Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 189: Answer and Explanation

Question: 189

Text 1

Football and basketball players are barred from playing in the NFL and NBA until they are three and one years removed from high school, respectively. They are forced to play college ball before being allowed to earn a real living. Though the athletes are generating billions of dollars in revenue for college athletic departments, they do not receive fair compensation directly from the universities.

Text 2

What happens when a world-class athlete suffers a debilitating injury while biding their time and playing for the NCAA? Consider the case of former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore. Marcus was physically ready to be a star NFL player during his junior season, but he was prohibited from doing so. During this time, Marcus suffered a gruesome knee injury; despite rehabilitation, he has never really been the same, and his earning potential is mere decimal points of what it once was.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the two texts?

• A. Text 1 takes a position in opposition to that expressed in Text 2.
• B. Text 2 provides a specific anecdote in support of the argument in Text 1.
• C. Text 1 considers economics while Text 2 solely focuses on health consequences.
• D. Text 2 addresses the possibility of delayed professional careers while Text 1 does not consider this.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

(B) Text 1 argues that young athletes miss out on significant earnings opportunities because they are prohibited from starting their careers for certain periods of time. The example of Marcus Lattimore serves to give an example of someone who missed out on significant earnings because of a career-ending injury he suffered in college. Thus, Text 2 provides a specific anecdote in support of the argument in Text 1.