How to self-correct

[David44357]

Hi. I just completed the 40 Must be True/Main Point questions in the Lesson 1 homework. I'm sure the practice helps, but often when I get one wrong, I'm not sure what I need to change to get it right next time. For example, in my opinion question 39 on page 1-88 has three reasonable answers. The correct answer is E, but I would have never guessed it, since the stimulus doesn't call it "manipulation" or even imply there is anything deceitful about it. If I got a similar question again, I would probably still get it wrong. What do I need to understand to get a similar question with multiple reasonable answers right the next time?

[Robert Carroll]

David,

I'll make this advice specific to Must Be True.

If a question is asking "If all of the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?", all of the wrong answers are not necessarily true. Thus, it's possible they're false. So evaluate why they could be false - three answers cannot seem reasonable after a careful evaluation of the facts in the stimulus. There must be something in each that goes beyond the facts - they introduce new information, or they exaggerate what the stimulus said, or they treat as certain what the stimulus treated only as possible or probable.

The stimulus claims that supermarket layouts are designed to make customers do something. That is manipulation. Thus, the correct answer is not going beyond the facts. You might be thinking manipulation requires more maliciousness, but it doesn't.

When you get to different question types, against look for the one answer that answers the question, and if you have multiple answers that seem reasonable, identify why all except one actually fail to do what the question asks.

Robert Carroll

[Nikki Siclunov]

David44357,

Let me add to Robert's excellent explanation above. Don't forget that each and every LR question from your homework is explained on the Online Student Center. When you get a question wrong, it really pays off to consult our explanations first. If they are not to your satisfaction, by all means - reach out to us on the Forum.

Just keep that in mind as an additional resource at your fingertips

Good luck!