#20 - Global Reference, Main Point

[ashahab1309]

Hi there,

I was between A and B and ultimately chose B, because I felt it corresponded to the last part of the passage. Could someone help explain how to differentiate what the strongest main point of a passage is?

[Adam Tyson]

Good question, ashahab1309! To select the best answer to a Main Point question, ask yourself what the author's overall thesis was. What was the big idea they were trying to convey in the entire passage, and not just at the very end? Also, make sure your answer choice is supported directly by the text in the passage and is not based on your own assumptions about what the author thinks or believes. Answer B here is actually not supported by the text at all - the author never says anything about HOW a group member can guard against groupthink, but only that someone ought to work hard to identify what factors other than cohesiveness may contribute to that phenomenon.

In short, the correct answer to a Main Point question must be 1) True (based on the text) and 2) Comprehensive (covering the entire passage and hitting on the overarching idea the author wanted to convey).