PSAT Reading Question 83: Answer and Explanation

Question: 83

In the context of the passage as a whole, the primary purpose the last paragraph is to

• A. criticize the steel mill owners.
• B. lament the state of abandoned property.
• C. explain the current status of the steel mills.
• D. suggest changes to the steel industry.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks for the primary purpose of the last paragraph in the context of the passage. Read the last paragraph, which discusses how much the local population still depends on the steel mills, and states that there are only 15 million working in the mills now, and describes some of the mills as abandoned and collapsing. The passage as a whole discusses the steel mills of South Chicago, and the final paragraph describes what the mills are like now. Although the author describes the mill owners as complacent, the primary purpose of the paragraph is not to criticize them. Eliminate (A). Although this paragraph describes abandoned factory buildings, the primary purpose is not to lament the abandoned property. Eliminate (B). Choice (C) is supported by the descriptions in this paragraph. Keep (C). Eliminate (D), as the author never proposes specific changes for problems in the industry. The correct answer is (C).