Select the best summary statement (accurate and complete, not too broad/narrow).
核心知识
Choose a summary that captures the full scope of the passage — accurate, complete, and properly sized.
深入理解
A good summary is like a photograph taken from the right distance. Too far away and you lose the subject; too close and you crop out half the scene. SAT summary questions test whether you can find that sweet spot.
"Too broad" means the choice could describe dozens of passages, not just this one. If an answer says "Scientists are making progress in genetics" but the passage is specifically about how a single gene affects tomato color, that answer is too broad.
"Too narrow" means the choice latches onto one sentence and ignores the rest. If the passage discusses three effects of urbanization on bird populations but the answer only mentions nest-site loss, that answer is too narrow.
The winning choice names the specific subject and accounts for the passage's full arc — setup, evidence, and conclusion — without adding information that isn't there.
分步讲解
- After reading, mentally outline the passage: What does the opening establish? What does the middle develop? Where does it land?
- Translate that outline into a one-sentence summary in your own words.
- Compare each answer choice to your summary. Flag any choice that leaves out a major part of the passage (too narrow) or adds scope the passage never addresses (too broad).
- Check that your preferred choice is accurate — every claim in the choice must be supported by the text.
- Confirm no better match exists among the remaining options.
常见误解
- Assuming the longest answer choice is the best summary — length doesn't equal completeness; long choices often sneak in unsupported claims.
- Rejecting a choice because it uses different wording than the passage — a good summary paraphrases; it doesn't have to quote.
- Picking a choice that sounds impressive or sophisticated — the best summary is the most accurate one, not the most eloquent.
示例解析
In the early 20th century, the boll weevil devastated cotton crops across the American South, forcing farmers to diversify into peanuts, soybeans, and other crops. While the immediate economic impact was severe — cotton yields in some counties dropped by over 60% — the long-term effect was a more resilient agricultural economy. Counties that diversified earliest recovered faster and, by the 1930s, had higher per-capita incomes than counties that had clung to cotton monoculture.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
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