Session 16: SHSAT Science and Elimination Strategies

Session 16: SHSAT Science and Elimination Strategies

Session 16

Agenda

• SHSAT Science Passages Review roadmap strategy Practice: Read actively “Green Sea Turtle Migration” Practice: Page 283 Questions 1-5 “Green Sea Turtle Migration” SHSAT Reading Elimination Strategies Review wrong answer traps Practice: “Bird Courtship Behavior” Pages 228-289 Questions 1-5 from the passage “Bird Courtship Behavior".

SHSAT Science Passages 

• At least one passage in the Reading Comprehension section will focus on scientific or technical topics.   Be sure to answer the question using only the information provided to you in the passage.  

  
  

• You DO NOT need to understand every word or term to answer the questions. Keep in mind: you are NOT being tested on any outside science knowledge. 

• Use the Kaplan Method (ROADMAPPING) to prevent including extra information or terminology when answering the science passage questions.

Multiple Choice

Road Map Review

• 5-7 words, phrases, or symbols that express the general idea of a paragraph.

• HOW is it being described?

• 5-7 words, phrases, or symbols that express the general idea of a paragraph. Questions to ask: WHO (or what) is this paragraph about? WHAT is happening in the paragraph? HOW is it being described?

• Questions to ask: WHO (or what) is this paragraph about?

Open Ended

Green sea turtles, shelled reptiles that plowed the oceans eons before mammals evolved, are known for their prodigious migrations. One group of green sea turtles makes a regular journey from feeding grounds near the Brazilian coast to breeding beaches on Ascension Island, a barren, relatively predator-free island in the central equatorial Atlantic. Notoriously slow on land, these turtles cover a distance of more than 2,000 kilometers in as little as two weeks. But how is this navigation of deep, featureless ocean accomplished? Scientists have several different hypotheses.

A. What is the passage about? B. What is the topic of paragraph 1?

Open Ended

2 Green turtles appear to have an excellent sense of smell, so the turtles may orient themselves by detecting traces of substances released from Ascension Island itself. Because Ascension Island lies in the midst of a major westward-flowing ocean current, scientists believe that chemical substances picked up from the islands would tend to flow westward toward the feeding grounds of the turtle. As a result, these substances may provide a scented chemical trail that the turtles are able to follow. A mathematical model has been used to show that a concentration of substances delivered from Ascension to the turtles’ feeding grounds, though diluted, may be sufficient to be sensed by the turtles. However, it is likely that other factors help the turtles orient themselves.

C. What does the first sentence indicate?

D. What is the topic of paragraph 2?

Open Ended

3 In addition to possessing a strong sense of smell, the turtles also have keen eyesight. This may help direct the turtles from their feeding grounds into the path of this chemical trail. It is an established fact that turtles are capable of distinguishing between different light densities. Turtles recognize at least four colors and are especially attuned to the color red because it often appears in their shell coloration. Researchers believe that these turtles swim east toward the rising sun at the beginning of their migration, changing course toward Ascension’s beaches as soon as their route intersects with the scented path.

E. What new topic is discussed in detail here? F. What is the topic of paragraph 3

Open Ended

4 Finally, turtles may also have the ability to orient themselves using Earth’s magnetic field. Since this sense is deeper than either sight or smell, it may serve as an additional guide during cloudy days or times when the turtle has difficulty picking up the scent trail. Experimental results have shown that turtle hatchlings have the ability to use magnetic fields to determine the direction in which they are swimming. Furthermore, since turtles are known to return to the exact beach from which they hatched, they may “imprint” the magnetic field of this particular beach at a very young age.

G. How is the focus of paragraph 4 different from the focus of paragraph 3? H. What is the topic of paragraph 4?

Open Ended

5 Green sea turtles are an endangered species, and their numbers are steadily decreasing throughout the world. Understanding how they accomplish their migrations will allow scientists to make intelligent recom-mendations to policy makers and help ensure the survival of this magnificent animal. For example, since the turtles use light to navigate, they are especially vulnerable to light pollution from coastal developments. Similarly, their acute sense of smell means that an excessive amount of foreign materials in the water may disorient them. Human decisions in the coming years will determine whether the seas will continue to be inhabited by the green sea turtle or if its celebrated migrations will be only a memory.

I. What is the topic of paragraph 5? J. What is the main idea of the passage?

Now, use your Roadmap and your researching skills to answer the following questions

Open Ended

Exit Ticket:

How comfortable do you feel with Road Mapping?