Directions: The PSAT Reading test consists of five passages on a variety of topics. Each passage is followed by a series of 9 or 10 questions. Carefully read the passage that is provided and answer the multiple choice questions based on what is stated or implied.
Questions 1–10 are based on the following two passages.
Passage 1
Climate change is the greatest threat that humanity is facing today, and whether we choose to close our eyes to our impending doom or not, it’s on its way. That is, unless we start making some fundamental changes in the way that we live. Governments around the globe need to start making more forceful moves to encourage their citizens to buy into green living.
The average citizen can’t impact every aspect of climate change, but if the government pressures people to make real changes in their everyday lives, the summative impact would be immense. One way that the government can affect change is by applying more strict taxes on gas-guzzling vehicles and providing monetary incentives for citizens who choose hybrid and electric vehicles. In some countries, citizens have to pay a large fee just for the right to own a vehicle, a fee that contributes to the development of new, more efficient public transit. This may be an audacious move for the American government, but dire situations require drastic action.
The American government can also pass legislation to ban harmful products, including plastic bags, straws, and other plastic materials that have turned our oceans into garbage dumps. Something as simple as using a reusable bag made of biodegradable materials when you shop for groceries would make a huge difference, and really doesn’t force people to make a hug sacrifice.
Change is difficult, and if we want people to really make a difference and slow climate change, we need to use the law to compel them to do so. As long as the majority of cars we produce and sell are fueled by gas, or our grocery stores are stocked with convenient and deadly plastic bags, people won’t make a change. Once we make these harmful products less accessible, real change will begin.
Passage 2
Climate change may be a real danger, but anyone who advocates for more government intervention into how we live our lives is oversimplifying the problem and trying to turn this country into a police state. Proponents of this movement often discuss sweeping governmental intervention as if it’s the magic bullet that will kill climate change for good. All it will really do, though, is restrict our freedom while having little environmental impact.
Many conservationists focus all of their energy on plastic, what they believe is the leviathan pollutants. They conjure up images of birds stuck in can holders, turtles with straws up their noses, and whales is stomachs full of bags. In reality, though, plastics are just one of thousands of different pollutants in the oceans (and plastic bags aren’t even the worst offender). If the government starts sending storm troopers into our streets to take our straws, what impact are they really going to have?
There are plenty of things that we can do to combat climate change, but it starts with education, not legislation. People will buy in to green movements if they understand the problem and what reasonable solutions they can contribute to in order to fix the problem. An autocratic ruler arbitrarily deciding what products are acceptable and what products are unacceptable is never going to inspire people to change.
Passage 1
Climate change is the greatest threat that humanity is facing today, and whether we choose to close our eyes to our impending doom or not, it’s on its way. That is, unless we start making some fundamental changes in the way that we live. Governments around the globe need to start making more forceful moves to encourage their citizens to buy into green living.
The average citizen can’t impact every aspect of climate change, but if the government pressures people to make real changes in their everyday lives, the summative impact would be immense. One way that the government can affect change is by applying more strict taxes on gas-guzzling vehicles and providing monetary incentives for citizens who choose hybrid and electric vehicles. In some countries, citizens have to pay a large fee just for the right to own a vehicle, a fee that contributes to the development of new, more efficient public transit. This may be an audacious move for the American government, but dire situations require drastic action.
The American government can also pass legislation to ban harmful products, including plastic bags, straws, and other plastic materials that have turned our oceans into garbage dumps. Something as simple as using a reusable bag made of biodegradable materials when you shop for groceries would make a huge difference, and really doesn’t force people to make a hug sacrifice.
Change is difficult, and if we want people to really make a difference and slow climate change, we need to use the law to compel them to do so. As long as the majority of cars we produce and sell are fueled by gas, or our grocery stores are stocked with convenient and deadly plastic bags, people won’t make a change. Once we make these harmful products less accessible, real change will begin.
Passage 2
Climate change may be a real danger, but anyone who advocates for more government intervention into how we live our lives is oversimplifying the problem and trying to turn this country into a police state. Proponents of this movement often discuss sweeping governmental intervention as if it’s the magic bullet that will kill climate change for good. All it will really do, though, is restrict our freedom while having little environmental impact.
Many conservationists focus all of their energy on plastic, what they believe is the leviathan pollutants. They conjure up images of birds stuck in can holders, turtles with straws up their noses, and whales is stomachs full of bags. In reality, though, plastics are just one of thousands of different pollutants in the oceans (and plastic bags aren’t even the worst offender). If the government starts sending storm troopers into our streets to take our straws, what impact are they really going to have?
There are plenty of things that we can do to combat climate change, but it starts with education, not legislation. People will buy in to green movements if they understand the problem and what reasonable solutions they can contribute to in order to fix the problem. An autocratic ruler arbitrarily deciding what products are acceptable and what products are unacceptable is never going to inspire people to change.
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Question 1 |
The author of Passage 1 suggests that citizens can make monumental change by
petitioning the government to pass legislation that bans harmful products. | |
each making small changes that add up and have a large effect. | |
encouraging local businesses to stop using plastic materials. | |
elect officials who are committed to making real environmental change. |
Question 1 Explanation:
Answer choice (B) is correct. While the writer does advocate for governmental intervention, the passage doesn’t encourage citizens to reach out to officials (A) or even elect new officials (D).
