PSAT Reading Practice Question 41
Question: 41
This passage is adapted from The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1788. In this piece, John Jay discusses maintaining the United States as a single nation or dividing the country into a collection of small independent sovereignties.
To the People of the State of New York:
When the people of America reflect that they are
now called upon to decide a question, which, in its
consequences, must prove one of the most important
05that ever engaged their attention, the propriety of their
taking a very comprehensive, as well as a very serious,
view of it, will be evident.
Nothing is more certain than the indispensable
necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable,
10that whenever and however it is instituted, the people
must cede to it some of their natural rights in order
to vest it with requisite powers. It is well worthy of
consideration therefore, whether it would conduce
more to the interest of the people of America that they
15should, to all general purposes, be one nation, under
one federal government, or that they should divide
themselves into separate confederacies, and give to the
head of each the same kind of powers which they are
advised to place in one national government.
20It has until lately been a received and uncontradicted
opinion that the prosperity of the people of America
depended on their continuing firmly united, and the
wishes, prayers, and efforts of our best and wisest
citizens have been constantly directed to that object.
25But politicians now appear, who insist that this opinion
is erroneous, and that instead of looking for safety and
happiness in union, we ought to seek it in a division of
the States into distinct confederacies or sovereignties.
However extraordinary this new doctrine may appear,
30it nevertheless has its advocates; and certain characters
who were much opposed to it formerly, are at present
of the number. Whatever may be the arguments or
inducements which have wrought this change in the
sentiments and declarations of these gentlemen, it
35certainly would not be wise in the people at large to
adopt these new political tenets without being fully
convinced that they are founded in truth and sound
policy.
It has often given me pleasure to observe that
4040 independent America was not composed of detached
and distant territories, but that one connected, fertile,
wide-spreading country was the portion of our western
sons of liberty. Providence has in a particular manner
blessed it with a variety of soils and productions, and
45watered it with innumerable streams, for the delight and
accommodation of its inhabitants. A succession of
navigable waters forms a kind of chain round its
borders, as if to bind it together; while the most
noble rivers in the world, running at convenient
50distances, present them with highways for the easy
communication of friendly aids, and the mutual
transportation and exchange of their various
commodities. With equal pleasure I have as often taken
notice that Providence has been pleased to give this
55one connected country to one united people—a people
descended from the same ancestors, speaking the
same language, professing the same religion, attached
to the same principles of government, very similar
in their manners and customs, and who, by their
60joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by
side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly
established general liberty and independence.
This country and this people seem to have been
made for each other, and it appears as if it was the
65design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper
and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each
other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a
number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.
According to Jay, which of the following questions about the American political system arose shortly before the passage was written?
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
B
The question asks which of the following questions about the American political system arose shortly before the passage was written. Notice that this is the first question in a paired set, so it can be done in tandem with Q32. Look at the answers for Q32 first. The lines for (32A) say that nothing is more certain than the indispensable power of government, and that the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to provide it with necessary powers. These lines do not address Q31, so eliminate (32A). The lines for (32B) say that politicians now appear who insist that a previously stated opinion is erroneous, and that instead we ought to seek [safety and happiness] in a division of the States into distinct parts. The previously stated opinion (lines 20–24) was that the prosperity of the people of America depended on their continuing firmly unified, and the author states that this opinion was uncontradicted until recently. In other words, the debate mentioned in the lines for (32B) arose shortly before the passage was written. Therefore, check the answers for Q31 to see whether any of the answers are supported by these lines. This information matches (31B), whether America should be governed as one nation or as independent states. Draw a line connecting (31B) and (32B). The lines for (32C) say that America has been blessed…with a variety of soils and productions…for the delight and accommodation of its inhabitants. These lines do not address Q31, so eliminate (32C). The lines for (32D) say that America is one connected country with one united people, claiming that its people are bound by common language, religion, principles, and customs as well as the history of a long and bloody war. This information does not address a political question or debate that would have occurred before the passage was written. Eliminate (32D). Without support from Q32, (31A), (31C), and (31D) can be eliminated. The correct answers are (31B) and (32B).