All questions
Question 1
In 1912, a small coastal town built a seawall after two storms flooded the market district. The town council wrote that the wall would protect homes and shops from future tides, but it also raised taxes to pay for the project. Some fishers complained that the construction blocked their path to the beach for months. The newspaper reported that boats had to be dragged farther to reach the water. After the wall was finished, the council celebrated with a parade and printed posters calling it a modern victory over the sea. Yet that same year, the mayor quietly asked engineers to study whether the wall might cause sand to collect in the harbor. Their notes warned that the changing currents could increase the need for dredging.
Which choice best shows that town leaders were proud of the seawall but also worried about unintended effects?
- Leaders raised taxes to fund the wall and heard fishers complain about blocked beach access, which shows they were focused only on the project's costs and the problems it created for the town.
- Leaders showed pride with a parade and posters calling the wall a modern victory, but the mayor quietly asked engineers to study sand buildup, and they warned currents could mean more dredging. (correct answer)
- Leaders built the wall after two storms flooded the market district and then celebrated it as a modern victory, which shows they were confident it fully solved the town's flooding problem.
- Leaders celebrated the finished wall with a parade even though the newspaper reported that boats had to be dragged farther, which shows they already knew sand had piled up in the harbor.
Explanation: The question asks for both pride and worry. The best answer names the parade and the posters calling the wall a modern victory as signs of pride, then points to the mayor quietly asking engineers to study sand buildup and their warning about dredging as signs of worry. One wrong choice focuses only on taxes and complaints, so it shows concern but never shows the leaders' pride. Another pairs the celebration with the idea that the wall fully solved the flooding problem, showing only pride while ignoring the engineers' warning. The last wrong choice does mention a celebration, but it claims leaders already knew sand had piled up in the harbor—the passage says that was only a possible future effect the mayor asked engineers to study, not something confirmed. Only the correct answer captures both sides the question requires.
Question 2
The town of Marston sits beside a river that used to flood every few years, according to a local history booklet. Lately, floods have come more often. After a storm last spring, the river rose high enough to cover the lower bike path, and it left muddy water in three basement apartments. In response, the town council approved a plan that mixes old and new ideas. The plan restores wetlands upstream. It adds smart storm drains that open wider during heavy rain. And it offers small grants so homeowners can raise furnaces off basement floors.
The public notice about the plan also lists challenges. It says wetland restoration takes time to show results, and it warns that the smart drains need regular upkeep. The notice says the grants will not cover major rebuilding, which frustrated some residents. Even so, the notice calls the approach practical. It points out that wetlands can slow and store water while also making habitat for birds. At the meeting, the mayor thanked volunteers who had already begun planting native grasses, and she said the town should work with the river, not just fight it.
Which choice cites several pieces of evidence, both stated and implied, that best support the inference that the town is committed to a long-term solution rather than a quick fix?
- The passage says the river used to flood every few years, that a storm covered the bike path, and that three basement apartments took on muddy water.
- The notice says wetland restoration takes time to show results, the plan restores wetlands while volunteers already plant native grasses, and the mayor says the town should work with the river, not just fight it, all pointing to a lasting plan. (correct answer)
- Some residents were frustrated that the grants will not cover major rebuilding, and the notice admits the smart drains need regular upkeep, so the plan is probably unpopular.
- The smart drains need ongoing upkeep, the grants are small, and the bike path flooded, which together show the town mainly wants to spend as little money as possible.
Explanation: Evidence of a long-term commitment includes both stated facts and what they imply. The notice admits wetland restoration takes time, volunteers are already planting native grasses, and the mayor's line about working with the river rather than fighting it all point to a lasting plan, not a quick patch. Choice B gathers that evidence, so it is correct. Choice A lists only the flooding problem, Choice C draws an unpopularity conclusion the details do not support, and Choice D twists the same facts into a cost-cutting motive.
Question 3
At Harborview Middle School, the cafeteria started a share table, where students can place unopened food for others to take. The principal said the goal was to cut waste. She noted that last year the school threw away about 6 large trash bags of food every day. After the first month, the student council reported that waste was down by nearly 30 percent. The custodians said the trash bins felt noticeably lighter after lunch. However, the cafeteria manager warned that milk still has to be thrown out if it warms up. She added that some students were confused about what counts as unopened. To fix this, volunteers taped simple signs to the table and stood nearby during lunch for a week. The next week, the manager said arguments at the table were rare. A 7th grader wrote in the school newsletter that the share table makes it easier not to feel embarrassed if you forgot your snack.
Which choice best shows that the share table is helping the school, even though it still has some limitations?
- The passage says the principal wanted to cut food waste and mentions the 6 large trash bags of food thrown away every day.
- Waste fell nearly 30 percent, custodians said the bins felt lighter, and arguments grew rare after signs and volunteers, though the manager notes milk must still be tossed if it warms up. (correct answer)
- The share table must be very popular, only because one 7th grader wrote that it makes it easier not to feel embarrassed.
