PSAT Reading Question 301: Answer and Explanation

Question: 301

As used in line 42, "robust" most nearly means

• A. exact.
• B. healthy.
• C. reliable.
• D. vigorous.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks what the word robust most nearly means in line 42. Go back to the text, find the word robust, and cross it out. Then read the window carefully, using context clues to determine another word that would fit in the text. The text says that combing all the possible ways of measuring the neutrino mass will allow scientists to have a finite and robust answer. Therefore, robust must mean something like "dependable" or "consistent." Exact means "precise," which does not match "dependable," so eliminate (A). Healthy does not match "dependable," so eliminate (B). Reliable matches "dependable," so keep (C). Vigorous means "energetic" or "strong" and does not match "dependable," so eliminate (D). Note that (B) and (D) are Could Be True trap answers based on other meanings of robust that are not supported by the text. The correct answer is (C).