PSAT Prep The Basics of the Reading Section

Critical Reading Section Sentence Completion (13 questions) Sentence Completion (13 questions) Passage-Based Reading (35 questions) Passage-Based Reading (35 questions) Work on SCs first because they take less time to answer than PBRs. Work on SCs first because they take less time to answer than PBRs. SCs go from easy to hard. SCs go from easy to hard. PBRs follow the logic of the passage. PBRs follow the logic of the passage. PBRs are FROM THE PASSAGE not what YOU THINK is right. PBRs are FROM THE PASSAGE not what YOU THINK is right. Stick with a passage until you can answer as many of the questions as you can; don’t go passage jumping. But don’t spend too much time on one passage either. Stick with a passage until you can answer as many of the questions as you can; don’t go passage jumping. But don’t spend too much time on one passage either. Mark questions you’re unsure of so you can easily go back to it later. Mark questions you’re unsure of so you can easily go back to it later.

Sentence Completions Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. In other words: Complete the sentence. In other words: Complete the sentence.

Example Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. Step 1: One blank at a time. Step 1: One blank at a time. Step 2: Guess at the blank then check choices. Eliminate unwanteds. Step 2: Guess at the blank then check choices. Eliminate unwanteds. Step 3: Guess at blank two, repeat step 2. Step 3: Guess at blank two, repeat step 2. Step 4: Plug in and choose the right answer. Step 4: Plug in and choose the right answer. Step 5: Check it out. Step 5: Check it out.

Example Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. (A) enforce.. useful (A) enforce.. useful (B) end.. divisive (B) end.. divisive (C) overcome.. unattractive (C) overcome.. unattractive (D) extend.. satisfactory (D) extend.. satisfactory (E) resolve.. acceptable (E) resolve.. acceptable

Example Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. Hoping to the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be to both labor and management. (B) end.. divisive (B) end.. divisive (C) overcome.. unattractive (C) overcome.. unattractive (E) resolve.. acceptable (E) resolve.. acceptable

Example Hoping to resolve the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be acceptable to both labor and management. Hoping to resolve the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be acceptable to both labor and management. Check it out: Does it make sense? Check it out: Does it make sense? You’re done. You’re done.

Passage-Based Reading The passages below are followed by questions based on their content; questions following a pair of related passages may also be based on the relationship between the paired passages. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passages and in an introductory material that may be provided. The passages below are followed by questions based on their content; questions following a pair of related passages may also be based on the relationship between the paired passages. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passages and in an introductory material that may be provided. In other words: Answer questions based solely on reading passages. In other words: Answer questions based solely on reading passages.

Test Tips Short passages (Bum Rush) Short passages (Bum Rush) Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 2: Read passage until you find answer. Step 2: Read passage until you find answer. Step 3: Scan answer choices and choose the right answer. Step 3: Scan answer choices and choose the right answer. Long passage (Divide and Conquer) Long passage (Divide and Conquer) Step 1: Start with passage. Step 1: Start with passage. Step 2: Outline passage in the margins. Draw lines on paper separating passage. Put main idea (MI) of each paragraph in each passage. Step 2: Outline passage in the margins. Draw lines on paper separating passage. Put main idea (MI) of each paragraph in each passage. Step 3: Read question stem; refer to MI note. Step 3: Read question stem; refer to MI note. Step 4: Read that paragraph from the passage. Step 4: Read that paragraph from the passage. Step 5: Scan answer choices; choose the right answer. Step 5: Scan answer choices; choose the right answer.

Test Tips Two passages (Double Trouble Triage) Two passages (Double Trouble Triage) Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 1: Start with question stem. Step 2: Triage. Questions about both passages save last. Start with questions about one or the other passage. Step 2: Triage. Questions about both passages save last. Start with questions about one or the other passage. Step 3: Refer back to Short Passage tips. Step 3: Refer back to Short Passage tips. Step 4: By the time you’re done with Step 3, you’ve probably read both passages. Answer questions about both passages. Step 4: By the time you’re done with Step 3, you’ve probably read both passages. Answer questions about both passages.

When in doubt… Start with the question stem. Start with the question stem. Determine what the question is asking. Determine what the question is asking. Answer the question! Answer the question! Remember, the answer is staring right at you. You just have to find it. Remember, the answer is staring right at you. You just have to find it. When all else fails, eliminate as many of the choices as you can and guess the best possible answer. When all else fails, eliminate as many of the choices as you can and guess the best possible answer.

Writing Skills Section Improving Sentences (20 questions) Improving Sentences (20 questions) Identifying Sentence Errors (14 questions) Identifying Sentence Errors (14 questions) Improving Paragraphs (5 questions) Improving Paragraphs (5 questions) Remember, effective writing (1) is consistent, (2) expresses ideas logically, (3) is precise and clear, and (4) follows conventions. Remember, effective writing (1) is consistent, (2) expresses ideas logically, (3) is precise and clear, and (4) follows conventions.

Improving Sentences The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A; if not, select one of the other choices. The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A; if not, select one of the other choices. In other words: Determine if the underlined part is wrong. If not, choose A. If so, choose the correct editing choice. In other words: Determine if the underlined part is wrong. If not, choose A. If so, choose the correct editing choice.

Identifying Sentence Errors The following sentences test your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. Each sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice E. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standards written English. The following sentences test your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. Each sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice E. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standards written English. In other words: Determine if sentence is wrong. If not, choose E. If so, choose the error. In other words: Determine if sentence is wrong. If not, choose E. If so, choose the error.

Improving Paragraphs The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the question that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English. Read the passage and select the best answers for the question that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English. In other words: Something might be wrong with the draft. Determine it by answering the question. In other words: Something might be wrong with the draft. Determine it by answering the question.

Timing and Scoring Reading – 25mins; Writing – 30mins Reading – 25mins; Writing – 30mins Each correct answer gets you 1 point. Each correct answer gets you 1 point. Omitting questions gets you no point. Omitting questions gets you no point. Wrong answers makes you lose a quarter (1/4) of a point. Wrong answers makes you lose a quarter (1/4) of a point. In other words: Make good use of your time. Answer as many questions as you can, especially to ones you know the answer to 100%. It’s okay to omit questions you’re 100% unsure of, but don’t omit too much. In other words: Make good use of your time. Answer as many questions as you can, especially to ones you know the answer to 100%. It’s okay to omit questions you’re 100% unsure of, but don’t omit too much.

Before Karen Chin’s research, scientists assumed that the value of evidence preserved in the fossils called coprolites was too to warrant the effort of (a) unpredictable.. Transformation (a) unpredictable.. Transformation (b) superlative.. Examination (b) superlative.. Examination © conventional.. Eradication © conventional.. Eradication (d) relevant.. Synthesis (d) relevant.. Synthesis (e) dubious.. analysis (e) dubious.. analysis

Greta praised the novel for its , claiming it depicted reality so vividly that it seemed more like fact than fiction. (a) transcendence (a) transcendence (b) romanticism (b) romanticism © impenetrability © impenetrability (d) loquacity (d) loquacity (e) verisimilitude (e) verisimilitude