SAT, October 2026 North America Form B, Reading and Writing module 1.
Question 1
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
The following text is adapted from Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows . The Mole is dazed after briefly meeting a stranger while traveling with a friend. [The] Mole stood still a moment, held in thought. As one wakened suddenly from a beautiful dream, who struggles to recall it, and can recapture nothing but a dim sense of the beauty of it, the beauty! Till that, too, fades away in its turn. As used in the text, what does the word “recall” most nearly mean? A. Begin B. Overlook C. Reject D. Remember
Question 2
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
From sculptures like Miró’s Chicago by Joan Miró, found at Brunswick Plaza, to street art like Kristen Kula’s mural Tornado on East 11th Street, Chicago offers an array of works to ______ the tastes of art lovers. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. mitigate B. satiate C. venerate D. supplant
Question 3
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
While once _____, basic computer security training that only teaches recognition of obvious scams cannot provide enough protection against today’s sophisticated fake emails, which employ such subtle deception techniques that many organizations now require their staff to complete comprehensive cybersecurity education programs. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. uncommon B. superficial C. sufficient D. affordable
Question 4
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
Weather patterns, market trends, input costs, labor availability, equipment maintenance, and biological cycles are all variables that farmers must consider separately and in terms of how they may affect each other, and it is this _____ of factors in particular that makes successful farm management so challenging. Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? A. resolution B. interplay C. misinterpretation D. neglect
Question 5
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
From sea otters to termites, many animals practice some form of brood care (caring for offspring). Chenyang Cai and team claim to have found the earliest evidence of this behavior in insects in 163.5-million-year-old remains from the Haifanggou Formation in China, a location that has yielded many fossils, including those of ancient mammals. Cai and team examined 157 specimens of the extinct water boatman species Karatavilla popovi and noted thirty individuals that appear to carry eggs on one of their legs. This finding establishes brood care in insects approximately 38 million years earlier than previously known. Which choice best states the main idea of the text? A. Cai and team concluded that K. popovi likely carried their offspring on one of their legs. B. Research shows that ancient mammals inhabited the location that is now the Haifanggou Formation long before K. popovi did. C. Cai and team’s study of K. popovi fossils suggests that brood care in insects began earlier than formerly established. D. The Haifanggou Formation is an abundant source of fossilized ancient mammals and K. popovi.
Question 6
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
Some developmental psychologists have noted that interactions between children and their siblings could provide rich opportunities for humorous situations, raising the possibility that having siblings might enhance children’s humor-related abilities. In a recent study of four-to-five-year-old children, researchers tested this idea by having otherwise comparable children with zero, one, or two siblings identify humorous images among a mix of funny and unfunny images. The researchers found no differences in humor recognition across the three groups. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A. To present a proposed relationship and study findings inconsistent with that proposal B. To explain a hypothesized connection and research that led to a refinement of that hypothesis C. To describe an observed pattern and research that casts doubt on the representativeness of that pattern D. To discuss an emerging consensus and a study of an implication of that consensus
Question 7
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
Modern forestry offers diverse career opportunities that integrate scientific knowledge with hands-on environmental work. Arborists assess tree health and perform maintenance such as pruning to promote safety and prevent problems. Forestry technicians collect data on growth patterns and biodiversity in the wild. Forest ecologists conduct field research and analyze ecosystems to understand how forests respond to changes in weather patterns. With this blend of scientific understanding and practical application, forestry professionals address a variety of complex environmental challenges. Which choice best describes the main purpose of the text? A. To highlight career opportunities in modern forestry and describe how they integrate scientific knowledge and hands-on work B. To analyze environmental challenges facing forests and describe how modern professionals address these problems C. To compare career opportunities in modern forestry and explain which positions offer the best job security D. To explain technological advances in modern forestry and demonstrate how they’ve transformed traditional practices
Question 8
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-craft
The following text is adapted from the 1940 novel The Hamlet by William Faulkner. In rural Mississippi, a man is riding a horse toward the residence of someone he intends to meet with about a business matter. He was breathing hard but not because he had been galloping. On the contrary, since he had approached near enough to his destination to believe he could have seen smoke if there had been smoke, he had ridden slower and slower. Nevertheless he now sat the horse before the gap in the fence, breathing hard enough through his nose and even sweating a little, looking at the sagging broken-backed cabin set in its inevitable treeless and grassless plot and weathered to the color of an old bee-hive, with that expression of tense and rapid speculation of a man approaching a dud howitzer [artillery] shell. Which choice best states the main purpose of the text? A. To portray the man’s anxiety about the meeting as reflected by his physical state and demeanor B. To depict the man’s insistence on meeting despite the inconvenience of traveling on horseback C. To compare the upcoming meeting to a far more serious experience from earlier in the man’s life D. To contrast the man’s desire to attend the meeting with his awareness of the risk involved in attending it