- The cafeteria manager thinks the whole program is failing, since some students were confused about what really counts as unopened.
Explanation: The claim has two parts: the share table helps, and it still has limits. Choice B shows both. It cites the nearly 30 percent drop in waste, the lighter bins, and the rare arguments after signs and volunteers, and it notes the limit that milk must be tossed if it warms up. That makes Choice B correct. Choice A gives only setup facts, Choice C leans on a single quote, and Choice D misreads early confusion as proof the program is failing.
Question 4
A school district tested a new schedule that starts classes 30 minutes later for middle school students. The superintendent said the change was based on research showing that teens' brains wake up later. After one semester, attendance improved from 93 percent to 95 percent. The number of students arriving late dropped by 21 percent. Teachers reported that first-period classes were more focused. But some parents complained that the later dismissal made it harder to schedule after-school jobs and sports. The district also had to adjust its bus routes. The transportation office wrote that the new routes increased fuel costs by 6 percent. Even with those issues, the school board voted 5 to 2 to continue the schedule next year.
Which choice best cites both direct statements and implied clues to support the claim that the district saw learning benefits but also faced logistical drawbacks?
- The passage says the superintendent based the entire schedule change on research showing that the brains of teenagers tend to wake up a bit later in the day.
- Benefits appear in attendance rising to 95 percent, lateness falling 21 percent, and more focused first periods, while drawbacks include parent complaints and higher fuel costs, and the 5 to 2 vote implies benefits won out. (correct answer)
- The school board voted by 5 to 2 to continue the new schedule, which proves that every single person in the district agreed it was perfect.
- Fuel costs went up by about 6 percent, which shows that the new schedule caused nothing but problems and ought to be ended right away.
Explanation: The claim has two parts, so the answer must show both learning benefits and logistical drawbacks. Choice B does: attendance rose, lateness fell, and first periods grew more focused, while parents complained and fuel costs rose 6 percent, and the 5 to 2 vote hints leaders felt the benefits won out. That is why Choice B is correct. Choice A gives only setup, Choice C overreads the split vote as total agreement, and Choice D looks at only one drawback.
Question 5
A marine biology class raised oysters in cages attached to a dock. They wanted to learn how shellfish affect water quality. Their teacher explained that oysters are filter feeders, which means they remove tiny particles from the water. Over eight weeks, students measured how clear the water was, using a simple disk. The water near the oyster cages improved from about 40 cm of visibility to about 65 cm. The students also counted algae blooms, and found fewer green slicks near the cages than near an empty section of the dock. However, a storm broke two cages, and the class lost nearly a quarter of the oysters. The students repaired the cages and added stronger rope. The teacher said the setback was exactly what real fieldwork feels like. At the end, the class presented their results to the town council, which voted to fund two more student-built cages for the next semester.
Which choice best shows that the class project produced meaningful results despite setbacks?
- The passage says that a strong storm broke two of the oyster cages partway through the project, and that the class lost nearly a quarter of the oysters they had raised over the eight weeks.
- The passage says that oysters are filter feeders that remove tiny particles, and that the students used a simple disk each week to measure how clear the water near the dock was.
- Water clarity went from about 40 cm to about 65 cm and green slicks decreased, and even after losing a quarter of the oysters, students repaired the cages and the council funded two more. (correct answer)
- The passage shows the project fell short of its goals, since the class lost oysters in the storm and had to spend time repairing cages instead of gathering more measurements.
Explanation: The question asks for the choice showing both real results and a setback. The winning choice does both: water clarity rose from about 40 cm to about 65 cm, green slicks decreased, and even after losing a quarter of the oysters the students repaired the cages and the council voted to fund two more. Those details prove the project mattered despite trouble. The storm-and-lost-oysters choice names only the setback, so it misses the 'meaningful results' half of the question. The filter-feeders-and-disk choice gives only background setup about what oysters do and how measuring worked, with no results or setback. The 'fell short of its goals' choice misreads the passage: the water improved, the slicks dropped, and the council funded more cages, so the project did not fall short. Only the choice combining the improved clarity, fewer slicks, and the recovery answers the full question.
Question 6
In 1912, a small museum in Harbor City began collecting objects from the nearby lighthouse: logbooks, old lenses, and even a rusted lunch pail. For decades, the items sat in a back room, because there was no space for them. This year, the museum opened a new exhibit called Light on the Point. The exhibit includes a timeline of storms the lighthouse survived. It also has a listening station. There, visitors can hear recordings of former keepers describing nights when waves hit the windows like thrown stones.
The museum's brochure says the exhibit is meant to honor workers whose names rarely appear in textbooks. It mentions that many keepers were immigrants who sent money home. It also notes that some families lived at the lighthouse for generations. The brochure does not directly attack the old way history was taught. But it points out that earlier displays focused mostly on famous captains and wealthy ship owners. In the last paragraph, the brochure invites students to notice whose stories are missing when they read about the past.
