Notes:
- The coelacanth is a fish once believed to have gone extinct 66 million years ago.
- In 1938, a living coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa.
- Coelacanths can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh nearly 200 pounds.
- They live at depths of 500 to 800 feet in underwater caves.
Goal: Emphasize the surprising nature of the 1938 discovery.
Analysis: To emphasize surprise, the sentence must set up the expectation (believed extinct for 66 million years) and then reveal the surprise (found alive in 1938).
Correct: "Although scientists had believed the coelacanth had been extinct for 66 million years, a living specimen was discovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938."
Wrong: "Coelacanths can grow up to 6 feet long and live in underwater caves at depths of 500 to 800 feet." (Accurate but irrelevant to the goal of emphasizing surprise.)
Arctic permafrost contains an estimated 1,500 billion tons of organic carbon — nearly twice the amount currently in the atmosphere. _______, as global temperatures rise, thawing permafrost could release massive quantities of methane and carbon dioxide, potentially accelerating climate change.
Analysis: The first sentence establishes a fact (permafrost holds enormous carbon). The second sentence explains the implication (thawing could release it). This is a cause/effect or consequence relationship.
Correct: "As a result" or "Consequently" — the risk of release is a consequence of the carbon being there combined with warming.
Wrong: "However" (no contrast). "For example" (the second sentence isn't an example of the first). "Similarly" (no parallel is being drawn).
Notes:
- Kintsugi is a Japanese art form dating to the 15th century.
- Broken pottery is repaired using lacquer mixed with powdered gold.
- The visible golden seams highlight rather than hide the object's history of damage.
- The practice reflects a philosophical embrace of imperfection and transience.
Goal: Introduce kintsugi to an audience unfamiliar with it.
Analysis: For an unfamiliar audience, the sentence should define what kintsugi IS and give a basic description. Technical or philosophical details come second.
Correct: "Kintsugi is a Japanese art form, dating to the 15th century, in which broken pottery is repaired with gold-infused lacquer, creating visible seams that highlight the object's history."
Wrong: "The philosophical embrace of imperfection and transience is central to the practice." (This assumes the reader already knows what the practice is.)
The proposed highway would reduce commute times by an estimated 25 minutes for thousands of workers. _______, environmental advocates argue that the project would destroy 300 acres of wetland habitat critical to migratory bird populations.
Analysis: The first sentence presents a benefit. The second presents a drawback. But the relationship is NOT pure contrast — it's concession: acknowledging the benefit while pivoting to a concern.
Correct: "Nevertheless" or "However" — both work to pivot from benefit to drawback.
Why not "On the other hand"? Actually, this works too — it signals a shift in perspective. All three are valid SAT answers, but you'd only see one in the choices.