Smart Exam Techniques: "Reason-Based Elimination Techniques" (RET): With Grade Entrance: English and Aptitude (SAT)

Overview

  

Reason-Based Elimination technique (RET):

1. English Version

2. Afan Oromo Version

3. Amharic Version

xxxx

1. English Version of the Technique

1.1. Brief Descriptions of the Technique

Here, I am going to briefly describe 3 key issues about reason-based elimination technique: 

• Basic concept about the technique
• Key Advantages of the technique
• Key Principles of the technique

A. Basic Concept about the Technique 

• Reason-based elimination technique/ elimination technique is process of looking for wrong answers and eliminating them based on clues/reasons! 
• It is the opposite to the traditional technique which is looking for correct answer and choosing it!

B. Advantages of the Technique

Two Key Advantages: Dear students, if you use reason-based elimination technique effectively, it could give a lot of advantages. The next 2 key advantages are among these:

• General exam technique: It is universal exam technique that can work for:
• Any question (multiple choices and matching)
• Any subject (English, Maths, Biology...)
• Any exam (class, model, Entrance...)
• Any student
• 100% sure: It enables students to be 100% sure on their answers!
• The more you decrease (eliminate) wrong choices, the more you increase your probability of getting (PG). For example, for questions with 4 choices:

• When you eliminate 1 wrong choice, your PG: 25-->33%!
• When you eliminate 2 wrong choices, your PG: 33-->50%!
• When you eliminate 3 wrong choices, your PG: 50-->100%!

Note: You can be 100% sure on your answer if and only you are 100% sure that the choices that you haven't chosen are wrongs answers!

C. Principles of the Technique 

2 key principles: To use the technique, follow the next simple but key principles: Understanding question and eliminating wrong choices!

• Understanding question: The first thing that you should do is understanding the given question based on concrete clues. You have read the given question carefully and understand it!...
• Eliminating: After understanding the question, go to the given choices and eliminate all unrelated/ wrong choices based on your clues! 

1.2. Application of 'Elimination Technique'

Dear students, let's see how to apply/use reason-based elimination technique/ 'elimination technique' to answer any exam question! 

Attention Please!

• Don't consider the technique as if long methods! 
• Here, 'detail explanations' are given so that students will be able to understand and use the technique in future.
• As soon as you understand (mastered) the technique, you will be able to answer questions in one or two simple steps!

Note: The next questions are taken from Grade 12 Entrance Exam Questions (English and Aptitude: Ethiopia)

Q. If he ____ more careful, he wouldn't have had the accident. (G-12: Entrance: English: Ethiopia)

A. had driven   

B. drove  

C. would drive  

D. has driven

Explanation-1

Brief Explanation 

Look this question; it is about conditional clause (clue: see the expressions 'if' and 'would have had...'). Because 'if' and 'would have had...' or 'if clause' and 'main clause' are used in conditional clause.

Using the given clause 'would have had...' as a clue, you can answer this and related questions in one step. 

• The given clause 'main clause' shows conditional type-3: ('would + have + verb3' is conditional type-3)! 
• Based on these, choices B, C and D are wrong: eliminate them. 

Ans. A

Detail Explanation

As it is mentioned above, it is about conditional clause (clue: see the expressions 'if' and 'would have had...'). Because 'if' and 'would have had...' or 'if clause' and 'main clause' are used in conditional clause.

Now, to decide/to know specifically which conditional clause the question refers to, look for "clues". 

• For example, look, you are given 'main clause' (clue: see ''wouldn't have had") and asked to answer 'if clause'. 
• This is one of the ways to ask questions (giving one clause and asking other clause) about conditional clause. 
• Whenever you are asked this type of question, you could answer in one or two steps by "using the given clause as claue"! 

The given clause is 'main clause' (wouldn't have had: "would + have + verb3") clearly indicates that this conditional clause/sentence is type 3. 

• Because based on rules (about conditional clause/sentence), we use "would + have + verb3" (in main clause), and "had + verb3" (in if clause). 
• So, now, eliminate all the choices that don't begin with 'had + verb3'! 
• All are eliminated except choice A. 

Ans. A

Additional Explanations

Let's briefly summarize how to answer the above and other related questions in one step by applying 'elimination technique' using the given clause ('main clause') as clues! 