Which choice best supports the inference that the museum wants visitors to rethink whose experiences are valued in local history?
- The exhibit features a timeline of the powerful storms the lighthouse survived, a listening station where visitors can hear former keepers speaking, and a rusted old lunch pail displayed in the main hall.
- The brochure honors laborers who seldom show up in history books, sets the everyday keepers beside older displays about celebrated captains and rich shipowners, and urges young readers to notice who gets left out. (correct answer)
- The curator's note explains that the many lighthouse objects sat unused in a cramped back room for decade after decade, simply because the growing museum had no room to display any of them.
- One recording describes fierce waves striking the windows like thrown stones, and the timeline lists the many storms, which together prove that the lighthouse and its keepers faced real physical danger.
Explanation: The stem asks which evidence best shows the museum wants visitors to rethink whose experiences are valued. The correct choice gathers three matching clues: it honors laborers usually left out of history books, sets ordinary keepers against older displays of celebrated captains and rich shipowners, and urges readers to notice who gets left out. Together these point straight at rethinking whose stories count. The choice listing the timeline, listening station, and lunch pail only names exhibit features and says nothing about whose experiences matter. The curator's note about objects stored in a back room explains only why items were kept, not what the museum values. The waves-and-storms choice shows the lighthouse was dangerous, but danger is a different idea than whose lives get remembered.
Question 7
A museum newsletter describes a new exhibit about the once-common passenger pigeon. The newsletter explains that in the 1800s the birds flew in flocks so large that the sky could look dark for hours. It also says the pigeons were hunted heavily, because their meat was cheap and because railroads could ship barrels of birds to faraway cities. The newsletter adds that forests were cut down, which removed the birds' nesting sites. By 1900, the newsletter reports, wild passenger pigeons were hard to find. In 1914, the last known bird died in a zoo.
The writer does more than list facts. The newsletter says the exhibit is meant to be a warning label from history. It notes that the museum placed the final display next to a wall of modern products, to make visitors think about what they buy. Near the end, the writer mentions that a local student group will lead weekend discussions about how communities can protect habitats today.
Which choice best shows that the author wants readers to connect the passenger pigeon's extinction to modern human choices?
- The passage says the pigeons flew in flocks that darkened the sky, that railroads shipped barrels of birds to distant cities, and that the last known bird died in 1914.
- The author calls the exhibit a warning label from history, places the final display by modern products to make visitors think about what they buy, and mentions student talks on protecting habitats. (correct answer)
- The passage explains that cheap meat and railroad shipping drove the hunting, showing that the author mainly wants readers to study the old train routes that once crossed the country.
- The passage describes the birds' huge flocks, their nesting sites, and the loss of forests, showing that the author's main goal is to explain passenger pigeon biology and behavior.
Explanation: The author's purpose shows up in how the exhibit is framed and designed, not just in the facts. The best answer gathers three pieces of evidence that all point toward today: the exhibit is called a warning label from history, the final display sits next to modern products to make visitors think about what they buy, and a student group will lead talks about protecting habitats now. Together these connect the extinction to modern human choices. The choice that only lists plain facts—dark skies, shipped birds, the 1914 death—reports what happened but shows no link to modern readers. The choice about cheap meat and railroads treats one cause as the author's whole purpose, shrinking the piece to a lesson about train routes. The choice about flocks, nesting sites, and lost forests mistakes background details for the author's goal, as if the newsletter were only about pigeon biology. Only one option uses the exhibit's framing, so it is the single best answer.
Question 8
A student group proposed replacing half of the school's vending machine snacks with healthier options. In their presentation, they showed that during one week, 63 percent of purchases were sugary drinks. They argued that students often buy whatever is easiest to grab between classes. They suggested adding water, nuts, and dried fruit. They also offered to design new labels so students could quickly spot items with less added sugar.
The principal agreed to a one-month trial, but she set conditions. The vending company could not raise prices, and the student group had to track the sales data. The principal's memo says the goal is to support student health without wasting food. It also warns that if the healthy items expire, the school will go back to the old mix. After two weeks, the student group reported that water sales doubled and nuts sold steadily, but dried fruit barely moved. Instead of ending the trial, the principal wrote that the early results were useful. She asked the group to survey students about flavors and packaging. She also noted that the school nurse had heard fewer complaints of afternoon headaches, though she admitted this was only a pattern so far, not proof.
Which choice best shows that the principal is cautiously supportive of the proposal?
- The student group argued that students grab whatever is easiest, so they offered to design clear new labels that would highlight the healthier snacks for busy shoppers.
- The principal set a firm rule that expired items end the trial and return the old mix, which shows she is testing the idea only to prove that it will fail.
- The principal set conditions like no price increases and required sales tracking, yet she still approved a one-month trial, called the early results useful, and asked for a student survey instead of ending it. (correct answer)
- The principal noted that water sales doubled and the nurse heard fewer headaches, which shows she is already certain the proposal is a complete and proven success.
