Central Idea/Evidence
Describe main idea/ central idea
What is The main idea is what something is mostly about. Main ideas are typically found in a literary passage. Central ideas are found in an informational text.
List the the three types of author's purpose
What is to persuade, inform, and entertain.
Choose whether commas or semicolons should be used in this sentence!
Can you pick up ______ ______ and garden shears?
Choose 1 answer
(A) nails, a screwdriver,
What is (a) nails, a screwdriver,
Rationale: Semicolons are used to separate items in a complex list and to unite closely related (but independent) clauses. Commas unite dependent and independent clauses.
If two parts of a sentence can stand on their own, use a semicolon. If one part of the sentence can’t stand on its own, use a comma.
FANBOY stands for...
What is For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet?
What should you always read FIRST when starting a passage?
The introduction and overview at the start of the passage
State the main idea from below
1. Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.
1. What is rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.
Read the descriptions of each item and determine the author’s purpose (to entertain, persuade, or inform). Then, in a sentence or two, explain your answer.
1. A poem about the beauty of Mount Everest as seen from a mountain climber’s perspective
What is to entertain?
Example: The climber attempts to entertain the reader with the description of Mount Everest.
Choose whether to use a colon or a semicolon in this sentence!
I've always wanted to go to ______ I heard they have the best pastries there.
Choose 1 answer:
(A) New Orleans;
(B) New Orleans:
What is (A) New Orleans;
Rationale: Semicolons are often used to connect two independent clauses. Colons are most often used to connect an independent and a dependent clause, phrase, list, or quote.
Term used for a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause
What is a conjunction?
How many passages are on the SAT Reading Test?
What is five?
Create two tips to help other students find the central idea in a text while taking the SAT.
Answers may vary
1.Come up with your own “Main Idea” as you read.
2. Express the Purpose as a Verb.
3. Eliminate answer choices that are Out of Scope or Extreme.
4. Eliminate “half-right” choices.
Directions: read the description, determine the author’s purpose, and then explain your answer. (No partial credit)
1. A handbook teaching people how to negotiate.
2. A public service announcement telling kids to stay in school
1. What is to inform? The author provides instructions to the reader on how to complete a task.
2. What is to persuade? The author attempts to influence the reader in this text.
Choose the best clause to make this a grammatical sentence. Explain your answer
I think it's supposed to rain today,
A)so you should bring your umbrella with you.
B) before you bring your umbrella.
What is A) so you should bring your umbrella with you.
Rationale: A dependent clause needs to be attached to an independent clause in order to be a part of a sentence. A dependent clause may contain what looks like an independent clause, but may begin with a prepositional phrase or a subordinating conjunction like because or although. For example, “Because he was hungry” is a dependent clause, while “He was hungry” is an independent clause.
Explain the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
What is Coordinating Conjunctions links two or more words, clauses, phrases or sentences of equal importance.Subordinating Conjunctions are the words that links a dependent clause to an independent clause?
Which sentence is correct (may be both): You look like the Hulk. You look like you are angry.
What is the second one?
Every fall, monarch butterflies migrate hundreds, even thousands, of miles to southern California and central Mexico. Along the way, they stop to drink nectar from wildflowers and other flowering plants. Reaching their winter homes, they gather in the trees and form large clusters, or roosts, to stay warm. They remain in their roosts until spring, when warmer weather signals that it’s time to breed. Soon, a new generation of monarchs will make the long trip back to their summer habitats.
Read the sentence.
“Soon, a new generation of monarchs will make the long trip back to their summer habitats.”
How does this detail support the main idea of the passage?
(A) It shows that new butterflies develop in southern California and Central Mexico.
(B) It shows that butterflies migrate in order to breed new butterflies
(C) It shows that new butterflies migrate back north for the summer.
What is (C) It shows that new butterflies migrate back north for the summer.
Rationale: this is the best choice. The main idea of the passage is that monarch butterflies travel to warmer places for the winter. The detail helps support this main idea.
