PSAT Reading Question 579: Answer and Explanation

Question: 579

As used in line 34, "integral" most closely means

• A. essential.
• B. economic.
• C. geographic.
• D. capitalist.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) When dealing with vocabulary questions, insert the options individually into the sentence to determine which is best given the context. "Essential" is the best answer, and it is the meaning normally associated with "integral." Prior knowledge of the word would have been quite helpful. These companies, the sentence is saying, have grown to be basic, fundamental parts of American society. "Economic," "geographic," and "capitalist" all fail to capture the author's desired meaning of how mainstream these companies have become.