Answer Choices
Consequently, philosophy students have been receiving an increasing number of job offers.
Therefore, because of the evidence, colleges increased their offerings in philosophy.
Notwithstanding the attractiveness of this course of study, students have resisted majoring in philosophy.
However, despite its many utilitarian benefits, colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy.
Explanation for Question 37 From the Writing Section on the Official Sat Practice Test 1
So question 37 is asking us which choice effectively sets up the information that 2 follows and the information that follows tells us that only 18% of American colleges 3 required at least one philosophy course. 4 So in other words, most American colleges do not require people to take philosophy 5 courses. And so that's the kind of information that we want to set up. 6 We want to be talking about what American colleges think about, 7 how many philosophy courses people should take. 8 Now, if we look at a, we see it's talking about job offers, 9 which is off topic from courses in American colleges, 10 right? So because it's off topic a is no good. 11 Now B says colleges have increased their offerings and philosophy, 12 and this one's on topic, right? Cause it's talking about philosophy offerings at colleges, 13 but what's wrong with this one is that it says increased. 14 We can see that says only 18% and only at least one course, 15 right? 16 So most students can get away with zero courses. 17 And so that doesn't sound like an increase because the numbers are very low 18 and that's why B is wrong because of this word increase. 19 Now, see, he says, not withstanding the attractiveness students have resisted majoring in it. 20 So we talked about course requirements in colleges, 21 right. But we didn't talk about the students' decisions, 22 especially about what they wanted to major in. 23 Right? So since we didn't talk about majoring in that sense and pink C 24 is wrong. And finally D despite its many utilitarian benefits, 25 colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy. 26 This one is going to make the most sense, right? Because if it tells 27 us that colleges have not always supported the study of philosophy, 28 then it would make sense that they didn't, um, 29 encourage students to take a lot of courses or they didn't require students. 30 And so for that reason, D is going to be our best answer.