שאלות Critical Reading and Conceptual Distinction למבחן ה-SAT

These questions require students to analyze provided notes or information and select the most relevant statement that accurately emphasizes a key difference, relationship, or concept within the topic. They test reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and the ability to synthesize information effectively.

Question 1: The Water Cycle

A student has taken the following notes about the water cycle:

• The sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing it to evaporate.
• Water vapor cools in the atmosphere, condensing into clouds.
• Precipitation occurs when condensed water falls as rain, snow, or hail.
• Some precipitation infiltrates the ground, becoming groundwater.
• Runoff moves water back into lakes, rivers, and oceans.

The student wants to emphasize the role of condensation in the water cycle. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers before returning to the atmosphere.

B) When water vapor cools in the atmosphere, it condenses into clouds, eventually leading to precipitation.

C) Some precipitation becomes groundwater, while the rest flows into bodies of water.

D) The sun provides energy for evaporation, an essential step in the water cycle.

Question 2: Photosynthesis

A student has taken the following notes about photosynthesis:

• Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
• Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen.
• The process takes place primarily in leaves, which contain chlorophyll.
• Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, allowing the plant to convert energy.
• The oxygen produced is released into the air as a byproduct.

The student wants to highlight the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Plants produce glucose and oxygen through photosynthesis, which occurs in their leaves.

B) The oxygen produced by photosynthesis is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct.

C) Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, enabling plants to convert energy for photosynthesis.

D) Water and carbon dioxide are essential reactants in the process of photosynthesis.

Question 3: Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Energy

A student has taken the following notes about energy sources:

• Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, and hydropower.
• Nonrenewable energy sources include fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Renewable energy sources replenish naturally and do not run out.
• Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and cannot be replaced quickly.
• Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

The student wants to highlight a key difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, while renewable energy sources replenish naturally.

B) Solar and wind power are examples of renewable energy sources.

C) Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

D) Hydropower is a renewable energy source that relies on water movement.

Question 4: The Human Digestive System

A student has taken the following notes about digestion:

• The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients that the body can use.
• Digestion begins in the mouth, where enzymes in saliva start breaking down carbohydrates.
• The stomach secretes acid to break down proteins.
• The small intestine absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream.
• The large intestine absorbs water and prepares waste for elimination.

The student wants to emphasize the role of the stomach in digestion. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) The digestive system allows the body to process food into usable nutrients.

B) The stomach secretes acid to break down proteins before food reaches the small intestine.

C) The large intestine absorbs water and eliminates waste from the body.

D) Enzymes in saliva begin the breakdown of carbohydrates in the mouth.

Question 5: The Formation of Fossils

A student has taken the following notes about fossil formation:

• Fossils form when plants and animals are buried under layers of sediment.
• Over time, minerals replace organic material, creating a fossil.
• Some fossils preserve hard parts like bones and shells.
• Rarely, fossils preserve soft tissues under special conditions.
• Fossils provide evidence of past life and help scientists study evolution.

The student wants to highlight how fossils form. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) Some fossils preserve bones and shells, while others contain soft tissues.

B) Fossils provide important evidence about past life on Earth.

C) Scientists use fossils to understand the evolution of different species.

D) When buried under sediment, plant and animal remains gradually turn into fossils through mineral replacement.

Answers: 

1) B - "When water vapor cools in the atmosphere, it condenses into clouds, eventually leading to precipitation."

2) C - "Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, enabling plants to convert energy for photosynthesis."

3) A - "Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, while renewable energy sources replenish naturally."

4) B - "The stomach secretes acid to break down proteins before food reaches the small intestine."

5) D - "When buried under sediment, plant and animal remains gradually turn into fossils through mineral replacement."