TIp #16 Reading Question Type 15 (Title the Passage): Determine central theme, eliminate with the easily wrong first and then the more difficult ones, emphasize specificity, breadth and neutral tone

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Pre-Task Strategies

1. Read the Passage First
   • Identify the central theme (e.g., innovation, conflict, cultural exchange).
   • Note key examples and conclusions (often in the first/last lines).
2. Eliminate Wrong Titles Step-by-Step:
   • 1st Elimination: Remove irrelevant titles (unrelated to the passage).
   • 2nd Elimination: Remove too specific titles (focus on minor details).
   • 3rd Elimination: Remove too general titles (could apply to many passages).
   • Final Choice: Select the "least bad" option that balances specificity and coverage.
3. Title Qualities to Favor:
   • Specificity: Mentions unique elements from the passage.
   • Breadth: Covers multiple paragraphs, not just one idea.
   • Neutral Tone: Avoids extreme language ("disaster," "miracle") unless the passage supports it.

Practice
Task Type: Select the best title for a 150-word passage from 4 options.

Model Task Passage (150 words):

"Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare by improving diagnostic accuracy and streamlining administrative tasks. For example, AI algorithms now detect early signs of cancer in medical images with 95% accuracy, surpassing human radiologists in some cases. Hospitals also use AI chatbots to schedule appointments and answer patient queries, reducing wait times. However, ethical concerns persist, such as data privacy risks and potential job displacement for medical staff. Despite these challenges, experts agree that AI’s benefits—like reducing costs and saving lives—outweigh its drawbacks. The future of healthcare will likely rely on a balance of human expertise and AI efficiency."

Title Options:
A. "How AI Chatbots Schedule Appointments"
B. "The Ethical Dilemmas of Technology"
C. "AI in Healthcare: Promising Advances and Ethical Challenges"
D. "The History of Medical Imaging"

Answer at end

Post-Task Assessment & Reflection
Self-Check Questions:

1. Did I eliminate irrelevant/specific titles first? (✅ A, D).
2. Did I avoid overly general titles? (✅ B).
3. Does the chosen title reflect the passage’s scope? (✅ C covers pros/cons).

Reflection Prompts:

• Specificity: "Did I mistake a detail (A) for the main theme?"
• Generalization: "Did Option B seem plausible because it sounded broad?"
• Tone: "Did I overlook neutral language in favor of dramatic titles?"

Key Takeaways

• Goldilocks Title: Not too narrow (A), not too broad (B), not off-topic (D).
• Ethics ≠ Main Idea: If ethics is one part of the passage, it shouldn’t dominate the title.
• Future Focus: Titles like "The Future of X" often win if the passage ends with forward-looking statements.

 
Answer Key: C

• Why?
  • Covers AI’s benefits (diagnostics, chatbots) and challenges (ethics).
  • Balanced and passage-specific.
• Eliminated Options:
  • A: Too specific (only chatbots).
  • B: Too general (no mention of healthcare/AI).
  • D: Irrelevant (focuses on history, not AI).