Reading Strategies
Academic Vocabulary
Want to Get Into College?
Domain: Craft & Structure
Classify
Test taking Strategies
100

True or False: It's important to read every single word and annotate a lot.  

False...you'll run out of time!

100

Infer

To conclude information from evidence and reasoning

100

Which of the following identifies the central idea of the text?

A. Students are more likely to appreciate their accomplishments if they had to struggle to achieve them.

B. Students who are open about their failures show that they have the ability to grow and be successful in college and beyond.

C. While educators want to have perfect students on their college campuses, they understand that not all students can achieve perfection.

D. If students cannot fail gracefully, they will not be able to handle the harsh environment of higher education.

B. Students who are open about their failures show that they have the ability to grow and be successful in college and beyond.

100

Literal and Figurative Meanings

Categorize each item as an example of either "literal meaning" or "figurative meaning."

Items:

1Close that door!

2He has perfect vision, but he's blind all the same.

3Math is my worst subject.

4Shut your trap!

5The sun smiled down on us throughout the picnic!

6You look like my Aunt Linda.

Literal Meaning:

You look like my Aunt Linda.

Math is my worst subject.

Close that door!

Figurative Meaning:

The sun smiled down on us throughout the picnic!

He has perfect vision, but he's blind all the same.

Shut your trap!

100

True or False: You should read the questions FIRST.

True!  This helps you know what to look for.

200

Looking at the hints in a sentence or paragraph to define unknown words or phrases

What are context clues?

200

Perspective

An attitude towards something; point of view

200

Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

A. "Even the sacrifice of staying up late to do something unrelated to school, they see as a risk to my academic work and college success." (Paragraph 2)

B. "When I was traveling in China last fall and asked a student what she did for fun, she replied: 'I thought I wasn't supposed to tell you that?'" (Paragraph 3)

C. "Students try their best to hide factors they perceive to be negative and only tell us things they believe we will find impressive." (Paragraph 5)

D. "The ability to bounce back is a fundamental life skill students have to learn on their own. The lessons of failure can't be taught in a classroom; they are experienced and reflected upon." (Paragraph 7)

D. "The ability to bounce back is a fundamental life skill students have to learn on their own. The lessons of failure can't be taught in a classroom; they are experienced and reflected upon." (Paragraph 7)

200

Literal and Figurative Meanings

Categorize each item as an example of either "literal meaning" or "figurative meaning."

Items:

1After all that pizza, I must weigh a ton!

2Autumn is my favorite season.

3I was late for work again today.

4May I borrow ten dollars?

5This suit cost me an arm and a leg.

6You sang like a bird tonight!

Literal Meaning:

I was late for work again today.

Autumn is my favorite season.

May I borrow ten dollars?

Figurative Meaning:

After all that pizza, I must weigh a ton!

This suit cost me an arm and a leg.

You sang like a bird tonight!

200

What should you do if you don't understand what you just read?

What is reread the passage and jot down main points on the CBT sheet

300

You can quickly identify important information in each paragraph using this strategy.

 Highlighting

300

Emphasized

Give special importance or prominence

300

How does the example of the student who failed precalculus in paragraphs 7-8 contribute to the development of ideas in the article?

A. It gives an example of a student who failed and turned it into a positive experience.

B. It emphasizes the point that failing is something that all students experience.

C. It shows how strongly students are affected by perceived failures.

D. It gives an example of a student who has the perfect college application.

A. It gives an example of a student who failed and turned it into a positive experience.

300

Denotation and Connotation

Categorize each item as an example of a word with either a positive connotation or a neutral denotation.

Items:

1fact

2flower

3happiness

4home

5house

6vegetation

Positive Connotation:

happiness

home

flower

Neutral Denotation:

fact

house

vegetation

300

When you double check, that gives you time to re___

read, redo any questions

400

What should I do as I read the passages?

Take key-word or gist notes in the notepad.

400

Connotative

The emotions and associations connected to a word

400

Which section from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

A. "The ability to bounce back is a fundamental life skill students have to learn on their own." (Paragraph 7)

B. "During my weekend of interviews, another student told me, 'I'm ashamed to admit I failed precalculus'" (Paragraph 7)

C. "'I realized that I can't let a grade define my success. I also learned that if you want anything bad enough, you can achieve it.'" (Paragraph 7)

D. "I smiled as I wrote his words down on the application-review form. This kid will thrive on my campus." (Paragraph 8)

C. "'I realized that I can't let a grade define my success. I also learned that if you want anything bad enough, you can achieve it.'" (Paragraph 7)

400

Context Clues

Identify which is MOST helpful to determine the meaning of the bold word in each sentence, the prefix of the word, the suffix of the word, or context clues.

Items:

1Even though he was generally responsible, Ragin was not very dependable when it came to showing up on time.

2It is so frustrating to see the total lack of interest and concern our peers have for the recycling program. They couldn't care less. Such apathy!

3Jadi could not believe that her sister was training so hard, until she learned that Sarah wants to be a triathlete.

4Ted could not decide if he wanted to be a politician or a musician.

5You bet I'm frugal! I save half my paycheck and spend money VERY carefully. Economy is the name of the game. 

Context Clues:

Even though he was generally responsible, Ragin was not very dependable when it came to showing up on time.

You bet I'm frugal! I save half my paycheck and spend money VERY carefully. Economy is the name of the game.

It is so frustrating to see the total lack of interest and concern our peers have for the recycling program. They couldn't care less. Such apathy!

Prefixes:

Jadi could not believe that her sister was training so hard, until she learned that Sarah wants to be a triathlete.

Suffixes:

Ted could not decide if he wanted to be a politician or a musician.

400

Something important you do as you preview each FSA the questions

What is underline key words/phrases.

500

When I read each question, how do I make sure I understand the question? (3 steps)

Read it the question twice

Be aware of what section of the passage you'll find the answer. 

Pay attention to how many answers you need to select.

500

Rhetorical device

A technique that an author or speakers uses with goals of persuading his audience towards considering a topic from different perspective

500

How does the author feel about the student he is interviewing?

A. He is glad that the student went on to take calculus, as this looks good on a transcript.

B. He worries that the student will have to retake his math classes in college.

C. He is impressed the student told him this but cannot admit him because he failed a class.

D. He appreciates the student's ability to accept failure and bounce back from it.


D. He appreciates the student's ability to accept failure and bounce back from it.
500

Words with Multiple Meanings

Read each sentence and determine if the bold word is acting as a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) or a verb (word that shows action).

Items:

1Anne didn't object to taking out the trash, but I could tell she was unhappy.

2I didn't suspect that she was responsible for the broken vase.

3John is a suspect in the case, but there isn't much evidence.

4Nina sent her resume to the company, but she hasn't heard anything yet.

5The object of the game is to be the player with the most points.

6You may resume your game after a brief timeout.

Noun:

The object of the game is to be the player with the most points.

John is a suspect in the case, but there isn't much evidence.

Nina sent her resume to the company, but she hasn't heard anything yet.

Verb:

Anne didn't object to taking out the trash, but I could tell she was unhappy.

I didn't suspect that she was responsible for the broken vase.

You may resume your game after a brief timeout.

500

How can you prove your answer?

Circle what is making it write or wrong, find and label evidence, and write where the evidence was found in the text.