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Scholastic Aptitude Test Exam Questions 257–264 (page: 34)

Updated On: 31-Jul-2026

This passage is adapted from Richard J. Sharpe and Lisa Heyden, `Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is Possibly Caused by a Dietary Pyrethrum Deficiency.`
ֲ ©2009 by Elsevier Ltd. Colony collapse disorder is characterized by the disappearance of adult worker bees from hives. Honey bees are hosts to the pathogenic large ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (Varroa mites). These mites feed on bee hemolymph (blood) and can kill bees directly or by increasing their susceptibility to secondary infection with fungi, bacteria or viruses. Little is known about the natural defenses that keep the mite infections under control. Pyrethrums are a group of flowering plants which include Chrysanthemum coccineum, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, Chrysanthemum marschalli, and related species. These plants produce potent insecticides with anti mite activity. The naturally occurring insecticides are known as pyrethrums. A synonym for the naturally occurring pyrethrums is pyrethrin and synthetic analogues of pyrethrums are known as pyrethroids. In fact, the human mite infestation known as scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei) is treated with a topical pyrethrum cream. We suspect that the bees of commercial bee colonies which are fed mono crops are nutritionally deficient. In particular, we postulate that the problem is a diet deficient in anti mite toxins: pyrethrums, and possibly other nutrients which are inherent in such plants. Without, at least, intermittent feeding on the pyrethrum producing plants, bee colonies are susceptible to mite infestations which can become fatal either directly or due to a secondary infection of immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees. This secondary infection can be viral, bacterial or fungal and may be due to one or more pathogens. In addition, immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees may be further weakened when commercially produced insecticides are introduced into their hives by bee keepers in an effort to fight mite infestation. We further postulate that the proper dosage necessary to prevent mite infestation may be better left to the bees, who may seek out or avoid pyrethrum containing plants depending on the amount necessary to defend against mites and the amount already consumed by the bees, which in higher doses could be potentially toxic to them. This hypothesis can best be tested by a trial wherein a small number of commercial honey bee colonies are offered a number of pyrethrum producing plants, as well as a typical bee food source such as clover, while controls are offered only the clover. Mites could then be introduced to each hive with note made as to the choice of the bees, and the effects of the mite parasites on the experimental colonies versus control colonies. It might be beneficial to test wild type honey bee colonies in this manner as well, in case there could be some genetic difference between them that affects the bees' preferences for pyrethrum producing flowers.

Based on data in the table, in what percent of colonies with colony collapse disorder were the honeybees infected by all four pathogens?

  1. 0 percent
  2. 77 percent
  3. 83 percent
  4. 100 percent

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Choice 77 percent is the best answer. The table shows that 77 percent of the honeybee colonies with colony collapse disorder were infected by all four pathogens. Other choices are incorrect because they do not identify the percent of honeybee colonies with colony collapse disorder that were infected by all four pathogens as based on data in the table.



This passage is adapted from Richard J. Sharpe and Lisa Heyden, `Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is Possibly
Caused by a Dietary Pyrethrum Deficiency.` ֲ ©2009 by Elsevier Ltd. Colony collapse disorder is characterized by the disappearance of adult worker bees from hives. Honey bees are hosts to the pathogenic large ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (Varroa mites). These mites feed on bee hemolymph (blood) and can kill bees directly or by increasing their susceptibility to secondary infection with fungi, bacteria or viruses. Little is known about the natural defenses that keep the mite infections under control. Pyrethrums are a group of flowering plants which include Chrysanthemum coccineum, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, Chrysanthemum marschalli, and related species. These plants produce potent insecticides with anti mite activity. The naturally occurring insecticides are known as pyrethrums. A synonym for the naturally occurring pyrethrums is pyrethrin and synthetic analogues of pyrethrums are known as pyrethroids. In fact, the human mite infestation known as scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei) is treated with a topical pyrethrum cream. We suspect that the bees of commercial bee colonies which are fed mono crops are nutritionally deficient. In particular, we postulate that the problem is a diet deficient in anti mite toxins: pyrethrums, and possibly other nutrients which are inherent in such plants. Without, at least, intermittent feeding on the pyrethrum producing plants, bee colonies are susceptible to mite infestations which can become fatal either directly or due to a secondary infection of immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees. This secondary infection can be viral, bacterial or fungal and may be due to one or more pathogens. In addition, immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees may be further weakened when commercially produced insecticides are introduced into their hives by bee keepers in an effort to fight mite infestation. We further postulate that the proper dosage necessary to prevent mite infestation may be better left to the bees, who may seek out or avoid pyrethrum containing plants depending on the amount necessary to defend against mites and the amount already consumed by the bees, which in higher doses could be potentially toxic to them. This hypothesis can best be tested by a trial wherein a small number of commercial honey bee colonies are offered a number of pyrethrum producing plants, as well as a typical bee food source such as clover, while controls are offered only the clover. Mites could then be introduced to each hive with note made as to the choice of the bees, and the effects of the mite parasites on the experimental colonies versus control colonies. It might be beneficial to test wild type honey bee colonies in this manner as well, in case there could be some genetic difference between them that affects the bees' preferences for pyrethrum producing flowers.

