Master SAT® Function Questions with the Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™
Function Questions on the SAT® Reading & Writing section challenge you to understand not just what a sentence says, but why the author included it. In my SAT® Reading & Writing Mastery Course, I teach students to use the Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™ approach—a systematic method for tackling these challenging questions.
Today, I'm sharing two practice questions that will help you learn effective Function Question strategies. The first example (free for all subscribers) explores how relationship patterns between sentences can be crucial for identifying a sentence's purpose. For paid subscribers, I've included another question, along with detailed walk-throughs for both examples. These walk-throughs show how to systematically eliminate incorrect answers by applying specific tests from the Toolbox™, helping you approach SAT® Reading & Writing questions with confidence.
Archaeological excavation at the Victorian East End market district revealed the first evidence that Asian spices were imported directly to London's docks in the 1860s: remnants of cardamom pods from the Malabar Coast of India. Trading companies based in Liverpool—particularly firms with established maritime connections—likely coordinated the spices' transport from Indian ports through the Suez Canal to England's commercial centers. This discovery reveals the (often overlooked) international scope of Britain's spice trade networks during the Industrial Revolution.
Which choice best describes the function of the bold sentence in the text as a whole?
A. It explains why researchers have been unable to determine the precise quantity of imported Victorian-era spices mentioned in the previous sentence.
B. It provides details that help support a claim about a discovery's broader significance that appears in the following sentence.
C. It traces the steps that were taken to procure and repatriate the archaeological materials described in the previous sentence.
D. It presents an interpretation that contradicts evidence mentioned earlier about British trade connections.
🔍 Quick Tip
When evaluating Function Questions on the SAT, pay close attention to how sentences relate to each other. Look for patterns where one sentence provides specific details that another sentence builds upon or contextualizes. Consider what role the underlined portion plays in the passage's overall flow of ideas—does it explain, support, contrast, or develop information from elsewhere in the text?
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