PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 662
Question: 662
Birth Order
Siblings are something most of us take for granted. 23 We don't tend to spend a whole lot of time analyzing the people with whom we were raised—we are used to their personality quirks and we've adapted to deal with them. However, many of those traits that we take for granted in our siblings could be very different 24 based on just one thing: birth order. Birth order is a very complex theory with lots of ins and outs. But when we boil it down to the basics, we can find personality traits 25 which applies specifically to each of the positions in the family.
Firstborn children are leaders. They spend their early years getting lots of attention from their parents, and then they grow up 26 being responsible for their younger siblings. These are the people who are perfectionists. They become the best at whatever they do. Firstborn children become CEOs, lawyers, doctors, astronauts, and politicians. They excel in leadership positions. 27 In contrast, most of the presidents of the United States have been firstborn men or only children (only children are like firstborn children times ten). Firstborn children, though, may suffer from conditions like hypertension, as they have a hard time relaxing and letting go.
[1] A middle child can be any child born between the first and the last. [2] Middle children are very hard to pin down. [3] They often go through life feeling like they don't quite 28 fit in with their families. [4] They suffer from "middle child syndrome," which means they are overlooked or squeezed in the middle. [5] If a family is going to leave a kid at the rest stop on vacation, it is going to be the middle child. [6] This results in the middle child having a large group of friends outside the family; they are very social. [7] Many diplomats are middle children, since these people spend their childhood resolving fights within their families. 29
This brings us to the youngest child. The youngest is often very charismatic. He or she grows up being the center of attention—fortunately, the youngest loves to entertain. 30 Entertainment is something that is quite popular with most modern-day consumers. Youngest children are free thinkers. They are artistic and creative as well. However, the youngest child doesn't have the drive that the oldest has, and can sometimes lose 31 there way in life.
32 Birth order isn't a one-size-fits-all theory, there are many loopholes and exceptions. People can change, if they want to, through hard work. 33 Nevertheless, it can be helpful to understand the factors that influence personalities, and birth order helps a little.
The author is considering inserting the following sentence at this point in the passage:
"Siblings are defined as those people to whom one is related as brothers and sisters."
Should this insertion be made?
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
(C) When deciding whether to include or delete a portion, we must decide first if that portion is relevant. Second, we must decide if the insertion repeats information that has already been stated or if it mentions information that can be readily inferred. In this case, the issue is with the second question: the reader already knows the definition of "sibling." The answer is choice (C).