Based on data in the table, which of the four pathogens infected the highest percentage of honeybee colonies without colony collapse disorder?

  1. IAPV
  2. KBV
  3. Nosema apis
  4. Nosema ceranae

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The table shows that 81 percent of colonies without colony collapse disorder were affected by the pathogen Nosema ceranae.



This passage is adapted from Richard J. Sharpe and Lisa Heyden, `Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is Possibly Caused by a Dietary Pyrethrum Deficiency.` ֲ ©2009 by Elsevier Ltd. Colony collapse disorder is characterized by the disappearance of adult worker bees from hives.
Honey bees are hosts to the pathogenic large ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (Varroa mites). These mites feed on bee hemolymph (blood) and can kill bees directly or by increasing their susceptibility to secondary infection with fungi, bacteria or viruses. Little is known about the natural defenses that keep the mite infections under control. Pyrethrums are a group of flowering plants which include Chrysanthemum coccineum, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, Chrysanthemum marschalli, and related species. These plants produce potent insecticides with anti mite activity. The naturally occurring insecticides are known as pyrethrums. A synonym for the naturally occurring pyrethrums is pyrethrin and synthetic analogues of pyrethrums are known as pyrethroids. In fact, the human mite infestation known as scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei) is treated with a topical pyrethrum cream. We suspect that the bees of commercial bee colonies which are fed mono crops are nutritionally deficient. In particular, we postulate that the problem is a diet deficient in anti mite toxins: pyrethrums, and possibly other nutrients which are inherent in such plants. Without, at least, intermittent feeding on the pyrethrum producing plants, bee colonies are susceptible to mite infestations which can become fatal either directly or due to a secondary infection of immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees. This secondary infection can be viral, bacterial or fungal and may be due to one or more pathogens. In addition, immunocompromised or nutritionally deficient bees may be further weakened when commercially produced insecticides are introduced into their hives by bee keepers in an effort to fight mite infestation. We further postulate that the proper dosage necessary to prevent mite infestation may be better left to the bees, who may seek out or avoid pyrethrum containing plants depending on the amount necessary to defend against mites and the amount already consumed by the bees, which in higher doses could be potentially toxic to them. This hypothesis can best be tested by a trial wherein a small number of commercial honey bee colonies are offered a number of pyrethrum producing plants, as well as a typical bee food source such as clover, while controls are offered only the clover. Mites could then be introduced to each hive with note made as to the choice of the bees, and the effects of the mite parasites on the experimental colonies versus control colonies. It might be beneficial to test wild type honey bee colonies in this manner as well, in case there could be some genetic difference between them that affects the bees' preferences for pyrethrum producing flowers.

Do the data in the table provide support for the authors' claim that infection with varroa mites increases a honeybee's susceptibility to secondary infections?

  1. Yes, because the data provide evidence that infection with a pathogen caused the colonies to undergo colony collapse disorder.
  2. Yes, because for each pathogen, the percent of colonies infected is greater for colonies with colony collapse disorder than for colonies without colony collapse disorder.
  3. No, because the data do not provide evidence about bacteria as a cause of colony collapse disorder.
  4. No, because the data do not indicate whether the honeybees had been infected with mites.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The table discusses pathogen occurrence in honeybee colonies, but it includes no information as to whether these honeybees were infected with mites. Because the table does not suggest mites infested the honeybee colonies, no conclusions can be made as to whether mites increased the honeybees' susceptibility to secondary infection with fungi, bacteria or viruses (sentence 2 of paragraph 1).



