SAT Reading Comprehension: Misdirection with Related Terms (Things)

In addition to misdirection using ---’s, the SAT answer choices in the Reading section frequently employ misdirection by using ideas attached to a thing or a group of things. For instance, a passage might focus on organic farming.

In this case, incorrect answer choices might include naturally-related ideas such as “organic farmers”, “the organic food industry”, and “organic farming movement”.

While all of these ideas are indeed related to organic farming, they do not properly maintain the passage's focus on organic farming itself.

PRACTICE QUESTION FOR MISDIRECTION WITH RELATED TERMS (THINGS)

Only in recent times, however, has the attempt been made to understand the intricacies of non-verbal communication, which can impart far more meaning than any word.

1. In the above lines, the author argues that
   (A) sign language is conveyed through the simplest acts
   (B) verbal communication represents a complex undertaking
   (C) the comprehension of non-verbal communication is still in an early phase
   (D) non-verbal communication has lasted longer than verbal communication
   (E) gestures have explicit meanings which people must follow

So what did you come up with? A? B? C? D? E? Let's see...

Got it? The referenced lines focus on "non-verbal communication". No matter how connected some things might be with non-verbal communication in your brain, you have to align your focus with that of the lines. So let's take a look:

   Only choice (D) properly focuses on the core idea of "nonverbal communication".

Misdirection with Related Terms

Lesson Includes:

—Overview of Reading Misdirection with Related Terms (Things)

—Practice Question for Reading Misdirection with Related Terms (Things)

SAT Math

SAT Writing

SAT Reading

SAT Vocabulary

PREVIOUS LESSON