Hence, Therefore, Thus, So, Since, and Because are typically misdirection words in which type of questions?

Hence, Therefore, Thus, So, Since, and Because are typically misdirection words in which type of questions?

• A. Main Point Qs
• B. Weaken Qs
• C. Inference questions
• D. Strengthen Qs

Answer: (A)

These words point to a conclusion drawn from the surrounding evidence. In a Main Point question, your job is to identify the author’s single, central claim—the main idea the entire passage is building toward. When you see words like hence, therefore, thus, so, since, and because, they often introduce the conclusion that serves as that central claim. That makes them useful signals for locating the main point, but they can also be used in the other answer choices to suggest conclusions that are too broad, too narrow, or only a part of the argument. The best answer will capture the author’s overarching claim that everything in the passage is supporting, not a tangential or overly specific conclusion. For context, imagine a passage arguing that increasing urban green space improves mental health, reduces heat, and boosts local biodiversity. A conclusion starting with Therefore might state that expanding green space is essential for urban policy. The main point would be the broader claim about why expanding green space matters overall, while other choices might overfocus on one benefit or misstate the scope. That’s why these conclusion-indicating words are especially characteristic of Main Point questions—they guide you to the central claim, even as distractors try nudging you toward narrower or different conclusions.

These words point to a conclusion drawn from the surrounding evidence. In a Main Point question, your job is to identify the author’s single, central claim—the main idea the entire passage is building toward. When you see words like hence, therefore, thus, so, since, and because, they often introduce the conclusion that serves as that central claim. That makes them useful signals for locating the main point, but they can also be used in the other answer choices to suggest conclusions that are too broad, too narrow, or only a part of the argument. The best answer will capture the author’s overarching claim that everything in the passage is supporting, not a tangential or overly specific conclusion.

For context, imagine a passage arguing that increasing urban green space improves mental health, reduces heat, and boosts local biodiversity. A conclusion starting with Therefore might state that expanding green space is essential for urban policy. The main point would be the broader claim about why expanding green space matters overall, while other choices might overfocus on one benefit or misstate the scope. That’s why these conclusion-indicating words are especially characteristic of Main Point questions—they guide you to the central claim, even as distractors try nudging you toward narrower or different conclusions.