified as as dwarf planets.
a dwarf planet based on the
new definition.
D Pluto was classified as a
dwarf planet based on the
official definition of
“planet.”
D When studying mountain
goats and bighorn sheep at
salt licks in Glacier National
Park, Joel Berger and Forest
Hayes thought that sheep
would win access to the licks
half the time.
READING
Correct answers to Rhetorical Synthesis questions must fulfill
all of the goals in the question!
WRITING
GET A CLUE
Transition words can often help identify whether a goal is being fulfilled. In each
of the following, highlight the goal, then eliminate transition words that do not
address the goal.
MATH
B) … both …
C) … therefore …
D) … yet …
B In 1874, up to 12.5 trillion
MATH
C The Locust Plague of 1874
covered approximately 2
million square miles, while
a locust infestation the next
year covered only 198,000
square miles.
D During the Locust Plague of
1874, up to 12.5 trillion
locusts attacked the Great
Plains of the US and Canada.
READING
MAKING GENERALIZATIONS
Sometimes, the goal will ask for a generalization. The correct answers to these
questions often include little or no detail.
WRITING
use of Agloe as a fictitious entry.
• C
artographers Otto G.
Which choice most effectively uses
Lindberg and Ernest Alpers
relevant information from the
included Agloe in their maps
notes to accomplish this goal?
of the Catskill Mountains, NY,
in the 1930s.
A Cartographers Otto G.
• Agloe was not a real town.
Lindberg and Ernest Alpers
• A
gloe was a fictitious entry included Agloe, which was
MATH
included in the map to catch not a real town but rather a
plagiarizers. fictitious entry, in their
• A
gloe General Store was built maps of the Catskill Does the answer need to
at the location on the maps in Mountains, NY, in the 1930s. include Agloe in order to
the 1950s. be a generalization?
• A
gloe, NY, became a real place B In the 1950s, Agloe General
because of this store. Store was built at the
location of the fictitious
entry for Agloe, NY.
C Some maps include locations
that are not real, known as
fictitious entries, in order to
catch plagiarizers.
D Initially a fictitious entry
included in maps to catch
plagiarizers, Agloe, NY,
became a real place when
Agloe General Store was
built at the location on the
maps in the 1950s.
D Wanting to prevent infant
mortality, American
physician Virginia Apgar
invented the Apgar score to
assess the health of a
newborn.
What in the answer choice, Does (B) fulfill the first goal? Yes No
if anything, would help an The second goal? Yes No
audience unfamiliar with
Virginia Apgar?
Does (C) fulfill the first goal? Yes No
The second goal? Yes No
READING
Identify whether the following would be more appropriate to an audience familiar or
unfamiliar with the bolded portion.
Familiar Unfamiliar
WRITING
ii. 20th century Irish novelist James Joyce
is regarded as… _______ _______
MATH
video is a feature of van Koolwijk’s work. _______ _______
• Z
enzele: A Letter for My
Daughter, Maraire’s novel, was
a New York Times “Notable A J. Nozipo Maraire’s novel
Book of the Year” in 1996. Zenzele: A Letter for My
• T
he novel is written as a letter Daughter, published in 1996,
from mother to daughter is written as a letter from
about their family and their mother to daughter about
country, Zimbabwe. their family and their
country, Zimbabwe.
MATH
B J. Nozipo Maraire wrote a
novel about a mother and
daughter that was a New
York Times “Notable Book of
the Year.”
C J. Nozipo Maraire is a
Zimbabwean neurosurgeon
and author who was born in
Mangula.
D Zimbabwean neurosurgeon
and author J. Nozipo
Maraire wrote Zenzele: A
Letter for My Daughter,
which was a New York Times
“Notable Book of the Year”
in 1996.
READING
RHETORICAL SYNTHESIS DRILL
Time: 12 minutes
WRITING
following notes: following notes:
• Zydeco is a genre of music from Louisiana. • S
huntarō Tanikawa is a respected and well-
• I t is generally played with a strong rhythmic known Japanese poet.
core in a syncopated and uptempo manner. • H
e has translated famous poetry and cartoons
• T
here are two instruments that feature in from other languages into Japanese, including
zydeco music. Mother Goose rhymes and the comic Peanuts.
• H
e has written poems for children’s books and
MATH
• An accordion leads the band.
theme song lyrics, such as for the film Howl’s
• A
vest frottoir, a specialized washboard, is the Moving Castle.
main percussive instrument.
• T
anikawa is often considered a strong candidate
• O
ther instruments used in zydeco are keyboard, for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
bass, electric guitar, and drum set.
• M
any of Tanikawa’s poems have been translated
The student wants to emphasize the main into other languages.
instruments used in zydeco. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes The student wants to emphasize the variety of media
to accomplish this goal? that Tanikawa has worked in. Which choice most
effectively uses relevant information from the notes
to accomplish this goal?
A Zydeco uses different instruments, such as
accordions and electric guitars.
A The poems of Shuntarō Tanikawa, a respected
and well-known Japanese poet, have been
B Zydeco is a type of music from Louisiana that translated into many different languages.
has a syncopated and uptempo style.
B Japanese poet Shuntarō Tanikawa has written
C A specialized washboard, called a vest frottoir, poems for children’s books; some of his poems
is played as a percussive instrument, although have been translated into other languages.
zydeco can also include a drum set.
C Shuntarō Tanikawa, who is often considered a
D An accordion leads a zydeco band, and a vest strong candidate for the Nobel Prize in
frottoir is the main percussive instrument. Literature, is a respected and well-known
Japanese poet.
D Tanikawa’s work is varied: it includes
translations of famous poetry and cartoons
from other languages into Japanese, poems for
children’s books, and theme song lyrics.
While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• T
he Gourd Dance originated with the Kiowa • T
he amygdala is a region in the brain involved
tribe and is performed by men. in stress processing.
• T
hey form a circle and dance in place to a • P
revious research has suggested that people
relatively slow beat. who live in rural areas have amygdalas that are
less activated during stress compared to people
WRITING
• T
he men drape red or blue blankets over their
shoulders during the dance. who live in urban areas.
• T
he Grass Dance is fast-paced and includes a • S
cientists were unsure whether the nature in
variety of movements. rural areas led to less-activated amygdalas or
whether people with less-activated amygdalas
• M
en from the Northern Plains perform this choose to live in areas with more nature.
dance wearing regalia that includes brightly
colored fringe and rarely includes feathers. • A
recent study had volunteers walk for one
hour either in Grunewald forest or in an urban
MATH
C In a recent study, researchers separated
volunteers into two groups and had one group
walk through a forest and one group walk
along a street.
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• T
he angklung is an instrument that originated • Gaet’ale Pond is a hypersaline lake.
in Indonesia and is played by the Sundanese • I t is located in the Afar Depression in Ethiopia,
people. which is one of the most tectonically active areas
• T
he instrument is made of carved bamboo tubes, in the world.
which produce particular pitches when struck.
WRITING
• It is the saltiest body of water in the world.
• The tubes are attached to a bamboo frame. • It has a salinity of 43%.
• I n an angklung ensemble, each person can • T
he world’s oceans have an average salinity of
create one pitch. 3.5%.
• A
ngklung players work together to create • T
he Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley has a
complete melodies. salinity of 33.7%.
MATH
The student wants to introduce the angklung to an The student wants to highlight how the salinity of
audience unfamiliar with its appearance. Which Gaet’ale Pond compares to that of other bodies of
choice most effectively uses relevant information water. Which choice most effectively uses relevant
from the notes to accomplish this goal? information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A The angklung, a Sundanese musical A Gaet’ale Pond has a salinity of 43%, while the
instrument, consists of carved bamboo tubes Dead Sea has a salinity of 33.7% and the
attached to a bamboo frame. world’s oceans have an average salinity of only
3.5%.
B The bamboo tubes of the angklung produce
particular pitches when struck. B Gaet’ale Pond, the Dead Sea, and the world’s
oceans all have different salinities.
C Angklung players in an ensemble work
together to create a complete melody. C Gaet’ale Pond is in the Afar Depression, and
the Dead Sea is in the Jordan Rift Valley.
D The angklung originated in Indonesia and
consists of carved bamboo tubes. D Gaet’ale Pond is the saltiest body of water in
the world with a salinity of 43%.
While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• G
raphic novelist and illustrator Thi Bui was • W
alnuts, a type of tree nut, are a good source
born in Vietnam in 1975. of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, which may
• S
he and her family fled Vietnam during the promote heart and brain health.
Vietnam War as refugees. • R
esearchers were interested in the possible
health benefits of walnut consumption over
WRITING
• S
he and her family arrived in the United States
in 1978. time.
• H
er first graphic novel, The Best We Could • T
hey conducted an observational, longitudinal
Do, told her family’s story from before fleeing study of around 3,000 people.
Vietnam to their migration to the United States. • T
he study included self-reported diet history
• H
er second published book, A Different Pond, over 20 years and physical and clinical
with text written by Bao Phi, tells the story of a measurements over 30 years.
Vietnamese father and son who immigrated to • P
articipants were divided into three groups:
MATH
the United States after the Vietnam War. “walnut consumers,” “other nut consumers,”
and “no nut consumers.”
The student wants to highlight a similarity between • “ Walnut consumers” had better health
two works. Which choice most effectively uses indicators, such as lower blood pressure, higher
relevant information from the notes to accomplish self-reported physical activity, and lower fasting
this goal? blood glucose concentrations, compared to the
other groups.
A Two of Thi Bui’s works tell stories of
Vietnamese immigrants to the United States: The student wants to present the study and its
The Best We Could Do tells the story of her methodology. Which choice most effectively uses
family, and A Different Pond tells the story of a relevant information from the notes to accomplish
father and son. this goal?
A Researchers found that walnut consumers had
B Graphic novelist and illustrator Thi Bui was
better health indicators over the course of a
born in Vietnam in 1975 and fled with her
years-long study.
family during the Vietnam War.
B Researchers studied the potential health
C Thi Bui and her family fled Vietnam during
benefits of consuming walnuts, a good source
the Vietnam War and arrived in the United
of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
States in 1978; this story is told in her first
graphic novel, The Best We Could Do.
C Interested in the effects of walnut
consumption, researchers conducted an
D Thi Bui’s first graphic novel, The Best We Could
observational, longitudinal study of 3,000
Do, tells the story of her family; however, her
participants that included self-reported diet
second book, A Different Pond, tells the story of
history and physical measurements to study
a father and son.
the possible health benefits of walnuts.
D A study revealed that walnut consumers have
lower blood pressure, higher self-reported
physical activity, and lower fasting blood
glucose concentrations.
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible is a freely available • S
atire is a genre of literature that uses humor to
typeface. make social criticism.
• A
typeface is a set of designed letters and • M
ark Twain wrote the satire Huckleberry Finn
characters. in 1884.
WRITING
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible is intended to be • In Huckleberry Finn, Huck fights to help Jim,
optimally legible for readers who are partially a fugitive slave, despite the guilt he feels that
visually impaired. results from the social norms of the broader
• I t was designed by Applied Design Works under society.
the direction of the Braille Institute. • Joseph Heller wrote the satire Catch-22 in 1961.
• M
ost students at the Braille Institute are not • In Catch-22, Captain John Yossarian fights to
fully blind. survive despite the impossible requirements of
MATH
• A
tkinson Hyperlegible includes many circles as the broader US military bureaucracy.
a reference to braille and the Braille Institute.
The student wants to emphasize the similarities in
The student wants to introduce Atkinson two books to an audience familiar with satire. Which
Hyperlegible to an audience unfamiliar with the choice most effectively uses relevant information
term “typeface.” Which choice most effectively uses from the notes to accomplish this goal?
relevant information from the notes to accomplish
this goal? A In Huckleberry Finn, Huck helps a fugitive
slave, whereas in Catch-22, Captain John
A Most students at the Braille Institute are not Yossarian attempts to meet the requirements
fully blind; therefore, the Braille Institute of a military bureaucracy.
directed Applied Design Works in designing
Atkinson Typeface.
B Huckleberry Finn was written as a satire in
1884; Catch-22 was written as a satire in 1961.
B Atkinson Hyperlegible, a freely available
typeface, includes many circles as a reference
C Both Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and
to braille and the Braille Institute.
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 are examples of satire,
a genre of literature that uses humor to make
C Atkinson Hyperlegible is a freely available social criticism.
typeface (a set of designed letters and
characters) intended to be optimally legible for
D In two examples of satire, Mark Twain’s
readers who are partially visually impaired.
Huckleberry Finn and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22,
the main characters find themselves fighting
D Atkinson Hyperlegible includes many circles against broader forces beyond them.
as a reference to braille and the Braille
Institute, where most students are not fully
blind.
• If the audience is _________________ with a person or thing, then the person or thing should be
explained. If the audience is _________________, then the person or thing should not be explained.
• For these questions, all of the answers will / will not be grammatically correct, and it’s likely / unlikely
that they will all accurately represent the bullet points.
421
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
WRITING DRILL 1
underwater microbes. What are the key players and her work to raise awareness about the problems
involved in biogeochemical cycles, and ________ facing the world’s oceans. She was one of the pioneers
Trembath-Reichert hopes to discover the answers to in the use of scuba gear. In 1990, Earle was appointed
these questions. the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, ________ her the first
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to woman to hold that position.
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
MATH
A how have their roles shifted throughout the conventions of Standard English?
history.
A makes
B how have their roles shifted throughout
history? B making
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
B has served B have been
C served C is
D serves D were
READING
Amphibian eating habits have long fascinated Australian Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira
scientists. Rachel Keeffe and her colleagues wanted to painted richly detailed watercolors of the outback,
know what happens after a toad catches its prey. They where he lived. During his life, many Australians
used the cane toad in their study because ________ one ________ reproductions of his watercolors in their
of the largest toad species, so the researchers could homes.
more easily observe the swallowing mechanism. By
using metallic beads attached to the toads’ mouths Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING
and X-ray videography, the researchers found that the the conventions of Standard English?
toads briefly swallowed their tongues after catching
prey. A hung
A they are
MATH
C will hang
B one is
D will have hung
C these are
C Olympics
D Olympics:
Many schools in the UK are located close to busy Eija-Liisa Ahtila is a filmmaker and artist from
roads, which exposes students to high levels of Finland who creates multi-panel cinematic pieces.
pollution from vehicles. Scientists hope to evaluate ________ she focused on themes of family relationships
different existing strategies to reduce the exposure, and mental health crises. Now, she focuses on more
such as green screens and air purifiers. ________ abstract concepts, such as faith and perception of the
scientists aim to develop new strategies that might meaning of life.
target vehicle exhaust specifically.
WRITING
C By contrast,
C Additionally,
D Previously,
D Still,
A In conclusion,
B However,
C For instance,
D As a result,
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes:
WRITING
• H
e is inspired by themes of freedom and
resistance along with Tunisia’s history as a
French colony.
• His work Contre l’Oubli (Hommage à El Mekki)
(2019) uses mosaics to depict the pixelated
signatures of famous Tunisian artists.
• His work Colonial discourse (2020) uses marble
MATH
mosaics to depict the words of the former
French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
B Soltane is a Tunisian visual artist who is
inspired by themes of freedom and resistance.
C Soltane completed Contre l’Oubli (Hommage à
El Mekki) in 2019 and Colonial discourse in
2020.
D Soltane utilized mosaics to create both Contre
l’Oubli (Hommage à El Mekki) (2019) and
Colonial discourse (2020).
WRITING DRILL 2
an ________ portrayed Native American experiences. community ________ by the Old Man House, one of the
Her second book, Postcolonial Love Poem, explored largest communal longhouses built on the Northwest
love in an America rife with conflict. Coast, the House of Awakened Culture provides a
place for gatherings, ceremonies, and traditional
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to storytelling, dancing, and singing.
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
A Aztec, published in 2012, the conventions of Standard English?
MATH
C house inspired
D Aztec published in 2012
D house, inspired
A style. A
B group’s instruments
B style and a
C groups’ instruments
C style a
D groups’ instruments’
D style, a
READING
Palestinian American writer Susan Muaddi Darraj’s Architects sometimes propose abstract “concept”
novel The Inheritance of Exile is a series ________ designs that may be used in the future. A giant
intertwined stories narrated by Palestinian American skyscraper that could hold up to 1,000,000
women living in a working-class neighborhood of inhabitants, ________ to combine modern technology
South Philadelphia. with nature.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
WRITING
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
A of: A the X-Seed 4000’s location of Tokyo, Japan, was
destined to house the building designed by the
Taisei Corporation
B of—
B Tokyo, Japan, would be the home of the X-Seed
MATH
C of, 4000, designed by the Taisei Corporation
A Subsequently,
C Americans, but
B Conversely,
D Americans;
D Despite this,
Scientists have designed a wearable sensor that While researching a topic, a student has taken the
functions as electronic “skin.” The new design is following notes:
much more sensitive than other wireless sensors
are. ________ it can detect subtle changes in a person’s • A
team led by Zhen Xu at the University of
heartbeat or sweat composition. Michigan investigated the effects of histotripsy
on the progression of liver cancer.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical • H
istotripsy is a noninvasive technique that uses
WRITING
B As the prognosis for liver cancer patients is
poor and recurrence of cancer is common
after treatment, researchers wanted to
investigate whether histotripsy could be an
effective treatment for liver cancer.
C Histotripsy is a noninvasive technique that
uses sound waves to treat liver cancer and is
effective at removing 50–75% of liver tumor
volume in mice with liver cancer.
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes: following notes:
• C
hinese paper cutting is one of the oldest folk • I n a study, a team led by Llewelyn Mills from
arts in China, with origins dating back to the the University of Sydney investigated factors
second century. influencing caffeine withdrawal.
• C
hinese paper cuttings are often used as • P
articipants of the study were all heavy coffee
WRITING
decorations for windows and are sometimes drinkers, drinking at least three cups of coffee a
referred to as window flowers. day.
