PSAT Writing and Language Question 357: Answer and Explanation

Question: 357

The writer is considering revising the paragraph to remove the quotation from Pope. Assuming that the revision would result in a complete sentence, should the quotation be kept or deleted?

• A. Kept, because it gives a reason that Pope and his team wanted to study shore crabs.
• B. Kept, because it provides necessary details about the scientific approach to Pope's study.
• C. Deleted, because it does not contribute to the paragraph's focus on the importance of studying spatial learning abilities in aquatic animals.
• D. Deleted, because it gives an unnecessary fact that obscures the paragraph's focus.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

A

Note the question! The question asks whether a quotation should be removed, so it's testing consistency. If the content of the quotation is consistent with the ideas surrounding it, then it should be kept. The paragraph discusses a study about the spatial abilities of shore crabs. The quotation gives a reason for the study, saying we haven't really looked for them in their aquatic counterparts. Since the quotation is consistent with the rest of the paragraph, it should be kept; eliminate (C) and (D). Keep (A) because it correctly says that the quotation gives a reason for the study. Eliminate (B) because the quotation does not discuss the study's scientific approach. The correct answer is (A).