SAT Test PrepSAT Test PrepLesson #3 – Critical Reading Lesson #3 – Critical Reading

Source: AVID Coordinator’s Training on February 6, 2014 by Study Smart Tutors http://studysmarttutors.com/

“To succeed, we must first believe that we can.”

-Michael Korda

Critical Reading Quick FactsCritical Reading Quick Facts

• Multiple choice questions that test sentence completion and passage comprehension

• 70 minutes to complete two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section

• 9, varying length, reading passages• Vocabulary questions increase in difficulty

whereas reading questions don’t

Critical Reading Quick FactsCritical Reading Quick Facts

• Become familiar with the 30 most common Latin root-words

• Reading passages can be boring and tough to get through

• Choose the “best” answer since multiple options may be accurate

• Reading passages tend to differ in length, but each requires the same attention because all questions are worth the same amount

Tips for Critical ReadingTips for Critical Reading

• Because questions increase in difficulty, keep in mind that easy questions must have easy answers. Get the questions you know, right

• Test makers want you to read the sentence quickly and then try each answer choice to find the best fit. This process takes far too long. Unlike the math Unlike the math section, plugging in answer choices is an section, plugging in answer choices is an awful idea.awful idea.

Sentence Completion StrategySentence Completion Strategy

1. Cover all answer choices with your hand.2. Fill in the blank with a prediction word.3. Uncover answer choices and find a

matching word.

Since Jason had a tendency to lie about everything, I expected his story to be_______.

(A) a fib (B) exacerbated (C) accurate (D) humorous (E) true

untrue

Sentence Completion Practice #1Sentence Completion Practice #1

1. Cover all answer choices with your hand.2. Fill in the blank with a prediction word.3. Uncover answer choices and find a matching

word. If your prediction doesn’t match any choices, go back and predict again.1. Allie loves hiking so much because she can get away from the noisy city and relax in the ______ outdoors.

(A) precluded (B) frightful (C) tranquil (D) great (E) diplomatic

?

Sentence Completion Practice #2Sentence Completion Practice #2

1. Cover all answer choices with your hand.2. Fill in the blank with a prediction word.3. Uncover answer choices and find a matching

word. If your prediction doesn’t match any choices, go back and predict again.2. The rabbi has been officiating Jewish weddings for 25 years and has therefore become very _________.

(A) pious (B) proficient (C) appropriate (D) famous (E) religious

?

Sentence Completion Practice #3Sentence Completion Practice #3

1. Cover all answer choices with your hand.2. Fill in the blank with a prediction word.3. Uncover answer choices and find a matching

word. If your prediction doesn’t match any choices, go back and predict again.3. Tania hadn’t slept in 2 nights, which is probably why she seemed so ______ at school today.

(A) energetic (B) cognizant (C) angry (D) lackadaisical (E) malleable

?

Prediction Clues StrategyPrediction Clues Strategy

• Sentences have clues that can help you narrow down the correct answer choice. Underline the clues. If you can’t find the clue, look for the subject of the sentence and how the subject is described. The museum has many famous paintings and sculptures, so many students studying _____ visit as part of the class.

a. Science b. Business c. Art d. Music e. Religion

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is (c) because the underlined clues “famous paintings and sculptures” refer to art.

Prediction Clues Practice #1Prediction Clues Practice #1

• Sentences have clues that can help you narrow down the correct answer choice. Underline the clues. If you can’t find the clue, look for the subject of the sentence and how the subject is described. The Vatican has many famous church writings and artifacts, so many students studying ______ visit for class.

a. Science b. Business c. Art d. Music e. Religion

Rationale: Rationale: The correct response is (e) because the underlined clues “church writings and artifacts” refer to religion.

Trigger WordsTrigger Words

• Trigger words help to establish relationships between the clue and the blank. Same Same Direction Triggers Direction Triggers mean that the clue and the blank must agree. Change Direction Triggers Change Direction Triggers mean that the blank and the clue must disagree.

Same Direction Triggers Change Direction Triggersand, also, further, since, in addition, because

but, although, yet, rather, despite, however

Trigger WordsTrigger Words

Because Judge Judy is impartial, the verdicts she delivers are ________. a. Cynical b. Equitable c. Biased d. Controversial e. Final

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is (b) since the underlined trigger, “because” refers to a word that agrees with “impartial”.

Same Direction Triggers Change Direction Triggersand, also, further, since, in addition, because

but, although, yet, rather, despite, however

fair

Trigger Words Practice #1Trigger Words Practice #1

1. Although the sculptors’ works are typically ________, they have recently become conventional.

a. Complacent b. Palatial c. Awful d. Eccentric e. Gregarious

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is (d) because the underlined trigger, “although” refers to a word that disagrees with conventional.