Question 9
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
In a 2018 study, Wee-Lee Tan and Yen-Nee Goh found that Malaysian consumers who reported more positive attitudes toward environmentally sustainable residences also reported greater intentions to purchase such properties. Subsequently, another team of researchers surveyed the attitudes of members of various demographic groups in India about a new television that is environmentally sustainable. Finding that rural residents had the most positive attitude toward the TV, the researchers, citing the results of Tan and Goh’s study, concluded that rural residents are more likely than other groups to purchase the TV, suggesting that the researchers may have assumed that _______ A. regardless of consumers’ demographic characteristics, consumers’ attitudes toward goods are strongly influenced by their perceptions of the environmental sustainability of those goods. B. rural residents in India and rural residents in Malaysia are similar in their attitudes toward environmentally sustainable goods. C. the relationship between attitude and purchase intention for environmentally sustainable goods is not substantially affected by the type of good being purchased. D. the perception that goods are environmentally sustainable and the resulting increase in purchase intention are independent of those goods’ actual environmental sustainability.
Question 10
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
Scientists recently created a model to predict how shorter winters will affect future mammal population sizes in US national forests. Unfortunately, when the model is applied to large forests, its predictions for large-mammal populations are too high, and when applied to small forests, its predictions for small-mammal populations are too high. Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama is a small forest, covering less than 100,000 acres. If used to evaluate the effect of shorter winters on this forest in ten years, the model would likely therefore _______ A. exaggerate the effect of shorter winters on large mammals. B. reflect factors affecting small mammals other than shorter winters. C. overestimate the actual population sizes of small mammals. D. ignore the predator-prey relationships between large and small mammals.
Question 11
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
Cover crops, such as flax, are planted by many farmers between main growing seasons. While these crops are known for increasing biodiversity, Christopher Poeplau and his coauthor argued in a 2015 study that cover crops’ role in supporting soil carbon sequestration deserves more attention. Cover crops remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and convert it to organic compounds; some of these compounds are stored in the soil as soil organic carbon (SOC), which contributes to the buildup of SOC stocks over time. Based on data from numerous farm fields, Poeplau and his coauthor concluded that cover crops contribute meaningfully to soil carbon sequestration and, if widely adopted, could help offset agricultural emissions of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Which finding, if true, would be most consistent with Poeplau and his coauthor’s conclusion? A. SOC stocks tend to be significantly lower in fields without cover crops compared with fields where cover crops have been grown for several years. B. Cover crops generally exhibit reduced carbon sequestration rates in fields exposed to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions compared with fields exposed to low levels of those emissions. C. Flax captures considerably more CO2 in fields where it is the sole cover crop compared with fields where it is grown alongside other species of cover crops. D. SOC stocks vary more in fields where cover crops have been grown for decades compared with fields where cover crops have only recently been introduced.
Question 12
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
Ronald Reagan had the career of a man with a charmed life, rising from a sports radio announcer in Iowa, to an actor in films such as The Winning Team , to governor of California, to president of the United States. Reagan as a politician is often thought of as being a strict ideological conservative, but this belief obscures the practicality that led to his success— he was willing to compromise and cooperate with people he disagreed with in order to advance his objectives. Which quotation from a historian, if true, would most effectively support the claim in the underlined portion? A. “Because Reagan regularly expressed a belief that governments should be small with a limited presence, many were surprised that California’s spending substantially increased when he was the state’s governor.” B. “The skills that Reagan developed as an actor helped him communicate clearly to audiences as few other politicians could, but a number of people who worked with him closely during his career in government found him to be inscrutable and enigmatic.” C. “Many acquaintances who knew Reagan during his time as an actor in Hollywood observed that he talked about politics almost without end, while many of his assistants and colleagues during his time as governor and president noted that he loved to tell stories about his acting career.” D. “Although Reagan’s political party never completely controlled the legislative branch of government during his presidency, he was able to get modified versions of many of his policy priorities passed by the legislative branch.”