• B
efore paper was invented, cuttings were made • A
fter 24 hours without coffee, some participants
using leaves, silk, or leather. were randomly given either decaffeinated coffee
• C
hinese paper cutting is more popular in or water.
northwest China due to the drier climate, in • P
articipants’ symptoms decreased after
contrast to southeast China’s more humid and consuming decaffeinated coffee.
rainier climate.
MATH
• T
he researchers concluded that consuming
• C
hinese paper cuttings have been used to decaffeinated coffee can help reduce the
celebrate the coming of spring since the Song symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
and Yuan dynasties.
The student wants to present the caffeine withdrawal
The student wants to emphasize one of the uses of study and its conclusions. Which choice most
Chinese paper cuttings and their longevity. Which effectively uses relevant information from the notes
choice most effectively uses relevant information to accomplish this goal?
from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A Researchers at the University of Sydney
A Chinese paper cuttings are also known as wanted to investigate what factors influence
window flowers and are used as decorations caffeine withdrawal and found that the
for windows during the coming of spring. symptoms of caffeine withdrawal can be
reduced through consumption of
decaffeinated coffee.
B Chinese paper cuttings originated in the
second century and were originally made with
leaves, silk, and leather. B In a study of caffeine withdrawal, researchers
studied whether decaffeinated coffee could
reduce caffeine withdrawal symptoms in
C The drier climate of northwest China made heavy coffee drinkers who drank at least three
paper cuttings more popular there compared cups of coffee a day.
to in southeast China.
C Heavy coffee drinkers, who drank at least
D Chinese paper cuttings are thought to have three cups of coffee a day, were recruited to
been developed in the second century and are participate in a study on the factors
used to celebrate the coming of spring. influencing the symptoms of caffeine
withdrawal.
D Llewelyn Mills led a group of researchers at
the University of Sydney to investigate the
factors that can influence the symptoms of
caffeine withdrawal.
WRITING DRILL 3
his installation Bulldozer Scene No Tin Shack (2022) her first poetry collection that explores similarities
features a video that—in a scene reminiscent of and differences between ________ an autobiographical
Tiananmen Square in ________ a young teenage boy young adult novel; and Lullaby Raft, a picture book.
attempting to stop a bulldozer about to destroy his
home. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? A cultures; Habibi
MATH
A 1989 shows
B cultures, Habibi:
B 1989—shows
C cultures; Habibi,
C 1989, shows
D cultures, Habibi,
D 1989; shows
A disadvantages though
B facilities while
B disadvantages, though;
C facilities:
C disadvantages; though,
D facilities,
D disadvantages. Though
READING
Noted for his use of a variety of forms, American American pianist and composer Eubie Blake joined
________ Srikanth Reddy has published three poetry his longtime collaborator Noble Sissle, a lyricist and
collections and has contributed to many periodicals, playwright, to create a musical. Credited as the show
including Harper’s and The New York Times. that brought jazz to Broadway, ________
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to
the conventions of Standard English? the conventions of Standard English?
WRITING
A poet A Blake and Sissle premiered Shuffle Along in
1921.
B poet;
B in 1921 Blake and Sissle premiered Shuffle
Along.
C poet:
MATH
C Blake and Sissle’s Shuffle Along premiered in
D poet, 1921.
C it was Which choice completes the text with the most logical
transition?
B In the end,
C In comparison,
D Then,
Uturuncu is a volcano in Bolivia with two summits While researching a topic, a student has taken the
reaching an altitude of over 6,000 meters. The last following notes:
eruption was 250,000 years ago, but recent seismic
activity indicates that it may become active again. • I n 1953, the deadliest tornado in Texas history
________ the volcano has drawn an increase in media struck Waco, Texas.
attention and was even featured in a film in 2016. • M
ost of the buildings in downtown Waco were
made of brick.
WRITING
D Furthermore, • T
he tragedy of the tornado led to a nationwide
effort to improve tornado radar detection
software to more accurately predict tornadoes.
C In addition, C After the 1953 Waco tornado outbreak, Texas
created a network called the Texas Radar
Tornado Warning Network to improve
D In other words, communications among storm spotters,
weather officials, and local officials.
D In 1953, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Texas
hit downtown Waco, resulting in nationwide
efforts to improve tornado radar detection
software.
READING
While researching a topic, a student has taken the
following notes:
WRITING
• T
he members often wandered marketplaces and
villages putting on circus-like performances.
• T
he troupe later invited a few women to join the
namsadang.
• O
ne of the most well-known members of the
namsadang was a woman known as Baudeogi
who was chosen to be the leader of the troupe.
MATH
The student wants to introduce Baudeogi to an
audience unfamiliar with the namsadang. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information
from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A Baudeogi was one of the most-well known
members of the namsadang and served as the
leader of the group.
B Though it originally consisted of male
performers, the namsadang later invited a few
women, such as Baudeogi, to join the group.
C The namsadang is a Korean troupe which is
thought to have been formed before the 1900s
during the Joseon Dynasty.
D Baudeogi was a female performer who was the
leader of the namsadang, a Korean troupe that
often put on circus-like performances in
marketplaces and villages.
435
Section 1, Module 1: Reading and Writing
DIRECTIONS
The questions in this section address a number of important reading and writing skills. Each question
includes one or more passages, which may include a table or graph. Read each passage and question
carefully, and then choose the best answer to the question based on the passage(s).
All questions in the section are multiple-choice with four answer choices. Each question has a single
best answer.
While Nowruz may also be known as Iranian New Year, Bronislaw Malinowski’s book Argonauts of the Western
the holiday is celebrated by many nationalities. Different Pacific challenged theories in classical economics through
customs and traditions are followed by ________ ethnic its explanation of the Kula ring system, an exchange
groups around the world on March 21st, the spring ceremony in the Trobriand Islands. Earlier outsiders
equinox, to welcome in the new year. writing about isolated groups erroneously suggested
that the locals had no cultural context for the value and
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and ownership of goods; however, Malinowski’s ethnography
precise word or phrase? ________ this idea and stressed how important the
exchange and acquisition of Kula valuables was to the
A numerous Trobriand Islanders.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and
B passionate precise word or phrase?
A demonstrated
C opposing
B contested
D mindful
C preserved
D achieved
D coordinate
B Devastate
C Evacuate
4 Mark for Review
The short-lived City Hall station was opened as one of the D Forsake
original 28 stations in the New York City subway system.
Constructed beneath City Hall Park, the stop had a tightly
curved platform which made it difficult to elongate when
the number of riders grew and additional subway cars
were added to trains. This, along with other issues such
as limited entrances and low traffic, ________ the station’s
closure in 1945.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and
precise word or phrase?
A prevented
B excluded
C precipitated
D deterred
B By questioning whether the shape of eye
structures is affected by the length of time a
person stays in school
C By agreeing that genetics plays a role in the
development of myopia but noting that some genes
are linked to lifestyle factors
D By acknowledging that genes passed down from
parents affect the development of myopia but
suggesting that further research into poor study
habits is needed
A Dr. Clark’s research innovations and leadership Which finding, if true, would most directly support the
significantly furthered our knowledge of sharks. researchers’ hypothesis?
A Type 1 killer whales hunted in environments
B Dr. Clark’s attention-getting nickname was pivotal containing marine mammals, while Type 2 killer
in her ability to achieve her research goals. whales hunted in environments containing only
fish.
C Dr. Clark’s unique contributions to marine
research have been less heralded since she B Type 1 killer whales hunted fish, while Type 2
established the Mote in the 1950s. killer whales hunted marine mammals when both
killer whale types were found in the same
environment.
D Dr. Clark radically changed marine biology by
inspiring later scientists to make hundreds of their
own oceanic dives. C Type 1 killer whales hunted in environments
containing only fish, while Type 2 killer whales
hunted in environments containing marine
mammals.
D Type 1 and Type 2 killer whales hunted in
environments containing both fish and marine
mammals but ate only fish.
B when adjusted for more factors beyond age, the
hazard ratios measured were decreased for all
exposure levels.
C there were higher hazard ratios correlated with
exposure to railway than with exposure to road
traffic.
D provide insufficient evidence that infectious
disease was present in Crete during the Bronze
Age.
A to collaborate
B day; the
B collaborated
C day. The
C collaborating
D day, and the
D collaborates
C ecosystem,
B effects. Attitude
D ecosystem;
C effects, attitude
D effects: attitude
A Overall,
C has been
B In conclusion,
D had been
C However,
D Specifically,
D Therefore,
A Slash is a historical novel about the North
American Indigenous protest movement and
character Tommy Kelasket becoming an activist.
25 Mark for Review B Slash (1985), written by Jeannette Armstrong, a
Mary-Claire King is a renowned American geneticist. Syilx Okanagan and Canadian author, is a
For over a decade, she studied the connection between historical novel about the North American
genetics and breast cancer. ________ she identified that Indigenous protest movement.
breast cancer can be inherited due to mutations in a
particular gene, which she named BRCA1.
C Many people consider Jeannette Armstrong’s 1985
novel Slash, a historical novel about the North
Which choice completes the text with the most logical
American Indigenous protest movement, to be the
transition?
first novel written by a First Nations woman.
A Eventually,
D Syilx Okanagan and Canadian author of Slash,
Jeannette Armstrong grew up on the Penticton
B At the same time, Native Reserve in the Okanagan Valley in British
Columbia.
C Nonetheless,
D Not surprisingly,
• B
urnout is caused by chronic workplace stress and
can lead to fatigue, negative feelings about work,
and reduced job performance.
• M
icro-breaks, short breaks of about 10 minutes, may
reduce burnout.
• R
esearchers conducted a meta-analysis of twenty-
two studies on micro-breaks.
• The micro-break studies spanned three decades.
• T
he researchers found that micro-breaks did have
benefits for well-being, but longer breaks may be
needed for better job performance.
B The analysis showed that micro-breaks did have
benefits for well-being, but longer breaks may be
needed for better job performance.
C To discover the benefits of micro-breaks,
researchers analyzed twenty-two studies
spanning three decades.
MATH INTRODUCTION
447
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Describe the structure of the Math section and the math content it
tests
• Use POOD, Pacing, and Guessing to maximize your score
• Methodically work through word problems using the Word Problem
WRITING
Basic Approach
• Know the basics of using the built-in calculator
• Know how to enter answers for fill-in questions
MATH
READING
STRUCTURE
WRITING
Easier Harder
1 1 1
2 2 2
Easy 3 3 3
4 4 4
MATH
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
One of two second modules based
9 9 9
on the results of the first module.
10 10 10
11 11 11
12 12 12
Medium
13 13 13
14 14 14
15 15 15
16 16 16
17 17 17
18 18 18
19 19 19
20 20 20
Hard
21 21 21
22 22 22
MATH CONTENT
Which of the following math topics did you notice on your first practice test?
By Content
_____ Algebra _____ questions per module
By Question Type
_____ Problem-Solving _____ questions per module
By Question Format
_____ Multiple-Choice _____ questions per module
Knowing the structure and content helps you take the easy test first. The official
order of difficulty can guide you, but what really matters is your Personal Order of
Difficulty.
READING
POOD
So how do you know which questions to do and which ones to skip? Make sure to
follow your POOD and focus on these two ideas.
WRITING
Do questions that can be answered quickly and accurately.
Do questions that can be made easier using TPR strategies.
MATH
GUESSING AND PACING
For each question, quickly decide whether you want to Answer and Advance, skip
it for now, or Guess and Go based on your POOD. If you get stuck on a question,
Mark and Move. If you have time for a second pass, go back to the questions you
marked for review, and then try some of the questions you skipped the first time.
Make sure to leave 1–2 minutes at the end to fill in an answer for any questions
you haven’t done yet. Use the review page to see what’s left.
As you practice, you’ll get a better sense of your own POOD (it is personal, after
all), and you might decide to return to a question you skipped or marked before
you reach the end of the module, or you might sense that the difficulty is increas-
ing rapidly and Guess and Go more often towards the end of a module. No matter
what, the goal is to make quick decisions and keep moving.
10. Target = 2
A) g(–3) = 2(–(–3) – 1) – 2 =
2(3 – 1) – 2 =
2(2) – 2 =
4 – 2 = 2 4
MATH
B)
D) g (3) = 2(–3 – 1) – 2 =
2(–4) – 2 =
–8 – 2 = –10
11.
similar triangles
12 13 5
A = =
24 AC BC
AC = 26 and BC = 10
12 13 Perimeter ABC = 24 + 10 + 26 = 60
5
24 D E 26
12
B 10 C
READING
RTFQ
To avoid doing unnecessary work or falling for a trap answer, read the final
question. Write down key words from the question on the scratch paper to stay
organized and focused.
What would you expect to be asked if you saw these questions in math class?
WRITING
If 5a – 4 = 2a + 11, _____________________?
3
If a = 35 and a = b , _____________________?
7
MATH
1 Mark for Review
If 5a – 4 = 2a + 11, what is the value of a – 5?
A –2
B 0
C 3
D 5
3 b +1 R___________________
If a = 35 and a = b , what is the value of ?
7 4
T___________________
A 4
F___________________
B 5 Q___________________
C 9
D 15
BITE-SIZED PIECES
Deal with one small piece of information at a time, eliminating answers as you go.
I. (1, –2)
II. (–3, 1)
III. (4, –1)
A I only
B III only
C I and II only
READING
WORD PROBLEMS
Approximately 30% of the math questions on the Digital SAT are word problems. Use a consistent approach on
these questions. Start with RTFQ to avoid getting lost in the text.
WRITING
At a fruit stand, Anatavia bought apples, oranges,
pears, and strawberries for her restaurant. Of the
1 1
pieces of fruit she purchased, were apples and
5 3
were oranges. If a quarter of her remaining pieces
of fruit were pears, and she purchased 360 pieces of
fruit from the fruit stand, how many strawberries did
MATH
she purchase?
A 90
B 126
C 168
D 225
A 0.11
WRITING
B 0.2
C 3.25
D 6.5
MATH
A) __________________________________________________
B) __________________________________________________
C) __________________________________________________
D)__________________________________________________
A 1.09(5.95m + 15)
B 1.09(5.95m) + 15
D 0.09m (5.95) + 15
READING
POE POINT—When attacking the problem in Bite-Sized Pieces,
don’t forget to pause after each piece to see which answers can
be eliminated.
WRITING
BALLPARKING AND ESTIMATING
MATH
Try to eliminate answer choices that can’t possibly be correct
before calculating anything.
A 30,000
B 45,000
C 60,000
D 90,000
Remember to let the answers point the way. Sometimes it’s clear that ballparking is the best place to start. If the
READING
numbers in the answers are spaced far apart, for example, rounding or estimating often gets you close enough to the
correct answer.
A 0.08
B 8
MATH
C 800
D 8,000,000
FILL-INS
Approximately 25% of the Math questions are called Student-Produced Response questions, or fill-ins. Questions
with this format will be scattered throughout each Math module. Instead of clicking on an answer letter, you will
click in a box and enter the numerical answer. The box looks like this:
READING
The Fill-in Instructions
Instructions appear on the left side of the screen for every fill-in question. Save
time by knowing the rules and practicing with them before test day.
The Math Vocabulary 101 chapter includes the full instructions and examples as
they appear in the testing app. Here are some of the key things to know:
WRITING
Follow these rules when entering an answer in the fill-in box:
• Enter up to 5 characters for a positive answer.
• Enter up to 6 characters for a negative answer.
MATH
• Don’t enter extra zeros if the answer is short.
• Do enter as much of a long decimal as will fit.
• Don’t enter a fraction that doesn’t fit.
• Do enter reduced or unreduced fractions that fit.
CALCULATOR USE
The Digital SAT has a built-in calculator. You can also bring your own if it’s from
the approved list. Before you use the calculator, do two things:
2
Calculator Expand
Move the calculator by
clicking and dragging the 5
bar.
WRITING
or expressions.
1
Use the entry fields to enter y = 2x + 3
-10
equations or calculations.
MATH
2
When you see the The calculator adds more
calculator image in this fields as you fill them. x y a2 ab 7 8 9 ¸ funcs
book, look for a hint
about how to use the Enter equations or ( ) < > 4 5 6 ´
calculator. The Digital calculations using the
SAT Calculator Guide has on-screen keypad or your |a| , £ ³ 1 2 3 -
even more information. computer keyboard. π 0 . = +
ABC Ö`
Calculator Collapse
10
-10 -5 0 5 10
-5 If the keypad
disappears, click
the icon in the
-10 lower left.
As you prep for the Digital SAT, practice using the built-in calculator. To do so
without having to take a full practice test, open the testing app, select the “Test
Preview” option, navigate to a math question, and open the calculator. You can
also practice with a very similar calculator at Desmos.com.
READING
REFERENCE SHEET
The testing app has another button next to the Calculator in the upper right
corner.
2
WRITING
Calculator Reference More
This opens a Reference Sheet with information that will help with geometry
questions.
MATH
…AND MORE
Finally, there is the More button, which appears in the upper right corner of both
sections of the test. Clicking on it opens the following menu:
Unscheduled Break If you take a break, the test timer will keep
running.
! Exit the Exam This will end your test, so only use it if you are
completely finished or if there is an emergency of
some sort.
You are unlikely to need the More menu options unless you need an unscheduled
break. You will know the information in the help menu before you take the official
test, and you should learn any keyboard shortcuts you plan to use before then. You
will also likely not want to end your test early if you are using your time wisely.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What should you do when you want to come back to a question later?
_________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
• What is Ballparking?
___________________________________________________________________________
• Fill-ins are located at the beginning of / throughout / at the end of the Math modules. Compared to
multiple-choice questions, the format of fill-ins is the same / different but the content they test is
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
465
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
N
MATH
W E X
S
X
X
X
READING
PLUGGING IN THE ANSWERS (PITA)
When the question asks for a specific amount and the answer choices are numbers in order, use PITA.
