Explanation for Question 6 From the Writing Section on the 2019 May Sat
Question six asks which choice best maintains the tone established 2 in the passage. So we have multiple different word choices here, 3 and we're trying to select one that fits in best with the passage. 4 So the context is the Alvarez hypothesis, 5 however, is challenged badgered, 6 defied, or besieged by research that suggests gradual environmental changes 7 caused by volcanic eruptions occurring before the asteroid collision. 8 So we're talking about how the hypothesis is to some degree 9 threatened, um, by other research. 10 So what we want to do here is look at our answer choices and 11 see which of the tones kind of aligns with the rest of the passage. 12 So challenged here is a really good scientific word. 13 Um, it speaks to, um, 14 what is happening with hypothesis. It speaks to, 15 um, sort of the descending different academic ideas that are kind of 16 coming into conflict with each other here. So challenged is a good fit, 17 um, badgered, defied, 18 and besieged all have a slightly more extreme meaning. 19 So besieged in particular, 20 um, is a bit more aggressive than the rest of the, 21 um, the P the passage. This passage is really weighing evidence that suggests, 22 um, you know, in favor of the average hypothesis versus other claims. 23 So it's a little bit more judicial, a little bit more evenly weighing these 24 different perspectives and the different evidence. So besieged doesn't quite fit defied 25 is similarly, um, a little bit more aggressive, 26 uh, as is badgered. So those words all kind of are a little bit 27 more aggressive than they need to be, um, 28 for this passage, which is really characterized by this tone of just kind of 29 a weighing evidence. So answer choice, 30 a challenged is the best fit it gets across the fact that there's a 31 contradiction between this hypothesis and this other research, 32 um, without breaking sort of the preexisting tone of the passage. 33 So the no change option is best for question six.