On the current PSAT exam, the critical reading question is one of the most important questions to see on the exam. These questions are most likely the ones that take the longest time to understand and answer. But luckily there are a few techniques to use to master these problems.

General Tips

1. Tackle the short passages before the long ones

2. Tackle passages with familiar subjects before passages with unfamiliar subjects

3. If you are stumped on a tough question, move on, but do not skip the other questions in that passage

4. Do not zip back and forth between passages

5. Read as fast as you can with understanding, but don’t force yourself

6. Make annotations as you read through the passage

7. Try to anticipate what the passage will be about.

8. Read with a purpose, try and spot the author’s style of writing, what techniques he uses, etc

9. Read the blurb(footnotes and information on top)

10. When you tackle the questions, go back to the passage to check each answer choice

11. Use the line references in the questions to get quickly to the correct spot in the passage.

12. When dealing with the double passages, tackle them one at a time.

13. Watch out for words or phrases in the questions that can clue you in on the kind of question being asked.

Tackling different types of questions

Example Passage:

      The abstractness of mathematics is a great obstacle for many intelligent people Such people may readily understand narrative particulars, but strongly resist impersonal generalities. Since numbers, science, and such generalities are intimately related, this resistance can lead to an almost willful mathematical and scientific illiteracy. Numbers have appeal for many only if they're associated with them personally-hence part of the attraction of astrology, biorhythms, Tarot cards and the I Ching, all individually customized "sciences."

      Mathematical illiteracy and the attitudes underlying it provide in fact a fertile soil for the growth of pseudoscience, In Pseudoscience and Society in Nine teenth-Century America, Arthur Wrobel remarks that belief in phrenology, homeopathy, and hydropathy was not confined to the poor and the ignorant but pervaded much of nineteenth-century literature. Such credulity is not as exten sive in contemporary literature, but astrology is one pseudoscience that does seem to engage a big segment of the reading public. Literary allusions to it abound, appearing in everything from Shakespeare to Dom DeLillo's Libra. A 1986 Gallup poll showed that 52 percent of American teenagers subscribe to it, as does at least 50 percent of the nation's departing First Couple.

      Given these figures, it may not be entirely inappropriate to note here that no mechanism through which the alleged zodiacal influences exert themselves has ever been specified by astrologers. Gravity certainly cannot account for these natal influences, since even the gravitational pull of the attending obstetrician is orders of magnitude greater than that of the relevant planet or planets. Nor is there any empirical evidence; top astrologers (as determined by their peers) have failed repeatedly to associate personality profiles with astrological data at a rate 2) higher than that of chance. Neither of these fatal objections to astrology, of course, is likely to carry much weight with literate but innumerate people who don't estimate magnitudes or probabilities, or who are over-impressed by vague coincidences yet unmoved by overwhelming statistical evidence.eb

Vocabulary Questions

The best way to tackle vocabulary questions is by reading the sentence, then substituting “blank” for the word in quotes. Then think of words that would make sense in the context. Then check the given answer choices and ask yourself if the words make sense in the context and relate to your idea.

In line 10, “engage” most nearly means

here we can see that engage seems to be attracting the public so we can probably assume that the answer would most probably be similar to that.

A) hire

B) reserve

C) attract

D) confront

E) interlock

Looking at the options, we can clearly see that C, attract is the correct answer.

Main Idea Questions

Main idea questions typically ask you the primary purpose of the passge, the author’s point in the passage, and the central thought of the passage.

In the final paragraph of the passage, the author stresses that

The other spends the final paragraph debunking the claims of astrologers. To their claim that the planet in the heavens at the time of one's birth influence one's destiny..

A) Astrologers are working to discover the mechanisms through which the zodiac affects human lives.

B) The planets are able to influence people and mysterious, imperceptible ways.

C) Top astrologers strive to maintain accurate personality profiles of their clientele.

D) Astrologers are more mechanically minded than mathematically illiterate.

E) Astrologers have been unable to corroborate their theory scientifically.

Looking at the options, we can see that E, is the correct answer

Specific Detail Questions

Main idea questions typically ask you the primary purpose of the passage, the author’s point in the passage, and the central thought of the passage.

According to the author, “phrenology, homeopathy, and hydropathy” are all

These are all three beliefs mentioned in the book titled in the passage, so we can tell that the author is critical of various beliefs he categorizes unscientific.

A) Scholarly illusions.

B) Pseudosciences.

C) Branches of Astrology.

D) Forms of society.

E) Mechanisms.

Looking at the options, we can see that B, Since it is classified as a pseudoscience is the correct answer, unlike the rest of the options.

Inference Questions

When you answer in inference questions, look for what the passage logically suggests, but not directly state. Inference questions require you to use your judgment. You are drawing a conclusion based on what you have read in the text. Think. The passage suggests you must not take anything directly stated in the passage as an infant. Instead, he must look for clues in the passage that you can use in coming up with your own conclusion. Then you. Then you should choose your answer as a statement that logically follows from the information that the author has given you.

The author most likely regards the lack of empirical evidence for astrology as

The final sentence of the paragraph characterizes these absences of empirical evidence as fatal objections to Astrology. In general, the author sees astrology as an invalid, not a real science.

A) An oversight on the part of the astrologers.

B) A key argument against its validity.

C) A flaw that will be a corrected in time.

D) A major reason to keep searching for fresh data.

E) The unfortunate result of too small a sampling

Looking at the options, we can see that B, The author most likely regards the lack of empirical evidence for astrology as a key argument against its validity.

Attitude/Tone Questions

When asked to figure out an author's attitude or tone, look for words that convey emotion, express values or paint pictures. These images in descriptive phrases get the author's feelings across.

Attitude towards believers in astrology can be described as one of

The author states that people who believe in astrology are the sort of who are over impressed by vague coincidence.

A) Grudging respect.

B) Disguised hostility.

C) Amused tolerance.

D) Open disdain.

E) Puzzled fascination.

Looking at the options, we can see that D, matches with our idea and is correct.

Literary Technique Questions

Familiarize yourself with the common terms used to describe an author's technique. Even if you don't learn them all once you've mastered a few, you'll be in a good position to eliminate incorrect answer choices and make that educated guess among the rest.

Common Literary Terms

Logic/Application Questions

Think about how the ideas in the passage are logically organized. Breakdown the authors argument. The author is making a point. Ask yourself, which statements support that point. How could you attack that point? What other statements could you make to support it?

Which of the following statements would the author be most likely to disagree?

You can answer this question by using the process of elimination. The key. Here is the word degree exam. Each statement in turn asking yourself whether it does or does not reflect the office point of view. Eliminate every answer choice with the author would agree.

A) phrenology may be of some interest to sociologists and cultural historians. But it has no real value as a scientific discipline.

B) A rigorous training in mathematics would benefit young people by equipping them to estimate magnitude and probabilities.

C) People were somewhat less apt to be taken in by pseudoscientific claims in the 19th century than they are today.

D) Despite the weight of the evidence against Astrology, scientifically literate. individuals will continue to believe in it.

E) Determining bio rhythms and computing astrological horoscopes may require people to perform some mathematical calculations.

Looking at the options, and after canceling out the rest of our options, we can see that the answer is C*.*