Same Direction Triggers Change Direction Triggersand, also, further, since, in addition, because

but, although, yet, rather, despite, however

weird

Trigger Words Practice #2Trigger Words Practice #2

2. Despite his attempts to persuade Patti to be more diffident, Patti proceeded to be _________.

a. Vulnerable b. Imperative c. Pompous d. Humble e. Indigent

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is (c) because the underlined trigger, “despite” refers to a word that disagrees with diffident.

Same Direction Triggers Change Direction Triggersand, also, further, since, in addition, because

but, although, yet, rather, despite, however

arrogant

Solving Two BlankersSolving Two Blankers

1. Cover the answers.2. Identify the easier blank with the most clues.3. Predict the blank.4. Eliminate answers that don’t fit your first blank.5. Repeat for the second blank.

The dentist always ________ her patients with the utmost of care, which is why she was __________ “dentist of the year”.

a. Treated…engaged b. Absolved…awarded c. Diagnosed…designated d. Prescribed…nominated e. Abdicated…chosen

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is (c). Begin with the first blank since it’s easier. The clue, “dentist” means that the first blank should have to do with patients. Answer choices (a) and (c) are the only possible answers given the first blank. Now, consider the second blank. The clue “dentist of the year” suggests she was awarded something.

Solving Related Two BlankersSolving Related Two Blankers

1. Which two answers go together and make sense in the context of the sentence?

2. Consider positive and negative words to determine their agreement.

The professor’s lessons were both _____ and ______, which was probably why the class was so popular each semester.

a. Corrupt…erroneous b. Obnoxious…arrogant c. Effective…stimulating d. Enlightening…superfluous e. Explicit…efficient

Rationale: Rationale: The blanks agree with each other and they are both positive. Answer choice (c) is the only option that shows agreeing words that are both positive. The clue for positive, not negative, is “popular”.

Related Two Blankers Practice #1Related Two Blankers Practice #1

1. Which two answers go together and make sense in the context of the sentence?

2. Consider positive and negative words to determine their agreement.

1. The marriage was doomed from the start, as Charles was _______ and ______, while Diana was kind and thoughtful

a. Heinous….amiable b. Perverse…apt c. Compassionate…diabolical d. Ruthless…malevolent e. Sinister…sympathetic

Rationale: Rationale: The clue for the tone of the blanks is “doomed”. The blanks must agree and they must be negative. (d) is the only option for two negative words that agree.

Reading SectionsReading Sections

• No points are awarded for understanding the passage, although it can help

• Questions typically examine the same key parts of a passage repeatedly

• Focus on the few argumentative statements in the passage (i.e. thesis)

• Main idea/key points alone will allow you to answer about 60% of the questions!

• Don’t read into the question.

Reading Section Practice Reading Section Practice

Ms. Nelson arrived to school with her hair wet. Her class was seated and ready for her arrival when she walked in. As she entered the room, her favorite student asked “why is your hair wet?”

1. According to the passage, which of the following best explains why Ms. Nelson’s hair is wet?

a. she took a shower before work b. she got stuck in the rain c. someone spilled water on her d. a bird peed on her head e. none of the above

Rationale: Rationale: While any of the answer choices are possible, they are not definitely true. The passage does not explicitly indicate why her hair is wet so students should not assume they know why.

Identifying the ThesisIdentifying the Thesis

• Thesis statements represent opinionsopinions that reflect the author’s perspective on the text

Fact Statements Thesis (Opinion) Statements1. Dinosaurs are extinct.

2. Becoming a doctor requires 8 extra years of schooling.

3. The U.S. is divided into many states.

1. If dinosaurs were alive, they would rule the planet.

2. Doctors have the hardest jobs.

3. New York is the best state.

Identifying the ThesisIdentifying the Thesis

1. Read the first and last sentence of the first paragraph

2. Read the first and last sentences of the last paragraph

3. Identify one example that supports the thesis you found

4. Ensure the thesis is a statement of opinion, not fact

Two Long PassagesTwo Long Passages

1. Read the blurb at the start2. Review passage #1 for its thesis3. Answer questions only about passage #14. Review passage #2 for its thesis5. Answer questions about passage #2 only6. Answer questions that ask about both passages

On Your OwnOn Your Own

Answers: 1.) E, 2.) B, 3.) A, 4.) E, 5.) D, 6.) A, 7.) D, 8.) E, 9.) A, 10.) C, 11.) C, 12.) A