There are always four answers to choose from for each science question. Some questions arrange those choices in a predictable pattern. One of the most common patterns links two parts of an answer together. These are called coupled-answer questions.
Coupled-answer questions are useful because they make process of elimination easier. Often, you can cross out choices quickly by checking just one detail.
Coupled-answer questions have two parts, and the answer choices mix and match those parts. Usually, each part appears twice across the four choices. Here’s an example:
A student believes that oxygen should be used instead of nitrogen for his experiment.
A new claim says that oxygen is less effective than nitrogen for the experiment that the student is running. Based on this claim, should the student use oxygen or nitrogen in his experiment?
A) Oxygen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
B) Oxygen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
C) Nitrogen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
D) Nitrogen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
In the example above, the pattern looks like this:
A) answer 1; answer 3
B) answer 1; answer 4
C) answer 2; answer 3
D) answer 2; answer 4
You’ll often see several of these questions on a test, and usually at least one per passage. Recognizing the pattern is the first step. Next, you use it to eliminate choices efficiently.
As soon as you spot a coupled-answer question, use this two-step approach:
Start with step 1. If you can show that one of the paired statements is wrong, you can eliminate the two choices that contain it.
Continue with the example. The claim says oxygen is less effective than nitrogen. That means any choice stating the opposite must be wrong. So you can cross out B and D:
A) Oxygen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
B) Oxygen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
C) Nitrogen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
D) Nitrogen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
Now you’re down to two choices. Next, apply step 2: compare A and C. They agree on the second part (oxygen is less effective), but they differ on the first part (oxygen vs. nitrogen).
If oxygen is less effective than nitrogen, the student should use nitrogen. That means the correct choice is C:
A) Oxygen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
B) Oxygen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
C) Nitrogen; oxygen is less effective than nitrogen in this case
D) Nitrogen; nitrogen is less effective than oxygen in this case
The answer to this example is C.
Notice what you didn’t need: you didn’t need to know what the experiment was, and you didn’t need to know why nitrogen is more effective. You only needed to track what the claim said and match it to the paired answer parts.
Coupled answers can feel intimidating because you might not know which half of the answer to focus on first. A good strategy is to start with whichever half is easiest to prove or disprove.
In the example above, it was easier to start with the second half (the effectiveness claim). Once you confirmed that part, you only had to decide between oxygen and nitrogen.
When you compare coupled answers, look for a single detail you can verify. As soon as you verify it, you can eliminate two choices and narrow down exactly what you need to find next.
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