Most Multiple-Choice questions are, in fact, a combination of several True/False statements. In order to select a correct answer, you must first understand the basic concepts related to the topic covered in the chapter. After that, it is just a matter of reading the question carefully. You must know what information is given in the question and what exactly is being asked.
To understand, let’s take an example:
Question
Smart leased a two-bedroom apartment on April 1st last year. The lease is for a period of 2 years. This year in June, Smart got transferred to a distant city. Smart asked salesperson Kim how he should deal with the situation because approximately 10 months are still remaining in the lease. Which of the following would be a good advice for Smart?
Options
A. Smart can abandon the property fully and finally with his belongings but can keep paying the rent until the lease term.
B. Smart should try to find another tenant to whom the lease could be assigned. Smart would then not be liable after assignment.
C. Smart should sublet the apartment and this would completely release him of his liability under the lease.
D. Since this is a fixed term lease, Smart has no options but to continue paying the rent to the landlord.
The Story
This question is related to residential leasing. First, we must understand what options are available to the tenant under a fixed-term lease. Unless the landlord and the tenant agree, both parties must fulfill their obligations under the lease terms. In the given scenario, the tenant wants to move out of the premises before expiry of the term.
Interpreting: When reading and interpreting the answer choices, it is very important to pay attention to keywords. Do not forget that the question is about ‘advice that the salesperson should give to the tenant‘.
Lets read each option carefully:
A. Smart can abandon the property fully and finally with his belongings but can keep paying the rent until the lease term.
Incorrect: Abandonment means that the tenant leaves the property fully and finally without informing the landlord. This would be a violation of the lease contract. The salesperson is a profession and should not provide such an advice.
B. Smart should try to find another tenant to whom the lease could be assigned. Smart would then not be liable after assignment.
Correct: This option is better advice to the tenant. Assignment means that the liabilities of the tenant would be transferred to the new tenant and he would be released. This is subject to exceptions, but based on the limited information in the question, this is the best answer.
C. Smart should sublet the apartment and this would completely release him of his liability under the lease.
Incorrect: Not a good advice. Subletting does not release the current tenant of his liabilities under the lease contract.
D. Since this is a fixed term lease, Smart has no options but to continue paying the rent to the landlord.
Incorrect: Not a good advice. Because the tenant has the option to assign the lease to another tenant, we cannot say that the tenant has ‘no options’ but to keep paying the rent.
Distractions: In certain other questions, the given scenario may relate to more than one topic. This is to make you think about other topics related to the scenario and get distracted. That’s why it is extremely important to know exactly what is being asked in the question. If the question and the options are read hurriedly, you may miss important keywords and pick a wrong answer.
Exam Tip: Even if you find your answer in option A, you must still read options B, C and D because there may be a better answer.
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