Purpose Function
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PSAT Reading & Writing › Purpose Function
Many historians once assumed that Bronze Age coastal villages were isolated, subsisting on local resources with little contact beyond neighboring bays. Recent excavations, however, have uncovered imported pottery and metalwork in several small harbors. Because these goods appear alongside locally produced tools, they likely arrived through routine exchange rather than rare ceremonial visits. This pattern suggests a web of everyday trade that tied even modest settlements into regional markets. While not all sites show such evidence, the consistent mix at multiple locations challenges the older view of isolation. Further analysis of residues on the pottery indicates origins across different river systems, reinforcing the interpretation.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Introduces a new line of evidence unrelated to trade activity
Provides background on how the goods were manufactured
Acknowledges a limitation in the archaeological record that weakens the claim
Interprets the artifact context to argue that exchange was routine, not exceptional
Explanation
It interprets the co-occurrence of imported goods with local tools to support the claim of regular trade. It does not add unrelated evidence (A), supply manufacturing background (B), or emphasize a limitation (C).
Urban trees cool neighborhoods by casting shade and releasing water vapor through transpiration. Multiple studies in North American cities report that streets with mature canopy can be several degrees cooler on summer afternoons than adjacent blocks lacking trees. The benefits extend beyond heat relief: leaves filter particulates, and tree-lined streets are associated with lower traffic speeds and reduced noise. While these effects vary by species and spacing, the direction of the impact is remarkably consistent across contexts. Therefore, even small increases in street-tree planting can produce measurable public health gains. Municipal budgets are limited, but cost-benefit analyses often show that maintenance expenses are offset by energy savings and improved health outcomes within a few years.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Introduces a counterargument to the passage's main claim
Draws an overarching conclusion from the evidence presented earlier
Defines a key term used throughout the passage
Describes a specific research method employed in the studies
Explanation
The sentence synthesizes prior evidence to state a broad conclusion about public health benefits. It does not present a counterargument, define a term, or detail a method.
Archaeologists increasingly deploy airborne lidar to map buried structures beneath dense forest canopies. By sending laser pulses from aircraft and measuring their returns, researchers generate digital terrain models that reveal roads, terraces, and city grids hidden by vegetation. These datasets can be produced over large regions in days, offering a synoptic view that ground surveys rarely achieve. Spectacular finds in Central America have reshaped estimates of ancient population density. Critics caution, however, that remote sensing can mislead when features resemble natural formations. Yet lidar does not replace excavation; it guides it. Teams still verify anomalies with trenches, radiocarbon samples, and artifact analysis to establish dates and functions.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Presents a surprising result that contradicts earlier data
Provides a detailed example of a lidar discovery
Restates the passage's thesis in different words
Qualifies the preceding discussion by clarifying how lidar should be used
Explanation
The sentence qualifies the prior enthusiasm and caution by positioning lidar as a guide rather than a replacement. It neither reports a specific result, offers an example, nor restates the thesis.
Translating literature involves more than swapping words between languages. A translator must capture tone, rhythm, and cultural references that give a text its character. Idioms pose a particular challenge because their literal meanings often mislead. For instance, the French expression 'avoir le cafard' does not involve insects at all; it conveys a mood of melancholy. When translators choose an English equivalent like 'feeling blue,' they preserve the emotional register while adapting the imagery. Even punctuation choices can shift the perceived voice of a narrator. Such choices are interpretive, not mechanical, which is why good translations read as original works in their own right.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Introduces a new argument that changes the passage's focus
Summarizes the passage's main conclusion
Provides a concrete example that illustrates a previously stated challenge
Defines the term "idiom" for the first time
Explanation
The sentence offers a specific example that illustrates the challenge of translating idioms. It does not shift the argument, summarize the whole passage, or define the term.
To reconstruct past climates, researchers often analyze tree rings, whose widths reflect annual growth conditions. In semi-arid regions, wider rings typically correspond to wetter years, allowing scientists to infer precipitation patterns over centuries. Statistical models calibrate ring width against instrumental rainfall records to generate regional drought indices. By positing a linear relation between ring width and moisture, the model risks oversimplifying multi-causal growth patterns. Still, when validated against independent evidence—such as lake sediments—ring-based reconstructions can clarify the frequency of extreme droughts.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Acknowledges a limitation of the modeling approach to temper the preceding explanation
Introduces a historical example that supports the study's conclusions
Provides a definition of a technical term used in the passage
States the passage's main claim about the superiority of tree-ring data
Explanation
The sentence flags a methodological limitation, moderating the prior description of the model. It does not introduce an example, define a term, or assert overall superiority.
