PSAT Reading Question 55: Answer and Explanation

Question: 55

The main purpose of both Passage 1 and Passage 2 is to

• A. examine the methods of testing the resiliency of invertebrates in space.
• B. claim that invertebrates living in water are less able to withstand extreme environments.
• C. describe the high level of resiliency of a particular invertebrate.
• D. imagine invertebrates in different catastrophic scenarios.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks for the main purpose of both Passage 1 and 2. Consider one passage at a time. Passage 1 discusses a study that found that tardigrades can survive in space. Eliminate answers that don't match this prediction. Eliminate (B) because Passage 1 focuses on only one invertebrate, and tardigrades are more able to withstand extreme environments than other species. Eliminate (D) because Passage 1 does not discuss catastrophic scenarios, and it only discusses one invertebrate, the tardigrade. Passage 2 discusses what phenomena could lead to the extinction of the tardigrade. No method of testing is discussed in Passage 2, so eliminate (A). Keep (C) because it matches the predictions for both passages. The correct answer is (C).