16Hit1600
Information and IdeasEasy–MediumLocating a stated reason for an absence

Information and Ideas practice question

The town's clock tower has no clock face on its north side. When the tower was built in 1780, its north side looked out over open fields, and the parish saw no reason to pay for a fourth dial that nobody would see. The fields were built over within fifty years.

According to the text, why does the tower have no north-facing clock?

  1. A. When it was built, there was no one to the north to see one.Correct
  2. B. The north wall was too weak to hold a dial.
  3. C. The parish ran out of money before the tower was finished.
  4. D. The clockmaker refused to make a fourth dial.

Answer: A. When it was built, there was no one to the north to see one.

The text gives the reason directly: open fields to the north, so 'nobody would see' a fourth dial.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. The north wall was too weak to hold a dial.
Nothing about the wall's strength appears.
C. The parish ran out of money before the tower was finished.
The parish chose not to pay; the text doesn't say it ran out of money.
D. The clockmaker refused to make a fourth dial.
No clockmaker is mentioned.

More Information and Ideas questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.