Question 16·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is adapted from a contemporary novel.
The day we moved into the old farmhouse, it rained so hard the windows sounded like drums. Still, my mother insisted we unpack the kitchen first. She said a house doesn’t feel like home until the smell of soup fills the air.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence?
For SAT questions about the function of a sentence, always read at least one sentence before and after it to see how it fits into the paragraph. Pay close attention to transition words like "but," "still," "however," or "because" that signal relationships such as contrast or cause and effect. In your own words, describe what the sentence is doing (for example, adding an example, showing a contrast, explaining a reason), and then choose the answer that best matches that role without adding extra meaning that the text doesn’t clearly support.
Hints
Look before and after the bold sentence
Reread the sentence right before and right after the bold sentence. Think about how the bold sentence connects those ideas.
Focus on the transition word
What does the word "Still" usually tell you about the relationship between two statements—does it show similarity, cause and effect, or contrast?
Test each option against what the sentence actually says
Ask yourself: Does the bold sentence talk about reasons for moving, strong sadness, future conflict, or the relationship between the weather and the mother’s actions?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the context around the bold sentence
Read the whole passage, not just the bold sentence:
- First, we learn that it is raining very hard when they move into the farmhouse.
- Then, the bold sentence says, "Still, my mother insisted we unpack the kitchen first."
- After that, the mother explains that a house feels like home when it smells like soup.
Pay attention to the transition word
The word "Still" at the beginning of the bold sentence is important. It signals that what comes next is happening in spite of what was just mentioned. So the bold sentence is set up as a contrast to the heavy rain described right before it.
Identify what two ideas are being related
Ask: What two things are being put next to each other?
- On one side: the challenging weather — heavy rain pounding the windows.
- On the other side: the mother's choice/priority — she insists on unpacking the kitchen first to make the house feel like home. The sentence shows that her focus on making a home continues even though the weather makes moving difficult.
Match this role to the best answer choice
Now compare each option to what the bold sentence is doing:
- It does not explain why they moved into the farmhouse.
- It does not mainly create a gloomy mood, because the mother's action is practical and hopeful.
- It does not hint at a later argument; there is no sign of conflict between mother and narrator. The only choice that matches the way the sentence sets up a contrast between the bad weather and the mother's determination to unpack the kitchen is: It contrasts the mother's priorities with the challenging weather.