SAT Prep - Critical-Reading

Factual Questions ask about the content in the passage.  You simply need to be able to understand the information and be able to rephrase it. 

To approach a fact based question:

1. Paraphrase the question in your own words- what is it asking?
2. Refer to the specific spot mentioned in the passage
   1. Sometimes the question will give you a line number
   2. Other times, it will just give you a topic and you will need to find the spot in the passage where that topic is discussed
3. Read 5 lines above and below the referenced line subject (for long paragraphs) or 2 lines above and below the referenced line/subject (for short paragraphs) OR until the start or end of the paragraph
4. Predict the answer to the question- what do you think the passage is saying in those lines
5. Work through the answer choices
   1. Remember, the correct answer will rarely use exactly language from the passage- that would be too easy.  Instead, they will rephrase the fact or idea
6. Chose the answer hat most closely matches our prediction, eliminating obviously incorrect answers as you read them
7. Be sure you can support your answer with information given in the appropriate lines of the passage

TIP: Sometimes the test will include an answer choice that uses exact words or phrases from surround lines.  Make sure the answer you choose is supported by the specific lines the question is asking about