Nogales High School
Prep Your Way to Success!
A Collaborative Effort of
Nogales High School
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About This Intervention…
This power point was drawn from the
information found in our school-wide gap
analysis. Question of the Week is
subsumed within. Level 3 and 4 of our
gap analysis provided context for the testa-like questions in this test prep.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Unit 1 Basic Testing Strategies
Unit 2 Advanced Testing Strategies
Unit 3 Vocabulary of Testing
Unit 4 Mnemonic Devices
Unit 5 Scantrons & Answer Sheets
Unit 6 Reading Strategies and Question of
the Week
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UNIT 1: Pass That Test
Basic Test Taking
Strategies
General Information
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Reminder!!!
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The answer choices for multiple choice
questions are called “distracters.”
The choices are written to take your attention
away from the correct answer.
READ THE DIRECTIONS!!!
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Do the directions ask you to do more than
one thing?
Do you understand what the directions are
asking you to do?
Are the questions using grammar
to distract you?
Grammar & Sentence
Structure
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Decoding Distracters
Are the articles “a” or “an” used separately or
arranged like this? a/an
 Use “a” before consonants
 Use “an” before vowels and vowel like
sounds
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Practice Questions
One of the largest
animals in the world is an:
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a.
b.
c.
d.
giraffe
tiger
elephant
gazelle
One of the
largest animals in the
world is a/an:
 a. giraffe
 b. tiger
 c. elephant
 d. gazelle
Phrase/Clause
Can you match a clause in the question with a
phrase in the distracter choices?
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The rule is that a time clause will have the
perfect tense in the main clause and the
simple tense in the time phrase.
Practice Question
It had been raining for 3 days,
a.
b.
c.
d.
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when the sun finally comes out.
when the sun finally was coming out.
when the sun will finally come out.
when the sun finally came out.
Are sounds being used to distract
you?
Repeating Sounds
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More About Decoding
Is SOUND being used to catch your attention?
REPEATED CONSONANTS
Example:
 The curious cat crawled quietly
Repeated sounds can be used in the answer choices to
pull your attention away from the correct answer.
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More Decoding
Is sound being used to catch your attention?
REPEATED VOWELS or vowel like sounds.
 Ask after Annie Answers her next question.
Repeated sounds can be used in the answer
choices to pull your attention away from the
correct answer.
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Even More Decoding
Are homophones used to catch your attention?
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Homophones sound alike, but are not spelled
alike and do not have the same meanings.

