why are the comment sections under all the articles so formal, thoughtful, and useful whereas the comments under the videos are just nonsense? It feels like 2 very different group of people are taking the test...

Maybe the ones who read the articles are the ones with patience to read the whole article without being bored. Hence formal and thoughtful.

what is the difference between SETTING and CHARACTER?

setting = place character = person

the digital sat seems more difficult than the previous one

To me shorter passages are easier to comprehend, though each comes with its challenges

Main content

Digital SAT Reading and Writing

Course: Digital SAT Reading and Writing > Unit 2

Lesson 6: Text Structure and Purpose

Part-to-whole relationships | Lesson

Google Classroom

A guide to "part-to-whole relationships" questions on the digital SAT

What are "part-to-whole relationships" questions?

On the Reading and Writing section of your SAT, some questions will require you to read a short text with one underlined sentence. The question will then ask you to identify the function of the underlined sentence within the text as a whole.

Part-to-whole relationships questions will look like this:

Part-to-whole relationships: example

The following text is from Herman Melville’s 1854 novel The Lightning-rod Man.

The stranger still stood in the exact middle of the cottage, where he had first planted himself. His singularity impelled a closer scrutiny. A lean, gloomy figure. Hair dark and lank, mattedly streaked over his brow. His sunken pitfalls of eyes were ringed by indigo halos, and played with an innocuous sort of lightning: the gleam without the bolt. The whole man was dripping. He stood in a puddle on the bare oak floor: his strange walking-stick vertically resting at his side.

Which choice best states the function of the underlined sentence in the overall structure of the text?

(Choice A)
It sets up the character description presented in the sentences that follow.
(Choice B)
It establishes a contrast with the description in the previous sentence.
(Choice C)
It elaborates on the previous sentence’s description of the character.
(Choice D)
It introduces the setting that is described in the sentences that follow.

[Answer explanation]

How should we think about part-to-whole relationships questions?

Part-to-whole relationships questions are a type of text structure and purpose questions. To succeed on these questions, we need to understand what the author is trying to achieve in the text, as well as how the text works to achieve that purpose.

But while other text structure and purpose questions focus on the entire passage, part-to-whole relationships questions require us to focus on one specific part of the text: the underlined portion.

What information does the underlined portion contain?
How does that information relate to the rest of the text? What is its function? In other words, what does it do?

Answering these questions will allow us to determine what role the underlined portion plays in the flow of the text.

How to approach part-to-whole relationships questions

To solve part-to-whole relationships questions, consider following these steps:

Step 1: Summarize the text

Read the passage closely and summarize the ideas you encounter. Try to boil the whole text down to one or two simple points. Give some extra attention to the underlined portion: you know the question will focus on it!

Rephrasing things in your own words will give you a strong understanding of the "whole" of the passage. This will make it much easier to identify how the "part" functions within that whole.

Step 2: Make a prediction

Once you have a firm understanding of the entire passage, you should try to state the function of the underlined portion in your own words.

How does the underlined portion fit into the text?
Does it introduce what comes next?
Does it contradict what came before?

Comparing the information in the underlined portion with what comes immediately before and immediately after will often reveal how that information contributes to the flow of the text.

Step 3: Test the choices

Compare your prediction to each of the choices. Which choice most closely matches your prediction? You can select that choice with confidence!

Top tips

Stay within the underline!

Make sure the choice you select applies directly and specifically to the underlined portion. Other choices may correctly identify the function of other sentences within the text, so make sure you're looking in the right place!

[Show me]

Be strict

Choices on part-to-whole relationships may often seem partly correct. Maybe they describe the "part" accurately, but not the "whole". Eliminate any choices that feel kind of correct, but that contain a detail or two that doesn't match the text. A choice must be entirely accurate to be the answer.

[Show me]

Want to join the conversation?

Sort by:

gsolis4005
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to gsolis4005's post “no questions”
no questions
Button navigates to signup pageComment on gsolis4005's post “no questions”
(36 votes)
Answer
Terence Tao
Posted a month ago. Direct link to Terence Tao's post “why are the comment secti...”
why are the comment sections under all the articles so formal, thoughtful, and useful whereas the comments under the videos are just nonsense? It feels like 2 very different group of people are taking the test...
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(24 votes)
Answer
- alansijo
  Posted 24 days ago. Direct link to alansijo's post “Maybe the ones who read t...”
  Maybe the ones who read the articles are the ones with patience to read the whole article without being bored. Hence formal and thoughtful.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (24 votes)
johnleerebel198464
Posted 5 months ago. Direct link to johnleerebel198464's post “what is the difference be...”
what is the difference between SETTING and CHARACTER?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on johnleerebel198464's post “what is the difference be...”
(8 votes)
Answer
- 07juwonc
  Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to 07juwonc's post “setting = place character...”
  setting = place
  character = person
  Button navigates to signup page
  (43 votes)
amelieneuwirthova
Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to amelieneuwirthova's post “the digital sat seems mor...”
the digital sat seems more difficult than the previous one
Button navigates to signup pageComment on amelieneuwirthova's post “the digital sat seems mor...”
(3 votes)
Answer
- Hemistone Cheruiyot
  Posted 3 months ago. Direct link to Hemistone Cheruiyot's post “To me shorter passages ar...”
  To me shorter passages are easier to comprehend, though each comes with its challenges
  Comment on Hemistone Cheruiyot's post “To me shorter passages ar...”
  (31 votes)
J_C
Posted a month ago. Direct link to J_C's post “Are these questions and o...”
Are these questions and other questions in other units taken from the blue book or have they compiled similar pattern questions?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on J_C's post “Are these questions and o...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- Kanhaiya Sah
  Posted a month ago. Direct link to Kanhaiya Sah's post “not exactly but pretty sa...”
  not exactly but pretty same
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
brody.dunnam.12
Posted a month ago. Direct link to brody.dunnam.12's post “His singularity impelled ...”
His singularity impelled in the 1856!
Button navigates to signup pageComment on brody.dunnam.12's post “His singularity impelled ...”
(3 votes)
Answer
Fahimuzzaman
Posted 11 days ago. Direct link to Fahimuzzaman's post “Much clearly explained...”
Much clearly explained...
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
Aryamannhero
Posted 2 days ago. Direct link to Aryamannhero's post “Hmmmm…. Ezzzzzzyyyyyy”
Hmmmm…. Ezzzzzzyyyyyy
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer