Big Picture Strategy - Find The Dichotomy

FIND THE DICHOTOMY

Big Picture questions are about one aspect or another of a conflict or contrast between two theories, beliefs, opinions, versions of events or agendas. In the following sample passage, you will find a newspaper columnist's opinion piece about a young woman from Yemen. Then a brief commentary follows. Reading both pieces of writing see if you can identify the essential dichotomy.

Divorced Before Puberty

It’s hard to imagine that there have been many younger divorcées — or braver ones — than a pint-size third grader named Nujood Ali.

Nujood is a Yemeni girl, and it’s no coincidence that Yemen abounds both in child brides and in terrorists (and now, thanks to Nujood, children who have been divorced). Societies that repress women tend to be prone to violence.

For Nujood, the nightmare began at age 10 when her family told her that she would be marrying a deliveryman in his 30s. Although Nujood’s mother was unhappy, she did not protest. “In our country it’s the men who give the orders, and the women who follow them,” Nujood writes in a powerful new autobiography just published in the United States this week, “I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.”

Her new husband forced her to drop out of school (she was in the second grade) because a married woman shouldn’t be a student. At her wedding, Nujood sat in the corner, her face swollen from crying.

Nujood’s father asked the husband not to touch her until a year after she had had her first menstrual period. But as soon as they were married, she writes, her husband forced himself on her.

He soon began to beat her as well, the memoir says, and her new mother-in-law offered no sympathy. “Hit her even harder,” the mother-in-law would tell her son.

Nujood had heard that judges could grant divorces, so one day she sneaked away, jumped into a taxi and asked to go to the courthouse.

“I want to talk to the judge,” the book quotes Nujood as forlornly telling a woman in the courthouse.

“Which judge are you looking for?”

“I just want to speak to a judge, that’s all.”

“But there are lots of judges in this courthouse.”

“Take me to a judge — it doesn’t matter which one!”

When she finally encountered a judge, Nujood declared firmly: “I want a divorce!”

Yemeni journalists turned Nujood into a cause célèbre, and she eventually won her divorce. The publicity inspired others, including an 8-year-old Saudi girl married to a man in his 50s, to seek annulments and divorces.

As a pioneer, Nujood came to the United States and was honored in 2008 as one of Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year.” Indeed, Nujood is probably the only third grader whom Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described as “one of the greatest women I have ever seen.”

Nujood’s memoir spent five weeks as the No. 1 best-seller in France. It is being published in 18 other languages, including her own native language of Arabic.

I asked Nujood, now 12, what she thought of her life as a best-selling author. She said the foreign editions didn’t matter much to her, but she was looking forward to seeing it in Arabic. Since her divorce, she has returned to school and to her own family, which she is supporting with her book royalties.

At first, Nujood’s brothers criticized her for shaming the family. But now that Nujood is the main breadwinner, everybody sees things a bit differently. “They’re very nice to her now,” said Khadija al-Salami, a filmmaker who mentors Nujood and who translated for me. “They treat her like a queen.”

Yemen is one of my favorite countries, with glorious architecture and enormously hospitable people. Yet Yemen appears to be a time bomb. It is a hothouse for Al Qaeda and also faces an on-and-off war in the north and a secessionist movement in the south. It’s no coincidence that Yemen is also ranked dead last in the World Economic Forum’s global gender gap index.

There are a couple of reasons countries that marginalize women often end up unstable.

First, those countries usually have very high birth rates, and that means a youth bulge in the population. One of the factors that most correlates to social conflict is the proportion of young men ages 15 to 24.

Second, those countries also tend to practice polygamy and have higher death rates for girls. That means fewer marriageable women — and more frustrated bachelors to be recruited by extremists.

So educating Nujood and giving her a chance to become a lawyer — her dream — isn’t just a matter of fairness. It’s also a way to help tame the entire country.

Consider Bangladesh. After it split off from Pakistan, Bangladesh began to educate girls in a way that Pakistan has never done. The educated women staffed an emerging garment industry and civil society, and those educated women are one reason Bangladesh is today far more stable than Pakistan.

The United States last month announced $150 million in military assistance for Yemen to fight extremists. In contrast, it costs just $50 to send a girl to public school for a year — and little girls like Nujood may prove more effective than missiles at defeating terrorists.

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COMMENTARY – “Divorce Before Puberty”: Separating Objectivity From Agenda

Nujood Ali’s story as related by Nicholas Kristof is both a testament to the courage of a ten year old girl who freed herself from an abusive arranged marriage and an agenda larger than Nujood’s personal courage and initiative.

