Passage Based Reading SAT Prep

The Facts words long. Single source or a pair to C & C Humanities, social studies, natural sciences, and literary fiction. Narrative, persuasive, expository, and/or literary elements. Set of questions follow each passage.

Approaches Mark the passages or make short notes so you can find the info. quickly! Not too many. Notes in the margin. Selective underlining. You MUST go by what is in the article, not what YOU think about the subject! Ask yourself questions.

Approaches Read actively: Is the passage a factual account of an event? What is the purpose of the passage? Is the writer trying to inform you, amuse you, or influence you? Read the questions FIRST!!!! Annotate in the margins! Who, what, where, when, why

Extended Reasoning Questions Ask you to draw conclusions from or evaluate the information in the passage. The answer will be inferred. Overall theme of the article/passage Tone, purpose, attitude of the writer Probably, apparently, seems, suggests, it can be inferred, the author implies

Facts, Assumptions, Inferences Facts- Statements that are true and can be shown to be true in the passage. Assumptions- Suppositions or propositions that writers make to reach conclusion. Inferences- Conclusions you reach based on what has been said in a passage. To infer- to arrive at a conclusion through reasoning.

Approaches The answers come from the passage. Every word counts. If someone’s face is described as “handsome” or “scarred”; if an event is “surprising” or a word is “whispered” or “spoken with a smile,” PAY ATTENTION!!!! An answer choice can be both true and wrong. Use the choice that BEST answers the question.

Approaches Make sure the reading passage supports your answer. Evidence!!! Try eliminating choices. Don’t jump from passage to passage. You may forget what the passage is about if you move on and come back to it later. Re-reading takes a lot of time you don’t have!