Practice Reading & Writing questions for the Scholastic Assessment Test. Every question includes a full explanation of why the correct answer is right and why the tempting distractors are wrong.
15 questions available · medium difficulty · SAT · Free, no registration required
10 example questions with full explanations. Use the interactive practice above to work through the complete set.
Question 1easy
Read the following passage and select all statements that accurately reflect the main idea. Select all that apply.
Passage: "Bees are essential pollinators. Without them, many crops that humans rely on for food — including almonds, apples, and blueberries — could not reproduce. Scientists warn that declining bee populations pose a serious threat to global food supplies and biodiversity."
- A.Bees play a critical role in pollinating food crops.✓
- B.Bees are the only animals capable of pollination.
- C.A decrease in bee populations could harm global food supplies.✓
- D.Scientists are concerned about the decline of bee populations.✓
Correct answer: A, C, D
A is correct because the passage directly states bees are 'essential pollinators' for food crops. C is correct because the passage says declining bee populations 'pose a serious threat to global food supplies.' D is correct because the passage explicitly mentions scientists issuing warnings. B is incorrect because the passage never claims bees are the only pollinators — it only discusses bees specifically.
Question 2easy
Read the following passage and select all answer choices that could serve as strong textual evidence supporting the claim that libraries remain important community resources. Select all that apply.
Passage: "Modern libraries offer far more than books. Many provide free internet access, job-search assistance, and after-school tutoring programs for children. Librarians also help community members navigate government services and social programs. Thousands of people who cannot afford internet connections rely on libraries every day."
- A."Many provide free internet access, job-search assistance, and after-school tutoring programs for children."✓
- B."Modern libraries offer far more than books."
- C."Thousands of people who cannot afford internet connections rely on libraries every day."✓
- D."Librarians also help community members navigate government services and social programs."✓
Correct answer: A, C, D
A directly supports the claim by listing concrete services libraries provide to the community. C supports the claim by showing that a large number of people depend on libraries for essential needs. D supports the claim by describing another valuable community service librarians perform. B is a general introductory statement that makes a broad assertion but does not provide specific evidence of libraries' community value — it is a claim itself rather than evidence supporting one.
Question 3easy
Read the following passage and select all transition words or phrases that would logically and correctly fill the blank. Select all that apply.
Passage: "Regular exercise has well-documented physical benefits. _______, studies have shown that consistent physical activity can also significantly improve mental health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression."
- A.Furthermore✓
- B.In addition✓
- C.However
- D.Nevertheless
Correct answer: A, B
The passage is adding a related benefit (mental health) to an already-stated benefit (physical health), so an additive transition is needed. A ('Furthermore') is correct because it signals additional supporting information. B ('In addition') is correct for the same reason — it adds a new point that builds on the previous one. C ('However') signals contrast or contradiction, which does not fit because the second sentence does not oppose the first. D ('Nevertheless') also signals contrast despite an obstacle, which is illogical here since there is no contradiction between the two sentences.
Question 4medium
Read the following passage and answer the question.
"The coral reef ecosystem supports nearly 25% of all marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. Researchers have observed that rising sea temperatures cause coral bleaching, a process in which corals expel the algae that provide their nutrients and color. Without the algae, corals weaken and become susceptible to disease. Scientists warn that if ocean temperatures continue to rise, reef systems could collapse within decades."
The word 'susceptible' as used in this passage most nearly means which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A.Vulnerable✓
- B.Open to harm✓
- C.Resistant
- D.Predisposed✓
Correct answer: A, B, D
In this context, 'susceptible' describes corals that are weakened and therefore at risk of disease. 'Vulnerable' (A) and 'open to harm' (B) both capture the sense of being exposed to danger, which fits the passage's meaning precisely. 'Predisposed' (D) also works because susceptibility implies an increased likelihood of being affected. 'Resistant' (C) is the opposite of 'susceptible' and is clearly wrong — the passage states the corals weaken, not strengthen, after bleaching.
