Reading Comprehension
What is the first thing you should do when reading an unfamiliar passage?
Preview the text—read the title, headings, and context clues.
Define tone.
The author's attitude toward the subject.
What is personification?
Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Why should you read all answer choices before selecting one?
Some choices are designed to trick you—reading all helps you pick the best one.
What does the RACE strategy stand for?
Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain.
What should you do if you come across an unfamiliar word in the passage?
Use context clues to determine its meaning.
Define mood.
The feeling the reader gets from the text.
Identify the figurative language: "The wind whispered through the trees."
Personification.
What should you do if two answer choices seem correct?
Re-read the relevant passage section and choose the one with stronger textual support.
Why is citing textual evidence important in written responses?
It proves your answer is based on facts, not opinions.
What is annotation, and why is it important?
Annotation means marking key ideas, underlining, and writing notes to help understand the passage.
How can an author’s word choice reveal tone?
Positive, negative, or neutral words indicate the author's attitude.
What is faulty reasoning, and why is it a problem?
Logical fallacies or misleading arguments weaken an author’s credibility.
What’s the best way to eliminate wrong answers?
Remove answers that contradict the text or are too extreme.
What should a strong topic sentence include?
It should clearly state your main idea in response to the question.
Why is summarizing sections of a passage helpful?
It helps retain key points and understand the author's argument.
What is a theme, and how do you identify it?
A theme is the central message or idea; look at repeated concepts and conflicts.
How does an author use rhetorical questions effectively?
To make the reader think and emphasize a point.
What key words should you look for in a question?
Words like 'best,' 'most likely,' or 'author’s purpose' guide your focus.
What are two things you should include in a counterargument?
Acknowledging the other side and providing evidence to refute it.
Name three common nonfiction text structures.
Cause & Effect, Compare & Contrast, Problem & Solution.
Give an example of a theme and a text that might express it.
'Survival against nature'—seen in Jurassic Park.
How do metaphors and similes enhance writing?
They create vivid imagery and help readers understand abstract ideas.
How can you use context clues to answer vocabulary questions?
Look at surrounding words, sentence structure, and connotations.
How can you make your conclusion strong and impactful?
Restate your argument, summarize key points, and end with a thought-provoking statement.