PSAT Reading Question 530: Answer and Explanation

Question: 530

It can be inferred from the passage as a whole that the author believes that many present-day readers of this piece are

• A. knowledgeable about the history of the major battles in the different military theaters in the War of 1812.
• B. well-informed about the difficult early relations that the U.S. and Canada had in the early 1800s.
• C. eager to use the information in this reading to advocate the increased militarization of the undefended U.S.-Canada border.
• D. generally unaware of the past hostility between the U.S. and Canada given the present-day friendliness between the two countries.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

(D) This is best seen from the first paragraph, in which the author thoroughly acknowledges how surprising it must be to modern readers that hostility once existed between the U.S. and Canada. The first paragraph contradicts the supposed knowledge described in choices (A) and (B). The passage does support the notion that people are eager to militarize the U.S.-Canada border as mentioned in choice (C).