1. ACT Reading

2. Section I: Introduction

3. Reading vs. Reading
Think about the difference between ACT reading comprehension and reading in English classes
On the ACT, you NEVER need to remember what you read!
Remember, you only get points for answering questions, not understanding the passage!

4. Common ACT Reading Mistakes
Most students spend TOO much time on the passage and NOT ENOUGH time on the questions
Students make mistakes because they don’t understand what the questions really ask
Students choose answers that do not have DIRECT SUPPORT from the passage

5. ACTIVE READING
PASSIVE READING
You turn your brain on before reading
Brain is off during reading
Great for: School reading, research, the SAT/ACT/PSAT/AP Tests
Great for: Magazines, Harry Potter books, brochures, etc
You think critically about the author/characters while reading
You simply read/skim to understand the main point
You underline key aspects and make notes as you read
You simply lie on the couch and flip the pages

6. When Reading for the ACT: Look for key aspects such as characters or key arguments
If you underline everything, it becomes meaningless!

7. This test is designed so that time is an issue!
ACT Reading Format
4 Passages
40 Questions
35 Minutes
This test is designed so that time is an issue!

8. The Four Types of Passages
Prose Fiction
Social Sciences
Humanities
Natural Science

9. ACT Reading Basic Strategy
Take the passages in the best order for you
Learn how to find trap answers
Use POE to eliminate trap answers
Spend time understanding the questions, rather than understanding the passage
COVER THE ANSWERS AND PREDICT WHENEVER POSSIBLE

10. Natural Science, Social Science, and Humanities Passages
The key to solving all three of these types of passages is to find the author’s KEY ARGUMENT!

11. Part I: Understanding Key Arguments
Step 1:
Read the blurb
“The Blurb”
“The following passage was adapted from an article published in the New York Herald around The article discusses the sport of baseball, which was just becoming popular at the time.”

12. Part I: Understanding Key Arguments
Step 2:
Skim the passage. Find the THESIS and underline it (one minute)
What is the author’s key argument in this passage?
What lines did you find the thesis and other key argumentative statements?

13. Part II: Types of Questions and How to Answer Them
Step 3:
Answer the questions in specific to general order
Step 4:
Refer back to the passage

14. Ordering Passage Questions
Question Type
Question Type
Easy, Most Specific
Hard, most general
1-Word
1-sentence
1-Paragraph
Whole Passage
After going over how to order these questions, have students take the practice passage and simply order the questions (not do them) from easiest to hardest
Comprehension Questions
Ask about what passage says/means
Reasoning questions
Ask about author, author’s argument
Often use words like “Implies” “suggest,” “infer”

15. Easy Questions
Hard Questions
Ask about the passage
Ask about the author
Usually specific
Usually not specific
Can be done quickly (do these 1st)
Take a bit more time (do these 2nd)
Questions include “Vocab in context, line reference, and lead phrase”
Questions include “author’s argument, tone, main point, etc…”
Worth one point

16. Part III: Don’t Let the ACT Guide Your Brain
Step 5:
Answer the questions in your own words
Step 6:
Use Process of Elimination

17. Practice With Cover and Predict
In the passage, line 6, “styled” most nearly means
In lines 10–25, the author notes that baseball serves as a venue for all of the following EXCEPT
In lines 31–33, the author mentions the dangers involved in swimming and skating so as to
The author’s tone in lines 41–44 could most accurately be characterized as
In lines 44–51, the author of passage 1 suggests that the participation of important businessmen
In paragraph 4, the author argues that playing baseball helps the youth by

18. Reading Section Traps Deceptive language Extreme Words
Example:
If you narrowed the answers down to these three choices, which would you choose?
The author mentions his visit to the store (lines 13-19) primarily to show that…
(A) California avocados are better than any other avocado in the world
(B) Markets often do not stock the best produce
(C) Smaller avocadoes are always more flavorful than larger ones

19. 3. True but not stated in the passage 4. Exact opposite of passage
 Other Trap Answers
3. True but not stated in the passage
4. Exact opposite of passage
5. Half right, half wrong

20. Prose Fiction Passages
Prose Fiction Questions Ask About
Plot
Characters
Setting
Theme
When reading fiction passages, make sure to look for the protagonist, antagonist, and foil
When skimming, read the DIALOGUE

21. Prose Fiction I
Fiction passages usually have three types of characters:
The Protagonist: hero, main character
The Antagonist: villain
The Foil: person or situation that exists to tell the reader something about the protagonist

22. Prose Fiction II Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:
Read the blurb
Step 2:
Skim the passage to understand the plot
Step 3:
Write down a short summary
Step 4:
Watch out for figurative language and literary devices
Step 5:
Make mental or actual notes about the characters