Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 16: Answer and Explanation

Question: 16

It might be easy to chalk up the younger generation as careless and unconcerned and altogether misdirected, but that's the easy way out, and it is flawed. Students are largely civic-minded; they volunteer, worry about public policies, and even congregate to debate solutions to everything from environmental issues to human rights to health care. Significant events like the war in Iraq in 2003 or Barack Obama's running for president in 2008 or gay marriage rights may generate an influx in youth participation, but overall, young voters are disengaged from American democracy and looking at other ways of tackling society's problems. It is not that they are merely apathetic, but instead that they have lost faith in electoral politics and are highly suspicious of party labels.

The author most strongly suggests that younger Americans are most likely to take what approach to solving societal problems?

• A. Active participation in the political process
• B. General apathy and lack of activity
• C. Attacking problems outside of a governmental paradigm
• D. Focusing on their own individual interests above all

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) Given the overall argument in the text, it is safe to assume that the author believes the younger generation is concerned with solving social issues but prefers to do so outside of political spheres. They are looking at "other ways of tackling society's problems." The text argues against (A). Choices (B) and (D) are refuted in the first sentence of the text.