TRAPS on the READING TEST

1. BE VERY CAREFUL OF answer

choices that use EXACT WORDING
from the passage. They are usually
incorrect because the question
presents the information differently
from the text. Most correct answers
are paraphrases of the text. In other
words, they say the same thing using
different words.
Example of same wording
but different contexts
TEXT:: She brought her network of agitators and activists into the
White House, and never considered a political setback a
permanent defeat. She enjoyed the game, and weathered the
abuse. (ACT-61C, lines 90-94)
Question #16: According to the last paragraph, which of the
following statements would the author most likely make with
regard to ERs vision and ideals?

Incorrect
Answer:
F. ER considered politics a game and played
only when she knew she could win.
B. Most correct answers are paraphrases of the text

Text: Her abiding conviction, however, was that nothing

good would happen to promote the peoples interest unless
the people themselves organize to demand government
responses .

Correct answer: based on widespread citizen participation

C. Words such as always, never, all, completely,
totally, only, every, absolutely signal a trap because
they make a statement for which there can be no
exceptions and are therefore wrong.

REMEMBER: If a single word in the answer is wrong,

the entire answer is wrong and can be crossed off!
d. Pay very close attention to the wording of questions

Text (Humanities the narrator reminisces about life growing up with her mentally challenged
sister): Our parents decided when Becky was very young that

she didnt belong in an institution, but with us. I believe that

being raised with myself and a brother, both older, and one
younger sister was good for Becky; I know it was good for
me. Very early on, I had to learn to respect Beckys
intelligence, although it was very different from mine. I came
to respect her tenacity.

The sixth paragraph (lined 47-53) reveals the narrator is:

A. thoughtful, nave, and nostalgic.

B. secure, affectionate, and ironic.
C. open-minded, accepting, and grateful.
D. aware, respectful, and tenacious.
1: An answer choice that uses exact words from the text = Wrong
Answer the great majority of the time.

2: Most correct answers paraphrase the text.

Different words = same meaning

3: Look for line reference questions. (ALWAYS mark them before you
begin reading.) Mark the text for key words, phrases, and names that
appear in the questions. Read questions carefully!

4: If a single word in the answer is wrong, eliminate that answer. Some

words that signal incorrect answers are: always, never, all,
completely, only, every
7
Recognize the types of questions on the
test.
Specific (what the text says).

General (main idea or inference

questions) or what the text means.
SPECIFIC (what the text says)

The passage states

The passage indicates.

The house is located on..

 Literal Level Questions
Text: To retrace this story in an age when a network of satellites can nail
down a ships position within a few feet in just a momentis to see the globe
anew.

30. The passage indicates that instruments for

determining longitude now include:
F. modified pendulum clocks
G. satellites
H. a network of ships
J. barometers
Text: To retrace this story in an age when a
network of satellites can nail down a ships
position within a few feet in just a momentis
to see the globe anew.

30. The passage indicates that instruments

for determining longitude now include:

F. modified pendulum clocks

G. satellites
H. a network of ships
J. barometers
General - main idea or
inferential questions

What the text means

Most likely to
Best be described
Suggests
It can be inferred
Inferential Questions (what the text means).
On context cue questions, be careful to avoid the most
obvious answer.
TEXT: Having wolves in Yellowstone is not a luxury
but a right. We should not have to pay for clean air
or water, nor should we believe that they are
somehow a luxury. Similarly, we have a aright to a
full complement of wildlife on our public

As it is used in line 65, the word complement

most nearly means:
H. flattering remark
I. equal cost
J. selection
K. safe number
2. TEXT: Having wolves in Yellowstone is not a luxury
but a right. We should not have to pay for clean air or
water, nor should we believe that they are somehow a
luxury. Similarly, we have a aright to a full complement
of wildlife on our public land.

As it is used in line 65, the word

complement most nearly means:
A. flattering remark (compliment)
B. equal cost
C. selection
D. safe number
Text: Those limestone skeletonsboth those that
still contain living coral and those that stand
derelictform the main structural matrix of coral
reefs.

2. As it is used in line 66, the word derelict most

nearly means:
A. void of living organisms
B. without a sense of duty
C. without a real purpose
D. isolated from the main structure
Text: Those limestone skeletonsboth those that
still contain living coral and those that stand
derelictform the main structural matrix of coral
reefs.

