SAT Reading Section - Trap Answer Choices

Introduction

• Speaker: Mike Satel, founder of Satel Tutoring
• Series: Episode 7 of a 10-part series on strategies for the Digital SAT
• Topic: Identifying trap answer choices in the reading section

Importance of Understanding Trap Answers

• Patterns exist in how SAT produces wrong answers
• Essential to have a baseline understanding before tackling this topic
• Recommendation: Watch episode 1 on dumb summaries and episode 6 on strong words

Main Strategy: Dumb Summaries

• Simplifying complex passages by boiling them down to simpler ideas
• Importance of focusing on strong words in passages and answer choices

Example Passage Analysis

• Example Passage: Discusses Phoebe Shackleton’s inspiration from nature for video game animation
• Correct Answer: Choice A - Shackleton gets design inspiration from the natural world around her

Breakdown of Trap Answer Choices

1. Choice B: "Most of her design inspiration..."

   • Problem: "Most" implies a specific quantity which isn't supported by the passage.

2. Choice C: "Chipmunks have been Shackleton’s primary source..."

   • Problem: "Primary" is a strong word implying main source, which is not proven.

Common Trap Words Categories

1. Quantifiers: Most, many, all, few, primary, major, minor, numerous, etc.
   • Importance of proving these with the passage
2. Comparisons: Easier, more, less, same, equal, compare, contrast
   • Must show explicit comparison in the passage
3. Necessary Conditions: Cannot, must, require, necessary, impossible
   • Implies an all-or-nothing scenario
4. Frequency/Time: Often, always, routine, sustained, previous, future
   • Need explicit time-related proof
5. Big vs. Small: Broad claims from specific examples
   • Do not generalize specific examples to universal truths

Real-time Questions and Trap Identification

• Example Question: Related to usage of polybenzene in space travel materials
• Correct Answer: Analysis of answer choices through trap words
  • Choice A: Reduction of T receptors (incorrect - not supported)
  • Choice B: Confirms other chemical blends (incorrect - big vs. small problem)
  • Choice C: Modify properties for usefulness (correct - comparison proven in passage)
  • Choice D: Polybenzene beneficial for most plastics (incorrect - broad claim)

Summary and Conclusion

• Importance of recognizing trap keywords and patterns in SAT
• Focus on targeted ideas within answer choices
• Emphasis on practice and watching more tutorial videos for mastery
• Encouragement to subscribe for more lessons and practice sessions