VISA ENGLISH ACADEMY

BRIANA SONGER
2014
SHORT PASSAGE-KEY
POINTS
There are five types of questions in this
section:
1. Big Picture
2. Little Picture
3. Vocabulary-in-Context
4. Function
You will learn how to identify and
answer each question type.

Question Types Introduction
The short and long reading passages cover
humanities, social sciences, natural
sciences, and fiction.
To do well, you must actively read and
analyze the information provided (we will
discuss what active/analyze means later)
Almost more than 50% of the test is
composed of Little Picture and Inference
questions.
Fewer than 30-40% of the test is Big
Picture, Function and Vocabulary
Strategy for Answering Reading
Comprehension Questions
Step 1: Read the question stem. Rephrase
the question to check for understanding.
Step 2: Locate the material you need.
Step 3: Predict the answer.
Step 4: Select the best answer choice.

*Knowing the question types will help you
locate the information more quickly and
choose the best answer.
1. Big Picture Key Words
Tests how well you understand the passage as a whole.
They ask about:
Main point of passage/paragraph
The passage is primarily concerned with..
What is the main idea of the passage?
Authors tone/attitude
What is the authors attitude toward..
Authors argument (logic)
Based on the passage, the author would most likely describe.
The author suggests that.
Relation of ideas
The author compares _________ to _________ in order to
Big Picture questions are often located at the end, so try
to answer the Little Picture questions first
Practice a sample passage and question on the next
slide. Remember to read the question stem first.
Big Picture Question
Example
Based on the passage, the author would most likely describe goose bumps on humans as
(A) an unnecessary and unexplained phenomenon
(B) a harmful but necessary measure
(C) an amusing but dangerous feature
(D) a useless but interesting remnant
(E) a powerful bus infrequent occurrence
Answer Explanation
Step 1: Question-
What does the author think about goose bumps?
Step 2: Locate Material-
Big Picture as its based on the passage as a whole; however its asking only about
goose bumps, so scan for goose bumps, while keeping the overall passage in mind.
Step 3: Predict
Last sentence-author describes goose bumps as an obsolete response (obsolete-
outdated, not needed)
Step 4: Select the Best Answer
A) Unnecessary (yes), unexplained (not)
B) Never describes goose bumps as harmful
C) Nor dangerous
D) Correct-remnant means left over, but it serves no purpose for humans
E) Out of scope because the passage never mentions the frequency with which
goose bumps occur.



Practice with
Big Picture Questions
Teachers Shows Narrative Perspective-
Authors Point of View Power Point
Homework: Identifying Narrative
Perspective POV Worksheet
Study popular tone/attitude words:
Quizlet-http://quizlet.com/46034090/sat-
tonemood-words-flash-cards/


2. Little Picture
About a 1/3 of the test consists of Little Picture
questions asking about specific facts and
details from the passage.
These questions often give a line reference: a
clue to where in the passage to look for the
answer.
Be careful with answer choices that seem to
reasonably answer the question in the stem
but that dont make sense in the context of the
passage.
Be careful with answer choices that are true
but refer to a different section of the test.
Tests how well you understand the
details of the passage. They ask about:
Whether you understand significant
information thats stated
According to the passage..
Ability to locate information
Ability to differentiate between main ideas
and specific details
In lines 12-16, what does the author say about..
Ability to differentiate between main ideas
and specific details
In line 6, the empty night is symbolic of

Little Picture Key Words
Little Picture Example Question
According to the passage, which is true about the bridge?
(A) It was originally constructed by New York State.
(B) It opened to the public in 1916.
(C) It was necessitated by inadequate ferry services.
(A) Statement II
(B) Statement III
(C) Statements I and II
(D) Statements I and III
(E) Statements II and III

Answer Explanation
Step 1: Question-
What is true (or false) about the bridge?
Step 2: Locate Material-
Small picture are usually simple detail questions, based on facts in the passage.
Dont let the Roman numerals confuse you..
Step 3: Verify/Rule Out
What is true? Whats false? Start by ruling out each answer that doesnt fit.
Step 4: Select the Best Answer
A) Is a distortion. The Park opened in 1916, the date of the bridge was later. You
can thus eliminate C and E.
B) Correct Answer.
C) Already eliminated.
D) Is also a distortion. Statement III is true, but I is false. N.Y. State didnt build the
bridge, a private company did. It was turned over to the state at a later time.
E) Already eliminated.



Practice with Little Picture
Questions
Read the Power Point- How to Identify
Supporting Details
Practice reading short passages and
identifying supporting details:
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0
073123587/student_view0/chapter9/sup
porting_details__exercise_1.html and
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0
073123587/student_view0/chapter9/sup
porting_details__exercise_2.html

