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ACT Reading

Section I: Introduction

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!

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

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

When Reading for the ACT:

Look for key aspects such as characters or key arguments

If you underline everything, it becomes meaningless!

ACT Reading Format

1. 4 Passages

2. 40 Questions

3. 35 Minutes

This test is designed so that time is an issue!

The Four Types of Passages

1.Prose Fiction2.Social Sciences3.Humanities4.Natural Science

ACT Reading Basic Strategy1. Take the passages in the best order for you

2. Learn how to find trap answers

3. Use POE to eliminate trap answers

4. Spend time understanding the questions, rather than understanding the passage

5. COVER THE ANSWERS AND PREDICT WHENEVER POSSIBLE

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!

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 1870. The article discusses the sport of baseball, which was just becoming popular at the time.”

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?

Step 3:Answer the questions in specific to general order

Step 4:Refer back to the passage

Part II: Types of Questions and How to Answer Them

Ordering Passage Questions

Easy, Most Specific Hard, most general

1-Word 1-sentence 1-Paragraph Whole Passage

Comprehension QuestionsAsk about what passage says/means

Reasoning questionsAsk about author, author’s argumentOften use words like “Implies” “suggest,” “infer”

Question Type Question Type

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 Worth one point

Ordering the Questions DrillOrdering 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

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!

Literal Comprehension

Literal comprehension questions ask what the passage says or means

Always do these first!

These questions include:1. Line Reference Questions2. Lead-phrase Questions3. Vocabulary-in-Context Questions

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...

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!

Steps to solve VIC Questions:

Step 1: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

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!

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

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

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

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 sprinklersB. She was sweating from the gymC. She showered before classD. Her hair is not dry

Agreement/Except QuestionsAgreement 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

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!

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?

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.

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

Practice With Cover and Predict

1. In the passage, line 6, “styled” most nearly means

2. In lines 10–25, the author notes that baseball serves as a venue for all of the following EXCEPT

3. In lines 31–33, the author mentions the dangers involved in swimming and skating so as to

4. The author’s tone in lines 41–44 could most accurately be characterized as

5. In lines 44–51, the author of passage 1 suggests that the participation of important businessmen

6. In paragraph 4, the author argues that playing baseball helps the youth by

Reading Section Traps

1. Deceptive language

2. Extreme WordsExample:

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

 Other Trap Answers

3. True but not stated in the passage

4. Exact opposite of passage 5. Half right, half wrong

Prose Fiction Passages

Prose Fiction Questions Ask About

1. Plot

2. Characters

3. Setting

4. Theme When reading fiction passages, make sure to look for the protagonist, antagonist, and foil

When skimming, read the DIALOGUE

Prose Fiction I

Fiction passages usually have three types of characters:

 

1. The Protagonist: hero, main character

2. The Antagonist: villain

3. The Foil: person or situation that exists to tell the reader something about the protagonist

Prose Fiction II

Step 1: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