PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022
Reflect
PSAT reading passage strategies
PSAT Reading
Directions: Take a few minutes to recall what you’ve learned and what you’ve been practicing in this chapter. Consider the following questions, jot down your best answer for each one, and then compare your reflections to the expert responses on the following page. Use your level of confidence to determine what to do next.
Why do PSAT experts note keywords as they read?
What are the three categories of keywords? Provide some examples from each category.
· ______________
o Examples: ______________
· ______________
o Examples: ______________
· ______________
o Examples: ______________
Why do PSAT experts jot down margin notes next to the text?
What are the elements of a strong big picture summary?
Expert Responses
Why do PSAT experts note keywords as they read?
Keywords indicate what the author finds important, express his point of view about the subject and details of the passage, and signal key points in the passage structure. Keywords are the pieces of text that help test takers see which parts of the passage are likely to be mentioned in questions and help the test taker to distinguish between correct and incorrect answer choices about those parts of the passage.
What are the three categories of keywords? Provide some examples from each category.
1. Opinion and Emphasis
o Examples: indeed, quite, masterfully, inadequate
2. Connection and Contrast
o Examples: furthermore, plus, however, on the contrary
3. Evidence and Example
o Examples: consequently, since, for instance, such as
Why do PSAT experts jot down margin notes next to the text?
Margin notes help the test taker research questions that ask about details, examples, and arguments mentioned in the passage by providing a “map” to their location in the text. Margin notes can also help students answer questions about the passage structure and the purpose of a specific paragraph.
What are the elements of a strong big picture summary?
A strong big picture summary prepares a test taker to answer any question about the main idea of the passageor the author’s primary or overall purpose in writing it. After reading the passage, PSAT experts pause to ask, “What’s the main point of the passage?” and “Why did the author write it?”
Next Steps
If you answered most questions correctly in the “How Much Have You Learned?” section, and if your responses to the Reflect questions were similar to those of the PSAT expert, then consider PSAT Reading Passage Strategies an area of strength and move on to the next chapter. Come back to this topic periodically to prevent yourself from getting rusty.
If you don’t yet feel confident, review the material in “PSAT Reading Strategies—Keywords, Margin Notes, and the Big Picture Summary,” then try the exercises you missed again. As always, be sure to review the explanations closely.
Answers and Explanations
BIG PICTURE
Main Idea: New information shows that factors such as climate, economy, and culture may have caused the collapse of the Norse colonies in Greenland.
Author’s Purpose: To describe current theories (and evidence for them) of what happened to the Norse in Greenland
BIG PICTURE
Main Idea: Infants listen to voices in their environments to acquire language instinctually, possibly starting before they are even born.
Author’s Purpose: To explain the abilities and limitations of infants in acquiring language