Digital SAT — Reading & Writing, Module 2 (Harder Form · Practice Test B)
Format: 27 questions · 32 minutes When to use: after scoring 19+ on Practice B Module 1. Harder form — denser vocabulary, two-text synthesis, advanced conventions. (Answers spread A–D.)
Craft & Structure
1. "His laconic reply — a single word — ended the discussion." Laconic most nearly means: A) wordy B) using few words C) angry D) cheerful
2. "Once vilified, the reformer is now widely honored." Vilified most nearly means: A) praised B) ignored C) harshly criticized D) studied
3. Text 1 (1920) hails the automobile as pure progress; Text 2 (modern) notes its role in pollution and sprawl. Text 2 offers: A) full agreement B) a qualified reassessment C) total rejection D) an unrelated point
4. "Her trenchant critique exposed every flaw in the plan." Trenchant most nearly means: A) vague B) gentle C) sharp and incisive D) lengthy
5. An author shifts from data to a personal story midway through. This most likely aims to: A) confuse readers B) pad length C) make the data relatable D) contradict the thesis
6. "The evidence was ostensibly strong, yet it collapsed under scrutiny." Ostensibly most nearly means: A) truly B) apparently (but not really) C) rarely D) loudly
7. Two essays treat solitude — one as freedom, one as loneliness. They are best compared as offering: A) identical claims B) factual reports C) contrasting evaluations of the same condition D) unrelated themes
Information & Ideas
8. In a controlled trial, only the group receiving the supplement showed improved endurance. This best supports that: A) the supplement likely caused the improvement B) the placebo worked C) both groups improved D) the trial was too short
9. Mangroves occupy a tiny fraction of coastline yet shelter a large share of juvenile fish. The main idea is that mangroves are: A) shrinking B) disproportionately important to marine life C) tall D) colorful
10. A historian argues a policy worsened a shortage. Which evidence best supports this? A) The shortage lasted months. B) A similar region without the policy had a milder shortage. C) Prices rose. D) Goods are scarce by nature.
11. Despite heavy advertising, subscriptions stayed flat. It can be inferred that: A) advertising always works B) the advertising failed to drive subscriptions C) prices fell D) the service closed
12. Which finding would most undermine "the app improved sleep"? A) Users reported better sleep. B) A comparable group not using the app slept equally well. C) The app was popular. D) The app was free.
13. The columnist grants the policy's risks but maintains its benefits are greater. The stance is: A) outright opposition B) qualified support C) indifference D) confusion
14. A report shows two trends rising together but warns readers not to infer causation, reflecting that: A) correlation does not establish causation B) the data are false C) the trends are unrelated D) causation cannot exist
Standard English Conventions
15. "The series of lectures ____ been rescheduled." A) have B) has C) were D) being
16. Choose the option correcting the modifier: "Having finished the exam, ____ felt relieved." A) the exam B) relief came C) the students D) there was relief
17. "The study cites two factors ____ funding and staffing." A) factors, B) factors C) factors: D) factors;
18. "Not only was the launch delayed, ____ the budget was exceeded." A) and B) but C) so D) or
19. "The theory ____ the scientists proposed was later confirmed." A) who B) what C) that D) where
20. "Each of the committee's reports ____ a recommendation." A) include B) including C) includes D) have included
21. "By next spring, the firm ____ its headquarters." A) relocates B) relocating C) has relocated D) will have relocated
22. "The director, along with the producers, ____ attending the premiere." A) is B) are C) were D) being
Expression of Ideas
23. "The prototype underperformed in every trial. ____, the team began a full redesign." Best transition: A) For example B) Similarly C) Accordingly D) However
24. "The city pledged cleaner air. ____, pollution rose the next year." Best transition: A) Instead B) Likewise C) Therefore D) Furthermore
25. Goal: convey that a result was statistically significant. Best option: A) The result seemed fine. B) Something shifted. C) People noticed. D) The difference was unlikely due to chance (p < 0.01).
26. A writer wants to qualify "This policy will eliminate poverty." Best revision: A) This policy will surely eliminate poverty. B) This policy could meaningfully reduce poverty. C) Poverty is a problem. D) The policy exists.
27. Notes: (1) The author published 20 papers. (2) Only 2 were widely cited. Goal: stress the contrast. Best sentence: A) The author published 20 papers. B) The author was cited. C) The author worked hard. D) Of the author's 20 papers, only 2 were widely cited.
Answer key
| Q | Ans | Q | Ans | Q | Ans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | 10 | B | 19 | C |
| 2 | C | 11 | B | 20 | C |
| 3 | B | 12 | B | 21 | D |
| 4 | C | 13 | B | 22 | A |
| 5 | C | 14 | A | 23 | C |
| 6 | B | 15 | B | 24 | A |
| 7 | C | 16 | C | 25 | D |
| 8 | A | 17 | C | 26 | B |
| 9 | B | 18 | B | 27 | D |
Key distribution: A×3, B×9, C×9, D×6.
Explanations
1. (B) "A single word" → laconic = few words. 2. (C) "Once vilified … now honored" contrast → harshly criticized. 3. (B) A modern reassessment adding costs = qualified reassessment. 4. (C) "Exposed every flaw" → trenchant = sharp/incisive. 5. (C) A personal story makes data relatable. 6. (B) "Ostensibly … yet collapsed" → apparently, not really. 7. (C) Freedom vs loneliness = contrasting evaluations. 8. (A) Only the treatment group improved → likely causal. 9. (B) Small area, large nursery role → disproportionately important. 10. (B) A comparison region isolates the policy's effect. 11. (B) Heavy ads, flat subscriptions → ads didn't drive them. 12. (B) A comparable non-user group sleeping equally well removes the app as the cause. 13. (B) Grants risks but supports → qualified support. 14. (A) Rising together without causation → correlation ≠ causation. 15. (B) Singular subject "series" → has. 16. (C) The modifier must attach to people → "the students." 17. (C) Colon introduces the list after a complete clause. 18. (B) "Not only … but also" correlative pair. 19. (C) Restrictive clause for a thing → that. 20. (C) "Each" is singular → includes. 21. (D) Future perfect "will have relocated" by a future time. 22. (A) Singular subject "director"; "along with…" is parenthetical → is. 23. (C) Underperformance → redesign = "Accordingly." 24. (A) Pledge then opposite outcome → "Instead." 25. (D) Naming p < 0.01 conveys significance. 26. (B) "Could meaningfully reduce" qualifies the absolute claim. 27. (D) Foregrounding 20 vs 2 stresses the contrast.
Scoring & routing note
- 0–13: Revisit nuance vocabulary (laconic, trenchant, ostensibly) and two-text synthesis.
- 14–20: Strong — target evidence-evaluation (Q10, Q12) and correlative/parallel conventions.
- 21–27: Top band — focus on qualified-stance items and precise hedging.
Pedagogy: every explanation names the decisive signal — a contrast cue, a control-group comparison, or a grammar rule — so the skill transfers beyond this paper.