Text Structure
Academic Vocab
Test Strategies
Reading Literature
ASPIRE Questions
100

This text structure explains similarities and differences between two or more subjects.

What is compare and contrast?

100

This term refers to the author's attitude toward a subject, conveyed through word choice and style.

What is tone?


100

This reading technique involves quickly moving your eyes over a passage to locate specific details, such as names, dates, or keywords. 

What is scanning?


100

In The Great Gatsby, the green light at the end of Daisy's dock represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams. This is an example of what literary device?

What is symbolism?

100

"In the early 20th century, many inventors sought to improve transportation. One of the most significant innovations was the assembly line, which revolutionized car production and made automobiles accessible to the average person."

What is the central idea of this passage?

A) The early 20th century was a time of rapid invention.
B) The assembly line helped make cars more affordable.
C) Transportation was not efficient in the early 20th century.
D) The assembly line made inventors wealthy.

B) The assembly line helped make cars more affordable.

200

This text structure presents a problem and suggest possible ways to solve the problem.

What is problem and solution?

200

The central idea or underlying message of a literary text is known as this.

What is theme?

200

Titles, headings, captions, and bolded words are all examples of these, which help readers navigate and understand a text more easily.

What are text features?

200

When a fire station burns down, it is an example of this type of irony. 

What is situational irony?

200

When evaluating the credibility of a source, which of the following is the least reliable?

A) A peer-reviewed journal article written by an expert in the field.
B) A news article published by a well-known and reputable newspaper.
C) A blog post written by an anonymous author with no sources.
D) A government website providing statistical data.

C) A blog post written by an anonymous author with no sources.

300

A historical article that describes events in the order they happened is using this text structure.

What is chronology?

300

A character or author's unique viewpoint or way of interpreting events, shaped by their experiences and beliefs is called this.

What is perspective?


300

You are reading a science article and need to quickly determine the topic and main points of the article. Which strategy should you use, and how would you apply it?

What is skimming? I would skim the text, observing the title, headings, and subheadings, checking for images and bolded words, and reading the first and last paragraph.

300

In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck describes the feeling of a soft mouse's fur and the roughness of work-worn hands. What type of imagery is this?

What is tactile imagery?

300

Which sentence contains an example of situational irony?

A) A character steps outside into a thunderstorm and says, “What a beautiful day!”
B) A police officer gets arrested for committing a crime.
C) A character knows a surprise party is planned, but the guest of honor does not.
D) A poem describes the ocean waves whispering secrets to the shore.

B) A police officer gets arrested for committing a crime.

400

A science textbook explaining the process of photosynthesis is using this text structure.

What is sequence?

400

This point of view allows the narrator to reveal the thoughts and feelings of only one character while remaining outside the story.

What is third-person limited?


400

After reading an article about climate change, you need to explain the main idea in one sentence. What steps should you take to determine the main idea?

What is identify the topic, scan the first and last paragraph for the thesis statement, distinguish main and supporting ideas, and summarize it in my own words.

400

A student says, "Oh great, another pop quiz," in an annoyed tone. This is an example of what type of irony?

What is verbal irony?

400

Read the sentence and determine the meaning of the underlined word:

"The scientist remained vigilant, carefully observing the experiment for any unexpected changes."

Based on the sentence, what does vigilant most likely mean?

A) Careless and inattentive
B) Watchful and alert
C) Confused and uncertain
D) Distracted and uninterested

B) Watchful and alert.

500

An article informing readers about the population, circumstances, and events of the measles outbreak in Texas uses this text structure.

What is descriptive?

500

In reading or writing, this term refers to the ability to perform a task quickly and effortlessly, without needing to consciously think about it.

What is automaticity?

500

A student is reading a history textbook and sees a timeline, a bolded term, and a captioned image. How should they use these text features to improve comprehension?

What is using text features to predict key ideas, clarify events, and understand important vocabulary?

500

A poet writes, "The rustling leaves whispered secrets in the wind." This is an example of which type of imagery?

What is auditory imagery?
500

Read the passage and answer the question below:

"Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, filling oceans and harming marine life. While some argue that recycling is the solution, the reality is that much of our plastic waste still ends up in landfills. Governments must take stronger action by limiting plastic production and encouraging sustainable alternatives."

What is the author’s primary purpose in this passage?

A) To describe how plastic is made
B) To inform readers about different ways to recycle
C) To persuade readers that stricter regulations on plastic use are necessary
D) To entertain readers with a story about ocean pollution

C) To persuade readers that stricter regulations on plastic use are necessary.

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