This passage is adapted from William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf. ֲ ©1959 by William Maxwell. Originally published in 1945. The Alcazar Restaurant was on Sheridan Road near Devon Avenue. It was long and narrow, with tables for two along the walls and tables for four down the middle. The decoration was art moderne, except for the series of murals depicting the four seasons, and the sick ferns in the front window. Lymie sat down at the second table from the cash register, and ordered his dinner. The history book, which he propped against the catsup and the glass sugar bowl, had been used by others before him. Blank pages front and back were filled in with maps, drawings, dates, comic cartoons, and organs of the body; also with names and messages no longer clear and never absolutely legible. On nearly every other page there was some marginal notation, either in ink or in very hard pencil. And unless someone had upset a glass of water, the marks on page 177 were from tears.
While Lymie read about the Peace of Paris, signed on the thirtieth of May, 1814, between France and the Allied powers, his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth. Sometimes he chewed, sometimes he swallowed whole the food that he had no idea he was eating. The Congress of Vienna met, with some allowance for delays, early in November of the same year, and all the powers engaged in the war on either side sent plenipotentiaries. It was by far the most splendid and important assembly ever convoked to discuss and determine the affairs of Europe. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Kings of Bavaria, Denmark, and Wurttemberg, all were present in person at the court of the Emperor Francis I in the Austrian capital.
When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, one by one, on the fingers of his left hand, the waitress, whose name was Irma, thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away. He stopped her. Prince Metternich (his right thumb) presided over the Congress, and Prince Talleyrand (the index finger) represented France. A party of four, two men and two women, came into the restaurant, all talking at once, and took possession of the center table nearest Lymie. The women had shingled hair and short tight skirts which exposed the underside of their knees when they sat down. One of the women had the face of a young boy but disguised by one trick or another (rouge, lipstick, powder, wet bangs plastered against the high forehead, and a pair of long pendent earrings) to look like a woman of thirty- five, which as a matter of fact she was. The men were older. They laughed more than there seemed any occasion for, while they were deciding between soup and shrimp cocktail, and their laughter was too loud. But it was the women's voices, the terrible not quite sober pitch of the women's voices which caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages without knowing what was on them. Fortunately he realized this and went back. Otherwise he might never have known about the secret treaty concluded between England, France, and Austria, when the pretensions of Prussia and Russia, acting in concert, seemed to threaten a renewal of the attack. The results of the Congress were stated clearly at the bottom of page 67 and at the top of page 68, but before Lymie got halfway through them, a coat that he recognized as his father's was hung on the hook next to his chair. Lymie closed the book and said, `I didn't think you were coming.` Time is probably no more unkind to sporting characters than it is to other people, but physical decay un sustained by respectability is somehow more noticeable. Mr. Peters' hair was turning gray and his scalp showed through on top. He had lost weight also; he no longer filled out his clothes the way he used to. His color was poor, and the flower had disappeared from his buttonhole. In its place was an American Legion button.
Apparently he himself was not aware that there had been any change. He straightened his tie self-consciously and when Irma handed him a menu, he gestured with it so that the two women at the next table would notice the diamond ring on the fourth finger of his right hand. Both of these things, and also the fact that his hands showed signs of the manicurist, one can blame on the young man who had his picture taken with a derby hat on the back of his head, and also sitting with a girl in the curve of the moon. The young man had never for one second deserted Mr. Peters. He was always there, tugging at Mr. Peters' elbow, making him do things that were not becoming in a man of forty-five. Over the course of the passage, the primary focus shifts from:

