SAT Reading Human Bipedalism Question - ID: e185a21f

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Question ID: e185a21f

Nickname: The Human Bipedalism Question

Section: SAT Reading & Writing

Question Type: Inference

How to Identify: The question stem asks which choice "most logically completes the text." This exact wording appears on every Inference question and only on Inference questions.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Many students assume that Inference questions require sophisticated interpretive leaps beyond what the passage states. In reality, the correct answer on Inference questions often takes the same form as on other SAT Core Reading questions: accurate summary of passage content. For this reason, we start with our standard Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™ Tests.

A) This answer passes the Highlighter Test™. The passage indicates that researchers observed orangutans (human relatives) standing on two legs in trees and that this behavior helped them reach fruit (an advantage). Additionally, these observations are presented as a counter to a theory about how bipedalism originated (i.e., evolved). This answer simply combines those elements.

B) This answer fails the Clip Art™ Test for two reasons. First, the passage never indicates that either theory about the origins of bipedalism is correct. Second, the passage never discusses the timing of the evolutionary process—"simultaneously" is an idea pasted in from outside the passage.

C) This answer fails the Clip Art™ Test. The passage says nothing about the difficulty of transitions between different parts of the environment.

D) This answer fails two tests from the Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™. First, it fails the Saturation Slider™ Test: the passage never indicates that bipedal movement in trees was easy—only that it aided balance. Second, it fails the Negative Filter™ Test: the passage presents evidence about orangutans, but this answer makes an assumption based on bipedalism aiding the other group—knuckle-walking ancestors.

For the complete Cross-Examiner's Toolbox™ strategies—including when and how to apply each test—enroll in my self-paced course SAT Reading & Writing Mastery, join my SAT Reading & Writing Score Accelerator Program for course access plus live Zoom sessions, or pick up my book SAT Reading Mastery.