Explanation: Being cautiously supportive means the principal backs the idea while still adding care. The best answer shows both halves of that stance: she sets limits like no price increases and required tracking, but she also approves the trial, calls the early results useful, and asks for a survey instead of stopping. That balance of caution plus support is exactly what the stem asks for. The choice about clear new labels describes what the students did, not the principal, so it does not show her attitude at all. The choice claiming she is testing the idea only to prove it will fail misreads a safeguard as hostility, when the passage shows she extends the trial and calls the results useful. The choice about doubled water sales and fewer headaches overstates a few early signs as certain, complete success, ignoring that she called the headache pattern 'not proof' and asked for more data. Only one choice captures both the caution and the support together.
Question 9
For years, the city of Elmridge collected food scraps and yard waste in the same green bin. It sent everything to a large compost site. Last month, the city switched to a new system. Residents now use a small kitchen bucket for food scraps, and yard waste goes into paper bags. The sanitation department's flyer explains that separating the materials keeps plastic forks and fruit stickers out of the compost. The flyer also says that cleaner compost can be sold to local farms, which helps the program pay for itself over time.
Not everyone is thrilled about the change. The flyer admits that it means one more container to rinse, and it warns that food scraps can smell if the bucket is not emptied often. At a neighborhood meeting, one resident complained that the city should have offered free compost to households first. Still, the director responded that the city is starting with a realistic step, and that the first month will be a learning period with no fines for mistakes. He also shared that two farms had already asked to join the waiting list for the cleaner compost.
Which choice best shows that the city believes the new system will succeed in the long run?
- The flyer admits the new system means one more container to rinse and warns that food scraps can start to smell if the bucket is not emptied often enough.
- The passage explains that the city once collected food scraps and yard waste together but has now switched to keeping the two kinds of material separate.
- The flyer says cleaner compost can be sold to farms to help the program pay for itself, and the director calls the change a realistic step while noting two farms already want the compost. (correct answer)
- The director explained that the first month will be a learning period with no fines, which shows the city expects the system to fail and needs to protect residents.
Explanation: The question asks which choice best shows the city expects the new system to succeed over the long term. The best answer gathers several forward-looking reasons: cleaner compost can be sold to farms so the program pays for itself, the director calls the change a realistic step, and two farms are already waiting for the compost. Together these point to lasting confidence. One choice lists only the downsides—an extra container to rinse and possible smells—which are complaints, not signs of confidence. Another choice just describes how the old and new systems differ; it is background information and says nothing about the city's belief in future success. The last choice misreads the 'no fines' learning period: the city offers it to help people adjust, not because it expects the program to fail, so it twists a supportive detail into the opposite meaning.
Question 10
A city health department tested a walking school bus. In this program, adult volunteers walk a set route and pick up students along the way, like a bus would. The report says that before the program, only 18 percent of students at Pine Street School walked to school. After eight weeks, the walking rate rose to 41 percent on program days, and average morning tardies dropped from 22 per week to 11 per week. Parents who joined said they liked that the group had bright vests and a check-in list.
The report also mentions limits. It says the program worked best in neighborhoods with sidewalks, and two planned routes were canceled because there were no safe crossings near a busy road. Volunteer leaders had to pass background checks, and finding enough adults for rainy days was hard. Even so, the report concludes that the program is worth expanding carefully, especially if the city adds crosswalk paint near schools.
Which choice cites several pieces of evidence that best support the claim that the program showed success but also faced practical barriers?
- Success shows in the bright vests and the check-in list that parents liked, while barriers show in the background checks that volunteer leaders had to pass, so the program was both cheerful and carefully run.
- Success shows in the walking rate rising to 41 percent and the tardies dropping from 22 to 11 a week, while barriers show in the two routes canceled for no safe crossings and the trouble finding adults on rainy days. (correct answer)
- Success shows in the walking rate rising to 41 percent after eight weeks, while barriers show in the report's advice to expand carefully, so together this proves the program ran into no real problems worth mentioning.
- Success shows in only 18 percent walking before and 41 percent walking after the program, while barriers show in that same jump from 18 to 41 percent, since those two numbers together prove the obstacles.
Explanation: The claim has two sides, so the strongest answer must pair real evidence of success with real evidence of barriers. The best choice does exactly that: the jump to 41 percent walking and the drop in tardies from 22 to 11 show success, while the two canceled routes and the struggle to find rainy-day volunteers show genuine obstacles. Another choice pairs the vests and check-in list with the background checks, but liking vests is not evidence of success and background checks are a routine requirement, not a barrier the program struggled against. A different choice cites a success number but then treats the advice to 'expand carefully' as proof the program had no problems, which contradicts the passage's clear list of limits. The last choice uses only the before-and-after walking numbers and claims the very same jump proves the barriers, but success statistics cannot demonstrate obstacles. Only one choice draws on evidence from both sides of the claim, so it is correct.
