SAT® Reading & Writing Practice Question: Inference
Also great practice for ACT® Reading.
Today’s practice is a mock SAT® Inference Question. For proper time management on test day, you should aim to answer this question correctly in a maximum of 45 seconds.
To gain access to all answer explanations and additional practice questions, become a premium subscriber.
By analyzing data from ocean temperature records, Dr. Chen and colleagues created computer models to study the formation of coral reef ecosystems. Their research concluded that three distinct water temperature zones likely influenced coral reef development during the past millennium. The researchers suggest that organisms in the warmest zone became the species found in shallow tropical reefs, organisms in the middle temperature zone evolved into the species found in mid-depth reefs, and organisms in the coolest zone developed into deep-water coral species. In one simulation, the researchers cooled the warmest temperature zone, causing unusually diverse species to begin flourishing in the shallow tropical reefs. The researchers therefore hypothesize that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A) the warmest temperature zone actually cooled more rapidly than their initial models had predicted.
B) the temperature level of the warmest zone played a significant role in determining the biodiversity of shallow reefs.
C) if the warming of the coolest temperature zone had occurred in a simulation, all coral zones would have shown increased biodiversity.
D) the middle temperature zone was actually responsible for all coral reef biodiversity, not just species in mid-depth waters.
The August SAT® is Less Than 5 Weeks Away. Are You Ready?
The August SAT® administration will be upon us in under 5 short weeks. If your child is still struggling to make progress with prep or hasn’t even started yet, you can't afford to wait any longer.
With my Score Accelerator program, you get comprehensive expert support that adapts to your child's actual pace, with live weekly sessions, open office hours, and private tutoring for breakthroughs when needed.
✓ Expert strategies that actually work (not generic tips) → My Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™ decodes even the trickiest questions
✓ Live weekly sessions with personalized attention → Small groups and “office hours” where your child's questions get answered
✓ 48-hour replay access for every session → Can't make it to a live session? Watch on your schedule and never miss a strategy
✓ 40% off private tutoring when needed (my deepest discount) → Strategic breakthroughs without wasteful packages
✓ Continuous support through multiple test dates if needed → No panic if August doesn't go perfectly
✓ 24/7 peer collaboration + <12hr expert responses → Never stuck without help
—> To help your child start improving their SAT® Reading & Writing score today, click here.
SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with Walker Prep and was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product or website.