PSAT Reading Question 17: Answer and Explanation

Question: 17

In lines 48–51, the reference to St. Helena serves primarily to

• A. introduce a comparison illustrating Manderson's view of his work.
• B. present a dilemma that perplexed Manderson's coworkers.
• C. describe a significant event in the history of the Stock Exchange.
• D. suggest a potential career path dismissed by Manderson.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

The question asks what the reference to St. Helena serves to do in the passage. Find the line reference and carefully read the window to figure out what the reference to St. Helena does within the context of the passage. Lines 46–49 state that at St. Helena it was laid down that war is a beautiful occupation and so the young Manderson had found the…dogfight of the Stock Exchange. The reference to St. Helena introduces a comparison between war and work at the Stock Exchange, so eliminate any answer choices that are not consistent with this prediction. Choice (A) matches the prediction, so keep it. There is no dilemma nor mention of coworkers, so eliminate (B). The sentence does not refer to an event in the history of the Stock Exchange, so (C) can be eliminated. The lines about St. Helena do not suggest that Manderson rejected war as a career path, so eliminate (D). The correct answer is (A).