• The given clause shows that the above question is specifically about 'conditional clause type-3'; therefore, all the choices must be eliminated except A ('had + verb3' is used with 'would + have + verb3')! 
• Brief Rules: We use 'subject + had + verb3 (in if clause), subject + would + have + verb3 (in main clause) for 'conditional clause type-3'!

Q. The money we collected is ______ near enough to cover our expenses. Much more is needed still. (G-12: Entrance: English: Ethiopia)

A. anywhere   

B. somewhere  

C. everywhere  

D. nowhere

Explanation-2

This question is about quantifier (clues: see each of the given choices: they are quantifiers). 

• Whenever you are asked question about quantifier, make sure whether it is negative or positive. 
• Look this question is negative (clue: see the meaning or the expression "much more is needed still."). 
• This (much more is needed still) means, the collected money is not enough. 
• Based on this, choices B & C must be eliminated because "somewhere" and "everywhere" are used for positive ideas. 
• If we eliminate two choices (out of 4 choices), our probability of getting that question is 50% (we increase our probability from 25% to 50%)! 
• If we eliminate A or D (above), our probability of getting will be 100%!
• Both 'anywhere' (A) and 'nowhere' (D) could be used with negative but choice A should be eliminated. 
• Because based on rules, 'anywhere' is used with negative words and 'nowhere' is used without negative words/verbs! 
• But look the given question; here, we don't have negative words/verbs (for more, below)! Therefore, no doubt; 100% sure, D is correct answer!

Ans. D

Tips

Whenever you are given 'nowhere/ nobody/ nothing/ no one' and 'anywhere/ anybody/ anything/anyone', look for negative words/verbs!

• We use 'nowhere/ nobody/nothing/ no one' without negative words or verbs as they are negative by themselves!
• Negative words: no, none, rarely, refuse, reject...
• Negative verbs: auxiliary verb + not (like is/was/does/do not...).
• We use 'anywhere/anybody/ anything/anyone' with negative words/ verbs as they are not negative by themselves!

Q. Derartu is twelve years old. For three years, she has been asking her parents for a dog. Her parents have told her that they believe a dog would not be happy in an apartment, but they have given her permission to have a bird. Derartu has not yet decided what kind of bird she would like to have. (G-12: Entrance: Aptitude: Ethiopia)

A. Derartu and her parents live in an apartment.

B. Derartu and her parents would like to move.

C. Derartu's parents like birds better than they like dogs.

D. Derartu does not like birds.

Explanation-3

Using the ideas in the given paragraph as clues and applying 'elimination technique' the above question and other related questions could be answered in one/two simple steps! 

• Look the above given paragraph talks about 'Derartu's question and her parent's response' (clues: read the given paragraph). 
• Based on the ideas in this paragraph, choices B, C and D must be eliminated. 
• Because they are unrelated to the above given paragraph. 
• But the idea on choice A has been mentioned (in the above given paragraph) indirectly; see sentence-3. 
• The expression ''... a dog would not be happy in an apartment..." indicates that Derartu and her parent live in apartment.

Ans. A

Additional Explanations: Powerful 

Dear students, reason-based elimination  technique/ elimination technique is very powerful technique that can make you 100% sure on your answer!

Let's see this next. In the above paragraph, nothing has been said: 

• About 'moving'; eliminate choice B! 
• Your probability of getting increased from 25% to 33% when you eliminate one choice!
• About liking or disliking dogs they said dogs may not comfortable in apartment; eliminate choice C! 
• Your probability of getting increased from 33% to 50% when you eliminate one choice!
• About liking or disliking birds; eliminate choice D! 
• Your probability of getting increased from 50% to 100%!
• Look now, you are 100% sure that choices B, C and D are wrong (based on reasons) and eliminate them! 
• If you are 100% sure that 3 choices are wrong and eliminate them, whether you like or not, you can be 100% sure that the rest choice is correct answer!
• Please, use this technique in future!

2. Afan Oromo Version of the Technique 

Kabajamoo barattoota: 

• Tooftaa qormaataa 'Elimination technique' olitti ibsame kana, Afaan Oromootiin gabaabsee, akka itti aanu kanatti dhiheesseera! 
• Dubbisaa; sirritti itti fayyadamaa!

