ACT Reading

ACT Reading

2021

ACT Reading Overview

• 40 questions

• 35 minutes

• 4 sections: Literature, Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science

• You should spend no longer than 9 - 10 minutes on each passage

ACT Reading Strategy

• Most students go in order when completing the reading section.

• Don't.

• Go from EASIEST to HARDEST for you

• Review which section you struggled with the most and save that for last.

Remember,

• You are not tested on your ability to remember - you are being tested on your ability to find information quickly in a text.

• It is more important to map out the text than it is to understand it.

• If you don't understand a line, skip it.

• If you don't understand the scientific concept, don't worry.

• This is not about understanding!

Use the format to your advantage

• Other than the literature section, the Humanities, Social Science and Natural Science section will most likely be an informational text.

• With that in mind, it will follow a very standard format.

• Introduction, Body Paragraphs, Conclusion

• That will follow either a Problem/Solution or a Timeline format

Types of Questions

• Main Idea

• Facts/Specific Text

• Inference

• Point of View

• Vocabulary

Types of Questions - Where to find the answer

• Main Idea - Either Introduction or Conclusion

• Facts/Specific Text - Body Paragraphs

• Inference - Anywhere, but usually given a specific line to review

• Point of View/ Purpose- Conclusion

• Vocabulary - Anywhere, but usually given a specific line to review

Mapping Strategy

• Rather than read closely and slowly, your reading needs to be strategic.

• Use your pencil

• And draw a map

Go to the document shared and make a copy

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M_i0hytf-u-xzZBT8VazJ_zbp7F3MNs5u14NMTQHNu8/edit?usp=sharing

Multiple Choice

The passage as a whole can best be described as:

This is a main idea question. You can find main ideas in the introduction and the conclusion.

• an argument for eradicating weeds in urban areas.

• a discussion of the factors that contribute to the survival of weeds in urban environments

• a report on the need for increased vegetation in cities and suburbs

• a discussion of how environmentalists are changing their attitudes toward so-called weeds.

Why ?

• Reread the conclusion. What does it talk about?

• Urban plants need to be flexible, opportunistic, and tolerant.

• They will last even after the destruction of cities

• No mention on how scientists feel or the desire for more plants. Just simply a discussion of them.

Multiple Choice

Based on the following four perspectives are outlined in the second paragraph, which one would the author most likely share?

Here is a POV or purpose question.

Read your note for the second paragraph.

• a utilitarian perspective

• an agricultural perspective

• a biological perspective

• a city dweller's perspective.

Why?

• Utilitarian - Only necessary things in life are good

• Agricultural - Pro Farming

• Biological - Pro-Science, into the whys and hows of plants

• City Dweller's - people that live in cities

• Yes, the majority of this passage talks about cities - but does it talk about people in the city? No. It mostly talks about sciency stuff with plants - so Biology

Multiple Choice

It is reasonable to infer that, in the author's opinion, spontaneous vegetation (line 4) is most unlike which of the following types of plants mentioned in the passage?

Most Unlike - aka the most different

• Common ragweed

• Economic crops

• Urban Plants

• Calcium-Loving grassland species

Why?

• This question combines both Author's POV and general knowledge of words. The ACT creators intentionally used "most unlike" which can trip you up if you are in a hurry.

• We know that this article is all pro-weeds. Spontaneous vegetation sounds like plants that grow without planning.

• So which type of plant is the OPPOSITE of a plant that grows without planning?

• Economic crops - ie FARM CROPS

Multiple Choice

Which of the following opinions regarding weeds adapting to rather than causing a changing habitat is most clearly implied by the passage?

This is an inference question. The key word here is "weeds". Which paragraph focuses on weeds?

• Removing weeds from places they are considered undesirable is simpler than people realize.

• Weeds have wrongly been blamed for contributing to certain kinds of deteriorations in urban areas.

• Changing people's minds about weeds has caused a pervasive acceptance of them in urban areas.

• City vegetation reflects that the life cycle of weeds is simpler than that of cultivated plants.

Why? - Let's shorten each line and see if it lines up.

• Weeds are undesirable

• Weeds are wrongly blamed

• Weeds are accepted, even though they shouldn't be

• Weeds are less complicated than other plants.

• Therefore - we see that the second answer is more in line with what we have read.

Multiple Choice

AS it is used in line 5, the word greenery most nearly refers to:

Vocabulary! Look at the word and the sentence it is in and make the best educated guess.

• cultivated plants

• protected natural landscapes

• weeds

• crops

Multiple Choice

Based on the passage, in comparison to Gilbert's observation in his book, the scientific study by Lundholm and Marlin can best be described as:

Now it is time to take a close look at that list of stuff about weeds. Go directly to the names and find what it says.

• complementary; Gilbert reached a conclusion similar to the one reached by Lundholm and Marlin

• contrasting; Lundholm and Marlin conducted a more recent study that questions the note in Gilbert's book.

• interdependent; Lundholm and Marlin used Gilbert's book as a foundation for their study.

• irrelevant; Gilbert was studying the ecology of urban habitats, while Lundholm and Marlin studied natural environments with high pH soils.

Why?

• Complementary - Similar

• Contrasting - Different

• Interdependent - Not related

• Irrelevant - REALLY not related and unnecessary

• These two studies are similar so A is the clear answer

Multiple Choice

The last paragraph most strongly suggests that the author's attitude toward so-called weeds in urban areas is one of:

Again purpose. Look at that conclusion - look at the word choice to find tone.

• alarm due to the threat they pose to native plants.

• concern as he fears they will not survive in their new habitat

• annoyance over the manner in which they contribute to urban decay.

• respect for their ability to adapt to a wide array of challenging conditions.

Why respect?

• Look at the descriptive words

• flexible, opportunistic, tolerant

• successful

• All words to denote a respect for the abilities of the plants

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, Norway maple was first brought into the urban environment by:

This is a fact question. Look where they mention Norway Maple and find out.

• people

• wind

• water

• birds

Multiple Choice

As it is used in lines 15 - 16, the phrase on their own most nearly means:

Look directly at the line and try to replace it with your own words.

• one at a time

• without human aid

• in a self-propelled fashion.

• voluntarily.

Multiple Choice

According to the passage, if people stopped disturbing weeds in an urban environment, eventually the weeds might:

Where would the future statement be? The last sentence. But check the thesis out too.

• compete for space and start to die out

• enhance landscaped gardens

• dry out the soil

• develop into woodlands

Why?

• There is actually a direct quote in the introduction - the thesis actually

• "If left undisturbed long enough they may even develop into mature woodlands."

• This is why you map.

How do I keep time if I am taking notes?

• You aren't reading everything

• And you aren't reading carefully

• Instead, you are leaving breadcrumbs for you to follow later

• And only use the breadcrumbs you need.

Remember

• NonFiction passages function just like your classic 5 paragraph essay: Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion

• Main Idea, Purpose, and POV is most likely found in the conclusion

• Conclusions will end with a look to the future or a call to action - also telling you the author's purpose

• If you don't understand something, make a note of what is there and move on. The more complicated a passage the LESS you have to pay attention to details.

• Go from EASIEST to HARDEST when reading.

Good Luck!

Thank you!