1. Dream BIG
Aim HIGH NO Excuses

2. ACT Reading

3. Section I: Introduction

4. 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!

5. Common SAT 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

6. 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

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

8. 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!

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

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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.”

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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”

16. 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

17. Ordering the Questions Drill
Put the following questions in order from 1-8
___ According to the passage in line 9, “spell” most nearly means
___ In lines 10–22, the author notes that a “hard day’s work” does all of the following EXCEPT
___ In lines 31–33, the author mentions the loss of Alice’s innocence in order to
___ The author’s tone in lines 31–34 could most accurately be characterized as
___ In line 7, “harassing” most closely means
___ The author suggest that athletes
___ The “Good Walk Spoiled” (line 32) most likely refers to a
___ In paragraph 4, the author argues that dancing helps the elderly of America by

18. Further Info on the Types of Questions
There are two main types of questions in R.C:
1. Comprehension
2. Reasoning
Reading comprehension questions do not have O.O.D.
Always answer questions in Specific to General order!

19. Literal Comprehension
Literal comprehension questions ask what the passage says or means
Always do these first!
These questions include:
Line Reference Questions
Lead-phrase Questions
Vocabulary-in-Context Questions

20. Line Reference Questions
Look for questions that have a line numbers
These will usually signify a comprehension question!
Make sure to read a few lines before and after to understand the context
Cover the answers and predict whenever possible!
Example:
In lines 23-24, the main character’s primary concern is...

21. Vocabulary in Context Always solve these first! Example:
In line 25, the word “spell” most nearly means?
They will ask you about words that have multiple meanings
Treat these questions like Sentence Completions!

22. Steps to solve VIC Questions:
Go to the passage and cross-out the word
Step 2:
Read the surrounding lines to understand the context
Step 3:
Look for clues and triggers to help you predict
Step 4:
Write your prediction
Step 5:
Use POE to find the answer

23. Lead Phrase Questions
Many specific questions, do not contain a line number
However, they will have a word or words that will tell you where to go look for the answer!
Always Circle lead word(s) in the questions!

24. predict whenever possible
Reasoning Questions:
Reasoning Questions ask what the Author says or means
You will first have to find the info in the passage, and then understand how or why it is used
Only answer these questions AFTER you have completed all comprehension questions
Cover the answers
and
predict whenever possible

25. Weaken/Strengthen
If an ACT passage contains an argument, you will be asked about how this argument could be made better or made worse
Use your THESIS STATEMENT to see whether the answer choices support it or detract from it

26. Inference Questions
An inference is a reasonable conclusion based upon available facts
For the ACT, make sure to take a 1-step inference
Remember, the statement must be true only based upon the facts presented in the passage

27. Ms. Nelson came to class this morning with wet hair.
Assume the passage contains the following statement…
Ms. Nelson came to class this morning with wet hair.
What can be inferred from the preceding statement?
A. She ran through the sprinklers
B. She was sweating from the gym
C. She showered before class
D. Her hair is not dry

28. Agreement/Except Questions
Agreement Questions:
These questions ask about how the author would respond to a certain statement
Do they expect you to read the author’s mind?
“Except” Questions:
Tedious literal comprehension
Simply use POE to find the one answer choice that is not mentioned

29. Big Picture Questions
Big Picture questions are a type of reasoning question that ask about the passage as a whole
They exist to make sure you know the primary purpose of the passage
Always answer these questions LAST!
Often, they will ask you about the “main point” or the “tone”
Again, Cover the answers and predict!

30. Tone Questions
The Best way to Predict on Tone Questions 1. Ask yourself, is the author positive, negative, or neutral about the subject? 2. Does the author use analysis or emotion?

31. Correct Answer Puzzle-Fit
The ACT uses these passages to test your ability to identify and comprehend a FEW key sentences in the passage.
Then, all of the REASONING questions surround these few ideas.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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