2.1. Ibsa Gabaaba (Brief Descriptions)

A. Maalummaa Tooftaa 'Elimination'

Tooftaan qormaataa kun (gabaabatti 'Elimination') tooftaa qormaataa filannoowwan deebii ta'uu hin dandeenye barbaadanii, eertuu (clue/reason) irratti hundaa'uun dhaamsuun, deebii sirrii itti filataniidha/deebiisaniidha!

• Tooftichi faallaa tooftaa barattoonni baay'een itti fayyadam (traditional method) deebii sirrii barbaadanii filachuuti! 

B. Faayidaalee Tooftichaa

Faayidaalee ijoo tooftichaa keessaa isaan lameen armaan gadii kun isaan muraasa: 

• Tooftaan kun hundaafuu kan hojjetuudha: 
• Gosa barnootaa hundaafuu ni hojjeta
• Gosa gaafii hundaafuu (filannoo fi firoomsi) hundaafuu
• Gosa qormaataa hundaafuu (kan daree, model, Entrance...)
• Barataa kamiyyuufuu ni hojjeta!
• Parsantii 100%: Toofticha kana sirritti yoo fayyadamne, deebii keenya irratti parsantii 100 'sure' ta'uu nu dandeessisa! Fkn. Gaaffiilee filannoowwan 4 qabaniif:
• Filannoo 1 yeroo dhaamsitan, charraan argachuu keessanii, 25% --> 33%!
• Filannoo 2 yeroo dhaamsitan, charraan argachuu keessanii, 33%-->50%!
• Filannoo 3 yeroo dhaamsitan, charraan argachuu, 50%-->100%
• Hub. Barataan tokko deebii filate irratti parsantii 100 'sure' ta'uu kan danda'u, filannoowwan hin filatiin deebii ta'uu akka hin dandeenye 100% 'sure' ta'uu yoo danda'e qofa!

C. Qaceelfamoota Ijoo

Tooftaa kana itti fayyadamuuf, qaceelfamoota ijoo lameen armaan gadii kana hordofaa:

• Gaaffiicha hubachuu (understanding the question): Eertuu (clue) qabatamaa irratti hundaa'uun, gaaficha keenname sirritti hubadhu! Gaaficha sirritti osoo hin hubatin gara deebii laachuutti hin deemiin! 
• Dhaamsuu (Eliminating): Eertuu (clue) kee irratti hundaa'uun filannoowwan sirrii hin ta'iin dhaami!

2.2. Hojiira Olchuu (Application)

Itti fayyadamaa: 

• Yeroo gaaffiilee filannooti fi walitti firoomsi gaafamtan maraawu tooftaa kana fayyadamaa! 
• Dura filannoowwan deebii ta'uu hin dandeenye qofa barbaadaa dhaamsaa!

Akkamitti toofticha hojii olchuu/itti fayyadamuu akka dandeessan ilaaluuf ibsa gaaffiilee qormaata kutaa 12 (Entrance) armaan gaditti keenname kana dubbisaa!

Q. If he ____ more careful, he wouldn't have had the accident. (G-12: 2014)

A. had driven   

B. drove  

C. would drive  

D. has driven

Ibsa-1

Gaafiin kun gaafii 'conditional clause'ti (Eertuu/clues: jechoota 'if' fi 'would have had...' je'an ilaali')! 

• Karaan gaafiileen 'conditional clause' itti gaafataman keessaa tokko 'clauses' lamaan ('if clause' fi 'main clause') keessaa 'clause' tokko kennanii, kan hafe gaafachuudha. 
• Yeroo kana 'clause' isiniif kenname akka eertuutti (clues/reasons) fayyadamaati 'clause' kaan salphatti deebissuu ni dandeessan! 
• Fkn. gaafiicha kana ilaalaa; 'main clause' ('would have had') kennameeti፣ 'if clause' gaafatamtan. 
• Akka beekamutti 'main clause' would + have +verb3 ('conditional type-3')፣ 'if clause': had + verb3 ta'a. 
• Kanaafuu, filmaata 'had + verb3'dhaan hin eegalle hunda dhaamsaa ('eliminate' godhaa)! 
• Filannoo A malee hundii ni dhaama! 
• Shakkii takka malee, filannoon A deebii sirriitti!

