PSAT Reading Question 546: Answer and Explanation

Question: 546

The author uses quotation marks around the phrase "good politics" in line 14 primarily to

• A. properly cite her past writings.
• B. distance herself from a point of view.
• C. predict a likely course of events.
• D. explain a controversial position.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

(B) Based on the passage as a whole, Anthony disagrees with the main idea presented in the first paragraph—she believes that women should remain united in their quest for voting rights and avoid dividing themselves by declaring loyalty for individual political parties. Putting quotation marks around a phrase is a common stylistic device that one can use to express distance from a point of view. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no evidence that she said any such thing. Choice (C) is incorrect because she is not making a prediction. Choice (D) is incorrect because such a short phrase cannot offer much in the way of an explanation.