PSAT Reading Question 523: Answer and Explanation

Question: 523

It can reasonably be inferred that the "people" believe the "aristocrats" and "food-grabbers" in lines 14-17 are likely planning to

• A. poison the food of the peasants.
• B. save food to give away to the needy.
• C. hoard food to profit at a later time.
• D. develop better agricultural technology.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) The sentence before the one in lines 14–17 refers to how the food is becoming more expensive every day. This gives a logical justification to the motives of the food-grabbers. If the food became more expensive, the food-grabbers would profit more from selling it to needy consumers. Choice (A) would be too grotesquely negative. Choices (B) and (D) are the opposite of the purported aristocratic goal of starving and controlling the lower classes.