SAT OwlQuestion bank / Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Lake Baikal is located in Siberia, Russia.
• At 1,642 meters, it is the deepest lake in the world.
• Scientists estimate that it is about 25 million years old, making it the oldest lake on Earth.
• It contains roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water.
The student wants to emphasize the amount of water that Lake Baikal holds. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Lake Baikal, in Siberia, is estimated to be about 25 million years old.
At 1,642 meters, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.
Lake Baikal, located in Siberia, Russia, is both the deepest and the oldest lake on Earth.
Lake Baikal contains roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The goal is about how much water the lake holds. Choice D gives exactly that: roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water. The other choices give the lake's age or depth, and depth alone doesn't tell you its total volume.
Choice B is tempting because depth seems related to how much water a lake holds, but it says nothing about the actual amount.
Got it wrong? On SAT Owl, Owl looks at the answer you chose and explains the exact mistake, then gives you similar questions until it sticks. Get your predicted SAT score free.