SAT Reading & Writing: Predict how Author 1 would respond to Author 2's claim
18+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
Start with Author 1's thesis and the reasoning behind it. Then ask: if Author 1 read Author 2's claim, what would they object to, accept, or qualify?
- 2
Predict the response before reading choices — "Author 1 would say Author 2 overlooks X" is a typical right-answer structure.
- 3
Focus on Author 1's reasoning, not just their conclusion. The most likely response uses Author 1's own evidence to push back (or to support).
- 4
Rule out responses that go beyond what Author 1 actually argued. The SAT rewards predictions that stay inside Author 1's stated views.
- 5
Watch for "would agree" answers: agreement only works if Author 2's claim aligns with something Author 1 explicitly stated or directly implied.
- ✗ Predicting a response based on personal opinion rather than on what Author 1 actually wrote.
- ✗ Assuming Author 1 would reject everything Author 2 says — they may agree on parts and only push back on the main point.
- ✗ Selecting an answer that is consistent with Author 1's views but doesn't actually address Author 2's specific claim.
SAT-style practice
Author 1 argues that standardized tests fail to predict college success because they mainly measure test-taking speed. Author 2 claims that standardized tests are the fairest way to compare students from different high schools. How would Author 1 most likely respond to Author 2's claim?
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