oat read unit 1

if you're blind or deaf you're just as good as the rest just look at stevie wonder isn't he the best

info

3 passages, 12-25 questions each. 50 questions total, 60 minutes.

annotation

highlight key words (highlight feature is the only way to mark test). Reread the paragraph by skimming through the highlighted words.

standard approach

read the entire passage, then answer the questions afterward.

• Pros: Sense of where everything is, understand the author’s idea, and straightforward.

• Cons: Time consuming, not friendly to slow readers, and can be hard to absorb information.

search and destroy

go straight to questions, then skim the passage to answer the questions.

• Pros: Can be fastest with practice, many questions are based on recall, good if you struggle to absorb info.

• Cons: Don’t know where content is, slow if you don’t practice, time consuming for application questions, and hard to gauge the author’s idea.

partial reading

read the first and last paragraphs, then do the questions with search and destroy.

• Pros: Saves time, avoids reading the entire passage while still understanding the author, and is safer than normal search and destroy.

• Cons: Weak understanding of passage, risks getting stuck on an application question, and risks reading low yield information.

paragraph split

read a few paragraphs, then answer a question, then go back to reading.

• Pros: Answer questions with info fresh in your head, good if you struggle to absorb information.

• Cons: Ruins reading flow, can spend a lot of time clicking through questions, and does not maximize time.

question preread

have a single question in mind when reading the passage and look for info to answer it.

• Pros: Saves time by answering questions on the go.

• Cons: Can cause you to absorb less info, clicking through questions can be a hassle, and ruins the flow of reading.

how to focus

• Convince yourself that the text is interesting.

• Answer traps: make sure the words match.

pivot words

Suggests new important information is coming regarding the previous idea.

• Examples: but, however, still, nonetheless, despite, and instead.

support words

Incoming point that supports the previous statement.

• Examples: Moreover, for instance, additionally, furthermore.

illustrative words

Used prior to illustrating the main idea or tone.

• Examples: Therefore, clearly, thus.

baseline words

Author gives a situation, then gives a pivot word to challenge the situation.

• Examples: Normally, typically, thus

concession words

Author is about to openly oppose a norm.

• Examples: Admittedly, while it’s true that, indeed.

good words

fuck shit ass piss bitch god dammit i fucking ate my sandwich and it tasted like shitty watermelons and alligator piss and i want a refund