Practice 1: Ripples Energy
Have both teams read the selection and answer the three questions. No partial credit
What is
1.(d) to inform readers about different kinds of waves
2.(a) Did the author give me information?
3.(c) to persuade readers to study more about tsunamis.
Answer both questions (no partial credit).
Choose the best clause to make this a grammatical sentence.
1. I think my cat has fleas;
A)since we left Montana
B) he's been scratching like crazy.
2. Identify the dependent clause.
A)That's a great idea
(B) That you had
1.What is (B) he's been scratching like crazy.
2. What is (B) that you had
Choose the best conjunction: I won’t take you to the rodeo ______ you’ve already finished your homework.
(A) unless
(B)for
(C)that
What is (A) unless
Fix this sentence: Filling out applications for summer jobs is about as much fun as when you take the SAT.
What is when you take -> taking?
We use our eyes from the time we open them in the morning until we close them at night. Our eyes help us see our favorite things, see where we’re going, do our homework, and play sports. So, it’s important that we take care of our eyes.
How can you keep your eyes healthy? You keep your eyes healthy by eating right and choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Wearing eye protection when playing sports and washing your hands before putting them close to your eyes are also important.
Read the sentence.
“Our eyes help us see our favorite things, see where we’re going, do our homework, and play sports.”
How does this detail support the main idea of the passage?
Choose 1 answer
(A) It helps us understand why our eyes get so tired.
(B) It helps us understand why we should wear eye protection.
(C) It helps us understand why it can be difficult to keep our eyes healthy.
(D) It helps us understand how important our eyes are.
What is (D) It helps us understand how important our eyes are.
Rationale: This is the best choice. We use our eyes for many things. The detail supports the author's main idea that our eyes are more important.
Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some foods can be taken into space just the way they are. Some foods cannot go into space at all. And some foods just need to be repacked! Taking the water out of foods before they go into space saves room. Astronauts add water to the food just before they eat it. Astronauts take a knife, a fork, and a spoon to eat their meals, and a pair of scissors to open the food packages. The scissors are one of the most important items. The crew could not eat without them!
Read the sentences.
“And some foods just need to be repacked! Taking the water out of foods before they go into space saves room.”
Why does the author give us this information?
Choose 1 answer:
(A) to show us that packing foods without water makes them safer to take into space
(B)to show us that all foods need to be repacked
(C)to show us how water is taken out of some foods to make them taste better
(D) to show us how some foods are repacked so they fit on the space shuttle
What is (D) to show us how some foods are repacked so they fit on the space shuttle
This is the best choice. The authors is explaining that some foods are repacked to make them smaller. This way, the packages can fit in the limited space on a rocket or shuttle. It would be important to find ways to bring as much food as possible for the long journey.
Fix each of the sentences (no partial credit): Her chances of getting an A aren't much better than the lottery. Of the students in the club, Deborah was the more popular. The pilot's main point of reference was the two lighthouse beacons
What is chances of winning, and points of reference were?
Humans have been consuming coffee (1) for centuries. Coffee houses exploded in popularity during the Colonial Era. (2) They were protested by clergy and women. There were still over 2,000 of them in London in the 17th and 18th centuries.
1.
A. NO CHANGE
B. for centuries, coffee houses
C. for centuries because
D. for centuries, but
2.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Although they were protested by clergy and women, there were still
C. They were protested by clergy and women; there were still
D. Protested by clergy and women, there remained
1. D. for centuries, but
Rationale: only D makes sense given the content of the selection and improves the flow of the information,
2. B. Although they were protested by clergy and women, there were still
Rationale:B, which uses a subordinating conjunction (although) to make the first clause dependent. The conjunction and punctuation work, so B is our answer.
Correct the following (no partial credit): Walk slow or you will be sorry. You don't look like you feel well today. Life in the city is exciting, but life in the country is best. She was the most beautiful of the two sisters.
What is slowly, correct, better, more.