Free SAT Practice Question

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ID: DSAT-RW-II-011
Section: Digital SAT Reading & Writing (RW) - Broadly Reading - Information and Ideas
Topic: Command of Evidence – Quantitative
Difficulty level: Hard

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Number and Source of Ink Types Used in Manuscripts Found at Different Depths in a Medieval Monastery Library
Depth of manuscripts found (meters)	Manuscripts using plant-based ink	Manuscripts using mineral-based ink
1–2	54	13
2–3	20	9
3–4	5	6
4–5	1	7
5–6	0	8

Historians examining manuscripts recovered from a buried medieval monastery library in Northern Europe have found two main types of ink: plant-based ink, derived from local flora, and mineral-based ink, produced by processing rare minerals. According to researcher Dr. Helena Krüger, plant-based ink was more readily available, while mineral-based ink, though more durable and vibrant, required extensive effort to produce or acquire.

Dr. Krüger and her team believe that the shift in ink usage across different manuscript layers reflects both accessibility of resources and changing priorities over time. The team concluded that manuscripts with mineral-based ink were harder to create but may have been more highly valued.

Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to support the research team's conclusion?

AThe consistent presence of mineral-based ink manuscripts at greater depths, especially between 4–6 meters, supports the claim that these inks were more difficult to produce and perhaps reserved for more significant texts.

BThe highest number of manuscripts using plant-based ink was found at 1–2 meters, which indicates that the monastery was most active in producing texts during that time period.

CAt each depth, the greater number of manuscripts with plant-based ink suggests that scribes preferred plant-based ink for its aesthetic appeal.

DThe increased number of mineral-based ink manuscripts between 3–6 meters suggests that plant resources may have become scarcer over time, forcing scribes to shift to mineral-based alternatives.

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