Sat 2015 Practice Test #1 Answer Explanations

Choice C is the best answer.
Lines 41-44 suggest that gift-givers 
assume a correlation between the cost of a gift and how well-received 
it will be: “. . . gift-givers equate how much they spend with how 
much recipients will appreciate the gift (the more expensive the gift, 
the stronger a gift-recipient’s feelings of appreciation).” However, the 
authors suggest this assumption may be incorrect or “unfounded” 
(line 47), as gift-recipients “may not construe smaller and larger gifts 
as representing smaller and larger signals of thoughtfulness and 
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Choices A, B, and D are all incorrect because the passage neither 
states nor implies that the gift-givers’ assumption is insincere, 
unreasonable, or substantiated. 
QUESTION 17 
Choice C is the best answer.
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made by gift-givers in lines 41-44 may be incorrect. The gift-givers 
assume that recipients will have a greater appreciation for costly gifts 

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than for less costly gifts, but the authors suggest this relationship may 
be incorrect, as gift-recipients “may not construe smaller and larger 
gifts as representing smaller and larger signals of thoughtfulness and 
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than addressing the validity of these assumptions. Choice B is 
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others. 
QUESTION 18 
Choice D is the best answer.
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believe that bigger (i.e., more expensive) gifts convey stronger signals 
of thoughtfulness and consideration.” In this context, saying that more 
expensive gifts “convey” stronger signals means the gifts send, or 
communicate, stronger signals to the recipients. 
Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because in this context, to “convey” 
something does not mean to transport it (physically move something), 
counteract it (act in opposition to something), or exchange it (trade one 
thing for another). 
QUESTION 19