ACT Reading Test Introduction Reading Test Description 40

ACT Reading Test Introduction

Reading Test Description • 40 -question/ 35 minute test • The test comprises of four sections. Each will contain one long or two short prose passages. • Specifically there will be 10 questions in each of the following categories: prose, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.

Question Types Specific Questioning • Detail: Asks about the “what” as stated in the passage Example) The author indicates in lines 69 -70 that Oedipus’s resolution “to hunt out the guilty person and cleanse the city” was: • Function: Asks about why a word, sentence, or example is used in the passage Example) The author discusses Porgy and Bess and Lost in the Stars in order to: • Vocab-in-Context: Asks about the meaning of a word or words as used in context Example) The phrase “fuller use of the intensities of art” (line 14) most nearly means:

Question Types • Big Picture: Asks about the overall point of the whole passage or of one paragraph – Main point or purpose of entire passage or a section of a passage – Author’s attitude or tone – Logic underlying the author’s argument – Relationship between different parts of the passage – Difference between fact and opinion Example) The main point of the fifth paragraph is that choral odes:

Question Types • Inference: Read between the lines to draw a conclusion that is not explicitly stated Example) Which of the following is supported by the information in the second paragraph?

Just FYI… • About 1/3 of the Reading test are Detail questions. • Most of the rest are Inference questions. • The few that are left are Big Picture questions.

Reading Test Scoring • To get a 15: 16/40 questions correct • To get a 20: 22/40 questions correct • To get a 25: 27/40 questions correct • To get a 30: 33/40 questions correct

The KEY to SUCCESS: ACTIVE READING! – What does this mean? • Don’t dwell on details… you’ll run out of time • Skim and look for key words – For instance, when an author says “for example, ” you know what follows is an example of a general point.

ACT Reading Strategies ABCs of Active Reading – Abbreviate margin notes – Bracket key sentences – Circle key words and phrases Label each paragraph with its main topic

ACT Reading Strategies KAPLAN Method: Step 1: Actively read the passage. Take notes as you go. Understand the gist Take notes/create a road map of the passage Step 2: Examine the question stem. Look for clues (don’t peek at the answers!) Is the question asking for a detail, big idea, inference, or a word/phrased used? Step 3: Predict the answer. Select the choice that best matches your prediction. In other words, predict what you think the answer would be and pick the answer that best matches what you think. Don’t dwell on question/answer choices if you can help it.

ACT Reading Strategies -You have less than a minute to answer each question. No need to read the entire passage if it only asks you to answer a question about a couple of parts! -Do not waste time on questions that seem too difficult for you. Just take an educated guess and move on. -Never leave any bubbles blank. When “ 5 minutes remaining” is called, fill in the rest of your bubbles with the SAME LETTER.

ACT Reading Diagnostic Test We will now take a diagnostic test to see where you stand in ACT Reading. It is important for you to do your absolute best on this test, so I can see exactly which skills you need to work on as an individual and so I can see patterns in the whole class. If you finish with more than 10 minutes left in the test, I will know you haven’t given a good faith effort, and it will count against your participation for the day.

ACT Reading Diagnostic Test Chart Put your name at the top of the chart and fill in ONLY the “your answer” column with the answers from your answer sheet. Then, swap your chart with someone else.

ACT Reading Diagnostic Test Chart • Partners, fill in the “correct answer” column with the following correct answers and put an “X” in the next column next to those questions they got incorrect.

ACT Reading Diagnostic Test Answers 1) D 2) F 3) B 4) H 5) D 6) G 7) A 8) H 9) B 10) F 11) C 12) G 13) B 14) H 15) C 16) H 17) B 18) F 19) A 20) J 21) A 22) J 23) D 24) G 25) B 26) H 27) D 28) H 29) D 30) F 31) D 32) J 33) D 34) G 35) A 36) H 37) A 38) F 39) C 40) J

ACT Reading Diagnostic Test • Get your own chart back, answer the questions at the bottom, and turn it in.