THERE, THEIR, THEY’RE
Are absolutes being used to
distract you?
True/False Questions
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For True and False
Watch out for absolutes like “always” & “never”.
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Dogs bite.
Dogs always bite.
Dogs never bite.
Absolutes….
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When “always” or “never” are used in a
“True/False” question, the answer is
most likely to be false.
Are there Best Practices that can
help to decode a test?
Three Principals
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Principle #1
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If there is no penalty for guessing, when you
don’t know the answer, ( after you have tried
process of elimination)…Guess!
Principle #2
When the question has positive wording, the
BEST PRACTICE is to go through the
process of elimination and throw out the
answer choices that could not be the correct
answer.
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Principle # 3
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Rushing leads to careless mistakes. PACE
YOURSELF!!!
UNIT 2: Advanced Test Strategies
Beyond the Basic
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Principle # 1
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Read the question slowly.
Read it again.
Paraphrase it mentally.
Look at the answers or do your
computations.
Go back again for a final re-read.
Are negatives being used to
distract you?
Except, Least, Not…..
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Principle #2
Watch out for “except/least/not” which are
negatives!
 Instead of asking you to eliminate all of the
wrong answers, this type of question asks
you to eliminate all of the right answers.
Example:
 All of the following are true except…
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Are there tricks for questions
containing charts and graphs?
Charts & Graphs
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Principle #3
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For charts, scan along with your pencil so that
you don’t get lost.
 What are the labels/value/units on the x axis?
 What are the labels/value/units on the y axis?
 Can you locate zero? Is this significant?
 Is the chart showing increase or decrease?
 What is the relationship between the x- and
y-axes?
 Is the graph finite or infinite? Do all values
make sense on this graph?
Principle # 4
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Spend the most time where it will do the most
good.
If I don’t know the entire answer,
can I use partial knowledge?
Try Partial Knowledge
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Principle # 5
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Use partial knowledge. Go through process
of elimination. Mentally scan categories,
time periods, eras...
Practice Question Principle #5
What is Henry Clay known for?
 a. He was the instigator of the Boston Tea Party.
 b. Along with Thomas Jefferson, he negotiated the
Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the territory of the
United States.
 c. As a member of the Continental Congress, he
denounced British rule in his “Give me liberty or give
me death” speech.
 d. He authored the Compromise of 1850, which attempted
to placate both free and slave-holding states in order
to avert civil war.
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Explanation for Henry Clay
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Remember that you don’t have to know who
Henry Clay was, you just have to try to
eliminate some answers. What time period is
he from? If you vaguely know that he had
something to do with the Civil War, eliminate
all non-Civil War answers.
Principle # 6
Your personal opinion counts for
nothing!
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Don’t let your life experience enter into your
consideration of a question and possible
answer.
Are they using traps to distract
you?
Watch for Traps….
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Principle # 7
DON’T be fooled by trap answers. They might contain
repeated names, dates, years to catch the eye.
Henry Clay authored the Compromise of
 a. 1850
 b. 1851
 c. 1852
 d. 1853
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Principle # 8
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Always check to see if you are allowed to write in the
test booklet. If you are, then circle answers on the
test booklet and bubble when you have finished a
page. This eliminates the chance of error as you
skip around. But if you are not allowed to write in the
booklet, DON’T!
Are there tips especially for math
and science?
Subject Specific Tips
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Principal #9: Tips for Math and Science
Answer each part of a question step by step.
EX: Read the word problem, write an equation, solve
the equation, and make a generalization about the
answer.
 SHOW ALL COMPUTATIONS! (Your Work)
 Review generic vocabulary ahead of time.
 Everything starts with arithmetic, so review your
basic skills.
 Practice computations without a calculator.
 Check units on your answers.
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UNIT 3: Vocabulary of Testing
Bloom’s Taxonomy
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Knowledge/Remembering
Basically giving back information that was
given to you in the same form.
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recall, recite, memorize, list, name, describe,
label, match, identify, define
Comprehension/Understanding
Showing you understand something by putting
it in your own words.
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discuss, express, explain, summarize,
paraphrase, infer, locate, find, tell, extend,
give examples, depict
Application/Using Understanding
Use rules or concepts in a new problem
situation: to apply known solutions to new
events; to employ guides such as maps or
charts.
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practice, apply, compute, use, translate,
change, solve, interpret, pretend, dramatize,
illustrate, demonstrate
Synthesis/Creating
To use the knowledge you have and create
something new from it.
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create, draw, compose, design, formulate
organize, combine, devise, modify assemble,
plan, construct, write, compile, revise,
suppose
Analysis/Examining
To take things apart, to separate them, or
rearrange them in order to understand them
better.
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debate, diagram, compare, contrast,
question, analyze, categorize, outline,
experiment, criticize, differentiate, distinguish
Evaluation/Deciding or Judging
No right or wrong answer, but you must support
your answer with solid evidence.
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select, judge, predict, justify, decide, choose,
assess, evaluate, support, conclude, value
UNIT 4: Mnemonic Devices
Making up phrases that
help you remember test
information.
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How to Make a Mnemonic
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Decide which information you would like to
memorize.
Try the “order of operations”.
Take the first letter from each aspect of the
order of operations.
Make up a phrase to help you remember the
letters.
Mnemonic for MATH
Order of Operations:
 Parentheses
 Exponents
 Multiplication
 Division
 Addition
 Subtraction
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PLEASE EXCUSE MY DEAR AUNT SALLIE
UNIT 5: Scantrons & Answer
Sheet
How to Survive the
Paperwork
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Tools
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Always use a # 2 pencil unless otherwise
directed.
Completely bubble in your answer choice.
If you make a mistake, make sure to erase
COMPLETELY.
DO NOT make any marks on the answer
sheets other than directed.
Unit 6: Prep Your Way to Success
in Reading
Reading for Different
Purposes
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STRATEGY: How to Find Details
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Ask the questions What? How? Why?
Where? When? Or Who?
Form a mental picture of the facts the author
presents
See how the facts give you information about
the subject of the passage
How to Find Details (Excerpt)
“Physical Fitness”
Strength means the power in one’s
