you’ve seen repeatedly, you can probably eliminate them and instead choose the one that is consistent
with those questions and answers.
Let’s take a look at the answers:
A) windshield pitting was a major source of concern for most drivers in 1954.
B) windshield pitting turned out to be nothing but a prank.
C) widespread focus on a specific event can make random occurrences seem
significant.
D) lack of consensus for an event’s explanation can cause hysteria.Remember: If it’s a central claim, it’s a main point of the text. What can you eliminate?
Choice (A) might look good initially because it has the words “windshield pitting,” “drivers,” and
“1954,” but this is definitely not a central claim of the passage.
Choice (B) can be eliminated because the only mention of a prank was as a possible theory put forward
by someone else.
Choice (C) looks pretty good. You’ve already answered several specific questions dealing with this idea.
Choice (D) might look pretty good at first, too. When you go back to the text, though, you see that the
author’s central claim is not about the lack of consensus causing the hysteria. That’s a part of it, but it’s
not a complete answer.
Choice (C) is best supported by the text and all the other questions you’ve answered.
Charts and Graphs
Charts, graphs, and diagrams are no longer limited to the Math Test! You will now see a variety of
graphics in the Reading Test and even in the Writing and Language Test! (More on the Writing and
Language test later.) The good news is that the graphics you’ll be dealing with in the Reading Test are
very straightforward and do not require any computations. All you need to do is make sure you can put
your pencil on the place on the graphic that proves a reason to keep or eliminate an answer choice. Let’s
take a look at an example.