SAT Reading and Writing Practice

In 1953, researchers Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted a groundbreaking experiment simulating early Earth's atmosphere. They combined water vapor, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen in a sealed apparatus, then subjected the mixture to electrical discharges mimicking lightning. After a week, they found the solution contained amino acids—fundamental building blocks of proteins essential for life. However, recent studies suggest Earth's early atmosphere likely contained different gases than those used in the Miller-Urey experiment, casting doubt on whether their specific mechanism could explain life's origins. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

• To explain why the Miller-Urey experiment was eventually proven incorrect

• To describe a significant experiment that attempted to explain how life's building blocks could have formed

• To compare different theories about the composition of Earth's early atmosphere

• To demonstrate how electrical discharges can create amino acids from simple gases

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The (a)   of Renaissance art patronage extended far beyond Italy's borders, as wealthy merchants and nobles throughout Europe commissioned works from Italian artists, thereby helping to spread artistic innovations across the continent. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

• influence

• influences

• influencing

• influenced

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 provided scholars with an unprecedented opportunity to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The stone contained the same text written in three different scripts: hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and ancient Greek. (a)   scholars could read ancient Greek, they used it as a key to unlock the meaning of the other two scripts, finally cracking the code that had mystified researchers for centuries. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

• Although

• Therefore

• Similarly

• Because

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The James Webb Space Telescope's unprecedented infrared capabilities __ astronomers to peer through cosmic dust clouds and observe previously hidden celestial phenomena, revolutionizing our understanding of the early universe.

• enables

• enable

• enabling

• enabled

Indigenous Australian art often depicts the Dreamtime, a complex spiritual concept encompassing creation stories, law, and moral values. These artworks traditionally used natural earth pigments to create dots, lines, and circles on rock walls or the ground. Modern Aboriginal artists have adapted these ancient techniques to contemporary mediums, creating vibrant acrylic paintings that maintain cultural significance while reaching global audiences. What is the primary function of this passage?

• To contrast traditional and modern Aboriginal art techniques

• To explain the religious significance of the Dreamtime

• To describe how Aboriginal art has evolved while preserving its cultural roots

• To analyze the global impact of Indigenous Australian artwork

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5