World History Subject Test
157
ARCO
■
SAT II Subject Tests
w w w . p e t e r s o n s . c o m / a r c o
EXAMPLE:
Which of the following accurately characterize Czarist Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century?
I.
Rigid class distinctions
II.
Religious toleration
III.
Political absolutism
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) I
and III only
(E) II and III only
The correct answer is (D). Czarist Russia was an absolute monarchy and was characterized by a sharp
division into privileged and unprivileged classes. So statements I and III are part of the correct response.
Statement II, however, is incorrect. Jews in Russia were severely persecuted,
and many left Russia, mi-
grating chiefly to the United States.
As you can see, a question of this type may allow you to answer with only partial knowledge.
Assume, for example, that you know that Czarist Russia was characterized by absolute monarch and
sharp class divisions but were unsure about religious freedom. You know that
both statement I and state-
ment III must appear in the answer choice you select. Now look at the choices and eliminate every choice
that does not contain both I and III. You will eliminate every choice but (D). So the correct answer must be
(D). Of course, you won’t always be able to eliminate four choices on
the basis of partial knowledge, but
you can often eliminate one or more. And that gives you an additional edge when you make your guess.
