Core Academic Skills: Reading Informational Texts Flashcards

An author concludes, 'Given these findings, schools should extend recess time.' The phrase 'Given these findings' signals that the conclusion is:

Answer: Based on the preceding evidence

'Given these findings' explicitly ties the recommendation to the evidence discussed earlier.

A passage uses words like 'devastating,' 'tragic,' and 'alarming' to describe a flood. These word choices reveal the author's:

Answer: Concerned and emotional tone

Charged, negative words convey a tone of concern and emotional intensity about the event.

Which sentence is the best example of a supporting detail rather than a main idea?

Answer: Regular walking lowers blood pressure by several points.

A specific, measurable fact about walking and blood pressure supports a broader main idea.

An author writes that a politician 'claimed' a policy succeeded, rather than that it 'succeeded.' The word 'claimed' implies the author is:

Answer: Distancing from or questioning the statement

Using 'claimed' rather than asserting success signals the author does not fully accept the statement.

To find the central idea of a multi-paragraph article, a reader should look for:

Answer: The point all paragraphs work together to support

The central idea is the overarching point that every paragraph collectively develops.

In context, 'The evidence is compelling but not conclusive' suggests the author believes the evidence is:

Answer: Strong yet incomplete

'Compelling but not conclusive' means the evidence is persuasive but does not fully prove the point.

A passage explains that drought led to crop failure, which then caused food prices to rise. This chain illustrates:

Answer: Cause and effect

Each event triggering the next forms a cause-and-effect chain.