What The Heck Is It Asking? Decoding ACT Question Stems

Some Things We Know ACT is timed Most students feel they don’t have “enough” time for the ACT Reading test The faster you can answer a question, the faster you can move on to the next one

How Can I Decode More Quickly? Temporarily IGNORE certain information in the question stem Place Indicators Quotes Prepositional Phrases Completely IGNORE certain information Replace other information in the stem with more “usable” question language

What these are: Why we don’t need them: Some examples: Place Indicators What these are: Line Numbers Paragraph Indicators Why we don’t need them: They don’t help us understand what the question is asking, but rather where the answer is located Some examples: “In the third paragraph” (lines 26-32)

So What Should You Do? Temporarily!

What these are: Why we don’t need them: Some examples: Quotes Word-for-word repetition of the text Why we don’t need them: The question wants to know something about the quote. Knowing the quote will not help determine that question Some examples: When the author refers to “entrepreneurs preying on the anxieties of new parents” (lines 60–61), she is most likely suggesting that new parents should:

So What Should You Do? Temporarily!

Prepositional Phrases What these are: “Extra” information that clarify and provide more detail Why we don’t need them: Prepositional phrases are OPTIONAL and have no grammatical bearing on the meaning of the sentence Removing them gets rid of the “fat” Some examples: As he is revealed in the incident of undertaking the construction of the basketball court, the grandfather can best be characterized as:

So What Should You Do? Temporarily!

Forget it Completely! Remember that other information is completely worthless when decoding the questions. You can COMPLETELY IGNORE words/phrases similar to the following: “in this passage” DUH! Where would your information come from? “the passage indicates/states” Again, I know what these questions refer to

“of the following sentences” Forget it Completely! “of the following sentences” You mean I have to choose between the options you give me? “by the author” - when asked within a non-fiction passage DUH! The whole piece is the author’s thoughts/ opinion

So What Should You Do? COMPLETELY!

Replacements There are a number of common test phrases that can be replaced with other/easier language: “you can infer” / “It can reasonably be inferred” “What” or “Why” “can best be described as” “What is/are” “Which is supported by the passage” i.e., Which choice is true?

The Final Step! Now that you’ve completely and temporarily forgotten certain information and replaced other “wordy” information, you have to make sense of what’s left. Start with a question word Follow it immediately with a verb The majority of the other words will get used.

Becomes: Which is a main point? (vaguely remember “responsibility”) Let’s Practice! One of the author’s main points about the legal concept of responsibility in the passage is that: Becomes: Which is a main point? (vaguely remember “responsibility”)

Let’s Practice! 2. The point of view from which the passage is told can best be described as that of: Becomes: What is the point of view?

Let’s Practice! 3. It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that which of the following is a cherished dream that Abshu expects to make a reality in his lifetime? Becomes: What is the cherished dream?

Let’s Practice! 4. Based on the passage, the primary purpose for the 1970s redefinition of insanity proposed by the American Law Institute was to: Becomes: Why was “insanity” redefined?

Let’s Practice! 5. Which of the following most nearly paraphrases Helen Hunt Jackson’s statement to Emily Dickinson that “it is wrong to the day you live in, that you will not sing aloud” (lines 35–36)? Becomes: Which paraphrases the quote?

Let’s Practice! 6. The fourth paragraph (lines 31-37) establishes all of the following EXCEPT: Becomes: Which is not established?

Let’s Practice! 7. It can reasonably be inferred from the first paragraph that in obtaining outside funding for the community center, Abshu could be characterized as: Becomes: How can Abshu be characterized?

Let’s Practice! 8. Which of the following would the author of the passage be LEAST likely to recommend as a way to strengthen the synapses of a baby’s brain? Becomes: Which is NOT the way to strengthen the synapses?

Let’s Practice! 9. When the author refers to “entrepreneurs preying on the anxieties of new parents” (lines 60–61), she is most likely suggesting that new parents should: Becomes: What should parents do? (vaguely remember quote/area)

Let’s Practice! 10. Which of the following best states the author’s response to Matthew Arnold’s view of the function of criticism (lines 65–76)? Becomes: How does the author respond to Arnold? (vaguely remember “function of criticism”)