Question 11
At 7:45 a.m., the seventh-grade hallway at Pine Ridge Middle sounded, in the assistant principal's words, like a train station. To calm the morning rush, the school started a two-week Quiet Arrival pilot. The plan was simple. Teachers stood at the doors and greeted students, and a soft playlist played over the speakers. Students who arrived early could choose the library or the gym instead of waiting by their lockers. The principal wrote in an email that the goal was to reduce conflicts and lost class time.
After two weeks, the school reported that tardies dropped from 112 to 67. The nurse also logged 9 fewer stress-related visits. The email admitted that some students miss chatting at their lockers, and one teacher said the library became crowded by 8:05. Still, the principal called the pilot a promising reset. She said the school would adjust, not abandon, the idea. She asked student council to suggest changes, and she added that hallway duty would rotate so no one adult carries it every day.
Which choice best shows that school leaders generally view the pilot positively, even while noticing some drawbacks?
- The hallway sounded like a train station in the morning, and the principal set up the pilot so students could choose the library or the gym instead of their lockers.
- The principal said the goal was to reduce conflicts and lost class time, and a teacher noted that the library became crowded by 8:05 during the pilot.
- Tardies dropped from 112 to 67 and stress visits fell, and the principal called the pilot a promising reset the school will adjust, not abandon, even with a few drawbacks. (correct answer)
- Some students miss chatting at their lockers and the library got crowded, yet the principal still described the pilot as a promising reset worth continuing next term.
Explanation: The best answer captures both sides the question asks about. It reports positive results—tardies dropping from 112 to 67 and fewer stress visits—and shows the leaders' upbeat tone by quoting the principal's promise to adjust, not abandon, the pilot, while still admitting drawbacks. The choice that describes the noisy hallway and the library-or-gym option only lists setup details; it says nothing about how leaders judged the pilot. The choice pairing the pilot's goal with the crowded library gives a purpose and one problem but never shows a positive view of the results. The choice about lockers and crowding does mention the principal calling it a promising reset, but it leaves out the positive data (fewer tardies and stress visits), so it does not show results and tone together the way the question asks. Only the answer that combines the drop in tardies, the fewer stress visits, and the 'adjust, not abandon' stance fully answers the question.
Question 12
A museum created an exhibit about ancient writing systems. The curator explains that clay tablets lasted because they were "baked hard," while papyrus often rotted in damp climates. The exhibit describes how scribes trained for years and copied texts by hand. A mistake could spread if a copyist misread a symbol. It also says that only a small part of the population could read, so written records often showed the views of rulers and officials. One display holds a law code carved in stone and set in a public square. The curator says this was meant to show that the king's rules were "permanent." The exhibit ends by asking visitors to think about what stories were never written down.
Which choice best shows that the passage points out the limits of ancient written records?
- The passage explains that clay tablets were baked hard while papyrus rotted in damp climates, which shows records survived if they used the right materials.
- The passage notes that copied texts could spread mistakes, that few people could read so records favored rulers, and it asks what stories went unwritten. (correct answer)
- The passage describes a law code carved in stone to make rules permanent, which shows that important records were kept where the public could see them.
- The passage says scribes trained for years and copied texts by hand, which shows that ancient records were prepared with great skill and care.
Explanation: The question asks which choice shows the passage pointing out the limits of written records. The correct choice gathers several of those limits: hand-copying let mistakes spread, only a few people could read so records mainly reflected rulers, and the exhibit ends by asking what stories were never written down. Together these details show what ancient records left out or got wrong. The choice about clay tablets and papyrus is about how well materials lasted, not about the limits of what records could tell us. The choice about the stone law code focuses on where records were displayed, which is a strength, not a limit. The choice about scribes training and copying carefully describes the effort behind records, again a strength rather than a limit. Only one choice actually points to the shortcomings of ancient writing, so it is the best answer.
Question 13
A town near a windy ridge is thinking about building a small wind farm with six turbines. The proposal says the turbines could supply about 40 percent of the town's yearly electricity. The energy committee notes that this would lower pollution from the current gas-powered plant. The committee also admits the project has challenges. The turbines would cost 18 million dollars up front. Workers would also need to widen a narrow road to bring in the large parts. Some residents worry about noise. Still, a report from a similar wind farm found that the sound at the nearest homes was about as loud as a refrigerator. Reliability is another concern. Wind speeds drop on some summer evenings, so the town would still need backup power. Even so, the committee calls the plan a practical step. It also suggests starting a job-training program with the local community college for turbine repair.
Which choice best shows that the passage presents both benefits and challenges of the wind farm?
- The passage names challenges like the 18-million-dollar cost and the noise near homes, and it treats the report on refrigerator-level sound as proof that no benefits are worth listing.
- The passage names benefits like supplying about 40 percent of the town's electricity and cutting pollution, and challenges like the cost, road widening, and backup power. (correct answer)
- The passage lists benefits like supplying 40 percent of the electricity and lowering pollution, and it calls the plan a practical step and a smart choice for the town.
