MEMORY KEY → Use CONTEXT CLUES: look at the words BEFORE & AFTER the blank. Ask yourself: is the tone positive or negative? Does the sentence contrast (but / although / however) or support (furthermore / thus / similarly)? Eliminate answers that REVERSE the tone.
Vocabulary · Question 01
The scientist's theory, once considered radical, is now ________ by the majority of the academic community.
✓ Correct Answer: B — embraced
Explanation
The sentence contrasts "once considered radical" with the current situation ("now ___"). The shift signal "now" paired with "majority of the academic community" implies acceptance, not rejection. Embraced (warmly accepted) is the only choice that fits the positive, accepting tone. Disputed and overlooked are negative; scrutinized is neutral but implies doubt, not acceptance.
Vocabulary · Question 02
As used in line 12, the word "precipitate" most nearly means:
"The sudden drop in temperature will precipitate a series of ecosystem disruptions that scientists had long predicted."
"The sudden drop in temperature will precipitate a series of ecosystem disruptions that scientists had long predicted."
✓ Correct Answer: C — trigger
Explanation
Precipitate has a common meaning of "rain/hail" but in academic English it means to cause something to happen suddenly. The subject (temperature drop) causes (→) disruptions — a cause-and-effect relationship. Trigger is the exact synonym. "Prevent" is the opposite. Observe and measure describe passive actions, not causation.
SAT Trap: Students who only know the weather meaning of "precipitate" will be confused — always substitute each answer back into the sentence!
Vocabulary · Question 03
The diplomat's ________ remarks managed to satisfy both factions simultaneously, a feat few had believed possible.
✓ Correct Answer: A — conciliatory
Explanation
The key result is "satisfy BOTH factions" — this is peacemaking language. Conciliatory = intended to make peace / reduce conflict.
• Inflammatory = would cause anger (opposite)
• Ambiguous = unclear (could partially work but doesn't explain WHY both sides were satisfied)
• Perfunctory = done with little care (tone mismatch — a rare, difficult feat needs more than a careless remark)
Root: conciliate (to reconcile) → the diplomat brought together opposing sides.
MEMORY KEY → EVIDENCE-BASED READING: Every correct answer must be provable with a specific line. If you can't point to it in the text → eliminate it. Watch for EXTREME WORDS (always, never, only, all) — they are almost always wrong.
Passage (Questions 4–6):
In the 1960s, marine biologist Rachel Carson argued that the widespread use of synthetic pesticides was quietly decimating bird populations across North America. Her 1962 book, Silent Spring, challenged the prevailing assumption that technological progress was inherently beneficial. Carson did not call for an outright ban on pesticides; rather, she advocated for informed, responsible use grounded in scientific evidence. Although her work was met with fierce opposition from the chemical industry, it ultimately catalyzed the modern environmental movement and led to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
In the 1960s, marine biologist Rachel Carson argued that the widespread use of synthetic pesticides was quietly decimating bird populations across North America. Her 1962 book, Silent Spring, challenged the prevailing assumption that technological progress was inherently beneficial. Carson did not call for an outright ban on pesticides; rather, she advocated for informed, responsible use grounded in scientific evidence. Although her work was met with fierce opposition from the chemical industry, it ultimately catalyzed the modern environmental movement and led to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
Reading Comprehension · Question 04
The primary purpose of the passage is to:
✓ Correct Answer: D — describe Carson's argument and its broader impact
Explanation
The passage introduces Carson's argument (pesticides harm birds), her position (responsible use, NOT a total ban), opposition received, and the result (EPA established). This is a descriptive/informational passage — it presents facts, not a strong personal argument.
Why A is wrong: The passage explicitly says Carson did NOT call for an outright ban — the word "all" makes A too extreme.
Why B & C are wrong: These are details, not the primary purpose.
SAT Tip: "Primary purpose" questions need the whole passage scope, not one detail.
Reading Comprehension · Question 05
According to the passage, Carson's position on pesticides is best described as:
✓ Correct Answer: B — supporting carefully regulated, evidence-based pesticide use
Explanation
Direct evidence from the passage: "Carson did not call for an outright ban on pesticides; rather, she advocated for informed, responsible use grounded in scientific evidence."
This maps directly to B: carefully regulated = "responsible use"; evidence-based = "grounded in scientific evidence."
IB Tip: In IB Paper 1 comprehension, always quote specific lines to justify your chosen answer. Training yourself to find text evidence prepares you for full written responses too.
