10 High Stakes Test Terms to Know

To select from a number of possibilities. Similar words: select, pick determine, identify

• Compare

• Analyze

• Infer

• Choose

Common characteristics, identify how things are alike or similar

• Choose

• Compare

• Contrast

• Explain

Characteristics that are not alike. Identify how things are different

• Contrast

• Compare

• Analyze

• Infer

Give a brief overview of the main points

• Author's Purpose

• Conclude/Conclusion

• Summarize

• Explain

Think of the five (5) W's and one (1) H. Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How

• Explain

• Contrast

• Analyze

• Persuade

To arrive at a decision, to close or bring to an end

• Author's Purpose

• Analyze

• Conclude/Conclusion

• Compare

"Read between the lines"; the answer is not clearly stated in the passage. Use knowledge and experience to draw conclusions

• Choose

• Infer

• Persuade

• Analyze

Look at how each aspect of the reading works together to explain the overall meaning. Similar words: assess, evaluate, investigate, inspect

• Analyze

• Compare

• Summarize

• Author's Purpose

Pick a side of an issue and use evidence and ideas to support that side (complex: address the other side's viewpoint first, then argue why your side is better)

• Explain

• Analyze

• Contrast

• Choose

What was the reason the author wrote the passage (basis: inform, persuade entertain) (complex: persuade readers to do what? OR explain to readers the nature of what)

• Author's Purpose

• Analyze

• Compare

• Summarize