SAT Mc Graw Hill 2011

CHAPTER 16 / PRACTICE TEST 3 765

Since 2 is an integer, statement III is necessarily true.

(Chapter 9, Lesson 3: Numerical Reasoning Problems)

(Chapter 6, Lesson 7: Thinking Logically)

14.C Find all the possible products of the values on
two chips: (1)(2) =2; (1)(3) =3; (1)(4) =4; (1)(5) =5;
(1)(6) =6; (2)(3) =6; (2)(4) =8; (2)(5) =10; (2)(6) =12;
(3)(4) =12; (3)(5) =15; (3)(6) =18; (4)(5) =20; (4)(6) =
24; (5)(6) =30. There are 15 different combinations of
chips. Of these, only the last 2 yield products that are
greater than 20. So the probability is 2/15.
(Chapter 9, Lesson 6: Probability Problems)

15.D In this problem, only the signs of the terms
matter. By following the rule of the sequence, you
should see that the first six terms of the sequence are
+, −, −, +, −. −,... The pattern {+, −, −} repeats forever.
In the first 100 terms, the pattern repeats 100 ÷ 3 =
331 ⁄ 3 times. Because each repetition contains two neg-
ative numbers, in 33 full repetitions there are 33 × 2 =
66 negative numbers. The 100th term is the first term
of the next pattern, which is positive, so the total
number of negative terms is 66.
(Chapter 11, Lesson 1: Sequences)

16.B Draw the five triangles. The simplest way to
solve this problem is to compare the choices one pair
at a time. For instance, it should be clear just by in-
spection that RB> RAand SB> SA,so we can elimi-
nate A.Similarly, it should be clear that RB> RCand
SB> SC,so we can eliminate C.Likewise, since RB> RD
and SB> SD,we can eliminate D.Finally, we compare
Bwith E.Since RBand REare each a diagonal of one
of the square faces, they must be equal. But SBis
clearly longer than SE,because SBis the hypotenuse
of triangle SEB,while SEis one of the legs.
(Chapter 10, Lesson 7: Volumes and 3-D Geometry)
(Chapter 6, Lesson 7: Thinking Logically)

Section 8

1.C If the review suggested that the décor of the
restaurant was insipid (tasteless), but that the cuisine
came close to compensatingfor it, the review must
have been part positive and part negative, that is, am-
bivalent. indefatigable= untiring; banal= lacking orig-
inality; ambivalent = characterized by conflicting
feelings; sublime= supreme, impressive; piquant=
spicy; tepid= lukewarm

2.C The sentence suggests that Dr. Thompson
should have characterized the results as unusual, but
didn’t. meticulous= concerned with detail; belligerent=
prone to fighting; anomalous= deviating from the
norm; convergent= coming together; warranted= ap-
propriate to the situation

3.B They would hope that bad news did not predict

further bad news. amalgam= a combination of diverse

elements; harbinge= omen; arbiter= judge; talisman=

an object with magical power

4.C To bring slaves out of bondageis to freeor un-

fetterthem. encumber= burden; forgo= relinquish

5.D A writer who can produce both decorative po-

etryand a keenly analytical mystery novelis a versatile

writer; that is, she is able to write in divergent styles.

flamboyant= ornate; immutability= permanence, un-

changeability; austere= plain; florid= ornate; grand-

iloquent= characterized by pompous language

6.B The word becauseindicates that the sentence

shows a cause-and-effect relationship. There are sev-

eral ways to complete this sentence logically, but the

only one among the choices is (B), because multifari-

ous (widely varied) mechanisms would logically

“stymie” (impede) scientists who are trying to inves-

tigate them. efficacious= capable of producing a de-

sired effect; bilked= cheated; conspicuous= obvious;

thwarted= prevented; hampered= hindered; lucid=

clear; proscribed= forbidden

7.B If the cultural assumption that there are many

alien civilizations... stems in no small way from...

the “Drake Equation,”then this equation has had

quite an influence on public opinion.

8.E The first two paragraphs discuss how the

Drake Equation has led to the belief that there are

many alien civilizations in the universe. The third

paragraph discusses the author’s contrasting view

that there is indeed probably much simple life in the

universe but very little if any other complex life.

9.B The sentence states that a planet could go from

an abiotic state to a civilization in 100 million years

thereby implying that a civilizationmust, by defini-

tion, not be abiotic.Choice (B) is the only choice that

necessarily cannot apply to a civilization.

10.A The author states his thesis in lines 38–39: per-

haps life is common, but complex life is not,and goes

on to explain this thesis, stating in lines 61–67 that re-

search shows that while attaining the stage of animal

life is one thing, maintaining that level is quite another.

... Complex life is subject to an unending succession
of planetary disasters, creating what are known as
mass-extinction events.

11.A The phrase the evolutionary grade we call

animalsrefers to the levelof life form produced by

evolution.