Question 2 |
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(Click on the left arrow to go back and review the previous question)“That is, unless we start making some fundamental changes in the way that we live.” | |
“The average citizen can’t impact every aspect of climate change, but if the government pressures people to make real changes in their everyday lives, the summative impact would be immense.” | |
“One way that the government can affect change is by applying more strict taxes on gas-guzzling vehicles and providing monetary incentives for citizens who choose hybrid and electric vehicles.” | |
“This may be an audacious move for the American government, but dire situations require drastic action.” |
Question 2 Explanation:
Answer choice (B) is correct because it details how small changes add up. If you got the previous question wrong, you may be tempted by answer choice (C), but even that doesn’t explicitly support any of the wrong answers for the previous question.
Question 3 |
As used at the end of the second paragraph, “drastic” most nearly means
rash and unplanned. | |
naïve and thoughtless. | |
aggressive and controlling. | |
quick and impactful. |
Question 3 Explanation:
Answer choice (D) is correct because the writer wants the government to act quickly in a way that has the biggest impact. The writer uses “drastic” as a word with positive connotation, so none of the other answer choices, each having a negative connotation, really works.
Question 4 |
The author of Passage 2 indicates that sweeping government intervention will
be met with sharp opposition by Americans. | |
turn America into a communist state. | |
not do much to help the evironment while limiting people's rights. | |
only work if citizens buy in. |
Question 4 Explanation:
Answer choice (C) is correct. While answer choice (A), and to some extent answer choice (B), are hinted at, the author never discusses these ideas.
Question 5 |
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
“Climate change may be a real danger, but anyone who advocates for more government intervention into how we live our lives is oversimplifying the problem and trying to turn this country into a police state.” | |
“Proponents of this movement often discuss sweeping governmental intervention as if it’s the magic bullet that will kill climate change for good.” | |
“All it will really do, though, is restrict our freedom while having little environmental impact.” | |
“Many conservationists focus all of their energy on plastic, what they believe is the leviathan pollutants.” |
Question 5 Explanation:
Answer choice (C) is correct because it directly discusses how government intervention will restrict freedom and have a small impact on the environment. Answer choice (B) might be tempting because it hints at the logical flaw that the author is attacking in her opponents’ argument, but it’s the next sentence, answer choice (C), that really gets to the point.
Question 6 |
As used in the second paragraph of Passage 2 “leviathan” most nearly means
most destructive | |
easiest to solve | |
least effective | |
unstoppable |
Question 6 Explanation:
Answer choice (A) is correct because the author is describing the fact that conservationists often see plastics as the worst pollutant. While answer choice (D) also suggests this, it’s a bit too harsh of a definition. If conservationists thought that plastics were unstoppable, they wouldn’t spend their time trying to restrict/ban them.
Question 7 |
The reference in Passage 2 to the government “sending storm troopers into our streets to take our straws” serves mainly to
provide a specific example of government intervention. | |
demonize government intervention. | |
add humor in order to soften the serious tone. | |
provide context for the author’s criticism of conservationists. |
Question 7 Explanation:
Answer choice (B) is correct because the author is using “storm troopers” to suggest that government intervention is evil. Even if you don’t know the reference the author is making, the tone of the sentence makes this clear. This is not a specific example (A), nor does it provide context (D). It is also not meant to add humor (C) to the passage.
Question 8 |
Which choice best states the relationship between the two passages?
Passage 2 criticizes the drastic action that Passage 1 suggests. | |
Passage 1 urges caution regarding the conservation that Passage 2 lauds. | |
Passage 1 describes practical applications of theories discussed in Passage 2. | |
Passage 2 details a specific example that is introduced in Passage 1. |
Question 8 Explanation:
Answer choice (A) is correct because Passage 1 posits that the government should take “drastic” action to slow climate change, and Passage 2 argues that such drastic action would be detrimental to the cause and to civilian liberties. None of the other answer choices accurately represent the two passages.
Question 9 |
How would Passage 2's author most likely respond to the “strict taxes” proposed in the second paragraph of Passage 1?
With approval, because taxing people is less oppressive than imposing harsh laws on them. | |
With resignation, because taxes are a way of life that aren’t worth arguing against. | |
With concern, because any taxation is stealing money from innocent citizens. | |
With disdain, because “strict taxes” are an example of the “sweeping government intervention.” |
Question 9 Explanation:
Answer choice (D) is correct because these “taxes” are the exact kind of action that the author of Passage 2 criticizes. Answer choice (A) and (B) represent concessions that the author of Passage 2 doesn’t make. Answer choice (C) is more severe of an opinion than the ones that the author of Passage 2 expresses.
Question 10 |
Which choice would best support the claim that the author of Passage 2 recognizes that climate change is a major “threat” to humanity?
“Climate change may be a real danger, but anyone who advocates for more government intervention into how we live our lives is oversimplifying the problem and trying to turn this country into a police state.” | |
“Many conservationists focus all of their energy on plastic, what they believe is the leviathan pollutants.” | |
“In reality, though, plastics are just one of thousands of different pollutants in the oceans (and plastic bags aren’t even the worst offender).” | |
“If the government starts sending storm troopers into our streets to take our straws, what impact are they really going to have?” |
Question 10 Explanation:
Answer choice (A) is correct because even though the passage is against drastic changes, the author still admits that “climate change” is “a real danger.” The rest of the answer choices represent criticisms of conservationist ideas like the ones suggested in Passage 1.
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