SAT #14 (Question 21)

Question

The main purpose of the passage is to?

Answer 1

Answer Choice C is the correct answer because the Passage primarily concerns research into the genetics behind the process of domestication of cats, which most closely matches Answer Choice C which says that the main purpose of the passage is to “discuss research into the genetic changes that cats underwent as part of domestication.” Answer Choice A is incorrect because the Passage doesn’t look at a study that compares different breeds of domestic cats. Answer Choice B is incorrect because the Passage doesn’t discuss the benefits that domestic cats provided to humans. Answer Choice D is incorrect because, although the Passage does highlight some differences between wildcats and domestic cats, it doesn’t take this difference as a central focus or present is as experimental evidence. 

How to solve this? The Question asks, “The main purpose of the passage is to [...]?” To solve this, we should have both a general understanding of the Passage as well as a more specific understanding of information in the title and introductory paragraph. Generally, the Passage can be outlined like this:

1. the difference between a housecat and wildcat. scientists have found the genetic change behind this transformation. (paragraph one)
2. a quote from scientist about discovering the genetics behind domestication. (paragraph two)
3. history of domestication of cats. (paragraph three)
4. the scientific study and some findings. (paragraphs four and five)
5. the most intriguing findings, and specific genes they located. (paragraph six)
6. a quote from scientist about important of this last finding. (paragraph seven)
7. other genes the scientists found. (paragraph eight)
8. comparing domestic cats to dogs. (paragraph nine)

More specifically, we can look at the title and introductory paragraph. The title of the Passage is, “The Genes That Turned Wildcats into Kitty Cats,” which does tell us quite clearly what it’s about and that it focuses on the genetic changes behind the domestication of wildcats. The introductory paragraph begins by comparing wildcats and domestic cats, and finishes by saying that, “Now scientists have begun to pinpoint the genetic changes that drove this remarkable transformation.” Taking these together, we can say that the Passage primarily concerns research into the underlying genetic changes that occurred when wildcats became domestic cats, and we should expect our answer choice to reference this.

Answer Choice A says [...].