PSAT Reading Question 36: Answer and Explanation

Question: 36

The primary purpose of the final paragraph (lines 81–90) is to

• A. explain the source of an error.
• B. justify an experiment's methods.
• C. discuss implications of a study's results.
• D. suggest a topic for further research.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks for the primary purpose of the final paragraph. Read the final paragraph, which says, This experiment demonstrates that mice have much better visual perception abilities than previously thought. It then broadens the significance of this idea, saying that the perception of complex visual stimuli like paintings extends to non-human animals. Eliminate answers that don't match this prediction. Eliminate (A) because the final paragraph does not describe an error; it describes a change in understanding. Eliminate (B) because the last paragraph does not justify the methods described earlier in the passage. Keep (C) because it matches the prediction. Eliminate (D) because, though the paragraph mentions the broad significance of the findings, it does not suggest a topic for future research. The correct answer is (C).