WRITING
20 18
equation - = 2?
=
a -1 a +1
A 4
B 5
MATH
C 6
D 7
By plugging in the answers, you can avoid doing time-consuming algebra and falling for trap answers.
READING
y+4=x
LANGUAGE
WRITING
A (1, –3)
B (2, –6)
MATH
C (5, 1)
D (13, –21)
equation a − 5 = − 7 + 3a + 10 ?
A –3, –1, 2
B –3, 2
C –3
D 2
READING
Which of the following tables contains corresponding
values of x and y that are all solutions to the
inequality 3x – 3 < y?
A x y
AND
0 –1
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
2 5
4 12
B x y
0 –3
MATH
2 3
4 9
C x y
0 –5
2 1
4 9
D x y
0 –1
2 5
4 9
A 264
B 528
MATH
C 678
D 980
READING
PLUGGING IN THE ANSWERS DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
WRITING
An artist created 12 identical stained-glass windows
for local businesses and used 51 pieces of glass for
each window. The artist could not use 15% of the
pieces of glass she started with because they were
damaged. Which of the following is closest to the
number of pieces of glass that the artist started with?
MATH
A 92
B 520
C 720
D 4,080
y = 3x + 5
y = (x – 1)(x + 9)
Which of the following ordered pairs (x, y) is a
solution to the given system of equations?
A (–7, –16)
B (–16, –7 )
C (1, –9)
D (–9, 1)
A 26
WRITING
B 39
C 42
D 44
MATH
A 3
B 6
C 8
D 18
READING
A crafter creates orders of 20 bracelets that come in
two sizes. The crafter uses 5 beads to make each small
bracelet and 8 beads to make each large bracelet. How
many bracelets are large bracelets if the crafter uses
133 beads for a particular order?
A 7
WRITING
B 9
C 10
MATH
11
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475
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
MATH OPERATIONS
Start with the basics. Match the math terms on the left with the definitions on the
right. Put the letter for the correct definition next to the term.
_____ Sum A. the result of multiplication
_____ Difference B. the result of subtraction
WRITING
_____________________________________________________________
What’s one famous saying to help you remember the order of operations?
_____________________________________________________________
READING
Percentages
Questions involving percents are common on the Digital SAT, so let’s go into
detail.
Percent comes from “hundred.” Think of words like century or centimeter. To trans-
late percent into math, divide by 100.
WRITING
25 250 2.5
25% = 250% = 2.5% =
100 100 100
It is possible to convert a percent into a decimal by moving the decimal point two
spaces to the left. However, when the value is not a whole number from 1 to 100,
it’s easy to get confused about where to put the decimal point. Dividing by 100 is
MATH
clear and consistent.
25
=
25% of 60 = (60) 15
100
College Board can assume that you know a lot about how money works in the real
world. Think about what these terms mean in terms of percents—do you multiply
and then add or multiply and then subtract?
Algebra Vocabulary
Later chapters will go into detail about working algebra questions on the Digital
SAT. Here are some terms to be sure you’re familiar with from the beginning.
A variable is a single, unknown value. The value might be fixed or might vary
based on other parts of the equation. It is represented by an italicized letter, often
x or y, but sometimes other letters such as a, b, or n.
WRITING
An equation consists of two terms or expressions that are set equal to each other.
Label each piece of math on the left with the letter of the correct algebra term on
the right. Some terms may be used more than once and others not at all.
_____ 5x A. variable
_____ x C. term
_____ k D. expression
_____ 5 + x = 12 E. equation
12
_____ kx
5
READING
GLOSSARY
The following list contains useful math terms for the Digital SAT. The ones cov-
ered earlier in this chapter are some of the most important, but the others are
good to know as well. A few topics, such as absolute value and exponents, will be
explored more in later chapters.
Absolute Value: The distance a number is from zero on the number line.
WRITING
Indicated by two vertical lines around a term or expression ( x − 5 ).
MATH
Represented by a letter in italics, often c or k.
Equation: Two terms or expressions that are equal to each other. Must have the
= sign (x2 – 5 = 20).
Even: An integer that is divisible by 2. (Zero is even, and all even numbers end
with 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.)
Factors: Numbers that a given number is divisible by. (The number 3 is a factor
of 12.)
Integer: A real number that is not a decimal or a fraction. Integers are commonly
READING
known as whole numbers. (The numbers 0, 10, and –1,000 are integers.)
multiple of 3.)
Negative: All real values less than zero. (Zero is not negative.)
Odd: An integer that is NOT divisible by 2. (Zero is not odd, and all odd num-
bers end with 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.)
MATH
Positive: All real values greater than zero. (Zero is not positive.)
Prime: A number that has only two factors, 1 and itself. (Some examples of
prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 79. The number 1 is not a prime
number.)
Real: All positive and negative numbers, zero, fractions, decimals, and irrational
numbers.
Variable: A single, unknown value that might be fixed or might vary depend-
ing on other parts of the equation. Represented by an italicized letter,
frequently x or y.
READING
HOW TO ENTER FILL-IN ANSWERS
In addition to knowing basic math vocabulary, you also want to go into the test
already knowing the instructions. There’s nothing complicated about answering a
multiple-choice question in the testing app, but the fill-in questions can get tricky.
Let’s review those instructions.
The following information appears on the left side of the screen of the testing app
WRITING
for every fill-in question. Read through the directions and examples, then take the
short quiz at the end.
• If you find more than one correct answer, enter only one answer.
• You can enter up to 5 characters for a positive answer and up to 6
MATH
characters (including the negative sign) for a negative answer.
• If your answer is a fraction that doesn’t fit in the provided space,
enter the decimal equivalent.
• If your answer is a decimal that doesn’t fit in the provided space,
enter it by truncating or rounding at the fourth digit.
• If your answer is a mixed number (such as 3 12 ), enter it as an
improper fraction (7/2) or its decimal equivalent (3.5).
• Don’t enter symbols such as a percent sign, comma, or dollar sign.
Examples
Answer Acceptable ways to Unacceptable: will
enter answer NOT receive credit
3.5
31/2
3.5 3.50
3 1/2
7/2
2/3
0.66
.6666
2 .66
3 .6667
0.67
0.666
.67
0.667
–1/3
1 –.33
−
3 –.3333
–0.33
–0.333
For each answer on the left, circle each form of the answer that can be entered in
the fill-in box and will be accepted as correct.
5
.5 0.5 1/2 5/10
10
WRITING
80
− –8/12 –.6666 –80/120 –0.666 –.6667 –2/3
MATH
120
PLUGGING IN
483
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
A 1.6
B 9
C 62.5
MATH
D 160
A 27 = (–1)n
B 27 = 4n – 5
C 27 – 5 = 4n
D 27 = 5n – 4
READING
A student has $60 and must purchase textbooks
costing a total of $42. What percent of the $60 does
the student spend on textbooks?
A 42%
WRITING
B 51%
C 60%
D 70%
MATH
4 Mark for Review
Danielle’s bank pays 6.5% interest annually on
Certificates of Deposit (CDs). If she purchases a
$25,000 CD from her bank, how much will she have
after one year?
A $1,625.00
B $16,250.00
C $25,006.50
D $26,625.00
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
READING
MATHWRITING
Which question would be easier to do?
A 0.75 A z – xy
B 2.00 B xy – z
OR
z − xy
C 4.25 C
100
xy
D 4.75 D z−
100
PLUGGING IN
If a question on the Digital SAT has variables in the answers, turn the algebra problem into an arithmetic problem
by plugging in numbers. In most cases, Plugging In will be faster, easier, and safer than doing algebra. Learn the
technique now, and we’ll show you how it applies to a variety of questions in later chapters.
Scratch Paper
WRITING
2
B (x + 2) + 7
MATH
2
C (x – 2) + 7
2
D (x – 2) – 7
READING
WHAT TO PLUG IN
Why would it be a bad idea to plug in x = 37 or x = –0.8 on the previous question? Choose numbers that make the
arithmetic as straightforward as possible. Avoid 0, 1, and numbers that are in the question because they are likely to
make more than one answer work.
WRITING
2
v m − 6m + 9
− =0
(m − 3) (m − 3)
3
MATH
What’s a good number to plug in for m?
−3 2
+
3y + 2 2y − 6
22
A
WRITING
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
14
B −
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
1
C −
5y − 4
1
MATH
D −
(3 y + 2)(2 y − 6)
64
A G=
m
m
B G=
32
m
C G=
16
D G = 64m
READING
HIDDEN PLUG-INS
Plugging In is not just for questions with variables in the answer choices—be on the lookout for questions that ask
about changes to values but don’t provide the actual values. Instead of trying to imagine how the numbers behave,
plug in numbers and see what happens.
WRITING
5 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
A person’s height, H, in centimeters, can be estimated
based on the length of the femur bone, f, in centimeters,
using the formula H = 2.71f + 45.86. According to
the model, for every increase of 5 centimeters in the
length of the femur, by how many centimeters will
the person’s estimated height increase?
MATH
6 Mark for Review
The ratio of a given triangle’s base to its height is
12:17. If the base were to decrease by 3 units, how
would the height have to change to maintain the same
ratio?
PLUGGING IN DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
18
A y=−
x −7
y = − 18 − 7
MATH
B
x
C y = − 18 + 7
x
x −7
D y=
18
B The cost would increase by $3.
READING
p q
–2 0
–1 –3
0 –6
1 –9
WRITING
Four values of p, each with a corresponding value
of q, are shown in the table. Which of the following
equations represents the linear relationship between
p and q?
A q = –3p – 6
MATH
B q = –3p – 2
C q = –6p – 6
D q = –6p – 12
11x + 5 = 9x + p
11y + 5 = 9y + q
In the given system of equations, p and q are
constants. If p = q + 4, which of the following is
true?
A x=y–2
B x=y+2
C x=y+4
D x=y+8
n −1
A p = 1 (16)
2
WRITING
B p = 1 (16)n
2
n −1
C p =16 1
2
n
D p =16 1
MATH
2
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______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• What are some good numbers to use when Plugging In to make the math more convenient?
______________________________________________________________
497
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
ALGEBRA VOCABULARY
The Math Vocabulary 101 chapter included several algebra terms. Those are
included below, along with some others that you will need to know.
A variable is a single, unknown value. The value might be fixed or might vary
based on other parts of the equation. It is represented by an italicized letter, often
x or y, but sometimes other letters such as a, b, or n.
WRITING
An equation consists of two terms or expressions that are set equal to each other.
READING
MANIPULATING EQUATIONS
Solving for a variable is a key skill you can expect to use on the Digital SAT. The
question might tell you directly to solve for a variable, but solving for an unknown
value (i.e., a variable) is at the heart of many word problems, too.
When you are solving, the first step is often to combine like terms. The like terms
in an equation or expression are the ones that have the same variable raised to
WRITING
the same power. Numbers without variables are also considered like terms. In the
equation 4x 2 + 2x + 5 = x 2 + 5x – 4, for example, 4x 2 and x 2 are like terms, 2x and
5x are like terms, and 5 and –4 are like terms.
Linear Equations
MATH
SOLVING AN EQUATION
Isolate the variable.
• Get the variable on one side of the equals sign and the
numbers on the other.
• Add, subtract, divide, or multiply both sides of the
equation to gather like terms.
Treat both sides equally.
• Perform the same operations on both sides of the equation.
1. 6 x + 3 = 15 5. 2( x − 7 ) = 6 x + 10
3x 2x
2. + 9 = 33 6. −5=9
4 4
3. 3( x + 5) = 23 7. 4( x − 5) + x = 25
4. 12( x − 4 ) = 36
Inequalities
An inequality is similar to an equation except that the two sides are compared to
each other instead of equal to each other. One side can be less than (<), greater than
(>), less than or equal to (≤), or greater than or equal to (≥) the other side. Solving an
inequality is just like solving an equation. There’s just one more rule to follow.
WRITING
1. 3 x − 8 < 12 + 5 x
2. 7 x − 5 < 13 + 4 x
7 − 2x
3. < −5
3
Absolute Value
Here’s one more term to know:
Absolute Value is the distance from zero on the number line. The result is that a
negative value becomes positive, and a nonnegative value stays the same.
In the number line below, 3 and –3 are both 3 units away from zero. The absolute
value of 3 is 3, and the absolute value of –3 is 3.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
READING
Try some examples:
1. −3 + −5 = _______________________________________________________
2. 4 7 ________________________________________________________
3. If − −2 + x = −1 , x = ___________________________________________
WRITING
4. If −8 + x = 3, x = ________________________________________________
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
MATH
When a question asks for the number of solutions to a linear equation, follow the
rules below.
A linear equation with one variable has 0 real solutions when the variable term
is the same but the constant is different. There are no values for the variable that
make the equation true. (The equation 4x + 4 = 4x – 4 has no real solutions.)
A linear equation with one variable has 1 real solution when the variable terms are
different. There is exactly one value for the variable that makes the equation true.
(The equation 7x + 6 = 3x + 10 has exactly one real solution.)
A linear equation with one variable has infinitely many solutions when the
variable terms are the same and the constants are the same. There are an infinite
number of values for the variable that make the equation true. (The equation
8x + 1 = 8x + 1 has infinitely many solutions.)
A linear equation with one variable will never have 2 solutions. The exception is
when there is an absolute value, as described above.
Write in the number of real solutions for each equation below. For practice with
the built-in calculator, enter each side of the equation in its own entry field and see
what the graph shows.
1. 2x + 5 = 5x + 2________________________________________
2. 2x + 5 = 2x + 5________________________________________
WRITING
3. 2x + 5 = 2x – 4 ________________________________________
4. 2 + 5x = 5x + 2________________________________________
5. 5x + 2 = 2x – 5________________________________________
MATH
6. 5x + 2 = 2x + 2________________________________________
7. 5x + 2 = 5x – 5________________________________________
503
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
A Exactly one
B Exactly two
C Infinitely many
MATH
D Zero
A 35
B 37
C 210
D 222
A –12
B –7
C –5
D –1
READING
7 = n−2
What is the negative solution to the given equation?
WRITING
5 Mark for Review
Which of the following tables shows solutions to the
MATH
inequality y > 4 x – 3 for the given values of x and
their corresponding values of y?
A x y
5 16
8 28
11 40
B x y
5 17
8 29
11 41
C x y
5 23
8 28
11 47
D x y
5 23
8 35
11 47
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
BEYOND PLUGGING IN
Plugging In and Plugging In the Answers are great tools for a wide variety of ques-
tions. But what do you do when Plugging In isn’t an option or PITA seems too
complicated or time-consuming?
READING
v = 13.5 + 1.25t
A particle travels in a straight line at a constant speed
of 13.5 meters per second. When the particle begins
a constant acceleration of 1.25 meters per second, the
particle travels at a velocity of v meters per second at
time t seconds as shown in the given equation. What
WRITING
is t when v is 58.3?
A 13.50
B 35.84
MATH
C 57.44
D 86.38
A
a − 7c
b=
12
B
a + 7c
b=
12
C b = 12a + 7c
1
D b= a + 7c
12
Inequalities
Working with inequalities is a lot like working with equations, in that you must perform the same operations on
both sides of the inequality. However, there is one important difference. Do you remember the difference from your
Linear Solving 101 homework?
–10x + 4y > 40
Which of the following inequalities is equivalent to
the given inequality?
A x – y > –4
B x – y > –10
C 5x – 2y < –20
D –5x + 2y < 20
READING
Rational Equations
College Board also likes to test rational equations, which are equations made up of fractions. Rational equations can
often be solved by PITA or Plugging In. However, when this is too complicated, cross-multiplying is a good alternative.
WRITING
−5 2
=
3x + 2 4 − 5x
24
A –
19
MATH
16
B –
19
16
C
31
24
D
19
Another way College Board may present solving with fractions looks like the question below. When you need to find
a common denominator, try a useful shortcut called the Bowtie Method.
7 1 1
If − = y + 3 y , what is the value of y?
9 6 8 8
BOWTIE METHOD
1. Multiply diagonally up (opposing denominators and
numerators).
42 9
7 1
−
9 6
WRITING
5. Reduce, if necessary.
42 − 9
7 1 33 11
− = =
9 6 54 18
11
Now set equal to the other side of the equation and solve for y!
18
READING
5
3 5
For what value of y does the expression y − have
4 8
no solutions?
MATHWRITING
Rational expressions are undefined when the
denominator is equal to 0.
Number of Solutions
Sometimes, a Digital SAT question won’t ask you for the solution to a given equation at all but will ask how many
solutions the equation has. In other cases, you will be told how many solutions there are and asked to solve for a vari-
able or constant using that information.
A Zero
B Exactly one
C Exactly two
D Infinitely many
9z − c
3z − 2 =
3
A 2
WRITING
B 3
C 6
D 9
MATH
Absolute Value
On some questions with an absolute value, you may need to treat the absolute value symbols like parentheses to
combine like terms and solve.
READING
Systems of Equations
When given two equations with two variables, there are a number of approaches for solving them. The way the equa-
tions are written and what the question is asking will determine whether you use elimination or substitution to solve.
WRITING
2y + 9x = 8
–3x + y = –11
What is the solution (x, y) to the given system of
equations?
A (–3, 7 )
MATH
B (–2, 13)
C (2, –5)
D (3, 8)
2x + 4y = 12
–2y = –14
A –8
B –2
C 7
MATH
D 20
y = 9(x – 2)
y
15 =
x
If (x, y) is a solution to the given system of equations,
what is the value of x ?
A –45
B –15
C –9
D –3
What strategy can you use when asked for a specific value?
Why is that not the best approach on this question?
READING
LINEAR SOLVING DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
WRITING
If 7(x – y) = 2, what is the value of x – y?
