Comparing and Contrasting
CC
Comparing and contrasting is a reading strategy where you identify similarities and differences between two things. When you come across questions that ask you to compare or contrast, you may find key words such as most like, different, alike, or similar. These questions require you to analyse and identify the likenesses and differences between the two items being compared or contrasted.
Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion
FO
Distinguishing between fact and opinion is a critical reading skill where you identify statements as either factual or based on personal opinions. Facts are statements that can be proven to be true, while opinions express personal feelings or beliefs. Questions about facts and opinions ask you to determine which statements are based on verifiable facts and which are subjective opinions. Look for key words such as most, best, nicest, or greatest, which often indicate opinions.
Distinguishing Between Real and Make-believe
RM
Differentiating between real and make-believe involves determining if events or situations mentioned in a passage could happen in reality or not. Some events are plausible and could happen, making them real, while others are not based in reality and are considered make-believe. Questions related to real and make-believe often contain keywords such as "could really happen" or "could not really happen," prompting readers to discern between the two.
Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences
CI
Drawing conclusions and making inferences are reading strategies where you use clues from the text to deduce information that is not explicitly stated. As a reader, you often need to infer or conclude information based on the author's implicit messages. Questions about drawing conclusions and making inferences may contain key words such as you can tell or probably, and they require you to use your critical thinking skills to arrive at logical conclusions based on the information provided in the passage.
Figuring Things Out
FT
Figuring things out involves using clues from pictures or stories to understand what is happening or being conveyed. In pictures, clues such as visual elements or actions of the characters can help interpret the meaning. In stories, clues can be found in the details of the text or the actions and dialogue of the characters. Readers often use these clues to interpret and understand the intended meaning.
Finding Details
FD
Details are specific pieces of information that provide more insight into the main idea or topic of a picture or story. In pictures, details can reveal who or what the picture is about, as well as what is happening and where. In stories, details can provide information about the characters, events, and settings.
Finding Main Idea
MI
The main idea of a reading passage is a sentence that conveys the overall topic of the passage. Questions about main idea may ask you to identify what the passage is mainly about or to choose the most appropriate title for the passage. When responding to a question about main idea, ask yourself, "What is the passage primarily discussing?" and then select your answer.
Finding Word Meaning in Context
WM
Finding word meaning in context is a reading strategy where you determine the meaning of unfamiliar words based on how they are used in the sentence or passage. When you encounter words whose meanings are unclear, you can rely on the context to help you decipher their meanings. Questions about word meaning in context ask you to identify the meaning of a word based on its usage in the passage. You can try each answer choice in the sentence where the word appears to determine which one makes the most sense.
Identifying Author's Purpose
AP
Identifying the author's purpose is a reading skill where you determine why the author wrote the passage. Authors write for various reasons, such as to persuade, inform, describe, or entertain. You can remember these purposes using the acronym P.I.D.E., which stands for persuade, inform, describe, and entertain. Questions about author's purpose ask you to identify the primary intention behind the author's writing, which helps you understand the author's perspective and intent in conveying the information.
Interpreting Figurative Language
FL
Interpreting figurative language is a reading skill where you understand the non-literal meanings of words or phrases used by the author. Writers often use figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, or idioms, to convey meaning beyond their literal definitions. Questions about figurative language require you to interpret the intended meaning of such language in the context of the passage, considering the author's use of creative language and symbolic expressions.
Making a Guess
MG
Making a guess involves using prior knowledge and clues from pictures or stories to predict what might happen next. In pictures, clues can be found in the details of the image or the actions of the characters. In stories, clues can be found in the title, as well as the actions and dialogue of the characters. Making a guess requires using details and prior knowledge to make an educated prediction.
Making Predictions
MP
Making predictions is a reading skill where you make informed guesses about what will likely happen in the future based on clues from the text. Questions about predictions ask you to anticipate what might happen next based on the information provided in the passage. These answers are not directly stated in the passage, but you can use clues from the text to make logical guesses about the likely outcomes.
Putting Things in Order
PO
Sequencing is the process of arranging events or details in a particular order. In pictures, clues such as the arrangement of objects or the sequence of actions can help determine the order of events. In stories, clue words such as "first," "second," and "last," as well as the three-part structure of beginning, middle, and ending, can provide clues about the order in which events occur.
Reading Pictures
RP
When answering questions about reading pictures, you may be asked to determine what a picture depicts or to choose a picture that represents something that occurred in a story. Consider what the question is asking and refer back to the story for assistance in selecting your answer.
Recalling Facts and Details
FD
Every reading passage contains facts and details that provide additional information about the main idea. Questions about facts and details inquire about information explicitly stated in the passage. To answer a question about a fact or detail, refer back to the passage to locate the answer.
Recognising Cause and Effect
CE
A cause is an event or action that triggers another event or action, known as the effect. For example, in the sentence "I forgot to set my alarm clock, so I was late for school," forgetting to set the alarm clock is the cause of being late for school, and being late for school is the effect. Questions about cause and effect typically begin with keywords such as "why," "what happened," or "because."
Summarising
SM
Summarising involves identifying the main points of a passage. When answering summary questions, it is important to consider the main idea of the passage. A well-written summary should capture the essence of the main idea rather than focusing on individual details mentioned in the passage.
Understanding Sequence
US
Sometimes, a passage is organised in a specific order or sequence, with different events or details occurring at the beginning, middle, and end. Questions about sequence ask you to recall and arrange events or details in the correct order. These questions often include keywords such as "first," "then," "last," "after," or "before."
Understanding What Happens and Why
WW
Understanding cause and effect is recognising that events have two parts - what happens and why it happens. In pictures, details can show what is happening and why it is happening. In stories, clue words such as "because," "if," "so," and "since" can indicate the reasons behind events. Prior knowledge can also be used to understand what happens and why.
