AMSCO’s Preparing for the ACT ENGlish , Reading and Writing Intentional Review

AMSCO’S PREPARING FOR THE ACT ENGLISH, READING AND WRITING INTENTIONAL REVIEW

CONTEXT CLUESCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

You can often determine the meaning of a word from its context – that is, from the way the word is used in a sentence. You normally don’t have to know the word’s precise meaning. You just have to figure out enough to understand the meaning in the sentence.

EXAMPLEChristian hoped his boss would

assent to his request for a day off so that he could attend his grandmother’s birthday party.

1. The word assent in this sentence most nearly means:

A. RaiseB. AgreeC. ForceD. Help

The sentence mentions that Christian requested a day off. This is the context clue we need. If the boss gives him the day off, or agrees to his request, then Christian can go to the party. The word assent must mean to “agree.”

Another tip: You could substitute the four answer choices into the sentence in place of the word assent to see which makes the most sense.

Determine Meaning from Context AloneCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.You may be able to

determine word meaning from context alone.

Determine the meaning of the underlined words in the examples. Be able to explain your reasoning.

EXAMPLE #1Jim’s long nights in Greenland

inured him to the cold.

EXAMPLE #2Weights word by divers enabled

them to explore the benthic region of the ocean.

EXAMPLE #3Bob’s very limited budget

requires that he take a parsimonious approach to gift expenditures.

Determine Meaning from Context AloneCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

You may be able to determine word meaning from context alone.

EXAMPLE #1Jim’s long nights in

Greenland inured him to the cold.

What does Inured mean in the sentence above? The context tells us that Jim’s long nights in Greenland had some impact on his reaction to cold. Nights in Greenland are cold. Someone who had spent long nights in Greenland would be accustomed to cold.

Rethink the sentence:

Jim’s long nights in Greenland accustomed him to (prepared him for, hardened him to ) the cold.



EXAMPLE #2Jim’s long nights in

Greenland inured him to the cold.

What does Inured mean in the sentence above? The context tells us that Jim’s long nights in Greenland had some impact on his reaction to cold. Nights in Greenland are cold. Someone who had spent long nights in Greenland would be accustomed to cold.


Jim’s long nights in Greenland accustomed him to (prepared him for, hardened him to ) the cold.



EXAMPLE #2Weight worn by divers

enabled them to explore the benthic region of the ocean.

What does benthic mean? The context tells us that benthic refers to a particular region of the ocean. Weights take divers deeper. So the benthic region is probably at or near the bottom of the ocean.


Weights enabled the divers to explore the region at the bottom of the ocean.

Determine Meaning from Context AloneCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.You may be able to

determine word meaning from context alone.

EXAMPLE #3Bob’s very limited budget

requires that he take a parsimonious approach to gift expenditures.

What does parsimonious mean? The context tells us that it describes an approach to girt expenditures. A very limited budget means very limited expenditures. Parsimonious must mean something like very economical.


Bob’s very limited budget requires that he take a very economical approach to gift expenditures.

Determine Meaning from SynonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.Synonyms can help you determine

the meanings of words. Remember that a SYNONYM is a word that has the same or almost the same meaning as another word. Sometimes authors use synonyms that can help reveal the meanings of other words in a sentence.

Determine the meaning of the underlined words in the examples. Be able to explain your reasoning. Try to underline the word that means the same.

EXAMPLE #1Doug’s presentations always

seemed very haphazard, but Lynn’s talks were less desultory.

EXAMPLE #2It took years before a

complicated piscatory treaty was signed by representatives of the two countries. As for me, I just like fishing.

Determine Meaning from SynonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

EXAMPLE #1Doug’s presentations

always seemed very haphazard, but Lynn’s talks were less desultory.

What does Desultory mean? The context tells us that it describes Lynn’s talks. We can tell form the context the desultory and haphazard have very similar meanings. Replace the word desultory with a word that means the same as haphazard.


Doug’s presentations always seemed very haphazard, but Lynn’s talks were less disorganized.

Determine Meaning from SynonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

EXAMPLE #2It took years before a

complicated piscatory treaty was signed by representatives of the two countries. As for me, I just like fishing.

What does Piscatory mean? The context tells us that it describes a treaty. We can tell from the context that piscatory and fishing have very similar meanings. Replace the word piscatory with the synonym fishing.


It took years before a complicated fishing treaty was signed by representatives of the two countries. As for me, I just like fishing.

Determine Meaning from AntonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook. Antonyms may help you

determine the meanings of words.

Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. Authors may set up a contrast between words or ideas.

You can use these contrasts and your knowledge of antonyms to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.

EXAMPLESWrite one word after each

example that you think may be the meaning of the underlined word.

1. I wish I could get someone to tell me the truth. All the stories I hear about Scott’s nomination are apocryphal.

2. The movie made Tyneesha lachrymose, but I remained dry-eyed.

Determine Meaning from AntonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

EXAMPLE 1. I wish I could get

someone to tell me the truth. All the stories I hear about Scott’s nomination are apocryphal.

