PSSA Reading Comprehension Flashcards
6 cards from real PSSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 PSSA Reading Comprehension flashcards as text
What is the main idea of a passage?
Answer: The central point or most important message the author wants to convey
The main idea is the central point or most important message the author intends to communicate throughout the passage.
What is an inference in reading comprehension?
Answer: A conclusion drawn using evidence from the text and prior knowledge
An inference is a logical conclusion drawn by combining evidence from the text with the reader's own background knowledge.
What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
Answer: To introduce the main idea of the paragraph
A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a paragraph and tells the reader what the paragraph will be about.
What is the difference between fiction and nonfiction?
Answer: Fiction is imaginative and made-up; nonfiction is based on real facts and events
Fiction is imaginative writing that is made up, while nonfiction is based on real facts, events, and people.
What does 'context clues' mean in reading?
Answer: Using the words and sentences around an unfamiliar word to determine its meaning
Context clues are the words, phrases, and sentences surrounding an unfamiliar word that help the reader determine its meaning.
In the PSSA Reading assessment, what does the term 'author's purpose' refer to?
Answer: The reason the author wrote the piece — to inform, persuade, or entertain
Author's purpose refers to the reason an author writes a piece, most commonly to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader.