SAT practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21What was the importance of Sherman’s March to the Sea?
✓ Correct answer: B. It severely weakened the South towards the end of the Civil War.
Sherman’s March to the Sea is the name given to the campaign waged by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in Georgia towards the end of the Civil War. Sherman marched his troops from Atlanta to Savannah over a one-month period. Sherman and his army destroyed Southern industry, agriculture and civilian property in a campaign historians refer to as total war. It is believed that Sherman’s March to the Sea contributed to a decline in Southern morale and strength.
Q22Which choice best fits with the style and tone of the passage?
✓ Correct answer: B. by refusing the role of wife or mother
The passage is written in a formal style and has a literary tone. Instead of saying Emily did not accept the role of women, the author writes she "eschewed" "the trappings of being a woman." Only choice D matches this style and tone, so it is the correct answer.<br/><br/>Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because while each conveys this same thought, the uninspired word choice in each answer does not match the style or tone of the passage.<br/><br/>Choice C is also unnecessarily wordy.
Q23Comparing and Contrasting the Political and Social Features of China and Europe<br/><br/>Medieval China and Europe were both impressive entities that provide elaborate model of the recovery process. Both of these civilizations had experienced expansive disparities from the plague, while only China suffered at the hands of the Mongols. Nonetheless, the fifteenth century was a time of reconstruction for both medieval China and Europe. These civilizations were parallel in their relentless efforts to recapture the spotlight; such efforts created two expansive domains that shared some political and social features, yet remained distinctly different in other areas.<br/><br/>China definite has the upper hand over Europe. While Europe remained a compilation of many separate states that were highly competitive and territorial, China was united with a centralized government that emphasized the civil service exam. At the head of this government was none other than Emperor Yongle. This notable leader was able to create oversee two astounding constructions that remain well known today.<br/><br/>Under the leadership of Emperor Yongle, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven were created. Both of these led to the direct influence of Confucian philosophy. Other views of great influence throughout China during this time were Daoism and Buddhism. Meanwhile, in Europe, religious principles were centered on Christianity and the Renaissance.<br/><br/>One notable similarity that was a main characteristic of both medieval China and Europe was the use of maritime expeditions. The Chinese did not desire to use their sea travel to try to overtake other areas, but instead, simply to trade. The Chinese believed immensely in their dominance; for them, anyone that desired to be a part of their political and religious entities were welcomed to come to them. It was not their intention to make converting others part of their naval operation.<br/><br/>Comparatively, Europe was also engaged in vast sea trade. This was not solely about trading ideas though. Europeans wanted wealth. The Euro is a monetary system that is used throughout the European Union. Seeking items such as gold, spices, and silk, those that partook in these sea expeditions also desired to spread their culture, as well as their faith. These people, as a whole, still lacked unity, but as separate as they were, the common prize was profits and influence. Even with their desire for dominance, the overall size of the European fleet failed in comparison to the Chinese’s plethora of ships and seamen.<br/><br/>In continuing to compare Europe and the China, it must be noted that many European states adopted German principles. This included taxing citizens. The funds from this taxation allowed for the funding of armies and the design of organizational structures. Ultimately, Europe was successful in encapsulating a large quantity of the world’s people under its dominance; comparatively, with the absence of Emperor Yongle, the Chinese abruptly ceased their maritime expeditions.<br/><br/>Both of these expansive civilizations experienced increasing populations and the problem of inadequate land to accommodate growing populations. The presence of the “middle kingdom” or China became focused inland on rice crops. Europe continued to obtain foreign possessions. Europe also continued growing wheat and livestock. While obvious in their differences, the focus on agriculture did create similarities.<br/><br/>In conclusion, China and Europe were impressive civilizations. While diverse in their approach and design, both were able to overcome tragedy and transcend history. By surpassing such obstacles, both were culturally influential. Their presence in globally impacting the world remains unquestionable even seven centuries later.<br/><br/>Which of the following sentences could be added to the fourth paragraph?
✓ Correct answer: C. China was the best governed and most prosperous of any of the world’s major civilizations.
This sentence is an appropriate supporting detail to build upon the main idea of this paragraph. Given the discussion of “maritime expeditions”, it is sensible to include how such led to the result of a major illustration of success within China.
