SAT Reading: Function Questions Strategies & Practice

Function Questions in SAT Reading: An Overview

Function questions, also referred to as “meaning in context” questions, account for approximately 17% of all passage-based reading questions and around 12% of all SAT Critical Reading questions (based on my analysis of the four publicly available SATs since 2005). Answering these questions requires the ability to step back from the text and assess the effect of a phrase within a specific context. This distinguishes them from "little picture" and vocabulary-in-context questions, which focus solely on meaning.

How Are Function Questions Asked on the SAT?

Function questions typically ask about the role that a phrase, sentence, or paragraph plays within the broader context of a passage. They often start with phrases like, “The author wrote [this] in order to…”

These questions can be challenging, as their wording may lead one to interpret them as asking, “Why did the author do this?” An immediate reaction might be, “How should I know? I can’t read the author’s mind!” Instead, it’s more effective to rephrase the question. For instance, instead of asking, “The author uses the phrase ‘The Great Old Ones’ multiple times in order to…,” consider the question as, “What effect does mentioning ‘The Great Old Ones’ multiple times have in the context of [the lines, paragraph, or passage]?”

Although they are sometimes labeled "meaning in context" questions, this terminology can be misleading. The focus is on the effect of a phrase in context rather than its mere meaning (which is typically addressed in inference questions). For example, if I lived in a city that received over 100 inches of snow last winter, and while clearing snow from the gutters I sarcastically sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the meaning of “most wonderful” in that context would imply “worst.” However, the function of those words would be to convey that the speaker feels the opposite is true.

Similar to primary purpose questions, function questions often present answer choices in the form of “verb a noun” (e.g., “add gravitas to the mythology” or “convey the passing of time”). The key difference is that function questions focus on smaller segments of text (phrases or lines) compared to the broader scope of big picture questions. Understanding the main point of a passage can significantly aid in answering function questions.

Example to Illustrate Function Questions:

Consider the question: "The phrase ‘the life-or-death cycle of espionage and counterespionage’ primarily serves to…." If you know that the main point of the passage is about deep-sea life, you’re unlikely to infer that the phrase suggests all underwater creatures are potential spies for other countries. Instead, it’s reasonable to conclude that the function of this statement is to illustrate how, in dangerous environments like the deep ocean, species are constantly evolving to survive.

Here are a few examples of the most common ways you may encounter function questions on the SAT (adapted from actual SAT questions):

The Best Strategies for Answering Function Questions

Below, I’ve compiled some of the most helpful advice for tackling function questions on the SAT. Some strategies are tailored for specific reading approaches, such as students who prefer to read the entire passage before answering questions versus those who look at the questions first. Others, however, are universally beneficial.

Understand What the Question Is Really Asking

I believe that this is the most crucial element in consistently answering function questions correctly. The way function questions are phrased can make it feel as though you need to read the mind of the author (or character), rendering them seemingly impenetrable. I understand why the College Board phrases SAT Reading function questions this way; for example, a question that simply asks, “What does the mentioning of two sports stars do?” leaves too much open to interpretation. Instead, an actual SAT question might state, “The author of Passage 1 mentions two sports stars (lines 31-33) in order to…”

While understanding the reasoning behind this phrasing is helpful, it doesn’t make the questions any less confusing at first glance. To answer function questions successfully, you must learn to translate the questions into a more manageable format—one that you can actually answer.

Here’s an example of how to approach a function question:

Wrong Way to Rephrase It:

- Example: "Why does the author refer to 'the flea'?"
- Potential Answer: "Because she feels like it? I dunno."

Right Way to Rephrase It:

- Example: "What does the reference to 'the flea' DO?"
- Correct Answer: The mention of “the flea” emphasizes how astute Duke Ellington’s listening skills were, highlighting that his hearing was so sharp he could even detect a flea.

Corollary: Answer in Your Own Words

Formulating your answer in your own words before reviewing the answer choices is a valuable strategy, particularly for function questions, much like it is for other SAT Reading questions. For instance, your answer to “What does mentioning ‘monsters’ DO?” may not be as polished as the answer choices, but it should contain relevant and accurate information. This way, matching it to the correct answer becomes easier, as incorrect options may include irrelevant details or interpretations that “seem like they could be true.”

Be wary of irrelevant information in answer choices; this is a tactic used by the SAT to trip you up. The College Board is aware that you often analyze situations from multiple perspectives in school: a skill that can actually work against you here. Since there’s only one correct answer on the SAT, starting with the right answer in your own words makes it more straightforward to select the appropriate answer from their options.

Look for Context

The lines provided in the question may not encompass all the information you need to understand the function of the phrase or sentence. If you encounter difficulty with a function question, your best strategy is to examine the sentences before and after the phrase or lines in question. These additional sentences may provide crucial context that clarifies the intended function.

Sometimes, deeper context regarding the broader meaning, main point, or perspective of the text may be necessary. If you find yourself struggling to answer a question without this context, consider circling it and returning after addressing related big picture questions, such as those concerning the paragraph or section where the lines in question appear, or even questions about the overall passage. This leads smoothly into my next point...

Answer Questions in the Order That Works for You

This strategy hinges significantly on your reading approach. Below, I outline three scenarios to consider:

1.If You Read Thoroughly First, Then Answer Questions:

- Start by tackling big picture questions. These often provide insights that can be useful for answering function questions.

- Follow up with function and inference questions, as responding to queries about larger segments of text is easier while those ideas are still fresh in your mind.

- Lastly, address little picture, author technique, and analogy questions.

