ACT: The ACT: The Reading Reading TestTest

ACT READING TESTACT READING TEST 4 categories of reading 4 categories of reading

passagespassages Social StudiesSocial Studies Natural SciencesNatural Sciences HumanitiesHumanities Prose FictionProse Fiction

Each passage is about Each passage is about 1,000 words long1,000 words long

written at about the written at about the same difficulty level as same difficulty level as college textbookscollege textbooks

Each has a very Each has a very specific themespecific theme

SKIM ALL READING SKIM ALL READING PASSAGES…DO NOT PASSAGES…DO NOT READ CLOSELYREAD CLOSELY

10 questions after each 10 questions after each passagepassage

3 categories of reading 3 categories of reading questions: Specific questions: Specific Detail, Inference, Big Detail, Inference, Big PicturePicture

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUGGESTIONS FOR READING THE PASSAGEREADING THE PASSAGE

Read actively, with an eye towards where the Read actively, with an eye towards where the author is goingauthor is going Read very quickly but actively, getting a sense of Read very quickly but actively, getting a sense of

the main idea of the passage and seeing how the main idea of the passage and seeing how everything fits together everything fits together

don’t worry about details; you can go back and find don’t worry about details; you can go back and find them laterthem later

circle key words (such as names, dates, and circle key words (such as names, dates, and unfamiliar words) so that you can find them easily unfamiliar words) so that you can find them easily when you are answering the questionswhen you are answering the questions

READING CLUESREADING CLUES

Structural cluesStructural clues ButBut, , neverthelessnevertheless, and , and

moreovermoreover help you get a sense help you get a sense of where the paper is goingof where the paper is going

Signal cluesSignal clues ClearlyClearly, , as a resultas a result, or , or no one no one

can deny thatcan deny that… determine … determine logic of the passagelogic of the passage

Remember you can come Remember you can come back for details laterback for details later

SIGNAL WORDS TO WATCH SIGNAL WORDS TO WATCH FORFOR

Indicating a contrastIndicating a contrast but, however, on the other hand, neverthelessbut, however, on the other hand, nevertheless

Indicating a continuation with a similar or complementary thoughtIndicating a continuation with a similar or complementary thought moreover, furthermore, or a semicolonmoreover, furthermore, or a semicolon

Indicating a conclusionIndicating a conclusion therefore, thustherefore, thus

Reasons for a conclusionReasons for a conclusion since, because of , due tosince, because of , due to

Examples or illustrationExamples or illustration for instance, for examplefor instance, for example

KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHODKAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD You should spend only about 9 minute per passage You should spend only about 9 minute per passage less than 3 minutes should be spent pre-readingless than 3 minutes should be spent pre-reading the rest of the time should be spent considering the rest of the time should be spent considering

questions and referring back to the passage to find questions and referring back to the passage to find the answersthe answers

tale 2 sweeps through the questions for each tale 2 sweeps through the questions for each passagepassage Get the easier questions the first time aroundGet the easier questions the first time around Go back for the more difficult onesGo back for the more difficult ones Questions are not in order of easiest to hardestQuestions are not in order of easiest to hardest

KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHODKAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD

1. Pre-read the 1. Pre-read the passage quicklypassage quickly

2. Consider the 2. Consider the question stemquestion stem

3. Refer back to 3. Refer back to the passage for the the passage for the answersanswers

KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHODKAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD

STEP 1: PRE-READ (3 min. per passage)STEP 1: PRE-READ (3 min. per passage) understand the main idea of the passageunderstand the main idea of the passage get an overall idea of how the passage is get an overall idea of how the passage is

organizedorganized underline key points (like a highlighter)underline key points (like a highlighter) jot down notes in the marginjot down notes in the margin circle key clue wordscircle key clue words DO NOT get bogged down with the detailsDO NOT get bogged down with the details

KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHODKAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD

STEP 2: QUESTION STEMSTEP 2: QUESTION STEM don’t let the answer choices direct your don’t let the answer choices direct your

thinkingthinking The test makers intentionally design the The test makers intentionally design the

answers to confuse you if they cananswers to confuse you if they can Look at the questions stem ONLY; do not Look at the questions stem ONLY; do not

look at the possible answers firstlook at the possible answers first

KAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHODKAPLAN’S 3 STEP METHOD

STEP 3: REFER BACK TO THE PASSAGESTEP 3: REFER BACK TO THE PASSAGE You WILL NOT re-read the entire passageYou WILL NOT re-read the entire passage look only for the area where the answer to look only for the area where the answer to

the question can be foundthe question can be found sometimes the questions will give you a sometimes the questions will give you a

line # to help you outline # to help you out you answer should match the passage--you answer should match the passage--

not in exact vocabulary but in meaning not in exact vocabulary but in meaning (answers are usually a (answers are usually a paraphraseparaphrase of the of the answer in the passage)answer in the passage)

