Copy and pasted from my other PMs:
Okay, for Picasso I'd go with D, D, B, A, C, B, C, and A. [I apparently got 6/8, so not too bad but not up to my usual standard either.]
How do you figure the main idea if ideas are being brought up almost at random?
In the Picasso passage the ideas are thoroughly non-random. Remember that people do not write randomly. In this case, a summary of his childhood work is introduced so that the author, the artist, and Apollinaire can weigh in on the difference between a child-like artist and an academic one, and how that relates to Picasso's work.
How can you figure the author's opinion when his opinions are all over the place?
This one is tricky because in this passage the author's opinion is stated very, very mildly. When in doubt, count. How many statements could be taken as "good, true, or agreement" and how many as "bad, false, or disagreement"? I came up with one of each, so I went with neutral [and got it wrong, I think, although I stand by my answer].
How do you go about solving for questions with answers that aren't necessarily correct, but are less wrong than the others?
There isn't a straightforward solution, but there are some general rules. The answer with the most evidence to support it is typically strongest. The answer most in keeping with the "tone" of the piece is typically strongest. The answer that most clearly aligns with the "point" or aim of the piece is typically strongest. [And the reverse, if the question is negative].
What do you do when a single sentence is super long?
Re-write it in my head so it's two shorter, simpler ones.
How do you pick out key words/sentences?
Basically, try to quickly get a sense of what the purpose of the passage is. If it's informative, keep an eye out for information. If it's persuasive, look for evidence. If it's argumentative try to identify each perspective and their arguments.
Let me know if there's anything else I can do!