2
A
7
B 2
MATH
7
C
2
D 7
3 x + 3 = 126
x 1
If − 4 = 2 + , which of the following is equivalent
y y
to x in terms of y?
A x=y+6
WRITING
6
B x=
y
C x = 6y + 1
1
D x=y–
6
MATH
x + 8y > 24
x > 30
Which of the following could be the value of y if the
point (39, y) is a solution to the system of inequalities
in the xy -plane?
A –7
B –4
C –2
D –1
51 39
In the equation x + = − 3(cx + p) , c and p are
10 14
constants and p > 0. If the equation has no solution,
• What is one essential math strategy you can use when Plugging In and PITA are not effective options?
_______________________________________________
• What is the ultimate goal when you are solving for a variable?
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
• When solving an inequality, when do you need to flip the inequality sign?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
• How many solutions are possible for a linear equation with one variable and no absolute value bars?
_______________________________________________
• What is important to remember when you are solving an equation with an absolute value?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
• What are two ways to solve systems of equations without using a calculator?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
519
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
QUADRATICS
Consider the following equation.
x + 12 = 7x
You may be able to solve this fairly easily, but what if the question were a bit
harder?
WRITING
x 2 + 12 = 7x
ax 2 + bx + c = 0
MATH
This form is known as the standard form, and this type of equation appears
frequently in the Digital SAT Math section. Fortunately, it is one that you can
learn to solve.
FACTORING
The first thing to do is move everything to one side of the equation so that 0 is on
the other side. In this equation, subtract 7x from both sides to get
x 2 – 7x + 12 = 0
Now, factor the left side. The three terms do not have any common factors, but
that’s not a problem. First, write down the following:
(x )(x )=0
The next thing to notice is the sign of the c term. If the c is positive, the signs in
the factors match each other and the sign of the b term. If, instead, the c term is
negative, the signs in the factors will be different. In this case, c is positive and b is
negative, so you can add the minus signs to each factor.
(x − )(x − )=0
Now, find two factors of 12 (the c term) that have a sum of 7 (the b term). The fac-
tors of 12 are 1 and 12, 2 and 6, and 3 and 4. Of these three pairs, only 3 and 4
have a sum of 7. Therefore, the factored equation is
(x – 3)(x – 4) = 0
READING
So how do you solve this equation? Remember that if a product equals 0, at least
one of the two factors must be 0. Set each factor equal to 0 and solve.
(x – 3) = 0 or (x – 4) = 0
WRITING
x=3 or x=4
3 and 4 are the solutions, or roots, of the equation. With quadratic equations,
there may be (and often will be) two distinct solutions. Let’s look at another
example.
x2 + x – 6 = 0
MATH
This time, the sign of the c term is negative. Remember, when this happens, the
signs of the factors should be different, so write
(x + )(x − )=0
Because the signs are different, you also need two factors of 6 that have a differ-
ence of the b term, which in this case is 1. The factors of 6 are 1 and 6 or 2 and 3.
Because 2 and 3 have a difference of 1, these must be the factors. The larger
factor always gets the sign of the b term. Since b is positive, factor this as
(x + 3)(x – 2) = 0
Now just set each factor equal to 0 and solve. What are the solutions to this
equation?
FOIL
Sometimes, the Digital SAT will give the factored form and ask for the expanded
form. In this case, use the FOIL method. FOIL stands for
First
Outer
Inner
Last
(x + 5)(x – 2)
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 …
WRITING
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x …
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x + 5x …
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 – 2x + 5x – 10
(x + 5)(x – 2) = x 2 + 3x – 10
READING
QUADRATICS PRACTICE
Solve the following quadratic equations.
1. x 2 + 3x + 2 = 0 6. x 2 + 10x = 24
WRITING
2. x 2 – 6x + 5 = 0 7. 5x = 14 – x 2
MATH
3. x 2 + 2x – 8 = 0 8. x(x + 6) = −9
4. x 2 – 3x – 10 = 0 9. x 2 – 4 = 0
x −8 4
5. x 2 = 5x + 6 10. =−
4 x
EXPONENTS
Exponents are a shorthand way of indicating that a number (known as the base) is
multiplied by itself: the exponent tells you how many times. 73 = 7 × 7 × 7.
S ______________ If quantities with the same base and exponent are added or sub-
tracted, just add or subtract the coefficients and do nothing to the
P ______________ base or exponent.
M ______________
Basic Rules
1. ( x 2 )( x 3 ) = 5. (2 x ) 2 3
=
x6 8x 3
2. = 6. =
x2 4x 2
3. (x ) 4 2
= 7. 3 x 2 + 5x 2 =
4. 2x 2 × 6 y3 = 8. 2x 2 + 4 y3 =
There are also some special exponent rules that work in combination with the
basic MADPSM rules.
• 1 to any exponent is 1.
READING
• A negative number raised to an even exponent is positive.
WRITING
Special Rules
x5
1. 5
= 5. 0243 =
x
2. x0 = 6. (−2 )2 =
MATH
3. x1 = 7. (−2 )3 =
2
4. = 1
=
1, 276
1 8.
2
This button squares the number, variable, or term that you entered
a2 before clicking the button. Put everything that needs to be squared in
parentheses because (x + 2)2 is not the same as x + 22.
This button takes the first number, variable, or term you enter and
ab raises it to the power of the second number, variable, or term you
enter. To enter 23, for example, type or click 2, click the ab button,
then type or click 3.
EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Simplify all of the following expressions.
57
1. 6. (3x4 + 2x3)x 2
54
WRITING
MATH
x3x4 53 × 6 4
2. 7.
x2 25 × 6 2
3 6 5 4
7 2 × 75
3. (3x y z ) 8.
74
15 x 5 y 3
4. 53 – 33 9.
3x 3 y 5
9x 3 y 4
5. 10. (x–4y3z –5)(x5y–2z 6)
3 xy 2
READING
ROOTS
In the same way that division is the opposite of multiplication and subtraction is
the opposite of addition, finding the root of a number is the opposite of raising a
number to an exponent. Therefore, you can use roots to solve equations involving
exponents. For instance, what is the value of x in this equation?
x 2 = 81
WRITING
What does the equation say? There is some number, x, that when multiplied by
itself is 81. What number multiplied by itself is 81? Both 92 and (–9)2 = 81.
This idea is related to finding the square root. The symbol, called a radical,
is used to represent square roots. So 81 is another way to write “the square root
MATH
of 81.” It is important to note that, while either –9 or 9 might have been squared
to get 81, “the square root of 81” is defined as only the positive option, 9. If a
Digital SAT question had –9 as a choice for the square root of 81, you would be
marked incorrect for choosing it.
You may have noticed that some square roots are easy to figure out, like the square
root of 100, which is 10. Numbers with square roots that are whole numbers are
called perfect squares.
The fastest way to find the square root of a number that is not a perfect square is to
use a calculator. Another way is to break the number down into two factors, one of
which is a perfect square. Consider the following example.
75 = 25 × 3
Break up the square root into two square roots. Note that you can break apart
square roots only with multiplication and division.
75 = 25 × 3
75 = 5 × 3
Finally, write the 5 right next to the square root of 3 to represent the multiplication.
75 = 5 3
You aren’t allowed to leave that 2 in the denominator, so you need to get rid
2
of it. To do this, multiply by . Because any number divided by itself is 1,
2
you aren’t actually changing the value of your original fraction; you’re just playing
with its formatting. Then, just multiply across to get the simplified fraction.
MATH
x 2 x × 2 x 2
× = =
2 2 2× 2 2
Your new answer has the same value as the original, but it doesn’t have a root in
the denominator, so it’s in its simplest form.
x
i. Can you rationalize this denominator? ______________________
3
Combining Roots
You can add or subtract square roots only when the numbers under the square
root sign are the same.
1. 4 x +2 x =
2. 9 x −3 x =
Multiplication and division are more flexible: different values can be combined
under the root.
3. ( x )( y ) =
x
4. =
y
READING
Call On the Calculator
Digital SAT Math questions rarely ask about roots directly, but you will often
need to take a root while solving an algebra question. Practice with your own
calculator if you’re planning to use it on test day. If you decide to use the built-in
calculator, there are two useful buttons for roots:
This button takes the square root of the number, variable, or term that
WRITING
you enter after clicking the button.
MATH
the root sign, then click or type 27.
ROOTS PRACTICE
48
1. 100b 2 6.
3
WRITING
121
2. 3
125 7.
MATH
169
64
c6
3. 8.
4 c4
63 x 4 y 3
4. 31 × 31 9.
7x2 y
x2 36
5. y2 10. −
49
READING
Working with Fractional Exponents
Remember that mathematicians use exponents and roots as shortcuts to represent
repetitive multiplication and division. Well, sometimes you need to symbolize a
square root as an exponent. The way you do this is with a fractional exponent.
Think of a fractional exponent like a tree: the power is on top and the root is at the
power
WRITING
bottom. This is represent by .
root
MATH
1
Notice that the exponent in this case is . That means 1 is the power, or the
2
exponent, and 2 is the root. This is the way to symbolize a square root, so this
1
expression is equivalent to 9 , or 3. What if you’re given 64 3 ? Once again, 1 is
the power, or the exponent, but this time 3 is the root. Therefore,
1
64 3 = 3 64
Sometimes, you will see a fractional exponent with a number other than 1 in the
numerator, like this one:
3
42
3
This time, the fraction is a little more complicated. The exponent represents a
2
two-part calculation: the 3 represents the exponent by which the base, which in
The 2 represents a square root, just like before. So the solution will look something
like the following.
3
42 = 43 = 64 = 8
For fractional exponents, you can choose to apply either the exponent or the root
first. This can also be written as ( 4 )=
3
2=
3
8.
x2 x⋅x x/ ⋅ x/ 1 x2
= = = =x
2−4
= x −2
x 4
x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x x/ ⋅ x/ ⋅ x ⋅ x x 2 x4
This means that 12 = x −2 . Therefore, another way to think about negative expo-
MATH
x
nents is that they are a way to write reciprocals. This will also work if the negative
exponent is in the denominator of a fraction.
x2 x2 1 x2 x3 2+3 x2 2 − ( −3 ) 2+3
= ⋅ = ⋅ = x2 ⋅ x3 = x = x5 =x =x = x5
x −3 1 x −3 1 1 x −3
When you see a negative exponent, make it positive and take the reciprocal. If the
negative exponent is in the denominator, it will move to the numerator, and vice
versa. Here’s another example with numbers instead of variables.
52 52 1 1 23 23 8
3
3
2
2
2 1 2 5 1 5 25
READING
FRACTIONAL AND NEGATIVE EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Use MADSPM and the rules for negative and fractional exponents to rewrite the following expressions. Your answer
should not contain negative or fractional exponents.
1
1 3
WRITING
1
1. (64d 4 2
) 6. 64 2
MATH
1
x2
2. 812 7.
x4
3
2 −
−1 2
3. 8 3 8. 25 2
9. ((3x y ) ) 2
−3 5 −4
4. x −2
1 2
5. (16x y ) 10. (216x y ) 3
2 6 2 9 6
535
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
x 2 – 15x + 56
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
the given expression?
A (x – 7 )(x – 8)
MATH
B (x + 7 )(x + 8)
C (x + 4)(x + 14)
D (x – 4)(x – 14)
A –a 4
B 6a3 – 7a2
C 8a 6 – 7a2
D 4 a 3 – 5a 2
READING
If a , b, and c are all positive, which expression is
equivalent to (a –2b2c 6)(a –3b –1c 2)?
A a–5bc 8
B ab3c4
WRITING
C a 6b–2c12
D a11b6c 3
MATH
4 Mark for Review
( z + 5)
2
If 2z + 9 = , what is the value of z ?
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
quadratic
• Solve questions related to exponential growth and decay
• Successfully work with exponents and roots
MATH
READING
WORK YOUR QUAD(RATIC)S
Questions that ask for the factors or solutions to quadratics can often be solved with PITA or Plugging In. Take a
look at several ways the Digital SAT will test quadratics.
WRITING
(4a2 + 2a + 7 ) + (3a2 – a – 4)
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
the given expression?
A 4a2 – a + 3
MATH
B 4a2 + a + 11
C 7a2 + a + 3
D 7a2 + a + 11
A –3
B –2
C 3
D 5
A –3
1
B −
WRITING
C 3
10
D
3
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Another way to find the solutions to a quadratic that is difficult to factor is to use the quadratic formula:
−b ± b 2 − 4 ac
x=
2a
If a question asks about the number of solutions to a quadratic, use the part of the quadratic formula known as the
discriminant.
READING
y = 3x – 3
y = –2x 2 + 7x – 1
The given system of equations has exactly how many
real solutions?
A 0
WRITING
B 1
C 2
MATH
3
A n=−6
5
B n= − 5
6
C n=1
6
D n=
5
B v(n) = 5, 000(0.9)n
C v(n) = 5, 000(0.1)n
D v(n) = 5, 000(1.1)n
READING
A child has a bag of candy that initially contains
WRITING
candy left in the bag?
MATH
8 Mark for Review
A couple buys a certain home that is worth $120,000.
A real estate agent tells the couple that the value of
the home will increase by 12% per year for the next
ten years. The real estate agent uses the equation
H = 120,000(k) y to model the value, H, of the home
after y years. What value should the real estate agent
use for k?
Some exponential growth or decay questions will ask you to adapt formulas for different units of time.
READING
B 20(1.15)10y
y
C (
20 0.15 ) 10
D 20(0.15)10y
What skill can you use when the question asks about
the relationship between variables and there are
variables in the answer choices?
READING
EXPONENTS AND ROOTS
Many questions involving exponents and roots can be solved with PITA or Plugging In. Knowing the exponent rules
(MADSPM) can also help. See the Nonlinear Solving 101 chapter for a review of the exponent rules and of working
with negative and fractional exponents.
WRITING
10 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
c 3d −3
3
cd 2
Which of the following is an equivalent form of the
given expression for all positive values of c and d ?
A c2d –5
MATH
7 13
B c 6d 6
7
c6
C 13
d 6
7
c6
D 5
d6
Remember MADSPM!
M ____________________________
A ____________________________
D ____________________________
S ____________________________
P ____________________________
M ____________________________
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
A −5 6
B –2
MATH
C 2
D 5 6
x 2 − 6 x − 66 = 5
What are the solutions to the given equation?
A –7 and –13
B –7 and 13
C 7 and –13
D 7 and 13
READING
2
The factors of 5x – 7x – 6 include which of the
following?
I. 5x – 3
II. x + 2
A I only
WRITING
B II only
C Both I and II
D Neither I nor II
MATH
4 Mark for Review
B = 100(1.09)h
The given equation models the number of microbes,
B, in a bacteria sample h hours after observation
begins. Of the following, which equation models
the number of microbes of bacteria in the sample m
minutes after observation begins?
m
A B = 100(176)
B B = 100(1.0015) 60m
C B = 100(1.09) 60m
m
D B =100 (1.09)60
q (x) = 243(1.06)2y
The function q gives the rabbit population of a given
region y years after the population was first counted.
If the population of rabbits in the region increases by
r % of the previous year’s population every 6 months,
what is the value of r ?
WRITING
A 3
B 6
C 12
MATH
D 36
__________________________________________________
• When you are solving a quadratic equation using FOIL, what are the four steps?
F__________________________
O_________________________
I__________________________
L__________________________
__________________________________________________
• If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic has __________ real solution(s). If the discriminant is
zero, the quadratic has __________ real solution(s). If the discriminant is negative, the quadratic has
• What formula do you use when a value is increasing or decreasing by a percent over time?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What formula do you use when a value is increasing or decreasing by a multiple or fraction over
time?
___________________________________________________________________________
M_________________________
A__________________________
D_________________________
S__________________________
P__________________________
M_________________________
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
FUNCTIONS
551
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
READING
INPUT/OUTPUT
A function is a machine for producing ordered pairs. An x-value is the input of the function, and the corresponding
y-value is the output. This y-value is usually referred to as f (x). The f in f (x) is not a variable; it’s just the name of the
function.
Scratch Paper
WRITING
1 Mark for Review
2
If f (x) = x + 8x + 2, what is the value of f (3)?
A 29
B 33
MATH
C 35
D 53
College Board could also ask for the x-value that must be put into the function to get a certain y-value out.
A 3
B 4
C 5
D 6
On some questions, you will be given two input/output pairs or a table of corresponding values and must identify the
READING
A g ( x) = 3 x
B g (x) = 3x + 12
C g (x) = 3x + 15
MATH
D g (x) = 15x + 12
A Decreasing exponential
B Decreasing linear
C Increasing exponential
D Increasing linear
READING
Each day, the volume of helium inside a balloon
decreases by 1.2% of its volume the previous day.
Which of the following best models the relationship
between the volume of helium in the balloon and
time?
AND
A Decreasing exponential
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
B Decreasing linear
C Increasing exponential
MATH
Increasing linear
FUNCTIONS IRL
Functions may show up in the form of word problems as well.
A 3
MATH
B 4
C 5
D 6
B h (x) = 16x + 36
D h (x) = 22x
For word problems containing functions, read carefully for key words,
and look for ways to Plug In or PITA.
READING
ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
Harder functions questions will take the basics we’ve already covered and combine or build on them to make a
question more difficult or more time-consuming.
WRITING
3
The function f is defined as f (x) = x + 1. Which table
gives three values of x and their corresponding values
of f (x)?
A x f (x)
2 9
MATH
3 13
4 65
B x f (x)
2 1
3 2
4 3
C x f (x)
2 9
3 28
4 65
D x f (x)
2 7
3 10
4 13
f (x) = 37 ⋅ c x
The exponential function f is defined by the given
equation. If c is a positive constant and f (2) = 592,
what is the value of f (3)?
WRITING
MATH
A 110
B 120
C 121
D 200
READING
x
p (x) = 8(3)
r (x) = p (x – 1)
The function r is related to function p as defined
by the given equations. Which of the following
equations describes function r ?
