Third Edition
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
®
A complete chapter devoted to each question type
FOR THE
Strategies to improve speed and comprehension
,. NEW
Test-style exercises .to apply what you've learned SAT®
In-depth explanations to help you answer the
most challenging questions
Erica L. Meltzer
author of The Ultimate Guide to SAT® Grammar
SAT " is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this~publication.
,",J
, Third Edition
T er
The Critical Reader
he Complete Guid t
AT® Reading
Third Edition
Erica L. M ltzer
,.THE CRITICAL READER
New York
, Table of Contents
Preface 11
How to Use This Book 14
Suggested Reading 16
Introduction to SAT® Reading 19
What Does SAT Reading Test? 19
Managing the Reading Test as a Whole 21
The Answer Isn't Always In the Passage 23
Understanding Answer Choices 23
Understanding Line References 24
Strategies for Reading Passages 24
Skimming Effectively Means Knowing What to Focus On 26
Using Key Words: Managing Questions Without Line References 29
How to Work Through Questions with Line References 30
General Tips for Reading Prep 36
1. Vocabulary in Context 43
Strategies 44
Second Meanings and Answer Choices 50
Common Second Meanings 51
Additional Words to Know 53
Vocabulary in Context Exercises 54
Explanations: Vocabulary in Context Exercises 61
2. Making the Leap: From Concrete to Abstract 65
Why Use Pronouns? 66
The Former and the Latter 69
Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises 70
Explanations: Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises 77
3. The Big Picture 79
Identifying Topics 80
What's the Point? 82
vii
, 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
viii
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
®
A complete chapter devoted to each question type
FOR THE
Strategies to improve speed and comprehension
,. NEW
Test-style exercises .to apply what you've learned SAT®
In-depth explanations to help you answer the
most challenging questions
Erica L. Meltzer
author of The Ultimate Guide to SAT® Grammar
SAT " is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this~publication.
,",J
, Third Edition
T er
The Critical Reader
he Complete Guid t
AT® Reading
Third Edition
Erica L. M ltzer
,.THE CRITICAL READER
New York
, Table of Contents
Preface 11
How to Use This Book 14
Suggested Reading 16
Introduction to SAT® Reading 19
What Does SAT Reading Test? 19
Managing the Reading Test as a Whole 21
The Answer Isn't Always In the Passage 23
Understanding Answer Choices 23
Understanding Line References 24
Strategies for Reading Passages 24
Skimming Effectively Means Knowing What to Focus On 26
Using Key Words: Managing Questions Without Line References 29
How to Work Through Questions with Line References 30
General Tips for Reading Prep 36
1. Vocabulary in Context 43
Strategies 44
Second Meanings and Answer Choices 50
Common Second Meanings 51
Additional Words to Know 53
Vocabulary in Context Exercises 54
Explanations: Vocabulary in Context Exercises 61
2. Making the Leap: From Concrete to Abstract 65
Why Use Pronouns? 66
The Former and the Latter 69
Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises 70
Explanations: Pronoun and Compression Noun Exercises 77
3. The Big Picture 79
Identifying Topics 80
What's the Point? 82
vii
, 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
viii