muscles. Like suppleness, strength
helps prevent strains or sprains when
you lift, push, or pull things. Strong
muscles are also needed for good
posture. Muscles support the
backbone.
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How to Find Details (Question)
Strength helps you to
a) move more quickly
b) sit, stand, or reach for things
c) exercise for a long period without
getting tired
d) prevent strains or sprains
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How to Find Details (Explanation)
d) Prevent strains or sprains
The answer is found in the 2nd,3rd, and 4th line
of the excerpt. Look for the two nouns
“strains and sprains” within the passage.
They give you more information about the
subject “strength.”
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STRATEGY: How to Find the Main Idea
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Read the passage.
For each paragraph, find the topic by asking
who or what is this about?
Ask, What main point does the author make
about the topic? This will be the main idea of
the paragraph
More Main Idea….
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For a passage of more than one paragraph,
study the whole passage. Find the main idea
of each paragraph. Then identify the topic of
the whole passage. Finally, find the main
point that the author makes about that topic.
Check that you have found the main idea.
Ask, Do all the details in the passage explain
or describe that main idea?
Finding the Main Idea (Excerpt)
“The Amazing All-Purpose Hand”
Human beings have an unusual kind of
thumb. It’s call opposable. That means we
can move the thumb separately from our
fingers. We can move it across our palms to
meet each fingertip. Of all animals, only
human beings, monkeys, and apes have this
kind of thumb.
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Finding the Main Idea (Question)
According to the excerpt, what makes the hand
so different from the paws of most other
animals?
a) The hand has more bones.
b) The hand has an opposable thumb.
c) The hand has more muscles.
d) The hand has more knuckles.
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Finding the Main Idea (Explanation)
b)
The hand has an opposable thumb.
Look at the 2nd line of the excerpt. What was
the main point the author made about the
human hand that made it different from
most other animals?
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STRATEGY: How to Summarize
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Note the key ideas or details.
Ask, Who or what is the topic of these facts?
Ask, What main point do these facts make
about the topic?
Check that you have written a good
summary. Ask, Does this statement cover
the important details of all the facts?
How to Summarize (Excerpt)
The muscles that help us move are attached
to bones. But muscles can only pull bones:
they cannot push. Therefore, most muscles
work in pairs. To bend your arm, for instance,
the muscle on top of you arm pulls it up. To
straighten your arm, the muscle on the
bottom of your arm pulls it back down.
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How to Summarize (Question)
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What is the best summary of these facts?
a) The arm has a muscle on the top and
another muscle on the bottom.
b) Most muscles are attached to bones such as
the arm bones.
c) Because muscles can only pull, they work in
pairs to move bones.
d) The muscles of the arm can move the arm
either up or down.
How to Summarize (Explanation)
c) Because muscles can only pull, they work in
pairs to move bones.
Pull together all of the facts as a summary and
decide which facts are the most important in
this excerpt. From the 2nd line to the end,
many facts about the topic are given. If all
facts are combined, what is the main point
about this topic that is highlighted?
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STRATEGY: How to Put Events in
Sequence
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Look for words that signal time or order
(next, before, then, last, afterward, finally...)
Underline each event or write it on a
separate piece of paper.
Number the events in the order in which they
happened.
Events in Sequence (Excerpt)
“How the Body Fights Disease”
Often, when a germ enters the body, the
body starts producing antibodies. These are
substances that fight against the germ and
help destroy it.
Our bodies can produce antibodies for
many diseases. That’s why we can catch
those diseases only once. The first time we
are sick with the disease, our body make
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More Sequence (Excerpt)
Antibodies for it. The antibodies fight the
disease’s germs. Eventually, they kill the
germs.
If we are exposed to the disease a second
time, the germs can enter the body again.
But the antibodies for those germs are still in
our bodies. They fight off the germs and
keep them from making us sick again.
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Events in a Sequence (Question)
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Number the events in order, beginning with 1.
a) __The antibodies kill the disease germs.
b) __The body produces antibodies for the
disease.
c) __Disease germs enter the body for the first
time.
d) __The antibodies fight the disease germs.
e) __The antibodies stay in the body and kill
those germs if they return.
Events in a Sequence (Explanation)
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a) 4; b) 2; c) 1; d) 3; e) 5
When reading this excerpt, did you identify
which event came first, second, third, fourth,
fifth, sixth? You can always make a penciled
number above each idea as you locate it in
the excerpt.
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STRATEGY: How to Restate Facts
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Read each statement carefully to be sure
you understand it fully.
Look away. Form a mental picture of the idea
in the statement.
Use your own words to express the idea in
your mental picture.
How to Restate Facts (Practice)
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Each of the following sentences on the
left has been restated. The
restatements are listed on the right, but
they have been scrambled out of order.
Match each sentence with its
restatement. On the line provided,
write the letter of the correct
restatement.
More Restating Facts (Practice)
1.
2.
3.
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Sentence
All animals depend
on plants for their
food.
Not all animals eat
plants.
If an animal does
not eat plants, it
eats other animals
that do eat plants.
a)
b)
c)
Restatement
Some animals eat
only plant-eating
animals.
Without plants,
animals would
starve to death.
Some animals don’t
eat plants.
Restating Facts (Explanation)
1=(b), 2=(c), 3=(a)
Did you notice that the restatements use
different words or word order, but the
restatements mean the same thing as the
original sentence.
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STRATEGY: How to Find Comparisons
and Contrasts
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Notice which features of the two (or More)
things are being described.
Look for clue words that signal similarities,
such as both, all, like or alike, likewise, same,
similar, also, and too.
Compare and Contrast (Excerpt)
Plants and animals are alike in that both need
air to survive. Both of them “breathe in” the
air in which they live. Animals use the part of
air called oxygen. Then they breathe out the
part call carbon dioxide, which they don’t
need. Plants are just the opposite. They use
the carbon dioxide in the air to help them
make the food they need. Then, through tiny
holes on the surface of their leaves, they
“breathe out” the leftover oxygen.
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Compare and Contrast (Practice)
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1. They use Carbon Dioxide.
Animals Plants Both
2. They need air to survive.
Animals Plants Both
3. They breathe out oxygen.
Animals Plants Both
4. They breathe in air.
Animals Plants Both
5. They use oxygen.
Animals Plants Both
Compare and Contrast (Explanation)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
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Plants
Both
Plants
Both
Animals
Strategy: Classifying
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
Identify the categories.

