Explanation for Question 12 From the Reading Section on the 2019 March Sat
For number 12, we have a vocabulary question as used in line 16 2 positive. Most nearly means what? 3 So taking a look at line 16, 4 this is the part of the passage that is referencing the short study. 5 So we're looking here at line 16, 6 um, Schwartz references, how people who participated in this study 7 talked about how helping other people transformed their experience from something that 8 victimized them to something that enabled them to be a positive force in the 9 world. So positive here can be taken to me and, 10 um, a helpful, beneficial, 11 um, overall, uh, an encouraging and, 12 um, on the whole beneficial force in the world. 13 So when we look at these vocabulary questions, 14 it's often useful to substitute in your own synonym before you even take a 15 look at the answer choices. Um, but that being said, 16 looking now at our answer choices a is confident, 17 competent. 18 Doesn't quite apply here. If we substitute that in, 19 uh, it doesn't fit being a confident presence in the world. 20 Isn't something that really relates to this theme of wellbeing and, 21 um, acts of kindness. So we're going to eliminate choice a be 22 practical. Um, all practical definitely has a similar meaning of practical 23 purpose in the world. Um, here we're focusing more on the impact that 24 someone can have on others rather than just sort of, 25 um, a more practical role. So B is going to be eliminated as well, 26 see a specific, this might be our answer choice that fits the least. 27 If you substituted that into the sentence in context, 28 that would not feel right. So that leaves our correct answer. 29 Choice, choice, date positive here means beneficial people who 30 were part of this study. And, um, 31 we're, we're participating in an act of giving through the study felt that they 32 were having a positive impact, a beneficial impact. 33 They were bringing about some good through their participation in this study. 34 So choice D is our answer here for number 12.