Kristof uses the emotional power of Nujood’s story to justify his argument that relates the generalized experience of women to the causes of terrorism. This definitely is a laudable argument worth exploring. But his argument is weakened by unsubstantiated assertions. After the success of Nujood’s book, her brothers treat her much better, Kristof tells us. They had criticized her for “shaming the family” by getting her famous divorce. We can infer that improvements in the family’s standard of living derived from royalties paid to Nujood for her book helped mute the brothers’ criticism of her.

Nujood’s brothers’ criticism allows Kristof to open the subject of the deficiencies of male- dominated Yemeni society. But then, instead of discussing Yemen, he asserts that unidentified “countries” are “unstable” because they marginalize women. He continues to veer from verifiable supporting evidence, stating women have “higher death rates...in those countries.”

The linchpin of Kristof’s argument, that young men in “those countries” are “frustrated” and thus join extremist terrorist organizations, is based on unsupported evidence. What are those countries? He does give one example. Women allowed to become educated in Bangladesh have helped stabilize their country. But Kristof does not allow readers to judge for themselves how educated women in “those countries” he does not identify could stabilize them.

Instead of sensationalizing his argument—“little girls like Nujood may prove more effective than missiles at defeating terrorists”—Kristof could have better convinced readers by providing further objective evidence. Most readers already agree with his agenda. Terrorism needs to be defeated. But readers should be allowed to decide for ourselves instead of having our emotions predominantly appealed to.

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What's the dichotomy? Or dichotomies?

Evaluate Your Wrong Answers

Evaluate: why, exactly, did you choose wrong answers?

What steps did you not take to verify your answer choice?

Was something confusing in the question stem, answer or passage?
What confused  you?

Were two answers close to being correct, but you ended up choosing the wrong one?

Most of your VR test-taking practice sessions should be untimed—about 80% of them, in fact. 

Without the time pressure you can take as much time as you need to practice. Then, too, you can with minimal stress work out strategies that will enable you to choose correct answers.

You will discover helpful and/or distracting patterns in the relationships between questions and passages that  you can use to solve future VR questions. 

Learn to quickly recognize the difference between "Fact-Finding" (“Detail”) questions and “Big Picture” questions.

Learn what steps you need to take to choose correct answers to both types of questions. 

Go back to the passage enough to make sure you accurately understand the facts therein as well as its logical organization.   

MCAT VERBAL REASONING DISTRACTORS

Avoid these traps by reading attentively and carefully enough; when in doubt check the passage, question stem and answer choices until you are satisfied you have avoided the trap of The Distractors.

1. Words Out of Context

Definition: Uses the vocabulary from a passage in a distorted or different context. The Words-Out-Of-Context Distractor is Designed to trap test-takers who don’t go back to the passage at all(!) to confirm their answer choice. Other test-takers who fall for this trap didn’t reread the relevant parts of the passage carefully enough.

2. Half Right/Half Wrong

Definition: These wrong answers are "bait and switch" answers. The Half Right portion of these Distractors are exactly what you are looking for. But the Half Wrong portion of these answers are not supported by the passage. This is a trap set for people who make up their minds before they read all the answer choices. Other test-takers may try to "rehabilitate" an answer because of the portion that sounded good to them. Make sure an answer is COMPLETELY correct before you choose it.

3. Added of Subtracted Negatives

Definition: These Distractors include a phrase, sentence or idea taken directly from the passage. But then they add or remove a crucial "not" or "un-." These answers therefore sound almost exactly like the passage, but in fact directly contradict it.

4. Reversals & MixUps

Definition: This Distractor type extracts the words from a passage that almost exactly describes a relationship the question asks about. But a Reversal Distractor can trap you into choosing it (if you aren’t paying enough attention) by flipping a cause and effect sequence or mixing up the order of events in a chronology. The words look okay but they have been reversed.

5. Garbled Language

Definition:  This Distractor gives you some familiar words. But the order of them is difficult or impossible to understand. The Verbal Reasoning test writers hope you will pick this Distractor because while it is confusing, it seems to include the right words (even duplicates of words in the passage) and thus it must be correct. When you see garbled language, do not automatically eliminate it. But don't automatically pick it either. Use Process of Elimination quickly and carefully.

6. Right Answer/Wrong Question

Definition:  These Distractors are statements that are in fact directly supported by the passage. But they aren't relevant to the question being asked. Make sure you understand what the question is asking, ever if you have to reread it. Choose the answer that answers the question, even if it does not have words from the passage in it.

7. Absolutes

Definition: These Distractors include language that is almost like language in the passage. But these Distractor answers also include words like: none, always, never, or only that absolutely distort the passage’s meaning. 

8. Superlatives

Definition:  A Superlative Word relates to or is an extreme degree of comparison. A superlative Distractor includes words like first, last, best, most, worst, least, or primary. For instance, it may describe a theory as the first or the best theory, but the author simply says that it's an important theory. Superlative Distractors are more extreme that what the passage says about the same thing.

