S6
Multiple Choice
A multiple-choice question
consists of a stem and a set of
alternatives. The stem usually
is in the form of a question or
an incomplete sentence. One
of the alternatives correctly
answers the question or
completes the sentence.
Read the stem carefully
and try to answer the
question or complete the
sentence before looking at
the alternatives.
Look for key words in the
stem. They may direct you
to the correct answer.
Read each alternative with
the stem. Don’t make your
final decision on the
correct answer until you
have read all of the
alternatives.
Eliminate alternatives that
you know are wrong.
Look for modifiers to help
you rule out incorrect
alternatives.
Carefully consider
questions that include all
of the above as an
alternative.
Take great care with
questions that are stated
negatively.
- The Sahara is mostly
A.scattered with rocks and gravel.
B.made up of sand dunes.
C.located south of the equator.
D.covered with tall grasses and bushes.
- Over hundreds of years, the Bantu people migrated from
West Africa to
A.all of North Africa.
B.East and South Africa.
C.South and Southwest Asia.
D.every continent except Antarctica.
- The traditional griots of West Africa passed on the
histories of their people by
A.writing books.
B.painting murals.
C.telling stories.
D.all of the above
- Which of the following is notone of
the trading kingdoms of West Africa?
A.Mali
B.Songhai
C.Ghana
D.Aksum
answers:1 (A); 2 (B); 3 (C); 4 (D)
You can improve your test-taking skills by practicing the strategies
discussed in this section. First, read the tips on the left-hand page.
Then apply them to the practice items on the right-hand page.
Part 2: Test-Taking Strategies and Practice
alternatives
stem Mostlyis a key word
here. Changing it to
partly would alter the
sentence and call for a
different answer.
You can eliminate Dif
you remember that the
Sahara is a desert.
Absolute words, such
as all, never, always,
every,and only,often
signal an incorrect
alternative.
If you select this answer,
be sure that all of the
alternatives are correct.
Eliminate incorrect alternatives
by identifying those that are
West African trading kingdoms.
STRATEGIES