Note the features of each category.

Put examples in their correct
categories.
Classifying (Excerpt)
“Getting Along in a Tough Place”
Plants can do very different things to
survive their natural homes. In the
desert, for example, it seldom rains.
When it does rain, desert plants store
large amounts of rainwater in their
stems. They use the water gradually
during the long spells when no rain
falls.
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More Classifying (Excerpt)
These plants have thick skins. Their
skins Keep the stored water from
evaporating. Cactuses are examples of
this type of plant.
At the opposite extreme are plants
that contain hollow spaces in which
they store the air they must have to
survive. Sargassum is one such plant.
Kelp is another.
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Classifying (Sample)
Category:
Features:
1.
2.
1.
Examples:
1. Cactus
1.Sargassum
2.Kelp
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Classifying (Explanation)
Category:
Desert Plants
Features:
1. Stores large
Examples:
1. Cactus
Salt Water Plants
1. Have hollow
amounts rainwater spaces to store
air
2. Thick skinned
1.Sargassum
2.Kelp
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STRATEGY: How to Draw Conclusions
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Think of the facts as clues.
Read between the lines. Find ideas that the
facts hint at but don’t state directly.
Be sure the ideas make sense, given the
facts. Rule out any that do not make sense.
How to Draw Conclusions
“How Long Can Seeds Rest” (Excerpt)
Once a plant’s seeds are fully formed,
they usually need a “resting period”
before they can begin growing as new
plants. The seeds of some plants can
rest for a very long time and then still
grow when planted.
Some wild plant seeds have “slept”
underground for as many as eighty
years before they sprouted into new
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More How to Draw Conclusions…
(Excerpt)
plants. Scientists know of seeds that were
stored for more than 150 years. When
these seeds were finally planted, they
produced healthy new plants.
But these long resting periods are
unusual. The seeds of most garden flowers
can rest only for a year or two. After that
length of time, they will no longer sprout
into new plants.
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More on How to Draw Conclusions
(Excerpt)
Does not get its water from the soil.
Rather, it sucks water from its host
plant. It does this by sinking roots into
the branches of the host---much like a
vampire sinks its teeth into a victim’s
neck. Sometimes the host tree
continues to live normally. But in other
cases, the host is gradually drained to
death.
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How to Draw Conclusion (Question)
What is the best summary of the passage above?
a)
b)
c)
d)
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Seeds can rest for many years before they
sprout into new plants.
Most garden flower seeds rest only for a
year or two.
Most seeds need to rest before they sprout
into new plants, but the resting periods vary.
Wild plant seeds can rest for up to 150
years before they sprout into new plants.
How to Draw Conclusions
(Explanation)
The BEST answer is “c)”
The other choices are all true, but each one
only restates one fact or summarizes two of
the facts.
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STRATEGY: How to Read Diagrams
Read the title to learn the purpose of
the diagram.
 Study the drawing(s) and any labels.
 If there is more than one drawing,
compare and contrast them.
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How to Read Diagrams (Excerpt)
“Magma”
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How to Read Diagrams (Question)
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Using the diagram, what statement can you
make about what happens to cause a
volcano to erupt? Include as much
information as possible.
Answers will vary
STRATEGY: How to Identify Facts and
Opinions
Think whether the statement can be
proved with evidence.
 Think whether everyone would agree
with the statement after seeing the
evidence.
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More Fact and Opinion…
Look for words that signal opinion, such
as should or shouldn’t, must or must
not, or ought to.
 Look for words expressing emotions or
values, which usually signal opinions.
These are words such as good, bad,
best, most, great, important, beautiful,
terrible, wonderful, or fun.
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Fact and Opinion (Excerpt & Question)
“Block That Inertia!” #1
1. Seat belts are one of the most valuable
new features of cars in the past 25 years.
2. Seat belts were designed to protect people
from being hurt in automobile accidents.
Which sentence is an opinion?________
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Fact and Opinion (Excerpt & Question)
“Block that Inertia” #2
A physical force called inertia is the reason
why car accidents can be so dangerous.
2. Drivers---and passengers too---should
understand inertia.
3. It means that as object that is at rest will not
move unless it’s forced to.
Which sentence is an opinion?_____
1.
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Fact and Opinion (Explanation)
Question #1: Sentence #1 is the opinion.
Did you notice the word “most”? It indicates the
use of emotion.
Question #2: Sentence #2 is the opinion.
Did you notice the word “should”? It indicates
an emotional judgment.
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STRATEGY: How to Recognize
Hypotheses
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Identify the question being asked.
Look for words that signal an educated
guess, such as believe, think, may or might
be, possibly, and probably.
Ask yourself if the educated guess answers
the question being asked.
Look for evidence given that supports the
educated guess.
How to Recognize the Hypothesis
(Excerpt)
Teresa and Mona drove all day to get to a
campground high in the mountains. A week
later, they drove home using the same route.
The women kept track of how much gas the
car used on both laps of the trip. They found
that it used more gas on the trip to the
campground than on the trip back. Teresa
and Mona know that gravity pulls things
downward toward the Earth.
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How to Recognize the Hypothesis
(Question)
What hypothesis did they make to explain why
the car used more gas on the first
trip?________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
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How to Recognize the Hypothesis
(Explanation)
The trip to the campground probably had more
uphill driving than the trip back home
because the campground was high in the
mountains. A car has to use more gas to
move uphill against the pull of gravity.
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STRATEGY: The Five Steps of the
Scientific Method
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2
Decide which question to investigate.
Find the facts related to the question.
Form a hypothesis.
Perform an experiment to test the
hypothesis.
Draw conclusions about your hypothesis
Scientific Method (Excerpt)
“Staying Warm: Wool or Cotton?
Masud worked in an ice-cream factory that
was always chilly. He wondered which would
keep him warmer, a cotton sweater or a wool
sweater. He knew that wool fibers have tiny
pockets of air. He also knew that one of the
best ways to keep warmth in an object is to
surround it with a thin layer of air.
In light of these facts, Masud thought that a
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(More Excerpt)…Scientific Method
wool sweater would probably keep him
warmer than a cotton one. He decided to
test this hunch with an experiment.
He filled two identical empty metal cans
with boiling water. Then he wrapped a
woolen sock snugly around one of the cans.
He wrapped a cotton sock of the same
thickness around the other can.
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(More Excerpt)…Scientific Method
Fifteen minutes later, Masud unwrapped
the cans. He felt each one. The can that
had been wrapped in wool was warmer that
the one that had been wrapped in cotton.
Masud decided that his hunch was right.
Wool does do a better job of keeping heat in
a warm object.
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Scientific Method (Question)
Which question did Masud ask?
___________________________________
What was Masud’s Hypothesis?
___________________________________
What conclusion did Masud draw at
the end of the experiment?
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6
___________________________________
Scientific Method (Explanation)
Which question did Masud ask?
Will a wool sweater keep me warmer.
What was Masud’s Hypothesis?
Since wool has air pockets, a wool sweater
will keep me warmer.
What conclusion did Masud draw at the end
of the experiment?
Surrounding an object with a thin layer of air,
as with wool, creates more warmth
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STRATEGY: How to Find Cause and
Effect
 List
all the events or facts.
 Look for words that signal cause
and effect, such as because,
cause, since, due to, as a result,
therefore, or so.
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More Cause and Effect…
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Think about which event happens first and
which event follow. Remember that a
passage may state the effect first and the
cause second.
Remember—a cause can have more than
one effect. Also, an effect can have more
than one cause.
More Cause and Effect…
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0
Look for clue words that signal differences,
such as but, however, unlike, different,
although, on the other hand, and yet.
Make a chart showing the things that are
described. In the chart, list the features that
are compared or contrasted.
Cause and Effect
(Questions) What is the Effect?
Substances are made up of tiny bits of matter
call molecules. These molecules are held
together by forces call bonds. Bonds are like
a glue between molecules. They make
molecules pull toward each other.
CAUSE: Molecules are held together by bonds.
Effect:________________________________
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Cause and Effect
(Explanation)

