PSAT Reading Question 567: Answer and Explanation

Question: 567

The scientist Halley's relationship to the ideas of Newton most resembles the relationship between

• A. a musician who uses music theory to enable creative compositions.
• B. a politician who uses philosophical maxims to predict societal outcomes.
• C. a mathematician who uses scientific data to justify algebraic theories.
• D. an engineer who uses the laws of physics to build long-lasting constructions.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

(B) Newton's theories gave Halley a general structure he could use to make better predictions about the behavior of comets. Out of the options, this is most similar to a politician who uses philosophical maxims to predict societal outcomes because the philosophical maxims give the theoretical structure that the politician would use to predict what would come next. Choice (A) is incorrect because the musician is not making predictions. Choice (C) is wrong because the mathematician is using the data to create theories, while Halley was using the theory to make experimental predictions as to what the data would be. Choice (D) is not correct because the engineer is not focused on making predictions about data but, instead, on using established laws of physics for construction.