PSAT Critical Reading Examples

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Example Topics

• PSAT Critical Reading

  • Author's Intent+2 topics

    • Function of a Paragraph

    • Function of a Word or Phrase

  • Graphs & Tables+3 topics

    • Interpreting Graphs

    • Interpreting Tables

    • Relating Graphics to the Passage

  • Passage-based Questions+108 topics

    • Humanities Passages+23 topics

      • Content of Humanities Passages+12 topics

        • Extrapolating from the Text in Humanities Passages+3 topics

          • Comparing and Contrasting in Humanities Passages

          • Considering Analogous Concepts in Humanities Passages

          • Making Inferences About the Author or Humanities Passage Content

        • Understanding Organization and Argument in Humanities Passages+2 topics

          • Analyzing Argumentative Claims, Bias, and Support in Humanities Passages

          • Analyzing Sequence, Organization, and Structure in Humanities Passages

        • Understanding the Content of Humanities Passages+4 topics

          • Analyzing Cause and Effect in Humanities Passages

          • Analyzing Main Idea, Theme, and Purpose in Humanities Passages

          • Drawing Evidence from Humanities Passages

          • Summarizing and Describing Humanities Passage Content

      • Language in Humanities Passages+9 topics

        • Passage-Wide Features in Humanities Passages+2 topics

          • Style Choices in Humanities Passages

          • Tone, Audience, and Point of View in Humanities Passages

        • Specific Phrases and Sentences in Humanities Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Phrases or Sentences in Humanities Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Phrases or Sentences in Humanities Passages

        • Specific Words in Humanities Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Words in Humanities Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Word Choice in Humanities Passages

    • Literary Fiction Passages+23 topics

      • Content of Literary Fiction Passages+12 topics

        • Extrapolating from the Text in Literary Fiction Passages+3 topics

          • Comparing and Contrasting in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Considering Analogous Concepts in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Making Inferences About the Author or Literary Fiction Passage Content

        • Understanding Organization and Argument in Literary Fiction Passages+2 topics

          • Analyzing Argumentative Claims, Bias, and Support in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Analyzing Sequence, Organization, and Structure in Literary Fiction Passages

        • Understanding the Content of Literary Fiction Passages+4 topics

          • Analyzing Cause and Effect in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Analyzing Main Idea, Theme, and Purpose in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Drawing Evidence from Literary Fiction Passages

          • Summarizing and Describing Literary Fiction Passage Content

      • Language in Literary Fiction Passages+9 topics

        • Passage-Wide Features in Literary Fiction Passages+2 topics

          • Style Choices in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Tone, Audience, and Point of View in Literary Fiction Passages

        • Specific Phrases and Sentences in Literary Fiction Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Phrases or Sentences in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Phrases or Sentences in Literary Fiction Passages

        • Specific Words in Literary Fiction Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Words in Literary Fiction Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Word Choice in Literary Fiction Passages

    • Natural Science Passages+22 topics

      • Content of Natural Science Passages+12 topics

        • Extrapolating from the Text in Natural Science Passages+3 topics

          • Comparing and Contrasting in Natural Science Passages

          • Considering Analogous Concepts in Natural Science Passages

          • Making Inferences About the Author or Natural Science Passage Content

        • Understanding Organization and Argument in Natural Science Passages+2 topics

          • Analyzing Argumentative Claims, Bias, and Support in Natural Science Passages

          • Analyzing Sequence, Organization, and Structure in Natural Science Passages

        • Understanding the Content of Natural Science Passages+4 topics

          • Analyzing Cause and Effect in Natural Science Passages

          • Analyzing Main Idea, Theme, and Purpose in Natural Science Passages

          • Drawing Evidence from Natural Science Passages

          • Summarizing and Describing Natural Science Passage Content

      • Language in Natural Science Passages+8 topics

        • Passage-Wide Features in Natural Science Passages+1 topic

          • Tone, Audience, and Point of View in Natural Science Passages

        • Specific Phrases and Sentences in Natural Science Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Phrases or Sentences in Natural Science Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Phrases or Sentences in Natural Science Passages

        • Specific Words in Natural Science Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Words in Natural Science Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Word Choice in Natural Science Passages

    • Paired Passages+12 topics

      • Comparing and Contrasting Paired Passages+3 topics

        • Comparing and Contrasting Arguments of Paired Passages

        • Comparing and Contrasting Content of Paired Passages

        • Comparing and Contrasting the Language and Rhetoric of Paired Passages

      • Content of Paired Passages+2 topics

        • Understanding Organization and Argument in Paired Passages+1 topic

          • Analyzing Argumentative Claims, Bias, and Support in Paired Passages

      • Language in Paired Passages+4 topics

        • Specific Phrases and Sentences in Paired Passages+1 topic

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Phrases or Sentences in Paired Passages

        • Specific Words in Paired Passages+1 topic

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Words in Paired Passages

    • Social Science / History Passages+23 topics

      • Content of Social Science / History Passages+12 topics

        • Extrapolating from the Text in Social Science / History Passages+3 topics

          • Comparing and Contrasting in Social Science / History Passages

          • Considering Analogous Concepts in Social Science / History Passages

          • Making Inferences About the Author or Social Science / History Passage Content

        • Understanding Organization and Argument in Social Science / History Passages+2 topics

          • Analyzing Argumentative Claims, Bias, and Support in Social Science / History Passages

          • Analyzing Sequence, Organization, and Structure in Social Science / History Passages

        • Understanding the Content of Social Science / History Passages+4 topics

          • Analyzing Cause and Effect in Social Science / History Passages

          • Analyzing Main Idea, Theme, and Purpose in Social Science / History Passages

          • Drawing Evidence from Social Science / History Passages

          • Summarizing and Describing Social Science / History Passage Content

      • Language in Social Science / History Passages+9 topics

        • Passage-Wide Features in Social Science / History Passages+2 topics

          • Style Choices in Social Science / History Passages

          • Tone, Audience, and Point of View in Social Science / History Passages

        • Specific Phrases and Sentences in Social Science / History Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Phrases or Sentences in Social Science / History Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Phrases or Sentences in Social Science / History Passages

        • Specific Words in Social Science / History Passages+2 topics

          • Context-Dependent Meaning of Words in Social Science / History Passages

          • Purpose and Effect of Word Choice in Social Science / History Passages

  • Sentence Completions+19 topics

    • One-Blank Sentences+7 topics

      • Context Clues in One-Blank Sentences +2 topics

        • Conjunctions and Sentence Logic in One-Blank Sentences

        • Style, Intensity, and Connotation in One-Blank Sentences

      • Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences+3 topics

        • Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Sentences

        • Nouns in One-Blank Sentences

        • Verbs in One-Blank Sentences

    • Two-Blank Sentences+10 topics

      • Context Clues in Two-Blank Sentences +2 topics

        • Conjunctions and Sentence Logic in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Style, Intensity, and Connotation in Two-Blank Sentences

      • Parts of Speech in Two-Blank Sentences+6 topics

        • Nouns and Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Nouns and Verbs in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Two Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Two Nouns in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Two Verbs in Two-Blank Sentences

        • Verbs and Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Sentences