By: Ms. K. Lucas

Stanford 9 Testing Strategies

Critical Thinking: FigurativeLanguage

• Tip: Good writers choose figurative words to help readers form pictures in their minds.

• Ask yourself, “ Why did the author use that word?”

• “ What extra bit of meaning is the author trying to add?”

READ SILENTLY!!!

Chester threw his sister a hopeful look, and the two drew back the loose brick. The had watched from the hay loft as the thieves had the sack. Chester’s eyes danced when his fingers brushed the burlap sack.

Answer questions about figurative language.

1.What does the author mean by “threw a hopeful look?A. He hoped she would like him.B. The two children looked alike.C. They each knew what the other was thinking.D. He tossed her the loose brick.

2. What does the author mean by “the two drew back?”A. The children were careful.B. The children were artists.C. The children were afraid.D. The children were quiet.

3. What does the author mean by “Chester’s eyes danced?”

A. He could hardly stand still.

B. He made sure that no one was coming.

C. His face showed the way he was feeling.

D. His eyes adjusted to the dim light.

4. What does the author mean by “brushed?”

A. Straightened out

B. Barely touched

C. Searched

D. Pulled

Punctuation: Review of SkillsTips:

• Carefully read each word.• Remember the standard

punctuation rules when responding to these types of

questions.

Punctuation Marks!

Know and Remember these!

Period

.

Apostrophe

‘

Comma

,

Question Mark

Exclamation Mark

Quotation Marks

Directions: Look over the answer choices carefully before you choose.

Haley ordered the rug on July 10 1997, It didn’t arrive for three months!

a. on July 10, 1997 it didn’t

b. on July 10, 1997. It didn’t

c. on July 10. 1997, it didn’t

d. Correct

Is there anyone who doesn’t like peanut butter I don’t think so.

a. peanut butter. I dontb. peanut butter? I don’tc. peanut, butter? I don’td. Correct

Critical Thinking: Author’s Meaning

• Tip: • Reading is more than just pronouncing words

to yourself• Think about the sentences and paragraphs• Ask yourself, “What meaning does the author

wish to covey?”

• Test Think: Take advantage of the multiple choice format

– Remember one of the four must be correct.– Read all of the answer choices before you make

your final decision.

Cary hung up the phone hard. “Why does this kind of thing always happen to me?” she mumbled. A salesclerk had accidentally taken her dress off the hold rack, and it had been sold. She wondered if she would see one of her friends in the dress on Friday night.

1. What will Cary do Friday night?a. Go shopping for a dressb. Attend a dancec. Call a salesclerkd. Report the accident

Directions: Read.Think about the author’s meaning. Give the correct answer and explain.

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall…Read Silently!

When you stand in front of a mirror, your reflection seems to be the same distance behind the mirror as you are in front of it. The reflection in the mirror is always reversed. If you lift your right hand, your reflection seems to be raising the left hand. Wink you right eye and your reflection will wink right back at you with the left.Photographers know that people are used to seeing themselves in reverse. For this reason. They often reverse the negative before they print a person’s picture. Of course, they must make sure no clocks or signs are in the background.

Answer Questions!1. Why must photographers be sure that no clocks are in the background?

a.The clock would tell the wrong time.b.Clocks are not attractive to look at.c. People are not used to seeing clocks.d. The numbers would be backwards.

2. What is the main idea?a. A mirror shows a person’s reflection.b. Photographers often reverse the negative before they print a picture.c. People are used to seeing themselves in the mirror.d. A person never sees what he/she really looks like.

Drawing Conclusions: From a Story

Tip:• Use clues in the passage to make

your decision• Respond with knowledge and not

guess work• Use questions as your guide

– Try reading them first– Look for answers as you read

Initial Understanding: Looking back at the story

Tip:

No one takes the story away!! It will be sitting in front of you the whole time! Don’t bubble in until you find information in the story to justify your answer choice.

Read Silently!To determine when a pond needs to be fertilized, a pod owner need not rush out and buy expensive equipment. Just pay close attenton to the two C’s of a healthy pond: color and clarity. For color, the only tool you need us a watchful eye. The goal is for the pond water to maintain a green-brown color through the spring, summer, and fall.Construct a simple device for checking the clarity of the water by nailing a broom handle to the center of a shiny disc, such as a tin can lid. On the broom handle, draw lines at 12-inches and 18 inches from the disc. If you can see the disc when the handle is submerged to the 18-nch mark, the ponds needs to be fertilized so that algae can grow. If the shiny object is visible at 12-nches, but not 18 inches, no action is needed. But is the disc cannot be seen at 12 inches below the water’s surface, there is an abundance of algae. The pond is being choked, and it requires immediate attention!

Answer Questions!

1. A device is a. a water plant. c. a tool.b. something to eat. d. a farm pond.

2. The device mentioned in the article is used toa. mark the broom handle.b.check the clarity.c. grow more algae.d. take a water sample.

Questions Continued…3. If the shiny disc cannot be seen at 12 inches, the pond owner should

a. fertilize the pond.b. destroy algae.c. grow more algae.d. take a water sample.

4. If the shiny disc can be seen at 18 inches

a. no action is needed.b. there is not enough algae.c. the pond is being choked.d. the pond is healthy.

Inferences: Drawing Conclusions

• Tip: When you draw a “con-clue-sion”, use questions.

• Keep an open mind. Clues can be tricky!

• Allow the answer choices to suggest possible meanings.