Are You Ready for the SAT & ACT?
Power of the “Word”
CONCLUSION
We learn to read at a very young age, but becoming a good reader is a lifelong process. The skills introduced in this chapter don”t tell the whole story, but they should get you started. Our main purpose in this chapter has been to get you to become conscious of a typically unconscious thing. Becoming aware of what you do you when you read can make reading more enjoyable and enlightening.
Words are powerful things. A single word can make all the difference. And just as a single word can change the meaning of a sentence, a single sentence can change the meaning of a paragraph, and a single paragraph can change the meaning of an entire passage. Whenever you are confused or lost, build your understanding by starting small. Writers want to communicate with you, and if you listen to what they have to say and how they say it, you will find that the rewards of close, careful reading are worth all the hard work.
ANSWERS
Sentences
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. a
5. b
For questions 6–10, answers may vary.
6. [Contrast because of the word yet] The band is one of my favorites…
7. [Contrast because of the word though] …they have not tested their results adequately yet.
8. [Contrast because of the word however] …it”s later than that, and we”re still waiting.
9. [Continuation because of the word therefore] This test is going to be really difficult…
10. [Continuation because of the word nor] …do I intend to pay good money to see it.
11. d
12. b
13. c
14. d
15. a
16. c
17. d
18. b
19. a
20. b
For questions 21–25, answers may vary.
21. Seldom indicates that Colleen does not go to her physics lecture very often, in contrast to the first sentence, which does not specify how often she goes.
22. Eagerly indicates that Rosita is excited to see her brother, in contrast to the first sentence, which says only that she is waiting for him.
23. Already indicates that the speaker had eaten the ice cream before, perhaps to suggest that he had not expected to, in contrast to the first sentence, which says only that the speaker ate the ice cream.
24. Up indicates that Henry vomited the chicken salad, in contrast to the first sentence, which says that Henry threw the chicken salad.
25. Really indicates that the speaker has had Chinese food that may not actually be good, in contrast to the first sentence, which says that the speaker has never had good Chinese food at all.
26. c
27. d
28. b
29. a
30. c
31. b
32. d
33. c
34. a
35. c
36. b
37. c
38. c
39. a
40. d
41. b
42. c
43. a
44. b
45. a
46. c
47. b
48. a
49. c
50. a
Paragraphs
1. b
2. d
3. a
4. b
5. d
6. c
7. b
8. d
9. b
10. c
11. b
12. d
13. c
14. a
15. d
16. b
17. a
18. d
19. c
20. c
21. a
22. d
23. a
24. b
25. c
26. d
27. a
28. a
29. d
30. b
31. c
32. b
33. a
34. d
35. c
36. b
37. c
38. b
39. d
40. c
41. d
42. b
43. d
44. a
45. c
Passages
1. b
2. c
3. d
4. c
5. d
6. d
7. b
8. a
9. b
10. d
11. c
12. b
13. d
14. a
15. a
16. d
17. b
18. d
19. a
20. a
21. a
22. b
23. d
24. d
25. b
26. b
27. d
28. a
29. a
30. c
31. d
32. b
33. a
34. d
35. b
36. c
37. c
38. a
39. c
40. d