1.6 SAT Critical Reading - Direction Changers

Direction Changers: One of the most common tricks among the SAT test makers bag of tricks is to change the direction of the passage by using some element (typically a phrase or subordinate clause) that changes the direction of the sentence.  For example, consider the following subordinate clause:

"Even though Ted's loquacious personality was annoying at first..."

The word "loquacious" means too talkative.  As we can observe by the way the subordinate clause is built, we may infer that there is some redeeming quality about Ted's "talkative" personality. 

Though we do not know exactly what, we may bet that the test maker will use many negative words in an example like this for two reasons:

(a) many students will not know that "loquacious" is a negative word and

(b) many students may miss that since the subordinate clause begins with "even though" the next part of the sentence must assert some redeeming, positive quality about Ted since it is built to express this change. 

You must always keep a keen eye for these direction changers since the correct answer depends upon your awareness for choosing words that fit the harmony and logic of the change in direction. Be especially mindful of the following words that the test maker frequently uses: Even though, although, ironically, despite, in contrast, though, whereas, while, before, in spite of, etc.