Confused by SAT Reading Questions? Let’s Break This One Down Together!
- Wallace English
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
Some SAT reading questions don’t ask you what a sentence says—they ask you why it’s there. Sound tricky? You’re not alone. In today’s breakdown, we’re tackling a common challenge: identifying the function of a specific sentence in a short passage. Let’s take a look at a real SAT-style example and walk through what’s really being asked—so you can face these questions with confidence on test day.
The mimosa tree evolved in East Asia, where the beetle Bruchidius terrenus preys on its seeds. In 1785, mimosa trees were introduced to North America, far from any B. terrenus. But evolutionary links between predators and their prey can persist across centuries and continents. Around 2001, B. terrenus was introduced in southeastern North America near where botanist Shu-Mei Chang and colleagues had been monitoring mimosa trees. Within a year, 93 percent of the trees had been attacked by the beetles.
Which choice best describes the function of the third sentence in the overall structure of the text?
A) It states the hypothesis that Chang and colleagues had set out to investigate using mimosa trees and B. terrenus.
B) It presents a generalization that is exemplified by the discussion of the mimosa trees and B. terrenus.
C) It offers an alternative explanation for the findings of Chang and colleagues.
D) It provides context that clarifies why the species mentioned spread to new locations.
Ready to see how you did?
Click your answer choice below to reveal the correct response—along with a clear explanation to boost your SAT skills and strategy!
Answer A
Answer B
Answer C
Answer D
Too easy? Check our other posts for more examples.
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