Prose Fiction Strategies for ACT Reading

This video tutorial provides strategies for tackling prose fiction passages on the ACT reading test. It emphasizes the importance of reading the passage in full and understanding the tone, characters, and literary devices. The tutorial uses an essay by Mark Twain as an example to demonstrate how to identify literary devices and infer the author's tone. It also offers tips on time management and the process of elimination for answering questions effectively.

What type of passages are focused on in the ACT reading test?

• Science passages

• Technical manuals

• Prose fiction passages

• Historical documents

What is the suggested strategy for tackling the prose fiction passage?

• Read only the first paragraph

• Skip it entirely

• Read it last

• Read it first

What should you focus on after reading the prose fiction passage?

• Answering straightforward plot questions

• Answering questions about the publication date

• Answering questions about the genre

• Answering questions about the author's background

In the sample passage by Mark Twain, what literary device is used to describe the bicycle?

• Allusion

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

What is hyperbole?

• A figure of speech used in place of something

• A literary device that describes an object as human

• A casual indirect reference to a person, place, or thing

• An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally

What is personification?

• A casual indirect reference to a person, place, or thing

• A literary device that describes an object as human

• A figure of speech used in place of something

• An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally

What is an allusion?

• A figure of speech used in place of something

• An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally

• A casual indirect reference to a person, place, or thing

• A literary device that describes an object as human

What attitude does the narrator have towards learning to ride a bicycle?

• Nostalgia

• Regret

• Humor

• Indifference

What does the term 'nostalgia' mean?

• A lack of interest or concern

• A sentimental longing for the past

• A feeling of regret

• A humorous attitude

What should you do if you don't recognize the terms used in a question on test day?

• Ask the invigilator

• Leave it blank

• Skip it and come back if you have time

• Guess the answer