Deebii A

Q. The money we collected is ______ near enough to cover our expenses. Much more is needed still. (G-12: Entrance: English)

A. anywhere   

B. somewhere  

C. everywhere  

D. nowhere

Ibsa-2

Gaafiin kun gaafii waa'ee 'quantifiers'ti (Eertuu/clues: filannoolee kennaman ilaalaa)፤ filannoolee kennaman irratti 'quantifiers' adda addaa yoo kennaman, gaafiin san gaafii 'quantifiers'ti! 

Gaafiilee 'quantifiers' yeroo gaafatamtan, gaafiichi yaada 'negative' moo 'positive' ibsa kan je'u sirritti hubadhaa!

• Fkn. gaafichi kun yaada 'negative' ibsa (Eertuu/clues: yaada "Much more is needed still." je'u ilaalaa). 
• Maallaqni walitti qabame ga'aa miti jechuudha. 
• Kanaafuu, filannooleen B fi C dhaaman. Sababni isaas "somewhere" fi "everywhere" yaada 'positive' ibsuuf gargaaran. 
• Filannoo lama dhaamsiti jechuun, gaaficha san parsantii 50 (50%) deebisteeti jirta jechuudha!
• Garuu "anywhere" (A) fi "nowhere" (D) lachuu yaada 'negative' ibsuuf ni gargaaran. 
• Garaa garuummaan isaanii, "anywhere" jechoota 'negative' (negative words/verbs (no/not/none....) gala. 
• "Nowhere" jechoota 'negative' (negative words/verbs (no/not/none....) malee gala; mataan isaa 'negative' waan ta'eef jechoota 'negative' (no/not/none....) hin barbaadu. 
• Kanaafuu, filannoon A ni dhaama; shakkii takka malee, filannoon D deebii sirritti!

Deebii D

3. Amharic Version of the Technique 

ውድ ተማሪዎች:

• ከላይ የተገለፀውን የፈተና ቴክኒክ 'elimination technique' በአማርኛ በአጭሩ እንደሚከተለው አብራርቼዋለሁ!
• አንብቡት፤ ተጠቀሙበት!

3.1. አጭር ማብራሪያ (Brief Description)

ሀ. የቴክኒኩ ምንነት

'Elimination technique': ይሄ የፈተና ቴክኒክ በተጨባጭ ፍንጭ (clues/reason) ላይ ተመስርቶ፣ መልስ ሊሆኑ የማይችሉትን ምርጫዎች ፈልጎ፣  በማጥፋት፣ ትክክለኛውን መልስ የመምረጫ ዘዴ ነው!

ለ. የቴክኒኩ ጠቀሜታዎቹ

• ለሁሉም ይሰራል: ይሄ የፈተና ቴክኒክ ለሁሉም የትምህር አይነቶች፣ የፈተና አይነቶች (ምርጫ ና አዛምድ)፣ ለሁሉም የፈተና አይነቶች (የክፍል፣ ሞዴል፣ Entrance...)፣ ለሁሉም ተማሪ... ይሰራል!
• 100% እርግጠኛ ያደርጋል: ይሄ የፈተና ቴክኒክ 100% እርግጠኛ ልትሆኑበት የምትችሉትን ምርጫ መምረጥ የሚያስችላችሁ ቴክኒክ ነው! 
• ምንጊዜም  የምርጫ ና አዛምድ ጥያቄዎችን ስትጠየቁ ይሄን ቴክኒክ ተጠቀሙ! መጀመሪያ መልስ ሊሆኑ የማይችሉትን ምርጫዎች ብቻ ፈልጋችሁ አጥፏቸው (ባለ 4 ምርጫ ጥያቄዎች)! 

• አንድ ምርጫ (wrong choice) ስታጠፉ፣ የማግኘት እድላችሁ ከ25% ወደ 33% ከፍ ይላል!
• ሁለት ምርጫዎች (wrong choices) ስታጠፉ፣ የማግኘት እድላችሁ ከ33% ወደ 50% ከፍ ይላል!
• ሶስት ምርጫዎች (wrong choices) ስታጠፉ፣ የማግኘት እድላችሁ ከ50% ወደ 100% ከፍ ይላል!

Note: አንድ ተማሪ የመረጠው መልስ ላይ 100% እርግጠኛ መሆን የሚችለው፣ ያልመጣቸው ምርጫዎች መልስ መሆን አለመቻላቸውን 100% እርግጠኛ መሆን ከቻለ ብቻ ነው!

3.2. Application 

ይሄ የፈተና ቴክኒክ ለሁሉም የትምህርት አይነቶች ይሰራል!

