CAHSEE Test Strategies
San Fernando High School
The 7 multiple choice questions in the
Word Analysis strand ask you to apply
your knowledge of word origins to
determine the meaning of new words
encountered in reading materials. In other
words, you will be tested on the dreaded
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT.
Because there is no magic list of words
that will appear on the test, you can apply
some strategies that will help you be
successful.
You will be asked to explain what a
particular word means. The CAHSEE
measures both your understanding of
DENOTATION
and
CONNOTATION
DENOTATION
Dictionary Definition of a Word
CONNOTATION
The image or feeling we associate with a word
“House” and “Home” have the same
DENOTATION:
A place of shelter
However, they have different
CONNOTATIONS.
“House” makes most people think of a structure.
Home suggests warmth, comfort, safety, family, and
love.
Read the following passage:
Pasha looked at me then
opened my sheet music to
the beginning page and
asked me to play. I arranged
my fingers on the keys and
studied the notes on the
page for a moment. Then I
furrowed my brow and
concentrated to make the
notes on the page match the
finger movements. I have to
admit, I was a rather
mechanical pianist.
Now answer the question:
The author’s use of the word
mechanical suggests that
Jennifer played the piano
without —
A
B
C
D
sheet music.
proper practice.
emotion.
help.
Now answer the question:
The passage establishes that
Jennifer does use sheet music,
and proper practice and help are
not the topics of this paragraph.
Even if you did not know what
“mechanical” implies, you have
arrived at the correct answer by
eliminating wrong options. This
strategy will help you with many
questions you encounter in the
CAHSEE.
The author’s use of the word
mechanical suggests that
Jennifer played the piano
without —
A
B
C
D
sheet music.
proper practice.
emotion.
help.
Read the following passage:
Now answer the question:
I’ve watched the ocean lashed
by wind,
Make a fool of fishermen,
Who thought their knowledge
of the sea
Ensured them some security.
In this stanza of the poem, the
word lashed suggests that the
ocean is being —
A
B
C
D
soothed.
troubled.
sailed.
whipped.
Now answer the question:
Look for clues in the context (the
surrounding words). When the
ocean is lashed by the wind, it
makes expert fishermen
recognize their false sense of
security. “Soothed” and “Sailed”
wouldn’t cause this danger.
“Troubled” isn’t strong enough.
So “Whipped” is the best answer.
In this stanza of the poem, the
word lashed suggests that the
ocean is being —
A soothed.
B troubled.
C sailed.
D whipped.
The very best way to improve your
vocabulary is not to memorize lists
of words, but to
READ, READ, READ!