PSAT Writing and Language Question 237: Answer and Explanation

Question: 237

Why should the author add the following sentence at this point in the passage?

"The difference in pressure and oxygen availability is tough on the body, and medically makes it impossible to complete the trip without doing so."

• A. It adds emphasis to the difficulty of the journey by evaluating how it is impossible to complete it certain ways.
• B. It creates a circular effect in the passage by bringing it back to the idea that the air is too thin.
• C. It properly sums up the section of the passage before beginning a new section.
• D. The author should not include the sentence because it is an irrelevant detail.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A. The sentence appropriately elaborates on the previous sentence in the passage, which expands on the main idea that climbing Mount Everest is a difficult task. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.