This is an Inference question, so the correct answer may be implied but not spelled out directly. The first paragraph talks about the participants of urban legends. It turns out that those participants can never be found.
This is an EXCEPT question, so the correct answer is the one that does not characterize successful urban legends. If you were able to determine that urban legends are fictional, then choice (D), a basis in reality, is clearly the correct answer. Otherwise, you could use the process of elimination on the wrong answer choices. The passage states that urban legends “persist both for their entertainment value and for the transmission of popular values and beliefs,” so choices (A) and (B), which paraphrase this, are wrong. Finally, the very first sentence describes urban legends as a new form of folktale, so (C) is out.
The author, while maintaining that there were other scientists with similar evolutionary ideas, notes toward the end that Darwin’s eloquence and his ability “to account for many diverse examples” helped him establish his theories as the benchmark by which others stacked up. Thus, choice (B) is correct. None of the other choices are supported by the passage.
In questions that ask about the author’s tone, beware of answer choices that exaggerate the author’s point of view. Choice (B) is correct because the passage merely conveys relevant facts about an issue. While the author does describe two opposing reactions that parents have had to the changes that have taken place in elementary schools, no preference is implied. Therefore choices (A) and (C) are incorrect. Be cautious with choices such as these that use extreme language.
Although the wording of this question indicates that this is an Inference question, the correct answer choice, (D), can be taken directly from the first sentence. If most life is “dependent on organisms that store radiant energy from the Sun,” it is dependent on light from the Sun. Remember that on Inference questions you are looking for the one answer that must be true based on what is stated in the passage.
The first paragraph describes ecosystems that are dependent on photosynthetic organisms, while the second paragraph describes ecosystems that are dependent on chemosynthetic organisms. In both cases, the organisms serve similar functions as primary producers within their different food chains, so choice (A) is correct. Choice (B) is wrong because only chemosynthetic organisms are described in the passage as supporting higher organisms “at great ocean depths.” (C) is wrong because chemosynthetic organisms do not rely on sunlight for their basic source of energy. Choice (D) is never discussed in the passage.
The last sentence of the passage implies that Halley accurately predicted the 1758 appearance of the comet. Thus, you can infer that the appearance of the comet confirmed Halley’s theory and accorded with his calculations.
The passage discusses a few ways to distinguish a crocodile from an alligator. The first and most easily observed of these is the fact that the crocodile’s head and jaws are longer and narrower. In other words, it has a narrower snout, choice (D). (A) is out, because the animals’ mouths do not necessarily have to be closed to distinguish one from the other. Choice (B) is out because both animals can be found in the Everglades National Park, and (C) is never discussed as one of the ways to distinguish one giant reptile from the other.
On this question you are asked to infer what the agent believes. She must assume that certain actors are inappropriate for certain parts, because if she didn’t believe this her conclusion would make no sense; it wouldn’t be possible for an actor to audition for an inappropriate part. The actors’ talent, (B), isn’t questioned by the agent; she focuses on the types of roles. The possibility that an actor’s appropriateness for the part may be difficult to predict, (C), is never assumed by the agent; in fact, if anything, such a belief would weaken her conclusion. Major roles, (D), are never discussed in the passage.
To answer this Detail question, scan the passage for a reference to foot or feet. The first such mention is in the third sentence, which states: “Pentameter refers to the number of feet, or groupings of syllables.” So a foot is just that, a grouping of syllables, choice (A).
This is a Global question, so reading the passage for details is not necessary, although paying attention to the overall effect of those details is. The author notes that public opinion on the war was swayed when the Lusitania was attacked, prompting increased military involvement from the United States. Choice (D) is a paraphrase of this main idea. Of the wrong answer choices, (A) distorts a detail found in the passage, implying a causal link between America’s support for Britain and France and Germany’s sinking of the Lusitania that is not supported by the passage. Choice (B) refers to a minor detail in the passage, and choice (C) is simply not true according to the passage, particularly after the sinking of the Lusitania.
In this Inference question, you are asked to supply a conclusion that is best supported by the passage. The author seems to believe that critics’ opinions aren’t necessarily more significant than those of the average person, so (D), which restates this idea, is a valid inference. Though the author says the critics’ opinions aren’t more valid than those of average moviegoers, he doesn’t imply (A), that the critics’ opinions are usually incorrect. Choice (B) is out because the author does not say that the critics’ judgments are meaningless—merely that critics don’t always make the right judgments. And the passage doesn’t state how frequently critics dislike popular movies, (C).
This Detail question asks why Americans did not start using the tomato until the mid-nineteenth century. According to the passage, the English considered the tomato poisonous, and this myth continued to hold sway in America until the mid-nineteenth century. In other words, they, too, believed it to be poisonous, choice (C). None of the other answer choices are supported by the statements in the passage.
The word “drowsy” is used to describe Daria. In the following sentence, you learn that Daria looks forward to going to sleep each night. From this information, you can determine that “drowsy” means tired or sleepy. Nothing in the passage suggests that Daria was drunk, (A). Throughout the passage, Daria is presented as the opposite of (C) happy and (D) satisfied.
The author discusses how she enjoys escaping the sun by sitting under the variety of trees in the forest. This implies that the trees provide adequate shade for her enjoyment as stated in choice (A). Choice (B) is the opposite of the meaning the author conveys. The author is thankful for the shade from the trees, so it’s not accurate to say they are impairing her enjoyment, (C). While it may be true that trees provide a home for many animals, this concept is never discussed or implied in the passage, so choice (D) is incorrect.