ተጠቀሙበት: ምንጊዜም  የምርጫ ና አዛምድ ጥያቄዎችን ስትጠየቁ ይሄን ቴክኒክ ተጠቀሙ!

እንዴት መጠቀም እንደ ሚቻል ለማየት ቀጥለው ያሉትን ጥያቄወች ና ማብራሪያዎች ተመልከቱ/አንብቡ (Grade Entrance)!

Q. If he ____ more careful, he wouldn't have had the accident. (G-12: 2014)

A. had driven   

B. drove  

C. would drive  

D. has driven

ማብራሪያ-1

ይሄ ጥያቄ ስለ 'conditional clause' ነው (ፍንጭ: 'if' ና 'would have had...' የሚሉ ቃላትን ተመልከቱ')! 

• አንዱ የ'conditional clause' ጥያቄዎች የሚጠየቁበት መንገድ/ስትጠየቁ፣ ከሁለቱ 'clauses' ('if clause' ና 'main clause') ውስጥ አንዱ 'clause' ይሰጣችሁ ና የቀረውን 'clause' ነው የምትጠየቁት። 
• የዚህን ጊዜ የተሰጣችሁን 'clause' እንደ ፍንጭ (using the given clause as clue!) ተጠቅማችሁ የቀረውን/የተጠየቃችሁትን "clause" በቀላሉ ማግኝት ትችላላችሁ! 
• ለምሳሌ በዚህ ጥያቄ 'main clause' ('would have had') ተሰቷችሁ፣ 'if clause' ነው የተጠየቃችሁት። 
• እንደሚታወቀው 'main clause' would + have +verb3 ('conditional type-3') ሲሆን፣ 'if clause': had + verb3 ይሆናል! ስለዚህ በ'had + verb3' የማይጀምሩትን ሁሉንም ምርጫዎች አጥፏቸው። 
• ከምርጫ A ውጪ የቀሩት ሁሉም ምርጫዎች ይጠፋሉ። 

መልስ: A

Q. The money we collected is ______ near enough to cover our expenses. Much more is needed still. (G-12: Entrance: English)

A. anywhere   

B. somewhere  

C. everywhere  

D. nowhere

ማብራሪያ-2

ይሄ ጥያቄ ስለ 'quantifiers' ነው (ፍንጭ/clues: የተሰጡትን ምርጫዎች ተመልከቱ)፤ የተሰጡት ምርጫዎች ላይ የተለያዩ 'quantifiers' ከተሰጡ ያ ጥያቄ ስለ 'quantifiers' ነው።

• የ'quantifiers' ጥያቄወችን ስትጠየቁ መጀመሪያ ጥያቄው 'negative'/'positive' መሆኑን አረጋግጡ። 
• ለምሳሌ ይሄ ጥያቄ  'negative' ነው (ፍንጭ/clue: "Much more is needed still." የሚለውን ተመልከቱ።) 
• ይሄ ማለት የተሰበሰበው ብር በቂ አይደለም ማለት ነው። 
• ስለዚህ ምርጫ B ና C ይጠፋሉ ምክንያቱም "somewhere" ና "everywhere" 'positive' ሀሳብን ለመግለፅ ነው የሚያገለግሉት። 
• ሁለት ምርጫዎች ስታጠፉ 'eliminate' ስታደርጉ፣ ያንን ጥያቄ 50% መልሳችሁታል ማለት ነው! 
• "anywhere" (A) ና "nowhere" (D) ሁለቱም 'negative' ሀሳብን ለመግለፅ ያገለግላሉ፤ 
• "anywhere" ከ'negative words/verbs (no/not/none....)' ጋር ነው የሚገባው/የምንጠቀመው፤
• "nowhere" ግን ያለ 'negative words/verbs (no/not/none....)' ብቻውን ነው የምንጠቀመው፤ እራሱ negative ስለ ሆነ 'negative words/verbs (no/not/none....)' አያስፈልገውም። 
• ሰለዚህ ምርጫ A ይጠፋል (ፍንጭ/clue: በዚህ ጥያቄ ውስጥ 'negative words/verbs (no/not/none....)' የሉም)። 
• በዚህ መሰረት ያለ ምንም ጥርጥር D ትክክኛ መልስ ነው (100% sure)!

 መልስ D