SAT Critical Reading questions

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1

Hi, I’m preparing for the SAT, and while taking some practice tests, I found some questions that I could not understand its explanation.

(the passage for the following question can be found on pg. 30-31 of this link (or, as the page number goes, on pg. 550-551):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-SjC2QWxqXRZjhXUWhzMW8yZUE/view )

  1. The word "case" as it is used in line 10 most nearly means (A) example (B) lawsuit (C) convincing argument (D) set of circumstances (E) situation under investigation

I chose answer (A), because it seemed clear to me that the “natural history before the Linnaean system” is an example of “a scientific world without these fundamental tools.”

The answer, however, was (D). An answer explanation found online was:

“… you would fit the word ‘situation.’ But the situation is no good for (E), because (E) is situation under investigation. Synonym for situation may be (D), a set of circumstances.”

But I still can’t understand. I kinda get how (D) is the right answer, but not exactly. Also, why can it be not answer (A)? …This question, I thought, was easy when I saw it and I picked (A) right away. :frowning:

Another question, for the same passage:

  1. As used in line 31, "vital" most nearly means (A) animated (B) invigorating (C) essential (D) necessary to maintaining life (E) characteristic of living beings

I vacillated between (B) and (C). I chose (B) because I thought that his innovation of a classification system, while certainly valuable, wasn’t necessary. But the answer was (C). Am I having the wrong definition of “essential”? I thought that the word meant the same thing as “necessary.”

Much help will be greatly appreciated. :slight_smile:

2
  1. It's not an example, it's a circumstance, or a situation.
  2. "invigorating" means "energizing." There's nothing about energy or vigor. On the other hand, the passage does suggest that the classification system was very important, hence (C).
3

Thanks for the help again, marvin100. I understand now, completely, about number 4. However, I still don’t get number 2 entirely. Wouldn’t the situation still be an example of the world without the Linnaeaus system?

4

Well, if it were an “example,” it would have to be supporting a claim, which it isn’t. It’s mentioning a hypothetical world in which Linnaean taxonomy never existed, a “situation” contrary to fact, in other words.