WRITING
A r (x) = – 8(– 3)x
B r (x) = – 8(3)x
MATH
8
D r (x) = 3 (3)x
FUNCTIONS DRILL
Time: 8 minutes
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
f ( x) = 2 x – 3
g ( x) = 1
x
For the given functions, what is the value of
2f (3) + 3g (3)?
10
A
MATH
B 4
C 7
29
D
3
A Decreasing exponential
B Decreasing linear
C Increasing exponential
D Increasing linear
READING
The profit of a certain manufacturing company
can be expressed using the quadratic function
P (x), where P is the company’s profit, in thousands
of dollars, and x is the number of units sold, in
thousands. If the maximum profit of the company is
$90,000 and occurs when 4,000 units are sold, which
of the following equations could represent P (x)?
WRITING
A P (x) = –15x 2 + 90x + 4,000
B P (x) = –10x 2 + 4,000x
MATH
D P (x) = –2x 2 + 30x + 90
x f (x)
0 200
2 140
4 98
6 68.6
WRITING
A 30
MATH
B 43
C 60
D 70
• f (x) = ___________________
• When a question gives pairs of input and output values and asks for the function, ___________________.
• When a question asks what type of function matches a description, work in _________________________
• For word problems containing functions, read carefully and look for ways to ___________________ or
___________________.
REPRESENTATION AND
INTERPRETATION
565
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
Representation questions
• Apply a variation of the Word Problem Basic Approach to
Interpretation questions
MATH
READING
WHEN SOLVING ISN’T THE SOLUTION
Some questions on the Digital SAT aren’t about solving. Instead, they will ask you to find what represents a situation
or to identify the interpretation of something in context. These are typically word problems, so let’s review the Basic
Approach.
WRITING
WORD PROBLEM BASIC APPROACH
1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ)—Understand the actual
question being asked. Write down key words.
2. Let the Answers Point the Way—Use the answer type to
help determine how to start working on the question.
3. Work in Bite-Sized Pieces—Find one piece to start with,
MATH
then work piece-by-piece until the final question has been
answered.
4. Use POE—Check to see whether any answers can be
eliminated after each bite-sized piece.
Representing a Situation
When a Math question on the Digital SAT asks for the answer that represents the situation described in the
question, translate the words into math one piece at a time and eliminate after each piece.
1
A r= (1,768)h
2
B r = 2(1,768)h
h
C r = 1,768 1
2
D r = 1,768(2)h
A system is made up of two or more equations or inequalities. When a question asks for a system that represents a
READING
situation, that means there’s more to work with in the answer choices and more ways to eliminate!
AND
12.4 minutes to grade a paper and 7.75 minutes to
LANGUAGE
WRITING
grade a quiz. The teacher grades for a total of 465
WRITING
minutes. Which of the following systems of equations
represents this situation?
MATH
B 7.75p + 12.4q = 465
p + q = 51
C 12.4p + 7.75q = 51
p + q = 465
D 7.75p + 12.4q = 51
p + q = 465
Sometimes you will need to translate and then perform an additional calculation to determine the correct answer.
A p = 18 – 2d
B p = 2d + 18
8
C p= d + 18
7
D p = 18 – d
INTERPRETATION IN CONTEXT
Some Digital SAT Math questions will give you the equation or graph that represents a situation and then ask you
to interpret part of the equation or graph. For this kind of question, you will continue to rely heavily on Bite-Sized
Pieces and POE.
5 Scratch Paper
WRITING
A The computer technician performed a total of
14 system diagnostics during the month.
B The computer technician spent 14 hours on
each system diagnostic during the month.
C The computer technician performed a total of
14 laptop repairs during the month.
READING
Interpretation Basic Approach
1. Read the Final Question (RTFQ)—Know what part of the
equation or graph the question is asking about.
2. Translate and label—Find one piece of information and
translate the English into math using Bite-Sized Pieces.
Label the equation or graph with that information.
WRITING
3. Use POE—Eliminate any answers that do not make sense
with the labels.
4. Keep eliminating—Repeat steps (2) and (3) until only one
answer remains.
MATH
6 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
On an extrasolar planet, the height H, in meters, of a
spherical object t seconds after it is launched straight
up in the air is estimated using the function
H(t) = –2.1t 2 + 35t + 96 for 0 ≤ t ≤ 19. What is the
meaning of the number 96 in this function?
Follow the same Interpretation Basic Approach if the question asks you to interpret part of a graph.
READING
12
WRITING
10 •
•
•
8 •
•
•
6
•
4
MATH
2 •
•
•
x
5 10 15 20 25
Age (years)
READING
For linear graphs that represent an amount over time,
• the slope represents the rate of change.
• the y-intercept represents the initial amount.
• the x-intercept represents the time at which the amount is 0.
WRITING
Finally, you may be asked to perform a basic calculation based on the interpretation of two values in an equation.
MATH
batches of brownies and c batches of cookies. The
equation 2b + 5c = 110 represents this situation.
How many more cups of sugar are used for each batch
of cookies than for each batch of brownies?
The final question is “What is the best interpretation of the vertex of the graph?” R I
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
A 2
MATH
B 25
C 48
D 50
B The average total number of wolves in Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming from 1995 to 2005
C The number of years it took the total number
of wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming to
increase by 48
READING
y
5
Water depth (inches)
WRITING
3
0 x
MATH
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (days)
B The decrease in floodwater depth for each day
B Keisha collects 8 dollars in dues from each
member.
MATH
B The number of wide frames Anh covered
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
• What steps should you follow when asked for a representation of a situation?
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
• What steps should you follow when asked for the interpretation of part of an equation or a graph?
1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS
Many questions on the Digital SAT involve visual representations—such as charts,
graphs, and tables—of real-world data. You might be asked to look up something
on the figure or to apply your knowledge of statistical measures.
No matter what type of figure you’re working with, this is always the first step:
WRITING
• Description
MATH
• Labels
• Units
With that in mind, here are the types of figures you might encounter.
READING
Scatterplots
In a scatterplot graph, each dot represents one data point. Sometimes a line or
curve of best fit will be drawn to represent the equation that most closely matches
the data.
WRITING
When working with graphs, always read the
description, labels, and units before working on
the question.
MATH
The scatterplot shows the grams of protein and grams of fiber in twelve brands of
whole-wheat bread.
Grams of Protein and Grams of Fiber
in Twelve Brands of Whole-Wheat Bread
8
7
6
Fiber (grams)
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Protein (grams)
1. What are the label and units along the horizontal (x) axis? ____________________
2. What are the label and units along the vertical (y) axis? _______________________
5. According to the line of best fit, approximately how many grams of fiber
6. How many grams of protein are in the bread that is closest to the line of
The bar graph shows the unemployment rate in the United States from 2006
through 2011.
Unemployment Rate in the United States
12
10
% Unemployment
MATH
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Year
4. For what year was the unemployment rate the highest? __________________
5. What was the unemployment rate during the last year shown? ___________
READING
Two-Way Tables
Two-way tables give counts for data according to two variables. They have catego-
ries listed across the top and down the left side of the table. Before working on the
question, read the description and headings.
The table summarizes the preferred beverage for a group of men and women.
WRITING
Coffee Tea Hot Chocolate Total
Men 923 254 89 1,266
Women 655 362 193 1,210
Total 1,578 616 282 2,476
MATH
1. What are the labels on top? ____________________________________________
Frequency Tables
A frequency table provides a type of shorthand for listing many values. It has two
columns: one column contains the values, and the other column contains the
number of times each value occurs—or its frequency.
The frequency table shows the number of holly trees within each acre in a forest.
WRITING
5 3
6 1
_________________________________________________________
6. What is the greatest number of holly trees in any single acre? _________
7. How many total holly trees are in all the surveyed acres? (Hint: multiply
across each row and add the results.) ____________________________
_________________________________________________________
8. What is the average number of holly trees per acre? (Hint: divide the
total number of trees by the number of acres.) _____________________
READING
Dot Plots
A dot plot uses one dot to represent one data point, and the number of dots in a
column shows how often that value occurs. You can also visualize a curve above
the dot plot to get a sense of the standard deviation of the data, a topic covered
later in this chapter.
Here’s the data about holly trees in a forest that was in the frequency table above,
WRITING
now shown as a dot plot. The numbers along the bottom represent the number of
trees, and each dot represents an acre that has that number of trees. There are 2
acres with 0 trees, 0 acres with 1 tree, 5 acres with 2 trees, and so on.
MATH
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
STEM-AND-LEAF PLOTS
Once in a while, College Board may ask you about a stem-and-leaf plot or a box
plot (also known as a box-and-whisker plot). The good news is that these questions
are usually pretty straightforward if you understand the basic concepts.
Suppose that a class earned these quiz scores: 65, 70, 70, 78, 80, 81, 84, 86, 89, 89,
93, 93, 93, 98, 100.
6 5
7 0 0 8
8 0 1 4 6 9 9
9 3 3 3 8
10 0
BOX PLOTS
A box plot shows the data broken into quartiles. Using our fifteen quiz scores, the
box plot would be illustrated as follows:
65 78 86 93 100
WRITING
Box
Whisker Whisker
MATH
For the quiz scores, 86 is the median, and this is the line inside the box, also
known as the second quartile. The lower quartile and upper quartile are the medians
of the lower and upper halves of the data, respectively, and are represented by the
ends of the box.
Q1 Q2 Q3
65 78 86 93
The horizontal lines on a box plot, called the whiskers, extend to the lowest data
point on the left and the highest one on the right. Here, those points are 65 and
100, respectively.
Minimum Q1 Q2 Q3 Maximum
65 78 86 93 100
A box plot shows the spread of the data by the width of the whiskers or halves of
the box. Here, because the left whisker appears to be the longest, we know that the
data points in the lowest 25% are spread out the most. Also, the interquartile range
is the range of the middle 50%: Q3 – Q1, or the width of the box.
READING
From a stem-and-leaf plot or a box plot, you can determine the median and range
of the set of data. It is also possible to calculate the mode and mean from a stem-
and-leaf plot and the interquartile range from a box plot. We’ll cover some of these
concepts in greater detail in the next chapter.
WRITING
Two Tools to Use
To make sure you find the correct value on a figure, do one of these things:
• Use the edge of your scratch paper as a straight edge on the computer
MATH
screen.
• Move the mouse pointer up and down or left and right using your
mouse or trackpad (only if you trust yourself to trace straight lines).
STATISTICAL MEASURES
Now that you know how to understand figures and look up data, let’s see what else
you can do with data.
Statistics Vocabulary
WRITING
Statistics in real life—or in a stats class at school—can get very complicated very
quickly. Fortunately, the Digital SAT sticks to a few basic terms and concepts.
The mean of a list of numbers is the sum of all of the numbers divided by how
many numbers there are. On the Digital SAT, mean and average mean the
same thing.
MATH
The median of a list of numbers is the number exactly in the middle when the list
is in order. “Median” sounds like “middle,” and that’s what it is.
The mode of a list of numbers is the number that appears most often in the list.
“Mode” sounds like “most,” and that’s what it is.
The range of a list of numbers is the difference between the greatest value and the
least value. Find these values and subtract.
Mean = Average
The simplest way to calculate the mean, or average, of a list of numbers is with the
TAN equation:
T = AN
No matter which two pieces of the equation the question gives you, plug them
into the equation and solve for the third piece. Try using T = AN to answer the
following questions.
READING
5. What is the total if 12 numbers have an average of 1.5?_______________
6. How many items are in a list that adds up to 99 and has an average
of 11? ____________________________
WRITING
Median = Middle
When a list of numbers is small, it is easy to cross off numbers from each side
to find the number in the middle. When a list has an odd number of items, the
median is the one number that is right in the middle. When a list has an even
number of items, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. Take a
look at these two examples:
MATH
Item 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Item 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Number 8 9 10 11 12 Number 8 9 10 11
What do you do when the list is longer and it will take too much time to write
out all of the numbers and cross out from the ends? Well, because median means
middle, cut the list in half.
The first example above has 5 items (also called terms or elements). Cut 5 in half to
5
get = 2.5, then round up to 3. The third item is the median, like 10 was in the
2
first example.
4
The second example above has 4 items. Cut 4 in half to get = 2, but notice
2
that we need the average of the 2nd item and the item to the right of it—the 3rd
item—to find the median of 9.5.
If a list of numbers has 33 items, divide by two and round up: the
median is the 17th item.
If a list of numbers has 78 items, divide by two and take the average
of that item and the item to the right: the median is the average of
WRITING
the 39th and 40th items. If you wrote out the entire list, there would
be 39 – 1 = 38 items to the left of the 39th item and 78 – 40 = 38
items to the right of the 40th item. Those two items are exactly in
the middle.
READING
Mode = Most
There is nothing complicated about finding the mode of a list of numbers: simply
look for the number that appears most often. Because this is relatively simple,
questions will often ask you to compare the mode to other statistical measures or
to find the mode from a visual representation, such as a stem-and-leaf plot or a
frequency table.
WRITING
Range = Greatest Minus Least
Range is also relatively straightforward, but watch out for lists of numbers that are
not in order. Simply find the largest number and the smallest number on the list
and subtract.
MATH
Standard Deviation = Spread
Standard deviation is similar to range in that it shows how spread out a group of
numbers is. However, standard deviation takes it further by relating the spread to
the center, or the mean. Questions about standard deviation will often include a
visual representation of the data, so think of it in terms of curves.
Mean ________ A. 19
Median ________ B. 4
Range ________ D. 8
593
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
80
70
temperature (F°)
Average annual
60
50
40
30
MATH
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
State
READING
The line graph shows the number of breaks a
marathon runner takes each day during a week of
training.
6
5
Number of breaks
AND
LANGUAGE
4
WRITING
WRITING
3
2
1
0
ay
ay
ay
ay
da
d
id
on
es
es
rs
MATH
Fr
u
Tu
n
M
Th
ed
W
A Monday
B Wednesday
C Thursday
D Friday
340
320
Paycheck amount ($)
WRITING
300
280
260
240
220
200
MATH
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Number of hours worked
A $260
B $279
C $289
D $297
READING
Spring Summer Fall Total
blooming blooming blooming
Annual 6,700 2,500 1,200 10,400
Perennial 3,200 3,500 5,300 12,000
Total 9,900 6,000 6,500 22,400
WRITING
The inventory of plants in a greenhouse is shown in
the table. What proportion of perennials are summer
blooming?
5
A
32
MATH
25
B
224
7
C
24
7
D
12
4 8 12 16 20 24
Points
B The range of points scored by the player
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
• Understand and apply concepts of mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation
• Know how to find information using visual representations of data
WRITING
Mean = Average
When working on questions about the mean, or average, of a list of numbers, remember to use the T = AN equation.
A 59
B 65
C 70
D 77
READING
Median = Middle
The median is the middle number in an ordered list of numbers. If there is an even number of elements in the list,
the median is the average of the two numbers in the middle.
WRITING
An element’s valence is a measure of the combining
power of an element. The frequency table shows the
valence of the 108 elements with known valency.
MATH
2 13
3 28
4 20
5 12
6 19
7 4
A 3
B 3.5
C 3.7
D 4
A Mean
B Median
C Mode
D Range
READING
Standard Deviation = Spread
Standard deviation is a measure of the spread of a group of numbers. The greater the standard deviation of a list, the
more spread apart the numbers are from the average of the list. A list with a small standard deviation has numbers
closely grouped around the average.
WRITING
4 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
Option A
MATH
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Option B
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
B The range of data set P is less than the range of
data set Q.
READING
0 7
1 2 6
2 3 6 6
3 2 6
WRITING
4 0
A 3.4
MATH
B 6.2
C 24.2
D 26.0
Company A
Company B
25 30 35 40 45 50 55
B The median age at Company A is 5 years older
than the median age at Company B.
14 15 16 17 18
WRITING
B The means of the two data sets would be equal,
and the range of the current ages would be
greater than the range of the ages 5 years ago.
C The mean of the current ages would be less
than the mean of the ages 5 years ago, and the
two data sets would have the same range.
D The mean of the current ages would be greater
than the mean of the ages 5 years ago, and the
two data sets would have the same range.
___________________________________________________________________________
• What formula can you use to organize your information on average questions?
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• How do you calculate the median when the list of numbers has an even number of items?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• In a frequency table, the left column shows the values / frequency of each value and the right
column shows the values / frequency of each value.
607
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GRAPHING BASICS
Functions or Equations
Questions on the Digital SAT that deal with graphs in the xy-plane might use
“y =” or “ f(x) =” to show the equation that defines the graph. The “ f(x)” notation
WRITING
indicates a function, but both forms mean the same thing: the y-value of a point
on a graph is determined by what happens with the x-value on the other side of the
equation. Thus, one of the simplest but most important things to remember about
graphs is this:
f(x) = y
MATH
If you haven’t already done so, read Section 2 of the Digital SAT Calculator
Guide available in your student dashboard to learn more about using the built-in
graphing calculator.
y = –2x + 3
f(x) = –2x + 3
If you entered them correctly, these equations show the same line. That’s because
f(x) = y.
READING
LINEAR GRAPHS
Slope
rise y 2 − y 2
WRITING
=
run x 2 − x 1
Line #1
MATH
Plot these ordered pairs and draw a line to connect them.
(–4, –5) y
(–2, –1)
(1, 5)
(3, 9)
1. Use (1, 5) and (3, 9) to calculate the slope. (Which one is y1, and
which one is y2? It doesn’t matter! Just be consistent: Match the
x-coordinates in the same order.)
_____________________________________________________________
3. What does x equal when the line crosses the y-axis? ________________
The (x, y) point where the line crosses the y-axis is called the y-intercept.
Slope-Intercept Form
One form of a linear equation that you will see on the Digital SAT is called
slope-intercept form. You probably remember this from school, but here’s a quick
review.