Q24Haiti<br/><br/>[1]<br/><br/>Although my friends and family were skeptical of whether <1> I would be safe, I boarded the plane in New York boldly <2>and flew to Haiti. My college roommate had agreed to take medical supplies to a rural clinic where his brother was a physician, and I agreed to go and help.<br/><br/>[2]<br/><br/>When me and my roommate <3>landed at the airport in the capital Port au Prince, the chaos inside the airport was frightening. Dozens of men approached us while gesturing to our luggage, and yelling at us in Creole. They wanted us to select their taxis. I was thrilled <4>when my roommate smiled at someone who called our names through the crowd.<br/><br/>[3]<br/><br/>Papi, our designated transporter, was a Haitian man in his early twenties who works <5>for the physician. He warmly welcomed us to his country, and seemed to have a great sense of humor.<6> He laughed nonstop during our ride through the capital city. Once we were on the open highway, Papi taught us basic Creole greetings to pass the time during our excessively long four-hour commute. <7><br/><br/>[4]<br/><br/>The mountainous town where we would spend the week was beautiful, and I immediately fell in love with the place and its people. The views rocked! <8>Even though I could not fluently speak Creole, I made the most of my time with the land and its inhabitants. Several daily tasks kept me busy that week. The medical clinic was a modest two-room building, and their <9>staff needed help reorganizing the supply pantry. I removed, counted, sorted, and restocked supplies, <10>before adding the additional resources we brought from the United States. After I cleaned and organized the supply pantry, I assisted a visiting nutritionist with distributing vitamins to the locals. <11><br/><br/>[5]<br/><br/>Each evening, two dozen young children would sit on the porch where my roommate and I stayed. They laughed constantly, they <12>always found joy in the simplest of things. They did teach <13>us to count in Creole and read children’s stories to us in French. They invited us to kick balls with them and chase yard chickens. Even though they did not have many toys, the children entertained one another with conversation, laughter and storytelling.<br/><br/>[6]<br/><br/>When it was time to leave Haiti and return to New York, I was sad to say goodbye. Although my roommate and I delivered medical supplies to their community, the people gave us memories that will last the rest of our lives.<14>
✓ Correct answer: D. Pass the time during our commute
Papi, our designated transporter, was a Haitian man in his early twenties who works <strong><5></strong>for the physician. He warmly welcomed us to his country, and seemed to have a great sense of humor.<strong><6></strong> He laughed nonstop during our ride through the capital city. Once we were on the open highway, Papi taught us basic Creole greetings to pass the time during our excessively long four-hour commute. <strong><7></strong> <br/><br/>A. NO CHANGE<br/><br/>B. pass the time during our excessively long commute<br/><br/>C. pass the time during our excessive four-hour commute<br/><br/><strong>D. pass the time during our commute</strong><br/><br/>D is the correct answer because of <strong>wordiness</strong> and <strong>redundancy</strong>. A, B, and C are incorrect because “excessively,” “long,” and “four-hour” are redundant when combined. In addition, the lengthy description is wordy. Although longer sentences may be grammatically correct, short sentences are the best choice to minimize wordiness.
Q25To improve the flow of this paragraph, sentence 4 should be placed
✓ Correct answer: A. before sentence 1.
This sentence would best serve as a transition between the previous and current paragraphs. The previous paragraph refers to the city planners' strategic plan, and the current paragraph begins with an example of one of the plan's boldest suggestions. A sentence that mentions that the plan contained bold suggestions (choice B) would work well here. The other choices would place this notion after providing examples of the plan's bold suggestions, rendering it ineffective and unnecessary.
Q26Select one of the following:
✓ Correct answer: B. there
Because it is being used as a pronoun to point to the clause "have been challenges".<br/><br/>Choice A is incorrect because it is possessive.<br/><br/>Choices B and D are incorrect because the verb clause doesn't make sense in the sentence.
