PSAT Reading Question 25: Answer and Explanation

Question: 25

In lines 25–26, the author includes the phrase "whether sausages or snickerdoodles" in order to

• A. distinguish between the perceived values of food groups.
• B. identify the food waste that environmentalists object to most strongly.
• C. caution her readers against consuming particularly wasteful foods.
• D. highlight the gravity of the overall effects of food waste.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

The question asks for the purpose of the phrase whether sausages or snickerdoodles. Use the given line reference to find the window. Lines 24–28 state, Wasting food takes an environmental toll as well. Producing food that no one eats—whether sausages or snickerdoodles—also squanders the water, fertilizer, pesticides, seeds, fuel, and land needed to grow it. The quantities aren't trivial. The main point of this paragraph is that the environmental harm caused by food waste is significant, and the phrase whether sausages or snickerdoodles helps the author illustrate this point. Eliminate answers that don't match this prediction. Eliminate (A) because the author does not compare values of different food groups. Eliminate (B) because the author does not state that environmentalists object to the waste of these two foods most strongly. Eliminate (C) because sausages and snickerdoodles are not given as examples of particularly wasteful foods, nor does the author try to caution her readers against consuming any type of food. Keep (D) because it matches the prediction. The correct answer is (D).