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State Test Tips
When the question says—
Which statement expresses a fact?
OR
Which statement expresses an opinion?
Remember—
a fact can be proven or verified as
being true
an opinion is based on feelings or
beliefs
When the question asks—
What impact did replacing the italicized
words have on the paragraph?
What the question means is—
How does changing the words change
the tone or atmosphere or meaning of
the paragraph?
Tip for answering questions about
replacing words:
Pay attention to the connotation of the
words.
(implied meaning)
Are the new words less emotional or
more emotional?
Are the new words more general or
more specific?
Are the new words more formal or
informal?
Are the new words more personal or
impersonal (not personal/close)?
Remember!—
optimistic means “looking on the
bright/positive side of things”
pessimistic means “looking at the
negative/depressing side of things”
When the question asks—
How does the use of figurative
language by these two authors
contribute to the mood?
What the question means is—
Identify the figure of speech being
used and explain how this figure of
speech influences the passage.
Tips for answering these types of
questions—
First, identify the figure of speech being
used.
Mark out any answers that use a figure
of speech that is not showing up in
the passage.
Note: Remember! Figures of speech
and figurative language refer to the
same thing.
I am hungry as a horse.
You run like a rabbit.
She is happy as a clam.
He is sneaky as a snake.
The girl was a fish in the water.
The clown was a feather floating away.
The flowers danced in the wind.
The friendly gates welcomed
us.
The Earth coughed and choked in all of the
pollution.
Stan the strong surfer saved several
swimmers on Saturday.
Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy
trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday.
Click here to read more
alliterations.
Remember the most common figures of
speech!—
simile—
comparison of two things using the
words “like” or “as”
her eyes are like stars in the sky
metaphor—
--comparison of two things not using
“like” or “as”
--the one thing “becomes” the other
thing
her eyes are stars in the sky
personification—giving person qualities
to something that is not a person
The sun smiled down on the picnic.
oxymoron—combines opposite and
contradictory words
jumbo shrimp
silent scream
hyperbole—an extreme (hyper) exaggeration
She was so sad she could cry a river.
Sound devices include—
alliteration—repeating similar sounds at
the beginning of words
He was determined to doubt and dared
me to debate it.
assonance—repeating similar vowel sounds
Invisible ink is difficult to invent.
onomatopoeia—words that imitate sounds
buzz words
hiss
pop
Also considered figures of speech—
symbolism—use of an object to
represent something else
imagery—words that appeal to the
reader’s senses: see, touch, smell,
taste, hear
paradox—a statement or situation that
seems to be a contradiction but really
isn’t
idiom—group of words that cannot be
translated literally and still make
sense
It’s raining cats and dogs.
Whhaaat?!?
When a question asks—
In comparing the two paragraphs
above, how does structure support
the meaning of the texts?
What it means is—
Identify the structure being used in
each passage.
Explain how it shows the purpose
(reason) for writing the passage.
Remember it this way—
triple C, double P, do ss
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
compare/contrast
cause/effect
chronological order
problem/solution
process/procedure
description
order of importance
spatial order
sequential order (sequence)
Tips for answering these types of
questions:
First, identify the type of structure
being used in each passage.
Mark out any answers that do not
include structures that you have
already identified being used.
Basically, mark out any answer that
contains a “false” part.
When the question asks—
Which is an appropriate and accurate
explication of this paragraph?
What it means is—
What is the correct explanation of this
passage?
Tip: --explication means explanation
--the explanation must explain
what the paragraph is about
When the question asks—
Which of the following is an accurate
and appropriate summary of this
paragraph?
What it means is—
Which of the following is a correct
restatement of the main points of the
paragraph?
Tips:
summary means restatement
A summary does not explain—it simply
restates!!
To be accurate—the summary should
be in the same order as the original
Also—watch for any statements that
are simply not true
Mark out any answers that include
“false” statements
It is not a personal interpretation!
Remember!
An explication needs to explain the
main points.
A summary needs to restate the main
points.
One more thing—
precis and summary mean the same
thing !!
Bonus Tip!!
Remember to use the who? what? why?
method.
Focusing on what the paragraph is
about may help lead you to the
correct answer.
Focusing on why the paragraph is
written (author’s purpose) may help
lead you to the correct answer.
Double Bonus Tip!!
If you get stuck between two answers,
remember the following:
Explications and summaries will not
contain idioms, cliches, slang, or an
abundance of informal language.
Many of the questions may ask about
the author’s purpose.
author’s purpose means—
why did the author write this passage?
The different purposes include the
following:
•to entertain
•to inform
•to persuade
•to summarize
•to inspire (encourage)
•to enrage (make angry)
•to repel (to disgust/turn against)
•to explain
•to describe
When a question asks—
Which of the following paragraphs is
written in the correct mode for the
stated prompt?
What it means is—
Identify the type of writing that is to
be done, and select the paragraph
that is written in that type.
Essays can be divided into three modes
(types or categories)
narrative
informative
persuasive
Narrative writing—
--tells a story
--follows a sequence of events
(usually chronological order)
--the purpose is to entertain
(sometimes it may make a general
point or include a lesson)
--will include literary elements: setting,
characters, conflict, etc.