- However, if you find that you can read quickly enough to finish the passage in good time, answering all questions in the order they appear is a valid strategy. This method may be less confusing than bouncing around different questions and can help decrease the likelihood of missing answers or filling them in the wrong spots. It’s worth experimenting with different approaches to see what works best for you.

2.If You Look at the Questions First, Then Go to the Passage:

- In this case, it's advisable to answer a little picture and vocabulary in context questions first. The answers to these questions will give you more information about the author and/or the topic, which will be beneficial for addressing function questions later.

- If you later find that you need big picture information to answer the function questions, you can always return to them after answering the relevant big picture questions.

3.If You Skim First, Then Read the Questions, Then Go Back to the Passage:

- In this scenario, it’s more effective to tackle big picture and little picture questions first and leave function questions for later. The reason is that if the specific phrase, sentence, or lines under scrutiny were not in the parts of the passage you paid close attention to during your skimming (usually at the beginning or end of a paragraph or passage), you may not have fully grasped their meaning on your first pass.

- Utilize your skimming effectively by addressing questions that can be answered quickly before moving on to those requiring a deeper analysis, such as function questions.

Eliminate Answers

When tackling function questions on SAT Reading, the most critical strategy is to eliminate three incorrect answer choices. If you've successfully formed your answer in your own words, this step may be less daunting, as ideally only one answer choice will align with your understanding.

However, function question answer choices can often be complex. What do you do if your answer doesn’t match any of the provided options, and you need to evaluate them one by one? At first glance, this may seem overwhelming due to the intricacies involved.

The good news is that the complexity of the answer choices can actually simplify your task. Why? Because if any part of an answer choice doesn’t correspond to the passage, you can eliminate it right away.

Example for Clarification:

Let’s consider an example to illustrate this point...

Unlike primary purpose questions, the verbs in the answer choices for function questions are typically synonymous (or nearly so), which makes that area less useful for elimination. Instead, you should concentrate on the second part of each answer choice.

Consider answer choice (B): “a speculative aspect of two theories.” Here’s how you could approach it:

- Are there two theories? If not, eliminate this choice.

- Is there a speculative aspect to these two theories? If not, eliminate this choice.

- Does the use of italics actually stress the speculative aspect of the two theories? If not, eliminate this choice.

As illustrated, there are numerous opportunities for elimination, making it significantly challenging for an answer to be correct without meeting specific criteria.

In this scenario, the correct answer (D) passes all these tests: it presents a valid point that is surprising (both theories seem viable, yet both cannot coexist), and the italics underscore this contradiction (emphasizing that both cannot be true).

Function Questions: A Walkthrough

To conclude this article, let’s go through a challenging function question together. Here it is:

Before I even copy and paste the relevant lines, I’m going to rephrase this question in a way that is answerable:

Okay, now it's time to take a look at those lines.

My Thoughts on the Function Question:

The use of the word "difficult" in quotation marks suggests that the author may not be using it in the traditional sense. This piques my curiosity about the author's intentions; they might be hinting at a different meaning. If I’m familiar with the term “euphemistically,” this insight would certainly make the analysis smoother.

However, let’s consider, for argument's sake, that I'm unsure of what "euphemistically" means. In that case, the context provided in the sentence alone doesn't offer enough information to deduce what “difficult” is meant to convey. This indicates that there’s likely a deeper meaning at play, prompting me to seek additional context.

To get a clearer understanding, I should refer to the original sentence from the question and the subsequent sentence for context. Since the sentence in question appears at the beginning of a paragraph, it’s more prudent to look at the next sentence rather than the preceding one:

Here, you can insert the sentence from the passage and the following one for further analysis.

My Thoughts on the Function Question:

The sentence in the question is followed by one stating, “It’s hard to live out in the wild.” The author uses the word “precarious,” which I've always associated with something teetering on the edge—like how I might say, “Your glass of seltzer is pretty precarious sitting at the edge of the table there, Laura. You might want to move it” (I may or may not have a true story there). If survival is precarious, it suggests more than just difficulty; it indicates a dangerous situation.

Now, revisiting the question: “The sentence in which ‘difficult’ appears (lines 54-55) indicates that the author considers the word to be…”

Got it! The context shows that the author perceives the challenges faced by the Tanaina as much worse than merely “difficult.” The quotation marks around “difficult” imply that the author thinks this term is far too mild to capture the true extent of their struggles. So, in my own words, the author considers the word to be an understatement.

Let’s take a look at the answer choices to eliminate some options:

- (A) an exaggeration:
Nope, “difficult” is more of an understatement than an exaggeration.

- (B) an estimate:
This doesn’t fit—if it were an estimate, there would be no reason for it to be in quotes.

- (C) an understatement:
Yes! This aligns perfectly with my understanding.

- (D) a contradiction:
No, the term “difficult” isn’t a contradiction; it simply lacks intensity.

- (E) a preconception:
I could double-check to see if “difficult” is used earlier in the passage to describe the Tanaina, but I don’t think it is. Regardless, I already have a correct answer.

In Conclusion

- Function questions ask you, “What effect does this [phrase, sentence, series of lines] have in context?” or more simply, “What does this [phrase, sentence, series of lines] DO?”

- Ensure that you fully understand the question, and it may be helpful to rephrase it in your own words.

- Before examining the SAT's answer choices, try to formulate your answer in your own words.

- Look for context surrounding the cited phrases or lines to assist in answering the question.

- Approach function questions in a logical order that works for you.

- Finally, remember to eliminate four incorrect answers to narrow down your choices.