PSAT Reading Question 149: Answer and Explanation

Question: 149

Which of the following pieces of evidence would most strengthen the author's line of reasoning?

• A. More examples in paragraph 1 of places mercury is found
• B. Details in paragraph 2 about the levels of mercury found in the air
• C. An explanation in paragraph 4 of how to treat mercury poisoning
• D. More examples in paragraph 5 of how many micrograms of mercury people of different weights could eat

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

Difficulty: Hard

Category: Inference

Getting to the Answer: Consider one of the central ideas of the passage. The correct answer would help provide additional support for this idea. One central idea in the passage is that people can eat fish if they know what mercury levels are safe for human consumption. The author states that scientists have determined safe mercury levels by studying at what point symptoms of mercury poisoning occur. However, the author only provides one example weight of how many micrograms of mercury a person could eat. Therefore, (D) is the correct answer.