Nancy Drew, Barbara McClintock and Today’s SAT Classic Example Question
Fill in the blanks: Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn demonstrated the transposition of genes, a finding that overturned entrenched beliefs and proved that ____________ study may produce brilliant insights and ________________ change.
These questions are fast, fast, fast. The main thing you have to do is to check your answers. Once you learn the steps of the strategy, you will have your answer within seconds.
To practice how to fill in both blanks in a question on the SAT, try to find a partner for studying this page. If you read the thought processes I use while filling in blanks in these questions, you will think this takes too long to do. I need a conversation with you.
A large percentage of the responders (over 80%) did answer this one correctly today; but that still leaves a bunch of people who did not. Plus the wrong answers are more obvious than usual on this one. Sometimes the wrong possibilities are closer. This one will demonstrate the strategy nicely, though.
Ironically, these are the racecar answers to get on the entire test—once you go through the strategy step-by-step. I say ‘ironically’ because I cannot get the strategy as streamlined as I want. No matter what I do, I feel that I need to talk to you in person to show you how efficient this method is once you get it down. Too, I wish I could have a conversation with each of you about how this method of logical thinking helps in so many ways in other areas.
Have you ever noticed that ‘racecar’ is a palindrome? If you did not know the meaning of the word ‘palindrome,’ and I told you that ‘racecar’ is one, can you figure out what a palindrome is?
This is the way you need to look at the questions on an aptitude test. What can I figure out from what is right here in front of me—with the hint that something special is going on?
A palindrome is a word that is spelled the same left to right—and right to left. You can read it backwards, and it is the same word. Other examples are: pop, dad, and mom. The novel, Holes, has a main character whose name is a palindrome. His name is Stanley Yelnats. Read it backwards, and it is still Stanley Yelnats. This is a palindrome.
You can be turbocharged for this section. You have to slow down to check your correct answers and to put the answers into the right place on the answer sheet. They go fast. They are predictable. They are satisfyingly logical. That does not mean that you cannot miss them. You need to look at the words. Look at what you have.
You have to watch what you are doing and continue the logic of the question to answer the question correctly. Your sequence is: Read the directions. Read the directions as you begin each section. The directions put your brain in the proper sequence to consider the type of question.
Read the material, visualizing everything in your mind as you read it. Paint by word.
I have not found a way to cut down this initial practice to show you how to generate the possible answers as you are reading. Therefore, these strategies look ‘full of words.’ In ‘real life,’ it is full of images and words—but in sequence and quick succession.
If you read with another person and do it together, I believe you will discover something that will be a comfort to you in many test situations. You will learn it once in long form, and use it forever in a short form—a fast, effective, abbreviation.
Women of Science: Barbara McClintock
Vocabulary: chromosomes, systematic, methodical, haphazard, derivative, genes, transposition, radical, inherent, controversial, improvised, startling, methodical, revolutionary, derivative, and gradual.
Using clues to detect, predict, and evaluate, you can answer correctly without understanding all of your information. Your ability to do so is an indication of your aptitude. You can build accompanying skills to display your aptitude.
TODAY’S MAIN TIP: Be a detective! After all, the answer is in front of you.
COROLLARY: Standardized test questions contain material that may be unfamiliar to you sometimes; but even if you do not understand the information, you can often answer the question correctly. The SAT, especially, is not designed to test you about the body of knowledge that you have as much as it is designed to test your ability to use your knowledge and resources.
To enjoy (yes, enjoy!) reading and answering today’s style of Scholastic Aptitude Test Question, you are detecting the clues for both blank spaces as you read. Barbara McClintock, the main character of today’s question, is famous for her work in finding a way to visualize parts of chromosomes. Let’s use her guidance in how to think: Make a visual inside your brain, as you read.
Nancy Drew detective hint: Predict and detect what you expect from the writer of the question.
A writer who is measuring ‘aptitude’ is designing the questions for this (SAT) test. The question is carefully crafted—not randomly chosen or put together. Remember, you can use the question to study all of these great ideas, words, and concepts. You do not have to know all of this before you can answer the question correctly.
To answer the question correctly, you have to use what you have and what you know. You do not have to know everything.
• Using this practice to learn more about vocabulary, science and scientists, and grammar is an excellent style of studying. It is focused, meaningful, effective, and fun.
• Using this practice to learn how to answer these questions in this format will add points to your SAT scores.