- The passage names benefits like the community college job-training program and the widened road, and it presents these construction plans as the town's main reasons to build.
Explanation: The stem asks for the choice that shows both benefits AND challenges. The best answer names real benefits, such as supplying about 40 percent of the town's electricity and cutting pollution, alongside real challenges, such as the cost, road widening, and the need for backup power. That covers both sides, which is exactly what the passage does. One choice lists only challenges and wrongly claims no benefits are worth mentioning, but the passage clearly points to electricity and lower pollution as benefits. Another choice lists only benefits and adds that the plan is a 'smart choice,' so it ignores the challenges entirely. The last choice treats the job-training program and road widening as the town's main reasons to build; those are minor supporting details, not the balance of benefits and challenges the passage presents. Only the answer that names both sides fits the stem.
Question 14
A community bulletin describes a plan to turn an empty lot into a neighborhood garden. The bulletin says the lot has sat empty for six years, and neighbors have complained about "trash piling up along the fence." The plan includes raised beds, a compost area, and a small tool shed. Half of the beds will be saved for families who sign up early. The rest of the food will go to a local food pantry.
The bulletin also answers some worries ahead of time. It says the organizers will lock the tool shed and close the garden at dusk. The group met with the police station about lighting, and volunteers will take turns checking the site on weekends. The bulletin admits that water is a problem, since there is no outdoor faucet. Organizers are applying for a grant to add a rainwater system, but for now they will "start with drought-tolerant plants."
The writer ends by calling the project "a chance to replace an eyesore with something useful," and invites residents to a Saturday cleanup.
Which choice best shows that the organizers are trying to handle safety and upkeep concerns ahead of time?
- The bulletin points out that the lot has sat empty for six years and that neighbors keep complaining about the trash along the fence.
- The bulletin explains that half the beds go to early sign-ups and the extra food goes to a nearby food pantry for the community.
- The bulletin says the organizers will lock the tool shed, close the garden at dusk, meet with police about lighting, and have volunteers check the site. (correct answer)
- The bulletin notes that with no outdoor faucet, the organizers will rely on drought-tolerant plants until a rainwater grant comes through.
Explanation: Handling concerns "ahead of time" means the organizers plan for problems before they happen. The best evidence lists several steps aimed at safety and upkeep: locking the tool shed, closing at dusk, meeting police about lighting, and having volunteers check the site. Together these directly answer the question. The choice about the empty lot and the trash describes the problem the garden is meant to fix, not any plan to keep it safe. The choice about garden beds and the food pantry explains how the food is shared, which is about fairness and generosity, not safety or upkeep. The choice about the missing faucet and drought-tolerant plants is a plan, but it solves a water and weather problem, not a safety or upkeep concern. Only one choice gives multiple pieces of evidence that match what the question actually asks.
Question 15
An article explains how some animals survive winter. It says monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles to warmer forests. Some frogs survive by letting parts of their bodies freeze and then thawing in spring. The article says hibernating bears lower their heart rate and live off stored fat, though they still wake up now and then. It also describes how snow can act like a blanket, keeping the ground below warmer than the air above. Near the end, the author writes that these strategies are "ingenious solutions shaped by time." The article spends more space describing these adaptations than describing dangers. Still, it mentions that warmer winters can confuse animals' timing and reduce snow cover.
Which choice best shows that the author mostly admires animals' winter survival strategies while still noting some threats?
- The author admires the animals because the whole article is about how they survive winter, and the many examples of clever adaptations prove that admiration by themselves.
- The author calls the strategies ingenious solutions shaped by time, gives more space to adaptations than dangers, and still notes threats like warmer winters and less snow. (correct answer)
- The author admires the strategies but wants readers to worry most, since the closing threats and the note that bears still wake up show real danger outweighing the clever adaptations.
- The author mainly thinks winter is dangerous, since the article ends by mentioning several real threats, and the warmer forests and thawing frogs are just risky escapes.
Explanation: The best answer pulls together several pieces of evidence at once: the admiring phrase "ingenious solutions shaped by time," the fact that far more space goes to the clever adaptations than to dangers, and the honest closing note about warmer winters and less snow. Together these show admiration balanced with a fair mention of threats — exactly what the question asks. The choice that says admiration comes automatically "because the whole article is about" survival uses weak reasoning; a topic being about animals doesn't prove the author's attitude toward it. The choice claiming the author wants readers to "worry most" flips the balance — the passage clearly spends more space praising adaptations than warning of danger, so danger does not outweigh admiration. The choice that says the author "mainly thinks winter is dangerous" overweights the brief closing threats and ignores the strongly admiring language throughout. Only one choice gathers all the evidence and matches the author's real balance of admiration and honesty.
