PSAT Reading Question 96: Answer and Explanation

Question: 96

Passage 1 most strongly suggests that Professor Yodh's team at the University of Pennsylvania assumed which of the following before their experiments?

• A. The shape of the particles leads to detachment from the interface.
• B. The shape of the particles has a minimal effect on drying patterns.
• C. The shape of a spherical particle can't be changed to ellipsoid.
• D. The shape of the particles is the only factor that affects the membrane.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B

The question refers to Passage 1 and asks what Professor Yodh's team assumed before they started their experiments. Because this is a general question, it should be done after all the specific questions about Passage 1. Lines 28–30 state that the researchers were surprised at how big an effect particle shape had on the drying phenomenon, so look for an answer about how the researchers didn't expect particle shape to have much of an effect on drying patterns. Choice (A) is a Deceptive Language trap answer; it looks similar to what is stated in lines 33–34—Spherical particles easily detach from the interface—but this was a discovery in the experiment, not something the researchers assumed before their experiments. Eliminate (A). Choice (B) matches the prediction because they had assumed shape wouldn't have a major effect; keep it. Lines 26–28 say that the spherical particles could be stretched; the researchers planned this as part of their experiment, so eliminate (C). The passage indicates that the scientists didn't expect the shape of the particles to have much of an effect, so eliminate (D). The correct answer is (B).