Some test-taking strategies

拂柳清风

Since CET4 and CET6 are around the corner, I'd like to share with you the following test-taking strategies for multiple choice items.
  For each item, cover up the possible responses with a piece of paper or with your left hand. Try to anticipate the correct response before seeing the distracters. Then, uncover the responses. If you see the anticipated response, circle it and check to be sure that none of the other responses is better. If you don't see the expected response, consider some of the following strategies to eliminate responses that are probably wrong.
    (a) If the grammar of the stem is not in agreement with that of a response,
disqualify this choice.
    (b) Be careful with the meaning of sentences containing double negatives. Cross out both negatives and then make your choice. For example,“not none” becomes  “some” and this can reduce confusion.
    (c) Responses that contain absolute words such as “always” or “never” are less likely to be correct than those using conditional words like “usually” or “probably”.
    (d) “Funny” responses are usually wrong.
    (e) “All of the above” answers are often correct. If you know two or more of the options are correct, “all of the above \" is a strong possibility.
    (f) “None of the above” is usually an incorrect response, but this is less reliable than the “all of the above” rule. Be careful not to be trapped by double negation.
    (g) Look for grammatical clues. If the stem ends with the indefinite article “an”, for example, then the correct response probably begins with a vowel.
    (h) The longest response is often the correct one, because the item writer tends to load it with qualifying adjectives or phrases.
    (i) Look for verbal associations. A response that repeats the key word(s) that appear(s) in the stem is likely to be correct.
    (j) If you still have no idea about the correct answer, check for the most inclusive option—the one that contains the most information.
    (k) If all the above-mentioned strategies fail, choose response (b) or (c). Many item writers subconsciously feel that the correct answer is better “hidden” when surrounded by distracters. Response (a) is usually least likely to be the correct one.
    ATTENTION: None of these strategies is infallible. A smart item writer will avoid writing items for which these strategies work, but you can always hope for a lapse of attention.  ALL THE BEST!

拂柳清风

个人观点，希望对大家有点用。不足之处请指正。