SAT OwlQuestion bank / Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Violins made by Antonio Stradivari in the 1600s and 1700s can sell for millions of dollars.
• Many musicians believe these old Italian violins sound better than modern instruments.
• In a 2014 study led by acoustician Claudia Fritz, professional soloists played old Italian and new violins while wearing modified goggles that hid each instrument's identity.
• The soloists could not reliably tell which violins were old.
• Most of the soloists preferred a new violin.
The student wants to emphasize the surprising result of the 2014 study. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Violins made by Antonio Stradivari can sell for millions of dollars, and many musicians believe they sound better than modern instruments.
In a 2014 study, soloists played old Italian and new violins while wearing goggles that hid each instrument's identity.
Although many musicians believe old Italian violins sound better, most soloists in a 2014 study preferred a new violin and could not reliably tell which instruments were old.
Acoustician Claudia Fritz led a 2014 study involving professional violin soloists.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
A result is surprising only when compared with what people expected. Choice C sets up the expectation (musicians believe old violins sound better) and then gives the result that goes against it. Choice B describes the study's method, not its result, and choice A gives only the common belief.
Choice B describes the study's setup in detail but never reports what the soloists found.
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.