THE SKILL

Supporting details are those important bits of information that help build the main idea. Think of supporting details like this: When you dress in your best clothes, you want each part of the outfit to match or accent the other parts. Women might focus on enhancing their outfits with the right makeup, belt, purse, jewelry, and, of course, shoes. Guys may concentrate on the perfect cap and sneakers, each with the right color and style to highlight the entire look. The whole look can be thought of as the main idea, and each article of clothing and accessory would be the supporting details.

WHAT THESE QUESTIONS LOOK LIKE

The passage indicates In line 30, the author states Details in the passage suggest Which of the following does [quote] refer to in line 25? Which of the following statements is NOT supported by the second paragraph (lines 9-18)? The author identifies all of the following as [something] EXCEPT

STRATEGIES TO WIN
1. Dont get bogged down by every detail. Focus on finding the main idea first and how the details youre reading support that idea. 2. Supporting details are right there in the passage. You can go back and find them and put your finger on them, but the wording may be different from the question options. 3. Think about how a certain paragraph or section functions to support the main idea. 4. Make simple inferences about how specific details are used and how they support the passage. Often, for questions presented in this Reading Basics section of the book, you can actually turn back to the passage and put your finger on the answer or something quite similar. Remember this when practicing.

2012 Chris Mikulskis & Mary Kate Durkin

SUPPORTING DETAILS PRACTICE

Its a multi-billion dollar industry, and you may have a few friends who are quite involved in the buying, selling, and trading of sneakers. Limited edition and rare kicks can go for hundreds to thousands of dollars on 5 eBay, and true sneakerheads (the slang term for someone who collects sneakers) will wait for days outside a store to get their hands, but not feet, on some rare footwear. Like any collector, a sneakerhead will keep his 1. According to the passage, a sneakerheads behavior does NOT include: A. wearing the only owned pair of rare sneakers. B. finding exotic sneakers. C. waiting in line for rare sneakers. D. displaying a sneaker collection. 2. Based on information in the passage, what makes a pair of So-Cals so expensive? F. They come with a luxury car. G. They are adorned with diamonds. H. There are only twenty-five in existence. J. The Atlanta-based artist charges high premiums for his work. 3. The passage states that in order to start collecting sneakers, one should do all of the following EXCEPT: A. determine if starting a shoe collection is financially feasible. B. locate a trustworthy dealer. C. purchase shoes based on personal preference. D. find the most exotic pair to start the collection.

10 shoes mint and never wear the best pairs. Some buy two
pairs if they can afford itone to keep on display and the other to accent shirts, jeans, or caps and truly be the envy of onlookers. Others can never justify breaking in a pair of fresh Jordans and will keep shelves dedicated to the 15 prized pairs. When retail prices of limited edition shoes usually start at least two hundred dollars a pair (if one is lucky enough to get them retail), its no wonder why certain sneakers never hold a pair of feet. Forget hundreds for rare sneakers. Can you imagine spending thousands or even tens of thousands on a pair of sneakers? To set itself apart in the sneaker collecting business, one Atlanta store created the most expensive sneaker in the world, but this is no ordinary retail pair. This particular So-Cal, a specialized version of Nikes Air Force One, is worth a whopping $50,000the price of a luxury car. This pair has 11 carats of white, yellow, or blue diamonds adorning the exterior. For a fraction of the cost, a collector can try to grab a pair of Air Zoom Kobe Is, a Nike Air laser-inscribed by Kobe Bryant, for $11,000. Only twenty-five exist, and counterfeits appear on eBay frequently. The third most expensive pair is a limited edition Nike Dunk Low Pro SBs inspired by the French artist Bernard Buffet, which can go from $5,000 to $11,000, but good luck finding a pair. There were only 202 pairs created.

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If you want to get started collecting sneakers, be sure to have the money to invest. Like any collection, rare pieces will cost a great deal of money, so begin by finding a reputable boutique and get shoes that you like and are in 40 your budget. Buying a pair of So-Cals one day may be any sneakerheads dream, but start small and grow your collection to suit your style.

2012 Chris Mikulskis & Mary Kate Durkin

SUPPORTING DETAILS
Answer Explanation 1. A Be careful of the word EXCEPT in the question. Line 10 tells the reader that sneakerheads will never wear their best pairs of sneakers. 2. G 3. D Details about the diamond adornment in lines 26-27 make G the correct option. As stated in the last paragraph, it is suggested that a sneakerhead start his or her collection with shoes that are within budget. This does NOT include finding the most exotic pair to begin the collection.

SELF-ASSESSMENT
Check your score range as listed below: ______ 3 correct: ______ 2 correct: You know that the details make the look. Good work! Your ability to find supporting details matches your ability to recognize rare shoes. Your supporting details skills need as much attention as you give your shoes. Review the study guide. Focus on the supporting details and dont daydream about the shoes. Study the guide again.

______ 1 correct:

______ 0 correct:

2012 Chris Mikulskis & Mary Kate Durkin

REFLECTION
For the following topics, list some supporting details from the article in rectangles. Look back at the passage as often as you need.

SNEAKERHEADS

EXOTIC SNEAKERS

Air Jordan
Widely thought to be the most collectable shoe line, Nikes Air Jordan brand began in 1985 with an endorsement deal with then rookie Michael Jordan worth $2.5 million (plus royalties) for 5 years. The Air Jordan changed the way people thought about athletic shoes by incorporating new color palates, never-before seen designs, and a specialty logo. The red and black Air Jordan I was banned by the NBA because of the rules about shoe color. Jordan still wore this shoe for the entire NBA season and racked up a $5,000 fine for every game. Nike happily paid the fines because the publicity only served to advertise the new brand. The Air Jordan I retailed for $65 dollars in 1985. This shoe in good condition today can go for nearly $2,000. 9 2012 Chris Mikulskis & Mary Kate Durkin