Question 5medium
Read the following passage and the accompanying data, then answer the question.
"A survey of 400 high school students examined the relationship between daily screen time and academic performance. Students who reported more than 5 hours of daily screen time had an average GPA of 2.6, while those with fewer than 2 hours averaged a 3.4 GPA. The researchers cautioned, however, that the study did not control for socioeconomic factors or prior academic achievement."
A researcher claims: 'Reducing screen time would improve students' GPAs.' Select all that apply — which of the following pieces of evidence from the passage or data would most directly support OR challenge this specific claim?
- A.Students with fewer than 2 hours of screen time averaged a GPA of 3.4, compared to 2.6 for those with more than 5 hours.✓
- B.The study did not control for socioeconomic factors or prior academic achievement.✓
- C.The survey included 400 high school students.
- D.The data shows a correlation but does not establish that screen time is the cause of lower GPA.✓
Correct answer: A, B, D
Option A supports the claim by providing the numerical GPA difference between low- and high-screen-time groups, which is the core evidence for the association. Option B challenges the claim because uncontrolled variables (socioeconomic status, prior achievement) mean the GPA difference may have other causes, undermining a causal claim about reducing screen time. Option D challenges the claim directly by noting that correlation does not imply causation, which is crucial when evaluating the researcher's causal claim. Option C (sample size) is a detail about study design that does not directly support or challenge whether reducing screen time improves GPA.
Question 6medium
A student is writing a report on urban heat islands and has gathered the following notes:
• Urban areas absorb and retain more heat than rural areas due to concrete and asphalt surfaces.
• Dark-colored rooftops contribute significantly to heat absorption in cities.
• Cities can be 1–7°F warmer than surrounding rural areas.
• Planting trees and using reflective roofing materials can reduce urban heat.
• The urban heat island effect increases energy consumption for cooling.
The student wants to write a sentence that explains BOTH the cause of the urban heat island effect AND a practical solution. Select all that apply — which of the following sentences effectively accomplish this goal?
- A.Because concrete and asphalt surfaces absorb and retain heat, cities are significantly warmer than rural areas, but using reflective roofing materials can help reduce this effect.✓
- B.Urban heat islands are a well-documented phenomenon that affects energy consumption in major metropolitan areas worldwide.
- C.Dark-colored rooftops and paved surfaces drive urban heat accumulation, a problem that strategic tree planting can meaningfully address.✓
- D.Cities can be up to 7°F warmer than rural areas, which is why more people are moving to suburban regions.
Correct answer: A, C
Option A explicitly names a cause (concrete and asphalt absorbing heat) and a solution (reflective roofing materials), satisfying both requirements. Option C identifies a cause (dark rooftops and paved surfaces) and a solution (tree planting), also meeting both criteria efficiently. Option B only mentions the effect and energy consumption — it states no cause and no solution. Option D cites the temperature difference but introduces a claim about people moving to suburbs that is not supported by the notes and does not include a practical solution.
Question 7hard
A student is writing a paper arguing that urban green spaces significantly reduce residents' stress levels. Which quotation from a research study would most effectively support this claim?
The student has gathered the following notes:
- Study A: 'Residents living within 300 meters of a park reported 15% lower cortisol levels than those living farther away.'
- Study B: 'Urban parks attract diverse wildlife, increasing biodiversity in city environments.'
- Study C: 'City planners have increased green space funding by 20% over the past decade.'
- Study D: 'Many residents report enjoying recreational activities in parks on weekends.'
- A.Study A: 'Residents living within 300 meters of a park reported 15% lower cortisol levels than those living farther away.'✓
- B.Study B: 'Urban parks attract diverse wildlife, increasing biodiversity in city environments.'
- C.Study C: 'City planners have increased green space funding by 20% over the past decade.'
- D.Study D: 'Many residents report enjoying recreational activities in parks on weekends.'
