9 original Command of Evidence: Textual questions, easiest first. Which quotation or finding would most strengthen — or weaken — a stated claim. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
A public health official claims that a citywide campaign promoting car seat safety checks significantly reduced improper car seat installation among first-time parents specifically.
Which finding would most directly support the official's claim?
A — Inspection records show that improper installation rates among first-time parents dropped in the city after the campaign, while such rates in a similar nearby city without the campaign stayed flat.. A comparison of improper installation rates among first-time parents between the campaign city and a similar city without the campaign directly tests the campaign's specific effect, matching the claim precisely; the other choices don't measure actual installation outcomes.
A climatologist argues that restoring native grasslands in a particular watershed has measurably improved groundwater recharge by increasing the soil's capacity to retain rainfall before it evaporates or runs off.
Which finding would most directly support the climatologist's argument?
B — Data show that after grassland restoration began, soil retention rates in the watershed increased and groundwater levels rose measurably.. The claim links restoration to both soil retention and groundwater recharge; a finding showing both changes occurred together after restoration directly supports the causal claim. The other findings don't address the recharge/retention mechanism.
A food scientist claims that a newly developed plant-based cheese alternative melts and stretches similarly to real mozzarella, unlike earlier plant-based alternatives.
Which finding would most directly support the food scientist's claim?
C — In controlled melting tests, the new alternative stretched to a length comparable to real mozzarella, while earlier alternatives cracked or failed to stretch under the same conditions.. The claim is specifically about melting and stretching behavior compared with real mozzarella; a controlled melting test directly measuring this behavior supports the claim. Market share, consumer concern, and calcium content don't address melting/stretching.
An archaeologist proposes that a newly excavated settlement engaged in long-distance trade rather than relying solely on local resources.
Which finding would most directly support the archaeologist's proposal?
A — Chemical analysis reveals that pottery found at the site was made from clay sourced hundreds of miles away.. Direct evidence that materials found at the site originated far away most directly supports a claim of long-distance trade. Locally sourced stone actually suggests the opposite for that item, and the other choices don't address trade at all.
A political scientist claims that town hall meetings held in the evening, rather than during the workday, are more effective at increasing attendance among working-age residents.
Which finding would most directly support the political scientist's claim?
A — An analysis of past town halls found that evening meetings drew a significantly higher proportion of working-age attendees than daytime meetings held on comparable topics.. The claim specifically concerns comparative attendance effectiveness of evening vs. daytime meetings among working-age residents; a finding directly comparing attendance by meeting time supports this. Preferences, frequency, and meeting length don't address attendance effectiveness.
A climatologist argues that restoring native marsh grasses along a stretch of coastline has measurably reduced shoreline erosion by stabilizing sediment with the grasses' root systems.
Which finding would most directly support the climatologist's argument?
C — Data show that after marsh grass restoration began, sediment stability measurements increased and shoreline erosion rates decreased along the restored stretch.. The claim links restoration to both sediment stability and reduced erosion; a finding showing both changes occurred together after restoration directly supports the causal claim. The other findings don't address the erosion/stability mechanism.
A labor economist argues that a recent expansion of remote-work eligibility at a large company did not lead to a significant decline in team collaboration ratings, contrary to some predictions.
Which finding would most directly support the economist's argument?
D — Internal surveys show that team collaboration ratings at the company remained essentially unchanged in the year following the remote-work expansion.. The claim is specifically about collaboration ratings; unchanged ratings after the expansion directly supports the claim that no significant decline occurred. The other options address different, less directly relevant measures.
An archaeologist proposes that a newly excavated inland settlement engaged in regular trade with coastal communities rather than remaining entirely self-sufficient.
Which finding would most directly support the archaeologist's proposal?
C — Excavators find shell ornaments and preserved fish bones at the inland site that could only have originated from coastal waters over a hundred miles away.. Direct evidence of coastal-origin materials found far inland most directly supports a claim of trade with coastal communities. Locally sourced clay, duration of habitation, and the absence of similar sites elsewhere don't address trade specifically.
An archaeologist proposes that a newly excavated highland settlement engaged in seasonal, rather than year-round, occupation.
Which finding would most directly support the archaeologist's proposal?
D — Excavators find that hearths and food storage pits at the site show clear evidence of being used, then deliberately sealed, on a repeating annual cycle.. Evidence of repeating annual sealing and reuse of hearths and storage pits directly supports a claim of seasonal, cyclical occupation rather than continuous year-round use. The other choices don't address the occupation pattern specifically.
Score:
Every question above is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted, any wrong option you picked is flagged, and each explanation is open.
No. Every question here is original, written to the College Board's published Digital SAT Reading & Writing specification for the Command of Evidence: Textual skill. No retired or copyrighted College Board material appears anywhere on this site.
Command of Evidence (Textual) describes a claim, hypothesis or argument and asks which quotation, finding or example would most directly support it, illustrate it, or weaken it. The passage sets up the claim; the choices are the candidate evidence.
Restate, in one sentence, exactly what has to be proven — including any qualifier like "in cities", "before 1900", "for adults only". Then test each choice against that sentence alone. Evidence that is true, interesting and about the right topic still fails if it does not bear on the specific claim, and "weaken" questions are lost almost entirely by candidates who answer them as "support" questions.
No, and deliberately so. This drill is 9 Command of Evidence: Textual questions back to back; a real Reading & Writing module is 27 questions in 32 minutes drawn from all eleven skills. Use a drill to fix one weakness, then take a full module to practice the real thing.
No. The SAT has no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank and a wrong guess both score zero — so answer every question, including the ones you have to guess.