2. As it is used in line 66, the word derelict most

nearly means:

A. void of living organisms

B. without a sense of duty
C. without a real purpose
D. isolated from the main structure
3. The text (Natural Science) reads: When released,
the energy stored in the bow wings the arrow
toward its target much faster than the archer could
by throwing the arrow like a javelin. The
biomechanics of energy storage is the domain of
SNP and JEB, both bio mechanists at U. of Cal. (72C)

As it is used in line 31, the word domain most

nearly means:
A. living space.
B. area of expertise.
C. taxonomic category.
D. local jurisdiction.
3. The text (Natural Science) reads: When released,
the energy stored in the bow wings the arrow
toward its target much faster than the archer could
by throwing the arrow like a javelin. The
biomechanics of energy storage is the domain of
SNP and JEB, both bio mechanists at U. of Cal. (72C)

As it is used in line 31, the word domain most

nearly means:
A. living space.
B. area of expertise.
C. taxonomic category.
D. local jurisdiction.
Paraphrasing is where the text and question use different words that
mean the same thing.

Text: Olgas short and delicate--like shed

break if you held her arm too tight.
She wouldnt break, though. (ACT-65D, 2008)

The narrators statement She wouldnt break, though

most nearly means that in the narrators opinion, Olga
is:

H. stronger than she appears to be

Text: But when I came up to him and blurted out:
Youre Eugene. Right? He smiled, pushed his
glasses up on his nose, and nodded. I saw then
that he was blushing deeply. Eugene liked me, but
he was shy. I did most of the talking that day.

6. According to the narrator, which of the

following statements was true about Eugene at the
moment when she first talked to him?

J. He had apparently taken notice of the

narrator at school and had come to like her
but felt nervous about introducing himself.
Text (Prose Fiction the narrator is reminiscing about a friendship)
There wasnt
anything extraordinary about those months: we had shared a
lot of evenings, eaten together, played card games, talked a lot,
awaited and then watched favorite TV shows every week,
rituals of a friendship. (71G)

When the narrator mentions rituals of a friendship (line 14) ,

hes most nearly referring to:

A. unusual acts of kindness performed at great cost to best

friends.
B. everyday activities routinely undertaken with someone
else.
C. time spent celebrating holidays and important moments
with someone.
D. The lending out of money and the subsequent forgiving of
debts.
Text (Prose Fiction the narrator is reminiscing about a friendship)
There wasnt
anything extraordinary about those months: we had shared a
lot of evenings, eaten together, played card games, talked a lot,
awaited and then watched favorite TV shows every week,
rituals of a friendship. (71G)

When the narrator mentions rituals of a friendship (line 14) ,

hes most nearly referring to:

A. unusual acts of kindness performed at great cost to best

friends.
B. everyday activities routinely undertaken with someone
else.
C. time spent celebrating holidays and important moments
with someone.
D. The lending out of money and the subsequent forgiving of
debts.
Text (Social Science): These fields were farmland until House (an
much to the consternation of
ethnobotanist whose work is discussed in the passage) ,

some of her neighbors, dispensed with the alfalfa and roses,

allowing the memory of the land to return. The glob mallow,
prized by the Navajo for its medicinal applications, came back.
So did the sunflowers. (71C)
The phrase in quotation marks in lines 37-38 most nearly means
that the fields:

A. had been well tended by the farmers who had owned them.
B. are an important resource for the Navajo who use them.
C. were permitted by House to revert to their natural condition.
D. live on in Houses memory long after she sold them.
Text (Social Science): These fields were farmland until House (an
much to the consternation of
ethnobotanist whose work is discussed in the passage) ,

some of her neighbors, dispensed with the alfalfa and roses,

allowing the memory of the land to return. The glob mallow,
prized by the Navajo for its medicinal applications, came back.
So did the sunflowers. (71C)
The phrase in quotation marks in lines 37-38 most nearly means
that the fields:

A. had been well tended by the farmers who had owned them.
B. are an important resource for the Navajo who use them.
C. were permitted by House to revert to their natural
condition.
D. live on in Houses memory long after she sold them.
The McLean was a flop, and four years later it was off the
market. What happened? Part of the problem appears to have
been that McDonalds rushed the burger to market before many
of the production kinks had been worked out. More important,
though, was the psychological handicap the burger
facednobody was fooled when it came to the McLean Deluxe.
It was sold as the healthy choiceand who goes to McDonalds
for health food?
The author indicates that the main cause of the failure of
the McLean Deluxe was that:
F. McDonalds failed to promote it through advertising.

G. It was rushed to market before production problems were

solved (exact words, but do not offer main cause)

H. People believed it was made from market hamburger

(word has different meaning in text)

J. People knew that it was supposed to be good for them

(paraphrase; last sentence; contrast word)
 READ questions first

Circle key words

Mark line references in

margins

Cross off incorrect

answers
Read text, skimming whenever
Possible

Mark ALL answers on the

answer sheet.
DO NOT leave any blank.

Wear an analog watch and

set it to
HIGH NOON
 Final Thoughts
You are in control of the test! Dont let the test control
you!

Its okay to write on the test. Be appropriate, though

GOOD LUCK!