Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practice Question 78: Answer and Explanation

Question: 78

Electricity in the kitchen, of course, ushered in a new age of powered cooking appliances, but perhaps none is more curious, clever, and common than the microwave oven. The epitome of speed cooking, the microwave uses a wholly different approach to heating food than any of its predecessors-however, its remarkable swiftness comes at the expense of precision, particularly when dealing with physically dense foodstuffs. In consequence, the microwave is a fantastic device for thawing stored vegetables, but should hardly be relied upon to properly prepare, say, a Thanksgiving turkey, or perhaps a mammoth steak.

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

• A. To consider objections to a widespread viewpoint
• B. To discuss the scientific underpinnings of a theory
• C. To clarify the optimal uses for an appliance
• D. To suggest avenues for further research

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) The text describes how the microwave presents an innovation in cooking technology, with the final sentence showing the uses that are most suitable for the microwave: thawing food and not cooking large cuts of meat. This understanding most closely aligns with choice (C). It is not (A), because it does not consider objections. It is not (B), because it does not go into detail about science. And it is not (D), because it does not suggest further avenues for research.