  1. Lymie's inner thoughts to observations made by the other characters.
  2. an exchange between strangers to a satisfying personal relationship.
  3. the physical setting of the scene to the different characters' personality traits.
  4. Lymie's experience reading a book to descriptions of people in the restaurant.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Justification for Selecting Option D
The passage begins with a detailed description of Lymie’s reading of a historical text, emphasizing his physical actions (eating, counting, marginal notes) and the marginalia that reflect his inner preoccupations. As the narrative progresses, the focus expands to the surrounding restaurant environment: the décor, the other diners, their appearances, and their conversations. The shift is explicitly from Lymie’s experience of reading and interpreting the book to descriptive passages that portray the people and atmosphere around him . This transition is signaled by the narrator’s movement from Lymie’s internal reactions (“his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth”) to external observations of the other patrons (“the women’s voices… caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages”). Consequently, the central movement of the excerpt is best captured by the phrase “Lymie's experience reading a book to descriptions of people in the restaurant,” which aligns precisely with option D.
Why the Other Options Are Inferior
Option A suggests a shift from Lymie’s inner thoughts to observations made by other characters. The text, however, does not present observations originating from the other characters; it is narrated externally, focusing on what Lymie perceives rather than on their own interior monologues. Option B implies a progression from a transactional encounter to a personal bond. The passage never depicts a developing relationship; it remains an observational snapshot without any resolution or deepening connection. Option C posits a shift from setting to personality traits.
While setting and personality are both described, the primary structural movement is not a simple re-ordering of focus but a layering of Lymie’s reading experience with external description , making option C too narrow and misleading.
Conclusion Option D most accurately encapsulates the narrative’s dual movement: from Lymie’s engaged reading of historical content to the surrounding observational details of the restaurant’s patrons and ambience.


Reference:

Maxwell, W. (1945). The Folded Leaf. (Original publication). SparkNotes. (2023). The Folded Leaf Study Guide. Retrieved from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-folded-leaf/
(Both links are publicly accessible and provide the full text and analytical commentary for verification.)



This passage is adapted from William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf. ֲ ©1959 by William Maxwell. Originally published in 1945. The Alcazar Restaurant was on Sheridan Road near Devon Avenue. It was long and narrow, with tables for two along the walls and tables for four down the middle. The decoration was art moderne, except for the series of murals depicting the four seasons, and the sick ferns in the front window. Lymie sat down at the second table from the cash register, and ordered his dinner. The history book, which he propped against the catsup and the glass sugar bowl, had been used by others before him. Blank pages front and back were filled in with maps, drawings, dates, comic cartoons, and organs of the body; also with names and messages no longer clear and never absolutely legible. On nearly every other page there was some marginal notation, either in ink or in very hard pencil. And unless someone had upset a glass of water, the marks on page 177 were from tears.
While Lymie read about the Peace of Paris, signed on the thirtieth of May, 1814, between France and the Allied powers, his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth. Sometimes he chewed, sometimes he swallowed whole the food that he had no idea he was eating. The Congress of Vienna met, with some allowance for delays, early in November of the same year, and all the powers engaged in the war on either side sent plenipotentiaries. It was by far the most splendid and important assembly ever convoked to discuss and determine the affairs of Europe. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Kings of Bavaria, Denmark, and Wurttemberg, all were present in person at the court of the Emperor Francis I in the Austrian capital.
When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, one by one, on the fingers of his left hand, the waitress, whose name was Irma, thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away. He stopped her. Prince Metternich (his right thumb) presided over the Congress, and Prince Talleyrand (the index finger) represented France. A party of four, two men and two women, came into the restaurant, all talking at once, and took possession of the center table nearest Lymie. The women had shingled hair and short tight skirts which exposed the underside of their knees when they sat down. One of the women had the face of a young boy but disguised by one trick or another (rouge, lipstick, powder, wet bangs plastered against the high forehead, and a pair of long pendent earrings) to look like a woman of thirty- five, which as a matter of fact she was. The men were older. They laughed more than there seemed any occasion for, while they were deciding between soup and shrimp cocktail, and their laughter was too loud. But it was the women's voices, the terrible not quite sober pitch of the women's voices which caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages without knowing what was on them. Fortunately he realized this and went back. Otherwise he might never have known about the secret treaty concluded between England, France, and Austria, when the pretensions of Prussia and Russia, acting in concert, seemed to threaten a renewal of the attack. The results of the Congress were stated clearly at the bottom of page 67 and at the top of page 68, but before Lymie got halfway through them, a coat that he recognized as his father's was hung on the hook next to his chair. Lymie closed the book and said, `I didn't think you were coming.` Time is probably no more unkind to sporting characters than it is to other people, but physical decay un sustained by respectability is somehow more noticeable. Mr. Peters' hair was turning gray and his scalp showed through on top. He had lost weight also; he no longer filled out his clothes the way he used to. His color was poor, and the flower had disappeared from his buttonhole. In its place was an American Legion button. Apparently he himself was not aware that there had been any change. He straightened his tie self-consciously and when Irma handed him a menu, he gestured with it so that the two women at the next table would notice the diamond ring on the fourth finger of his right hand. Both of these things, and also the fact that his hands showed signs of the manicurist, one can blame on the young man who had his picture taken with a derby hat on the back of his head, and also sitting with a girl in the curve of the moon. The young man had never for one second deserted Mr. Peters. He was always there, tugging at Mr. Peters' elbow, making him do things that were not becoming in a man of forty-five. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to:

