| Imagine being able to spot the tricks and minefields | | | | 4. The answer has misused detail--many times in a |
| laid out by the creators of an exam as important as | | | | paired passage the student will be asked to contrast |
| the SAT. What a tremendous edge a student would | | | | and compare different opinions regarding a particular |
| have if she could master the skill of eliminating the | | | | subject. Answers with half or partial truths must be |
| obvious wrong answers. Here are the six most | | | | eliminated. Answers which may be correct for |
| common characteristics of incorrect critical reading | | | | passage 2 cannot be correct for passage 1. |
| answer choices: | | | | 5. The answer is opposite of what is being asked--be |
| 1. The answer choice is too narrow--the correct | | | | careful and read words such as EXCEPT in the |
| answer to a main idea question cannot focus upon | | | | questions. Failure to recognize this one word will result |
| just one idea in the passage. The main idea question | | | | in the choice of an answer which is the exact |
| is also known as a global question because it asks for | | | | opposite of the correct answer; |
| a broad answer. Eliminate all answers that are too | | | | 6. The answer choice is too extreme-- words such as |
| narrow to be correct; | | | | never, ever are rarely ever correct! Look for |
| 2. The answer is too broad--specific questions require | | | | extreme language in an answer choice, ie. "The polar |
| specific answers. If a question asks to zero in on | | | | ice caps are melting and the world is coming to an |
| concepts presented in paragraph 2, there is no need | | | | end" is just one example of extreme language |
| to concern yourself with the main idea of the whole | | | | exhibited in wrong answer choices. |
| passage; | | | | When practicing critical reading passages try and |
| 3. The answer is out of scope--supposed you are | | | | recognize these common characteristics of wrong |
| reading a passage on economics and you consider | | | | answer choices. You will be amazed how much |
| yourself an economic expert. Don't choose an | | | | better you will become in narrowing down choices. |
| answer just because you may agree with its thesis!!! | | | | You will then become a better guesser on the really |
| If the idea was not introduced into the four corners | | | | tough questions and ultimately you will raise your |
| of the passage, it is out of scope. Concern yourself | | | | overall reading score. |
| with information contained in the passage only!! | | | | |