Single long passages consist of one long passage with questions that relate to that passage. Almost all long passages consist of:
- An introduction with a thesis telling you what the passage is about
- One or two supporting paragraphs with additional information or arguments that support the thesis
- A conclusion which sums up the point the author was trying to make
There are different ways of approaching the passages that work best for different students. Two possible strategies are discussed below: Previewing the Passage and Active Reading. The best thing to do is to try both strategies to determine which works best for you. Regardless of which strategy you chose, the important thing to remember is you are reading to answer the questions, not to learn about the subject. You do not want to spend more than 3 minutes reading the passage before moving on to the questions.
Preview the Passage Strategy
Some students are most successful when they don't try to read the passage as a whole, but instead use an approach called “Preview the Passage” This strategy is recommended if you are a slow reader or if you tend to get caught up in the details of the passage.