9. Moral Judgments and Recommendations

Definition: These Distractors judge whether something is good or bad. But in the passage the author mentioned the same something in a neutral tone. Or, this Distractor answer choice could assert that a certain proposal should be implemented or rejected. But in the passage, the author merely described that proposal without saying anything should be done about it.

10. Not Strong Enough

Definition: You’ll always find this Distractor attached to Strengthen/Weaken questions. Instead of being too extreme (like Absolutes, #9) Not Strong Enoughs are too wishy-washy to significantly Strengthen or Weaken a passage author's argument. Don’t fall into this trap. Make sure you compare answers to each other. On Strengthen/Weaken questions, you want the choice that goes farthest in the right direction.

11. Not the Issue

Definition: This Distractor brings in ideas or facts that are not discussed in the passage. Use Process of Elimination to eliminate these on your first read-through of the question and associated answer choices.

12. Outside Knowledge

Definition: This Distractor is a statement that is true based on your own knowledge. But, if you look carefully enough, you won’t find it supported in the passage.

13. Crystal Ball

Definition: This Distractor predicts the future as in stating possible outcomes or suggesting investigation that needs to be done (but the passage doesn't). Or this Distractor includes information beyond the timeframe of the passage.

14. No Such Comparison

Definition: This incorrect Distractor takes something mentioned in the passage and compares it to something else that is not mentioned in the passage. Or, it may take two things that are mentioned by the author and compare them in a way that is not supported by the passage.

15. Too Narrow/Too Broad

Definition: You will find the "Too Narrow" Distractor in Big Picture questions. Too Narrow Distractors contain only part of the passage author's argument. But make sure you match what the question is asking with the passage author’s argument. Keep in mind however that correct answers to some Inference questions can be related to pretty narrow portions or the passage. On the other hand, “Too Broad” Distractors overgeneralize and are not supported by facts or ideas in the passage.

  

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Practice Tests: Timing is Everything (20% of the Time)

What about the other 20% of the time when you do time yourself on practice tests? Keeping track of time will help you internalize a sense of how long you are spending on each of the tasks you need to complete to choose a correct answer for each question.

On the real test it will be okay to take 3-5 minutes on a few of the more difficult questions—you may want, if you get really frustrated on a really difficult one, to quit and go back to it.

No In-Between

Either thoroughly work on each question you attempt or just take blind guesses.  Don’t do a “half-hearted” job. You will easily be deceived that way and fall for “Distractors.”

Last Minute Guessing Tactics:

If you are down to the last five minutes and still have an entire passage/question sets you haven’t even started yet: 
DON’T READ THE PASSAGE. Go right to the Question/Answer set and look for Fact-Finding “Detail” questions. Then go back to the passage, find those facts and use them to choose the correct answer. Perhaps one more answer you get right by choosing a correct fact could make the difference between an 11 and a 12! Use this last resort method of answer choosing ONLY when you have less than five minutes to go before time runs out.

REMEMBER: You are not penalized for guessing on the MCAT VR. 

But at all other times, be time aware. Work thoroughly and carefully to maximize your tally of correct answers and raise your score.

Consider: The person who carefully works through only 4-5 out of 6-7 passages will get a better score than a person who half-heartedly works on all the passages. 

MCAT Verbal Reasoning Distractors

Avoid these traps by reading attentively and carefully enough; when in doubt check the passage, question stem and answer choices until you are satisfied you have avoided the trap of The Distractors.

1. Words Out of Context

Definition: Uses the vocabulary from a passage in a distorted or different context. The Words-Out-Of-Context Distractor is Designed to trap test-takers who don’t go back to the passage at all(!) to confirm their answer choice. Other test-takers who fall for this trap didn’t reread the relevant parts of the passage carefully enough.

2. Half Right/Half Wrong

Definition: These wrong answers are "bait and switch" answers. The Half Right portion of these Distractors are exactly what you are looking for. But the Half Wrong portion of these answers are not supported by the passage. This is a trap set for people who make up their minds before they read all the answer choices. Other test-takers may try to "rehabilitate" an answer because of the portion that sounded good to them. Make sure an answer is COMPLETELY correct before you choose it.

3. Added of Subtracted Negatives

Definition: These Distractors include a phrase, sentence or idea taken directly from the passage. But then they add or remove a crucial "not" or "un-." These answers therefore sound almost exactly like the passage, but in fact directly contradict it.

4. Reversals & MixUps

Definition: This Distractor type extracts the words from a passage that almost exactly describes a relationship the question asks about. But a Reversal Distractor can trap you into choosing it (if you aren’t paying enough attention) by flipping a cause and effect sequence or mixing up the order of events in a chronology. The words look okay but they have been reversed.

