PSAT Writing and Language Question 658: Answer and Explanation

Question: 658

Which of the following options for the underlined portion would best elaborate on the topic of the sentence with the most specific detail?

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. were constituted of a great deal of mass and matter, and possessed sufficient gravitational pull to have a significant impact on their surroundings,
• C. had enough mass to become nearly round due to pressure, and had enough gravity to clear their orbit of any other bodies,
• D. had a tremendously large amount of mass, while enough gravity to be quite noticeable,

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) The important part of this question is specificity: a choice is needed that provides the most relevant, logical, and "specific" information. Eliminate choices (A) and (D) for being far too general: they lack "specific" substance. Choice (B) manages to be lengthy and yet shallow at the same time. "A great deal of mass and matter" is the best example of this wordiness. Moreover, it still doesn't provide the specificity of choice (C), which wastes no words while still providing ample detail.