PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) Reading and Craft & Structure Syllabus

On the PSAT, why must tone answers be supported by textual evidence rather than gut feeling?

Each correct answer must be defensible from specific words or phrases in the passage; choices that overstate or misread the language are wrong even if they "feel" right.

What is the difference between a "measured"/"cautious" tone and an "enthusiastic" tone?

A measured tone is restrained, careful, and qualified (using hedges like "may," "perhaps"); an enthusiastic tone is eager and strongly positive.

Why are extreme tone words (e.g., "furious," "contemptuous," "ecstatic") usually wrong on the PSAT?

Academic passages rarely use extreme emotion; the test favors moderate, qualified tone words that match the passage's restrained register.

What does "overall structure of a text" refer to?

The way a passage is organized, that is, the arrangement and relationship of its parts (such as problem-solution, cause-effect, or general-to-specific).

Describe the "problem-solution" text structure.

The text first presents a problem or challenge, then proposes or describes one or more solutions to it.

Describe the "compare-and-contrast" text structure.

The text examines similarities and differences between two or more subjects, ideas, or perspectives.

What is a "chronological" or "sequential" text structure?

Information is organized in time order, presenting events or steps in the sequence they occur.

What is the "general-to-specific" structure?

The text opens with a broad statement or claim and then narrows to particular examples, details, or evidence.

In a "claim-then-counterclaim" structure, what does the author typically do?

State a position, then present an opposing view (counterclaim), often before rebutting it or qualifying the original claim.

When asked how a passage is structured, what should you track as you read?

The function of each paragraph or section and how ideas shift, that is, where the author moves from claim to evidence, problem to solution, or example to generalization.

What is the "main purpose" of a passage?

The author's primary reason for writing, that is, what the text as a whole is mainly trying to do (e.g., explain, argue, describe, or persuade).

How does the main purpose differ from the main idea of a passage?

The main idea is what the passage says (its central point); the main purpose is why the author wrote it (the author's goal or intended effect).

On main-purpose questions, why should a correct answer reflect the whole passage rather than one paragraph?

The main purpose covers the entire text, so a choice describing only a single detail or section is too narrow and incorrect.

What verbs often begin correct main-purpose answer choices, and what do they signal?

Verbs like "explain," "argue," "describe," "compare," "illustrate," and "propose" signal the author's overall intent; matching the right verb to the passage's goal is key.

Why are main-purpose choices that are too broad (e.g., "to discuss science") usually wrong?

They fail to capture the passage's specific focus; the correct answer must be precise enough to fit this particular text, not any text on the topic.

What does it mean to identify the "function" of a specific sentence or phrase?

To determine the role that sentence or phrase plays in the passage, that is, how it contributes to the author's argument or structure (e.g., introduces a counterexample, provides evidence, qualifies a claim).

Name three common functions a single sentence might serve in a passage.

Examples: to introduce/support a claim with evidence, to provide a transition between ideas, to offer a counterexample or qualification, or to illustrate a point with a specific case.

When answering a function question, why is the sentence's surrounding context essential?

A sentence's purpose is defined by its relationship to the sentences before and after it, so you must read around it to see what role it plays in the larger argument.

How does a "function" question differ from a "meaning" question about the same sentence?

A meaning question asks what the sentence says; a function question asks what the sentence does (its rhetorical job) within the passage.

What is the function of a sentence that begins with "For example" or "For instance"?

To illustrate or provide specific evidence supporting a preceding general claim.

What is the function of a rhetorical question within an argumentative passage?

To engage the reader, emphasize a point, or prompt reflection rather than to seek a literal answer.

When comparing two related short passages on the PSAT, what should you identify first about each?

Each author's main claim or central position, so you can compare what they actually argue.

In paired-passage questions, what are the most common relationships between the two texts?

They may agree, disagree, partially overlap, address the same topic from different angles, or have one extend/qualify/challenge the other.

How should you answer a question asking how the author of Passage 2 would likely respond to a point in Passage 1?

Find Passage 2's stance on that specific point, then infer a response consistent with that author's documented position, supported by text from Passage 2.

When two paired passages discuss the same topic, why is it a mistake to assume they fully disagree?

Authors may share common ground while differing on specifics; correct answers reflect the precise degree of agreement or disagreement shown in the texts, not an assumed total conflict.

What does it mean to "synthesize" two authors' viewpoints?

To combine and compare the authors' positions to identify points of agreement, disagreement, or how one perspective informs or complicates the other.

In a synthesis question, what makes an answer choice wrong even if it is true of one passage?

It must accurately reflect both passages' viewpoints; a choice true for only one author, or that misstates either author's position, is incorrect.

When synthesizing viewpoints, how do you find shared ground between two authors who seem to disagree?

Look for an underlying assumption, fact, or goal both accept, even while they differ on interpretation, method, or conclusion.

What is an author's "stance" (or perspective) in a text?

The author's position, attitude, or point of view toward the subject, that is, where the author stands on the issue and how strongly.

How can you detect an author's stance when it is not stated directly?

Infer it from word choice, connotation, which evidence is emphasized, and how opposing views are treated, then confirm the inference with specific textual support.