5. Garbled Language

Definition:  This Distractor gives you some familiar words. But the order of them is difficult or impossible to understand. The Verbal Reasoning test writers hope you will pick this Distractor because while it is confusing, it seems to include the right words (even duplicates of words in the passage) and thus it must be correct. When you see garbled language, do not automatically eliminate it. But don't automatically pick it either. Use Process of Elimination quickly and carefully.

6. Right Answer/Wrong Question

Definition:  These Distractors are statements that are in fact directly supported by the passage. But they aren't relevant to the question being asked. Make sure you understand what the question is asking, ever if you have to reread it. Choose the answer that answers the question, even if it does not have words from the passage in it.

7. Absolutes

Definition: These Distractors include language that is almost like language in the passage. But these Distractor answers also include words like: none, always, never, or only that absolutely distort the passage’s meaning. 

8. Superlatives

Definition:  A Superlative Word relates to or is an extreme degree of comparison. A superlative Distractor includes words like first, last, best, most, worst, least, or primary. For instance, it may describe a theory as the first or the best theory, but the author simply says that it's an important theory. Superlative Distractors are more extreme that what the passage says about the same thing.

9. Moral Judgments and Recommendations

Definition: These Distractors judge whether something is good or bad. But in the passage the author mentioned the same something in a neutral tone. Or, this Distractor answer choice could assert that a certain proposal should be implemented or rejected. But in the passage, the author merely described that proposal without saying anything should be done about it.

10. Not Strong Enough

Definition: You’ll always find this Distractor attached to Strengthen/Weaken questions. Instead of being too extreme (like Absolutes, #9) Not Strong Enoughs are too wishy-washy to significantly Strengthen or Weaken a passage author's argument. Don’t fall into this trap. Make sure you compare answers to each other. On Strengthen/Weaken questions, you want the choice that goes farthest in the right direction.

11. Not the Issue

Definition: This Distractor brings in ideas or facts that are not discussed in the passage. Use Process of Elimination to eliminate these on your first read-through of the question and associated answer choices.

12. Outside Knowledge

Definition: This Distractor is a statement that is true based on your own knowledge. But, if you look carefully enough, you won’t find it supported in the passage.

13. Crystal Ball

Definition: This Distractor predicts the future as in stating possible outcomes or suggesting investigation that needs to be done (but the passage doesn't). Or this Distractor includes information beyond the timeframe of the passage.

14. No Such Comparison

Definition: This incorrect Distractor takes something mentioned in the passage and compares it to something else that is not mentioned in the passage. Or, it may take two things that are mentioned by the author and compare them in a way that is not supported by the passage.

15. Too Narrow/Too Broad

Definition: You will find the "Too Narrow" Distractor in Big Picture questions. Too Narrow Distractors contain only part of the passage author's argument. But make sure you match what the question is asking with the passage author’s argument. Keep in mind however that correct answers to some Inference questions can be related to pretty narrow portions or the passage. On the other hand, “Too Broad” Distractors overgeneralize and are not supported by facts or ideas in the passage.

  

More VR Reading Tips and Tactics

Become a carefully aggressive reader. Use your Big Picture and Fact-Finding skills.
You can use these tools too:

Do Not Read The Questions First

People who read the questions before they read the passage may feel like they will be able to zero in on facts in the passage for detail questions. But most detail questions are so specific that unless you are focusing on the question and the context it provides in real time (instead of trying to remember it), you find it difficult to locate it in the passage. Reading all the questions beforehand, probably that will cause you to lose focus when it comes to reading the passage. Probably, reading the questions first would be a waste of time.

UNLESS, you are down to the last five minutes of the test. Then read the questions first. Then go directly to and skim the passage trying to find the facts you need.  If you find a fact, using this go-for-broke method, do the best you can to verify it is what the question is asking for by reviewing the context (a few lines previous and that come afterward in the passage) where you found the fact.

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Take a friendly approach to reading your MCAT VR passages, like you were reading a fascinating but challenging magazine article. You don’t have to attack and tear it apart looking for facts. Skim the facts, don’t get bogged down in them and step back—look for the Big Picture.   

In other words, approach the MCAT VR passages on their terms. Don’t begin reading judgmentally with preconceptions filtering your understanding of what the passage author is saying.

Stamina

The MCAT is a long, intense test. Your brain won’t always be performing at optimum levels. Take little breaks when you feel your concentration start to waver. Yawn and breath deep a few times when you thinking starts to get a little foggy. You’ll have to be sitting for a very long time. Stretch and flex your arms. Don’t be obvious about it. But do these things periodically and get oxygen flowing again and your attention focused again.