Question 16
In science class, Ms. Ibarra asked students to test which paper towel brand absorbed the most water. Each group received the same tools: a measuring cup, a tray, and three paper towel squares cut to the same size. The directions said to pour exactly 50 milliliters of water onto each square and to record how much water dripped into the tray after 30 seconds. Ms. Ibarra reminded everyone that a fair test changes only one thing.
During the lab, one group quietly swapped in a thicker square from home, because they thought it would make the results clearer. Another group squeezed the towel after 30 seconds to see what was really inside, even though the directions said not to touch it. When the class compared data, the numbers were all over the place. Ms. Ibarra did not accuse anyone, but she asked the class why their results did not match. She pointed to the directions again and said the class should trust the process. She then offered a redo lab, but only if groups wrote a short plan explaining how they would control variables.
Which choice best shows that uncontrolled variables caused the inconsistent results?
- The groups all started with the same measuring cup and tray, and each one poured exactly 50 milliliters of water onto its paper towel square.
- Ms. Ibarra asked the students to test different paper towel brands, and she later offered them a chance at a redo lab if they wrote a plan.
- One group swapped in a thicker square from home, another group squeezed the towel though directions said not to, and the class's data were all over the place. (correct answer)
- One group used a thicker square hoping to make the results clearer, so their numbers probably matched the other groups' numbers most closely.
Explanation: The question asks you to find the evidence that connects the mismatched results to changes the groups made. The best answer names two specific rule-breaks—one group used a thicker square from home, another squeezed the towel against the directions—and then notes the data were all over the place. Those two changed variables directly explain the inconsistent numbers. The choice about the shared measuring cup, tray, and the same 50 milliliters describes what stayed the SAME, so it shows fairness, not the cause of the mismatch. The choice about testing different brands and offering a redo lab lists setup and follow-up details that never explain why the numbers differed. The last choice misreads the passage: changing to a thicker square broke the fair test, so that group's numbers would be off, not the closest match to everyone else's.
Question 17
A student journalist wrote about a new rule at Pine Ridge School. Phones must stay in lockers from the first bell to the last bell. The article explains that teachers asked for the rule. They had noticed students checking screens during group work and turning in unfinished assignments. The principal said the goal was to reduce distractions. She reported that hallway tardies dropped by 12 percent in the first two weeks, because students were not stopping to text. The journalist also interviewed students. One 8th grader complained that lunch felt too quiet. Another said it was easier to actually talk with friends. The article ends by noting that the school will review the policy after one quarter, and that the principal invited students to submit feedback forms. The journalist describes the rule as strict but not unreasonable. The article also spends more space on classroom changes than on student complaints.
Which choice best shows that the student journalist leans slightly in favor of the phone rule?
- The article gives real space to one 8th grader who complained that lunch felt too quiet, showing the writer sides with the students who dislike the rule.
- The article calmly reports that phones must stay in lockers all day, giving the facts of the rule without any sign of the writer's own opinion either way.
- The journalist calls the rule strict but not unreasonable, highlights the teacher concerns and the 12 percent drop in tardies, and gives more space to classroom gains than to complaints. (correct answer)
- The journalist stays completely neutral, because equal quotes from a happy student and an unhappy student show the writer refuses to take any side at all.
Explanation: A writer's slight lean shows up in word choice and in what gets the most attention. The best answer points to three signals working together: the phrase "strict but not unreasonable," the spotlight on teacher concerns and the 12 percent drop in tardies, and the extra space given to classroom gains over complaints. Together these tilt the article mildly toward supporting the rule. The choice about the 8th grader who found lunch too quiet points to a single complaint, which suggests the opposite lean, not support. The choice saying the article just reports the facts describes a neutral moment, not a lean in either direction. The choice claiming the writer stays completely neutral misreads the article: quoting one happy and one unhappy student is not the same as balanced coverage, since the writer still uses approving language and devotes more room to classroom benefits. Only one answer gathers the multiple pieces of evidence that reveal mild support, so it is the best choice.
Question 18
Scientists studying city heat set up temperature sensors in three neighborhoods. One had many trees. One was mostly pavement. One was a mix of parks and buildings. During a July heat wave, the tree-filled area was about 6 degrees cooler at noon than the pavement-heavy area. The mixed neighborhood was about 3 degrees cooler than the pavement-heavy area, especially near a playground shaded by tall maples. A researcher explained that shade lowers surface temperatures. She also warned that planting trees is not a quick fix. Young trees take years to form a full canopy. The team suggested adding shade structures at bus stops right away. They also suggested choosing drought-tolerant trees for long-term planting. In an interview, the researcher said the results were a clear reminder that design choices matter. She pointed out that the hottest neighborhood also had the fewest shaded sidewalks. That made walking there uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe for older residents.
Which choice best shows that the passage suggests trees and shade can reduce heat but require planning over time?
- The passage says the hottest neighborhood had the fewest shaded sidewalks, which made walking there feel unsafe for older residents during the July heat wave.
