Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 271: Answer and Explanation

Question: 271

Text 1

Melaleuca trees were brought to the Florida Everglades from Australia; developers thought these trees would help dry up vast swampy areas,enabling residential and commercial construction. Unfortunately, the trees spread widely and covered up large swaths of the Everglades, displacing native plants. Florida has had to spend a great deal of money to remove these invasive trees.

Text 2

Though common protocol would dictate that an invasive species like honeysuckle be removed from areas where it becomes dominant, these new findings demonstrate that such action would likely strike a significant blow to native bird populations. What's more, areas that today are abundant in honeysuckle typically host 30 to 40 percent more birds than these same regions did thirty years ago, indicating a long-term change for the better.

The author of Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement about Text 1?

• A. While invasive species may cause damage, not all invasive species should be considered harmful.
• B. Melaleuca trees demonstrate the importance of uniformly removing invasive species from the environment.
• C. Honeysuckle plants and melaleuca plants show the need for a consistent approach to invasive species management.
• D. So long as invasive plants are not transported across oceans, they are unlikely to be harmful.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A. Text 2 presents evidence showing that an invasive plant, honeysuckle, can have a positive impact on the environment; this goes against the general suggestion about the negative impact of invasive plants from Text 1. It is not Choice B or C, because Text 2 does not suggest a consistent approach to the treatment of invasive plants. It is not Choice D, because the texts do not detail transportation recommendations about invasive plants.