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Purpose of passage

(PurpPass.)

Stems that ask us to describe the overall purpose of the passage. Similar to main point questions, but often call for more abstract language in the answer choices (e.g. "to criticize a popular theory").

Avg. 1.3 per section

“The primary purpose of the passage is to”

Main conclusion or main point
14%
25%
34%
18%
9%

Avg. difficulty: 2.8

Correct answer criteria

  • Captures why author wrote the passage; AND
  • Does not contain anything unsupported

Key tactics

  • Ask whether author's goal is to persuade or to inform
  • Keep in mind the different passage styles. Is the author critiquing a view, explaining a phenomenon, presenting a solution to a problem, drawing attention to an interesting artist?

Answer choice tips

  • Wrong answers often (1) describe something author does in the passage, but not author's motivation, or (2) describe purpose of one paragraph, but not overall passage

Looking for more?

7Sage offers a full course of video lessons that cover each question type in depth, targeted drills, and performance analytics.

Logical reasoning question types

Alternate explanation Analogy (LR) Argument part Bad authority Causal chain Causal mechanism Causal reasoning Circular reasoning Conditional reasoning Confusing sufficiency and necessity Correlation Diagram? Directionally wrong Eliminating options Equivocation Evaluate Except (LR) Failed alternate explanation False dichotomy Fighting the hypothetical Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Illusory inconsistency Inference Internal contradiction Irrelevant corroboration Kick it up Lack of support v. false conclusion Link assumption Main conclusion or main point Math Mental state v. reality Method of reasoning or descriptive Miscellaneous (LR) Misdirected response Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Part v. whole Phenomenon-hypothesis (LR) Plausibility Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Quantifier Relative v. absolute Resolve reconcile or explain Rule-application Sampling Source attack Strengthen Sufficient assumption Time Unwarranted assumption Value judgment Weaken Weighing factors

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Art Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Comparative Critique or debate Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Except (RC) Humanities Implied Law Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Miscellaneous (RC) Other’s perspective Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC) Principle or generalization Problem-analysis Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Science Single position Spotlight Stated Structure WSE (RC)

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