Pro Tip: In general, it is a good idea to SKIP main idea questions and do
them after you’ve answered the more specific questions on any passage. This is
because the specific questions force you to read the passage over and over; plus
they often give you valuable clues as to the overall meaning. By the time you go
back to the big picture questions, you will be in a much better position to answer
them.
Meaning questions are very straightforward. They ask you what the text says, so
the answer is always right there in the passage. Unfortunately, the SAT has found
a few ways to make these questions more difficult.
Meaning Questions
To start off, there are two types of meaning: explicit and implicit. Explicit
meaning questions ask you what the text literally states. These are a bit easier,
so let’s start with them.
Here are some explicit meaning questions:
• According to the fourth paragraph, some economists feel that . . .
• According to the passage, an atom of which of the following substances
will split, releasing energy and more neutrons?
• The narrator asserts that Margaret asked Mrs. Horn’s opinion because
Margaret . . .
The primary strategy for answering explicit meaning questions is to first
locate the relevant part of the passage, reread it, then formulate your own answer
before heading to the answer choices. This is crucial. Don’t forget, the answer
choices are trying to trick you (for more on “impostor” answer choices, see page
320 ). Coming up with your own answer is like putting on a suit of armor before
heading into battle.
Note that you may have more luck with the explicit meaning questions if you
skim the questions in advance and mark the relevant evidence while you read the
passage. (See the strategies that start on page 69 for other useful approaches to
these questions.)
Explicit meaning questions will often ask about trickier parts of the passage.
They might ask about a part of a paragraph that discusses a counterexample.
Like this:
While alien spacecraft do not generally have human-butt-shaped
seats or nail clippers sized for human toes, the Starship Magnarax was