SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Free Sample Questions

The following text is from a student’s notes on the Cambrian explosion, a period of rapid evolutionary diversification.

The student wants to emphasize the contrast between the appearance of simple life forms and the later, more complex organisms. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

Notes:

• Life on Earth began with simple, single-celled organisms.
• This early life existed for billions of years.
• The Cambrian period (around 541 million years ago) saw a sudden surge in biodiversity.
• Many major animal phyla, with complex body plans, appeared in the fossil record during this relatively short time.
• Before the Cambrian, most organisms were microbial or soft-bodied.

The field of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself, has revolutionized our understanding of biology. These modifications, often influenced by environmental factors, act as a layer of information ______ the genetic code, directing how and when genes are activated.

In her 1910 novel Howard's End, E.M. Forster uses the Wilcox and Schlegel families to represent conflicting English sensibilities. The Wilcoxes, pragmatic and rooted in commerce, are contrasted with the Schlegels, who are intellectual, cultured, and idealistic. The narrative explores whether these two worlds can reconcile, famously summarized in the novel’s epigraph: 'Only connect.'

Which statement best describes the primary function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?

The ancient city of Cahokia, near modern-day St. Louis, was once the largest urban center north of the great cities of central Mexico. At its zenith around 1100 CE, its population may have exceeded 15,000 people. The city featured a complex of over 100 earthen mounds, the largest of which, Monks Mound, is a four-terraced structure larger at its base than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

What is the main idea of the passage?

Architects designing buildings in earthquake-prone regions must account for seismic forces. One common technique is base isolation, which involves constructing a building on specialized bearings that separate the superstructure from its foundation. ______ the ground shaking violently during a quake, the building itself moves much less, mitigating potential damage.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved on the isolated sea and barrier islands of the lower Atlantic coast. Due to their geographic isolation, they were able to retain many of their ancestral African traditions. This unique cultural heritage is evident in their distinctive language, arts, and culinary practices. ______ their culture faces threats from coastal development and climate change.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

A team of climatologists studying glacial retreat analyzed ice core samples from Antarctica. The data, which included measurements of trapped atmospheric gases, ______ a clear correlation between rising global temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels over the past two centuries.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

The passage below is a draft.

(1) The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the driest places on Earth, receiving minimal rainfall. (2) Despite these harsh conditions, a unique phenomenon known as 'camanchaca,' a dense coastal fog, rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. (3) This fog provides a vital source of moisture for a surprising variety of lichens, cacti, and other hardy plants. (4) Scientists have developed large 'fog nets' to capture water droplets from the camanchaca, providing a sustainable source of fresh water for local communities.

Which TWO of the following choices provide the strongest evidence for the claim that the Atacama Desert is not entirely devoid of life-sustaining water? (Select TWO)

The following texts present two perspectives on the use of artificial intelligence in art creation.

Text 1
AI art generators are merely sophisticated tools, not artists. They operate on algorithms, synthesizing vast datasets of existing human-made art to produce novel images. The process lacks intentionality, emotional depth, and the lived experience that are the hallmarks of true artistic creation. While the output can be visually striking, it is ultimately a high-tech collage, a derivative echo of the human creativity it was trained on.

Text 2
To dismiss AI art is to repeat the historical mistake of dismissing photography as a mechanical process devoid of artistry. The AI is a new medium, and the artist is the one who wields it. Crafting the right prompt, curating the output, and guiding the AI's generation is a creative act in itself. The artist's vision is the driving force; the AI is the brush, the camera, the chisel. It is a collaborative process that expands the boundaries of human expression.

How would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the claim in Text 1 that the AI art process "lacks intentionality"?

The practice of biomimicry, in which designs are modeled on biological entities and processes, has led to numerous innovations. For example, the aerodynamic design of Japan's Shinkansen bullet train was inspired by the beak of the kingfisher, allowing it to exit tunnels without producing a loud sonic boom. This approach not only solves engineering problems but also tends to create solutions that are sustainable and efficient.

Based on the text, what can be inferred about the kingfisher's beak?