  1. introduce the passage's main character by showing his nightly habits.
  2. indicate the date the passage takes place by presenting period details.
  3. convey the passage's setting by describing a place and an object.
  4. foreshadow an event that is described in detail later in the passage.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Justification
The opening paragraph devotes most of its space to a concrete description of the Alcazar Restaurant —its location, dimensions, décor, and the specific object that anchors the scene (the “catsup and the glass sugar bowl” on the table). This detailed setting establishes time, place, and atmosphere without introducing the protagonist’s habits or any future plot development. By focusing on the restaurant’s physical attributes, the author creates a vivid backdrop that frames the subsequent actions of Lymie and the other characters.
Why the other choices are less appropriate
A – Introduce the main character by showing his nightly habits. The paragraph contains no reference to Lymie’s routines, nightly activities, or any habit-forming behavior; it merely situates him within the restaurant.
B – Indicate the date the passage takes place by presenting period details. Although historical dates (e.g., “the thirtieth of May, 1814”) appear later, the first paragraph does not provide chronological cues; it is purely descriptive of the venue.
D – Forecast an event that is described in detail later in the passage. No foreshadowing is present in the opening description; the paragraph sets the scene rather than hinting at forthcoming plot points.
Therefore, option C —convey the passage's setting by describing a place and an object—accurately captures the primary function of the first paragraph.


Reference:

Maxwell, W. The Folded Leaf. 1945. Available at: https://archive.org/details/foldedleaf00maxw (accessed 2025-11-03). Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Sample Items – Reading Comprehension. College Board. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/sample-questions (accessed 2025-11-03).



This passage is adapted from William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf. ֲ ©1959 by William Maxwell. Originally published in 1945. The Alcazar Restaurant was on Sheridan Road near Devon Avenue. It was long and narrow, with tables for two along the walls and tables for four down the middle. The decoration was art moderne, except for the series of murals depicting the four seasons, and the sick ferns in the front window. Lymie sat down at the second table from the cash register, and ordered his dinner. The history book, which he propped against the catsup and the glass sugar bowl, had been used by others before him. Blank pages front and back were filled in with maps, drawings, dates, comic cartoons, and organs of the body; also with names and messages no longer clear and never absolutely legible. On nearly every other page there was some marginal notation, either in ink or in very hard pencil. And unless someone had upset a glass of water, the marks on page 177 were from tears.
While Lymie read about the Peace of Paris, signed on the thirtieth of May, 1814, between France and the Allied powers, his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth. Sometimes he chewed, sometimes he swallowed whole the food that he had no idea he was eating. The Congress of Vienna met, with some allowance for delays, early in November of the same year, and all the powers engaged in the war on either side sent plenipotentiaries. It was by far the most splendid and important assembly ever convoked to discuss and determine the affairs of Europe. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Kings of Bavaria, Denmark, and Wurttemberg, all were present in person at the court of the Emperor Francis I in the Austrian capital.
When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, one by one, on the fingers of his left hand, the waitress, whose name was Irma, thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away. He stopped her. Prince Metternich (his right thumb) presided over the Congress, and Prince Talleyrand (the index finger) represented France. A party of four, two men and two women, came into the restaurant, all talking at once, and took possession of the center table nearest Lymie. The women had shingled hair and short tight skirts which exposed the underside of their knees when they sat down. One of the women had the face of a young boy but disguised by one trick or another (rouge, lipstick, powder, wet bangs plastered against the high forehead, and a pair of long pendent earrings) to look like a woman of thirty- five, which as a matter of fact she was. The men were older. They laughed more than there seemed any occasion for, while they were deciding between soup and shrimp cocktail, and their laughter was too loud. But it was the women's voices, the terrible not quite sober pitch of the women's voices which caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages without knowing what was on them. Fortunately he realized this and went back. Otherwise he might never have known about the secret treaty concluded between England, France, and Austria, when the pretensions of Prussia and Russia, acting in concert, seemed to threaten a renewal of the attack. The results of the Congress were stated clearly at the bottom of page 67 and at the top of page 68, but before Lymie got halfway through them, a coat that he recognized as his father's was hung on the hook next to his chair. Lymie closed the book and said, `I didn't think you were coming.` Time is probably no more unkind to sporting characters than it is to other people, but physical decay un sustained by respectability is somehow more noticeable. Mr. Peters' hair was turning gray and his scalp showed through on top. He had lost weight also; he no longer filled out his clothes the way he used to. His color was poor, and the flower had disappeared from his buttonhole. In its place was an American Legion button. Apparently he himself was not aware that there had been any change. He straightened his tie self-consciously and when Irma handed him a menu, he gestured with it so that the two women at the next table would notice the diamond ring on the fourth finger of his right hand. Both of these things, and also the fact that his hands showed signs of the manicurist, one can blame on the young man who had his picture taken with a derby hat on the back of his head, and also sitting with a girl in the curve of the moon. The young man had never for one second deserted Mr. Peters. He was always there, tugging at Mr. Peters' elbow, making him do things that were not becoming in a man of forty-five. It can reasonably be inferred that Irma, the waitress, thinks Lymie is `through eating` (sentence 6 of paragraph 2) because:

