Strategy Used: Identify the Issue
The wrong answers on the SAT aren't just random—they're
constructed to be tempting to the test-taker who goes right from
the question to the answer without thinking. In order to avoid
getting caught in the traps the testmaker sets, identify the
error in the sentence before proceeding to the answer choices.
The correct answer choice may not correct the error in the way
you expect it to, but knowing what you're looking for will help
you avoid answer choices that don�t address the error or that
sneak new errors in. Case in point:
In an attempt to preserve the sanctity of the baroque nave,
the church has forbidden tourists from visiting the cathedral,
and so have discouraging tourism in the region.
- from visiting the cathedral, and so have discouraging
tourism
- from visiting the cathedral, in addition to discouraging
tourism
- to visit the cathedral, and consequently have been
discouraging tourism
- to visit the cathedral, thereby discouraging tourism
- to visit the cathedral, and yet have discouraged
tourism
If you had jumped straight to the answer choices here, they
all would have started to sound the same pretty quickly. If,
however, before looking at the answer choices you had identified
the error ("have discouraging" is incorrect), you could have
quickly scanned the answer choices, eliminating those that didn't
address the error. You'll be much less likely to fall into a trap
if you predict the correct answer before reading the choices.
Try the strategy out with
these practice questions!
Other Strategy Sessions: