SAT® Reading & Writing Practice Question: Command of Evidence
Learn to Quickly and Confidently Evaluate Command of Evidence Comparison Questions for Higher Scores
Today’s practice is a mock SAT® Command of Evidence Question. For proper time management on test day, you should aim to answer this question correctly in 30-45 seconds.
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Free SAT® Practice Question (mock)
Desert-dwelling Sand Geckos and Rock Geckos have evolved different patterns of daily activity to cope with extreme temperatures. Behavioral ecologist Fran Tarkenton observed that Sand Geckos emerge from their burrows earlier in the morning and retreat later in the evening than Rock Geckos. Using advanced thermal imaging and metabolic tracking techniques, Tarkenton documented the geckos' thermoregulatory behaviors, including their precise body temperature fluctuations and their sophisticated regulation of blood flow to extremities. Tarkenton hypothesized that since Sand Geckos' thermoregulatory systems are more evolutionarily adaptive, they would likely exhibit longer active periods and less frequent cooling episodes than Rock Geckos.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Tarkenton's hypothesis?
A) Sand Geckos spent a remarkable amount of time - from 10 up to 12 hours in some instances - actively engaged in uninterrupted hunting and foraging, even as temperatures peaked.
B) Rock Geckos returned to their burrows more times per day than Sand Geckos, though both species maintained similar body temperatures.
C) Rock Geckos maintained shorter periods of activity and underwent cooling episodes more frequently than did Sand Geckos.
D) Sand Geckos had fewer cooling episodes than active periods, while their active periods lasted significantly longer than their cooling episodes.
(Answer Explanations and Strategy Walk-Through Below.)
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