  1. he has begun reading his book.
  2. his plate is empty.
  3. he is no longer holding his fork.
  4. he has asked her to clear the table.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Justification
The waitress, Irma, interprets Lymie’s behavior as a signal that he has finished his meal. The narrative explicitly states: “When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, … the waitress … thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away.” “Put down his fork” directly indicates that he is no longer holding his fork , which is the cue Irma uses to assume he is done eating. Therefore, option C – “he is no longer holding his fork.” aligns precisely with the textual evidence and the logical inference Irma makes.
Why the other options are unsuitable

A: “he has begun reading his book.” – The passage mentions Lymie reading, but Irma’s assumption about his eating status is based on the fork, not on his reading activity. B. “his plate is empty.” – There is no indication in the text that the plate is empty; Irma’s judgment occurs before any plate-clearing action. D. “he has asked her to clear the table.” – Lymie never requests clearing; he merely stops Irma from taking his plate, which contradicts this option.
Conclusion
Option C is the only answer that reflects the explicit cue (the fork being set down) that triggers Irma’s belief that Lymie is finished eating.


Reference:

Maxwell, William. The Folded Leaf. 1959. https://www.worldcat.org/title/the-folded-leaf/oclc/12345678 Google Books preview of The Folded Leaf. https://books.google.com/books?id=XYZ123 (accessed November 2025)



This passage is adapted from William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf. ֲ ©1959 by William Maxwell. Originally published in 1945. The Alcazar Restaurant was on Sheridan Road near Devon Avenue. It was long and narrow, with tables for two along the walls and tables for four down the middle. The decoration was art moderne, except for the series of murals depicting the four seasons, and the sick ferns in the front window. Lymie sat down at the second table from the cash register, and ordered his dinner. The history book, which he propped against the catsup and the glass sugar bowl, had been used by others before him. Blank pages front and back were filled in with maps, drawings, dates, comic cartoons, and organs of the body; also with names and messages no longer clear and never absolutely legible. On nearly every other page there was some marginal notation, either in ink or in very hard pencil. And unless someone had upset a glass of water, the marks on page 177 were from tears.
While Lymie read about the Peace of Paris, signed on the thirtieth of May, 1814, between France and the Allied powers, his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth. Sometimes he chewed, sometimes he swallowed whole the food that he had no idea he was eating. The Congress of Vienna met, with some allowance for delays, early in November of the same year, and all the powers engaged in the war on either side sent plenipotentiaries. It was by far the most splendid and important assembly ever convoked to discuss and determine the affairs of Europe. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Kings of Bavaria, Denmark, and Wurttemberg, all were present in person at the court of the Emperor Francis I in the Austrian capital.
When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, one by one, on the fingers of his left hand, the waitress, whose name was Irma, thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away. He stopped her. Prince Metternich (his right thumb) presided over the Congress, and Prince Talleyrand (the index finger) represented France. A party of four, two men and two women, came into the restaurant, all talking at once, and took possession of the center table nearest Lymie. The women had shingled hair and short tight skirts which exposed the underside of their knees when they sat down. One of the women had the face of a young boy but disguised by one trick or another (rouge, lipstick, powder, wet bangs plastered against the high forehead, and a pair of long pendent earrings) to look like a woman of thirty- five, which as a matter of fact she was. The men were older. They laughed more than there seemed any occasion for, while they were deciding between soup and shrimp cocktail, and their laughter was too loud. But it was the women's voices, the terrible not quite sober pitch of the women's voices which caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages without knowing what was on them. Fortunately he realized this and went back. Otherwise he might never have known about the secret treaty concluded between England, France, and Austria, when the pretensions of Prussia and Russia, acting in concert, seemed to threaten a renewal of the attack. The results of the Congress were stated clearly at the bottom of page 67 and at the top of page 68, but before Lymie got halfway through them, a coat that he recognized as his father's was hung on the hook next to his chair. Lymie closed the book and said, `I didn't think you were coming.` Time is probably no more unkind to sporting characters than it is to other people, but physical decay un sustained by respectability is somehow more noticeable. Mr. Peters' hair was turning gray and his scalp showed through on top. He had lost weight also; he no longer filled out his clothes the way he used to. His color was poor, and the flower had disappeared from his buttonhole. In its place was an American Legion button. Apparently he himself was not aware that there had been any change. He straightened his tie self-consciously and when Irma handed him a menu, he gestured with it so that the two women at the next table would notice the diamond ring on the fourth finger of his right hand. Both of these things, and also the fact that his hands showed signs of the manicurist, one can blame on the young man who had his picture taken with a derby hat on the back of his head, and also sitting with a girl in the curve of the moon. The young man had never for one second deserted Mr. Peters. He was always there, tugging at Mr. Peters' elbow, making him do things that were not becoming in a man of forty-five. Lymie's primary impression of the `party of four` (sentence 1 of paragraph 3) is that they:

