SAT官方指南OG_解析2（详尽答案）.doc

Sample Essay - Score of 6Throughout time mankind has strived to make his life easier. Whether it be through technology, science, or theories of social interaction every generation has made one contribution. From the idea of crop rotation to the cellular telephone mankind has advanced. It can be argued however, that not all of these advancements were beneficial. Many times people are accused of “taking the easy way out”, something that is looked down upon in today’s society.Consider, if you will, ancient Greecian Society. With hardly any of the technological or scientific advancements we have today, they were able to produce some of the greatest thinkers of all time. Socrates and Plato still influence modern philosophical thought. In addition, these men were well versed in all disciplines. They were thinkers, mathamaticians, writers, scientists, artists and much more. Examine some other great men in history. Leonardo Davinci was one of the greatest scientists and also one of the greatest artists of all time, he even invented and drew up early plans for the helicopter. These ancient men, without the technology and ease of life we have today, were able to produce some of the most prolific additions to human knowledge ever.Now let us examine some men from our time. Bill Gates, while adding immensely to the pleasures and ease of man’s life, did so only by forcefully destroying many fledgling companies and completely undermining our capitalistic market place. Very very few men in our time are leaders in more than one discipline. There are no scientists/artists or writer/mathamaticians. Men, while being able to more deeply delve into a discipline, are now restricted to it. I attribute this to technology. We now have a life outside of our work. A life with computers, cars, movies, and dinner with the family from across the country. Mankind can no longer devote himself to his work. He has his work life, and his home life. While a cell phone allows me to talk to anyone from anywhere, it prevents me from being alone and fully concentrating. While the internet allows me to look at websites from around the world, it prevents me from doing the work I set out to do.While technology and science have made man’s life easier, they have not made it better. Man has become less productive and less devoted, partly, as a result of this newfound ease of life. Therefore, What makes our lives easier does not necessarily make them better.section21 ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer D :  Choice (D) is correct. "Predictable" means forseeable or hackneyed. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "To avoid being predictable, composer Stephen Sondheim strives for an element of surprise in his songs." The word "avoid" indicates that the missing term will contrast with the element of surprise that Sondheim tries to instill in his songs. "Surprise" means something unexpected, so it makes sense to say that the composer includes surprising elements in his songs to ensure that his work sounds fresh and original.Explanation for Incorrect Answer A :  Choice (A) is incorrect. "Erratic" means inconsistent. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "To avoid being erratic, composer Stephen Sondheim strives for an element of surprise in his songs." It can be argued that inconsistencies within in a song are "surprising." This term therefore defies the underlying logic of the sentence that the meaning of the missing word must contrast with the meaning of "surprise."Explanation for Incorrect Answer B :  Choice (B) is incorrect. "Informal" means casual. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "To avoid being informal, composer Stephen Sondheim strives for an element of surprise in his songs." There is, however, no direct correlation between a composer's informality and his or her originality.Explanation for Incorrect Answer C :  Choice (C) is incorrect. "Elaborate" in this context means complex. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "To avoid being elaborate, composer Stephen Sondheim strives for an element of surprise in his songs." But songs that lack complexity are not necessarily surprising.Explanation for Incorrect Answer E :  Choice (E) is incorrect. "Idiosyncratic" in this context means peculiar. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "To avoid being idiosyncratic, composer Stephen Sondheim strives for an element of surprise in his songs." It is illogical to claim that a composer who values originality would want to avoid being unusual. Idiosyncrasies, or departures from the norm, are often what make music surprising. 2 ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer C :  Choice (C) is correct. "Catastrophic" means involving a disastrous or tragic event. The first half of the sentence, beginning with the word "because" and 。