Answer Explanations
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Section 1: Reading Test
QUESTION 1
Choice B is the best answer. In the passage, a young man (Akira) asks
a mother (Chie) for permission to marry her daughter (Naomi). The
request was certainly surprising to the mother, as can be seen from
line 47, which states that prior to Akira’s question Chie “had no idea”
the request was coming.
Choice A is incorrect because the passage depicts two characters
engaged in a civil conversation, with Chie being impressed with
$NLUDŞVŠVLQFHULW\šDQGƮQGLQJKHUVHOIŠVWDUWLQJWROLNHKLPš&KRLFH&
is incorrect because the passage is focused on the idea of Akira’s
and Naomi’s present lives and possible futures. Choice D is incorrect
because the interactions between Chie and Akira are polite, not critical;
for example, Chie views Akira with “amusement,” not animosity.
QUESTION 2
Choice B is the best answer. The passage centers on a night when
a young man tries to get approval to marry a woman’s daughter. The
passage includes detailed descriptions of setting (a “winter’s eve” and
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silent. She stood a full half minute looking straight into Chie’s eyes.
Finally, she spoke,” lines 88-89).
Choice A is incorrect because the passage focuses on a nontraditional
marriage proposal. Choice C is incorrect because the passage
concludes without resolution to the question of whether Akira and
Naomi will receive permission to marry. Choice D is incorrect because
the passage repeatedly makes clear that for Chie, her encounter with
Akira is momentous and unsettling, as when Akira acknowledges in
OLQHWKDWKHKDVŠVWDUWOHGšKHU
© 2018 The College Board. College Board and SAT are registered trademarks of the College Board.
,QUESTION 3
Choice C is the best answer. Akira “came directly, breaking all
tradition,” (line 1) when he approached Chie and asked to marry her
daughter, and he “ask[ed] directly,” without “a go-between” (line 65) or
“mediation,” because doing otherwise would have taken too much time.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because in these contexts, “directly”
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48(67,21
Choice A is the best answer.$NLUDLVYHU\FRQFHUQHG&KLHZLOOƮQGKLV
marriage proposal inappropriate because he did not follow traditional
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when Akira says to Chie “Please don’t judge my candidacy by the
unseemliness of this proposal.”
Choice B is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
Akira worries that Chie will mistake his earnestness for immaturity.
Choice C is incorrect because while Akira recognizes that his
unscheduled visit is a nuisance, his larger concern is that Chie will
reject him due to the inappropriateness of his proposal. Choice D
is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that Akira
worries Chie will underestimate the sincerity of his emotions.
QUESTION 5
Choice C is the best answer.,QOLQHV$NLUDVD\VWR&KLH
“Please don’t judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this
proposal.” This reveals Akira’s concern that Chie may say no to the
proposal simply because Akira did not follow traditional practices.
Choices A, B, and D do not provide the best evidence for the answer
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GHVFULEHV$NLUDŞVYRLFHDVŠVRIWUHƮQHGš&KRLFH%LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVH
OLQHV
UHưHFW&KLHŞVSHUVSHFWLYHQRW$NLUDŞV&KRLFH'LVLQFRUUHFW
because lines 71-72 indicate only that Akira was speaking in an eager
and forthright matter.
QUESTION 6
Choice D is the best answer because Akira clearly treats Chie with
respect, including “bow[ing]” (line 26) to her, calling her “Madame”
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after he concedes that he is not following protocol and admits to being
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Choice A is incorrect because while Akira conveys respect to Chie, there
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incorrect because neither objectivity nor impartiality accurately describes
how Akira addresses Chie. Choice C is incorrect because Akira conveys
respect to Chie and takes the conversation seriously.
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QUESTION 7
Choice D is the best answer.7KHƮUVWSDUDJUDSK OLQHV UHưHFWVRQ
how Akira approached Chie to ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage.
In these lines, the narrator is wondering whether Chie would have
been more likely to say yes to Akira’s proposal if Akira had followed
tradition: “Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had
he followed form — had he asked his mother to speak to his father
to approach a go-between — would Chie have been more receptive?”
7KXVWKHPDLQSXUSRVHRIWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKLVWRH[DPLQHZK\&KLH
reacted a certain way to Akira’s proposal.
&KRLFH$LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKGHVFULEHVRQO\RQH
aspect of Japanese culture (marriage proposals) but not the culture
DVDZKROH&KRLFH%LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKLPSOLHV
a criticism of Akira’s individual marriage proposal but not the entire
tradition of Japanese marriage proposals. Choice C is incorrect
because the narrator does not question a suggestion.