Reading Comprehension · Question 06
The author's use of the word "catalyzed" in the final sentence primarily suggests that Carson's work:
✓ Correct Answer: C — acted as the critical force that set a movement in motion
Explanation
Catalyze is a chemistry term: a catalyst accelerates a reaction without being consumed. In writing, it means to be the trigger/agent that starts something significant. The passage says her work catalyzed the environmental movement → it set it in motion.
A is wrong — the passage says opposition was "fierce," not slowly undermined. B is wrong — opposite; she faced "fierce opposition." D is too specific/literal — she wrote a book, not personally led the EPA campaign.
Word Choice questions test author's intent, not dictionary definitions alone.
MEMORY KEY → PRONOUN AGREEMENT: A pronoun must match its antecedent in NUMBER (singular/plural) & PERSON. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT: Find the TRUE subject — ignore prepositional phrases between subject and verb. "Each," "everyone," "neither" = SINGULAR always.
Grammar · Question 07
Choose the version that best corrects the underlined portion:
"Neither the committee members nor the chairperson were willing to revise their initial proposal."
"Neither the committee members nor the chairperson were willing to revise their initial proposal."
✓ Correct Answer: A — was willing to revise his or her initial proposal
Explanation
Neither…nor rule: The verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb. Here: nor the chairperson → singular → "was" (not "were"). ✓
Pronoun: "chairperson" is singular → use "his or her," NOT "their" (their = plural).
SAT Grammar Trap: "their" sounds natural in speech but is grammatically incorrect when referring to a singular antecedent in formal writing. The SAT tests this distinction heavily.
Rule summary: CLOSER SUBJECT = verb agreement | SINGULAR antecedent = singular pronoun
Grammar · Question 08
Which sentence is grammatically correct and most effective?
✓ Correct Answer: C — Running through the park, she was caught in the sudden storm.
Explanation
Dangling Modifier Rule: A participial phrase (Running through the park) must modify the SUBJECT of the main clause — the subject must be the one doing the running.
• A — the storm is running? ❌ Dangling modifier
• B — same problem (the storm is running) ❌
• C — "she" is running through the park ✓ Correct
• D — tense shift: "was running" (past) → "begins" (present) ❌ Inconsistent tense
Quick test: After the comma, ask: "WHO is [verb]-ing?" That WHO must be the sentence subject.
MEMORY KEY → RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: Always identify (1) WHO is speaking, (2) TO WHOM, (3) FOR WHAT PURPOSE. Common devices: Ethos (credibility) · Pathos (emotion) · Logos (logic/evidence). For IB: identify the device → explain the EFFECT on the reader → link to the author's PURPOSE.
Exam Skills · Question 09
Read the following excerpt. The author's primary rhetorical strategy is:
"Imagine waking up one morning to a world without birdsong — no robin's call at dawn, no sparrow's chatter at dusk. This is not a fantasy. This is the world our children will inherit if we do not act."
✓ Correct Answer: B — Pathos — using vivid imagery to create emotional urgency
Explanation
The passage uses sensory imagery ("birdsong," "robin's call," "sparrow's chatter") and direct address ("Imagine…") to make the reader feel the loss. This is classic Pathos — an appeal to emotion.
• No statistics → A & D (Logos) are wrong • No mention of author's qualifications → C (Ethos) is wrong
IB Analysis Tip: Pathos techniques include: rhetorical questions, imperatives ("Imagine"), second-person address ("our children"), sensory language, and hyperbole. Identifying the technique alone is not enough — explain the INTENDED EFFECT on the reader.
Exam Skills · Question 10
A student wants to add the following sentence to strengthen the argument in the passage below. Where should it be placed?
Sentence to add: "Studies show that DDT accumulates in the food chain, weakening eggshells in birds of prey."
Sentence to add: "Studies show that DDT accumulates in the food chain, weakening eggshells in birds of prey."
[1] For decades, farmers used DDT without restriction. [2] Many scientists warned of potential ecological harm. [3] Bird populations began declining sharply in the 1950s. [4] The bald eagle nearly disappeared from the continent.
✓ Correct Answer: D — After sentence [4]
Explanation
Wait — let's re-examine. The sentence provides the scientific mechanism explaining WHY bird populations declined. This fits best AFTER the observation of bird decline (sentence [3]) to explain the cause, OR after [4] as supporting evidence for the eagle's near-disappearance.
In the SAT "sentence placement" question, the rule is: evidence follows the claim it supports. Sentence [4] (bald eagle example) is a specific case of what the added sentence explains — so placing it after [4] reinforces that specific example with a mechanism.
SAT Writing Strategy: Read the sentence to add, identify its FUNCTION (evidence, transition, example, counterargument), then find where that function is needed in the passage. Always check for logical flow: claim → evidence → elaboration.
0
out of 10 correct
Keep practicing!