How much do you know? - PSAT reading question types - PSAT Reading

PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022

How much do you know?
PSAT reading question types
PSAT Reading

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

· Unpack PSAT Reading question stems by:

o Distinguishing among six PSAT Reading question types

o Determining if the correct answer is best found by researching the passage text or by consulting your big picture summary

SmartPoints®:

Inference Questions, 90/300 (Very High Yield)

Command of Evidence Questions, 60/300 (High Yield)

Detail Questions, 45/300 (Medium Yield)

Vocabulary-in-Context Questions, 45/300 (Medium Yield)

Function Questions, 40/300 (Medium Yield)

Global Questions, 20/300 (Low Yield)

How much do you know?

Directions: In this chapter, you’ll learn to unpack PSAT Reading question stems (step 1 of the Method for PSAT Reading Questions). Unpacking a question stem means identifying your task (as identified by the question type) and noting where the answer will be found (a specific reference within the passage text or in your big picture summary). You saw examples of these question types introduced in chapter 10. For your reference as you complete this quiz, here they are with brief descriptions:

· Global—asks about the big picture

· Detail—asks about explicitly stated points

· Inference—asks about points that are unstated but strongly suggested

· Command of Evidence—asks for evidence to support the answer to a previous question

· Function—asks why the author wrote specific parts of the text

· Vocabulary-in-Context (or Vocab-in-Context)—asks for the intended meaning of a word as it is used in the passage

For each of the following question stems, identify the question type, cite the language in the stem that helped you identify it, and indicate where you would begin to research this question: either your big picture summary or a specific part of the text.

Example

The author of the passage would most likely agree with which one of the following statements concerning hydraulic mining?

Question type: Inference

Identifying language: “would most likely agree”

Research where? passage, where author discusses hydraulic mining

1. Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

2. In the second paragraph, the discussion of the Bangledeshi women who manufacture bamboo stools (lines 20—28) serves mainly to



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

3. As used in line 27, “modest” most nearly means



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

4. With which one of the following statements would the early advocates of microlending be most likely to agree?



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

5. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

6. Which one of the following is cited in the passage as a finding reached by researchers studying the efficacy of microlending?



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

7. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

8. As used in line 78, “cautious” most nearly means



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

9. The author uses “temporary or seasonal unemployment, crop failures, [and] health crises” (lines 123—125) as examples of



Question type:

Identifying language:

Research where?

Check Your Work

1. Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from



Question type: Global

Identifying language: “main focus”

Research where? big picture summary and paragraph notes

2. In the second paragraph, the discussion of the Bangledeshi women who manufacture bamboo stools (lines 20—28) serves mainly to



Question type: Function

Identifying language: “serves mainly to”

Research where? passage, lines 20—28

3. As used in line 27, “modest” most nearly means



Question type: Vocab-in-Context

Identifying language: “most nearly means”

Research where? passage, line 27

4. With which one of the following statements would the early advocates of microlending be most likely to agree?



Question type: Inference

Identifying language: “most likely to agree”

Research where? passage, where author discusses early advocates

5. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?



Question type: Command of Evidence

Identifying language: “provides the best evidence”

Research where? passage, where you went to answer the previous question

6. Which one of the following is cited in the passage as a finding reached by researchers studying the efficacy of microlending?



Question type: Detail

Identifying language: “cited in the passage”

Research where? passage, where the efficacy of microlending is discussed

7. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?



Question type: Command of Evidence (note that the language is identical to that used in question 5; this is the most common phrasing for this question type)

Identifying language: “provides the best evidence”

Research where? passage, where you went to answer the previous question

8. As used in line 78, “cautious” most nearly means



Question type: Vocab-in-Context

Identifying language: “most nearly means”

Research where? passage, line 78

9. The author uses “temporary or seasonal unemployment, crop failures, [and] health crises” (lines 123—125) as examples of



Question type: Function

Identifying language: “author uses”

Research where? passage, lines 123—125