College Board Blue Book | Test 7 | Module 2 Hard | Domain 1 | Hans Castorp

By Mr. Osama Ahmad February 17, 2025 13 min read

Digital SAT Reading: Ace 'Strongly Suggest' Questions (Expert Guide)

TTA Pro Guide: Cracking Digital SAT 'Suggests' Questions (Domain 1 Walkthrough)

Hey everyone! It's Mr. O, your TTA pro, back with another breakdown. Are tricky inference questions on the Digital SAT Reading section giving you headaches? You're not alone!

Today, we’ll tackle a tough one: Question 7 from the College Board Bluebook App, Test 7, Module 2 (the hard version). These "strongly suggest" questions require careful reading and smart thinking. But don't worry, we'll walk through it step-by-step. This kind of detailed analysis is exactly what helps students using our digital SAT practice tests improve their scores.

Watch the Expert Breakdown

See how we approach this challenging question in real-time. Watching explanations like this is a core part of effective online SAT prep.

Digital SAT Hard Module 2 Reading Question Deep Dive

Question 7 Explained

The following text is from Thomas Mann’s 1924 novel The Magic Mountain, translated by John E. Woods in 1995.

• The story of Hans Castorp that we intend to tell here—not for his sake (for the reader will come to know him as a perfectly ordinary, if engaging young man), but for the sake of the story itself, which seems to us to be very much worth telling (although in Hans Castorp’s favor it should be noted that it is his story, and that not every story happens to everybody)—is a story that took place long ago, and is, so to speak, covered with the patina of history and must necessarily be told with verbs whose tense is that of the deepest past.

What does the text most strongly suggest about the story of Hans Castorp?

Though it is true that stories of even the most uninteresting people are themselves interesting because all people are unique, the reason this story is interesting is nonetheless difficult to understand because of the passage of time.
Even though it is a story of a person of no particular importance, its age and the manner in which it therefore must be told are both indicators that the story itself is important.
Like all stories about the lives of inconsequential people, this story must necessarily be related in a particular way if the reason the story is consequential is to be made evident to the audience.
It is a remarkable story that happened to an unremarkable person, though one could plausibly argue that because the story is valuable, some of its value accrues to the person at its center.

Breaking Down the Clues

Okay, let's unpack this. The question uses "most strongly suggests," meaning we need to make a smart guess (an inference) based on the text. It's not just about finding a direct quote.

The author makes it super clear: the story is told "not for [Hans's] sake... but for the sake of the story itself." This is a major hint! The story has value on its own.
That bit in parentheses – "(for the reader will come to know him as a perfectly ordinary, if engaging young man)" – tells us Hans isn't special. He's just a normal guy. "Ordinary" is a crucial word here. Think of it like finding key details in good sat exam study material – you need to spot the important parts.
The italics on "his story, and that not every story happens to everybody" draw our attention. It highlights that the *story* is unique, even if Hans isn't. It’s *his* particular, noteworthy story.
The part about the story being old ("long ago," "patina of history," "deepest past") just adds to the story's special context.

So, the big idea? We have an interesting, valuable story about a pretty average person.

Analyzing the Answer Choices: Why D Wins

Let's see why the other options don't quite fit, a skill you practice repeatedly with our online sat coaching resources:

A: Claims Hans isn't unique (correct) but says the story is hard to understand (incorrect). The text calls Hans "ordinary," contradicting the "all people are unique" idea in the answer. Plus, the text *never* says the story is confusing because it's old. This choice misses the mark.
B: Gets the main idea partly right but focuses too much on age. Yes, Hans is "of no particular importance" (ordinary). And yes, the story's age matters. But this choice overlooks the key contrast: the story's value exists *despite* Hans being ordinary, and that it's specifically *his* notable story. It's close, but not the *strongest* suggestion.
C: Makes a broad, unproven claim about *all* similar stories. This answer choice generalizes too much. The text focuses *only* on Hans Castorp's story and why *it* is important. It doesn't make rules for all stories about "inconsequential people." This kind of generalization is a common trap on the SAT!
D: Nailed it! Remarkable story, unremarkable person, value connects them. This perfectly captures the main point. The story itself is special ("remarkable," "valuable"), while Hans is average ("unremarkable," "ordinary"). The second part ("value accrues to the person") neatly connects to the idea that it's *his* story, giving him some reflected importance. This aligns best with all the clues.

The strongest suggestion is indeed (D).

TTA Pro Strategy: Decode Parentheses and Emphasis!

Don't skim past stuff inside parentheses (like this!) or dashes — they often contain vital clues. Also, pay attention to words in *italics*. The author uses them to emphasize key points. Recognizing these signals is crucial for success in your sat test preparation classes.

Crucial Reminder: Every piece of text matters on the Digital SAT. Don't gloss over details. That's why practicing with highly accurate digital sat practice tests, like the ones we offer, helps train your focus.

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