Critical Reading Liza Kleinman
table of contents To the Student......................... v Part 1: Introduction................................... 1 Part 2: Test-Taking Words............................ 7 Part 3: Practice Questions.......................... 13 iii
PART 2 test-taking words Just as turn signals on a car can tell people where the car is headed, word signals can tell you what type of question you are being asked. Watching for these signals increases your chances of understanding questions and answering them correctly. WORDS AND PHRASES TO WATCH FOR IN DIRECTIONS Always read each question carefully before you try to solve it! Paying close attention to the way a question is worded will help you find the correct answer. Here are some words and phrases that often appear in reading comprehension questions. When you are instructed to look for certain features or examples in a reading passage, you can be sure that one or more test questions will be focusing on them. Phrase be alert for/watch for be sure to best/that best answers the question/ the best possible answer/ the best possible choice keeping in mind As you read the following passage, watch for examples that reveal the main character s personality. Be sure to watch for descriptive words and phrases as you read. Respond to the questions that follow by selecting the best possible answer. Read the passage that follows, keeping in mind the time in which it was written. 2004 Walch Publishing 7 Test Time! Critical Reading, 5 6
WORDS AND PHRASES THAT SIGNAL A MAIN IDEA QUESTION main idea sum up Word/Phrase title for the passage (or poem, or story) summarize Which of these choices best describes the main idea of this passage? Which sentence best sums up this passage? Of the following choices, which one would be the best title for this poem? How can this story best be summarized? WORDS AND PHRASES THAT SIGNAL A DETAIL QUESTION Word/Phrase example reason support illustrate show supporting detail List two examples of Tanya s generosity. For which one of the following reasons did the narrator decide to become a nurse? Which idea does the author use to support his argument in favor of school uniforms? What example does the author give to illustrate her point about preserving wildlife habitats? The speaker in this poem uses which of the following details to show the reader how he feels about autumn? Which of these is a supporting detail that helps the reader understand what Aunt May s house looked like? WORDS AND PHRASES THAT SIGNAL AN INFERENCE QUESTION Word/Phrase What (or why) do you think...? Based on the passage (or poem, or story),... You can guess that... Why do you think the narrator reacted so strongly to the news about his job? Based on the information in the passage, which fact must be true? You can guess that Janelle will do which of the following if she wins the race? (continued) 2004 Walch Publishing 8 Test Time! Critical Reading, 5 6
(continued) probably infer conclude seems to be saying The narrator probably mentions the Grand Canyon in order to do what? You can infer that the plan failed for which reason? What can you conclude about the teacher s relationship with his students? In the second paragraph, the narrator seems to be saying which of the following? WORDS THAT SIGNAL AN AUTHOR S CHOICE QUESTION style tone purpose Word Which word best describes the author s writing style? How does the author s tone reflect what he thinks about his hometown? The author s purpose in writing this article is to do what? WORDS THAT DESCRIBE TYPES OF WRITING Some test questions ask about specific types of writing by name. Some names for types of writing are listed below with their definitions. Word Definition fiction nonfiction poetry biography autobiography writing that is not meant to be true; a story writing that is meant to be true, such as an essay or article an expressive form of writing that may or may not rhyme, and that often uses images to express a feeling or an idea the true story of a person s life a true story of the author s own life folktale a traditional story (continued) 2004 Walch Publishing 9 Test Time! Critical Reading, 5 6
(continued) tall tale fable a very exaggerated, often humorous story a story intended to teach a lesson WORDS USED WITH FICTION AND POETRY Some special words are used when talking about fiction and poetry. Some of these words are listed below with definitions and an example of the word in a test question. Word characters Definition and Example the people (or animals) that the story is about How do the characters change between the beginning of the story and the end? narrator the person telling the story or poem What is the narrator s tone toward his subject? speaker the same as the narrator (often used in poetry) With which animal does the speaker compare the month of May? plot the action of a story Which of the following best sums up the plot of this story? setting when and where a story or poem takes place How does the setting affect the mood of the poem? compare show how two things are alike or different Compare the behavior of the two characters in this story. Do you think one behaved better than the other? Explain your answer. contrast show how two things are different What example does the narrator give to show the contrast between Anita and her cousin? (continued) 2004 Walch Publishing 10 Test Time! Critical Reading, 5 6
(continued) image a description that the writer uses to create a picture in the reader s mind How does the image of a garden help the reader understand how the speaker feels? symbol one thing that represents another, such as a flag being the symbol of a country Which of the following became a symbol of friendship for the narrator and his sister? 2004 Walch Publishing 11 Test Time! Critical Reading, 5 6