Q27Adapted from "Why a Classic is a Classic" in <em>Literary Taste: How to Form It</em> by Arnold Bennet (1909)<br/><br/>The large majority of our fellow-citizens care as much about literature as they care about airplanes or the policies of the Legislature. They do not ignore it; they are not quite indifferent to it. But their interest in it is faint and perfunctory; or, if their interest happens to be violent, it is spasmodic. Ask the two hundred thousand persons whose enthusiasm made the vogue of a popular novel ten years ago what they think of that novel now, and you will gather that they have utterly forgotten it, and that they would no more dream of reading it again than of reading Bishop Stubbs's <em>Select Charters</em>. Probably if they did read it again they would not enjoy it—not because the said novel is worse now than it was ten years ago; not because their taste has improved—but because they have not had sufficient practice to be able to rely on their taste as a means of permanent pleasure. They simply don't know from one day to the next what will please them.<br/><br/>In the face of this one may ask: Why does the great and universal fame of classical authors continue? The answer is that the fame of classical authors is entirely independent of the majority. Do you suppose that if the fame of Shakespeare depended on the man in the street it would survive a fortnight? The fame of classical authors is originally made, and it is maintained, by a passionate few. Even when a first-class author has enjoyed immense success during his lifetime, the majority have never appreciated him as sincerely as they have appreciated second-rate men. He has always been reinforced by the ardor of the passionate few. And in the case of an author who has emerged into glory after his death the happy sequel has been due solely to the obstinate perseverance of the few. They could not leave him alone; they would not. They kept on savoring him, and talking about him, and buying him, and they generally behaved with such eager zeal, and they were so authoritative and sure of themselves, that at last the majority grew accustomed to the sound of his name and placidly agreed to the proposition that he was a genius; the majority really did not care very much either way.<br/><br/>And it is by the passionate few that the renown of genius is kept alive from one generation to another. These few are always at work. They are always rediscovering genius. Their curiosity and enthusiasm are exhaustless, so that there is little chance of genius being ignored. And, moreover, they are always working either for or against the verdicts of the majority. The majority can make a reputation, but it is too careless to maintain it. If, by accident, the passionate few agree with the majority in a particular instance, they will frequently remind the majority that such and such a reputation has been made, and the majority will idly concur: "Ah, yes. By the way, we must not forget that such and such a reputation exists." Without that persistent memory-jogging the reputation would quickly fall into the oblivion which is death. The passionate few only have their way by reason of the fact that they are genuinely interested in literature, that literature matters to them. They conquer by their obstinacy alone, by their eternal repetition of the same statements. Do you suppose they could prove to the man in the street that Shakespeare was a great artist? The said man would not even understand the terms they employed. But when he is told ten thousand times, and generation after generation, that Shakespeare was a great artist, the said man believes--not by reason, but by faith. And he too repeats that Shakespeare was a great artist, and he buys the complete works of Shakespeare and puts them on his shelves, and he goes to see the marvelous stage-effects which accompany <em>King Lear</em> or <em>Hamlet</em>, and comes back religiously convinced that Shakespeare was a great artist. All because the passionate few could not keep their admiration of Shakespeare to themselves. This is not cynicism; but truth. And it is important that those who wish to form their literary taste should grasp it.<br/><br/>When the author states that the minority conquers by “obstinacy alone” (line 31), to what attribute is he crediting the minority?
✓ Correct answer: C. stubbornness
The word obstinacy means <em>stubbornness</em>. If you were not aware of that it would become necessary to try to solve the problem through understanding the context in which the word is used. The author states: “They conquer by their obstinacy alone, by their eternal repetition of the same statements.” The constant repetition of the same idea is an example of stubbornness. By matching the meaning of the second part of the sentence with the meaning of the word obstinacy you would be able to solve the problem without knowing the exact definition of obstinacy, although it always helps to know.
Q28Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.<br/><br/>The elderly woman’s <code>________</code> tone about modern dating habits made the young men hesitant to tell her about their personal lives.
✓ Correct answer: D. censorious
As the young men avoid her, the elderly woman obviously dislikes modern dating habits, which rules out “approving” and “laudatory” as possible correct answers. Similarly, the young men’s unwillingness to talk indicates she was not “inquisitive,” or "curious." “Censorious,” meaning stern and critical, is the only possible correct answer.
