ACT Reading Prep Clues you can use!

Reading Test Four passages Four passages Fiction/prose (short story or excerpt) Fiction/prose (short story or excerpt) Social Studies- anthropology, archaeology, biography, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology Social Studies- anthropology, archaeology, biography, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology Natural Science- anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, natural history, physiology, physics, technology, and zoology Natural Science- anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, natural history, physiology, physics, technology, and zoology Humanities- memoirs and personal essays and in the content areas of architecture, art, dance, ethics, film, language, literary criticism, music, philosophy, radio, television, and theater Humanities- memoirs and personal essays and in the content areas of architecture, art, dance, ethics, film, language, literary criticism, music, philosophy, radio, television, and theater 40 Questions-35 minutes 40 Questions-35 minutes

Strategy 8 minutes per passage & questions 8 minutes per passage & questions Focus on the first three passages Focus on the first three passages If necessary, rush the last passage If necessary, rush the last passage Watch out for distracters Watch out for distracters Context clues for vocab Context clues for vocab

Good News Easiest test of the four to get a score bump Easiest test of the four to get a score bump Wednesday Practice days Wednesday Practice days

Types of Questions Literal Literal You can find the answer in the text You can find the answer in the text Inferential Inferential You have to use the text and your mind to find the right answer You have to use the text and your mind to find the right answer

Distracters An answer that distracts the test taker from the real answer An answer that distracts the test taker from the real answer Represents an error in logic Represents an error in logic Four kinds: Four kinds: Distortion Distortion Switch Switch Unsupported Positive Unsupported Positive Extreme Extreme

Distortion Blatantly untrue Blatantly untrue Distorts the meaning or intent of the passage Distorts the meaning or intent of the passage May use words from the passage, but change the wording May use words from the passage, but change the wording Most popular Most popular

Switch A true fact/detail from passage A true fact/detail from passage Does not answer the question Does not answer the question An attempt to shift your attention from the question that was asked An attempt to shift your attention from the question that was asked

Unsupported Positive Sounds really nice, but cannot be supported by the facts of the passage Sounds really nice, but cannot be supported by the facts of the passage Attractive because it may be universally true (outside of the article) Attractive because it may be universally true (outside of the article)

Extreme Answer includes extremes: always, never, completely Answer includes extremes: always, never, completely If you can think of an exception, then the extreme answer is wrong. If you can think of an exception, then the extreme answer is wrong. Not all extreme answers are wrong! Not all extreme answers are wrong!

From “Creative Liar” Scientists have wrapped up a decade-long study of a Zion- Benton Township High School teacher, and the results are shocking: ZBTHS students have been mislead by a teacher the study referred to as “Mr. G.” Scientists collected data from a variety of sources: interviews with current and past students, MEL-Con paragraphs, secret video recordings and class notes from “Mr. G.” Overwhelmingly, the scientists have found that students have been repeatedly told untrue information, from lies about Mr. G’s involvement in numerous wars (Revolutionary, World War II, and Vietnam), to fabrications about another teacher’s alleged wooden leg. While the scientists have concluded that Mr. G is a pathological liar, they are unsure about the effects on gullible students. Further studies are to come.

Sample—label the four answers What is the main idea of the passage?  Mr. G truly cares about good story-telling so that students remember the information.  Allegedly, a teacher at ZBTHS has a wooden leg.  History teachers are always liars.  Mr. G was injured in several wars, which likely explains his propensity for lying.

Answers A. Unsupported positive B. Switch C. Extreme D. Distortion