Choosing the Best Answer
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On many tests, you have to choose the BEST answer from several choices. Sometimes more than one answer might seem right, but one is always BETTER than the others. Let's learn how to find it!
What is a Multiple Choice Question?
A multiple choice question gives you several answer options (usually A, B, C, D). Your job is to pick the BEST answer. There is usually only one correct or best choice.
Steps to Find the Best Answer
- Read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked.
- Read ALL the choices. Don't pick the first one that seems right!
- Cross out wrong answers. Get rid of choices that are clearly wrong.
- Compare the remaining choices. Which one has the best evidence?
- Check your answer. Make sure it actually answers the question.
Tricks to Spot Wrong Answers
- Too extreme: Watch out for words like "always," "never," "all," or "none." These are often wrong.
- Not in the text: If you can't find evidence for it, it's probably wrong.
- Only partly right: Some answers have a true part and a false part. These are wrong!
- Off topic: Some answers talk about something different from the question.
Test-Taking Tip
On the SAT and ACT, wrong answers are designed to trick you! They often sound good but have a small mistake. Always check each answer against the text before choosing.
Examples
Let's practice choosing the best answer.
Example 1: Using Evidence
Passage: "The rabbit hopped across the garden. It ate some carrots. Then it rested under a bush."
Question: What did the rabbit eat?
A. Lettuce B. Carrots C. Apples D. Grass
Think: The passage says "It ate some carrots."
Best Answer: B. Carrots (This is stated directly in the text.)
Example 2: Eliminating Wrong Answers
Passage: "Maria loves to read. She reads every night before bed."
Question: When does Maria read?
A. In the morning B. At school C. Before bed D. Never
Think: Cross out A (not in text), B (not in text), D (wrong - she DOES read).
Best Answer: C. Before bed (The text says "every night before bed.")
Example 3: Watching for "Always" and "Never"
Passage: "Dogs can be good pets. Many dogs are friendly and playful."
Question: What does the passage say about dogs?
A. All dogs are mean. B. Dogs can never be pets. C. Many dogs are friendly. D. All dogs are playful.
Think: A and B say "all" and "never" - too extreme. D says "all" - too extreme. C says "many" which matches the text.
Best Answer: C. Many dogs are friendly.
Example 4: The Best vs. Just Okay
Passage: "Sam was so happy. He jumped up and down and shouted for joy. He had won first place in the race!"
Question: Why was Sam happy?
A. He likes to jump. B. He won first place. C. He ran a race. D. He likes to shout.
Think: C is true but doesn't explain WHY he's happy. A and D are wrong. B gives the reason.
Best Answer: B. He won first place. (This is the REASON for his happiness.)
Example 5: Main Idea Questions
Passage: "Bees are important. They help flowers grow. Without bees, we would have less food."
Question: What is the passage mainly about?
A. Flowers are pretty. B. Why bees are important. C. Food is good. D. Bees can sting.
Think: The whole passage talks about why bees matter. A, C, and D are off topic.
Best Answer: B. Why bees are important.
Practice
Choose the best answer for each question.
Passage: "The cat climbed up the tall tree. It could not get down. Dad got a ladder to help."
Question: Why did Dad get a ladder?
A. To climb the tree for fun B. To help the cat get down C. To paint the house D. To pick apples
Show Answer
B. To help the cat get down. The passage says the cat "could not get down" and Dad got a ladder "to help."
Passage: "Winter is cold. Snow falls from the sky. People wear warm coats."
Question: What is winter like?
A. Hot B. Cold C. Rainy D. Windy
Show Answer
B. Cold. The passage says "Winter is cold."
Passage: "Fish live in water. They have fins to help them swim. Fish breathe through gills."
Question: Where do fish live?
A. In trees B. In water C. In nests D. Underground
Show Answer
B. In water. The first sentence says "Fish live in water."
Passage: "Apples grow on trees. Some apples are red. Some are green. All apples have seeds inside."
Question: What do all apples have?
A. Red skin B. Green skin C. Seeds inside D. Spots
Show Answer
C. Seeds inside. The passage says "All apples have seeds inside."
Passage: "Lily was scared of the dark. She slept with a night light on."
Question: Why did Lily sleep with a night light?
A. She liked the color. B. She was scared of the dark. C. She wanted to read. D. Her mom told her to.
Show Answer
B. She was scared of the dark. The passage tells us this directly.
Passage: "Birds build nests. They use twigs, grass, and leaves. Baby birds are born in nests."
Question: What do birds use to build nests?
A. Rocks and sand B. Twigs, grass, and leaves C. Paper and glue D. Nothing
Show Answer
B. Twigs, grass, and leaves. This is stated in the second sentence.
Passage: "The school bus comes at 8:00 AM. Children wait at the bus stop. The bus takes them to school."
Question: When does the school bus come?
A. 7:00 AM B. 8:00 AM C. 9:00 AM D. 10:00 AM
Show Answer
B. 8:00 AM. The passage says "The school bus comes at 8:00 AM."
Passage: "Plants need sunlight to grow. They also need water and soil. Without these things, plants cannot live."
Question: What is the passage mainly about?
A. How to water plants B. What plants need to grow C. Types of soil D. The sun is bright
Show Answer
B. What plants need to grow. The whole passage lists things plants need: sunlight, water, and soil.
Passage: "Max has a pet hamster. The hamster's name is Fluffy. Max feeds Fluffy every day."
Question: What kind of pet does Max have?
A. A dog B. A cat C. A hamster D. A fish
Show Answer
C. A hamster. The passage says "Max has a pet hamster."
Passage: "The library is quiet. People read books there. You must whisper inside."
Question: What must you do in the library?
A. Yell loudly B. Run around C. Whisper D. Sleep
Show Answer
C. Whisper. The passage says "You must whisper inside."
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: Why should you read ALL the answer choices before picking one?
Show Answer
Because there might be a better answer than the first one you see! Sometimes the best answer is B, C, or D. If you pick too quickly, you might miss it.
Question 2: What should you do with answers you know are wrong?
Show Answer
Cross them out! This helps you focus on the remaining choices and makes it easier to find the best answer.
Question 3: Why are answers with "always," "never," or "all" often wrong?
Show Answer
Because these words are too extreme. Very few things are ALWAYS or NEVER true. The correct answer is usually more careful, using words like "some," "many," or "often."
Question 4: How do you know an answer is the BEST answer?
Show Answer
The best answer: 1) Answers the question that was asked, 2) Has evidence in the text to support it, 3) Is completely true (not just partly true), and 4) Is better than all the other choices.
Next Steps
- Practice crossing out: When you take tests, cross out wrong answers with your pencil. It helps!
- Check your work: After choosing an answer, go back to the text one more time to make sure it's right.
- Keep learning: You have completed the Choose Best Reason unit! Continue building your test-taking skills with diagrams and word problems.