FAST Testing 101
Name at least 2 important things you should do the night before and/or the morning of the test?
What is
Go to bed early
Eat a healthy breakfast
(Also accept: Have a positive attitude, go out and play the day before--don't study and stress--get rid of extra energy!!)
When you read a question for the first time, you should....
What is
Read it SLOWLY
Read it at least twice
Highlight key words in the question.
What is a theme?
Theme is a complete thought that communicates the author's message.
In grade 8, you will be asked to find at least 2 themes in a story.
Example: We should appreciate the good things in life because they doesn't always last (from Nothing Gold Can Stay)
What is the central idea of a text and how do you identify it?
The central idea is the most important point the author is trying to make in the WHOLE text. It is a big idea not details.
Take notes as you read and write a short "gist" about what the text is about. What most of the paragraphs discuss will lead you to central idea
Read this sentence:
"Why do people love games? As the Game Maker for The New York Times, I grapple with this question every day. The reductively easy answer is simple: They’re fun! But why are they fun?"
What does the word grapple mean as used in this sentence?
What is
to grapple with means to consider and explore this question
What is the name of the electronic tool on FAST that helps you focus on one line at a time and why should you use it?
What is
The linereader
It helps you stay focused
After you have read the question carefully, you should NOT...
What is
look at the answer choices BEFORE going back and checking in the text
Know the answer in your head first, before looking at choices.
What is a metaphor?
Explain what the metaphor "Time is Money" means.
A metaphor is a comparison between two different things by saying one thing IS another thing.
Time is money means that both are valuable and can be wasted.
How does the author use pathos in the following text?
"Every day, thousands of children go to bed hungry. Maria, a 9-year-old from Detroit, often skips meals so her younger siblings can eat. She dreams of having a full lunch box like her classmates. Your donation can change a child's life and give them hope for a better future."
Using emotional appeals make you feel something—sadness, compassion, or hope—here we feel sad and troubled by Maria's situation. The author hopes that those feelings will cause us to make a donation.
Read the following:
Babette mother told her that she would return home when the figs in the garden ripened. Every day when Babette went out to check the figs ripeness, she felt utterly disconsolate as she stared at the still green figs.
The word “console” comes from the Latin word for “to comfort.” Based on the affix and Latin root word, what is the meaning of the word disconsolate?
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without cheer or hope
What is the name of the tool that you use that will help you quickly find important information and keywords in the text?
What is
Highlighting tool
One strategy that is your ticket to success on FAST is to....
What is
Before reviewing answer choices, GO BACK and review the paragraph and know the answer in your head first before looking at the choices.
The prevents you from getting "tricked" into selecting the wrong answer
Define
ethos, pathos, and logos
What is
Ethos: Credibility or trust (you can trust me)
Pathos: Connects with your feelings or emotions
Logos: Convinces you through logic or facts
How does the author use Ethos in the following sentence?
"According to Dr. James Mitchell, a cardiovascular surgeon with 20 years of experience at Johns Hopkins Hospital, regular exercise strengthens your heart and reduces the risk of heart disease by 35%."
Ethos: Uses someone that is trustworthy (an experienced surgeon) to support a claim. The author hopes that by taking an expert like Dr. Mitchell's advice we will be persuaded to exercise regulary to prevent heart disease.
What is the difference between a formal and informal tone?
A formal tone is serious and objective (not opinionated), more factual.
An informal tone is relaxed, conversational, and more personal in tone.
This tool is used to jot down the gist of each paragraph or important information as you read.
The notepad
What strategy and tool do you use if you cannot identify the correct answer?
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Use the strikethrough tool to cross of answers that are definitely wrong
If you're stuck....
Always choose the answer that most closely matches the main point of the passage.
NEVER EVER just guess.
Define (narrator, character, or author's) perspective.
What is
A perspective is what a (character, narrator, or author) believes or feels about the topic.
An example of 3 different perspectives: "Maya walked into the cafeteria nervously. At the same table, Jordan was hoping someone new would sit with them. The principal was watching from her office, thinking about the new student."
What is an allusion? Identify the allusion in the following sentence and explain what it means.
When Jake entered the competition, he felt like David facing Goliath.
What is
An allusion is an indirect reference to another book, movie, person, historical event, or well-known story. The author mentions it briefly without explaining it fully, expecting you to recognize it.
Example:
In a text: "When Jake entered the competition, he felt like David facing Goliath."
The allusion: This refers to the famous Bible story of David and Goliath, where a small, weak person defeats a giant, powerful opponent.
What it means: Jake is the underdog in a difficult situation, but he might still win.
Name at least 3 different types of text structures.
Chronological order, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, problem and solution, question and answer, description,
Name 4 electronics that should be powered down and/or placed in backpacks. Finding these items on you will result in your test being invalidated.
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Cell phones
Smartwatches
Smart glasses
wireless headphones (earbuds)
FAST is an adaptive test. What does this mean?
What is
The computer grades the test as you go and assigns you levels based on how you are answering the questions. If you miss, it gives you a lower level, if you get correct, it gives you a higher level.
It grades your answers when you select the "Next" button
Give the definition and an example of an Archetype.
What is
An archetype is a type of character that appears again and again in literature. Knowing these types of archetypes helps us better understand a character. (stereotype)
Examples: The hero, the rebel, the caregiver, ruler
Give 3 examples of logical reasoning used in an argument.
Deductive: Aims for absolute certainty. Factual. Starts with a general statement or theroy and moves to a specific truth (scientific)
(Whales are mammals, A beluga is a type of whale: A beluga is a mammal)
Abductive: Starts with an observation (often incomplete information) and draws a conclusion (The bakery across the street has a line of customers: The bakery must sell delicious treats)
Inductive: Starts with a specific observation to reach a conclusion. Every time I eat dairy I get a headache. Conclusion: I am allergic to dairy.
What is the symbolism of the locked box and the key in the following excerpt?
In a story: A character finds an old, rusty key in their grandmother's attic. Throughout the story, they search for the lock it opens. Finally, they discover that they key opens a hidden box containing letters from their grandmother.
The locked box = mysteries they did not understand about their grandmother
The key = the means to finally understand them.