The ACT official subject guides are a step by step guide for outlining the preparation for the ACT section tests. These prep guides provide students a concept-based outline for the subjects they plan to focus on. Each one of the official guides, is an efficient prep tool comprised of the most current and relevant test information packed into one guide. In addition to the book, the entire pool of questions are available online for a customizable learning experience. The ACT official subject guides are the best resource to get detailed input and practice to help you in preparation for the ACT. By using this guide, students can feel comfortable and confident that they are preparing to do their best!
Features of the ACT® Official Reading Guide Includes: The only book with real ACT reading questions organized by question type; Includes tips and advice for reading more quickly and retaining information; detailed explanations for every official ACT.
Table of Contents
Introduction vii
Chapter 1: An Overview of the ACT Reading Test 1
Passage Types 1
Timing and Pacing 3
Checking Your Answers 3
Scaled Scoring 3
Take a Diagnostic Practice Test 4
How to Use This Guide 4
Chapter 2: General Reading Skills 7
Skimming 7
Scanning 15
Speed Reading 16
Annotating 17
Chapter 3: Test-Taking Strategies 19
Invest Most of Your Time in Answering the Questions 20
Invest Your Time in Reading Upfront 20
Save Your Worst Passage for the End 21
Worry Less about Each Individual Answer 22
Vary Your Reading Pace According to the Passage 22
Change the Order of the Passages 22
Read Half the Passage Then Answer Half the Questions 23
Answer the “Easy” Questions First 23
Chapter 4: Question and Answer Types 27
EXCEPT and NOT Questions 27
Common Wrong Answer Types 37
Chapter 5: Skills and Reporting Categories 45
Chapter 6: Key Ideas and Details 47
Main Idea Questions 47
Strategies for Determining the Main Idea for Social Science, Humanities, or Natural Science Passages 48
Function of Detail Questions 52
Fact Finding 58
Inferences 67
Paraphrasing Complex Ideas 75
Compare and Contrast 76
Questions about Shifts 100
Chapter 7: Craft and Structure 105
Using Context Clues 105
Word-Meaning Questions 106
Vocabulary 118
Interpreting Figurative Language 123
The Author’s Point of View 127
The Primary Purpose of the Passage 133
Chapter 8: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 139
Arguments 141
Reasoning and Evidence 142
Chapter 9: Passage Types 143
Literary Narrative Genre Conventions 143
Social Science and Humanities Genre Conventions 157
Natural Science Genre Conventions 160
Paired Passages 166
Chapter 10: Practice Questions 177
Chapter 11: Answers and Explanations 239
Answer Key 240
Explanatory Answers 242
