Reading Across Texts and Text Structure
What to Know
Some questions give two passages on the same topic. You must find how they are alike and different in topic, main idea, and details. Know text structures: sequence (first, next, last), cause and effect (because, so), compare and contrast (both, unlike), problem and solution (the problem is... one way to fix it...), and description. Signal words help you identify structure.
Traps to Watch
- Same topic, different point. Two passages can both be about dogs but one tells facts and one tells a story.
- Signal-word confusion: "Because" signals cause/effect, not sequence.
- Only one passage supports the answer. A correct comparison answer must be true for both texts.
- Order matters. Sequence answers must match the passage's order exactly.
Worked Example
Passage A says recycling saves landfill space. Passage B says recycling turns old cans into new ones. A question asks how they are alike. The trap "both explain how to recycle at home" is not in either text. The correct answer is "both give reasons recycling helps" because each passage offers a benefit.
Rule of Thumb
For two-passage questions, make a quick T-chart: Passage A, Passage B, Both. Check the answer against the "Both" column.