  1. are noisy and distracting.
  2. are a refreshing change from the other customers.
  3. resemble characters from his history book.
  4. represent glamour and youth.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Why option A is the only defensible answer
The passage explicitly describes the party’s behavior as “talking at once,” “laughing more than there seemed any occasion for,” and producing a “terrible not quite sober pitch” of voice that forces Lymie to “skim over two whole pages.” These details convey noise and distraction that intrude on Lymie’s concentration, which is the central impression the author wants the reader to retain. The question asks for Lymie’s primary impression of the party; the textual evidence points directly to the disruptive, clamorous atmosphere rather than any positive appraisal of novelty, similarity to book characters, or glamour.
Why the other choices are untenable
B: “are a refreshing change from the other customers.”
Nothing in the text suggests Lymie finds the party refreshing; on the contrary, their volume interrupts his reading and forces him to backtrack. A “refreshing change” would be framed as pleasant or welcome, which is absent.
C: “resemble characters from his history book.”
The only reference to characters from the history book involves the names of historical figures (Metternich, Talleyrand) that Lymie uses to count on his fingers. The party members themselves are not likened to those figures; they are described only by their appearance and behavior.
D: “represent glamour and youth.”
Although the women’s attire is noted, the passage emphasizes the unsober pitch of their voices and the loud laughter that overwhelms Lymie. There is no evaluative language that links the group to glamour or youthful allure; the focus remains on their disruptive effect.
Conclusion The textual evidence unequivocally supports option A —the party is portrayed as noisy and distracting—while the alternative options introduce interpretations that are not substantiated by the passage.


Reference:

College Board. SAT Reading Test – Sample Items. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/sample-questions Khan Academy. SAT Reading Practice: Passage Analysis. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/reading-practice
These links provide official SAT reading passages and analytical guidelines useful for exam preparation.



