Recognize common organizational patterns (cause–effect, compare–contrast, sequence, problem–solution).
核心知识
Most SAT passages follow one of four patterns — cause-effect, compare-contrast, sequence, or problem-solution — and signal words like "because," "whereas," "first," and "to address this" tell you which one.
深入理解
Short passages on the SAT almost always follow a recognizable organizational pattern. Once you identify it, the structure questions become much easier because you can predict how the parts relate to each other.
The four patterns to know: cause-effect (X happened, so Y resulted), compare-contrast (X and Y are similar/different in these ways), sequence/chronology (first X, then Y, finally Z), and problem-solution (here's a problem, here's how it was or could be addressed). Signal words are your fastest clue — "as a result" points to cause-effect, "unlike" or "whereas" points to compare-contrast, "subsequently" points to sequence, and "to resolve" points to problem-solution.
A passage can blend patterns, but the SAT will ask about the dominant one. If a passage describes a problem in the first half and a proposed fix in the second, the overall pattern is problem-solution even if the fix involves a cause-effect chain.
示例解析
Coastal erosion threatens several historic lighthouses along the Atlantic seaboard. Engineers have proposed installing a network of artificial reefs offshore to absorb wave energy before it reaches the shoreline. Early trials at Cape Hatteras suggest the reefs reduce erosion rates by up to 40 percent.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
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