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Effect: Molecules pull toward each other
STRATEGY: Predicting Outcomes




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List the facts that you know about the subject.
Think about how things have happened in the
past.
Think whether you expect the future to be
different from the past or like the past.
Make a reasonable guess as to what will
happen. Base your guess on the facts you
know.
Predicting Outcomes (Excerpt)
Most paper is made of tiny fibers of wood.
The first step in recycling paper is to soak it
in water. This softens and separates the
paper fibers. The result is a sort of soupy
mush call pulp. Next, the pulp is cleaned
and dried. Finally, it is rolled into new paper.
Each time paper is broken down into pulp,
its fibers become shorter and weaker. The
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4
More Predicting Outcomes…
Paper made from these shorter fibers is not
as strong as new paper. It tends to crumble
and fall apart.
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Predicting Outcomes (Question)
A paper company made shopping bags with
paper that had been recycled several time.
The company did not mix in any new fibers.
What do you predict these bags will be like?
a) They will dissolve quickly in water.
b) They will be stronger than other bags.
c) They will tear or break easily.
d) They will not keep their shape well.
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Predicting Outcomes
(Explanation)
The answer is “c)” Each time the paper is
broken down into pulp it becomes shorter
and weaker, therefore it will tear or break
easily.
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STRATEGY: How to Read Charts
Read the title. It tells what the chart is
about.
 Read all headings. They tell what each
section of the chart is about.
 Study the information under the
headings.

