AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

C HAPTER 10 | F AST T RACK TO S CIENCE M ECHANICS • 185

PRACTICE BIG PICTURE READING

For the Science Test, “reading the passage” means “reading through” the passage. You can’t afford to study the passage, and don’t forget that this is an “open-book” test. So, learn generally what is going on and where things are located. Then, let the items tell you where to look more carefully. Read any introductory paragraph(s). Not only does this material usually explain why an experiment is being conducted or data are being …‘ŽŽ‡…–‡†ǡ ‹– ‘ˆ–‡ †‡ϐ‹‡• ƒ ‡› –‡” –Šƒ– ‹• ‡••‡–‹ƒŽ –‘ —†‡”•–ƒ†‹‰ –Š‡ connections of the various parts of the passage. Examine any diagrams or schematics. The focus of a passage is often a device that includes beakers, tubing, switches, pulleys, test tubes, and other paraphernalia associated with science. Try to understand what the device is designed to accomplish and how the various parts work together. For example, for a graph, read the title and the labels of the x - and y -axes. For tables, read the column heads and the titles of the rows. However, do ‘– ”‡ƒ† •’‡…‹ϐ‹…˜ƒŽ—‡• ‘ ƒ ‰”ƒ’Š ‘” ‹ ƒ –ƒ„Ž‡Ǥ Š‡”‡ ƒ”‡ –‘‘ ƒ› ƒ† only one or two are likely to be relevant to answering one of the few items based on that passage (compared to all the different questions that the test-writers could have chosen). When you read the passages, bracket or underline key words and phrases to create quick and easy reference points. For example, in a Research Summary passage, underline the variable that changes in each experiment. ƒ› ƒ––‡–‹‘ –‘ –Š‡ †‹ˆˆ‡”‡…‡• ‹ –Š‡ ’”‡•‡–‡† ‹ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ ”ƒ–Š‡” –Šƒ the similarities. Identify how each table is different from the other tables, how different experimental methods and results are distinct from one another, or how two viewpoints diverge from one another. Watch for assumptions made in the presented experimental results, arguments, or hypotheses. Identify any assumptions that are not supported by the given information—whether an assumption is in the passage, the item stems, or the answer choices. Analyze the tables and graphs, looking for data trends and how those trends vary for each data set. Determine how the investigated factor changes as a function of the controlled parameters. Do the data demonstrate proportional or inverse relationships? ‡ •—”‡ –‘ —†‡”•–ƒ† ‡ƒ…Š •…‹‡–‹•–ǯ• ˜‹‡™’‘‹– ‹ ‘ϐŽ‹…–‹‰ ‹‡™’‘‹–• passages. It may help to take notes in the test booklet, summarizing the viewpoints that are expressed in the passage. Do NOT waste time trying to †‡…‹†‡ ™Š‹…Š ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒ”‰—‡–• ‹ ƒ ‘ϐŽ‹…–‹‰ ‹‡™’‘‹–• ’ƒ••ƒ‰‡ ‹• ˜ƒŽ‹†Ǥ –‡• ƒ• ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‹†‡–‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ †ƒ–ƒ –”‡†• ƒ† ƒ••—’–‹‘• —†‡”Ž›‹‰ the different arguments, not for judgments of the viewpoints.

READ THE INTRODUCTION

CONSIDER THE FIGURES

UNDERLINE KEY WORDS AND PHRASES STRATEGY ALERT ”› ”‡ƒ†‹‰ –Š‡ ϐ‹”•– •‡–‡…‡ in each paragraph before reading the entire passage, †‡’‡†‹‰ ‘ –Š‡ †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–› level of the passage.

PAY ATTENTION TO DIFFERENCES

WATCH FOR ASSUMPTIONS

LOOK FOR TRENDS

MAKE NOTES TO CLARIFY VIEWPOINTS