Question 13
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
Philoctetes is a play by Sophocles that was first performed in 409 BCE. In the play, Odysseus and Neoptolemus must retrieve Philoctetes—a master archer who is believed necessary for the Greeks to win the Trojan War—from a cave on a deserted island where Odysseus and others had abandoned him with a debilitating injury earlier in the war. Odysseus suggests that the plan for returning with Philoctetes rests on Neoptolemus not having been part of the group that abandoned him: Which quotation from Philoctetes most effectively illustrates the claim? A. “No moment for this talk, Lest he discern my coming, and I lose The scheme, wherewith I think to catch him soon.” B. “Since the prize of victory is so dear, Endure it [acting deceitfully]—We’ll be just another day But now, for one brief hour, devote thyself To serve me without shame.” C. “Now let me show, why thine approach to him Is safe and trustful as mine cannot be Thou didst sail forth, not to redeem thine oath, Nor by constraint, nor with the foremost band. All which reproaches I must bear.” D. “Go near now silently, and make me know If still he persevere, and hold this spot, Or have roamed elsewhere, that informed of this I may proceed with what remains to say, And we may act in concert.”
Question 14
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-info
A student is collecting data about countries with volcanoes that have been active in the time since 1800 and in the time since 1960. The student records that Guatemala has _______ A. no volcanoes that have been active since 1800. B. the same number of volcanoes that have been active since 1800 as Eritrea has. C. more volcanoes that have been active since 1960 than Eritrea has. D. fewer volcanoes that have been active since 1960 than Eritrea has.
Question 15
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-conv
In his 1865 lecture “Pictures and Progress,” Frederick Douglass contends that humanity’s capacity to create images is instrumental to “all reform and all progress.” Depicting people and events, whether in paintings, poems, or other art forms, _____ humanity to perceive the gap between what is and what should be—and then “endeavor to remove the contradiction.” Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. enables B. have enabled C. enable D. enabling
Question 16
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-conv
The introduction of water hyacinth to southern and eastern US ecosystems, where it now blocks sunlight and reduces oxygen levels in bodies of water, _____ a not-uncommon scenario. While the aquatic plant is native to parts of South America, it was introduced to the US as an ornamental plant and is now considered an invasive species there due to the environmental harm it causes. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. illustrate B. illustrating C. have illustrated D. illustrates
Question 17
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-conv
Nanoengineers have developed synthesized gold nanoparticles that are used to detect biomarkers of certain diseases. As nanotechnology evolves, medical technology _____ to evolve as well. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. had likely been continuing B. had likely continued C. would likely have continued D. will likely continue
Question 18
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-conv
According to musicologist Damien Mahiet, what distinguishes Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker from other ballets of its time is the composer’s focus on magic and whimsy. These elements, appreciated by modern audiences more than by the ballet’s nineteenth-century critics, _____ characteristic of the ballet-féerie (fairy-story) tradition to which the work belongs. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. having been B. which are C. being D. are
Question 19
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-conv
Hillside geoglyphs, large designs created using natural elements such as rocks, often represent the name of a _____ in Utah, a geoglyph of the letters MC overlooks Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English? A. school. For example, B. school, for example, C. school, for example D. school for example,
Question 20
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
How does a clear evening become foggy? First, the ground releases heat, which radiates upward. This causes the air near the ground to cool. _____ tiny water droplets begin to form as the cooling air reaches its dew point and can no longer hold its moisture as invisible vapor. Finally, as more droplets accumulate, a visible layer of fog develops close to the ground. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Instead, B. Similarly, C. Lastly, D. Next,
Question 21
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
Scientists studying forest restoration have discovered that trees depend on complex partnerships with microscopic organisms for survival. The researchers found that special fungi called endophytes live inside tree leaves and serve as a defense mechanism. _____ these endophytes help by fighting off diseases and boosting the tree’s immune system. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Specifically, B. Nevertheless, C. Alternatively, D. In conclusion,
