Reading: Multiple-choice question strategies

1	Here are some multiple choice questions for the accompanying reading text. With multiple choice questions, it is important not to let the choice of answers distract you. You are going to use a technique which stops this confusion. At first this may seem a long process but with time each step becomes very quick. 

Look at Q10 and cover up the answer choices A, B, C and D. Focus only on the question stem and find and underline the key words in it. 

Questions 10 – 12 
Choose the appropriate letters A, B, C or D. 
Write your answers in boxes 10-12 on your answer sheet. 

10 	Research completed in 1982 found that in the United States soil erosion 

A 	reduced the productivity of farmland by 20 per cent. 
B 	was almost as severe as in India and China. 
C 	was causing significant damage to 20 per cent of farmland. 
D 	could be reduced by converting cultivated land to meadow or forest. 

11 	By the mid-1980s, farmers in Denmark 

A 	used 50 per cent less fertiliser than Dutch farmers. 
B 	used twice as much fertiliser as they had in 1960. 
C 	applied fertiliser much more frequently than in 1960. 
D 	more than doubled the amount of pesticide they used in just 3 years. 

12 	Which one of the following increased in New Zealand after 1984? 

A 	farm incomes 
B 	use of fertiliser 
C 	over-stocking 
D 	farm diversification 

2	Keeping the key words in mind, skim and scan the reading text for the relevant part which contains information about Q10. Compare which part of the text this is with a partner 

3	Still keeping the answer choices A-D covered up, try to complete the question stem using all the relevant information in the text. Use your own words to summarise and paraphrase in your mind what is said in the text. Compare your ideas with your partner. It is likely you will have slightly different answers here; this is fine as there are many ways to complete the question stem. 

4	Now uncover the answer choices for Q10. Based on the information you have just summarised and paraphrased, choose the answer choice which is correct. Remember that there is only one that is totally correct and the others are there to distract you. Compare with your partner and explain why you chose the answer. Refer back to the text as necessary to justify your answer. 

5. 	Continue in the same way with Q11 and Q12.