Be sure to understand the passage context of the questions asked. Always read several sentences above and below the sentence containing an underlined portion. Evaluate how the underlined section fits in with the surrounding sentences and the passage as a whole. Reread the sentence, and surrounding sentences, using the answer choice you selected to make sure that it is the best answer within the context of the passage.

Some questions ask you to make a determination on a specific element of writing, such as tone or emphasis that the text should convey.  In other words, ask yourself if the underlined portion is written correctly as given or would one of the 3 alternative answers given work better in the passage? Some questions ask you to choose an alternative to the underlined portion that is NOT acceptable.  Pay close attention to what the question is asking. Remember – answer choices will contain changes in 1 or more of the elements of writing.

Pay close attention when you are asked to choose the best alternative to an underlined portion of a passage.  Decide how the underlined portion may best be phrased in standard written English or in terms of the particular question posed.  If the underlined portion is the best answer, choose “no change.”