ACT READING PASSAGEACT READING PASSAGE

Prose fiction (1 passage per test)Prose fiction (1 passage per test) Nonfiction (3 passages per test, one each Nonfiction (3 passages per test, one each

in:)in:) Social StudiesSocial Studies Natural SciencesNatural Sciences HumanitiesHumanities

Your approach should be the same for all Your approach should be the same for all 3 nonfiction passages3 nonfiction passages

PROSE FICTIONPROSE FICTION

The prose fiction passage is usually a The prose fiction passage is usually a story in which characters, fully equipped story in which characters, fully equipped with their own motivations and emotions, with their own motivations and emotions, interact in revealing waysinteract in revealing ways

for this reason, the passage won’t break for this reason, the passage won’t break down into an orderly outline with several down into an orderly outline with several key terms and clue wordskey terms and clue words

Pay attention to the storyPay attention to the story

PROSE FICTIONPROSE FICTION

In the prose fiction In the prose fiction passage, almost all passage, almost all the questions relate to the questions relate to the charactersthe characters

your job is to find your job is to find answers to the answers to the following questions:following questions: Who are these Who are these

people? What are people? What are they like? How are they like? How are they related to each they related to each other?other?

What is their state of What is their state of mind? Are they angry, mind? Are they angry, sad, reflective, excited?sad, reflective, excited?

What’s really going on? What’s really going on? What’s happening on What’s happening on the surface? Beneath the surface? Beneath the surface?the surface?

Most of the fiction Most of the fiction passages focus on one passages focus on one person or are written person or are written from the point of view from the point of view of one of the charactersof one of the characters

PROSE FICTIONPROSE FICTION Figure out who this Figure out who this

main character is and main character is and pay special attention to pay special attention to what he or she is likewhat he or she is like

Read between the lines Read between the lines to determine unspoken to determine unspoken emotions and attitudesemotions and attitudes

Get a good feel for tone Get a good feel for tone and style of the whole and style of the whole passage before going passage before going on to the questionson to the questions

NATURAL SCIENCE PASSAGENATURAL SCIENCE PASSAGE

Know you are more likely to find unfamiliar Know you are more likely to find unfamiliar vocabulary in Science passagesvocabulary in Science passages

Don’t panic! The Science passages on Don’t panic! The Science passages on the Reading test require no prior the Reading test require no prior knowledge.knowledge.

Any unknown terms are usually defined in Any unknown terms are usually defined in the passage or will have inferable the passage or will have inferable definitions from the contextdefinitions from the context

Don’t let yourself become overwhelmedDon’t let yourself become overwhelmed

SPECIFIC DETAILSSPECIFIC DETAILS

Specific Details questions ask about things Specific Details questions ask about things stated explicitly in the passagestated explicitly in the passage

Line referenceLine reference Always refer back to the passageAlways refer back to the passage When given a line reference, always read When given a line reference, always read

a few sentences BEFORE and AFTER the a few sentences BEFORE and AFTER the cited lines (context)cited lines (context)

NAILING DOWN DETAILSNAILING DOWN DETAILS

The challenge with this is finding the The challenge with this is finding the proper place in the passage where the proper place in the passage where the answer can be found (sometimes you will answer can be found (sometimes you will be given a line reference)be given a line reference)

Then, you have to match up what you see Then, you have to match up what you see in the passage with the correct answer, in the passage with the correct answer, which will probably be worded differently which will probably be worded differently (paraphrased)(paraphrased)

INFERENCE QUESTIONSINFERENCE QUESTIONS For these types of questions, it is your job to For these types of questions, it is your job to

combine ideas logically to make an inferencecombine ideas logically to make an inference This is something that is not stated explicitly This is something that is not stated explicitly

in the passage but that is impliedin the passage but that is implied This type of question has words like This type of question has words like suggestsuggest, ,

inferinfer, or , or implyimply in the question stem in the question stem Common sense is your best tool hereCommon sense is your best tool here Some will give you a line #Some will give you a line # DO NOT make inferences too extreme DO NOT make inferences too extreme

(always, never, all the time, etc.)(always, never, all the time, etc.)

BIG PICTURE QUESTIONSBIG PICTURE QUESTIONS

Ask yourself, as you Ask yourself, as you read:read: What is the point of What is the point of

this?this? Why is the author Why is the author

saying this?saying this? If you are stumped, If you are stumped,

try doing all the try doing all the other questions first other questions first and completing this and completing this one last.one last.

FIND AND PARAPHRASEFIND AND PARAPHRASE

Your main job is to Your main job is to

FIND AND PARAPHRASE,FIND AND PARAPHRASE,Your task is NOT toYour task is NOT to

““Comprehend and Remember”Comprehend and Remember”

SKIPPINGSKIPPING

Answer the EASY questions for each Answer the EASY questions for each passage firstpassage first

Skip the tough ones and come back to Skip the tough ones and come back to them laterthem later

When you return to that question later, try When you return to that question later, try to identify the THREE WRONG answersto identify the THREE WRONG answers

Guess if you have to and don’t let that get Guess if you have to and don’t let that get you stressedyou stressed