Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 3...

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.

For decades, the SAT has functioned as a main door to higher education in the United States, shaping admissions outcomes and perceptions of academic potential. Originally conceived to measure ability, the test once symbolized fair opportunity. Yet, in recent years, its fairness and relevance have come under examination, prompting debate about whether standardized testing can represent the complex intelligence of contemporary learners. [I] As education evolves, the SAT finds itself caught between tradition and the demand for comprehensive methods of student readiness.

The College Board's decision to transition the SAT to a fully digital format marks a significant turning point. The new SAT, shorter in duration and adaptive in structure, seeks to evaluate reasoning skills with precision and accessibility. Students now complete the exam on laptops or tablets, receiving results within days rather than weeks. [II] This digital transformation extends beyond logistical convenience; it mirrors the broader reconfiguration of education in the post- pandemic era, where technology has become inseparable from learning and assessment. Still, one question remains: can an algorithm truly capture the depth of critical thinking?

Equity remains the SAT's most persistent challenge. Critics argue that the exam continues economic and social inequalities, as students from affluent backgrounds often have access to private tutoring and extensive preparation programs that enhance their scores. By contrast, students from under-resourced communities frequently lack comparable support. Although the College Board has expanded fee waivers and developed free online practice tools through initiatives such as its partnership with Khan Academy, these measures only partially reduce systematic unfairness. [III] The test operates within a system where the playing field is far from level, and genuine potential may be obscured by unequal access to educational resources.

As an increasing number of universities adopt test-optional or test-blind admissions policies, the SAT faces a critical turning point. Proponents argue that standardized assessments remain necessary for maintaining objectivity, particularly amid grade inflation and different curricular standards across schools. [IV] The future of academic evaluation may thus lie in balance — where quantitative measures coexist with comprehensive approaches that value creativity, resilience, and lived experience alongside intellectual performance. Whether the SAT endures or diminishes in influence, one principle remains clear: education must evolve not to measure conformity, but to open doors to possibility.

Question 31: The word "itself" in paragraph 1 refers to ____________.

A. tradition                B. education                        C. the SAT                        D. the demand

Question 32: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a characteristic of the new digital SAT?

A. it provides results within a few days.                B. It is shorter in duration

C. It is completed on electronic devices.                D. It includes a mandatory essay section.

Question 33: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 1?

A. The SAT's historical role as a symbol of fair opportunity is being challenged by its shift to a digital format.

B. The SAT's evolution is primarily driven by the need to balance tradition with comprehensive methods of student potential.

C. The SAT, once a respected measure of ability, is now facing scrutiny regarding its fairness and ability to assess modern learners.

D. Debates about the SAT's relevance have led to calls for more traditional methods of evaluating student readiness.

Question 34: The word “reconfiguration” in paragraph 2 is CLOSEST in meaning to ____________.

A. stability                B. reorganization                C. removal                        D. reduction

Question 35: According to paragraph 2, what specific changes have been made to the new SAT?

A. The exam now focuses on memorization rather than evaluating the students' reasoning skills.

B. The exam provides results within weeks instead of days for all digital participants.

C. The exam now requires less time and employs a personalized framework tailored to test-takers

D. The exam is much longer and requires students to use paper-based answer sheets.

Question 36: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Education will only truly evolve if it focuses on standardizing learning outcomes to open more doors for students.

B. For education to progress, it must prioritize the measurement of students' ability to conform over their potential for innovation.

C. Education's primary goal should be to ensure students adhere to established norms rather than explore new avenues.

D. The purpose of education is to adapt and create opportunities, not merely to assess how well individuals fit predefined standards.

Question 37: What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The SAT is no longer administered or required by most higher education institutions

B. Grade inflation and varied curricula have no effect on university admissions outcomes

C. Standardized tests alone may not fully capture students' intellectual potential

D. Using digital technology automatically enhances adolescents' critical thinking abilities

Question 38: The mention of "grade inflation and different curricular standards across schools" in paragraph 4 serves to ____________.

A. explain why standardized tests are considered necessary by some for objectivity.

B. advocate for a universal curriculum to ensure fairness in grading.

C. criticize the declining academic standard in modern high schools.

D. illustrate the challenges faced by students in diverse educational systems.

Question 39: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

Opponents, however, maintain that human potential cannot be reduced to a numerical value.

A. [I]                        B. [IV]                                C. [III]                                D. [II]

Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the main idea of the passage?

A. The primary challenge for the SAT is adapting its assessment methods to accurately measure critical thinking skills in an increasingly digital learning environment.

B. The SAT's transition to a digital format has successfully resolved its long-standing issues concerning fairness and relevance in higher education.

C. Despite its historical role, the SAT is currently undergoing significant scrutiny regarding its fairness and relevance, prompting a shift towards more comprehensive evaluation methods in higher education.

D. The College Board's efforts to provide equitable access to SAT preparation have largely mitigated the socioeconomic disparities associated with the exam.