Reading Comprehension Flashcards

On the ISASP Reading test, what is an 'author's purpose'?

Answer: The reason the author wrote the text (to inform, persuade, or entertain)

An author's purpose is the main reason they wrote the text, which is typically to inform, persuade, or entertain the audience.

What is a 'theme' in a literary text as assessed by the ISASP?

Answer: A universal message or lesson conveyed through the story

A theme is the central, universal message or life lesson that the author communicates through the characters, plot, and events of the story.

In ISASP Reading, what does it mean to 'summarize' a passage?

Answer: Briefly restate the most important ideas in your own words, leaving out minor details

Summarizing means restating only the key ideas of a text in your own words, omitting supporting details and personal opinions.

When the ISASP asks about 'text structure,' what are students expected to identify?

Answer: How the author organizes information (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, sequence)

Text structure refers to the organizational pattern an author uses, such as chronological order, cause and effect, problem and solution, or compare and contrast.

How does the ISASP define 'context clues' in vocabulary questions?

Answer: Words and phrases surrounding an unfamiliar word that help reveal its meaning

Context clues are the surrounding words, sentences, and ideas in a text that help a reader determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

What does 'author's craft' refer to on the ISASP Reading assessment?

Answer: The literary techniques and word choices an author uses to achieve a specific effect

Author's craft refers to the deliberate techniques — such as figurative language, word choice, and structure — that writers use to create meaning and effect.