January 2010 Critical Reading

[fledgling]

<p>

The passage does say the dad wanted to make it a trip without a motel stop, but it was just wishful thinking - they did end up staying at a motel no? So it’s not right to cross off cheaper motel.

</p>

<p>Well, the way I answered the questions was that I would answer each one as I went along. At the time that I answered the question, I didn’t even know that the dad and the son would eventually stop at a motel. And it seemed that the father was pretty dead set on avoiding motels in the first place, because he was going around trying to pick people up. </p>

<p>

Also, iirc, you mentioned there being a need for something to be explicitly mentioned in the text for it to be a valid reasoning. But really, explicit is kind of a subjective term. For example, for a lot of people, including me, it was pretty explicit (obvious and unequivocal) that the list only contained matters dealing with saving money. Just because you failed to understand something, it doesnt meant its implicit - maybe a level of more acute reading is required to understand its meaning.

</p>

<p>I think I remember the three items now. The passage said, “There were other, less sentimental reasons for choosing to take the back roads: fewer toll booths, cheaper gas, and (something about shopping).” It was mainly the fact that the dad didn’t even consider motels in the first place, coupled with the fact that “fewer toll booths” were listed among the three things, that I eventually chose “faster travel” as my answer. After all, if there are fewer toll booths, you’ll be guaranteed not to make as many stops.</p>

<p>I don’t think I’m alone in this matter - there are a few other users on these forums who stated that they also chose “faster travel” as an answer. We could very well be wrong, and I don’t mind admitting it since my goal was just to get around a 2250 on this SAT (and thus can live with making a few mistakes), but I’m just putting out our argument for why we chose “faster travel” instead of “inexpensive motels”.</p>

[obssesssed]

<p><quote: well,=“” the=“” way=“” i=“” answered=“” questions=“” was=“” that=“” would=“” answer=“” each=“” one=“” as=“” went=“” along.=“” at=“” time=“” question,=“” didn’t=“” even=“” know=“” dad=“” and=“” son=“” eventually=“” stop=“” a=“” motel.=“” it=“” seemed=“” father=“” pretty=“” dead=“” set=“” on=“” avoiding=“” motels=“” in=“” first=“” place,=“” because=“” he=“” going=“” around=“” trying=“” to=“” pick=“” people=“” up.=“”></quote:></p>

<p>Ah, I see your point. Though as the passage progressed it seemed less and less likely that they wouldnt stop</p>

<p><Quote:
I think I remember the three items now. The passage said, “There were other, less sentimental reasons for choosing to take the back roads: fewer toll booths, cheaper gas, and (something about shopping).” It was mainly the fact that the dad didn’t even consider motels in the first place, coupled with the fact that “fewer toll booths” were listed among the three things, that I eventually chose “faster travel” as my answer. After all, if there are fewer toll booths, you’ll be guaranteed not to make as many stops.</p>

<p>I don’t think I’m alone in this matter - there are a few other users on these forums who stated that they also chose “faster travel” as an answer. We could very well be wrong, and I don’t mind admitting it since my goal was just to get around a 2250 on this SAT (and thus can live with making a few mistakes), but I’m just putting out our argument for why we chose “faster travel” instead of “inexpensive motels”.></p>

<p>In the grand scheme of things, delays from toll booth stops are completely negligible, so the only possible reason for it being there imo is money related. Also, didn’t other people suggest that you will actually go faster on the highway? </p>

<p>I am not saying that it is completely wrong to pick faster travel. It is a completely valid thought process that leads to your conclusion. However, as with all multiple choice questions, the correct answer must be the “best” answer choice, even if many choices can still be conceived “correct”.</p>

<p>Do you really really really think that faster travel is a more logical, better supported, better fitting answer of the two?</p>

[fledgling]

<p>

In the grand scheme of things, delays from toll booth stops are completely negligible, so the only possible reason for it being there imo is money related. Also, didn’t other people suggest that you will actually go faster on the highway?</p>

<p>I am not saying that it is completely wrong to pick faster travel. It is a completely valid thought process that leads to your conclusion. However, as with all multiple choice questions, the correct answer must be the “best” answer choice, even if many choices can still be conceived “correct”.</p>

<p>Do you really really really think that faster travel is a more logical, better supported, better fitting answer of the two?

</p>

<p>I’m having trouble remembering where it said that the highway would be faster. Or maybe I just completely missed it when I was reading the passage. Other people have argued that the fact that there was the cards vs. cars analogy shows that they were going slower than the cars on the highway, but I’m still struggling to see how they came to this conclusion. That analogy only shows that the other cars were going fast, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they themselves were going slower. </p>

<p>But perhaps you’re right about the interstate being faster than the back roads… the thing is, although my location says “Metro Detroit”, I only just moved to the U.S. this past summer, and I didn’t realize this due to the relatively short period of time I’ve been in this country. It doesn’t help that my family doesn’t make a lot of road trips either :)</p>

<p>I’m not sure… I had it narrowed down to “inexpensive motels” and “faster travel”, but I couldn’t see anything that said that the motel they finally stayed in was inexpensive, whereas for “faster travel”, there was that thing about the toll booths, and - now my memory’s starting to come back - the analogy comparing the father to a cowboy gave off a “wild” connotation, and I instantly got the impression that they were driving pretty quickly… but that’s probably reading into the passage too much. </p>