Informative writing—
--explains “why” about something
--is more concerned with facts than
opinions
--be sure the writing explains/informs
and be sure the writing stays on topic
Persuasive writing—
--the purpose is to convince others to
agree with you
--persuasive writing uses opinions
supported with facts to make a strong
argument
--be sure to have a clear position
A word about advertising—
advertising includes
television commercials
radio commercials
magazine ads
billboards
catalogs
Guidelines for advertising—
introduce the product
show why/how the audience needs
the product
urge to buy now (a call to action)
use catchy language so the audience
remembers the product
Remember—
In essay writing, summaries, and
explications—
DO NOT USE INFORMAL LANGUAGE
DO NOT USE CATCHY PHRASES OR
IDIOMS
Advertising relies on catchy words and
phrases.
In other words, if you get stuck
between two choices on an
advertising question,
choose the one with the play on words,
the catchy phrase, the idioms!!
One more tip—
advertising should not use negative
opinions or comments
Quick vocabulary review—
ambiguous means
UNCLEAR
ambiguity means
UNCLEAR
Ambiguous reference—
when two or more words can be a
pronoun’s antecedent
Example:
When the apples fell among the leaves,
they were hidden.
Example:
Sam wants to go to college like
his brother because that can
help you get a good job.
Solution:
Sam wants to go to college like his
brother because a college education
can help you get a good job.
Weak reference—
when a pronoun refers to an
antecedent that has been
suggested but not expressed
Example:
Sam wants to be a doctor because it
interests him.
Indefinite reference—
when the pronoun refers to no specific
antecedent and is unnecessary to the
meaning of the sentence
Example:
In most societies, they are affected by
stress.
Remember misplaced modifiers--
Example: We saw a car in the parking lot
with a flat tire.
Question:
The parking lot had the flat tire?
Correction:
We saw a car with a flat tire in the parking
lot.
Remember dangling modifiers--
Example:
Flying over the city, the skyscrapers could be
clearly seen.
Question:
Are the skyscrapers the thing flying over the
city?
Correction:
Flying over the city, we could clearly see the
skyscrapers.
variety means
MIXTURE
parallel means
BALANCED
parallel in structure means
STRUCTURE IS REPEATED
A paragraph is said to have sentence variety
when it contains a mixture of different types
of sentences.
Sentence variety = MIXTURE and COMPLEXITY
Read the following paragraphs carefully.
Explain whether or not the paragraph
contains sentence variety.
TIP:underline subjects and verbs,and “lead
in” parts
--variety = mixture (there will not be
much of a pattern)
--usually, choose the answer that has the
most sentences with “lead in” parts
The pioneers had to have courage, ingenuity, and
be physically strong.
The pioneers had to have
courage
ingenuity
be physically strong
Correct:
The pioneers had to have courage,
ingenuity,
physical strength.
Active voice
—the subject is performing the action
—the subject is doing something
The boy hit the ball.
The girl brought her books.
Passive voice—
--the action is performed by something
or somebody other than the subject
--the action is done by
somebody/something
The ball was hit by the boy.
The books were brought by the girl.
When to use the passive voice—
--Use the passive voice when
the doer is unknown
The computer was stolen.
------------------------------------------------------------
--Use the passive voice when
you want to emphasize a
process.
Next, one ounce of water is poured into
the beaker.
The following sentences are written in passive voice.
Should they be?
Roses are grown as a hobby by my science teacher.
Wild horses are still found in the Southwest.
A wonderful speech was given by Tom.
After the party, the silverware is washed then polished before
being returned to the drawer.
Listing all of the forms of a verb according to
tense is called conjugation.
How to form the six tenses—
Present tense:
base form
Past tense: add –d or -ed to regular verbs
Future tense:
Present perfect :
Past perfect :
Future perfect :
will
or
have
shall + base form
or
has +
past participle
had + past participle
will have + past participle
shall have + past participle
present progressive:
past progressive:
am, is, are
was, were
future progressive:
walking
walking
will be
walking
present perfect progressive:
has been
walking
have been walking
past perfect progressive:
had been
walking
future perfect progressive:
will have been
walking
Present emphatic:
Past emphatic:
do walk
does walk
did walk
do, does
did
Identify the verb tense:
has won
will be going
are studying
has been taking
had gone
had been working
received
have forgotten
will have been walking
Use a comma after long introductory
prepositional phrases that are not
followed by a verb.
Remember: count the words and check
for a verb!
In the light of the moon, the flowers
opened.
At the edge of the garden were many
flowers.
Use a comma to set off interrupters.
I believe
in fact
by the way
He was, I believe, an amateur swimmer.
However, his swimming may improve in time.
Sue, on the other hand, is a strong swimmer.
Use a comma to set off appositives that
give bonus information to a sentence.
Sue, my favorite cousin, likes to swim.
My favorite cousin Sue likes to swim.
Use commas to avoid misreading.
In the summer, time seems to go more
quickly.
During 1973, 570 homes were built in
the city.
Those who can, can go home.
Use a comma to separate two or more
adjectives that describe the same noun
equally.
(These pairs of adjectives are called
coordinate adjectives.)
It was a cool, windy night.
I like the small red sports car.
Tip: if you can reverse the order of the words
OR put the word and between the two
words, then use a comma.
When a sentence has a series of items
that all need commas, use a semicolon to separate the items.
Tom, my best friend; Sue, my next door
neighbor; and Sally, my sister, met
after school
Use single quotation marks around a
quotation within a quotation.
My instructor smiled and replied, “It
was Caesar who said, ‘Cowards die
many times before their deaths.’ ”
Tip: Think of this as a quote inside a
box.
“The Monkey’s Paw”
Tom said,
“I enjoyed reading ‘The Monkey’s Paw. ’ ”
One last word—
YOU
CAN
DO
THIS
Good
Luck!