PSAT Week 5

The main purpose of the passage is to

• convince the South African people to support a new form of government.

• reprimand other countries for abandoning South Africa in a time of great need.

• remember the hardships the South African people overcame to secure freedom.

• encourage the South African people to come together in rebuilding their nation.

Which choice best summarizes the passage?

• Humankind is capable of evil under oppression and greatness when granted freedom.

• It was the sacrifices of ordinary citizens that ended the conflict in the nation of South Africa.

• Although racial oppression wounded the country of South Africa, a new season of peace and liberty will heal it.

• Although nations across the globe promised to work together to put an end to racism, many countries failed to respond to South Africa’s plea for help.

Mandela includes the statement in lines 4-6 most likely to convey the idea that

• time will eventually heal the wounds of South Africa’s broken society.

• extraordinary South African heroes have emerged from extraordinary hardships.

• urge to focus on South Africa’s past.

• South African society must learn from its failings in order to shape a better future.

Mandela implies that for the nation to achieve its potential, it is most important that

• the South African people regain confidence in their political system.

• the South African people live each day with integrity.

• other countries send representatives to make peace with South Africa.

• other countries recognize South Africa as a free country.

Which choice provides the best evidence that Mandela implied that the nation had achieved its potential.

• Lines 7-11 (“Our . . . for all”)

• Lines 12-14 (“All... today”)

• Lines 33-37 (“We, the people... soil”)

• Lines 42-43 (“We have... emancipation”)

As used in line 23, “moved” most nearly means

• changed

• stirred

• relocated

• postponed

Mandela’s purpose for repeating the phrases “the time” and “has come” in lines 38-41 is most likely to

• suggest that building something new will cause faster healing.

• reinforce the claim that old wounds must be healed before people can move forward.

• emphasize the idea that the time for action is the present.

• contrast the difference between times of war and times of peace.