Types of Big Picture Questions | The Complete SAT Course - Class 10 PDF Download

SAT Reading has many question types, and "big picture" questions are some of the most demanding ones. They require a thorough understanding of the main idea or purpose of a paragraph, passage, or even multiple passages. To identify these types of questions, you should look for phrases that indicate the overall focus or goal of the text. In this article, I'll explain the three primary types of big picture questions that appear on the SAT, provide examples of how they may be asked, and give you expert strategies for answering them.

Big Picture Questions: A Brief Intro

• In the SAT Reading section, there are three types of questions that require you to comprehend and synthesize extensive amounts of text. At PrepScholar, these are referred to as "big picture" questions.
• Unlike "little picture" questions that focus on specific details, big picture questions generally revolve around significant concepts found in large sections of text, ranging from a paragraph or multiple paragraphs to an entire passage (or even multiple passages, in the case of paired passage questions).
• Mastering the ability to answer these types of questions will be extremely beneficial for college or university, where professors will expect you to perform the same task with even more complex and scholarly writing.

Type 1: Main Point, Perspective, and Author Attitude

• "The main idea of the passage is that the author..."
• "Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from..."

Instead, questions tend to focus on the author's attitude or perspective towards a topic discussed in the passage.
Here are a few examples of how these questions might be asked, all adapted from actual SAT questions:

• "This passage is written from the point of view of a..."
• "The author's attitude toward narrative structure is best described as one of..."
• "Which of the following best characterizes Staffaroni's attitude toward 'today's digital technologies' (lines 42-43)?"
• "Which best reflects the perspective of the "narrativists" (line 42) on aleatoric music?
• "The authors of both passages agree that Valve’s Portal..."
• "With which of the following statements about the role of music in games would the author most likely agree?"

These perspective questions are similar to inference questions, but they focus on the point of view of the author (or narrator). The perspective of the author or narrator inevitably affects the entire passage, making these questions part of the big picture.
Developing the ability to answer these perspective questions is not only crucial for your SAT score but also an essential skill for life after high school. If you can determine someone's perspective and attitude, you can use that information to assess the credibility of their claims.

Type 2: Primary Purpose

Primary purpose questions are typically phrased as:

• "The primary/main purpose of the passage(s)/paragraph/X paragraphs is to…"

Occasionally, the wording may vary slightly:

• "The sixth paragraph (lines 67-68) is primarily concerned with establishing a contrast between…"
• "The passage primarily serves to…"

Sometimes, questions about purpose can be categorized as function questions rather than big picture questions, depending on the answer choices provided. If the answer choices are more specific and discuss the point of the paragraph, it is a big picture question; if the answer choices are vaguer, it is a function question.

For example, if the question asks "The primary purpose of the paragraph is to…", answer choices like "analyze a faulty assumption" or "disparage an opposing viewpoint" would indicate this is more of a function question.

On the other hand, if the answer choices are more focused on content, such as "discuss findings that offer a scientific explanation for the Venus flytrap’s closing action," "describe Nawab’s various moneymaking ventures," or "convey the passage’s setting by describing a place and an object," then it would be safe to assume it is a big picture question.

Type 3: Rhetorical Strategy

Unlike primary purpose questions, which usually have specific answer choices, rhetorical strategy questions may require generalization. Generally, the answers to these questions are in the form of "verb a noun" or "verbs an X of Y." To tackle them, try answering the question in your own words first and then look for an answer choice that matches your response.
Examples of rhetorical strategy questions in the SAT exam include:

• "Which best describes the overall relationship between Passage 1 and Passage 2?"
• "Which choice identifies a central tension between the two passages?"
• "Which best describes the overall structure of the passage?"

Note that the wording of these questions may resemble little picture/detail questions. However, it is the abstract nature of the answer choices that make them rhetorical strategy questions.
For instance:
In the context of each passage as a whole, the questions in lines 25-27 of Passage 1 and lines 67-69 of Passage 2 primarily function to help each speaker
(A) cast doubt on the other's sincerity.
(B) criticize the other's methods.
(C) reproach the other's actions.
(D) undermine the other's argument.
This question is a rhetorical strategy question because of the abstract answer choices. If the answer choices were more specific, it would be a detail question, and you would need to rely on little picture skills to locate the specific detail in the passage. To succeed in the SAT exam, practice recognizing and answering rhetorical strategy questions effectively.

A Brief Warning: Big Picture Questions ≠ Function Questions

• The distinction between big picture questions and function questions on the SAT Reading can be subtle, but important to understand. Function questions ask about the purpose or function of a passage, paragraph or sentence, while big picture questions are more concerned with the author's perspective and attitude towards a topic.
• For example, function questions might ask how a particular paragraph functions within the passage as a whole, while big picture questions might ask about the author's attitude towards a topic discussed in the passage. It's important to pay close attention to the wording of the question in order to determine whether it is a big picture or function question.
• While function questions focus on the structure and purpose of the passage, big picture questions require a more thorough comprehension of the author's perspective and the ideas presented in the text. Developing the ability to answer both types of questions is essential for success on the SAT Reading, as well as for academic reading and critical thinking beyond the exam.