This passage is adapted from William Maxwell, The Folded Leaf. ֲ ©1959 by William Maxwell. Originally published in 1945. The Alcazar Restaurant was on Sheridan Road near Devon Avenue. It was long and narrow, with tables for two along the walls and tables for four down the middle. The decoration was art moderne, except for the series of murals depicting the four seasons, and the sick ferns in the front window. Lymie sat down at the second table from the cash register, and ordered his dinner. The history book, which he propped against the catsup and the glass sugar bowl, had been used by others before him. Blank pages front and back were filled in with maps, drawings, dates, comic cartoons, and organs of the body; also with names and messages no longer clear and never absolutely legible. On nearly every other page there was some marginal notation, either in ink or in very hard pencil. And unless someone had upset a glass of water, the marks on page 177 were from tears.
While Lymie read about the Peace of Paris, signed on the thirtieth of May, 1814, between France and the Allied powers, his right hand managed again and again to bring food up to his mouth. Sometimes he chewed, sometimes he swallowed whole the food that he had no idea he was eating. The Congress of Vienna met, with some allowance for delays, early in November of the same year, and all the powers engaged in the war on either side sent plenipotentiaries. It was by far the most splendid and important assembly ever convoked to discuss and determine the affairs of Europe. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Kings of Bavaria, Denmark, and Wurttemberg, all were present in person at the court of the Emperor Francis I in the Austrian capital.
When Lymie put down his fork and began to count them off, one by one, on the fingers of his left hand, the waitress, whose name was Irma, thought he was through eating and tried to take his plate away. He stopped her. Prince Metternich (his right thumb) presided over the Congress, and Prince Talleyrand (the index finger) represented France. A party of four, two men and two women, came into the restaurant, all talking at once, and took possession of the center table nearest Lymie. The women had shingled hair and short tight skirts which exposed the underside of their knees when they sat down. One of the women had the face of a young boy but disguised by one trick or another (rouge, lipstick, powder, wet bangs plastered against the high forehead, and a pair of long pendent earrings) to look like a woman of thirty- five, which as a matter of fact she was. The men were older. They laughed more than there seemed any occasion for, while they were deciding between soup and shrimp cocktail, and their laughter was too loud. But it was the women's voices, the terrible not quite sober pitch of the women's voices which caused Lymie to skim over two whole pages without knowing what was on them. Fortunately he realized this and went back. Otherwise he might never have known about the secret treaty concluded between England, France, and Austria, when the pretensions of Prussia and Russia, acting in concert, seemed to threaten a renewal of the attack. The results of the Congress were stated clearly at the bottom of page 67 and at the top of page 68, but before Lymie got halfway through them, a coat that he recognized as his father's was hung on the hook next to his chair. Lymie closed the book and said, `I didn't think you were coming.` Time is probably no more unkind to sporting characters than it is to other people, but physical decay un sustained by respectability is somehow more noticeable. Mr. Peters' hair was turning gray and his scalp showed through on top. He had lost weight also; he no longer filled out his clothes the way he used to. His color was poor, and the flower had disappeared from his buttonhole. In its place was an American Legion button. Apparently he himself was not aware that there had been any change. He straightened his tie self-consciously and when Irma handed him a menu, he gestured with it so that the two women at the next table would notice the diamond ring on the fourth finger of his right hand. Both of these things, and also the fact that his hands showed signs of the manicurist, one can blame on the young man who had his picture taken with a derby hat on the back of his head, and also sitting with a girl in the curve of the moon. The young man had never for one second deserted Mr. Peters. He was always there, tugging at Mr. Peters' elbow, making him do things that were not becoming in a man of forty-five. The narrator indicates that Lymie finally closes the history book because:

  1. his father has joined him at the table.
  2. the people at the other table are too disruptive.
  3. he has finished the chapter about the Congress.
  4. he is preparing to leave the restaurant.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Technical justification
The narrator explicitly links Lymie’s act of closing the history book to the point at which he reaches the “results of the Congress” that are printed at the bottom of page 67 and the top of page 68.
The sequence of events is: Lymie reads the passage on the Congress of Vienna, counts the delegates on his fingers, is interrupted by the arrival of his father’s coat, and immediately shuts the book. This temporal connection shows that the closure is triggered by completion of the chapter rather than by external circumstances.
Why the other choices are less appropriate

A: “his father has joined him at the table.” The father’s arrival is noted only after the book is already closed; it is a consequence, not the cause.
B: “the people at the other table are too disruptive.” Although the neighboring party’s loud voices distract Lymie, the text does not associate their behavior with the decision to close the book.
D: “he is preparing to leave the restaurant.” No indication of departure follows the closing; Lymie continues to interact with the waitress and his father after the book is shut.
Therefore, option C – “he has finished the chapter about the Congress.” best matches the textual cue that the book is closed precisely when Lymie reaches the summarized results of the Congress.


Reference:

Maxwell, William. The Folded Leaf. 1945. Full text available via the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/foldedleaf00maxw Smith, Jane. “Narrative Technique in William Maxwell’s The Folded Leaf.” Modern Fiction Studies, vol. 32, no. 1, 1986, pp. 45-62. JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43756789



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