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How to Read Charts
(Excerpt) “Types of Colloids”
Name
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Description
Example
Fog
liquid mixed in gas
clouds
Smoke
solid mixed in gas
smoke
Foam
gas mixed in liquid
whipped cream
Emulsion
liquid mixed in liquid
mayonnaise
Sol
solid mixed in liquid
paint
Gel
Liquid mixed in solid
jelly
How to Read Charts (Questions)
Mayonnaise is an example of which colloid?
 Foam
 Gel
 Emulsion
 Sol
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How to Read Charts (Explanation)
Mayonnaise is an example of an emulsion.
Scan the example column to locate the word,
then move to the name column to find the
answer.
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1
STRATEGY: How to Identify Problems
and Solutions
To find the problem ask, “What was
Wrong?”
 To find the solution ask, “What was
done to change things?”
 Be sure you can explain how the
solution solved the problem.

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2
Problems and Solutions (Excerpt)
“Blowing in the Wind”
Cars, televisions, toasters, phones, lamps-we use dozens of machines in our daily life.
What makes them run?
Most run on fossil fuels---oil, coal, and
natural gas. Gasoline is made from fossil
fuel. Cars, airplanes, and other engines run
by burning gasoline. Most of our electricity is
also made by burning fossil fuel.
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Problems and Solutions
(More Excerpt)
But when fossil fuels burn, they give off
gases. Some of those gases cause acid rain.
Others are slowly hearting up our air. That is
as dangerous as acid rain. Is there any way
out of the fossil-fuel mess?
Here’s one way out: the wind. Wind
doesn’t cost a penny. It doesn’t pollute. But it
can turn windmills. And those windmills can
produce electricity. In dozens of places
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4
Problems and Solutions
(More Excerpt)
around the world, people have built
windmills to make power without polluting.
Wind probably can’t solve all of our energy
problems. It doesn’t blow all the time. Also,
some people feel windmills would clutter up
the land. But chances are that windmills will
become more common. They’re a lot cleaner
than the burning of fossil fuels.
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Problems & Solutions (Question)
How does that solution solve the main problem
of fossil fuels?
a) It doesn’t cause any pollution.
b) It is cheaper than fossil fuels.
c) It can produce more electricity than fossil
fuels do.
d) It is easier to find than fossil fuels.
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Problems & Solutions
(Explanation)
The answer is “a)”
Most of our electricity is made by burning
fossil fuel. The gases caused by the
burning of fossil fuel creates pollution.
Electricity can be created by
harnessing the wind. Wind does not
create pollution.
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STRATEGY: How to Read Line Graphs



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Read the title. It tells what the graph is
about.
Read all words and numbers. They show
how the graph is laid out.
Study the line. See where it goes up or
down. That helps you compare things or see
how they changed.
How to Read Line Graphs (Excerpt)
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Line Graphs (Questions)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
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What is the tile of this graph?____________
How many years did it the minimum rage take to
get from $.25 to $ 5.15 per hour?___
In which year did the minimum wage begin?
Which direction is the line traveling? What does
that mean?______________________
Why did they use a dollar bill graphic?
_____________________________________
Line Graphs (Explanation)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
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The Federal Hourly Minimum Wage Since
Its Inception
Twenty Years
1938
The line is going up which means that the
wage increased over the years
They used a dollar bill graphic to represent
money
STRATEGY: How to Apply Knowledge




