Critical Reading--Paired Passage Strategy

The paired passage reading questions require the student to compare and contrast themes and ideas between two passages. The length of each passage will vary from a single paragraph to several paragraphs. It is important to tackle these questions with the following systematic approach:

1. Scan the questions without looking at the answer choices. Mark each question--1, 2 or B for Both;
2. Read the italics and the first passage first;
3. Answer only those questions pertaining to the first passage;
4. Read the second passage;
5. Answer only those questions pertaining to the second passage;
6. Finally answer those questions pertaining to both passages.

This approach allows the reader to focus on each passage, one at a time. It avoids the confusion of mixing up the main ideas and points of each passage.