Common Traps
Test makers use sneaky tricks to create wrong answers. Learn to spot these common traps so you can eliminate them quickly!
Watch Out for These Traps!
Wrong answers are not random. They are designed to trick you! Here are the most common traps:
- Too Extreme - Uses words like "always," "never," "all," or "none"
- Opposite Meaning - Says the opposite of what the passage says
- True But Wrong - True information that does not answer the question
- Almost Right - Gets most details right but has one wrong part
Practice Spotting Traps
Each question below has a trap answer. Can you spot it and choose the correct answer instead?
1. What do dogs need to be happy?
A) Only expensive toys
B) Exercise, food, and love
C) To sleep all day long
D) Nothing at all
Answer
B) - The passage says dogs need "exercise, food, and love." Choice A uses "only," which is too extreme. Choice C says "all day," which is also too extreme. Choice D says "nothing," another extreme word. Be careful of words like only, all, always, never, and nothing!
2. How long can cheetahs run fast?
A) For very long distances
B) For short distances
C) All day without stopping
D) Faster than cars on highways
Answer
B) - The passage says cheetahs "can only run fast for short distances." Choice A is an opposite trap - it says "long distances" when the passage says "short distances." Always check if an answer says the opposite of the passage!
3. When do people pick apples?
A) Apples are good for your health
B) In the fall when they are ripe
C) Trees need water to grow
D) Some people like apple pie
Answer
B) - The passage says people pick apples "in the fall when they are ripe." The other choices might be true facts, but they do not answer the question about WHEN people pick apples. This is the "true but wrong" trap!
4. What did Lily draw on the front of the card?
A) Flowers
B) Hearts
C) Stars
D) Her name
Answer
A) - The passage says Lily "drew flowers on the front." Choice D is an "almost right" trap - she did write her name, but she signed it INSIDE, not on the front. Pay attention to small details!
5. Where can adult frogs live?
A) Only in water
B) Only on land
C) Both in water and on land
D) Only in very cold places
Answer
C) - The passage says adult frogs "can live both in water and on land." Choices A and B are extreme traps using "only." The passage says BOTH, not just one! Watch out for "only" - it often makes an answer wrong.
6. How does reading every day help children?
A) It makes them forget words
B) It helps them learn new words
C) It makes school harder
D) It gives them less time to play
Answer
B) - The passage says reading "helps children learn new words." Choice A is an opposite trap - it says "forget" when the passage says "learn." Choice C is also opposite - the passage says students "do better," not that school is "harder."
7. What makes bats special compared to other mammals?
A) They sleep during the day
B) They eat insects
C) They are the only mammals that can truly fly
D) They live in caves
Answer
C) - The passage says bats are "the only mammals that can truly fly" - this is what makes them SPECIAL. Choices A and B are mentioned in the passage but do not answer what makes bats SPECIAL compared to other mammals.
8. What did Sam and his dad do FIRST?
A) Dried the car with towels
B) Used soap and sponges
C) Sprayed the car with water
D) Woke up late
Answer
C) - The passage says "First, they sprayed the car with water." Choices A and B are "almost right" traps - they are things Sam did, but not FIRST. The question asks what happened FIRST, so order matters!
9. When do students do homework?
A) All students do homework at the same time
B) No students ever do homework
C) Some do it after school, others do it later
D) Students always finish homework at midnight
Answer
C) - The passage says "Some students" do it after school and "Others" do it later. Choices A, B, and D use extreme words like "all," "no," "never," and "always." The passage uses "some" and "others" to show people are different.
10. What does water help prevent?
A) Feeling energetic
B) Feeling tired
C) Being thirsty
D) Growing taller
Answer
B) - The passage says water "keeps you from feeling tired." Choice A is an opposite trap - "energetic" is the opposite of "tired." Water PREVENTS tiredness, it does not prevent energy! Read carefully to catch opposite traps.
Remember These Traps!
- Too Extreme: Watch for always, never, all, none, only, every
- Opposite Meaning: Check if the answer says the reverse of the passage
- True But Wrong: Make sure the answer actually answers the question asked
- Almost Right: Check every detail - one wrong part makes it wrong!