you practice with all the passages, not just the ones in your areas of inter-
est. Sometimes unfamiliar subjects can teach you the most valuable lessons
about critical reading.
Each chapter contains three short reading passages, similar to the ones
found on many exams, including the SAT. There are also six longer pas-
sages, two of which are paired for purposes of comparison.
Passages in Chapter One deal with popular culture and current events.
History and politics are covered in Chapter Two. Chapter Three’s passages
focus on the humanities—they are drawn from fields such as mythology,
philosophy, and the arts. Chapter Four has passages that deal with health
and medicine. Chapter Five draws passages from literature. Chapter Six’s
passages are drawn from the field of music. Chapter Seven contains mate-
rial on science and nature. Chapter Eight covers sports and leisure. And
finally, Chapter Nine’s passages are based in the social sciences of anthro-
pology and sociology.
STAY ACTIVE
The most important thing to know about critical reading is that it is an active
endeavor. Keep your mind active and on its figurative toes at all times. Under-
line important points as you read, argue with the author, make notes, and do
whatever you need to stay involved with the passage.Seven Strategies for Success
Even though short passages are new to the SAT, strategies for successfully
answering the questions are identical to those for the longer passages. The
first thing you will want to do, before diving into the practice, is to make
sure you are thoroughly familiar with these strategies. Then feel free to
adapt them to suit your needs and preferences. One word of caution,
though: Be sure you actually try each strategy several times before decid-
ing whether or not it suits you!
- Get involved with the passage.Critical reading is an active endeavor,
not a passive one. React to the material, form questions as you
read, and make your own marks on the paper. Write in the
margins, underline important words and sentences—talk back!
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