Reading Flashcards
What is the difference between the topic and the main idea?
The topic is the subject of the text (i.e., what the text is all about).
The main idea is the most important point the author makes.
The topic is usually expressed in a few words at the most while the main idea often needs a full sentence to be completely defined.
For example ], a text may have the topic of penguins and the main idea, “Penguins are different from the other birds in many ways.”
What are supporting details, and what is their purpose?
Supporting details proved evidence and backing for the main point. All texts contain details, but they are only classified as supporting details when they serve to reinforce some larger point.
In order to show that a main idea is correct, or valid, authors add the supporting details that prove their point.
What should an effective summary include?
*Define the main idea.
*Lay out the most important supporting details or arguments from the passage. All of the significant supporting details should be included, and none of the details included should be irrelevant or insignificant.
Too often, the desire for brevity in a summary leads to the sacrifice of clarity or accuracy. An effective summary should contain much the same message as the original text.
What is paraphrasing?
One puts what they have read into their own words by rephrasing what the author has written, or one translates all of what the author shared into their own words by including as many details as they can.
What is an inference?
A piece of information that is implied but not written outright by the author.
For instance, consider the following sentence: After the final out of the inning, the fans were filled with joy and rushed the field. From this sentence, a reader can infer that the fans were watching a baseball game and their team won the game.
How should readers go about choosing the correct answer to inference-based questions?
The contextual clues will help you find the answer that is the best answer out of the given choices. An answer can be true but not correct.
When asked for the implied meaning of a statement made in the passage, you should immediately locate the statement and read the context in which the statement was made. Also, look for an answer choice that has a similar phrase to the statement in question.
How does a reader identify the logical conclusion of a text?
By combining the information given by the text with what you already know.
One way to approach the task of drawing conclusions is to make brief notes of all the points made by the author. When the notes are arranged on paper, they may clarify the logical conclusion.
When drawing conclusions, what is an important consideration test takers should bear in mind?
When possible, one should aim to draw conclusions from information stated within a passage, rather than to draw them from mere implications.
Furthermore, you should always read through the entire passage before drawing conclusions. Many readers are trained to expect the authors conclusions at either the beginning or the end of the passage, but many texts do not adhere to this format.
What are implications?
Things that the author does not state directly, but readers can assume based on what the author does say.
Consider the following passage: I stepped outside and opened my umbrella. By the time I got to work, the cuffs of my pants were soaked. The author never states that is it raining, but this fact is clearly implied. Conclusions based on implication must be well supported by the text.
How should readers approach texts that require following a set of directions?
First, it is a good idea to scan the directions to determine wether special equipment or preparations are needed. After briefly reading the directions, the reader should return to the first step. When following directions, it is appropriate to complete each step before moving on to the next. If it is not possible, it is useful at least to visualize each step before reading the next.
For what purpose are bold and italics used in writing?
When text is made bold, it is often because the author wants to emphasize the point that is being made. Bold text indicates importance.
Italics may be used like bold for emphasis, but there are some specialized usages for italics as well. A word is placed in italics when it is being discussed as a word; that is, when it is being defined or its use in a. sentence is being described.
How is an index organized?
Normally, a nonfiction book will have an index at the end. The index is organized into main topics, followed by subtopics. Each subtopic may be slightly indented and organized in alphabetical order. This is common for subjects that are over several pages in the book.
How is a table of contents organized?
Most books, magazines, and journals have a table of contents at the beginning. The table of contents lists the different subjects or chapter titles with a page number. In the book, the table of contents will have the chapters listed pn the left side. The page number for each chapter comes on the right side.
What is a pie chart useful for, and what are its primary characteristics?
Also known as a circle graph, it is useful for depicting how single unit or category is divided. The standard pie chart is a circle with designated wedges. Each wedge is proportional in size to a part of the whole.
A pie chart is effective at showing how a single entity is divided into parts. They are not effective at demonstrating the relationships between parts of different wholes.
What are line graphs typically used for, and what are their primary characteristics?
To measure trends over time.
The graph is set up along a vertical and horizontal axis. The variables being measured are listed along the left side and the bottom side of the axes. Points are then plotted along the graph as they correspond with their values for each variable and connected with a line to provide a visual illustration of the general trends.
