PSAT Reading Question 285: Answer and Explanation

Question: 285

What does the authors' use of the word "drivers" (line 35) suggest about the fish population?

• A. Human and natural factors affect the fish population.
• B. The feeding habits of fish are influenced by multiple factors.
• C. Fishing has forced fish populations to move to new locations around the globe.
• D. Fish populations have not changed significantly in response to human activity.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

The question asks what the word drivers suggests about the fish population. Use given line reference to find the window. In the window, the authors state that it is hard to separate human impacts from the natural biophysical and environmental drivers of these fish populations. Therefore, the authors imply that the fish population is impacted by both human and natural factors. Eliminate answers that don't match the prediction. Choice (A) says that human and natural factors affect the fish population. This matches the prediction, so keep (A). Choice (B) is a Mostly Right, Slightly Wrong trap answer, as the feeding habits of fish are not mentioned in the window. Eliminate (B). Choice (C) is a Right Words, Wrong Meaning trap answer. Though the words fishing and fish populations appear in the passage, there are no new locations around the globe mentioned in the window. Eliminate (C). Choice (D) is a Right Words, Wrong Meaning trap answer. The text mentions human impacts and states that those impacts are hard to separate from other factors that affect fish populations. This does not mean that human activity has not caused a significant change in fish populations, but that it is hard to determine the source of the change. Eliminate (D). The correct answer is (A).