Correct answer: A
Study A is correct because it provides direct physiological evidence — lower cortisol levels, a biological marker of stress — for residents near parks, directly supporting the claim that green spaces reduce stress. Study B addresses biodiversity, not stress. Study C addresses funding trends, not health outcomes. Study D mentions enjoyment of recreational activities, which is related but does not measure stress levels specifically; 'enjoying' activities is not the same as a measurable reduction in stress.
Question 8hard
Read the following passage and answer the question.
'The playwright's earlier works were marked by a studied restraint — characters who internalized their grief rather than displaying it. Critics praised this subtlety. Yet in her final trilogy, emotion floods the stage unabashedly. Some scholars attribute this shift to her personal tragedies late in life; others argue it reflects a deliberate artistic evolution, a rejection of the very aesthetic that first earned her acclaim.'
The word 'studied' as used in the passage most nearly means:
- A.academically informed
- B.carefully cultivated✓
- C.thoroughly examined
- D.intellectually curious
Correct answer: B
'Studied restraint' means a restraint that is deliberate and carefully cultivated — not accidental but intentional and crafted. The passage supports this reading by contrasting it with the later trilogy's unabashed emotion, suggesting the restraint was a conscious artistic choice. 'Academically informed' implies the restraint was derived from scholarly study, which is not supported. 'Thoroughly examined' would make 'studied restraint' mean that the restraint itself was the subject of examination, which is illogical here. 'Intellectually curious' is a personality trait and cannot modify a stylistic quality like restraint.
Question 9hard
The following passage is from a 2023 article on economic policy.
'Proponents of universal basic income (UBI) argue that it eliminates bureaucratic inefficiency by replacing dozens of targeted welfare programs with a single payment. Critics counter that UBI is fiscally irresponsible. _______, pilot studies in Finland and Kenya showed that recipients reported higher well-being and were no less likely to seek employment than control groups.'
Which transition best completes the passage while maintaining the logical flow of the argument?
- A.Similarly,
- B.As a result,
- C.Nevertheless,✓
- D.In other words,
Correct answer: C
'Nevertheless' is correct because the pilot study evidence counters the critics' fiscal irresponsibility claim by showing positive outcomes, creating a contrast with the preceding criticism. The blank introduces evidence that pushes back against the critics, requiring a concessive or contrastive transition. 'Similarly' would suggest the following sentence parallels rather than contradicts the critics' view. 'As a result' implies causation, suggesting the pilot studies occurred because UBI is fiscally irresponsible, which is illogical. 'In other words' signals a restatement, but the pilot study data introduces new evidence rather than rephrasing the prior sentence.
Question 10hard
A researcher claims: 'Social media use among teenagers is correlated with increased rates of anxiety.'
The table below shows data from a study of 1,000 teenagers:
| Daily Social Media Use | % Reporting Anxiety |
|------------------------|---------------------|
| Less than 1 hour | 18% |
| 1–3 hours | 24% |
| More than 3 hours | 37% |
A skeptic argues that the data do not establish that social media causes anxiety. Which statement, if true, would most strengthen the skeptic's position?
- A.The percentage of teenagers reporting anxiety has risen steadily over the past decade.
- B.Social media platforms frequently update their algorithms to maximize user engagement.
- C.Some teenagers in the study used social media for educational purposes.
- D.Teenagers who already experience anxiety may be more likely to spend more time on social media as a coping mechanism.✓
Correct answer: D
The skeptic challenges the causal interpretation of the correlation. Answer C directly undermines causation by proposing reverse causation — anxious teenagers may seek out social media more, meaning anxiety precedes high usage rather than high usage causing anxiety. This is a classic confounding explanation that dismantles a causal claim while leaving the correlation intact. Answer A strengthens the researcher's concern but doesn't challenge causation. Answer B addresses platform design, which is irrelevant to whether the correlation implies causation. Answer C introduces a nuance about usage type but does not challenge the causal direction of the relationship.