- The tree-filled area was about 6 degrees cooler and the mixed area 3 degrees cooler, but the researcher warns young trees take years to grow, so shade helps yet needs planning. (correct answer)
- The passage reports cooler temperatures near the shaded playground, which shows that adding a few maples will completely cool any neighborhood within a single summer.
- The passage focuses on how the temperature sensors work and describes the exact spots in each neighborhood where the scientists chose to place them.
Explanation: The stem asks for two ideas at once: that shade reduces heat AND that it takes planning over time. The correct choice does both. It cites the measured cooling—about 6 degrees in the tree-filled area and 3 degrees in the mixed area—and it cites the warning that young trees take years to grow, showing the benefit needs long-term planning.
The sidewalk choice names a real detail but covers only heat discomfort; it never mentions that shade cools or that planting takes time, so it misses half the stem's request. The playground choice starts from a true fact but overstates it, claiming a few trees will fully cool a neighborhood in one summer—the passage says the opposite, that canopies take years. The sensor choice describes setup details the passage barely touches; the text focuses on results and planning, not equipment. Only one choice pairs the cooling evidence with the time-and-planning evidence.
Question 19
In 1914, the city of Riverton built a new water tower to solve its frequent shortages. Newspaper reports from the time described residents waiting at the pumps before sunrise. They also complained that fires spread quickly because the hydrants ran dry. The new tower could hold one million gallons. The mayor promised it would give steady pressure to homes and emergency crews. Within months, a local report said that water outages had become rare. A hardware store owner said he no longer had to close early to save water. Still, some residents disliked the tower's look. They called it an iron giant that blocked their views of the river. The city council responded by planting trees around its base and adding a small area with a park bench. Later articles mention families picnicking nearby on summer evenings.
Which choice best shows that the water tower improved daily life in Riverton, even though not everyone liked it at first?
- The passage says residents disliked the tower's look and called it an iron giant, and that the city council later planted trees and added a park bench nearby.
- The passage says residents waited at the pumps before sunrise and that the hydrants ran dry during fires, which are the shortages that led the city to build the new water tower.
- The tower could hold one million gallons, outages became rare, and a store owner no longer closed early to save water, while some residents still disliked its look and called it an iron giant. (correct answer)
- The passage says families picnicked near the tower on summer evenings, which shows the tower gave residents a pleasant new gathering spot they came to enjoy.
Explanation: The question asks for evidence of two things at once: that the tower made daily life better AND that some people still disliked it. The best answer names concrete improvements—outages became rare and a store owner stopped closing early—while also noting that residents still called it an iron giant, so it covers both sides. The choice about disliking the look and the council planting trees and adding a bench only shows the complaint and the city's response, not the improvement to daily life. The choice about waiting at the pumps and the dry hydrants describes the old problem before the tower was built, not the improvement it brought. The choice about families picnicking points to a nice gathering spot, but that comes from the trees and bench the council added, not from the tower itself, and it leaves out that anyone disliked the tower.
Question 20
A technology blog explains how translation apps learn from large collections of text. The blog says that modern apps are trained on millions of sentences. From these, they learn patterns and predict likely word choices. The apps also improve when users correct mistakes, because those corrections become new examples.
The author warns readers not to treat the apps as perfect. A translation can sound polite in one language but come out accidentally rude in another. This happens because the app may miss the cultural context. The blog also says that if most training text comes from news articles, the app may struggle with slang or local jokes. Some smaller languages have less text online, so the app has fewer examples to learn from.
Even so, the blog suggests that translation apps can be useful. They work well for travel and for getting the general meaning of a message. The author recommends checking important translations with a human speaker, especially for medical or legal situations.
Which choice best shows that the passage explains both how translation apps improve and why their results can still be unreliable?
- The passage explains improvement by noting that apps train on millions of sentences and that user corrections become new examples, but it treats the accidentally rude results only as a rare exception rather than a real weakness.
- The passage points to trouble with slang and fewer examples for smaller languages as reasons results can be unreliable, but it explains improvement only through the app's usefulness for travel and general meaning.
- The passage explains improvement through training on millions of sentences and user corrections, and explains unreliability through accidentally rude results, trouble with slang, and fewer examples for smaller languages. (correct answer)
- The passage explains improvement through training on many sentences and corrections, but it locates unreliability only in the advice to check medical and legal translations with a human speaker.
Explanation: The stem asks for the choice that captures both halves: how apps improve and why they can still be unreliable. The best answer names improvement through training on millions of sentences and user corrections, and it names unreliability through accidentally rude results, trouble with slang, and fewer examples for smaller languages — so it covers both sides fully. One tempting choice gets the improvement half right but downplays the rude-result problem as a rare exception, missing the passage's real warning. Another correctly cites slang and smaller languages as unreliability, but mistakes the app's usefulness for travel as the reason apps improve, when improvement actually comes from training and corrections. The last choice describes improvement well but pins all the unreliability on the single tip to check medical and legal translations with a human — that advice is a recommendation, not the source of unreliable results. Only the full answer matches both parts of the question without misreading a detail.