Reading HSPE (High School Proficiency Exam): At a Glance
Reading Assessment:
 Question types:
o 35 multiple choice questions (1 point each)
 May be linked to a passage or stand-alone
 4 answers to choose from
 Some questions are completion questions (fill in the blank with a
word or phrase)
o 5 short answer questions (2 points each)
 9 lines to write answer
o Total: 40 questions (worth 45 points
 Passage Types:
o Literary passages: Stories, poems, novel excerpts, biographies,
autobiographies, literary essays
o Informational passages: Magazine articles, newspaper articles, textbook
excerpts, historical documents, nonfiction narratives
o Functional documents: E-mails, friendly letters, letters to the editor,
newsletters, schedules, brochures, advertisements, catalogs, web sites,
credit and job applications, purchase goods and services, contracts,
procedures
o There are five to seven reading passages (approximately 1000 words per
passage) per test. One is a paired passage, two or three are literary
passages, and two or three are informational passages or functional
documents.
 Skills Tested
o identify the main idea of a passage,
o summarize a passage,
o make an inference (assumption) or prediction,
o determine the meaning of different words (vocabulary)
o identify literary techniques and elements
o identify text features
o compare and contrast ideas
o determine the cause and effect of something
o determine the author’s purpose of something
o evaluate the author’s reasoning for something
o identify or evaluate the ideas or theme of a passage
o extend information beyond the text
Multiple Choice question stems found on the HSPE:
 Which sentence best states the main idea of the story/poem?
 What is the main idea of the story/poem?
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Which sentence best summarizes this story/selection?
What does the author mean when he/she says “_________” in paragraph
(number) of the story/selection?
Based on the information in the story/selection, what inference/assumption
could you make about
?
Based on the information in the story/selection, what do you predict (character)
will do now that (cite circumstances at the end of story)?
Based on the information in the story, what will most likely happen to
(character) after (cite circumstances at the end of the story)?
What is the meaning of the word/phrase “
“ in paragraph
(number) of the story/selection/poem?
What is the meaning of the word/phrase “
“ in the
sentence “(quote)”?
According to the story/selection/poem, what is the main conflict in the
story/selection/poem?
According to the story/selection/poem, which word best describes
(character/setting)?
Which sentence from the story/selection/poem is an example of (literacy
device)?
According to the selection/story/poem, which sentence tells how (two
characters in the story/selection/poem) are similar?
According to the selection/story/poem, which sentence tells who (two
characters in the story/selection/poem) are different?
How does (characters) feelings about (subject) compare to the author/poets
feeling about (same subject)?
Which sentence best describes (characters) response to (character) in the
story/selection/poem?
Which sentence explains what (event) happened in the story/selection/poem?
According to the story/selection/poem, what happens/happened when (action)?
In paragraph (number) of the story, why does the author include (technique)?
Which sentence best states the author’s purpose for writing this
story/selection/poem?
Which sentence from the selection is an opinion?
What is wrong with (character’s) reasoning in the story?
Based on the information in the story/selection/poem, what generalization can
you make about (character/idea)?
Who might benefit most from reading this story?
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Based on the information in the story/selection/poem, what conclusion can be
drawn about (character/event/idea/concept)?
According to the selection, what is the reason that
?
Which sentence states the most important idea in the selection?
Which sentence best summarizes the selection?
What does the author/character mean when he/she says “ “ in paragraph
(number) of the selection?
Based on the selection, what inference/assumption can be made about
?
Based on the information in the selection, predict what will most likely happen
when (action)?
Based on the selection, which sentence explains why (person/subject/event) is
most likely to (action)?
According to (something in the text), which statement is true?
How is
from the two selections alike?
Which sentence best explains why (event) happened?
According to the selection, what happens when (action)?
Based on the information in the selection, what is the most influential (idea in
the selection)?
Which statement is the most important conclusion that may be drawn from the
selection?
Short answer question stems found on the HSPE:
 What is the main idea/theme of the story/poem? Support your answer with two
examples from the story/poem?
 Explain how the story shows (theme). Include two details from the story/selection in
your answer.
 Any one of these titles might be appropriate for the story/selection. Choose the title
that best fits the selection.
(title)
(title)
(title)
Provide two details from the selection to support your choice.
 In your own words, write a summary of the story. Include three main events from
the story in your summary.
 Why does (character) most likely (action)? Include two details from the story in your
answer.
 Based on the information in the story, predict what will mostly likely happen if the
(character) (action)? Provide two details from the story to support your prediction.
 Based on the information in the story, what inference/assumption could you make
about (event/theme/character)? Include two details from the story in your answer.
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What will (character) do now that (cite circumstances at end of story)? Support your
prediction with information from the story.
How does (characters action or trait) contribute to the conflict in the story? Include
two details from the story in your answer.
Any of these words could be used to describe (character) in the story. Choose the
word you think best describes (character) in the story/selection.
(adjective)
(adjective)
(adjective)
Provide two details from the story/selection to support your choice.
What are two similarities/differences between (character) and (character)? Include
information from the story/selection/poem in your answer.
The author of the story/selection/poem states, “
“. Provide
two examples from the story/selection/poem that (demonstrate the idea from the
story/selection/poem).
How do the authors feelings about
compare to the poet’s
feelings about
? Include one detail from the story and one
detail from the poem in your answer.
Explain why (event) happened. Include two details from the story/selection/poem in
your answer.
What is the author’s purpose for writing the story/selection/poem? Provide two
details from the story to support your answer.
How might this selection be useful to someone who wanted to (do something
related to story)? Include two details from the selection in your answer.
Explain how the selection shows (major idea). Include two details from the selection
in your answer.
In your own words, write a summary of the selection. Include three important ideas
from the selection in your summary.
What experiences most likely influenced
? Provide two
details from the selection to support your answer.
What literary techniques may I be asked to recognize/ identify?
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Alliteration
Allusion
Analogy
Anaphora
Anecdote
Assonance
Blank verse (poetry)
Characterization
Connotation/ denotation
Consonance
Description
Flashback
Foreshadow
Free verse (poetry)
Generalization
Hyperbole
Image
Imagery
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Irony (verbal)
Irony (situational)
Irony (dramatic)
Metaphor
Meter (poetry)
Mood
Motif
Personification
Simile
Suspense
Symbol
Symbolism
Repetition
Rhyme
Rhyme scheme
Theme
Tone
Understatement