Municipal planners increasingly tout microgrids (localized energy networks that can operate independently of the main grid) as a way to improve resilience during storms and wildfires. Early pilots show that critical facilities, such as hospitals and fire stations, can maintain power when surrounding neighborhoods go dark, and the costs of battery storage continue to fall. <uYet widespread adoption has lagged, not because the technology is untested, but because regulatory frameworks remain outdated. Permitting rules written for centralized utilities often make it difficult for communities to share power legally, and interconnection standards vary widely by state. Until policy catches up, proponents argue, the promise of microgrids will remain largely theoretical, as local initiatives stall in lengthy approval processes.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Introduces the central claim that microgrids improve resilience.
Signals a transition from advantages to challenges by naming a regulatory barrier.
Provides a counterexample that refutes the effectiveness of microgrids.
Summarizes evidence from case studies to justify expanded funding.
Explanation
The sentence pivots from describing benefits to introducing obstacles, setting up the discussion of policy barriers that follows. It does not define the concept, refute microgrids, or summarize evidence.
A new dating technique that pairs amino acid racemization with luminescence analysis allows archaeologists to cross-check timelines inferred from artifact styles. Researchers using the method have begun reassessing the sequence of events at long-studied sites where conventional indicators once seemed conclusive. For example, shells from a coastal site long thought to be contemporaneous with inland ceramics were found to be centuries older. That discrepancy forces a reconsideration of exchange routes and settlement pacing, because the assumed synchrony underpinned arguments about simultaneous growth. More broadly, the case demonstrates how expanding the toolkit can upend tidy narratives, replacing a linear story with a more staggered, data-driven account of cultural change.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Defines the technique's key terms.
States a counterargument from skeptics.
Qualifies the claim by limiting it to coastal sites.
Offers a concrete example that illustrates the technique's revisionary power.
Explanation
The sentence supplies a specific case that exemplifies how the technique revises prior timelines. It does not define terms, present skeptical views, or restrict the claim's scope.
Urban planners often cite the cooling benefits of street trees. In our city, satellite imagery shows that neighborhoods with fewer trees experience more summer heat. Residents there also face higher energy bills. To address this disparity, the city plans to plant 10,000 street trees in low-canopy neighborhoods over the next five years. Officials will prioritize school routes and bus stops, locations where shade improves comfort and safety. The program includes funding for maintenance, recognizing that neglected plantings fail to thrive. Early outreach with local community groups aims to ensure the trees meet neighborhood needs and are equitably distributed. Progress will be tracked annually.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Introduces a counterexample to prior evidence
Provides historical context for the program
Proposes a solution to a problem identified earlier
Refutes a potential objection to tree planting
Explanation
The underlined sentence presents the city's plan as a direct response to the earlier-described problem. It does not offer context, a counterexample, or rebut an objection.
Reconstructing ancient climates requires reliance on indirect measures. Tree rings, ice cores, and lake sediments record environmental changes without a thermometer. But the term "proxy" can be used loosely in popular accounts. In this study, we use the term "proxy" to mean any indirect record that can be translated into past climate variables. This definition allows us to exclude anecdotal reports and folklore, which lack measurable links to temperature or precipitation. After establishing criteria for reliable proxies, we compare records from multiple sites to reduce local bias. We then test for consistency across methods to ensure robust inference over time.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Defines a key term to clarify the study's scope
Summarizes the study's main findings
Challenges the reliability of tree-ring data
Provides a counterexample to earlier claims
Explanation
The sentence explicitly defines a central term to set the study's scope. It neither summarizes results nor critiques specific data or offers a counterexample.
Debates about minimum-wage policy often focus on employment effects. Economists who oppose increases argue that higher labor costs force firms to cut jobs, especially for young or less-experienced workers. Yet, recent meta-analyses reveal many small minimum-wage increases have had negligible effects on employment. These studies, which synthesize results from dozens of local changes, suggest that labor markets adjust through channels such as reduced turnover and modest price increases. The evidence does not mean every increase is harmless; rather, it indicates outcomes depend on context, including local productivity and demand. Future research will track longer-run adjustments as policies evolve in cities.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?
Restates the passage's opening claim
Presents evidence that challenges a claim introduced earlier
Offers a definition of a technical term
Outlines the methodology used in the cited studies
Explanation
The sentence introduces evidence that complicates the earlier assertion about job losses. It does not restate the initial claim, define a term, or describe methodology.