PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 - Eggert M.D., Strelka A. 2022
Reflect
PSAT reading question types
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 is it important to always unpack the question stem before proceeding?
Can you name the six PSAT Reading question types and cite words or phrases that identify each one?
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
· ______________
o Identifying language: ______________
How will you approach PSAT Reading question stems differently as you continue to practice and improve your performance in the Reading section? What are the main differences you see between PSAT Reading questions and those you’re used to from tests in school?
Expert Responses
Why is it important to always unpack the question stem before proceeding?
Knowing the PSAT Reading question types makes you a more strategic and efficient reader because the test maker uses the same question types on every test. Fully analyzing each question stem helps you to research the text more effectively, predict the correct answer in a way that fits the question stem, and avoid wrong answers made from misreading the question.
Can you name the six PSAT Reading question types and cite words or phrases that identify each one?
· Global
o Identifying language: main idea of the passage, author’s primary purpose
· Detail
o Identifying language: according to the passage, identifies, claims
· Inference
o Identifying language: implies, can be inferred, based on the passage
· Command of Evidence
o Identifying language: provides the best evidence, best supports, the answer to the previous question
· Function
o Identifying language: is used to, serves mainly to, functions as
· Vocabulary-in-Context
o Identifying language: as used in line [number], most nearly means
How will you approach PSAT Reading question stems differently as you continue to practice and improve your performance in the Reading section? What are the main differences you see between PSAT Reading questions and those you’re used to from tests in school?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer here. Reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses as you consider how to best improve your performance in the PSAT Reading section. Depending on the kinds of classes and teachers you’ve had in high school, the skills rewarded on PSAT Reading questions may be more or less familiar, but almost every test taker needs to be aware of her own instincts as a reader, and needs to break some unhelpful reading habits, to master this section of the test. The more you give yourself an honest self-assessment, the better prepared you’ll be to handle all of the PSAT Reading question types confidently.
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 identifying PSAT Reading Question Types 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 “How to Unpack PSAT Reading Question Stems,” then try the questions you missed again. As always, be sure to review the explanations closely.
Answers and Explanations
1. The main purpose of the passage is to
Question type: Global
Identifying language: “main purpose”
Research where? big picture summary
2. The author implies that, during the period in which the Norse settlements were initially founded, the climate in the region was
Question type: Inference
Identifying language: “implies”
Research where? passage, where author discusses Norse settlement founding
3. 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
4. In line 63, the word “inadvertently” most nearly means
Question type: Vocab-in-Context
Identifying language: “most nearly means”
Research where? passage, line 63
5. The passage indicates that the Inuit people on Greenland
Question type: Detail
Identifying language: “indicates”
Research where? passage, where the author discusses the Inuit people
6. What function does the discussion of the trade in whale and elephant ivory serve in the passage as a whole?
Question type: Function
Identifying language: “function,” “serve in the passage”
Research where? passage, where the ivory trade is discussed
7. What can reasonably be inferred from the passage about the relationship between the shipping fleets of nations in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and the colonies established by those nations?
Question type: Inference
Identifying language: “reasonably be inferred”
Research where? passage, where the author discusses fourteenth- and fifteenth-century colonization
8. The author claims the Norse settlers did not adopt the successful survival tactics of the Inuit because
Question type: Detail
Identifying language: “author claims”
Research where? passage, where the author discusses the Norse response to the Inuit
9. 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
10. Which of the following best summarizes the organization of the passage?
Question type: Global
Identifying language: “organization of the passage”
Research where? big picture summary and paragraph notes
11. The primary purpose of the passage is to
Question type: Global
Identifying language: “primary purpose”
Research where? big picture summary
12. According to the passage, when children begin to acquire their native language they
Question type: Detail
Identifying language: “According to the passage”
Research where? passage, where beginning of language acquisition is discussed
13. 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
14. As used in line 48, “predicated” most nearly means
Question type: Vocab-in-Context
Identifying language: “most nearly means”
Research where? passage, line 48
15. The main purpose of the third paragraph (lines 45—70) is to
Question type: Function
Identifying language: “main purpose of the third paragraph”
Research where? passage, paragraph 3
16. As used in line 82, “discriminate” most nearly means
Question type: Vocab-in-Context
Identifying language: “most nearly means”
Research where? passage, line 82
17. According to the passage, children begin to learn the rhythms, pitches, and accents of speech
Question type: Detail
Identifying language: “According to the passage”
Research where? passage, where author discusses rhythms, pitches, and accents
18. The passage most strongly suggests that a mother who wants to assist her child in language acquisition should
Question type: Inference
Identifying language: “most strongly suggests”
Research where? passage, where author discusses factors that help language acquisition
19. 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
20. The most likely purpose of the discussion of phonemes is to
Question type: Function
Identifying language: “most likely purpose”
Research where? passage, where phonemes are discussed