SAT #11 Reading (Question 49)

Question

Which choice best describes the relationship between Passage 1 and Passage 2?

Answer 1

Answer Choice A is the correct answer because Passage 2 can best be described as evaluating the findings from Passage 1, commenting on the positive (“this simple and elegant methodology is their most important finding to my mind”), netural (“teixobactin [...] is less exciting to my mind, though it doesn’t look bad”), and negative (“So, what are my caveats?”) aspects of the finding. Answer Choice B is incorrect because the author of Passage 2 doesn’t suggest a modification to the methodology described in Passage 1, and, in fact, simply praises it as an “important finding.” Answer Choice C is incorrect because the two Passages don’t take the structure of one presenting concepts and the other giving concrete examples, because both provide concrete examples. Answer Choice D is incorrect because it’s too strong to say that Passage 2 takes a “dismissive stance” towards the findings mentioned in Passage 1.

How to solve this? The Question asks, “Which choice best describes the relationship between Passage 1 and Passage?” To solve this, we should both have a general understanding of the structure and content of each passage and then determine the relationship between them in advance. Generally, the two passages break down like this:

Passage One

1. introduce the scientist Kim Lewis, who created new antibiotic with novel beneficial effects (paragraph one)
2. how they approached and thought about growing these antibiotics (paragraph two)
3. how they actually grew these antibiotics (paragraph three and four)
4. a reason why the new antibiotic may be so effective (paragraph five)

Passage Two

1. belief about finding antibiotics (paragraph one)
2. how Lewis figured out how to grow new kinds of antibiotics (paragraph one)
3. one of the antibiotics they found, and some of its positive features (paragraph two)
4. some issues and imperfections with the new antibiotic (paragraph four)

Moreover, we can look at specific moments in either Passage that will tell us about their relationship to one another. The titles of each proves useful for these two Passages, with Passage 1 being titled “A New Antibiotic Found in Dirt Can Kill Drug-Resistant Bacteria” and Passage 2 being titled, “This New Antibiotic Is Cause for Celebration — and Caution.” Taking both the general breakdown and title of each Passage, we can say in advance that Passage 1 details the finding of a new antibiotic, in generally positive terms, while Passage 2 discusses the good and bad of these findings, in more generally skeptical terms.

Answer Choice A says that “Passage 2 offers an evaluation of the significance of the research discussed in Passage 1.” Because this answer choice matches our understanding of the relationship between the two passages, and because it’s so general, we should keep this option. Answer Choice B says that “Passage 2 suggests a modification to the methodology described in Passage 1.” Because there’s no evidence that Passage 2 ever makes this suggestion, we should eliminate this option. Moreover, we see that the author of Passage 2 actually praises the methodology of Passage 1, saying that “this simple and elegant methodology is their most important finding to my mind [...].” Answer Choice C says that “Passage 2 uses concrete examples to illustrate concepts considered in Passage 1.” Because the two Passages don’t take this structure of concept and example, and because both passages contain concrete examples, we should eliminate this option. Answer Choice D says that “Passage 2 takes a dismissive stance regarding the findings mentioned in Passage 1.” This answer choice might seem plausible, because the author of Passage 2 does express some caution towards the findings of Passage 1, but “dismissive” is a strong claim with a large burden of proof. Because there’s insufficient evidence to prove that the author is dismissive, and because Answer Choice A is so general, essentially saying that “Passage 2 gives some opinions on Passage 1,” we should eliminate this option. That leaves us with Answer Choice A, which we should choose as our correct answer.