Question 22
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
On August 22, 1928, US Olympians received a ticker-tape parade in New York City in recognition of their participation in the 1928 Olympic Games. Of the 206 ticker-tape parades held between 1886 and 2022, a number were for achievements in sports. _____ the 1928 Olympians’ parade was just one of 7 honoring Olympic athletes. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Therefore, B. Nevertheless, C. Indeed, D. In addition,
Question 23
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
Generally, sleek vehicles are more aerodynamic than bulkier ones. The streamlined nose of the Airbus A350 XWB jet, _____ helps it glide through wind with relative ease, while a boxy pickup truck encounters more wind resistance, making it less aerodynamic. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. however, B. additionally, C. for example, D. meanwhile,
Question 24
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
Based on the primitive features of a preserved 96-million-year-old partial bird skeleton excavated from the Woodbine Formation in eastern Texas, a team led by paleontologist Ronald Tykoski classified the fossil as belonging to Enantiornithes (an extinct Cretaceous group). The bird’s shoulder blade morphology, however, was unlike that of any other known enantiornithine specimen. _____ Tykoski’s team contended that the fossil represented a novel species of Enantiornithes, which they named Flexomornis howei. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition? A. Nevertheless, B. Likewise, C. Moreover, D. Accordingly,
Question 25
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Absolutely Normal Chaos (1990) is an epistolary novel by American author Sharon Creech. Epistolary novels are novels written primarily as a series of fictional documents. These documents can be letters, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and more. Absolutely Normal Chaos consists primarily of journal entries. The journal entries are written by a student during her summer vacation. The student wants to provide an example of an epistolary novel. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A. Consisting primarily of journal entries written by a student during her summer vacation, Sharon Creech’s Absolutely Normal Chaos is an epistolary novel. B. In 1990, American author Sharon Creech published a novel of journal entries written by a student during her summer vacation. C. An epistolary novel is a novel written primarily as a series of fictional documents, such as letters, journal entries, or newspaper clippings. D. It was Sharon Creech who published the novel Absolutely Normal Chaos in 1990.
Question 26
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Hyperion (1797) is an epistolary novel by German author Friedrich Hölderlin. Epistolary novels are novels written primarily as a series of fictional documents. These documents can be letters, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and more. Hyperion consists primarily of letters. The letters are sent between a Greek hermit named Hyperion and his friend Bellarmin. The student wants to provide an example of an epistolary novel. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A. An epistolary novel is a novel written primarily as a series of fictional documents, such as letters, journal entries, or newspaper clippings. B. It was Friedrich Hölderlin who published the novel Hyperion in 1797. C. Consisting primarily of letters sent between a Greek hermit named Hyperion and his friend Bellarmin, Friedrich Hölderlin’s Hyperion is an epistolary novel. D. In 1797, German author Friedrich Hölderlin published a novel of letters sent between a Greek hermit named Hyperion and his friend Bellarmin.
Question 27
SAT · Reading & Writing · sat-rw-express
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: Researchers William J. Pestle, Carmen Laguer-Díaz, and colleagues compared two archaeological sites in Puerto Rico. Finding: The Ortiz site (in use from 2330 BCE to 310 CE) featured a wide variety of shells, marine animal remains, and stone artifacts. The researchers hypothesize that the site was a habitation site. Finding: The CRNWR_P13 site (in use from 810 BCE to 280 CE) primarily featured a midden of shells from the local environment. The researchers hypothesize that the site was used for collecting marine resources. The student wants to challenge the claim that the sites served identical functions. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal? A. Given the presence of shells at both sites, one should be careful not to dismiss the fact that they were both used as sites for collecting marine resources. B. Although both sites featured shells, evidence suggests that the Ortiz site was more than just a place to collect marine resources. C. The researchers suggest different functions for the Ortiz and CRNWR_P13 sites, but further evidence is likely to refute these hypotheses entirely. D. As the researchers hypothesize, the Ortiz site was in use longer and featured a wider variety of artifacts than did CRNWR_P13, suggesting that the former served only one function—habitation—instead of several.