TSIA2 Boot Camp - Analyzing Supporting Details

​Take a guess on the next slide!

Multiple Choice

Passage: Much like humans form social networks within their communities, organisms in ecosystems establish biological relationships that vary widely in form and function. These ecological interactions include predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, and competition, each playing a role in maintaining balance within a system. Of particular interest are symbiotic relationships, wherein two distinct species live in close physical association. These relationships are classified into three primary types: mutualism, in which both species benefit (as when bees extract nectar from flowers while facilitating pollination); commensalism, where one species benefits without affecting the other (such as egrets feeding on insects stirred by grazing livestock); and parasitism, where one organism benefits at the expense of another (like fleas feeding on the blood of animals, causing irritation and itching). Such interactions not only sustain biodiversity but can also influence species adaptation over time, demonstrating the ecological and evolutionary importance of interdependence.

Question: All of the following statements about relationships could support the main idea of the passage EXCEPT

• healthy relationships require honesty, trust, and communication

• symbiotic relationships are between two dissimilar organisms

• nature’s biodiversity would suffer without symbiosis

• ecological relationships influence the evolutionary process

Multiple Choice

Which parts make up a typical test question?

• Passage, Question Stem, Answer Choices

• Introduction, Passage, Summary

• Question Stem, Passage, Conclusion

• Passage, Summary, Answer Choices

Fill in the Blank

Good readers always start by identifying the ​____ idea first, then moving on to analyzing the ​supporting details.

Multiple Select

Good supporting details.... (check all that apply)

• Belong to another context or subject

• Directly relate to the central idea of the passage

• Help explain, define, or prove the main point

• Focus on ideas not mentioned in the passage

Multiple Choice

Passage: The nature versus nurture issue has long debated whether various behaviors are learned or inherited. When the issue first arose in the 1960s, the theory of behaviorism was the leading hypothesis, stating that all behaviors are learned through interactions within the environment. This idea led people to believe that our experiences conditioned our personalities. In recent years, with the rise of evolutionary psychology and sociobiology, the idea that human behavior is part of our evolutionary and genetic makeup supports the nature argument.

Question: How does the fourth sentence support the main idea of this passage?

• It signals a shift in scientific understanding related to human behavior

• It advances an argument supporting learned behavior through environmental influence

• It reflects the original theoretical position within the nature versus nurture debate

• It introduces support for the biological explanation of behavioral traits

Multiple Choice

Passage: Although coral may resemble an aquatic plant, it is, in fact, a delicate marine animal critical to the formation of reef ecosystems. Coral reefs provide food and shelter for nearly a quarter of marine species worldwide and act as natural barriers that reduce coastal erosion and storm damage. Since the 1950s, human-driven threats—including climate change, overfishing, and pollution—have caused the loss of about fifty percent of global coral reefs. Nevertheless, conservation efforts focused on reef restoration have shown signs of success, particularly in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where coral coverage has increased in some regions. Without continued restoration, the decline of coral reefs could endanger numerous marine organisms whose survival depends on the complex ecosystems built by these vital underwater structures.

Question: All of the following statements about coral reefs discussed in the passage are true EXCEPT

• Coral reefs are composed of plant-like organisms that lack animal characteristics.

• Coral reefs function as critical habitats sustaining diverse marine life populations.

• Coral reefs are declining due to human-related environmental pressures.

• Coral reefs are experiencing some recovery through restoration projects.

Multiple Choice

Passage: The Industrial Revolution, which originated in Great Britain during the 18th century, signaled an unprecedented transformation of economic, social, and political frameworks through technological innovation. New manufacturing techniques replaced manual craftsmanship with machine-driven production, substantially increasing output, reducing costs, and enhancing the standard of living for many. Concurrently, labor unions emerged to advocate for workers' rights, while global trade networks expanded to meet rising demands. Immigration to the United States accelerated, fueled by individuals seeking employment generated by industrial expansion, even as women and children entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers. Although the era fostered widespread prosperity and technological advancement, it also exposed systemic inequalities, including harsh labor conditions and imbalances in wealth distribution that would persist into future generations.

Question: According to the passage, the Industrial Revolution was an innovative time because it

• expanded global trade opportunities and opened new markets for manufactured goods

• introduced technological methods that redefined traditional systems of production

• increased standards of living and broadened economic opportunities for laborers

• advanced social reforms, including expanded employment rights for women and children