PSAT Reading Question 262: Answer and Explanation

Question: 262

Based on Passage 2, which point of view would the speaker most likely have of people who agree with Passage 1's central claim?

• A. He would think that they are overestimating the amount of manpower a volunteer army could provide in the near future.
• B. He would think that they are overly optimistic that the war in Vietnam will end within a year.
• C. He would think that they are too focused on citizens' confidence in the government.
• D. He would think that they are uninformed about the history of the military draft in the United States.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The question asks for the view expressed in Passage 2 about Passage 1's central claim. Because this is a question about both passages, it should be done after the questions that ask about each passage individually. First, consider the central claim of Passage 1. The speaker in Passage 1 states that volunteer recruitment for the military is within practical reach and says, We must end the draft now! Next, consider the point of view expressed in Passage 2 about replacing the draft with voluntary recruitment. Notice that Q33 is the first question in a paired set, so it can be done in tandem with Q34. Look at the answer choices for Q34. The lines for (34A) describe arguments that agree with the central claim in Passage 1. However, these lines do not express the point of view of the speaker in Passage 2, so they do not answer Q33. Eliminate (34A). The lines for (34B) state, If I believed for one moment that the military could meet their manpower needs fully solely through volunteer enlistments, I would be in the forefront leading the charge for a volunteer army. In other words, the speaker in Passage 2 does not want to end the draft immediately because he believes that the military would not be able to recruit enough volunteers quickly. Check the answers for Q33 to see whether any of the answers are supported by these lines. This information matches (33A), so draw a line connecting (34B) and (33A). The lines for (34C) state that ending the draft would be disastrous to the Army's planning for the volunteer army. The military must have the time to test various ideas, to work toward the volunteer army. These lines do not support any of the answers for Q33, so eliminate (34C). The lines for (34D) state, The argument that an immediate end to the draft would force the immediate adoption of the volunteer Army has been rejected at every point of its consideration of this legislation. These lines do not support any of the answers for Q33, so eliminate (34D). Without any support in the answers from Q34, (33B), (33C), and (33D) can be eliminated. The correct answers are (33A) and (34B).