Know the ACT: Reading

Test Basics: You can expect four overall passages on the test. However, the ACT has recently (last two years) added a paired passage section to one part of the test, so one of the passage types will be a paired passage. The Reading section contains 40 items. The Reading section allows you 35 minutes. Do the math: At most, how many minutes can you spend on each item?

Test Basics: You can expect four overall passages on the test. However, the ACT has recently (last two years) added a paired passage section to one part of the test, so one of the passage types will be a paired passage. The Reading section contains 40 items. The Reading section allows you 35 minutes. Do the math: At most, how many minutes can you spend on each item? 35 minutes / 40 items ------------------ 52 seconds per item

Test Specifics: Prose Fiction: It reads like a story. Social Science: It reads like a social studies textbook, and is usually factual and dense. Humanities: It is something from the arts (such as art, music, dance, theater). Natural Science: It reads like a science textbook, and is usually factual and dense. Test Specifics: 4 sections, always in the same order

Distractor Traps: Format—using exact wording from the passage. Distraction—using ideas or concepts from somewhere else in the passage. Opposite—using the exact opposite of the right answer. Wording—containing a portion of the truth. Out in Left Field The right answer is often a paraphrase or summary from the passage! This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Test Strategy: Read the first sentence of each passage. Decide on the order you will use to read the passages, thinking about your strengths and interests. A good strategy is to arrange them from easiest to hardest. Passage 1: I think about how everybody Ola knows here has a story. Passage 2: It is entirely possible, right now, to make a delicious French fry that does not carry with it a death sentence. Passage 3: No one knows exactly when the piano was invented. Passage 4: Relative newcomers to the marine world, bluefin tuna and swordfish have evolved into some of the sea’s most highly developed fishes.

Test Strategy: Decide on the order you will use to read the passages, thinking about your strengths and interests. A good strategy is to arrange them from easiest to hardest. Passage 1: I think about how everybody Ola knows here has a story. Passage 2: It is entirely possible, right now, to make a delicious French fry that does not carry with it a death sentence. Passage 3: No one knows exactly when the piano was invented. Passage 4: Relative newcomers to the marine world, bluefin tuna and swordfish have evolved into some of the sea’s most highly developed fishes.

Test Strategy: Read the questions—but not the answers– and ‘Premark’ the passage. Underline numbers and transition words. Note: Questions are not usually presented in the order they appear in the passage. Answer the questions.

Test Strategy: For time management purposes, use this strategy: Easiest, most interesting passage: 10 minutes Easier, somewhat interesting passage: 10 minutes Easy or OK to read passage: 7 minutes Hardest, most boring passage: 5 minutes

Test Strategy: Read the first sentence of each passage. Decide on the order you will use to read the passages, thinking about your strengths and interests. A good strategy is to arrange them from easiest to hardest. Read the questions— but not the answers– and ‘Premark’ the passage. Underline numbers and transition words. Answer the questions.

Guessing Strategy: Always guess the same letter. Does it matter which one you choose? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

Guessing Strategy: Use the process of elimination. Assign each answer choice a Yes, No, or Maybe. Often, maybe answers are totally wrong and can be eliminated.

Guessing Strategy: Don’t waste time on inference questions. All questions are worth the same number of points. When choosing a final answer, think twice about ones that directly quote the text. Correct answers are often summaries or paraphrases of the passage, but are rarely direct quotes.

Detail or Factual Recall: These are answered directly by the passage. Vocabulary in Context: These refer to specific lines; read the sentence to pick the correct meaning. Inference: These use infers, implies, or suggests; if time is an issue, skip these, because you have to read carefully and draw conclusions. Main Idea or Main Purpose: These are most often in the first or last paragraph (introduction or conclusion). Roman Numeral: Treat each answer as true or false; use the process of elimination here. Question Types:

Question Types: Author’s Purpose: Look in the first paragraph. Author’s Tone: This is about word choice; words with positive or negative connotations. Look for comparative and superlative adjectives such as --er and -- ly endings. Author’s Attitude: Usually connected to tone; look in the first few paragraphs. Line References: Just read the line itself and the one before and after. Great choices when you are running out of time. Question Types:

End of Class Review