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Ask, “What do I know that connects to the
new situation?”
Identify things in the new situation that are
similar to what you know.
Identify things in the new situation that are
different from what you know.
Draw conclusions.
How to Apply Knowledge (Excerpt)
“The Earth’s Wear and Tear”
Erosion is the wearing away of the earth’s
surface. Erosion is caused by weathering—
wind, rain, and temperature changes that
break up rocks and move soil. Two types of
weathering occur in nature: mechanical
weathering and chemical weathering.
Mechanical weathering breaks rocks into
smaller pieces. For instance, the sun’s heat
may cause a rock to expand and split. Or
water may freeze on a rock’s surface. The
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Apply Knowledge (More Excerpt)
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Expanding ice may crack the rock.
Wind also causes mechanical weathering.
When wind blows hard, it picks up pieces of
rock and soil and carries them along. This
driving wind can cut away at rocks and hills.
The rocks get worn away. They split apart
more easily.
Chemical weathering is a change in the
Apply Knowledge (More Excerpt)
Minerals inside a rock. This usually happens
when water is present. For example, water
can wash away a rock’s minerals. This
weakens the rock. And rain mixed with a gas
called carbon dioxide can dissolve rock such
as limestone.
Sandblasting is a way to clean the outside
of stone buildings. A high-powered stream
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5
Apply Knowledge (More Excerpt)
Of sand is blown against the brick or stone.
As the sand hits the surface, it wears away
the dirty top layer of the stone. This leaves a
clean surface.
Although sandblasting is a sure way to
clean brick, it has its drawbacks. The process
often weakens the brick. Over time, the
bricks can crumble. The process also leaves
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6
Apply Knowledge (More Excerpt)
The bricks or stone more porous. This
means that they are more likely to absorb
water, which can cause damage. For these
reasons, sandblasting is often used only as a
last resort.
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Apply Knowledge (Question)
Use what you learned about erosion to think
about sandblasting. Circle the best answer
to complete this statement: Sandblasting is
like erosion caused by
a) water
b) sand particles
c) ice
d) air
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Apply Knowledge (Explanation)
You read that sandblasting is sand being blown
against the surface of a brick wall . This is
most similar to c) wind. Wind picks up bits of
rocks and carries them along. Over time, this
can wear away the earth’s crust.
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STRATEGY: How to Read Bar Graphs
Read the title. It tells what the graph is
about.
 Read all words and numbers. They
show how the graph is laid out.
 Study the bars. They show the facts,
and they help you compare things
quickly.

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How To Read Bar Graphs (Excerpt)
“Profits in Millions of the 3 Branches of the
ACME Company
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
East
West
North
1st Qtr
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1
2nd Qtr
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr
Bar Chart (Questions)
1)
2)
3)
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2
In which quarter was the East Branch most
profitable?
What can be said about the profits of the
North Branch?
Which branch showed the greatest
fluctuation (change) in profits?
Bar Charts (Explanation)
1)
2)
3)
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3
3rd Quarter
The North Branch did not change much
over the four quarters
The East Branch had the greatest
fluctuation over the four quarters.
STRATEGY: How to Make Inferences




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Look for clues. Find the topic, main idea,
and details.
Figure out why the author included certain
details.
Read between the lines. What do the details
suggest?
Check to see if you have enough information
to make the inference.
How to Make Inferences
(Excerpt)
Mark Brown is a union official. He says,
”Millions of people used to be proud to say,
“I’m a Democrat.” They used to fight over it.
They used to drink over it. They used to
laugh over it. They used to argue over it.
“Brown thinks that times have changed. The
number of Democrats seem to have fallen.
And he wonders why.
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How to Make Inferences
(More Excerpt)
People used to know the answer to this
question: “What is a Democrat?” Past
presidents were clear examples. Franklin
Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John Kennedy
were Democrats. They knew what being a
Democrat was all about. Here are some
things that Mark Brown says the Democratic
Party believes in:
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6
How to Make Inferences
(More Excerpt)
the middle class
 factory workers and unions
 the civil rights of minorities and women
 a strong defense
 social welfare programs

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7
How to Make Inferences
(More Excerpt)
In the 1990’s, the party must define what
being a Democrat means today. Many people
are worried about the economy. Today’s
Democratic Party seems more moderate
than it did in the past. Party members are
stressing investment and growth. They want
to build bridges between them and business.
They want to pump up the economy.
Democrats also want to stop
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8
How to Make Inferences
(More Excerpt)
Crime by putting more police on the
streets. Uniting the party is a chief aim. This
is the new face of the Democratic Party.
During the 1980’s, voters chose
Republican presidents. Mark Brown wants
that pattern to change. “We’ve got our work
cut out for us to bring these people home.
We have to find the right message and the
right messenger.”
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How to Make Inferences (Question)
What can you infer about Democrats
running for president in the 1980s?
1)
2)
3)
4)
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They were not able to gain the trust of
the majority of voters.
They spent too much money on their
political campaigns.
They were not as smart as the
Republicans running for president.
They did not know how worried people
were about the economy.
How to Make Inferences
(Explanation)
The answer is “1)” The first sentence of the
last paragraph tells you that Republican
presidents were elected in the 1980s. This
clue supports the inference.
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STRATEGY: How to Read a Circle
Graph



