PSAT Reading Question 86: Answer and Explanation

Question: 86

The authors of the passage most likely believe that

• A. burning should be done on a semiannual basis.
• B. no burning should happen in the late spring.
• C. late spring may not be the best time for burning.
• D. changing burning schedules will negatively influence plants.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

The question asks what the authors of the passage most likely believe. Because this is a general question, it should be done after all the specific questions. Work backwards from the answers to find evidence in the passage. The text never states that burning should be done semi-annually (which means twice a year), so eliminate (A). According to lines 24–30, late spring burning has been the recommendation since the early 1970s and has maintained the Flint Hills grassland, so eliminate (B). Lines 35–37 state, Burning in late spring…generates more ozone than burning in winter or early spring, and lines 52–54 state, Despite long-standing recommendations that tallgrass prairie be burned only in late spring, the data supporting this policy is equivocal (which means the data could be interpreted in more than one way). These lines support (C), so keep it. The last paragraph states that the historical studies on burning times are inconclusive and then cites a recent study which found that the timing of burning had no significant effect, so eliminate (D). The correct answer is (C).