Tallying graph and options to eliminate options

Many graph questions show a curve and give function answer choices, then ask which one models the graph.
You read points off the graph and plug their $x$-values into each choice to see which output matches. Here is a complete example, where the graph passes through $(0, 4)$ and $(1, 12)$.

Which function is it?
(A) $f(x) = 4 \cdot 3^x$
(B) $f(x) = 4 \cdot 2^x$

Read a point and plug in its $x$-value.
At $x = 0$, both choices give $4$, so that point cannot separate them.
At $x = 1$, the graph shows $12$: choice (A) gives $4 \cdot 3 = 12$, matching, while (B) gives $4 \cdot 2 = 8$, which misses, so (A) is the model.

Save time by eliminating with obvious features first.
If the graph rises, drop any decaying choice; if the $y$-intercept is $4$, drop any choice that does not give $4$ at $x = 0$.
Then test the survivors at a point where they disagree, and keep the one that matches.

The graph of $g(x)$ passes through $(0, 11)$ and $(2, 2)$.

Which function is it?
(A) $g(x) = 12(\tfrac{1}{2})^x - 1$
(B) $g(x) = 15(\tfrac{1}{2})^x - 4$
Both choices give about $11$ at $x = 0$, so read the second point: at $x = 2$ the graph shows $2$.
Choice (A) gives $12 \cdot \tfrac{1}{4} - 1 = 2$, matching the graph, while (B) gives $15 \cdot \tfrac{1}{4} - 4 = -0.25$, which misses, so (A) is correct.

A scatterplot shows salary rising with years of experience; at $x = 2$, the salary is about $25$ thousand.

Which function models it?
(A) $f(x) = 20 + 3.5x$
(B) $f(x) = 20(1.1)^x$
Read the graph at $x = 2$, where the salary is about $25$.
Choice (A) gives $20 + 3.5(2) = 27$, too high, while (B) gives $20(1.1)^2 \approx 24$, close to the graph, so (B) is correct.

The graph of $f(x)$ passes through $(0, 500)$ and $(1, 200)$.

Which function is it?
(A) $f(x) = 500(0.6)^x$
(B) $f(x) = 500(0.4)^x$
Both choices give $500$ at $x = 0$, so read the point at $x = 1$, where the graph shows $200$.
Choice (A) gives $500(0.6) = 300$, too high, while (B) gives $500(0.4) = 200$, matching the graph, so (B) is correct.