PSAT Reading Question 427: Answer and Explanation

Question: 427

It is reasonable to infer that George Willard was approximately what age at the time that Alice initiated her affair with Ned Currie?

• A. Unborn
• B. Seven
• C. Sixteen
• D. Twenty-three

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) We know from lines 1–2 that George is only a boy when Alice is twenty-seven. Since her affair with Ned began when she was sixteen, eleven years have passed. If George is a small boy now, we can reasonably assume that eleven years ago, he was unborn. Choices (C) and (D) would make him much older than he is. Although choice (B) might be tempting, that would make George eighteen at the time of this passage, not a boy.