WRITING
Slope-intercept form
y = mx + b
Standard Form
Another form of a linear equation, called standard form, appears less often but is
worth knowing.
Standard form
Ax + By = C
A C
In standard form, the slope is – and the y-intercept is .
B B
Line #2
The equation of a line in standard form is given as 3x + 2y = 14.
______________________________________________________
READING
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
Plot the ordered pairs for each of these three lines, draw the three separate lines,
label them, then calculate the slope for each. (Note that you already have the
y-intercept for each line—look at the third ordered pair in each line.)
WRITING
(–4, 2) (–4, –8) (–4, 10)
(–2, 3) (–2, –7) (–2, 6)
(0, 4) (0, –6) (0, 2)
(2, 5) (2, –5) (2, –2)
(4, 6) (4, –4) (4, –6)
MATH
y
The points where graphs intersect are called solutions. Some questions will ask
READING
you how many solutions there are. Others will ask for the coordinates of a point of
intersection.
For questions about points of intersection or the number of solutions, try graph-
ing the equations in the built-in calculator. Each point of intersection will be
indicated by a gray dot, and you can click on the dot to see the (x, y) coordinates
WRITING
of the point.
NONLINEAR GRAPHS
MATH
Parabolas
Most of the graphs of nonlinear equations or functions on the Digital SAT will be
of parabolas, which are the result of graphing a quadratic.
y = x 2 – 2x – 15
Remember! f(x) = y f(x) = (x + 3)(x – 5)
y = (x – 1)2 – 16
All three produced the same graph. These are examples of the three forms of
quadratics that you will see on the Digital SAT.
You learned about quadratics in the Nonlinear Solving 101 and Nonlinear Solving
chapters. Here’s a quick overview, but review those chapters if you’ve forgotten the
details.
READING
The built-in calculator shows the minimum or maximum of the parabola—
b
also known as the vertex—as a gray dot. If necessary, you can use – to find
2a
the x-coordinate of the vertex, and then plug that value into the standard form
quadratic to find the y-value of the vertex.
WRITING
The built-in calculator also shows the solutions—also known as x-intercepts or
roots—as gray dots. Another way to find the solutions to a quadratic is to convert
standard form into factored form. You have likely spent a lot of time moving
between these two forms in school, and you practiced it earlier in this book.
MATH
The factored form of a quadratic equation is
y = a(x – m)(x – n), where m and n are
the x-intercepts of the parabola.
f(x) = x + 3
WRITING
y = x 2 – 2x – 15
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
READING
COORDINATE GEOMETRY EQUATIONS
Lines
y2 − y1
• Slope:
WRITING
x 2 − x1
• Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
• Standard form: Ax + By = C
MATH
Parabolas
• Standard form: y = ax 2 + bx + c
617
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
3
A g ( x) = – –5
2
MATH
3
B g ( x) = – +5
2
3
C g ( x) = –5
2
3
D g ( x) = +5
2
x
–10 –8 –6 –4 –2
–2
–4
–6
–8
READING
Line m and line n are parallel when graphed in the
xy -plane. If the equation of line n is 12x = –9y + 18,
what is the slope of line m?
WRITING
4 Mark for Review
MATH
g (x) = –3x 2 – 18x – 15
Function g is defined by the given equation. For what
value of x does the graph of g (x) reach its maximum?
A –5
B –3
C –1
D 12
3x 2 + y = 3
4x – y = 1
The given system of equations has two solutions when
graphed in the xy -plane. Which of the following is the
y -coordinate of one of the solutions?
2
A
3
B 1
5
C
3
D 9
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
READING
LINES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
As you saw in Coordinate Geometry 101, there are three important equations for working with the graphs of straight
lines.
Linear Equations
WRITING
• Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b
• Standard form: Ax + By = C
rise y 2 − y 2
• Slope = =
run x 2 − x 1
MATH
Use your knowledge of these forms to answer questions about features of graphs.
5
A –
3
3
B –
5
3
C
5
5
D
3
READING
CURVES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
Many graphing questions will ask about the different forms of equations that define a parabola. Be sure to know
which forms of quadratics are useful for determining particular features of the graph. Keep in mind that the built-in
graphing calculator, or your own calculator, can be quite helpful on many of these questions.
WRITING
Quadratic Equations
• Standard form: y = ax 2 + bx + c
MATH
• Vertex form: y = a(x – h)2 + k
A (6, –27)
B (–6, –27)
C (6, 27)
D (–6, 27)
y
5
4
3
2
1
x
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
–1
MATH
–2
–3
–4
–5
A y = –2.7x – 4.5
B y = –2.7x + 4.5
C y = 2.7x – 4.5
D y = 2.7x + 4.5
READING
y
y = g(x)
WRITING
x
O
(–4, –1)
• • (0, –1)
•(–2, –3)
MATH
The parabola shown in the xy -plane is the graph
of function g. Which of the following could be the
equation of g (x)?
( x − 2)
1 2
A g ( x) = −3
2
( x + 2)
1 2
B g(x) = −3
2
( )
2
C g(x) = x + 2 − 3
( x − 2)
1 2
D g(x) = −3
3
NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS
Some questions will ask about the solution(s) to a system with one linear and one nonlinear equation. You can use
READING
the discriminant, as described in Coordinate Geometry 101, or use the built-in graphing calculator along with PITA
or Plugging In.
WRITING
number of times the graphs of the equations intersect
in the coordinate plane.
MATH
y = x 2 + 19x + 53
y = 5x – b
The system of equations shown is graphed in the
xy -plane. For what value of b does the system have
exactly one real solution?
A –7
B –4
C 4
D 7
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
x
–6 –4 –2 O 2 4 6
–2
MATH
–4
–6
1
A –
2
2
B –
5
1
C –
5
5
D
2
A –5x + y = 11
B –3x + 5y = 15
C x + 5y = –2
D 10x + 2y = 9
READING
y = 36x 2 – 48x + c
If the given equation has no real solutions, which of
the following is a possible value of constant c?
A –4
WRITING
B 9
C 16
D 24
MATH
4 Mark for Review
x f ( x)
6 –27
13 –62
20 –97
y = k (x – 9)(x + 3)
In the given quadratic equation, k is a nonzero
constant. The graph of the equation in the xy -plane is
a parabola with vertex (a, b). Which of the following
is equal to b?
WRITING
A –48k
B –36k
C –27k
MATH
D –3k
• For questions about the graphs of functions or equations, remember that f(x) = ___________ .
• What are three names for the point(s) where a graph crosses the x-axis?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
• The minimum or maximum of a quadratic can be found using the _______________________ form.
• Which three “P” strategies help on questions about the graphs of functions or equations?
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
• Which tool in the testing app can make a big difference on graphing questions?
______________________________________
633
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
relationships. Ratios, on the other hand, are part-to-part relationships. Ratios can
part
be written as part or as part:part. For example, if a school newspaper has a ratio
5
WRITING
of 5 news articles to 2 editorials, the ratio can be written as or as 5:2. Use the
2
fraction form when entering ratios into a calculator.
1. Marie lives with her mother, father, one sister, and five
brothers. Everyone in her family is either a woman or a
man.
MATH
READING
homework. Does she know what portion you have left
to do?
A. Yes.
B. No.
As you can see, you need to know the whole before you can evaluate the part.
WRITING
Unless you know the total pages of homework assigned, you can’t judge whether
“half” is impressive (1,000 pages assigned) or pitiful (2 pages assigned). Similarly,
either completing 100 pages or doing 2 hours of work could be just the beginning
or close to the end. Digital SAT questions about proportional relationships will
give you what you need to determine the numbers and the relationship.
MATH
Fractions & Decimals
Fractions and decimals are two different ways of expressing the same part-to-
whole relationship. If 4 numbers in a list of 10 numbers are odd, for example, the
part-to-whole relationship can be written in several forms:
4 2
= = 0.4
10 5
Proportions
When numbers are proportional, they maintain the same part-to-whole relation-
ship when they increase or decrease. To solve a proportion question, set up two
equal fractions and cross-multiply to find the missing value.
Here’s what the math looks like to answer the question “How many of the books
MATH
are non-fiction?”
4 x
=
10 50
Cross-multiply to get (10)(x) = (4)(50), which becomes 10x = 200. Divide both
sides of the equation by 10 to get x = 20. There are 20 non-fiction books.
Percents
Percents are a special kind of part-to-whole relationship in which the whole is
always 100. To convert a percent into a fraction or decimal, divide by 100.
60
60% = = 0.6
100
The Math Vocabulary 101
chapter has more informa-
tion about percents.
To convert a decimal or fraction into a percent, multiply by 100.
25
0.25 = 25% =
100
You may also be asked to calculate a percent increase or decrease. Use the follow-
ing formula.
READING
Putting the Parts Together
Use the data in the table below to answer the questions that follow.
WRITING
7 10 5 1 2
MATH
iii. What proportion of students got an F? ______________________
Margin of Error
A margin of error uses percents to give a range for random sampling errors in a
survey or poll. It indicates how much the results might change if the poll were re-
peated or if the entire population were asked instead of a random sample.
For example, if a survey shows that 70% of randomly sampled test-takers prefer
the Digital SAT to the paper-and-pencil SAT, and there is a margin of error of
± 5%, that means it is highly likely that between 65% and 75% of all test-takers
prefer the Digital SAT.
PROBABILITY
You learned about statistical measures in the Working with Data chapter. One
more statistical concept is probability, which is a specific kind of proportion.
When working with probability, think of the part as the # of outcomes that fit
requirements, or what you want, and the whole as the total # of possible outcomes,
or total.
Think about flipping a coin and hoping it comes up tails. There is 1 side—tails—
that gives you want you want, and 2 sides—heads and tails—that are the total
1
possible outcomes. So, the chance of the coin coming up tails is , or a 50%
2
probability.
Want
WRITING
MATH
Total
The # of outcomes that fit requirements won’t always be 1, however. When more
than one thing gives you what you want, either add up those things and put them
in the numerator or find the probability of each outcome that gives you what you
want and add them together.
Let’s say you’re rolling a standard six-sided die and want an even number.
Total
You could roll a 2, 4, or 6 to get what you what, which means the number of
3 1
a probability of . The other option is to think of “or” as addition: there is a
6 6
1 1
chance of rolling a 2, a chance of rolling a 4, and a chance of rolling a 6.
6 6
1 1 1 3
The chance of rolling a 2 or a 4 or a 6 is + + = .
6 6 6 6
READING
RATES AND UNIT CONVERSION
A rate shows the relationship between two values, usually speed or work over
time. A snail might crawl at a rate of 1.2 millimeters per second, or a journalist
could publish 4 articles per week. Rates can be expressed as fractions but are often
written out.
Miles per hour is an example of a rate: it is the number of miles traveled for every Per usually means
WRITING
1 hour. Once you know the rate, you can set up equal proportions to find different division. Percent means
values. Let’s use a rate of 40 miles per hour. divided by 100. Miles per
hour means the number
of miles divided by the
40 miles 80 miles 20 miles number of hours.
= =
1 hour 2 hours 30 minutes
MATH
Notice that the last rate switched from hours to minutes. There are 60 minutes
in 1 hour, so 30 minutes is the same as a half-hour. Some Digital SAT questions
will require you to convert units. The question will give you the conversion if the
test-writers think it’s something that isn’t common knowledge. For example, you
would not be given the conversion for minutes to hours but would be given the
conversion for feet to miles.
To convert units, set up equal proportions. Always label the units to keep the
numerators and denominators consistent. Let’s say a question asks you how many
inches are in 5 feet and tells you that 1 foot = 12 inches. Set up a proportion, being
sure to match the up the units. It doesn’t matter which way you set up the frac-
tions as long as the units match up. Here are two versions that both work:
12 inches x inches
=
1 foot 5 feet
12 inches 1 foot
=
x inches 5 feet
Using either form of the proportion, cross-multiply to get (1)(x) = (12)(5), which
becomes x = 60. There are 60 inches in 5 feet. If you invert one of the fractions by
5
mistake, you will get x = , so always use the scratch paper for conversions and
12
write down the units.
641
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
RATIOS = PART-TO-PART
Ratios relate one part to another part. When one part changes value, the value of the other part must change to
maintain the same ratio.
MATH
A 20
B 60
C 100
D 140
READING
PART-TO-WHOLE RELATIONSHIPS
Two “P” words, Proportions and Percents, relate a part to a whole. Like ratios, these can be written as fractions.
Proportions
AND
Values that are proportional increase or decrease together while maintaining the same proportional relationship. Set
LANGUAGE
WRITING
up equivalent fractions to solve proportion questions.
WRITING
2 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
Newton-meters and foot-pounds are proportional
measures of torque. If 8 newton-meters is equivalent
MATH
to 5.90 foot-pounds, how much torque, in newton-
meters, is 10.53 foot-pounds?
Percents
A percent is a part-to-whole relationship that uses 100 as the whole. Make sure to RTFQ and translate in
Bite-Sized Pieces.
A 42%
B 51%
C 60%
D 70%
A $165
B $200
C $225
MATH
D $265
READING
Margin of Error
Percents are also used in questions that test margin of error. A margin of error gives a percent by which survey results
could increase or decrease if the survey were repeated. On some questions, knowing the definition is sufficient.
WRITING
A representative sample of the coniferous trees in
a certain forest was examined to determine how
many were pine trees. It was found that 34% of the
coniferous trees were pine trees. The margin of error
of the examination was 2%. Which of the following
statements is the most accurate interpretation of this
margin of error?
MATH
A There is a 2% chance that the findings of the
study are incorrect.
B It is likely that between 32% and 36% of the
coniferous trees in the forest are pine trees.
C It is unlikely that fewer than 32% of the trees in
the forest are pine trees.
D No more than 36% of the trees in the forest are
pine trees.
To answer other margin of error questions, you will need to use percents to find a numerical value or range of values.
READING
A 24–40
MATH
B 64–72
C 600–1,000
D 1,500–1,900
READING
PROBABILITY = CHANCE
WRITING
7 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
MATH
Solids Stripes Plaid Total
Shirts 5 10 10 25
Pants 8 5 2 15
Hats 7 3 0 10
Total 20 18 12 50
89
A
1, 266
447
B 1, 266
451
C
2, 476
898
D
2, 476
READING
Rates and Unit Conversions
A rate typically gives an amount of work or a distance per a unit of time. Because per means division, the rate is the
work or the distance divided by the time.
AND
LANGUAGE
WRITING
WRITING
Jane is writing a research paper and writes at an
average rate of 20 sentences per hour. If it takes her
15 hours to write the research paper, how many
sentences are in the research paper?
A 15
MATH
B 20
C 280
D 300
When units are underlined in the question, that’s a big hint that you need to read carefully and convert
units.
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
Faraz paid $48.00 before tax for a new coat that was
marked 20 percent off of its original price. What was
the original price of the coat?
A $38.40
B $57.60
MATH
C $60.00
D $72.00
A 0.03
B 0.97
C 1.03
D 1.97
READING
A certain smartphone can download a 6 -megabyte
file in one second. Approximately how long, in
minutes, will it take to download 16 files that average
110 megabytes each?
A 1
WRITING
B 5
C 50
D 300
MATH
4 Mark for Review
The table shows the favorite movie genres as reported
by a randomly selected group of people aged 15–70.
A 15–25
B 26–35
C 36–50
D 51–70
A 150
B 390
MATH
C 540
D 2,700
__________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Calculator Reference More
2x 60° 45°
1
•
r h b
c x s s 2
w
30°
WRITING
45°
b a x 3 s
A = πr2 A = w
C = 2πr A = 12 bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
•r h
h r h
h
w r w
MATH
V = wh V = πr2h V = 43 πr3 V = 13 πr2h V = 13 wh
2
Check anything you don’t remember, but you can save time by knowing the
information by heart. Try to work the following questions without using the
information on the Reference Sheet, and make a note to memorize anything you
had to look up. If anything stumps you that isn’t on the Reference Sheet (not
all of these are), make sure to study those until you can always recall them from
memory.
READING
Area
Figure Formula
Square
Rectangle
WRITING
Parallelogram
Triangle
B C
MATH
8
A 5 D
_______________________________________________________________
L M
5 cm
4 cm
O 9 cm N
_______________________________________________________________
Perimeter
How do you get the perimeter of any figure with sides?
_______________________________________________________________
WRITING
Circles
It’s easier to think of the formulas for circles together.
Area Circumference
MATH
_______________________________________________________________
Volume
Figure Formula
Cube
Rectangular solid
Cylinder
_______________________________________________________________
Geometry IRL
Some geometry questions will take the form of word problems. For example, a
question could ask for the area of square floor tile or the volume of a brick. Focus
on the geometric shape rather than the real-world details, and see if the units pro-
vide a clue. For example, the phrase “cubic feet” indicates a 3-D shape, and those
have volume.
READING
ANGLES
The Digital SAT will test the measure of degrees in given shapes. Fill in the chart
below with the measure, in degrees, of each angle and shape. If you aren’t sure,
look it up!
Figure Degrees
WRITING
Right Angle
Straight Line
Triangle
Quadrilateral
MATH
Circle
A B
xº yº
C
B 90 – y
C 180 – y
D 180 + y
100º
yº
xº
WRITING
_______________________________________________________________
MATH
READING
45°
A
B
d
WRITING
7. In the figure above, two parallel lines, line A and line B, intersect
line C . What is the measure of angle d ?
_______________________________________________________________
MATH
a 160°
p
q
b
r
8. In the figure above, lines p and q are parallel. Line r intersects both
p and q, as shown. What is the sum of the measures of angle a and
angle b?
_______________________________________________________________
RIGHT TRIANGLES
If you know two sides of a right triangle, you can find the third side using the
Pythagorean Theorem.
