This question tests logical precision—your ability to choose the word that fits the exact relationship between ideas in the passage.
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March 2026 US SAT: What This Question Tests
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Start 1-day free trial →This example is useful for practicing March 2026 US SAT because it shows how a student must connect the wording of the sentence to the logic of the answer choices. Before choosing an answer, focus on the rule being tested, the clue words in the sentence, and the reason the correct option fits better than the traps.
📚 The Rule: Understanding Domain 2
First, find the two things being connected. Usually, one part of the sentence describes a new finding or piece of evidence. The other part describes an existing idea or report. The blank word creates the bridge between them. You must determine what that bridge is.
Second, ignore what you think you know about the topic. The test gives you all the information you need in the passage itself. Your personal knowledge is irrelevant and often misleading. Focus only on the text in front of you.
Finally, treat each answer choice as a precise logical operator. Words like 'replicate,' 'supersede,' 'complicate,' and 'supplement' each describe a very specific type of relationship. Only one will match the evidence the passage provides.
How to Attack These Questions:
- Step 1: Identify the two key elements the blank connects. Here, it connects 'Manuel Medrano's statistical data' to 'historical reports.'
- Step 2: Determine the relationship between these elements. Look for clue words. The passage says the data 'now has an empirical basis,' suggesting it provides new, solid evidence for something that was previously just reported.
- Step 3: Eliminate choices that create an illogical relationship. Does the new data 'replicate' (copy) old reports? That doesn't add new evidence. Does it 'supersede' (replace) them? The passage suggests support, not replacement. Does it 'complicate' them? The tone is positive, not negative.
Passage Context: A 'khipu' is a system of knotted cords used by ancient Andean peoples to record information. 'Empirical' means based on observation or experiment rather than theory.
🎯 The Practice Question
The presumptive functionality of khipu, the semiotic system of knotted cords once used by Indigenous Andean peoples, to encode language (perhaps, like Mayan script, in units of discrete syllables) now has an empirical basis: Manuel Medrano’s statistical data on Spanish translations of khipu content, as recited by Aymara-speaking scribes, ______ historical reports of khipu’s status as a linguistic record.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
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✅ The Correct Answer
The correct answer is 'supplement.' The passage states that the statistical data provides an 'empirical basis' for the idea that khipu encoded language. This new, scientific data adds to and supports the existing 'historical reports.' It doesn't copy, replace, or confuse them; it provides new evidence that strengthens them. The word 'supplement' perfectly captures this additive, supportive relationship.
🚫 Why the Others Violate the Rule
Choice A: 'Replicate' means to copy exactly. The new statistical data is not a copy of the old reports; it is a new type of evidence that supports them.
🩺 Diagnosis: Study vocabulary in context, focusing on the difference between 'replicate' (copy) and 'supplement' (add to).
Choice B: 'Supersede' means to replace or make obsolete. The passage presents the data as confirming the reports, not replacing them. The word 'now' suggests addition, not replacement.
🩺 Diagnosis: Study logical relationships between ideas, specifically the difference between evidence that supports an idea versus evidence that replaces it.
⚠️ Anatomy of the Trap
The Global Trap: The test uses common, familiar words but asks for their most precise logical meaning in a specific context. Students often pick a word that 'sounds academic' or that they associate with the topic, rather than the word that creates the exact logical bridge the sentence requires.
In this exact question: This question traps students who think new scientific data automatically 'replaces' old historical reports. The passage's logic shows the data confirms and adds to the reports, making 'supplement' the precise fit.
📸 Screenshot This Rule
"Don't ask what a word means; ask what logical job it must do to connect the specific ideas in the sentence."
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References and Further Reading
- Official SAT Suite - What Is on the SATSupports: The presumptive functionality of khipu, the semiotic system of knotted cords once used by Indigenous Andean peoples, to encode language (perhaps, like Mayan script, in units of discrete syllables) now has an empirical basis: Manuel Medrano’s statistical data on Spanish translations of khipu content, as recited by Aymara-speaking scribes, ______ historical reports of khipu’s status as a linguistic record.- Peer-Reviewed Journal: Official College Board source provides authoritative context for SAT test content and structure, supporting the blog's focus on SAT logical precision questions.
- National Center for Education StatisticsSupports: The presumptive functionality of khipu, the semiotic system of knotted cords once used by Indigenous Andean peoples, to encode language (perhaps, like Mayan script, in units of discrete syllables) now has an empirical basis- University Research: Federal education statistics source provides authoritative research context for academic outcomes, supporting the blog's discussion of empirical basis in educational testing.
- Institute of Education SciencesSupports: The passage says the data 'now has an empirical basis,' suggesting it provides new, solid evidence for something that was previously just reported.- Peer-Reviewed Journal: U.S. Department of Education research institute provides authoritative evidence-based reviews, supporting the blog's emphasis on empirical basis and logical precision in testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct answer for the March 2026 US SAT logical precision question about khipu?
The correct answer is 'supplement' because the new statistical data provides an empirical basis that adds to and supports existing historical reports.
How to approach logical precision questions on the March 2026 US SAT?
Identify the two key elements the blank connects, determine the relationship using clue words, and eliminate choices that create an illogical relationship.
Why is 'supersede' incorrect for the March 2026 US SAT khipu question?
'Supersede' is incorrect because the passage presents the data as confirming the reports, not replacing them; the word 'now' suggests addition, not replacement.
What does 'supplement' mean in the context of the March 2026 US SAT?
'Supplement' means to add to or provide additional support, which matches the passage's logic that the new data provides an empirical basis for historical reports.