KEYS ON HOW TO BECOME

A READING MASTER

What is Reading?
> It is the skill or activity of getting
information from written words.

What is Strategy?
> A long-range plan for achieving something or reaching a goal or the skill
of making such plans.
Reading Strategies
> To read effectively, you may need some strategies to help you deal with
the texts. The following
Seven strategies are useful when you read:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.

Scanning
Skimming
Locating the main idea
Understanding references
Making inferences
Thinking logically
Guessing meaning from contexts

I. Scanning
Scanning is a very high-speed reading that
you do when you are looking for a specific piece of
information. When you scan, you have a question in
mind. You do not read every word, only key words
that will answer your question. Practice in scanning
will help you learn to skip over unimportant words
so that you can read faster.
If you want just one piece of information from
a text (e.g. name, an address, the time of a TV program or a word you want to
spell) you need to scan for it. This means looking through very quickly without
really reading the words. All you have to do is find the word(s) you want.

How to scan?
How to Scan:
* State the specific information you are
looking for.
* Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and
what clues you might use to help you locate the
answer. For example, if you were looking for a
certain date, you would quickly read the
paragraph looking only for numbers.
* Use headings and any other aids that will help
you identify which sections might contain the
information you are looking for.
* Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.
Example Passage for Scanning:

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of
them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more
we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex
than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill,
care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do.
Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much
more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words.
Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most
common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them
more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the
more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior
when we destroy them.

Questions:
1. What are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea?
Dolphins
2. Who suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable
that they communicate with each other without needing words?
Scientists
3. Since Roman times, what is the common story that we often heard about
dolphins?
Dolphins helping drowning sailors
Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.
Passage - Erosion in America
Erosion of America's farmland by
wind and water has been a problem
since settlers first put the prairies and
grasslands under the plow in the
nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more
than 282 million acres of farmland were
damaged by erosion. After 40 years of
conservation efforts, soil erosion has
accelerated due to new demands placed
on the land by heavy crop production. In
the years ahead, soil erosion and the
pollution problems it causes are likely to
replace petroleum scarcity as the
nation's most critical natural resource
problem.
Exercise:
1. What has been a problem in America since settlers first put the prairies and
grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century?
2. By the 1930s, how many acres of farmland were damaged by the erosion?
3. After how many years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due
to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production?

II. Skimming

Skimming is another high-speed reading

technique that can save you time and help you
get through a text quickly. You skim to get the
general sense of a passage, not specific details.
When you skim, you should not read the whole
text. Your eyes should move very quickly over
the lines and you should read only the parts of
the text that will help you answer the questions.
How to Skim:
* Read the title.
* Read the introduction or the first paragraph.
* Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.
* Read any headings and sub-headings.
* Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs.
* Notice any italicized or boldface words or
phrases.
* Read the summary or last paragraph.
Passage Opera:
Opera refers to a dramatic art form,
originating in Europe, in which the emotional
content is conveyed to the audience as much
through music, both vocal and instrumental,
as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in
musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a
lesser role. The drama in opera is presented
using the primary elements of theater such
as scenery, costumes, and acting. However,
the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung
rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from
a small instrumental ensemble to a full
symphonic orchestra.

Questions:
1. It is pointed out in the reading that opera _____.
A) Has developed under the influence of musical theater
B) Is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra
C) is not a high-budget production
D) is often performed in Europe
E) is the most complex of all the performing arts
2. We can understand from the reading that _____.
A) people are captivated more by opera than musical theater
B) drama in opera is more important than the music
C) orchestras in operas can vary considerably in size
D) musical theater relies above all on music
E) there is argument over whether the music is important or the words in
opera
3. It is stated in the reading that _____.
A) acting and costumes are secondary to music in musical theater
B) many people find musical theater more captivating than opera
C) music in musical theater is not as important as it is in opera
D) an opera requires a huge orchestra as well as a large choir
E) opera doesn't have any properties in common with musical theater

Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.
Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of
them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more
we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex
than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill,
care for pregnant mothers and protect the
weakest in the community, as we do. Some
scientists have suggested that dolphins have a
language but it is much more probable that
they communicate with each other without
needing words. Could any of these mammals
be more intelligent than man? Certainly the
most common argument in favor of man's
superiority over them that we can kill them
more easily than they can kill us is the least
satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we
discover about these remarkable creatures, the
less we appear superior when we destroy them.