QUESTION 8
Choice B is the best answer. In line 1, the narrator suggests that
Akira’s direct approach broke “all tradition.” The narrator then
wonders if Akira had “followed form,” or the tradition expected of him,
would Chie have been more receptive to his proposal. In this context,
following “form” thus means following a certain tradition or custom.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context “form” does
not mean the way something looks (appearance), the way it is built
(structure), or its essence (nature).
QUESTION 9
Choice C is the best answer. Akira states that his unexpected meeting
with Chie occurred only because of a “matter of urgency,” which he
explains as “an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s
Japanese community” (lines 41-42). Akira decides to directly speak to
&KLHEHFDXVH&KLHŞVUHVSRQVHWRKLVPDUULDJHSURSRVDODƬHFWVZKHWKHU
$NLUDDFFHSWVWKHMRERƬHU
Choice A is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
Akira is worried his parents will not approve of Naomi. Choice B is
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Choice D is incorrect; while Akira may know that Chie is unaware
of his feelings for Naomi, this is not what he is referring to when he
mentions “a matter of urgency.”
QUESTION 10
Choice B is the best answer.,QOLQHV
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of urgency” is that he has “an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for
Seattle’s Japanese community.” Akira needs Chie’s answer to his marriage
proposal so he can decide whether to accept the job in Seattle.
, Choices A, C, and D do not provide the best evidence for the answer to
WKHSUHYLRXVTXHVWLRQ&KRLFH$LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHLQOLQH
$NLUD
apologizes for interrupting Chie’s quiet evening. Choice C is incorrect
because lines 58-59 address the seriousness of Akira’s request, not its
XUJHQF\&KRLFH'LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHOLQHVKRZVRQO\WKDW$NLUDŞV
proposal has “startled” Chie and does not explain why his request is
time-sensitive.
QUESTION 11
Choice A is the best answer. Lines 1-9 include examples of how many
people shop (“millions of shoppers”), how much money they spend
ŠRYHUELOOLRQDWUHWDLOVWRUHVLQWKHPRQWKRI'HFHPEHUDORQHš
and the many occasions that lead to shopping for gifts (“including
weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and baby showers.”).
Combined, these examples show how frequently people in the US shop
for gifts.
Choice B is incorrect because even though the authors mention that
ŠELOOLRQšKDGEHHQVSHQWLQUHWDLOVWRUHVLQRQHPRQWKWKDWƮJXUH
is never discussed as an increase (or a decrease). Choice C is incorrect
because lines 1-9 provide a context for the amount of shopping that
occurs in the US, but the anxiety (or “dread”) it might cause is not
introduced until later in the passage. Choice D is incorrect because
OLQHV
GRPRUHWKDQKLJKOLJKWWKHQXPEHURIGLƬHUHQWRFFDVLRQVWKDW
lead to gift-giving.
QUESTION 12
Choice B is the best answer./LQHV
VWDWHŠ7KLVIUHTXHQWH[SHULHQFH
of gift-giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers.” In
the subsequent sentences, those “ambivalent” feelings are further
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WKDWŠ>P@DQ\UHOLVKš OLQHV DQGŠPDQ\GUHDGš OLQH
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context, “ambivalent”
does not mean feelings that are unrealistic, apprehensive, or supportive.
QUESTION 13
Choice D is the best answer.,QOLQHVWKHDXWKRUVFOHDUO\VWDWHWKDW
VRPHSHRSOHEHOLHYHJLIWJLYLQJFDQKHOSDUHODWLRQVKLSEHFDXVHLWŠRƬHUV
a powerful means to build stronger bonds with one’s closest peers.”
Choice A is incorrect because even though the authors state that some
VKRSSHUVPDNHWKHLUFKRLFHVEDVHGRQŠHJRFHQWULVPš OLQH WKHUH
is no evidence in the passage that people view shopping as a form of
self-expression. Choice B is incorrect because the passage implies
that shopping is an expensive habit. Choice C is incorrect because the
passage states that most people have purchased and received gifts,
but it never implies that people are UHTXLUHG to reciprocate the
gift-giving process.
6$73UDFWLFH7HVW
Section 1: Reading Test
QUESTION 1
Choice B is the best answer. In the passage, a young man (Akira) asks
a mother (Chie) for permission to marry her daughter (Naomi). The
request was certainly surprising to the mother, as can be seen from
line 47, which states that prior to Akira’s question Chie “had no idea”
the request was coming.
Choice A is incorrect because the passage depicts two characters
engaged in a civil conversation, with Chie being impressed with
$NLUDŞVŠVLQFHULW\šDQGƮQGLQJKHUVHOIŠVWDUWLQJWROLNHKLPš&KRLFH&
is incorrect because the passage is focused on the idea of Akira’s
and Naomi’s present lives and possible futures. Choice D is incorrect
because the interactions between Chie and Akira are polite, not critical;
for example, Chie views Akira with “amusement,” not animosity.
