The NJASK Multiple Choice Section (and how to ace it)

How are you scored? Working with Text –Main idea –Details –Vocabulary –Making inferences These are easier questions…because all you have to do is go back to the text to find the answers. Analyzing Text Open-endeds –Fact vs. Opinion –Type of nonfiction –Type of organization –Figurative language –Making predictions

Main Idea Questions Tips –The answer has to relate to the WHOLE passage. –In nonfiction, the main idea is usually near the beginning of the passage. –Put a star next to the main idea when you find it. They will try to trick you! –They’ll give answers choices that are really details –They’ll give answers that sound like main ideas, but do not relate to the passage. –They’ll ask “What is the theme?” or “What would be a good title?” These questions are the same as asking for the main idea.

Detail Questions Tips –Read the questions first to know what you’re looking for. –Underline details that you think are important as you’re reading. –Go back to the text to check EVERY answer. They are so tricky! –They’ll give a correct answer that uses different words than the text. –They’ll give details from the text that relate to a different main idea.

Vocabulary Questions Tips –Use context clues –Try substituting the vocabulary word with the choices to see if they fit –Use the prefixes/suffixes/root words of the vocab. word Tricks up their sleeves! –They’ll ask you about words that have more than one meaning. –They might ask the question in terms of a dictionary. –They’ll count on the fact that you don’t want to go back to the text.

Making Inferences Tips –You’ll have to figure out the best answer, so make sure you read all the choices carefully –If you’re stumped, pick the answer that relates to the largest part of the text. Tricky, tricky, tricky –They’ll give incorrect answer choices that relate to only a small portion of the text.

What type of question is it? Which detail is most important to the meaning of the passage? DETAIL

What type of question is it? Based on the text, what is the best meaning of the word “chimichanga”? VOCABULARY

What type of question is it? What is this story mostly about? MAIN IDEA

What type of question is it? Which phrase best completes the chart? Life in the North is hard Blizzards Freezing water DETAIL

What type of question is it? What will the main character most likely do if he’s presented with a similar problem in the future? MAKING INFERENCES

What type of question is it? For what reasons did the lion fear the tiger in this story? MAKING INFERENCES

Your Job You will choose one of the four types of “Working with Text” questions to create a poster about. Your poster must have: –A title –At least two tips –At least two ways the test-makers will try to trick you –A sample question based on a story or nonfiction text we’ve read this year so far (include answer and how you know it’s the correct answer)