ELA Test Taking Strategies
Analysis
Rhetorical
Problem Solving & Data Analysis
Heart of Algebra
100

The first thing you should look over before you begin an exam is....

The test questions.

100

Character analysis AKA characterization is...

When you evaluate a: 

character's traits, 

their role in the story, 

and the conflicts they experience.

100

Factual evidence occurs when....

the author offers examples of something or provides proof.

100

Starting in 1950, every year for 50 years the number of plastic bottles in a certain landfill is recorded. When the data has been plotted the equation of the best-fit line is reported to be: y=3.02t+10.8, where t is years and y is thousands of bottles. 

What is the interpretation of the number 3.02 in the equation?

3.02 is the slope. It's interpretation is that each year there are 3,020 more plastic bottles in the landfill.

100

What is the slope of the line which is perpendicular to y=(1/2)x-4

-2

200

R.A.C.E. stand for....

Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain.

200

Setting plays a role in characterization within a novel by...

Affecting character traits, how they behave, react, think, make decisions and function.

200

Analogy is used when....

the author makes an extended comparison between 2 things which are alike in many respects to suggest that they may be alike in other respects.

200

John runs at different speeds as part of his training program. The graph shows his target heart rate at different times during his workout. On which interval is the target heart rate strictly increasing then strictly decreasing?


what is between 40 and 60

200

if (a/b) = 2, what is the value of (4b/a)?

what is 2

300

This test taking skill is most useful for multiple-choice questions?

Process of elimination. 

300

Symbolism helps to develop.... 

The theme of a text.

300

Authors establish their credibility through....

experience, education, past actions and even just charisma.

300

Based on the histogram above, of the following, which is closest to the average (arithmetic mean) number of seeds per apple?

What is 6

300

If f(x)=3x+1 and g(x)=2x-4, at what x value is the quotient f(x)/g(x) undefined?

x=2 is undefined. g(x)=2x-4 is in the denominator; therefore, the function is undefined if 2x-4=0, if we solve for x we find that x=2 causes 2x-4=0. Therefore, f(x)/g(x) is undefined when x=2.

400

When you find yourself stuck on a question for a long period of time, you should....

Mark it, move on to other questions you do know, and go back to it. 

400

The difference between main idea and author's purpose is...

Main idea describes:

the main point or central idea of a text. 

Author's purpose is: 

the author's reason for writing the text (ex. to inform, to persuade, to entertain)

400

Refutation is an example of.....

Pathos

400


The data in the table above were produced by a sleep researcher studying the number of dreams people recall when asked to record their dreams for one week. Group X consisted of 100 people who observed early bedtimes, and Group Y consisted of 100 people who observed later bedtimes. If a person is chosen at random from those who recalled at least 1 dream, what is the probability that the person belonged to Group Y ?

what is 79/100

400

3x + 4y = −23

2y - x = - 19

what is the solution to the system of equations

what is (3, -8)

500

The four things you should do to properly annotate a text is....

Underline key phrases

Circle/highlight vocabulary, 

Write notes in the margins. 

Mark sections that answer the questions

500

The difference between tone and theme in a text is...

Tone reflects the author's attitude towards the text 

Theme is underlying message within a text that the author is trying to convey.

500

Anecdotes are short descriptions of events that are designed to....

set up a point or evoke a feeling in the reader.

500

The table above lists the annual budget, in thousands of dollars, for each of six different state programs in Kansas from 2007 to 2010.

Of the following, which program’s ratio of its 2007 budget to its 2010 budget is closest to the human resources program’s ratio of its 2007 budget to its 2010 budget?

What is Education (2/6 or 1/3)

500

A line in the xy-plane passes through the origin and has a slope of 1/7 . Which of the following points lies on the line?

what is (1,7)