Exercise:
1. It is clear from the passage that dolphin ____________.
A) don't want to be with us as much as we want to be with them
B) are proven to be less intelligent than once thought
C) have a reputation for being friendly to humans
D) are the most powerful creatures that live in the oceans
E) are capable of learning a language and communicating with humans
2. The fact that the writer of the passage thinks that we can kill dolphins more
easily than they can kill us ____________.
A) means that they are better adapted to their environment than we are
B) shows that dolphins have a very sophisticated form of communication
C) proves that dolphins are not the most intelligent species at sea
D) does not mean that we are superior to them
E) proves that Dolphins have linguistic skills far beyond what we
previously thought
3. One can infer from the reading that ____________.
A) dolphins are quite abundant in some areas of the world
B) communication is the most fascinating aspect of the dolphins
C) dolphins have skills that no other living creatures have such as the
ability to think
D) it is not usual for dolphins to communicate with each other
E) dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans

III. Locating the Main Idea

One useful way to understand the main idea of

a paragraph is to start by identifying the paragraphs
topic. A paragraphs topic is the subject under
discussion. When identifying the topic of a paragraph,
remember that it should be general enough to cover
the material in the paragraph, but not so general that
the label could apply to many paragraphs.
Once you have identified the topic of the
paragraph, you can locate the main idea sentence by
looking for a statement which contains some
ideas/opinions about the topic. This sentence,
however, must be broad enough to include all other

ideas in the paragraph. The main idea must make the rest of the paragraph
meaningful. It is the one idea that ties all of the other details together.

A main idea sentence (MIS) has two parts,

usually called the topic (T) and the
controlling idea (CI). If you like math, think
of it as an equation: MIS = T + CI

The main idea is often found in the first sentence of a paragraph;

however, you may find it in other locations; that is, in the last sentence, in the
middle sentence, split between the first and the last sentences or not stated in
the paragraph at all.
Study the sample paragraphs on the next page and notice the locations
of the main idea and its relationship with the other sentences in the paragraph.
A. Main idea in the first sentence (Example#1)
You no doubt have an image of who you are: this is your selfconcept. It consists of your feelings and thoughts about your strengths and
weaknesses, your abilities and limitations. Your self-concept develops from at
least three sources: (1) the image of you that others have and that they reveal to
you, (2) the comparisons you make between yourself and others, and (3) the way
you interpret and evaluate your own thoughts and behaviors.
B. Main idea in the last sentence (Example#2)
The open self represents all the information that both you and others know
about yourself. The blind self represents all the things that you dont know about
yourself that others do know. The hidden self contains all that you know of
yourself and of others that you keep secret. The unknown self represents truths
about yourself that neither you nor others know. Thus, your self-awareness is
how much you know about yourself according to the model of the four
selves.
C. Main idea in the middle sentence (Example#3)
When you think youre a failure, youre more likely to act like a failure.
When you think you are successful, you are more likely to act like a success.
When you feel good about yourself about who you are and what you are
capable of doing you will perform better. Self-esteem is very important
because success breeds success. Increasing self-esteem will, therefore, help
you to function more effectively in school, in interpersonal relationships, and in
careers.

