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MME Test Prep 2010

Brought to you by your friendly GPS English Department

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Which tests am I taking?

March 9 ACT Plus Writing

English

Math

Reading

Science

Writing

March 10WorkKeys

Reading for Information

Applied Math

Locating Information

March 11

Michigan Math,

Science, & Social Studies

Math

Science

Social Studies

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Why do I want to take these tests?

1. To demonstrate the skills you have been practicing throughout your school career.

2. Free ACT test—all costs covered by the state.

3. So that you don’t have to take a retake test later.

4. Will be beneficial to your post-high school goals.

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ACT Test Breakdown

Subject Total Items Time (in minutes)

English 75 MC 45

Mathematics 60 MC 60

Reading 40 MC 35

Science 40 MC 35

Writing 1 Prompt 30

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Tips for taking the ACT

Directions for the ACT sections never change.

Use a practice ACT test to read directions ahead of time.

Don’t waste time reading directions on the test day – just start.

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Tips for taking the ACT

You are encouraged to write in your ACT test booklet during the test.

Circle main ideasCross out incorrect answersJot notes including shifts of

toneUnderline important words

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Tips for taking the ACT

Use PROCESS OF ELIMINATION (PoE) to eliminate incorrect answer choices.

For example, do you know the answer to this question?

– Who was the tenth president of the United States?

What if you use PoE? Let’s look at the next slide….

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Tips for taking the ACT

Who was the tenth president of the United States?a. Bill Clintonb. George Washingtonc. John Tylerd. John F. Kennedy

Could you figure out that the correct answer is “C. John Tyler” by using PoE?

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Tips for taking the ACT NEVER leave a question blank. There is NO penalty for guessing. If

you are about to run out of time, fill in the remaining bubbles on your answer sheet.– Guess the same letter each time (25%

chance of getting it correct). If you randomly fill in bubbles, you will get about 8% correct.

Answer options are A, B, C, D followed by F, G, H, J. Be sure your answer sheet options match those on the current question.

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Tips for taking the ACT

Avoid cramming for the test the night before. This makes your score go down, not up!

Eat a healthy, light breakfast the morning of testing.

Sleep well several nights before the test.

(Lack of sleep often hits 48 hours later.)

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ACT Reading

Prose Fiction 10 questions ~8 minutes

Social Science 10 questions ~8 minutes

Humanities 10 questions ~8 minutes

Natural Science

10 questions ~8 minutes

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ACT Reading1. Read quickly.2. Read for main idea. Ignore details (for

now).3. Prepare yourself for difficult passages.4. Underline main ideas.5. Circle examples and “shifters.”

(However, although, despite, even though, nonetheless)

6. Mark (+) or (-) to indicate positive or negative tone, attitude, and example.

7. Sum up what you just read in a few words somewhere next to the passage.

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ACT READING

I am going to pass out a sample reading passage to you called “Of the Origin and Use of Money.”

Please do not begin reading until I say “Start.”

You will have 3 minutes to read (the same amount of time you should give yourself on the real ACT).

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REMEMBER!1. Read for and underline main idea. 2. Circle examples and “shifters.”

(However, although, despite, even though, nonetheless)

3. Mark (+) or (-) to indicate positive or negative tone, attitude, and example.

4. Sum up what you just read in a few words somewhere next to the passage

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Main Idea Questions

Look back at what you have underlined.

Look at your sum-it-up note.Decide if the question is asking

about the passage as a WHOLE or just PART of the passage.

Use PoE (Process of Elimination).

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1. Which passage best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. Commercial society is based on exploiting the labor of others.

B. Division of labor is the only way to a truly commercial society.

C. A person’s needs can be best met through the exchange of surplus goods.

D. Only through hard work will man reach his goals.

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1. Which passage best summarizes the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. Commercial society is based on exploiting the labor of others.

B. Division of labor is the only way to a truly commercial society.

C. A person’s needs can be best met through the exchange of surplus goods.

D. Only through hard work will man reach his goals.

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Vocabulary Questions

Asks about the meaning of a word in the passage.

Look at word in the passage. – Read at least one sentence before and

at least one sentence after the one in which the word is used.

Even if you think you KNOW what the word means, look back in the passage to be sure it is really used that way.

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2. As it is used in line 11, the word superfluity most nearly means:

F. More than is needed.G. Material goods.H. High quality.J. A shortage.

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2. As it is used in line 11, the word superfluity most nearly means:

F. More than is needed.G. Material goods.H. High quality.J. A shortage.

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Generalization

Take a large amount of information and shrink it down to a shorter way of saying the same thing.

Beware! Some answers will be true, but will NOT answer the question.

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3. One of the main problems with trading goods and services, according to the author is:A. Goods can spoil before they can be

traded.B. A common price of goods cannot be

met.C. Trading requires both parties to be

honest.D. Often the goods in trade are not

needed by one party.

