Microsoft Word psat sample items with explained answers master

Key: 

C 

   

 

Justification 

If a climber who left after 4:00 am reached the summit, the guide’s prediction would have 

been incorrect. If it was correct, therefore, no one who left after 4:00 am can have reached 

the summit. 

 

Distractors  

A

 is not necessarily true – the guide’s prediction does not rule out climbers starting before 

4:00 am but nevertheless failing to reach the summit. 

B

 is necessarily false – if this were true, the guide’s prediction would have been false. 

D

 is not necessarily true – as in 

A

, the guide’s prediction does not rule out climbers starting 

before 4:00 am but nevertheless failing to reach the summit. 

E

 is equivalent to 

A

. 

 

 

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