3. Inference Questions
To infer is to draw conclusions based on evidence and
reasoning. The answers are not directly stated, but
expressed through signs and emotions that the author
states.
Pay attention to the overall feeling of the passage (tone)
and specific details and word choice that are used.
For example, if the author states that a particular idea was
perceived as revolutionary, you might infer that he doesnt
think it was truly revolutionary, only seen (perceived) that
way.
Try not to let your background knowledge of a topic get in
the way of your judgment. Stick to the what is presented
in the text. Stay away from answers that are far-fetched
(illogical conclusions).
Some answers may be true outside of the text, so be
careful with your answer choice.
Inference Questions Key Words
May be worded as
It can be inferred from the passage that..
The phrase __________implies that..
The description of _______primarily
suggests that..
Inference Practice Example
Question
Lines 10-13 (My motherheating supply company) suggest that the authors mother regarded the cold of the
American Midwest as
(A) more drastic that that of Vietnam
(B) an opportunity for economic success
(C) an obstacle to familial happiness
(D) symbolic of other challenges and problems
(E) unimportant to the familys future
Answer Explanation
Step 1: Question-
The word suggests indicates that its an inference question. What do these lines say
about his mothers view of the cold in the Midwest?
Step 2: Locate Material-
After reading the lines, you should see that the mother helped the family profit form
the cold by selling heat.
Step 3: Predict
So look for an answer that says she profited or made money from it. Other answers,
even if true, are irrelevant.
Step 4: Select the Best Answer
A) Although A is certainly true, it is not specifically referred to in the lines cited.
B) Correct answer
C) There was no mention of the cold being an obstacle.
D) Author doesnt say anything about the cold being symbolic.
E) Author doesnt say the cold was unimportant to the family (quite the opposite)


Practice with Inference
Read the Power Point: How to Make
Inferences
Complete the exercises in the Pearson
Inference Packet.
Practice on Quia:
http://www.quia.com/pop/43335.html?AP
_rand=414280809

4. Vocabulary-In-Context
Asks about the meaning of a single word. these questions
do not test your ability to define hard words like
archipelago and garrulous.
Instead they test your ability to infer the meaning of a
word from context.
The words in this section are fairly common words with
more than one definition, but only one word will work in
context.
Sometimes one of the answer choices will jump out at
you, and is the most common meaning, but it is RARELY
the right one. Its the obvious choice.
Use these obvious choices to your advantage by
eliminating them if you get stuck.
Use the same strategies as Sentence Completion
questions.
Vocabulary-In-Context Key
Words
They may be worded as:
As used in line 8, ________most
nearly/closely means..
The term ________most likely refers to..
Vocabulary-In-Context Example
Question
As used in line 7, effect most nearly means
(A) imitate
(B) result
(C) cause
(D) disturb
(E) prevent
Answer Explanation
Step 1: Question-
As used in line, refers to a specific word and indicates vocabulary in context.
Remember to focus on the word effect, which is both a noun and a verb, so you must
look at its use in the sentence to determine the meaning.
Step 2: Locate Material-
Go to the line indicated and reread from the beginning of the sentence, focusing on
the phrase to rise up and effect a change.
Step 3: Predict
Replace the word effect with a sensible meaning, like make
Step 4: Select the Best Answer
A) Imitate-to copy. There is nothing to copy, so thats out.
B) You may be tempted to choose result, but this is a noun, and the context
suggests a verb.
C) Cause can be a noun or verb, but in this case, it makes sense as a verb and
substitute for make, so its the correct answer.
D) Disturb does not relate to the context.
E) Prevent is the opposite meaning of the correct answer.




Context Clues Practice
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_licklider
_vocabulary_2/0,6658,416421-,00.html
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0
073123587/student_view0/chapter3/cont
ext_clues__exercise_1.html
5. Function Questions
These Why? questions are a little tricky because
they require you to take an extra step beyond the
What? of the passage.
To answer these questions effectively, you must put
yourself in the authors place.
Function questions will ask you:
Why include this detail?
Why include this word?
Why include this sentence?
Why include this quote?
Why include this paragraph?
Your job is to look back in the passage using the line
reference or other hints in the question stem. You
have to read around the lines.

Function Question Key
Words
These questions are easy to spot, and are worded
as follows:
The _________mentioned in lines 4-5 serves primarily
to..
The author uses the description of _____in lines 5-7
mainly to..
The second paragraph primarily serves to..
The author cites ______in lines 8-9 in order to..
is meant to..
is used to..
function as..
Be careful going through the answers. Sometimes
youll see an answer that is really a Big Picture
answer, but its not the answer to a Function
question.
Function Example Question
In line 1, the author invokes the Beat Generation in order to
(A) detail an earlier movement in music
(B) introduce the topic by illustrating a similarity
(C) imply the insignificance of grunge
(D) recall an important time in American cultural history
(E) emphasize grunges influence upon todays music


Answer Explanation
Step 1: Question-
The words in order to indicate a function question. Remember to focus on the why?
not the what? So why does the author refer to the Beat Generation?
Step 2: Locate Material-
In this case, the question can be answered by referring to the first couple of lines.
Like the is a key phrase that a comparison is being made to the grunge musicians.
Step 3: Predict
The author wants to show that both groups were disgusted by the outcome of their
writing/music (in mainstream).
Step 4: Select the Best Answer
A) is a distortion. The first sentence clearly establishes that the Beats were writers, not musicians
B) is the correct answer.
C) is out of scope/opposite idea. The author never implies that the grunge movement was insignificant. By
invoking the Beats, the author is recalling an important time in cultural history.
D) but this is not the purpose for the authors doing so.
E) is out of scope. The author never mentions grunges influence upon mainstream culture of the early 90s.



Function Practice
Complete these e-reading worksheets. To complete the task:
Click on the link
Click on the play symbol
Click on the title of the story and enter your name.
The story will open in a new window. The questions will be in the
previous window.
Read the questions and scan for the answers.
Stories to choose from:
1. Submarines-
http://ereadingworksheets.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets/reading-test-1-
submarines/
2. Tigers-
http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-comprehension-
worksheets/reading-test-2-tigers/
3. Gutenberg-
http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-comprehension-
worksheets/reading-test-4-gutenberg/



Practice with all Skills
You will now look at some S.A.T.
practice questions and identify which
type of question it is.
Teacher show pages Test Practice page.