Question

Which of the following situations is most analogous to the recent swelling of the Long Valley Caldera? A) Many small tremors along a particular fault precede a large, magnitude 8 earthquake. B) A scientist discovers a new species of insect by chance while observing snakes in the Amazon rainforest. C) Bad road conditions cause a collision between two cars, and poor visibility contributes to a multi-car pile-up. D) A doctor is unable to give a definitive diagnosis to a patient after assessing symptoms typical of a particular disease.

Short answer

The most analogous situation to the recent swelling of the Long Valley Caldera is option A: Many small tremors along a particular fault precede a large, magnitude 8 earthquake. Both scenarios involve an increased risk or indication of a predictable event.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze each option

To find the most suitable analogy, we need to examine each option thoroughly: A) Many small tremors along a particular fault precede a large, magnitude 8 earthquake. B) A scientist discovers a new species of insect by chance while observing snakes in the Amazon rainforest. C) Bad road conditions cause a collision between two cars, and poor visibility contributes to a multi-car pile-up. D) A doctor is unable to give a definitive diagnosis to a patient after assessing symptoms typical of a particular disease.

Evaluate each option based on similarity to Long Valley Caldera situation

Let's evaluate each option in terms of similarity to the Long Valley Caldera situation: A) Many small tremors along a particular fault precede a large, magnitude 8 earthquake: This option is about a known situation (small tremors) that indicates an increased risk for a predictable event (a large earthquake). It has similarity to the Caldera situation. B) A scientist discovers a new species of insect by chance while observing snakes in the Amazon rainforest: This option is about an accidental discovery of a new species rather than an increased risk or indication of a particular event. It doesn't seem to be related to the Caldera situation. C) Bad road conditions cause a collision between two cars, and poor visibility contributes to a multi-car pile-up: This option is about multiple factors contributing to an accident, rather than an indication of an increased risk for a predictable event. It does not seem to be closely related to the Caldera situation. D) A doctor is unable to give a definitive diagnosis to a patient after assessing symptoms typical of a particular disease: This option is about uncertainty in diagnosing a disease based on its symptoms, rather than an indication of an increased risk for a predictable event. It doesn't seem to be related to the Caldera situation.

Select the most analogous situation

Based on our evaluation, option A (Many small tremors along a particular fault precede a large, magnitude 8 earthquake) is the most analogous situation to the recent swelling of the Long Valley Caldera, as both scenarios involve an increased risk or indication of a predictable event.

Key concepts

Analogy Problem Solving

Understanding how to solve analogy questions is crucial for various standardized tests, including the SAT. Analogies require you to recognize relationships between two sets of items.

When tackling analogy problems, start by identifying the core relationship in the base pair. For instance, in the context of the Long Valley Caldera question, the underlying theme is 'an indication of an increased risk for a predictable event.' Once you pinpoint this relationship, you look for a similar pattern among the provided options.

It's helpful to follow a structured approach:

Critical Reading Skills

Critical reading is essential not only to grasp the gist of lengthy texts but also to decipher analogy questions efficiently. Developing this skill means cultivating an eye for detail and being able to infer and interpret information beyond the obvious.

In our example, critical reading allows you to discern that while some scenarios might seem related on the surface, they may not share the same underlying principles. To strengthen critical reading:

SAT Test Preparation

Preparing for the SAT is a comprehensive process that goes beyond mere familiarity with the subject matter. It encompasses test-taking strategies, understanding the test format, practicing with sample questions, and even learning to manage time effectively. When specifically preparing for SAT analogy questions:

To maximize your SAT test preparation: