Digital SAT Reading Command of Evidence Answer Explanation: Bluebook Practice Test 1, Module 1, Question 14
Detailed explanations for correct and incorrect answers. Includes strategy brief and diagramming guide. Corresponds to dSAT Bluebook Practice Test 1, Reading & Writing Question 14.
This answer explanation is for digital SAT Official Practice Test 1, Reading & Writing Module 1, Question 14. Due to copyright restrictions, I’m not able to reprint the full passage, so you’ll need to have a copy of the test open, in order to follow along. To access this official dSAT practice test, download the Bluebook app, available on the College Board website.
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While the College Board labels this a “Command of Evidence Question,” I prefer the term “Logical Operations Question.” More specifically, this is a Logical Operations: Deduction (LO:D) Question.
Why rename question types? Because names are important. They’re like anchors in your mind. My classification system embeds the question types in the right place. The categories are more specific and descriptive, which helps in guiding your approach.
To get the most out of what follows, I strongly recommend first reading my strategy article on LO:D Questions. It introduces many of the concepts and techniques discussed in the explanations below.
If you have a question about any of the explanations, you’re in luck — as a premium subscriber, you can post your question in the comments, and I’ll answer it asap. If you’re a free subscriber and aren’t ready to upgrade your subscription yet, a free trial will also give you full access to my complete archive of drills, answer explanations, and strategy guides.
Diagramming
As discussed in my strategy articles on this question type, LO:D passages often introduce a set of premises, from which you must draw a logically valid deduction (i.e., “conclusion” or “inference”). When solving these questions, it’s helpful to simplify the passage by diagramming the premises and the given portion of the conclusion. Sometimes, it can also be helpful to note the purpose of the premises in brackets next to the premises, as I have done in the first example diagram below.
Why take the time to diagram?
For a detailed answer to this question, refer to the strategy articles. However, to briefly summarize: two keys to success on LO:D Questions are 1) establishing a crystal clear understanding of the premises and 2) maintaining this clarity as you evaluate each answer choice. Doing so can be very difficult if you try to hold everything in your head. With practice, diagramming offers a simple method for gaining a solid grasp of the premises and for referencing them as you’re working through the answer options.
Diagram Examples
Below is one example of how you might diagram the premises for this question:
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