D. Unstated main idea (implied) (Example#4)

Sometimes the main idea is not stated in any particular sentence but each
sentence contains details that lead to a common idea. In order to arrive at the
main idea, you have to read every sentence and figure out what they have in
common.
People in the United States disclose more than those in Great Britain,
Germany, Japan, or Puerto Rico. American students also disclose more than
students from nine different Middle East countries. Singaporean-Chinese
students consider more topics to be taboo and inappropriate for self-disclosure
than their British colleagues. In Japan it is considered undesirable to reveal
personal information whereas in much of the United States it is not only
considered desirable, it is expected.
From the above paragraph, you can notice that all of the sentences are
about self-disclosure. Also, you can see that the subject of each sentence is
people from different countries and cultures. Each sentence talks about how
much people from different cultures are willing to tell about themselves. If you put
all this information together, you can come up with a main idea sentence such as
People from different countries have different degrees of self-disclosure.
Example Exercise:
Passage - Life of Benjamin Franklin

1. Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two, he set up his own
printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor
Richards Almanac. It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise
sayings. What is the main idea?
A. Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books.
B. Benjamin Franklin worked very hard when he was young.
C. Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about the weather.
D. Benjamin Franklin was very poor.

2. Benjamin Franklin loved the city of Philadelphia. He started the citys first
hospital and fire department. Ben also started Philadelphias first public library.
Benjamin Franklin worked very hard to make Philadelphia a better place to live.
What is the main idea?
A. Benjamin Franklin worked hard to make his city a great place to live.
B. Benjamin Franklin worked for the fire department.
C. Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about books.
D.Benjamin Franklin went to school in Philedelphia.

3. Benjamin Franklin was very interested in electricity.

One day he tried a very dangerous experiment to
prove that lightning was electricity. He attached a
key to a kite string and flew the kite during a
thunderstorm. When the lightning hit the kite, sparks
flew from the key. Benjamin Franklin proved that
lightning was electricity. What is the main idea?
A.Benjamin Franklin liked to play in the rain.
B. Benjamin Franklin performed an experiment that proved lightning was
electricity.
C.Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about thunderstorms.
D. Benjamin Franklin invented a new kind of kite.

Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.
Exercise:
1. Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late
1700s. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He
also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a
fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of
glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better.
What is the main idea?
A. Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.
B. Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.
C. Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
D.A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.

2. There are several events that can change the Earth's surface very quickly.
Volcanoes can erupt and spread lava, rock and ash for several miles.
Earthquakes can leave large cracks in the Earth's surface. What is the main idea?
A. Several events can change the Earth's surface.
B. Earthquakes can cause large cracks.
C. Volcanoes can be dangerous.
3. Most of the world's volcanoes are part of the "The Ring of Fire." This is a ring of
volcanoes that form a circle around the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of volcanoes
make up "The Ring of Fire." These volcanoes formed the sea floor and many
underwater mountains.What is the main idea?
A. There are thousands of volcanoes in the world.
B. Most volcanoes are part of the "Ring of Fire."
C. Some underwater mountains are volcanoes.

IV. Understanding Reference

A. Pronoun
Writers use pronouns instead of repeating the same word or name many
times. Pronouns can be singular or plural. This means they can replace a single
name/idea or a group of names/ideas.
Example:
Modern technology has dramatically changed the way we view the world.
With air travel, satellite communications, and computers, it seems a much
smaller place these days.
The word it refers to the world.
Another Example:
Instructions: Write down what each underlined pronoun refers to.

Example Exercise:
Passage - The Problem of Old Computers

Approximately 10 million computers are thrown away each year! Because

most unwanted computers are sent to a dump, (1) they have caused a problem.
The computer industry and the government are working on ways to solve (2) it. (3)
They have concluded that there must be changes in the way computers are built.
(4) They must be made in ways that will allow their parts to be recycled. (5)
These include the electronic parts, the glass screen of the monitor, and pieces of
the printer.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

they = refers to computers

it = refers to problem caused by unwanted computers
They= refers to The computer industry and the government
They = refers to computers
These= refers to parts to be recycled

Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.
Exercise:
Passage - The Problem of Old Computers
A new company has started to recycle computer parts. When old
computers and computer parts are received at the company, (1) they are
carefully broken down into parts. (2) These include circuit boards, bits of
aluminum, gold, and electronic chips. Sometimes it takes an hour to break an
old personal computer down into its parts. Eventually, (3) they are all carefully
sorted. Then the company sells (4) them to the many customers it has found
for used parts.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

they = ____________________________
These = __________________________
they = ____________________________
them= ____________________________

