The Complete Guide to SAT Reading

Preface How to Use This Book Suggested Reading Introduction to SAT® Reading What Does SAT Reading Test? Managing the Reading Test as a Whole The Answer Isn't Always In the Passage Understanding Answer Choices Understanding Line References Strategies for Reading Passages Skimming Effectively Means Knowing What to Focus On Using Key Words: Managing Questions Without Line References How to Work Through Questions with Line References General Tips for Reading Prep 1. Vocabulary in Context Strategies Second Meanings and Answer Choices Common Second Meanings Additional Words to Know Vocabulary in Context Exercises Explanations: Vocabulary in Context Exercises 2. Making the Leap: From Concrete to Abstract Why Use Pronouns? The Former and the Latter Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises Explanations: Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises 3. The Big Picture Identifying Topics What's the Point? vii 11 14 16 19 19 21 23 23 24 24 26 29 30 36 43 44 50 51 53 54 61 65 66 69 70 77 79 80 82 Point of a Paragraph 85 Old Idea vs. New Idea 87 Using the "Old Idea" to Predict Main Point and Attitude 88 Fiction Passages: What if the Main Point Isn't Obvious? 93 Order of Events 97 Supporting Examples: Working Backwards 98 Main Point vs. Primary Purpose 100 The Big Picture Exercises 103 Explanations: The Big Picture Exercises 114 4. Supporting Evidence 117 Supporting and Contradicting Claims 120 Supporting and Contradicting Claims Exercises 124 Explanations: Supporting and Contradicting Claims Exercises 129 5. Literal Comprehension: Same Idea, Different Words 131 Other Approaches 138 Using Line References to Make Educated Guesses 141 Literal Comprehension Exercises 142 Explanations: Literal Comprehension Exercises 154 6. Reasonable Inferences 158 Fallacies and Incorrect Answers 159 Unstated Assumptions 171 Inference Exercises 175 Explanations: Inference Exercises 186 7. Extended Reasoning and Analogies 189 Extended Reasoning and Analogy Exercises 195 Explanations: Extended Reasoning and Analogy Exercises 201 8. Reading for Function 203 Types of Function Questions 204 Chart: Functions of Key Words and Punctuation 205 "Vague" Answers 212