Digital PSAT Reading and Writing Practie Test 24

1

While we might think of the cat video as an invention of the twenty-first century, felines on film have been entertaining humans since the earliest days of cinema over a hundred years ago. Theories abound as to why we love to watch videos of cats, why we find these creatures so entertaining. Perhaps it is because the movements of a cat tend to be far less predictable than those of many other pets, such as dogs. After all, the cat is known for its fickle nature as a species, a fickleness that creates suspense in the viewer who wonders, "what will that cat do next?" Despite being the most common pet in the United States, ____________________.

Which choice most logically completes the text?

2

The following text is from Carrie Chapman Catt's "Address to the Congress on Women's Suffrage" in 1917.

"There is one thing mightier than kings and armies"-aye, than Congresses and political parties-"the power of an idea when its time has come to move." The time for woman suffrage has come. The woman's hour has struck. If parties prefer to postpone action longer and thus do battle with this idea, they challenge the inevitable. The idea will not perish; the party which opposes it may.

Based on the text, Catt argues that women's suffrage should happen

3

But heating proteins isn't the only way to denature them: they can also be denatured by adding certain denaturing substances. Many of these substances, like strong acids and bases, you wouldn't want to add to your food; however, one common denaturing agent is salt. This is why you may want to brine a tougher cut of meat in addition to cooking it. Brining involves soaking something in a solution of salt water. Another benefit of brining is that when the meat absorbs the salt, this draws water into the meat to dilute the salt. Thus, brining also serves to keep meat moist. Some chefs will advise searing the outside of a cut of meat before cooking it through to lock in the moisture. However, chemistry doesn't support this approach: steam is equally capable of escaping through a seared crust as it is through non-seared meat.

According to the text, which of these cooking approaches would have the most negligible effect on the tenderness of meat?

4

In ancient times past, the subtle beauty and architectural refinement of the monument ____ uncontested.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

5

Look through the glass and you'll see that, like a correctional lens, these imperfections distort the images that pass through them. _______________ windows were often made using a technique called glassblowing.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

6

Without a strong defense system in place, the human body would experience life-threatening consequences from these attacks. Therefore, the body's innate (i.e., natural) immune system and protective mechanisms are crucial to the _________________ of humanity.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

7

A commitment to an education in environmental engineering does not go unrewarded. The median annual income is recorded at well over $80,000, and the outlook is promising. Tightening federal regulations ________________ expected to only stimulate the need for environmental engineers over the next decade.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

8

Colonel Sartoris, or Sarty, is trapped in a world stricken by fear, grief, and misery. _______________ father, Sarty is continually faced with the paradox of detesting the man who raised him, while also feeling an inherent fidelity to him.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

9

Dental students, Tim explained, __________ reasons for pursuing the occupation.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

10

Described by playwright Bernard Shaw as ________________ their lingering influences have coexisted and even comingled in drama for more than a century now.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?