Grade: Grade 3 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Eliminate Wrong Answers SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Practice Elimination

Now it's time to practice! In this lesson, you'll learn how to cross out wrong answers step by step. This skill will help you pick the right answer on tests!

Remember the Steps

Crossing Out Wrong Answers Makes Tests Easier!

When you eliminate answers that can't be right, you have fewer choices to pick from. This helps you find the correct answer!

The Elimination Steps:

1 Read carefully - Read the passage and question first
2 Look at each answer - Check every choice one by one
3 Cross out wrong ones - If an answer is clearly wrong, eliminate it!
4 Choose from what's left - Pick the best answer from remaining choices
Test-Taking Tip: On a real test, you can lightly cross out wrong answers with your pencil. This helps you focus on the answers that might be correct!

Guided Practice

Let's practice together! Click the "X" button to cross out answers you think are wrong.

Guided Example 1

Read the Passage:

Dolphins are amazing sea animals. They are mammals, not fish. This means they breathe air and feed their babies milk. Dolphins are very smart and can learn tricks. They live in groups called pods and talk to each other using clicks and whistles.

What kind of animal is a dolphin?
A. A fish that lives in the ocean
B. A mammal that breathes air
C. A bird that swims
D. A reptile that lives on land
Think About It:
  • Choice A: The passage says dolphins are NOT fish. Cross it out!
  • Choice B: The passage says dolphins ARE mammals and breathe air. Keep this one!
  • Choice C: The passage never mentions birds. Cross it out!
  • Choice D: Dolphins live in water, not on land. Cross it out!

Guided Example 2

Read the Passage:

The sun rose over the farm. Farmer Dan woke up early to feed the chickens. The chickens were hungry and ran to him when they saw the food. After feeding them, Farmer Dan collected 12 eggs from the henhouse.

What did Farmer Dan do first thing in the morning?
A. He collected eggs from the henhouse
B. He went back to sleep
C. He fed the chickens
D. He drove his tractor
Think About It:
  • Choice A: He collected eggs AFTER feeding the chickens, not first.
  • Choice B: The passage says he woke up early - he didn't go back to sleep!
  • Choice C: Yes! Right after waking up, he fed the chickens.
  • Choice D: The passage never mentions a tractor at all.

Independent Practice

Now try on your own! Use the elimination strategy to find the correct answers.

Your Progress

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Practice Question 1

Read the Passage:

Butterflies start their lives as caterpillars. The caterpillar eats lots of leaves and grows bigger. Then it makes a chrysalis around itself. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly with colorful wings!

What does a caterpillar do before it becomes a butterfly?
A. It flies around the garden
B. It makes a chrysalis around itself
C. It lives in a pond
D. It builds a nest in a tree

Practice Question 2

Read the Passage:

The library is a wonderful place to find books. You can borrow books for free and take them home to read. Remember to be quiet in the library so others can read too. You should return your books on time so other people can enjoy them.

Why should you be quiet in the library?
A. Because books are very expensive
B. Because the library is always closed
C. Because you might wake up the books
D. So other people can read

Practice Question 3

Read the Passage:

Plants need sunlight, water, and soil to grow. The roots take in water from the soil. The leaves use sunlight to make food for the plant. Without these things, plants cannot live.

What do the leaves of a plant do?
A. Take in water from the soil
B. Use sunlight to make food
C. Hold the plant in the ground
D. Make flowers bloom

Practice Question 4

Read the Passage:

Winter is the coldest season of the year. Snow falls from the sky and covers the ground. Many animals hibernate, which means they sleep through the winter. People wear warm coats, hats, and mittens to stay warm.

What does "hibernate" mean in this passage?
A. Sleep through the winter
B. Fly south for the winter
C. Play in the snow
D. Build a warm house

Practice Question 5

Read the Passage:

Sarah was nervous about her first day at her new school. She didn't know anyone there. But during lunch, a girl named Emma sat next to her and started talking. By the end of the day, Sarah had made a new friend and felt much better.

How did Sarah feel at the end of the day?
A. Nervous and scared
B. Angry and upset
C. Much better because she made a friend
D. Tired and wanted to go home

Check Your Understanding

* Why Elimination Works

  • 4 choices to 2 choices: When you cross out 2 wrong answers, you now have a 50% chance of getting it right instead of 25%!
  • Stay focused: Crossing out wrong answers helps you think about each choice carefully.
  • Feel confident: Knowing some answers are WRONG helps you feel better about your final choice.
Remember: Even if you're not sure of the right answer, eliminating wrong ones gives you a better chance of picking correctly!

What We Learned

X

Cross Out Wrong Answers

If you know an answer is wrong, cross it out!

?

Check the Passage

Look back at what you read to find the right answer.

!

Watch for Tricks

Some answers sound right but aren't in the passage.

*

Better Odds

Fewer choices means better chances of being right!

Next Steps

  • Practice crossing out wrong answers whenever you take a test
  • Remember to read the passage carefully before looking at answers
  • Use hints in the passage to help you eliminate wrong choices
  • Keep practicing - you'll get faster and better at this skill!