QUESTION 2
Choice B is the best answer. The passage centers on a night when
a young man tries to get approval to marry a woman’s daughter. The
passage includes detailed descriptions of setting (a “winter’s eve” and
DŠFROGUDLQšOLQHV
FKDUDFWHU $NLUDŞVŠVRIWUHƮQHGšYRLFHOLQH
$NLUDŞVH\HVŠVK>LQLQJ@ZLWKVLQFHULW\šOLQH
DQGSORW Š1DRPLZDV
silent. She stood a full half minute looking straight into Chie’s eyes.
Finally, she spoke,” lines 88-89).
Choice A is incorrect because the passage focuses on a nontraditional
marriage proposal. Choice C is incorrect because the passage
concludes without resolution to the question of whether Akira and
Naomi will receive permission to marry. Choice D is incorrect because
the passage repeatedly makes clear that for Chie, her encounter with
Akira is momentous and unsettling, as when Akira acknowledges in
OLQHWKDWKHKDVŠVWDUWOHGšKHU
© 2018 The College Board. College Board and SAT are registered trademarks of the College Board.
,QUESTION 3
Choice C is the best answer. Akira “came directly, breaking all
tradition,” (line 1) when he approached Chie and asked to marry her
daughter, and he “ask[ed] directly,” without “a go-between” (line 65) or
“mediation,” because doing otherwise would have taken too much time.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because in these contexts, “directly”
GRHVQRWPHDQLQDIUDQNFRQƮGHQWRUSUHFLVHPDQQHU
48(67,21
Choice A is the best answer.$NLUDLVYHU\FRQFHUQHG&KLHZLOOƮQGKLV
marriage proposal inappropriate because he did not follow traditional
SURWRFRODQGXVHDŠJREHWZHHQš OLQH 7KLVLVFOHDULQOLQHV
when Akira says to Chie “Please don’t judge my candidacy by the
unseemliness of this proposal.”
Choice B is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
Akira worries that Chie will mistake his earnestness for immaturity.
Choice C is incorrect because while Akira recognizes that his
unscheduled visit is a nuisance, his larger concern is that Chie will
reject him due to the inappropriateness of his proposal. Choice D
is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that Akira
worries Chie will underestimate the sincerity of his emotions.
QUESTION 5
Choice C is the best answer.,QOLQHV$NLUDVD\VWR&KLH
“Please don’t judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this
proposal.” This reveals Akira’s concern that Chie may say no to the
proposal simply because Akira did not follow traditional practices.
Choices A, B, and D do not provide the best evidence for the answer
WRWKHSUHYLRXVTXHVWLRQ&KRLFH$LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHOLQHPHUHO\
GHVFULEHV$NLUDŞVYRLFHDVŠVRIWUHƮQHGš&KRLFH%LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVH
OLQHV
UHưHFW&KLHŞVSHUVSHFWLYHQRW$NLUDŞV&KRLFH'LVLQFRUUHFW
because lines 71-72 indicate only that Akira was speaking in an eager
and forthright matter.
QUESTION 6
Choice D is the best answer because Akira clearly treats Chie with
respect, including “bow[ing]” (line 26) to her, calling her “Madame”
OLQH DQGORRNLQJDWKHUZLWKŠDGHIHUHQWLDOSHHNš OLQH $NLUD
GRHVQRWRƬHU&KLHXWWHUGHIHUHQFHWKRXJKDVKHDVNVWRPDUU\1DRPL
after he concedes that he is not following protocol and admits to being
DŠGLVUXSWLRQš OLQH
Choice A is incorrect because while Akira conveys respect to Chie, there
LVQRHYLGHQFHLQWKHSDVVDJHWKDWKHIHHOVDƬHFWLRQIRUKHU&KRLFH%LV
incorrect because neither objectivity nor impartiality accurately describes
how Akira addresses Chie. Choice C is incorrect because Akira conveys
respect to Chie and takes the conversation seriously.
, $16:(5(;3/$1$7,216̝_̝6$73UDFWLFH7HVW
QUESTION 7
Choice D is the best answer.7KHƮUVWSDUDJUDSK OLQHV UHưHFWVRQ
how Akira approached Chie to ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage.
In these lines, the narrator is wondering whether Chie would have
been more likely to say yes to Akira’s proposal if Akira had followed
tradition: “Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had
he followed form — had he asked his mother to speak to his father
to approach a go-between — would Chie have been more receptive?”
7KXVWKHPDLQSXUSRVHRIWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKLVWRH[DPLQHZK\&KLH
reacted a certain way to Akira’s proposal.