Pythagorean Theorem: a 2 + b 2 = c 2
WRITING
Fill in the third side of each triangle listed below. You are likely to see some
Pythagorean Triples on the Digital SAT, which means that all three sides are
MATH
integers. The table below includes the best-known of these, but you are likely to
encounter Pythagorean Triples with larger numbers, as well.
a b c
1 10
3 4
5 13
8 10
7 25
2 2 3
5 5 2
6 7
3 6
4 2 8
READING
Special Right Triangles
Special right triangles are unique in that we know the measurement of every angle
and every side without using trigonometry. You may have spotted them in some
of the triangles in the previous chart. If you can spot them and memorize the rela-
tionships, you’ll save yourself some time. But if you can’t, the Reference Sheet and
the Pythagorean Theorem will come to the rescue.
WRITING
45 o
o
x 2 30
x x 3 2x
MATH
45 o o
60
x x
a. The triangle on the left is an isosceles right triangle because the legs are
both x. What is the measure of each angle in an isosceles right triangle?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
A C
WRITING
_______________________________________________________________
B
MATH
10
A C
D
_______________________________________________________________
READING
CIRCLES
If you know just one thing about a circle, you know everything. Fill in the CArd
chart below to practice finding anything you need for a circle question using any
piece of information the question gives you.
WRITING
d
pd or 2pr pr 2 2r
2
C A r d
MATH
10
36p
4p
18p
144p
14
9p
20p
You may have good memories, bad memories, or no memories at all about the trig-
onometry you learned in school. For the Digital SAT, there are two main things
to know.
SOHCAHTOA
WRITING
Opposite means the side of the triangle across from the angle you’re interested
in. Adjacent means the side next to the angle you’re interested in that isn’t the
hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle, and it is always the
longest side of the triangle.
In the figure below, the side labeled 9 is opposite angle B and adjacent to angle C,
the side labeled 40 is opposite angle C and adjacent to angle B, and the side labeled
41 is the hypotenuse.
41
40
A 9 C
READING
Radians
The other piece of trig to remember for the Digital SAT is radians. If you
remember the unit circle from school, you know where radians come from.
All that matters, though, is the relationship between radians and degrees. The
Reference Sheet provides this, and you can also memorize the following ways to
convert.
WRITING
2π radians = 360 degrees
π radians = 180 degrees
When you are asked to convert radians to degrees or degrees to radians, set up a
proportion using one of these conversions, and solve for the unknown value.
MATH
PROVE IT
The only time you will be asked to do something that resembles a geometric proof
is when a question asks about similar or congruent triangles.
Two triangles are similar when at least one of the following is true:
Two triangles are congruent when at least one of the following is true:
Take a look at the three triangles below, then answer the following questions. The
figures might not be drawn to scale, so don’t rely entirely on how they look. Fig-
ures on Digital SAT questions will usually say “Note: Figure not drawn to scale.”
Even when the figure looks accurate, use labels on the figure and information in
the question to avoid assuming something that isn’t true.
B E
WRITING
85°
25 25
75°
30
20°
G I
READING
VOCABULARY
Sometimes, the key to getting a question right is knowing the geometry vocabu-
lary. In the list below, the terms with * next to them show up frequently on the
Digital SAT, while the other terms are less common. The definitions for these vo-
cabulary words can be found in the Glossary at the end of this chapter. Fill in the
ones you already know, and look up the rest in the Glossary. Make sure to write
down and study any you didn’t know.
WRITING
Term Definition
Arc*
Area*
Bisect
MATH
Chord
Circumference*
Circumscribed
Collinear
Congruent*
Diagonal (of a polygon)
Diameter*
Edge (of a 3-D figure)*
Equilateral triangle*
Face (of a 3-D figure)*
Inscribed
Isosceles triangle*
Parallel*
Perimeter*
Perpendicular*
Plane
Polygon
Quadrilateral*
Radius*
Regular polygon
Sector
Similar*
Surface area*
Tangent
Vertex/Vertices
Line Facts
WRITING
Lines
• A line has no width and extends infinitely in both directions.
• Any line measures __________ degrees.
• If a figure on the SAT looks like a straight line, and that line looks
like it contains a point, it does.
Line segments
MATH
Perpendicular
• Two lines that intersect in a __________ angle are perpendicular and
their __________ are negative reciprocals.
Angle Facts
• There are __________ degrees in a right angle.
• When two straight lines intersect, angles __________ each other are
equal.
• There are __________ degrees in a straight line.
• Two lines are ___________________ when they meet at a 90° angle.
• The sign for perpendicular is __________ .
• There are __________ degrees in a triangle.
• There are __________ degrees in any four-sided figure.
Triangle Facts
In any triangle
• The __________ side is opposite the largest angle.
• The __________ side is opposite the smallest angle.
• All angles add up to __________.
• Area = ____________________
• The __________ is the perpendicular distance from the base to the
opposite vertex.
• __________________ is the sum of the sides.
In an isosceles triangle
• Two __________ are equal.
• The two __________ opposite the equal __________ are also equal.
In an equilateral triangle
READING
• All three __________ are equal.
• All angles are each equal to __________.
WRITING
• All four angles add up to __________.
In a parallelogram
• Opposite sides are __________ and equal.
• Opposite angles are __________.
• Adjacent angles are _______________ (add up to 180°).
• Area = ____________________
MATH
• The height is the _______________ distance from the base to the
__________ side.
In a rectangle
• Rectangles are special parallelograms; thus, any fact about parallelo-
grams also applies to rectangles.
• All 4 angles are each equal to __________.
• Area = ____________________
• Perimeter = ______________________________
• The diagonals are __________.
In a square
• Squares are special rectangles; thus, any fact about rectangles also
applies to squares.
• All 4 sides are __________.
• Area = __________
• Perimeter = __________
• The diagonals are _______________.
Circle Facts
Circle
• There are __________ degrees in a circle.
Radius (r)
• The distance from the __________ to any point on the edge of the
circle
WRITING
Diameter (d)
• The distance of a line that connects two points on the edge of the circle,
passing through the __________
• The longest __________ in a circle
• Equals twice the __________
MATH
Chord
• Any _______________ connecting two points on the edge of a circle
• The longest chord is called the _______________.
Circumference (C)
• The __________ around the outside of the circle
• C = __________
Arc
• Any part of the _______________
• The length of an arc is _______________ to the size of the interior
angle.
Area
• The amount of space within the _______________ of the circle
• A = __________
Sector
• Any part of the __________ formed by two __________ and the out-
side of the circle
• The area of a sector is _______________ to the size of the interior angle.
READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY FORMULAS
Here’s a list of the geometry and trig formulas that could show up on the Digital
SAT. Although the Reference Sheet includes many of these, knowing them well
can save time on the test.
WRITING
Circles
• Area: A = pr 2
• Circumference: C = 2pr = pd
• Arc length: r q, where q is the central angle in radians or equal to the
central angle when both the arc length and the central angle are in
degrees.
MATH
Triangles
1
• Area: A = bh
2
• Perimeter: P = sum of the sides
• Pythagorean Theorem: a 2 + b 2 = c 2
SOHCAHTOA
opposite
• sin(q) =
hypotenuse
adjacent
• cos(q) =
hypotenuse
opposite
• tan(q) =
adjacent
Quadrilaterals
Parallelograms
• Area: A = bh
• Perimeter: P = sum of the sides
Rectangles
• Area: A = lw
• Perimeter: P = 2(l + w )
Squares
• Area: A = s2
• Perimeter: P = 4s
Polygons
WRITING
3-D Figures
MATH
READING
GLOSSARY
Arc: Any part of the circumference of a circle
Area: The size of a surface, or the amount of space inside the boundary of a 2-D
shape
Bisect: To cut in half
WRITING
Chord: Any line segment connecting two points on the edge of a circle
Circumference: The distance around the outside of a circle, or the circle’s perimeter
Circumscribed: Surrounded by a circle as small as possible
Collinear: Lying on the same line
Congruent: Equal in size
MATH
Diagonal (of a polygon): A line segment connecting non-adjacent vertices
Diameter: The distance of a line that connects two points on the edge of a circle,
passing through the center
Edge (of a 3-D figure): A line segment that joins two vertices on the boundary or
where faces meet
Equilateral triangle: All sides are equal and each angle measures 60°
Face (of a 3-D figure): Any of the individual surfaces of a solid object
Inscribed: An angle in a circle with its vertex on the circumference or, more
generally, one shape within another so that their boundaries touch but do not
intersect
Isosceles triangle: A triangle with two equal sides
Parallel: Two distinct lines that do not intersect
Perimeter: The total distance around the edge of a 2-D figure
Perpendicular: At a 90° angle
Plane: A flat surface extending in all directions
Polygon: A closed figure with three or more sides
Quadrilateral: A four-sided figure
Radius: The distance from the center to any point on the edge of a circle
Regular polygon: A figure with all equal sides and all equal angles
Sector: Any part of the area formed by two radii and the outside of the circle
Similar: Equal angles and proportional sides
Surface area: The sum of areas of each face of a figure
Tangent: A line that intersects a circle at one point on the circumference, forming
a right angle with the radius that extends from the center to that point
Vertex/Vertices: A corner point. For angles, it’s where two lines meet. For
figures, it’s where two adjacent sides meet.
© TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC | 675
SAT MANUAL
GEOMETRY AND
TRIGONOMETRY
677
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
2x 60° 45°
1
•
r h b
c x s s 2
w
WRITING
30° 45°
b a x 3 s
A = πr2 A = w
C = 2πr A = 12 bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
•r h
h r h
h
w r w
MATH
V = wh V = πr2h V = 43 πr3 V = 13 πr2h V = 13 wh
READING
GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY 101 REVIEW DRILL
Time: 5 minutes
WRITING
with a radius of 6 centimeters?
A 8π
B 48π
MATH
C 288π
D 2,304π
l m
y°
58°
3 Scratch Paper
READING
48
A
73
WRITING
48
B 55
73
C
55
73
D
48
MATH
A 8
B 16
C 32
D 128
READING
What is the perimeter of a rectangle, in feet, if the
rectangle has a length of 2x feet and a width of x feet?
A 2x
B 3x
WRITING
C 6x
D 2x 2
MATH
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
GEOMETRY
As with many other questions in the Math modules of the Digital SAT, keeping the information organized and
MATH
1 Scratch Paper
The area of rectangle A is x . The width of rectangle B
is twice the width of rectangle A, and the length
of rectangle B is one-half the length of rectangle B.
Which of the following represents the area of
rectangle B?
1
A x
4
1
B x
2
C x
D 2x
READING
LINES AND ANGLES
Many geometry questions about lines will be about parallel or perpendicular lines. Questions about angles are often
about congruent angles, right angles, or two angles that add up to 90°.
When parallel lines are intersected by the same line, two kinds
of angles are created—BIG and small.
WRITING
• BIG angles = BIG angles
• small angles = small angles
• BIG + small = 180 degrees
MATH
2 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
1
x°
y°
z° 2
A 10
B 30
C 50
D 70
TRIANGLES
Triangle questions on the Digital SAT will cover some of these same ideas about lines and angles, as well as other
topics such as area, perimeter, similarity, and trigonometry.
Pythagorean Theorem
WRITING
You are likely quite familiar with this method of finding the third side of a right triangle. Keep an eye out for
Pythagorean Triples and special right triangles to save time.
13
G I
5
F J
READING
Similar and Congruent
Figuring out that the two triangles were similar was necessary in the previous question. Some questions will ask
about the information needed to determine whether two triangles are similar or congruent. Review the rules in the
Geometry and Trigonometry 101 chapter, and learn the following definitions.
WRITING
Two triangles are similar when they have equal angles and proportional sides.
Two triangles are congruent when they have equal angles and equal sides.
All congruent triangles are similar, but not all similar triangles are congruent.
MATH
4 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
In triangles QRS and WXY, angle R has measure
80º, angles S and Y each have measure 61º, and
the length of side QS is 12. Which additional piece
of information is sufficient to determine whether
triangle QRS is similar to triangle WXY ?
B The measure of angle W
TRIGONOMETRY
The Digital SAT contains a small amount of trig. Knowing the basic definitions of sine, cosine, and tangent will be
helpful.
SOHCAHTOA
WRITING
b°
X
a°
A x°
C
w°
W Y
1
A
2
3
B
2
3
C
3
D 3
READING
RADIANS AND DEGREES
Radians and degrees are different ways of measuring angles. The built-in calculator has both modes—and your
calculator probably does, too—so make sure the calculator you use is in the mode you need for the question you’re
working on.
WRITING
To convert radians to degrees, set up a proportion:
p radians
=
180 degrees
or
MATH
2p radians
=
360 degrees
A 88.2
B 126
C 234
D 257.1
CIRCLES
Central angles of circles may also be measured in radians. Aside from basic circle questions about circumference and
area, College Board may ask about a slice of a circle (a sector) or a part of the circumference (an arc) formed by the
central angle.
WRITING
O
MATH
B p
5p
C
4
3p
D
2
READING
OVERLAPPING SHAPES
When given one shape inside another, use the information given about the first shape to determine the necessary
information about the second shape.
WRITING
A square has an area of 4 square units. What is the
area, in square units, of the largest circle that can be
inscribed in the square?
p
A
2
B π
MATH
C 2π
D 4π
VOLUME
Volume measures shapes in three dimensions rather than two dimensions, but the Geometry Basic Approach still
applies.
A 3 cm
B 6 cm
C 9 cm
D 12 cm
Use your POOD to decide how many questions to attempt and the best order for you. Do the easy drill first!
W Z 5 Y
60° 60°
X
MATH
A 2.5
B 5 2
C 5 3
D 10
A 1.1π
B 1.21π
C 2.2π
D 2.42π
READING
GH = 76
HI = 95
IG = 57
Right triangles DEF and GHI are similar, where D
corresponds to G and E corresponds to H. The side
lengths of triangle GHI are shown. What is the value
WRITING
of sin E ?
3
A
5
3
B
4
MATH
4
C
5
5
D
3
A 24
B 96
C 288
D 768
• How do you access geometry facts and formulas in the testing app?
___________________________________________________________________________
• What three steps should you follow for all geometry questions?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What two kinds of angles are created when two parallel lines are both intersected by another line,
and how are those angles related?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
• What are the three definitions that make up the mnemonic SOHCAHTOA?
_______________________ _______________________ ________________________
______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
695
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GOALS
At the conclusion of this chapter, you will be able to accomplish the following:
xy-plane
LANGUAGE
READING
CIRCLES IN THE COORDINATE PLANE
Like parabolas, circle equations in the xy-plane also have a standard form, and College Board likes to ask questions
about circles in non-standard form. Just as with parabolas, knowing the parts of the standard form and how to
manipulate circle equations into different forms can be useful.
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
The standard form of a circle is (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r 2,
where (h, k) is the center and r is the radius.
MATH
1 Mark for Review Scratch Paper
A circle with the equation x 2 – 8x + y 2 – 6y = –21 is
graphed in the xy -plane. Which of the following is the
length of the radius of the circle?
A 2
B 4
C 11
D 16
TRANSLATING GRAPHS
Occasionally, a question will ask about a translation of a graph, also known as transforming a graph. The graph
changes position based on a change to the function or equation. It might move up, down, left, right, or a combina-
tion of directions.
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
A –10
MATH
B –6
C –2
D 4
In relation to f(x):
• f(x) + k is shifted upward k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x) – k is shifted downward k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x + k) is shifted to the left k units in the xy-plane.
• f(x – k) is shifted to the right k units in the xy-plane.
READING
2 2
The graph of the circle defined by (x + 3) + (y + 3)
= 9 is translated left 3 units in the xy -plane. What is
the equation of the resulting graph?
A x 2 + (y + 3)2 = 9
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
B (x + 3)2 + y2 = 9
C (x + 3)2 + (y + 6)2 = 9
D (x + 6)2 + (y + 3)2 = 9
MATH
To help visualize the way graphs shift, graph
the equations with the built-in calculator.
To utilize the last approach, it helps know what graphs with an x3 or x4 term look
like. When counting the x-intercepts, keep your eyes open for a double root.
MATH
4 4
2 2
x
x –2 O 2
–2 O 2
–2
–2
The function on the right above has a “double root,” which means that the
graph touches the x-axis at one point—(0, 0)—before bending away again in the
opposite direction. This means that the equation of the line will have the factor
that yields that value of x raised to an even exponent (in this case, the x is squared).
READING
y
WRITING AND
LANGUAGE
x
–1 –0.5 O 0.5 1
–1
MATH
Which of the following could be the equation of the
graph shown?
A y = x2 − 1
B y = x3 − x
C y = x3 − x2
D y = x4 − x 2
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
• When counting the number of roots for a third- or fourth-degree polynomial, look out for
_________________________________________.
703
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
STRATEGIES
These should all be second nature by now, but make sure you apply all of these strategies and follow every
step. Writing something down helps it stick in your memory, so grab a pen or pencil and fill in the informa-
tion below.
POOD
WRITING
O
MATH
RTFQ
READING
POE
WRITING
E
MATH
Word Problem Basic Approach
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Scratch Paper
I plan to use my scratch paper...
Built-In Calculator
I plan to use this tool...
Step 1.
Step 2.
WRITING
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
MATH
Plugging In
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
READING
FACTS AND FORMULAS
Many of the key concepts and formulas you should know for the Digital SAT are in the rest of this chapter.
However, it is not a comprehensive list. Go back through the earlier chapters and make a note of anything
in a curved box or a chapter summary.
WRITING
Fundamentals of Solving
Order of Operations
MATH
M
Algebra
The basic rule of algebra is...
Exponents
MADSPM
M
WRITING
S
MATH
Functions
f(x) =
In a function, x is
In a function, y is
READING
Data and Stats
Three elements to identify in a visual representation of data
1.
WRITING
2.
3.
MATH
Statistical Terminology
Mean means...