What does apocryphal mean in the sentence above? The context tells us that it describes the stories about Scott’s nomination. We can tell from the context that truth and apocryphal have opposite meanings. Replace apocryphal with the opposite of truthful.Rethink the sentence:

I wish I could get someone to tell me the truth. All the stories I hear about Scott’s nomination are untruthful.

Determine Meaning from AntonymsCopy the following notes. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

2. The movie made Tyneesha lachrymose, but I remained dry-eyed.

What does lachrymose mean in the sentence above? We can tell from the contextthat it means the opposite of dry-eyed. Replace lachrymose with a wordthat has to do with crying. Rethink the sentence:

The movie made Tyneesha teary, but I remained dry-eyed.

Pick up the handout entitled, “Practice” from the bookcase and complete.

You may use your notes on using context clues to help you.

See the following:

Context Clues Determine Meaning

from Context Alone Determine Meaning

from Synonyms Determine Meaning

from Antonyms

Pick up the handout entitled, “Model ACT Questions” from the bookcase and complete.

You may use your notes on using context clues to help you.

See the following:

Context Clues Determine Meaning

from Context Alone Determine Meaning

from Synonyms Determine Meaning

from Antonyms

Find the Main Idea of Each ParagaphRead the following information. Take notes, recording the most important and helpful information. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

The main idea of a paragraph is the most important thing the writer has to say about that idea. The answers to many ACT test items are based on the main idea of a paragraph or a passage. Some ACT questions ask directly for the main idea.

The first step is to read the passage once. As you read, think about the main idea of each paragraph. Once you know the main idea, you know where to look for information about a specific topic. If there is a test item about a particular topic, you can then go directly to the appropriate paragraph. The main idea of a paragraph is usually in the first or last sentence, so look there if you’re having a hard time figuring out a paragraph’s main idea.

Once you know the main idea, write it next to the paragraph in your test booklet. Then read the questions one at a time and return to the passage to find the answer. Having labeled your paragraphs will make it much easier to find answers to the questions.

Find the Main Idea of Each ParagaphEXAMPLE 1:Plant leaves come in

various shapes. Among the most distinctive leaf shapes are the fanlike, tooth-edged foliage of the Fatsia japonica and the deeply lobed leaves of the ubiquitous Philodendron selloum. But among the most popular of contemporary plants are the Dracaena marginata, whose long sword-shaped leaves are edged with a reddish tinge.

What is this paragraph about?

The first sentence mentions plant leaf shapes. The next two sentences give specific examples of plants and the shape of their leaves.

Main idea: shapes of plant leaves. If a test question asked about plant leaf shapes, you would turn first to this paragraph for an answer.

Find the Main Idea of Each ParagaphEXAMPLE 2:Plant leaves come in

various shapes, but sometimes a plant is distinguished by the arrangement of its leaves on the stem rather than by their shape. The oval leaflets of the Brassaiaactinophylla radiate out from one point on the stem, whereas the leaves of the Pleomele reflexa break out from the center head in a rosettelike effect.

What is this paragraph about? This paragraph seems very

similar to the paragraphin the first example, but the main ideas are different. The first sentence in example2 mentions plant shapes and leaf arrangements, and the last sentence givesspecific examples of leaf arrangements.

Main idea: leaf arrangements and plants. If a test question asked about leaf arrangements in plants, you would first look to this paragraph for an answer.

Stated Main IdeaRead the following information. Take notes, recording the most important and helpful information. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook.

A stated main idea can be found among the words in the paragraph. The sentence containingthe main idea is called the topic sentence. The following example shows the main idea and the topic sentence.

EXAMPLEThe most important concept in all

nature is energy. It represents a fundamental entity common to all forms of matter in all parts of the physical world. Closely associated with energy is work. To a lay - person, work describes the expenditure of one’s physical or mental energy. In science, work is a quantity that is the product of force times the distance through which the force acts. In other words, work is done when force moves an object. Work and energy are related because energy is the ability to do work.

Stated Main IdeaRead the following information. Take notes, recording the most important and helpful information. These will go in the Class Notes Section of your notebook. A good main idea, work

and energy are related, is found in the last sentence. The details about how and why work and energy are related are too specific to be the main idea, but these details may help you answer a question.

Note, also, how you would write the main idea next to the paragraph so that you could easily find answers to questions about work and energy.

EXAMPLEThe most important concept in all

nature is energy. It represents a fundamental entity common to all forms of matter in all parts of the physical world. Closely associated with energy is work. To a lay - person, work describes the expenditure of one’s physical or mental energy. In science, work is a quantity that is the product of force times the distance through which the force acts. In other words, work is done when force moves an object. Work and energy are related because energy is the ability to do work.

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AMSCO’s Preparing for the ACT ENGlish , Reading and Writing Intentional Review