This usually works even if a question is not asking about a particular line. For
example, imagine three consecutive questions:
1 The reference to the “dusty” butter (line 65) most directly
emphasizes . . .2 The author of the passage believes that . . .
3 In line 73, “dingbat” most nearly means . . .
Clearly, the answer to question 1 is in line 65, and the answer to question 3 is in
line 73. While you might think that the answer to question 2 could come from
anywhere in the passage, the College Board knows that you don’t have enough
time to skim through several paragraphs in search of the answer. So there should
be something between line 65 and line 73 that clearly supports one of the
multiple-choice answers to question 2. This method often works, but just in case,
you should do your best to keep the entire passage in mind.
RULE 5: KNOW THE DIRECTIONS.
The directions are generally the same for any given edition of the new SAT.
Memorize them from the practice tests on the College Board website.
Don’t waste precious time carefully reading directions during the test unless
they seem different from the ones you’ve seen before.
This is a prime reason why you should familiarize yourself with the test before test day: the smug feeling you’ll get when all the otherkids are still reading the directions but you’re already on question #3.
—Samantha
RULE 6: ADOPT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
The reading passages are the one place where you should abandon the negative
thinking we recommended on page 24. As impossible as this may sound, it is
important to assume a positive attitude toward the Reading Test. Why is this?
Well, remember the chapter on oral hygiene in the health textbook you had in
sixth grade? No, because it was boring and you didn’t want to read it. But do you
remember the chapter on sex? Yes, because sex is more interesting than tooth
decay. This is an eternal rule of reading. You don’t remember passages that you
find boring. Instead, you need to learn to trick yourself, to convince yourself that
you are passionately interested in whatever the passages are about. Get psyched
to read them. Treat them as you would a love letter. Ponder them as you would a
passage from a piece of great literature. Cherish them as you would a section of
Up Your Score.