Painless Reading Comprehension - Darolyn “Lyn” Jones Ed.D. 2021

Mastering multiple-choice questions
Preparations for reading

At various points throughout the book, you will encounter other Brain Ticklers, which use multiple-choice questions to quiz you over what you have learned from the reading in that section. Answering multiple-choice questions about a reading selection can be tricky, so use the following strategies to help you master them!

STRATEGIES FOR MASTERING MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

✵ Read the question twice.

✵ Answer first without looking at the answers.

✵ Look at the answers and see if your answer is one of the four options.

o If it is, mark it and move on.

o If it’s not, put a star or a check or some type of notation next to the question in the margin and come back to it later, if you have time.

✵ Answer all the questions you know the answer to first.

✵ When you have answered what you do know, go back to the questions you noted.

✵ Eliminate, even mark out if you are allowed, the answers that you know are wrong.

✵ Go back to the text and look for the choices that remain and choose the correct answer.

✵ If you can’t find the answer and there is no penalty, then guess.

✵ Remember, go with your first idea—it’s usually right.

Understand question design

First, you need to know how multiple-choice questions are designed. Typically there are four answer choices but only one correct answer. So you have a 25% chance of getting the answer correct if you answer every question. If you can eliminate one or two choices, your chances of getting the correct answer are improved. If, for some reason, there is a full penalty for wrong answers and you are unable to eliminate any of the choices, you should leave questions you don’t know blank, as you have a 75% chance of getting that answer wrong. However, if wrong answers are penalized a fraction of a point, you might want to guess. If this information is not explained to you, ask before you answer any questions. It pays to know how tests are scored so be a smart test-taker!

Check the time

Second, you need to find out how much time you will have to answer the questions. Keep track of your time so you don’t spend too many minutes on any one question.

Answer without looking at the choices

Third, you need to know how to answer multiple-choice questions successfully. Before you even look at the possible answers, read the question twice. Try to answer it in your own words. Then, see what answer best fits your answer. If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, look for what most closely matches your answer. There may be one answer that is very obviously wrong, and then there may be another answer that also may be apparently wrong. You may struggle with the final two answers. Don’t argue between the two answers. Choose the one that you believe best matches the question and the text.

Move on

It’s best to skip questions you don’t know and return later to try to figure them out. After you have answered what you do know and if you have time, go back to the text and try to find the answer. If you don’t have time, pick the one your instinct tells you is correct. After you have marked an answer, don’t change it. Research shows that going with your first answer is usually the best strategy.

CAUTION—Major Mistake Territory!

Most mistakes made on multiple-choice questions are caused by:

✵ Not reading the question carefully

✵ Not answering the question in your head first before looking for the answer

✵ Not reading through all of the possible answers

✵ Taking too much time on one question

✵ Not looking for answers in the text

✵ Changing the first answer

BRAIN TICKLERSSet # 2

How do you successfully master multiple-choice questions?

1. If there are four possible answers to a multiple-choice question and there is no penalty for answering incorrectly, then you should

a. answer the question only if you know the answer.

b. answer the question correctly.

c. pick a selection that you think is best.

d. guess the answer.

2. When you are answering multiple-choice questions and you don’t know the answer, you should

a. mark it and return later to answer it.

b. guess.

c. ask for help.

d. choose the first choice.

3. When you first encounter a multiple-choice question, you should

a. read the answer choices before reading the question.

b. mark the first choice you see that comes close to answering the question.

c. change your answer.

d. read the question twice.

(Answers are on page 24.)