SAT OwlQuestion bank / Text Structure and Purpose
Economists often assume that people make better choices when they have more options. A study of online movie viewers by behavioral economist Lena Strand complicates this picture. When a streaming service showed users 40 recommended films, they browsed longer but were more likely to log off without watching anything than when it showed only 8. Strand suggests that a long list of options can overwhelm viewers and lead them to avoid choosing at all.
Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence in the overall structure of the text?
It introduces research that challenges the assumption described in the first sentence.
It gives a specific example that supports the assumption described in the first sentence.
It presents a conclusion that the rest of the text goes on to reject.
It describes a research method that Strand's study failed to use.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The first sentence states an assumption (more options lead to better choices). The second sentence says Strand's study "complicates this picture," and the rest of the text describes findings that cut against the assumption. So the second sentence introduces research that challenges the assumption.
Choice B reverses the relationship: the study undermines the first sentence's assumption rather than supporting it.
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