Average Formula:
Median means...
Mode means...
Range means...
Coordinate Geometry
Linear Equations
Slope-intercept Form:
WRITING
Standard Form:
Slope Formula:
MATH
Standard form:
Factored form:
Vertex form:
FOIL:
Quadratic Formula:
Discriminant:
READING
Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Standard Form:
WRITING
Proportional Relationships
Proportions:
MATH
Percents:
Probability:
Area of a square:
Area of a rectangle:
Perimeter of a square:
Perimeter of a rectangle:
Triangles
Area:
Perimeter:
WRITING
Pythagorean Theorem:
Trig Functions
MATH
READING
Circles
Area:
Circumference:
WRITING
Degrees and radians conversion:
MATH
Volume
Cylinder:
Sphere:
Cone:
QUESTION
IDENTIFICATION DRILL
715
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
READING
GETTING STARTED
One of the most valuable pacing skills on Digital SAT Math is simply getting
started on a question. There’s no need to plan out the entire question in advance:
just complete the first bite-sized piece and determine what to do next.
• If the first step isn’t clear and never will be, Guess and Go.
READING
The Options
The list below doesn’t include every approach you might use on the Math section
of the Digital SAT, but it covers the major methods that you have learned.
PITA
AND
Plugging In
LANGUAGE
WRITING
Translate/Label in Bite-Sized Pieces and use POE
WRITING
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Geometry Basic Approach
Skip for now
Guess and Go
MATH
QUESTION IDENTIFICATION DRILL
The examples below show part of the question (usually the final question) and a
description of the answer choices. Don’t try to answer the question because that
will be impossible without the full question and answer choices. Instead, choose
an approach from the list of options above to indicate how you would approach
the question. There might be more than one approach that would work, so pick
your top method for that question.
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
PITA
Plugging In
Translate/Label in Bite-Sized Pieces and use POE
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Geometry Basic Approach
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
I. 1
II. 4
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
READING
PITA
Plugging In
Translate/Label in Bite-Sized Pieces and use POE
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Geometry Basic Approach
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
MATH
My method: ______________________________
10. Which equation represents the total storage space, s, required for the
game and l levels?
My method: ______________________________
11.
Cups of lemonade sold Profit made
25 $5.00
50 $17.50
100 $42.50
200 $92.50
My method: ______________________________
My method: ______________________________
PITA
Plugging In
Translate/Label in Bite-Sized Pieces and use POE
Solve algebraically
Graphing calculator
Geometry Basic Approach
Skip for now
WRITING
Guess and Go
13. Which of the following best models the value, v, of stocks m months
after the initial investment?
MATH
My method: ______________________________
14. Which of the following could be the equation of the graph shown?
My method: ______________________________
READING
START TO FINISH
Now that you’ve identified the best way to approach these questions, it’s time to get them right!
AND
LANGUAGE
WRITING
y > 5x – 3
WRITING
y ≤ –4 x + 7
When the given system of inequalities is graphed
in the xy -plane, point D is a solution. Which of the
following could be the coordinates of point D ?
A (0, 4)
MATH
B (2, 3)
C (2, 9)
D (3, –7 )
3t 3
A −
4
3t 3
B −
8
3t 3
C
8
3t 3
D
4
5x – 7y = 13
20x – 28y = 52
How many solutions does the given system of
equations have?
A Zero
WRITING
B Exactly one
C Exactly two
MATH
D Infinitely many
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
O
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
B The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
8 minutes after the start of the experiment was
3,000,000.
C The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
at the beginning of the experiment was 3.
D The estimated number of bacteria in the sample
8 minutes after the start of the experiment was 3.
READING
The function p is defined as p (x) = – (x – 2)2 . The
function p reaches its maximum value at what value
of x ?
A –2
WRITING
B 0
C 2
D 4
MATH
6 Mark for Review
A C D F
A 36°
B 44°
C 54°
D 144°
A Neither I nor II
WRITING
B I only
C II only
D I and II
MATH
7x − 2
In the equation z = , x, y, and z are distinct
y
positive numbers. Which equation correctly
z
A y=
7x − 2
B y = 7x – z – 2
C y = z (7x – 2)
D y = 7x − 2
z
READING
Sally sold 50 toys at a garage sale. Some of the toys
were sold for $3, and the rest were sold for $5. The
total amount of money Sally earned was $220. How
much money did Sally earn from selling $5 toys?
A $100
WRITING
B $150
C $175
D $200
MATH
10 Mark for Review
A certain game requires 25 MB of storage space
plus an additional 4 MB of storage space per level.
Which equation represents the total storage space, s,
required for the game and l levels?
A s = 4l + 25
B s = 4(l + 25)
C s = 25l + 4
D s = 25(l + 4)
200 $92.50
The table shows the profit Willa expects to make from
her lemonade stand. A linear function can be used to
show the relationship between the number of cups
of lemonade she sells and the profit she will make.
Which of the following correctly determines Willa’s
total profit P (x), in dollars, from selling x cups of
lemonade?
MATH
B P (x) = 0.2x
D P (x) = 0.5x
READING
An investor purchases stock from a music company.
She initially purchases $250 worth of stock. The
investor notices that the value of her stock triples
every 4 years. Which of the following equations best
models the value, v, of the stocks m months after the
initial investment?
m
WRITING
A v = 250(3)48
m
B v = 250(3) 4
C v = 250 1 + m
4
MATH
D v = 250 1 + m
48
y
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
x
–0.6 –0.4 –0.2 O 0.2 0.4 0.6
–0.2
–0.4
A 5x + y = 1
B 5x – y = –1
C 5x + y = –1
D 5x – y = 1
PREPARING FOR
TEST DAY
729
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Resources
What are some resources available to you as you continue to study on your own?
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
Study Time
If your test is within the next three weeks, we recommend that you continue to
prep for the Digital SAT every day for 30 minutes. If your test isn’t for a month or
more, try to do a 30-minute session about three times per week until your test is a
few weeks away.
• If you know you need to keep working on SAT prep but start to feel
burned out, try mixing up your study methods.
• Try doing lower-pressure activities that don’t give you a score, such as
reviewing class recordings, to reduce anxiety.
• Review all of your work carefully instead of doing more and more
drills or practice tests.
Pre-Test Timeline
Now: Download and install the Bluebook app on your laptop or tablet if you will
be bringing your own device. It’s okay to go ahead and open the app to make sure
it works.
Five days before your test: Open Bluebook and you should see your registration
listed. Go through the exam setup, which will confirm that your device meets the
requirements, and then your admission ticket will be generated. You’ll be able to
email it to yourself or print it. We recommend that you do both, just in case.
Here are some other tips for the night before the test:
• Pack your bag. Gather everything you will need for test day.
• Go to bed about 9 hours before you plan to wake up. Set a back-
up alarm just in case.
• Pencils or pens. Either is fine, and it’s okay to bring several. Differ-
ent colors of pens can make your math work easier to organize. You
won’t be filling out a paper bubble sheet, so there’s no need to worry
about a specific type of writing implement.
Nice to Have
• A watch. Even though you will have a timer throughout each mod-
ule of the test, it may be helpful to have a watch for your ten-minute
break.
• A small snack and drink for the break. Think granola bar and
water bottle.
Testing usually starts between 8:15 and 8:45. Bluebook will guide you through the
instructions, and the proctor will give you a start code, at which time the test will
begin. You’ll need to close all other applications on your device.
During the break, leave your device open and keep your calculator on your desk.
If you leave the room, bring your ID with you, as it may be checked when you
come back. You can bring your snack and drink with you, but leave your phone in
its secure location if you brought it.
The proctor will collect your scratch paper when the test is over, which should be
before noon.
DEVICE REQUIREMENTS
All devices must be able to connect to WiFi and be charged enough to stay on for
3 hours. They must also have the latest version of Bluebook installed. Here are the
specific devices that are allowed and their requirements.
Windows laptops/tablets
• Windows 10 or later operating system
• Minimum 1 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 250 MB free hard drive
space
• Minimum laptop screen size 10 inches, minimum tablet size 8 inches
• Minimum screen resolution 1024 × 768
Mac laptops
• MacOS 11.4 or later operating system
• Minimum 1 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, and 150 MB free hard drive
space
• Minimum screen size 10 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768
iPads
• iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad (5th generation or later), and iPad
Mini 4 or later
• iPadOS 13.4 or later operating system
• 16 GB or more with 150 MB free storage
• Minimum size 8 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768
School-Managed Chromebooks
• No personal Chromebooks allowed
• Must be from 2017 or later and must be run in kiosk mode
• Chrome OS v83–98 and Chrome OS 100+ operating systems
(Version 99 not allowed)
• At least 150 MB free storage
• Minimum screen size 10 inches and minimum resolution 1024 × 768
ANSWER KEY
737
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
MATH
A. x variable
2,500 2500
8
− –8/12 –.6666 –0.666 –0.667 –2/3
120
Inequalities Exponents
1. x > –10
2. x<6
3. x > 11 Basic Rules
1. x5
2. x4
3. x8
Absolute Value 4. 12x 2y3
1. 8 5. 8x6
2. –3 6. 2x
3. 3 7. 8x 2
4. 5 or 11 8. 2x 2 + 4y3
Special Rules
Number of Solutions 1. 1
1. 1 2. 1
2. infinitely many 3. x
3. 0 4. 1
4. infinitely many 5. 0
5. 1 6. 4
6. 1 7. –8
7. 0 1
8.
4
Exponents Practice 8. c
1. 53 = 125
2. x5 9. 3xy
3. 81x12y24z 20 6
10. −
4. 125 – 27 = 98 7
5. 3x 2y2
6. 3x6 + 2x5 Fractional and Negative Exponents
7. 5 × 62 = 5 × 36 = 180 Practice
8. 73 = 343
5x 2 1. 8d2
9. 5x 2y–2 or 2
y
10. xyz 2. 9
3. 4
1
Roots 4.
x2
5. 4xy3
Rationalizing the Denominator
6. 2
x 3 1
i. 7. or x–2
3 x 2
8. 125 or 5 5
Combining Roots x6
1. 6 x 9.
9 y 10
2. 6 x 10. 36x6y4
3. xy
x
4.
y
Roots Practice
1. 10b
2. 5
3. 4
4. 31
x
5.
y
6. 4
11
7.
13
Mean = Average
Visual Representations 1. 3
2. 5
3. 9
Scatterplots 4. 40
1. Protein (grams) 5. 18
2. Fiber (grams) 6. 9
3. 5 grams
4. 9 grams
5. 6.5 grams Median = Middle
6. 4 grams 1. the value of the 25th item
2. the average of the values of the 24th and
25th items
Bar Graphs and Histograms 3. the average of the values of the 75th and
1. Year 76th items
2. % Unemployment 4. the value of the 78th item
3. 3.9%
4. 2010
5. 9.2% Determine These Stats, Stat!
E. Mean 9
D. Median 8
Two-Way Tables B. Mode 4
1. Preferred Beverage A. Range 19
2. Men and Women C. Standard deviation ???
3. 2,476
4. 616
5. 1,210
6. 89
7. 655 COORDINATE GEOMETRY 101
Frequency Tables
1. 20 Linear Graphs
2. 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4,
4, 5, 5, 5, 6
3. 3 Line #1
4. 15 1. 2
5. 3 2. 3
6. 6 3. 0
7. 60
8. 3
2. 36 8. 40°
Circles 1 3 10
Area: A = πr2
Circumference: C = πd or 2πr 3 4 5
3. 49π 5 12 13
6 8 10
Volume 7 24 25
Cube: V = s3
2 2 3 4
Rectangular Solid: V = lwh
Cylinder: V = πr2h 5 5 5 2
4. 4 6 7 85
3 3 3 6
4 2 4 2 8
9
cos(C) =
41
9
tan(B) =
40
40
tan(C) =
9
Circumference (C)
QUESTION IDENTIFICATION
• The distance around the outside of the
circle DRILL
• C = 2πr = πd 1. A PITA
2. B Plugging In
Arc 3. D Graphing Calculator or Solving
Algebraically
• Any part of the circumference
4. A Translate/Label
• The length of an arc is proportional to the 5. C PITA or Graphing Calculator
size of the interior angle. 6. C Geometry Basic Approach and
maybe PITA
Area
7. C Plugging In
• The amount of space within the bound- 8. D Plugging In or Solving
aries of the circle Algebraically
9. C PITA
• A = πr2
10. A Translate/Label or Plugging In
Sector 11. C Plugging In
12. 140/3, Geometry Basic Approach
• Any part of the area formed by two radii 46.66,
and the outside of the circle or 46.67
• The area of a sector is proportional to the 13. A Plugging In or Translate/Label
size of the interior angle. 14. B Graphing Calculator or
Plugging In
PACING REVIEWS
749
DIGITAL SAT MANUAL
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Reading questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Reading categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Reading portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
How many Writing questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Writing categories with 3 or more questions, which categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Writing portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the RW modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section
Module 1: How did you do with pacing? Circle one:
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Math questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Now figure out how many you missed based on the question type:
Of the Math categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many were careless errors (you used the correct
method but got the wrong answer due to misreading or making a simple math mistake)? __________
How many did you miss but feel you could now get right with the strategies and skills you’ve learned in
class? __________
________________________________________________________________________________
How many questions did you miss because you didn’t know how to do them? ___________________
Which errors are easier to fix: careless errors or those due to not knowing a concept?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the Math modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two other things you plan to do differently on the Math section of the next practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the second practice test:
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Remember that you have not yet covered all strategies and question
types in class. On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you
can do quickly and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second
pass, attempt questions that will take longer or that you aren’t as
accurate with. Your goals for pacing and the types of questions you
will answer on this test will probably be different from those you will
attempt on subsequent tests.
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Reading questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Reading categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Reading portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
How many Writing questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Writing categories with 3 or more questions, which categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Writing portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the RW modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section
Module 1: How did you do with pacing? Circle one:
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Math questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Now figure out how many you missed based on the question type:
Of the Math categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many were careless errors (you used the correct
method but got the wrong answer due to misreading or making a simple math mistake)? __________
How many did you miss but feel you should have gotten right? This could mean you forgot to use a
strategy you learned in class or otherwise have the skills to do but did not solve the problem correctly or
skipped it. __________
________________________________________________________________________________
How many questions did you miss because you didn’t know how to do them? ___________________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the Math modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two other things you plan to do differently on the Math section of the next practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the third practice test:
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the third practice test?
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on the second
practice test?
To review those topics, which resources will you use? Circle one or more.
Class recordings Homework sections (including Math 101s) Office hours (if offered)
Supplemental tests Supplemental books (if available) Ask instructor for advice
On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you can do quickly
and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second pass, attempt
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make sure
to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work on.
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Reading questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Reading categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Reading portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
How many Writing questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Writing categories with 3 or more questions, which categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things you plan to do differently on the Writing portion of the RW section of the next
practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the RW modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section
Module 1: How did you do with pacing? Circle one:
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Math questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Now figure out how many you missed based on the question type:
Of the Math categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many were careless errors (you used the correct
method but got the wrong answer due to misreading or making a simple math mistake)? __________
How many did you miss but feel you should have gotten right? This could mean you forgot to use a
strategy you learned in class or otherwise have the skills to do but did not solve the problem correctly or
skipped it. __________
________________________________________________________________________________
How many questions did you miss because you didn’t know how to do them? ___________________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the Math modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two other things you plan to do differently on the Math section of the next practice test:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Overall Goals
Your score goals for the next practice test:
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the next practice test?
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on the most
recent practice test?
To review those topics, which resources will you use? Circle one or more.
Class recordings Homework sections (including Math 101s) Office hours (if offered)
Supplemental tests Supplemental books (if available) Ask instructor for advice
On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you can do quickly
and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second pass, attempt
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make
sure to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work on.
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Reading questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Reading categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Reading portion of the RW
section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
How many Writing questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Of the Writing categories with 3 or more questions, which categories were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many of those questions do you feel you fully
understand and should have gotten right? __________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Writing portion of the RW
section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the RW modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Math Section
Module 1: How did you do with pacing? Circle one:
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
Finished with over 3 minutes left Finished just about on time Ran out of time
How many Math questions did you miss on Module 1? ___________ On Module 2? ___________
Now figure out how many you missed based on the question type:
Of the Math categories with 3 or more questions, which 3 were your greatest strengths?
Review the explanations for the questions you missed. How many were careless errors (you used the correct
method but got the wrong answer due to misreading or making a simple math mistake)? __________
How many did you miss but feel you should have gotten right? This could mean you forgot to use a
strategy you learned in class or otherwise have the skills to do but did not solve the problem correctly or
skipped it. __________
How can you avoid making these mistakes on the Digital SAT?
________________________________________________________________________________
How many questions did you miss because you didn’t know how to do them? ___________________
Which questions did you spend time on but now realize you should have skipped?
________________________________________________________________________________
Based on all the analysis of the Math modules, is there anything you would do differently in terms of how
you navigated the modules?
________________________________________________________________________________
Write down two things that you want to remember to do on test day for the Math section:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
Overall Goals
Your goals for the real Digital SAT:
Reading and Writing Section: ________ out of 800 Math Section: ________ out of 800
Which topics that were recently covered in class will you focus on for the Digital SAT?
Which topics from earlier in the course do you need to review based on your performance on your most
recent practice test?
To review those topics, which resources will you use? Circle one or more.
Class recordings Homework sections (including Math 101s) Office hours (if offered)
Supplemental tests Supplemental books (if available) Ask instructor for advice
On your first pass, attempt questions that you know you can do quickly
and with good accuracy. If you have time for a second pass, attempt
questions that will take longer or that you tend to get wrong. Make
sure to enter an answer for any questions you do not plan to work
on. Never revisit a question you have worked through to completion;
changed answers are almost always incorrect.