Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 132: Answer and Explanation

Question: 132

It is easy to notice the endless changes in the recommendations about what foods and beverages people should consume. Coffee is a prime example-it falls out of grace on a regular basis, only to "become healthy" once again a few years later. The same is true of eggs, which are routinely vilified and then exonerated by researchers, regulators, and doctors. However, no food has ever so unjustly gained a bad reputation as dietary fat.

Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

• A. To provide a specific instance to illustrate a broader point
• B. To anticipate an avenue for further research
• C. To suggest a healthy dietary alternative
• D. To define an unfamiliar term for the reader

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) Before the underlined sentence, it states that there are endless changes to the recommended foods and beverages people should consume. The underlined sentence gives the specific example of coffee, since recommendations have fluctuated over the years as far as its healthiness. This aligns with choice (A) since it is providing a specific instance to illustrate a broader point. It is not (B), because it is not suggesting further research but summarizing the changes in recent opinions. It is not (C), because it is not directly mentioning a healthy dietary recommendation. It is not (D), because coffee is not defined and is likely familiar to readers.