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3. One of the main problems with trading goods and services, according to the author is:A. Goods can spoil before they can be

traded.B. A common price of goods cannot be

met.C. Trading requires both parties to be

honest.D. Often the goods in trade are not

needed by one party.

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Detail Questions

Look back in the passage.

Beware! Some wrong answers come from sentences or words around the actual answer.

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4. According to the passages, what goods are used in trade in Newfoundland?

F. Dried codG. TobaccoH. SaltJ. Metal

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4. According to the passages, what goods are used in trade in Newfoundland?

F. Dried codG. TobaccoH. SaltJ. Metal

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Inference Questions

Author has not blatantly stated the fact that you are looking for.

The author has implied something and you must infer.

Information from the text+ Your own knowledge =

INFERENCE

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5. It can be inferred from the passage that a reason people originally chose cattle as a form of currency is:

A. Cattle were a valuable commodity.B. They chose goods that were readily

available.C. They had not yet invented a way to

melt metal.D. Cattle were easy to divide.

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5. It can be inferred from the passage that a reason people originally chose cattle as a form of currency is:

A. Cattle were a valuable commodity.B. They chose goods that were readily

available.C. They had not yet invented a way to

melt metal.D. Cattle were easy to divide.

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Other question types…

Point of view– What is the author’s opinion on a

subject? Cause and Effect

– What would be the outcome of an event stated in the passage?

Comparison– Compare sets of information and decide

on the differences among them.

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ACT English Test

45 minutes 75 MC questions

13% Punctuation 16% Grammar and Usage 24% Sentence Structure 16% Writing Strategies 15% Organizational Techniques 16% Style

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ACT EnglishSample question -

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When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens.

A. NO CHANGEB. Smith, practices her artC. Smith, practices her art,D. Smith practices her art,

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When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens.

A. NO CHANGEB. Smith, practices her artC. Smith, practices her art,D. Smith practices her art,

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Tips for ACT English

No change option will be used about 25% of the time.

Omit=take outReread the sentence with your

selection in the blank before moving on.

Don’t automatically choose diction that “sounds” better (whom instead of who). Each has equal chance of being correct.

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Take home packet…Please complete the packet before our next meeting.

We will meet again on Tuesday.

Presenters: Distribute the grammar packet.

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WorkKeys

Day 2 of testing is WorkKeys.WorkKeys tests your job

knowledge.Are you employable?Results can be shown to

prospective employers as extra incentive to hire you.

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WorkKeys Sample Question -

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Scenario:A two-person paint and wallpaper crew is redecorating the first

floor of a house for a family which has gone on vacation. The team has two days to finish the job. They have completed the dining room and family room. One team member is finishing the painting in the kitchen; the other has begun wallpapering the living room. The second team member finds that after the paste is applied, the wallpaper tears very easily when he is trying to adjust it on the wall and trim it to fit.

They discuss the situation. The one who is painting suggests that they both work on the wallpapering first and then finish painting the kitchen. She explains that one of them can hold up the bottom of the wallpaper strip while the other one does the trimming. This might prevent the tearing by eliminating the extra weight on the paper.

In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished

by:A. asking for more time to complete the project. B. buying extra wallpaper to allow for torn pieces. C. continuing to work individually on each room. D. working together on the wallpapering and painting in both

rooms.

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Scenario:A two-person paint and wallpaper crew is redecorating the first

floor of a house for a family which has gone on vacation. The team has two days to finish the job. They have completed the dining room and family room. One team member is finishing the painting in the kitchen; the other has begun wallpapering the living room. The second team member finds that after the paste is applied, the wallpaper tears very easily when he is trying to adjust it on the wall and trim it to fit.

They discuss the situation. The one who is painting suggests that they both work on the wallpapering first and then finish painting the kitchen. She explains that one of them can hold up the bottom of the wallpaper strip while the other one does the trimming. This might prevent the tearing by eliminating the extra weight on the paper.

In this situation, the goal for the team can best be accomplished

by:A. asking for more time to complete the project. B. buying extra wallpaper to allow for torn pieces. C. continuing to work individually on each room. D. working together on the wallpapering and painting in both

rooms.

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Tips for MC on the ACT

Wrong answers are called distracters. Distracters take your attention away from

the right answer. CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE Is technically a

“right” answer, but is not the best answer.

TOTAL OPPOSITE the polar opposite of the right answer….so wrong it seems right.

WORD FOR WORD uses exact wording from the prompt to trick you into picking the answer….usually doesn’t answer the question.

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Remember to choose the BEST answer

The ACT will offer you a spectrum of choices on MC.

A B C D Wrong Correct

Don’t be tempted away by the second best answer (Answer C in the example).

Don’t over-think the question.

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Please remember to take home your grammar packet.

You need to complete it by next Tuesday.