• Using this practice to learn how to answer these questions adds to your critical thinking skills in every area. This is logical thinking.
The clues will provide the style of the missing word (part of speech, tense) and the tone. Visualizing the information will help every time. It does not matter if you do not know what the person or place really is like, you just ‘paint by word’ in your mind.
This scene begins with the first six words: Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn
Here, you have a person’s name. She is examining corn.
• I hope you know of her work. Even her personal lifestyle leading to her work as a Nobel Prize winning scientist is effective to motivate individual creativity and perseverance. You can count on the SAT questions to have tidbits of information relevant to an exciting and dynamic education. This scientist learned to work alone when she was still a child. Her father intervened when her mother did not want her to go to college because her mother thought college would ruin McClintock’s marriage options.
Barbara McClintock is a famous scientist…
…but you do not have to know anything about her work or her to get this right. In fact, you can know more after you finish the question correctly. (I was inspired to look up more about her, considering the dearth of information about female scientists. Wikipedia has a terrific summary, along with references to use to find more—and lists of books about her.)
So far, a person is systematically examining corn (looking at corn—or maize-- methodically in a scientific way)
Scene continued:
Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn demonstrated the transposition of genes
So far, she has kept data to show (demonstrated) the transposition of genes
Again, you do not even have to understand what this means to answer this type of question correctly—just that she is studying this corn carefully to figure out something…
Scene in your mind continues:
Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn demonstrated the transposition of genes, a finding that overturned entrenched beliefs and proved that __________ study
So far: OKAY: She studied something very carefully and made a finding. She proved something, and when she proved it (and, again, we do not have to understand what she proved), “entrenched beliefs” were overturned. Picture men in lab coats surprised and puzzled. She was the lone woman.
So far, we know that this first blank is going to say that her study was in some way careful and following a plan (systematic). We have a big clue that what she proved was a big deal and new information because what she proved “overturned entrenched beliefs.”
If I had to guess at the words to put in right now, I would try:
Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn demonstrated the transposition of genes, a finding that overturned entrenched beliefs and proved that _________ study may produce brilliant insights and ________ change.
I would guess: …and proved that assiduous (careful, planned) study may produce brilliant insights and (cause change, instigate change, initiate change….these would use a verb—Actually, to make the sentence completely parallel in structure an adjective in front of change would match the brilliant in front of insights
Brilliant insights and (a word meaning huge, magnificent) change
What choices do we have?
A. Haphazard…radical
B. Inherent ….controversial
C. Improvised…startling
D. Methodical…revolutionary
E. Derivative…gradual
Did you choose D?
Barbara McClintock’s systematic examination of corn demonstrated the transposition of genes, a finding that overturned entrenched beliefs and proved that methodical study may produce brilliant insights and revolutionary change.
Yes, these fit well. A,B,C, and E were easily tossed due to the lack of fit for the first spot. Even so, a student would be wise to notice the other words and to realize why they do not fit. These are strongly useful words: haphazard, radical, inherent, controversial, improvised, startling, methodical, revolutionary, derivative, and gradual.
You will see these words in other works, and you may find them useful in your own writing. The word ‘radical,’ for example is quite different in connotation from the words ‘controversial’ and ‘revolutionary.’
Using words to refine the meaning of what you say is not only helpful to the reader; it is helpful to the thinker, as well. Learning to use words will enhance your performance on tests. You may want to remember that the exploration of words enhances your brain’s imagination and visions.
From Wikipedia….
Rediscovery of McClintock's controlling elements
McClintock officially retired from her position at the Carnegie Institution in 1967, and was made a Distinguished Service Member of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. This honor allowed her to continue working with graduate students and colleagues in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as scientist emerita. In reference to her decision 20 years earlier no longer to publish detailed accounts of her work on controlling elements, she wrote in 1973:
Over the years I have found that it is difficult if not impossible to bring to consciousness of another person the nature of his tacit assumptions when, by some special experiences, I have been made aware of them. This became painfully evident to me in my attempts during the 1950s to convince geneticists that the action of genes had to be and was controlled. It is now equally painful to recognize the fixity of assumptions that many persons hold on the nature of controlling elements in maize and the manners of their operation. One must await the right time for conceptual change.[25]
judiethcarol&rocketcatmarch2010 See you next time. We will talk about over thinking—the bane of some gifted, some anxious, and some creative test-takers.