&KRLFH$LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKGHVFULEHVRQO\RQH
aspect of Japanese culture (marriage proposals) but not the culture
DVDZKROH&KRLFH%LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHWKHƮUVWSDUDJUDSKLPSOLHV
a criticism of Akira’s individual marriage proposal but not the entire
tradition of Japanese marriage proposals. Choice C is incorrect
because the narrator does not question a suggestion.
QUESTION 8
Choice B is the best answer. In line 1, the narrator suggests that
Akira’s direct approach broke “all tradition.” The narrator then
wonders if Akira had “followed form,” or the tradition expected of him,
would Chie have been more receptive to his proposal. In this context,
following “form” thus means following a certain tradition or custom.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context “form” does
not mean the way something looks (appearance), the way it is built
(structure), or its essence (nature).
QUESTION 9
Choice C is the best answer. Akira states that his unexpected meeting
with Chie occurred only because of a “matter of urgency,” which he
explains as “an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s
Japanese community” (lines 41-42). Akira decides to directly speak to
&KLHEHFDXVH&KLHŞVUHVSRQVHWRKLVPDUULDJHSURSRVDODƬHFWVZKHWKHU
$NLUDDFFHSWVWKHMRERƬHU
Choice A is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
Akira is worried his parents will not approve of Naomi. Choice B is
LQFRUUHFWEHFDXVH$NLUDKDVŠDQXQGHUVWDQGLQJšZLWK1DRPL OLQH
Choice D is incorrect; while Akira may know that Chie is unaware
of his feelings for Naomi, this is not what he is referring to when he
mentions “a matter of urgency.”
QUESTION 10
Choice B is the best answer.,QOLQHV
$NLUDFODULƮHVWKDWWKHŠPDWWHU
of urgency” is that he has “an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for
Seattle’s Japanese community.” Akira needs Chie’s answer to his marriage
proposal so he can decide whether to accept the job in Seattle.
, Choices A, C, and D do not provide the best evidence for the answer to
WKHSUHYLRXVTXHVWLRQ&KRLFH$LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHLQOLQH
$NLUD
apologizes for interrupting Chie’s quiet evening. Choice C is incorrect
because lines 58-59 address the seriousness of Akira’s request, not its
XUJHQF\&KRLFH'LVLQFRUUHFWEHFDXVHOLQHVKRZVRQO\WKDW$NLUDŞV
proposal has “startled” Chie and does not explain why his request is
time-sensitive.
QUESTION 11
Choice A is the best answer. Lines 1-9 include examples of how many
people shop (“millions of shoppers”), how much money they spend
ŠRYHUELOOLRQDWUHWDLOVWRUHVLQWKHPRQWKRI'HFHPEHUDORQHš
and the many occasions that lead to shopping for gifts (“including
weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and baby showers.”).
Combined, these examples show how frequently people in the US shop
for gifts.
Choice B is incorrect because even though the authors mention that
ŠELOOLRQšKDGEHHQVSHQWLQUHWDLOVWRUHVLQRQHPRQWKWKDWƮJXUH
is never discussed as an increase (or a decrease). Choice C is incorrect
because lines 1-9 provide a context for the amount of shopping that
occurs in the US, but the anxiety (or “dread”) it might cause is not
introduced until later in the passage. Choice D is incorrect because
OLQHV
GRPRUHWKDQKLJKOLJKWWKHQXPEHURIGLƬHUHQWRFFDVLRQVWKDW
lead to gift-giving.
QUESTION 12
Choice B is the best answer./LQHV
VWDWHŠ7KLVIUHTXHQWH[SHULHQFH
of gift-giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers.” In
the subsequent sentences, those “ambivalent” feelings are further
H[HPSOLƮHGDVFRQưLFWHGIHHOLQJVDVVKRSSLQJLVVDLGWREHVRPHWKLQJ
WKDWŠ>P@DQ\UHOLVKš OLQHV DQGŠPDQ\GUHDGš OLQH
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context, “ambivalent”
does not mean feelings that are unrealistic, apprehensive, or supportive.
QUESTION 13
Choice D is the best answer.,QOLQHVWKHDXWKRUVFOHDUO\VWDWHWKDW
VRPHSHRSOHEHOLHYHJLIWJLYLQJFDQKHOSDUHODWLRQVKLSEHFDXVHLWŠRƬHUV
a powerful means to build stronger bonds with one’s closest peers.”
Choice A is incorrect because even though the authors state that some
VKRSSHUVPDNHWKHLUFKRLFHVEDVHGRQŠHJRFHQWULVPš OLQH WKHUH
is no evidence in the passage that people view shopping as a form of
self-expression. Choice B is incorrect because the passage implies
that shopping is an expensive habit. Choice C is incorrect because the
passage states that most people have purchased and received gifts,
but it never implies that people are UHTXLUHG to reciprocate the
gift-giving process.
