PSAT Reading Question 20: Answer and Explanation

Question: 20

As used in line 2, "dominant" most nearly means

• A. aggressive.
• B. forceful.
• C. outstanding.
• D. prominent.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

The question asks what the word dominant most nearly means in line 2. Go back to the text, find the word dominant, and highlight it. Then read the window carefully, using context clues to determine another word that would fit in the text. The text says, With governments fretting over how to feed more than nine billion people by 2050, a dominant narrative calls for increasing global food production by 70 to 100 percent. Therefore, the word dominant could be replaced with something like "major." Neither aggressive, forceful, nor outstanding matches "major." These are all Could Be True trap answers based on other meanings of "dominant" that are not supported by the text. Eliminate (A), (B), and (C). Choice (D), prominent, matches "major," so keep (D). The correct answer is (D).