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11 May 2020, 13:58
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This is one of the questions I get wrong most of the time.
The question is something like this:
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) present a commonplace idea and its
inaccuracies
(B) describe a situation and its potential drawbacks
(C) propose a temporary solution to a problem
(D) analyze a frequent source of disagreement
(E) explore the implications of a finding
From this, I am able to eliminate/know that C and D are different, but I am not able to distinguish between A B and E. This is just one variation, but I have this problem on most of the purpose questions.
Any ideas/guidelines/framework for finding the purpose of the passage?
The question is something like this:
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) present a commonplace idea and its
inaccuracies
(B) describe a situation and its potential drawbacks
(C) propose a temporary solution to a problem
(D) analyze a frequent source of disagreement
(E) explore the implications of a finding
From this, I am able to eliminate/know that C and D are different, but I am not able to distinguish between A B and E. This is just one variation, but I have this problem on most of the purpose questions.
Any ideas/guidelines/framework for finding the purpose of the passage?
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Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
11 May 2020, 16:16
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pigisstupid
Hello, pigisstupid, and welcome to the forum. I know what you mean about these question types. Like their boldface counterparts in CR, in which the task is to identify the roles those portions play in the passage, you really have to pay attention to each section of the response before making a determination. To illustrate, I might consider just the first word of each answer to see if I could eliminate anything on the first pass:
(A) present...
Analysis: This one is hard to argue against, since its lack of specificity covers just about anything. That is, unless the passage is overt in arguing against something, this is a safe way to start.
(B) describe...
Analysis: Was the passage meant to present detailed information, or was it more that that information was being used by the author to achieve some end? This one starts out a little shaky.
(C) propose...
Analysis: An easy one to qualify--or not. If you cannot find words such as should, need, or must, then a proposal might be beyond the scope of the passage.
(D) analyze...
Analysis: Similar to (B) above, this answer pigeonholes the information presented in the passage. In general, it is a good idea to keep your thinking broad on these main idea/primary purpose questions, not that I would automatically pitch this answer in the trash bin.
(E) explore...
Analysis: Another strange descriptor to start off with. How does a passage explore a topic?
You might have gotten rid of a few choices from such a sweep, or maybe just one. That is fine. Now you have to make sure that the latter half of each answer is addressed by the passage. If one part is and another is not, or if it takes some mental acrobatics to qualify part of an answer, then you are probably on the wrong track.
(A) a commonplace idea... its inaccuracies
Analysis: Both of these must hold true for this to be the answer. If the inaccuracies surround some other idea, then this cannot be the answer. Likewise, if the idea is one that goes against what is generally held to be true, and such an idea is analyzed for its inaccuracies, then this answer would be inaccurate.
(B) a situation... its... drawbacks
Analysis: Does the passage explore such a situation, and is the overall framework going against the situation?
(C) a temporary solution... problem
Analysis: The temporary solution ought to be a giveaway, one way or the other.
(D) a frequent source... disagreement
Analysis: If there is a single disagreement, then this will not do. The problem or issue must be recurring.
(E) the implications... finding
Analysis: The word finding stands out here. Does the passage present a discovery of some sort?
Taken together, each component of the answer choice must present an accurate description of whatever you have just read. Parsing each answer choice in the manner I have outlined above often helps me approach the task, and I also like to keep in mind that detailed answers typically work against the main idea/primary purpose mold. That is, if an answer choice latches on to some detail that is mentioned in one paragraph of a three-paragraph passage, then how would that encapsulate the main idea? Why was the author not focused on that element in the other two paragraphs?
I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask. Good luck with your studies.
- Andrew
12 May 2020, 08:26
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pigisstupid
Hi pigisstupid
Please watch videos below regarding the topic of primary purpose/main idea questions : -
Hope it helps!
