GMAS Reading Study Guide

Theme

a lesson learned by a character at the end of the story or chapter; a central message

Inference

a reasonable conclusion based on text clues and background knowledge

Main Idea

mainly what the passage is about

Point of View

a personal opinion of a character or author

Summary

a brief retelling of the story events (beginning, middle, end)

Simile

Two unlike things being compared using the words (like or as). (Ex. - She was as fast as lightning)

Metaphor

Two unlike things being compared using the words (like or as). (Ex. - He is driving me up the wall)

Idiom

A group of words having a meaning of expression. (Ex. - It’s raining cats and dogs) Meaning- It is raining very hard.

Antonym

Two words with opposite meanings.

Synonym

Two words with the same meaning

Prose

A poem that gives a character’s perspective without rhyme or rhythm.

Stanza

A section in a poem.

Rhyme

Words that have the same sound (bat, cat).

Rhythm

Words that follow a beat or follow in poetry.

Narrative Writing

A type of writing that is a fictional story using dialogue, characters and has a problem and solution.

Informational Writing

A type of writing that is nonfiction and based on facts.

Opinion Writing

A type of writing that is based on the author’s opinion. The writing is intended to persuade the reader and to show point of view.