How can you recognize a Text Structure or Organization question?

• A. Analyze the author's tone.
• B. Look for cues about how the passage is arranged (cause/effect, sequence, compare/contrast).
• C. Evaluate the thesis statement only.
• D. Reorder the paragraphs.

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested here is how a passage is put together, its organizational pattern. To recognize a Text Structure or Organization question, you look for clues about how the information is arranged rather than just what the passage says. Signal words and transitions help you spot the pattern: cause-and-effect shows reasons and results (because, therefore, as a result); sequence or chronology uses first, next, finally to map steps or events; compare/contrast highlights similarities and differences (likewise, on the other hand, similarly). These cues reveal whether the author is explaining consequences, listing steps, or weighing options.

This approach is better than focusing on tone, which reflects attitude rather than structure, or evaluating the thesis alone, which centers on the main idea rather than how the content is organized. Reordering paragraphs is a separate skill that tests editing the text, not recognizing its organizational pattern.