Wrong Answer Tricks

This section is specifically for those who are taking this course to improve their performance on a reading comprehension exam.

When looking for wrong answer tricks, look for answers that are too narrow in scope. This might mean that the question is looking for a single element in the passage. Be suspicious if there is a response that refers to a single person, event, idea, or work.

For example:

Perhaps the piece focuses on two events that purport to either support or refute a particular position. If a response asks only about one of the events and ignores the other, that answer is likely too narrow in focus to be correct. When a question ignores one of the major points in a comparison or argument, it is likely a wrong answer.

Or, let's say the author uses several examples to support an argument. In the case of The Necklace, there are several examples that support the argument that Mathilde is vain and selfish and has created her own dissatisfaction in life. If an answer suggests that ONLY losing the necklace caused Mathilde's dissatisfaction, it would be considered a wrong answer. It is correct in that it DID contribute to her dissatisfaction, but she was dissatisfied long before that event.

On the other hand, you can also have wrong answer tricks that are far too broad in scope. The response will contain the author's main point, but then will extend that concern or idea well beyond the author's intended purpose.

For example:

Time frame. The Necklace was written during Maupassant's life, which ended in 1893. If an answer were to suggest something far outside that time frame, even though it could be considered or extrapolated to be correct, it is outside the time frame of the piece period and would be considered to be wrong.

Geographic location. Perhaps the passage concerns events in a single country or particular region of the world. Most often, answers that extend beyond that region would be considered to be a wrong answer trick.

Population. Many reading comprehension questions will deal with passages about particular people, a defined population (indigenous people of a country, Nazis, feminists, black politicians), etc. When a question extends beyond that population, you are typically looking at a wrong answer trick.

When reading through the questions for a reading comprehension exam, you can often spot an answer that is either too broad or too narrow without even reading the material provided.

This may seem confusing, but as you continue through this course, you will begin to see exactly how wrong answer tricks work. Initially, all answers seem correct but let's look at some examples:

One New York publisher has estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States want an anthology that includes the complete works of William Shakespeare. And what accounts for this renewed interest in Shakespeare? As scholars point out, the psychological insights he portrays in both male and female characters are amazing, even today.

Question: This paragraph best supports the statement that:

Shakespeare's characters are more interesting than fictional characters today

People today are interested in Shakespeare's work because of the characters.

Academic scholars are putting together an anthology of Shakespeare's work.

New Yorkers have a renewed interest in the work of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare was a psychiatrist, as well as a playwright.

Let's evaluate this short passage and the main idea it represents.

As suggested, the last sentence of a passage, even a short one, often can contain a thesis statement. In this case, the thesis statement is that Shakespeare uses psychological insights in male and female characters that are appreciated, even today.

This would indicate that the correct answer is 2.

And that is the case.

However, many people are stymied because they are swayed by some of the other answers that seem correct. Let's evaluate them.

Sounds correct because it mentions interesting characters, but the writer never actually makes a comparison between Shakespeare's characters and those written about today.

Correct answer, as established.

Even though scholars are mentioned in the passage, no mention of an anthology compiled by scholars is ever made in this passage. Beware of this trick, especially if you are only looking for a couple of key words.

This is wrong because you were misdirected at the beginning of the passage with the mention of a New York publisher, but no mention was ever made of the New York population of readers.

Again, mention of psychological insights is no substitute for being a psychiatrist.

Do you see how this works? Let's try another one for good measure:

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. No search of a person's home or personal effects may be conducted without a written search warrant, issued on probable cause. This means that a neutral judge must approve the factual basis justifying a search before it can be conducted.

Question: This paragraph best supports the statement that the police cannot search a person's home or private papers unless they have:

Legal authorization

Direct evidence of a crime

Read the person his or her constitutional rights

A reasonable belief that a crime has occurred

Requested that a judge be present

This selection is a little easier, but if you were to simply look for keywords and not the meaning of the question, you might find yourself in hot water. The use of the words "judge,"or "Amendment to the Constitution," should help guide, rather than misdirect you.

It never says that a judge must be present, (and for those who watch CSI, you know this is never the case so choice E is out.) Unfortunately for those CSI viewers, choice D might seem reasonable but it is never mentioned in the paragraph and it is never enough for a police officer to violate one's Constitutional rights. Choice B is incorrect for the same reasons. That leaves us with choice A or C. Choice C is never mentioned in the paragraph, so by default, A is the correct answer.

How are you feeling about Main Idea questions and wrong answer tricks? You're probably getting a feeling about Main Idea; that's the entire point of reading anything. The Main Idea of this course is to help you improve your reading comprehension using a variety of tools.

So far, there really have only been a few trick questions. Be alert to them. They will show up now and through the end of the course!

Throughout the remainder of the course, we will be covering various aspects of reading comprehension and the types of questions you likely will face when taking a test. For each type of question, we will cover the various wrong answer tricks you should be on the look out for. Once you recognize that there are tricks to wrong answers, you'll quickly see through the ploys of even the best test makers!

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