SAT Reading Comprehension: Short Double Reading Passages

These passages are like a two-for-one special on The Lion King. You really, really don't want two copies of the movie. On the other hand, two copies does make it easier to fulfill your life-long dream of learning about the circle of life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So, yes, you really, really don't want to read both passages together. But, because they are grouped together, it does actually make your life easier. This ease happens because a double passage has to be set up in certain ways. If you know these ways, the questions become easier to answer.

First, the passages will always share the same main idea (Lesson 2).

Second, the passages are almost always set up to disagree with each other.

SHORT DOUBLE READING PASSAGES

Total Number of Passages per SAT Test: 1

Lines per Passage: 20 - 25

Questions per SAT Test: 4

% of Total Reading Questions: 8%

Most Common Subjects: Biography, Science

Common Questions: Main Idea, Attitude, Purpose, Definition, Assumption, Inference

Most Common Attitude: Like; Dislike

Most Common Purpose: To Argue For; To Argue Against

TIPS FOR SHORT DOUBLE READING PASSAGES

Tip 1
Both passages share the same main idea. Use this fact to quickly answer any main idea questions, which are usually phrased as follows: “Both passages are primarily concerned with…”. (See complete list in Lesson 2)

Tip 2
Remember that the passages are commonly set up in opposition.

If one passage dislikes a subject, then the other passage likes it (Author's Attitude Questions: Lesson 3).
If one passage argues for something, then the other passage argues against it (Primary Purpose Questions: Lesson 4).

SAT Short Double Reading Passages

Lesson Includes:

—Overview of Short Double Passages

—Short Double Passages

—Tips for Short Double Passages

SAT Math

SAT Writing

SAT Reading

SAT Vocabulary