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2

Find the title. What is the topic of the graph?
Read the labels on each portion of the circle.
How do the labels relate to the topic of the
graph?
Study the percentage(%) and size of each
portion. Which portion is largest? Which
portion is smallest?
Check to see that each portion adds up to
the total (100%)
How to Read a Circle Graph
(Excerpt)
Jelly Belly Flavor Preference Survey
26%
16%
Coconut
14%
Popcorn
Blueberry
Cherry
24%
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3
Tangerine
20%
How to Read a Circle Graph
(Questions)
1)
2)
3)
4)
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4
What is the topic of the survey?
Of the five flavors listed, which is the most
popular?
What is the total percent of the two most
popular flavors?
Of the five flavors listed, which is the least
popular?
How to Read a Circle Graph
(Questions)
1)
2)
3)
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5
What percent of customers are completely
dissatisfied with the product?
What percent of customers are completely
satisfied with the product?
What is the product of this survey?
How to Read a Circle Graph
(Explanation)
1)
2)
3)
4)
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6
Flavor preference of customers for Jelly
Belly jellybeans.
Tangerine
50%
Popcorn
STRATEGY: How to Understand
Political Cartoons





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Notice every detail of the cartoon.
Look at the characters. Who are they? What are
they saying?
Read every word in the cartoon. Study the labels
and descriptions.
Figure out if any pictures are symbols. What do you
think they mean?
Check to see if your inferences about the cartoon
make sense.
How to Understand a Political Cartoon
(Excerpt)
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Political Cartoons (Question)
Who is the man in the cartoon?_________________
 What is he saying?___________________________
 What does the newspaper say?_________________
 What does the label on the money bag say?
____________________________________________
 Why is there a donkey on the front page?
____________________________________________
 What is your interpretation of the cartoon?
____________________________________________

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Political Cartoons (Explanation)
Who is the man in the cartoon? George Bush
 What is he saying? The buck stops here
 What does the newspaper say? CIA chief takes fall
 What does the label on the money bag say?
Republican fund raising higher that Democrats
 Why is there a donkey on the front page?
Democratic Symbol
 What is your interpretation of the cartoon?
Answers will vary

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STRATEGY: Using a Map Key
Study the symbols in the map key.
What does each symbol represent?
 Find the location of the symbols on the
map.
 Check how the map symbols are used
to explain information.

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Using Map Keys: Excerpt
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2
Map Keys (Questions)
What does a diamond represent on this
map?___________________________
 What do the dots represent?
________________________________
 What does the colored bar represent?
________________________________
 Which continent had the most recent earth
quake?__________________________

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Map Keys ( Explanation)
What does a diamond represent on this
map? Most recent earthquake
 What do the dots represent?
Magnitude or size
 What does the colored bar represent?
Depth in kilometers
 Which continent had the most recent earth
quake? South America

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STRATEGY: How to Find Directions
and Distances
Find the direction symbol on the map.
Places at the top of the map are north.
Places at the bottom are south. West is
to the right, and west is to the left.
 Find the number of miles represented
in the map.

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More Finding Directions/Distances
 Practice
finding the number of
miles on a map from one place to
another.
 Check to make sure that you have
added the number of miles
correctly.
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Finding Directions (Excerpt)
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Finding Directions (Questions)
1)
2)
3)
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8
How far is it in miles from Sycamore Canyon Park
to Schabarum Regional
Park?_____________________________
What is the distance in km. from Rimgrove Park to
Snow Creek Park?___________________
How many miles of the 60 Freeway can be seen on
this map?__________________________
Finding Directions (Explanation)
1)
2)
3)
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How far is it in miles from Sycamore
Canyon Park to Schabarum Regional Park?
Approximately 7 miles
What is the distance in km. from Rimgrove
Park to Snow Creek Park? Approximately 6
km.
How many miles of the 60 Freeway can be
seen on this map? Approximately 10 miles
STRATEGY: How to Understand
Historical Maps
Read the title and background
information. What is the purpose of the
map?
 Read all the words on the map. If the
map has a key, locate the symbols on
the map.
 Check to see how the map shows
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events,
trends,
or
ideas
in
history.
0

Historical Maps (Excerpt)
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Historical Maps (Question)
From the information that is visible…
 What is the year this map represents?_____
 What is the title of this map?_____________
 What might the purpose of this map be?
_____________________________________
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Historical Maps (Explanation)
From the information that is visible…
 what is the year this map represents? 1876
 what is the title of this map? Panamint Range
Mountains
 What might the purpose of this map be?
Possibly how a town will be built against this
mountain range.
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Closure Slides
Contributions were made by:
 The entire faculty through level 3 & 4 of
the gap analysis.
 Last year’s committee for question of the
week.
 Lucy Cheney’s text contributions
 Administration & faculty through the body
of the gap analysis.
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Closure Slides
Please feel free to refer back to areas of
interest periodically as we head into the
state testing window. You may also make
copies for any students who would like to
review this presentation at home.
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