AIM: To practice multiple choice test-taking strategies
DO NOW:
A. DEFINE CONUNDRUM IN THIS EXAMPLE.
EX. TEST TAKING STRATEGIES ARE A
CONUNDRUM TO ME.
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
 Weeding out absolute words;
 Recognizing “umbrella” (or “fusion” )
questions;
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
SAT Word 1:
conundrum -a confusing and difficult problem or
question.
“Solving the rubik’s cube has always been a
conundrum to me.”
synonyms:
problem, difficult question, difficulty, quandary dilemma
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
TOOLBOX 25: ABSOLUTE AND UMBRELLA QUESTIONS
 “Umbrella” Questions: Also known as
“fusion” questions, seem to have four
correct answers.
1. Which of the following is
a part of a car?
a. Oil filter
b. Engine
c. Carbeurator
d. Air filter
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
The correct answer is “B,” engine.
 You probably noticed that all of these choices
look like “good” answers. This is a clue that
you have an umbrella, or “fusion” question.
The clue is that three of the answers fit within
the category of the fourth. In this case,
carbeurator, air filter and oil filter are all parts
of the engine, so “engine” is the correct
answer. You may also notice that “engine” is
a more general term than the others. Let’s try
another…
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
Which of the following is a part of the
human leg?
a. The femur
b. The thigh
Right away, you probably recognized that
these are ALL part of a leg, so how do you
decide . This is an example of another
“umbrella” question.
c. The quadriceps
d. The hamstrings
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
The Answer Is…
 “B”, the thigh, because the others are all part
of the thigh, which again is also the most
general of the terms.
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
…and another
Which of the following is found in the U.S.?
a. Richmond
b. Roanoke
c. Lynchburg
d. Virginia
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
And the Answer IS…
 You probably got that one right!
It’s “D”, Virginia, because the
others are located in Virginia.
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
TOOBOX 25(CONT.): Absolute
Words: These usually make a sentence
false.
 None
 Never
 All
 Always
 Every day
 Only
 Must
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
Here is an example:
1. The result of Barney’s study showed that:
A. All people suffer from PTSD
B. No people suffer from PTSD
C. PTSD never occurs in young people
D. PTSD may be found more in older people
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
The answer is “4”
 Did you notice that choices 1, 2 and 3
contained the absolute words “all”, “no”, and
“never”. In general, absolute words limit too
many options to be good choices for an
answer.
 The correct choice, however, was more
general – it contained the word “may”.
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
Here is another example:
 People with chronic
disease can be described
as:
a. Inevitably in pain
b. Always grouchy
c. Never able to walk
d. Needing more assistance
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Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
The Answer is…
 Can we really say that these people are
ALWAYS grouchy or INEVITABLY in pain or
NEVER able to walk? Of course not. The
correct answer is “D”, “needing more
assistance.”
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AIM: To practice multiple choice test-taking strategies
DO NOW:
A. Write a comment about anything you learned in class
yesterday. YES, ANYTHING!!
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
SAT Word 2:
divergent -- (adj) separating, moving in different directions from a
particular point.
EX: Mrs. Roman diverged from her lesson to tell a story about a cat.
Synonyms: differing, varying, different, dissimilar, disparate, contrasting,
contrastive.
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
Let’s read The College Conundrum
Make a prediction about what you think a college
conundrum is?
8. Which statement best summarizes the central idea
of the passage?
9. Read this sentence from paragraph 6 “The usually
optimistic girl wore a dismal expression on her face as
he handed Ms. Alvarez two pieces of official looking
letterhead.” In this sentence, optimistic most clearly
means…
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
10. Read this sentence from paragraph 16: “Well, how did
you feel when you received the letters?’ Ms. Alvarez
asked.”
Why does Ms. Alvarez ask Emmaline this question?
11. Read this sentence from para. 18? “Ms. Alvarez’s eyes
widened at Emmaline’s statement, and she offered an
encouraging smile.”
What effect does this sentence provide the reader as the
story develops?
Aim: To practice multiple choice Test-Taking Strategies
 12. Read this sentence from paragraph 26:
“Now, can you give me some tips on telling my dad about
the disappointing news?’ Emmaline asked.”
Why does Emmaline most likely believe her father will
be disappointed?
 13. Which choice best describes how Emmaline’s
father’s point of view compares to Ms. Alvarez’s?
 14. Why was Ms. Alvarez surprised that Emmaline was
considering accounting as a career?
AIM: To practice testing as a genre.
DO NOW:
A. WRITE A QUESTION YOU STILL HAVE ABOUT
“TESTING AS A GENRE.”
B. MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT YESTERDAY’S
“COLLEGE CONUNDRUM.
Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
SAT Word #3:
Novice: apprentice, beginner
EX: I am worse than a novice at Call of Duty Black
Duty.
EX: A novice sometimes has beginners luck.
synonyms: neophyte, newcomer.
Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
Toolbox 25: QUOTE strategy
 Q – Question
 READ the directions and circle words (discuss, describe, explain)
 U – Underline
 Words that help focus on ideas to develop answers and make
ANNOTATIONS in the margin.
 O – Organize/Write
 Use your PLANNING PAGE and outline the facts (evidence) you will write
about and then write your answer.
 T – Time
 Write how much time to spend on answering each item to PACE yourself.
 E – Evaluate
 REVISE the content & organization of what you wrote & your mechanics.
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Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
Day 1 (4/1): 6 passages= 15 mins per passage (write time in the margins).
Day 2 (4/2): 15 mins first passage; 35 short responses; 40 mins. essay
(extended response)
Day 3 (4/3): 25 mins passages, 25 short response; 40 extended response.
*This year: more Informational Passages and less literacy
passages.
Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
 LETS READ THE TRILOBYTES PASSAGE
 15. The author compares trilobities with anthropods
in para 8 to help readers understand how trilobites…
 16. The author helps the reader understand a
similarity between trilobities and pull bugs by
comparing their…
 17. The author helps the reader understand a major
difference between trilobites and dinosaurs by
contrasting their…
Aim: Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
 18. How does the quotatin in para 6 from Professor
Mulroy most contribute to the development of the
author’s key concepts?
 19. Read the following sentence from paragraph 10:
 “Researchers can use this date to help learn more about the
shifting of continents, changes in the planet’s crust, and the
development of different landforms across the world.”
20. What is the author’s main purpose is para 9?
21. How does the photograph support para 8?
Aim: Aim: To practice testing as a genre.
Exit Ticket:
A. Explain how comfortable are you after doing
this test prep? Why?
B. Record a comment about testing as a genre.