<p>My biggest question is still how the father would have considered “inexpensive motels” a reason for choosing the back roads if he wasn’t even considering them at all. Then again, as I said, I can very well be wrong, but I’m just saying that I still have doubts about the “inexpensive motels” answer…</p>

[mrjayy73]

<p>for SAT, you do not interpret. what you are doing there is deep interpretation, in terms on SAT questions. the obvious answer, that is stated clearly with the father’s apparent wish to save money (such as on toll) goes with the wish of inexpensive motels</p>

[lambchop375]

<p>I seem to remember one in the later sections of cr, so definitely not experimental, about this book like something THERMOMETER BOOK
it was a vocab question…
it described the book as mundane, saying it misled readers to believe the story would be:
some of the answers were: ____ stimulating trifling _____ historical</p>

[fledgling]

<p>

for SAT, you do not interpret. what you are doing there is deep interpretation, in terms on SAT questions. the obvious answer, that is stated clearly with the father’s apparent wish to save money (such as on toll) goes with the wish of inexpensive motels

</p>

<p>Alright, I’ll just leave it at that then. I have no trouble accepting my mistakes. My biggest question regarding that answer still has yet to be answered though…</p>

[quarterportion1594]

<p>because the question was which answer would fit most appropriately with the list the author gives…not the father</p>

[fledgling]

<p>^ Really? I remember clearly that the passage said, “…reasons for choosing to take the back roads” before going on to list the three things, and I wasn’t sure if I should go completely out of context to answer the question. But as I said, I’m going to accept that this was a mistake on my part, even if I still have my doubts.</p>

[InvisibleMonster]

<p>^ Fledgling, you do realize that you have been arguing about the inexpensive motels/faster travel question for like 4 days now ? haha. :)</p>

[fledgling]

<p>I’m not sure if it was 4 days, but I was definitely in a pretty argumentative mood I’ll say. :D</p>

[InvisibleMonster]

<p>Lol, what do you predict your CR score will be?</p>

[fledgling]

<p>Hmm. Assuming the whole consolidated list is correct I’m looking at 5 wrongs on CR (2 of which are definitely wrong so I won’t dispute those). That would be about a 740-750 I think… and that’s still a really good score, so I have no problem admitting that I was wrong if you guys are right and I was just reading too much into the passage. :)</p>

[InvisibleMonster]

<p>Nice. Assuming the list is 100% correct, I may have an 800 :o I definitely missed 2, so hopefully I’m recalling all my answers correctly and the list is totally correct How are your other sections looking?</p>

[mrjayy73]

<p>“The question from the old man was to emphasize one of the author’s points”</p>

<p>this answer on the consolidated list is wrong.
the correct answer should be it emphasizes the lack of destination for the tunisian man</p>

[fledgling]

<p>Well, all my answers for Math match the consolidated list, so unless I screwed up on some other question I’m looking at an 800 there. And so far from the answers on the Writing thread, I’ve only missed one question (the “had swum” one), and my essay completely filled up both pages and included examples from current events and The Great Gatsby. If I got a 10 on the essay, my Writing score would be either a 790 or 800 depending on the curve. </p>

<p>My goal was actually just to get a 2250, so I’m very pleased with how this turned out overall. Sorry if I annoyed any of you guys through all my arguing; I was only stating why I picked the answer I did, and if I’m wrong I’m still in pretty good shape. :D</p>

[InvisibleMonster]

<p>“I was only stating”</p>

<p>“Stating” I don’t think is the right word xP haha Well, good luck! I was also aiming for a 2250. Since I only missed one question on the math on that list and I was very certain about all of the Writing and MC and my essay, I think 2300+ is quite possible. :D</p>

[fledgling]

<p>

“Stating” I don’t think is the right word xP haha

</p>

<p>Gulp. Sounds like I really might have annoyed quite a few people after all. Again, sorry guys! I really only meant to state my opinion but it seems that it came out a lot stronger than I intended it to.</p>

<p>InvisibleMonster, good luck on that 2300+! It would be awesome if we could not only meet but exceed our own goals, lol</p>

[InvisibleMonster]

<p>You were not annoying. We always can use people to challenge what we think we may know. :)</p>

[KellyNguyen]

<p>In one of the SC question, the question which you choose ‘progenitor/exploit’, do you remember the second word in the choice which have ‘pioneer’ first? Because I remember I was attracted by ‘pioneer’ but I don’t remember whether i discard it later or not. Thank you in advance</p>

[quarterportion1594]

<p>i think the answer to the “incomplete” question could be amusing. I dont know about you guys, but I think in order for the answer to be “incomplete,” there would have to be no hint of anything but straightforward tone. I know maybe it is right, because he lists other reasons which may make you want to say imcomplete. But, I think in context with that paragraph, the author found it funny that his father’s reason for taking the back roads wasn’t exactly “incomplete” but rather funny in an exaggerated way, referring to the “end of the world” reasons why the highways are bad which is pretty funny if you ask me. i don’t even know if his fathers reason would qualify as a real reason, which made me choose “Amusing”</p>