directly matches the meaning. Eliminate (B) and (D) because desiccated means to “dry up”
and eternal would be the opposite of quick to disappear. Ephemeral means “brief” or
“fleeting,” so it’s a good match, making (C) the correct answer.
39. D The word than, a comparison word, is used several times in the answer choices. Figure out
what is being compared and eliminate answer choices that don’t match. The sentence begins
with when the fruits were, so the answer is going to have to compare to a time period. Only
(D) does this, so it’s the correct answer.
40. B Use POE to find a word that is consistent with the paragraph, which is a lack of food.
Gobbled, ate, and chomped all refer to the consumption of food, but not necessarily a lack
of food, so eliminate (A), (C), and (D). Depleted would fit because it means to “use up
completely.” Choice (B) is correct.
41. C The answer choices split between the verbs have and has, so find the subject and pick the
verb that is consistent. The subject in this case is findings, which is plural, so eliminate (A)
and (D), since has is singular. Eliminate (B) because the verb lead is present tense, but
have is present perfect and a simple past tense verb is needed. The answer is (C).
42. A This question is testing diction, so find the word that is consistent with the context of the
sentence. Province, (A), means “type of learning,” which would fit well with the previous
sentence, so keep it. Providence means “goodwill from a higher power,” so it doesn’t fit;
eliminate (B). Choice (C) can be eliminated because provenance means “origin.” Finally,
eliminate (D) since providential means “lucky.” Choice (A) is the answer.
43. B The answer choices don’t seem to indicate that a clear grammatical rule is being tested
here, so use POE. Choice (A) seems to change the intended meaning, since the adverb
initially comes after what it’s supposed to be modifying instead of before, which it should;
eliminate (A). Choice (D) makes the same mistake, so eliminate it as well. Choice (B) is
much clearer and more concise, so hold onto it. Choice (C) uses then, which is the wrong
word choice (it indicates time) and should therefore be eliminated. Choice (B) is correct.
44. D This question asks whether this essay successfully relates the activities of chimpanzees to
Black Friday shoppers. Humans are discussed very briefly in this passage, so the answer
to the question is no. Eliminate (A) and (B). Eliminate (C) as well since Black Friday
shoppers and chimpanzees are never directly compared. The correct answer is (D).
Section 3: Math (No Calculator)
1. C Translate the question into an equation. Let x equal the number, and then 2x = x − 4. Solving
for x, we find that x = –4. This is (C).
2. C Sonal needs s soil samples. If according to the question, he must have more than 6 samples,
then s > 6. Also according to the question, he may have no more than 13 samples, so s ≤ 13.
Combining these two expressions, we find that 6 < s ≤ 13. This is (C).
3. D The graph of f(x) has a y-intercept at y = 3. Because of this, we know that when y = 3, x =