Q29Adapted from “The Rise of Pancho Villa” in <em>Insurgent Mexico</em> by John Reed (1913)<br/><br/>The roar began at the back of the crowd and swept like fire in heavy growing crescendo until it seemed to toss thousands of hats above their heads. The band in the courtyard struck up the Mexican national air, and Villa came walking down the street.<br/><br/>He was dressed in an old plain khaki uniform, with several buttons lacking. He hadn't recently shaved, wore no hat, and his hair had not been brushed. He walked a little pigeon-toed, humped over, with his hands in his trousers pockets. As he entered the aisle between the rigid lines of soldiers he seemed slightly embarrassed, and grinned and nodded to a friend here and there in the ranks. At the foot of the grand staircase, Governor Chao and Secretary of State Terrazzas joined him in full-dress uniform. The band threw off all restraint, and, as Villa entered the audience chamber, at a signal from someone in the balcony of the palace, the great throng in the <em>Plaza de Armas</em> uncovered, and all the brilliant crowd of officers in the room saluted stiffly. It was Napoleonic!<br/><br/>Villa hesitated for a minute, pulling his mustache and looking very uncomfortable, finally gravitated toward the throne, which he tested by shaking the arms, and then sat down, with the Governor on his right and the Secretary of State on his left.<br/><br/>Señor Bauche Alcalde stepped forward and pronounced a short discourse, indicting Villa for personal bravery on the field on six counts, which he mentioned in florid detail. He was followed by the Chief of Artillery, who said: "The army adores you. We will follow you wherever you lead. You can be what you desire in Mexico." Then three other officers spoke in the high-flung, extravagant periods necessary to Mexican oratory. They called him "The Friend of the Poor," "The Invincible General," "The Inspirer of Courage and Patriotism," "The Hope of the Indian Republic." And through it all Villa slouched on the throne, his mouth hanging open, his little shrewd eyes playing around the room. Once or twice he yawned, but for the most part he seemed to be speculating, with some intense interior amusement, like a small boy in church, what it was all about. He knew, of course, that it was the proper thing, and perhaps felt a slight vanity that all this conventional ceremonial was addressed to him. But it bored him just the same.<br/><br/>Finally, with an impressive gesture, Colonel Servin stepped forward with the small pasteboard box which held the medal. General Chao nudged Villa, who stood up. The officers applauded violently; the crowd outside cheered; the band in the court burst into a triumphant march.<br/><br/>Villa put out both hands eagerly, like a child for a new toy. He could hardly wait to open the box and see what was inside. An expectant hush fell upon everyone, even the crowd in the square. Villa looked at the medal, scratching his head, and, in a reverent silence, said clearly: "This is a hell of a little thing to give a man for all that heroism you are talking about!" And the bubble of Empire was pricked then and there with a great shout of laughter.<br/><br/>The passage as a whole suggests that Pancho Vila was <code>________</code> by the Mexican people.
✓ Correct answer: D. beloved
The passage as a whole emphasizes how much the Mexican people loved Pancho Villa. Everyone who speaks in the passage refers to Villa in beloved or respectful language, as an example, the general says that “The army adores you. We will follow you wherever you lead. You can be what you desire in Mexico."<br/><br/>You might have thought that embarrassed was the correct answer because the author references on a couple of occasions that Villa is embarrassed by the occasion. But, it is important to understand that Pancho Villa feels embarrassment at the formality of the ceremony not about the Mexican people themselves.<br/><br/>There is no implicit or explicit reference to suggest that Villa was disgusted, intrigued or impressed by the Mexican people.
Q30"The Place of Lesion Studies in Neuroscience" by Samantha Winter (2013)<br/><br/>It’s easy to forget that the study of neuroscience originated from non-normalized, non-statistically appraised methods like lesion studies. It’s equally easy, with the advent of sophisticated technology, to render such a method obsolete. A small group of neuroscientists today make a case for the reinstitution of lesion studies—the study of abnormal brains with damaged regions in order to better understand the brain—into the twenty-first-century cognitive neuroscience realm. Their suggestion is bold, but their argument is justified.<br/><br/>Cognitive neuroscientists advocate for the use of convergent methods. Many of them argue that with the limitations of our existing techniques, convergent evidence is imperative for sound research. If this is the case, why ignore a method that has potential for implying causality in a domain dominated by correlational research? Rather than advocating for a single method, neuroscientists should take their own advice and use convergent techniques. Sound research should combine a variety of techniques to examine both causal relationships and overcome the individual shortcomings of each method through the use of many.<br/><br/>Lesion studies are also significantly more beneficial now than they were in earlier times. Neuroimaging methods have enhanced our understanding of what contributes to the brain problems most often encountered, and more refined experiments have been developed to confirm the findings from the more unreliable lesion studies. This transformation allows lesion studies to be included alongside the other systems as a mechanism for understanding the human brain.<br/><br/>In the last sentence of the first paragraph, "bold" most closely means <code>________</code>.
✓ Correct answer: E. daring
<em>Bold</em> is not used in the sense of bolded text in a document, therefore <em>cunning</em> and <em>extruding</em> are both incorrect. <em>Cunning</em> may be a mechanism for describing the neuroscientists, but the definition of <em>bold</em> is unrelated to sharpness or wit.
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