V. Making Inferences
The process of putting pieces of information together so that they make
sense is called making an inference. In other words, when you infer something,
you are drawing an unstated conclusion from the information that you already
have.
Success at making inferences depends on the background knowledge
and the facts given in the text. Logical reasoning will help you to make
inferences about ideas or concepts that the author has not directly stated. Thus,
while you are reading, look at the important details and think of them as clues
or evidence that will support your inferences or conclusions.
Look at the example below to try to find clues in the facts given and use
these to make inferences.
Situation: Mike is a student in Professor Browns biology class. Class
starts at 9 a.m. It is now 9.15
a.m. and Professor Brown is speaking to the
class. Mike opens the door and walks into the classroom.
Clues: Mike is a student in Professor Browns biology class.
Class starts at 9 a.m.
Mike walks into the classroom at 9.15 a.m.
Inference: Mike is late for class.
Example Exercise:

1. One of the rarest animals in the world is the okapi. They live in the rain forest
in Central Africa. Few people have seen one alive. Every few years someone
claims to see one, but they never have proof. A few years ago, some scientists
who were studying plants found a skeleton, teeth and some skin in a remote area
of the rain forest. They were excited, as they believed they had found the remains
of a rare okapi. They drew a picture of what they thought the animal might have
looked like when it was alive. The scientists then sent the picture along with the

skeleton, teeth and skin to a scientific institution in Dallas, Texas.

What did the scientists probably do with the skeleton, teeth and bones?
A. Sent them to a place with more experienced scientists.
B. Kept them for souvenirs
C. Studied them carefully and compared them to other animals
D. Sold them to museums that displayed them
2. Pretend you are at the grocery store. As you are walking
down the cookie aisle, you notice a little girl crying and
pulling on her moms coat as she pushes the cart towards
the front of the store. The closer she gets to the front of the
store, the louder the little girl screams.
Lots of things could be wrong with the little girl, BUT we can probably
conclude that ________________.
A. The little girl is very tired.
B. The little girl is hungry.
C. She wants cookies, and her mom said no.
D. She wants her father.
Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the
questions that follow.
Exercise:
1. Manuel was on the baseball team that was playing
the first place team. It was the first game that his
grandparents and uncle Thomas attended. Manuel
swung his bat while looking for his family in the large
crowd. Just as he spotted his grandmother, his greatest
fear came true. He lost his grip on the bat, and it started
to fall. Even though he caught it quickly, Manuels face
became red. He felt as if he had made a horrible
mistake and everyone were staring at him.
The passage suggests that Manuel almost dropped his bat partly because
he _________________.
A. was thinking about the baseball game
B. wasnt strong enough
C. was looking for his family
D. was frightened by a loud noise

2. What are fossils? Fossils serve as a blueprint for what happened on the earth
millions of years ago. By studying fossils, scientists can learn what kinds of
animals and plants lived on the earth a long time ago. Fossils are the preserved
remains or imprints of plants and animals that lived in other geological eras on
earth. For a fossil to form, a plant or animal must have been buried, so that
neither air nor other animals could get at it. Living things have always been
buried or encased in mud. For example, have you ever seen a fish fossil?
Scientists even discovered a wooly mammoth deep in the ice in North America.
When fossils have been collected and categorized, it is called a geological record.
As a result, we have a better understanding of what happened on earth.

2. You can tell that ___________.

A. it must have been difficult for the mammoth to get stuck in ice.
B. no one uses geological records.
C. fossils are sometimes blue.
D. all different sizes of animals can become fossils.
3. The reader can infer that ________________.
A. fossils no longer exist.
B. what we know about the past is due to studying fossils.
C. fish fossils are the most common type of fossil.
D. only animals can become fossils.

VI. Thinking Logically

When you are reading, understanding the words is not enough to
understand the whole text. You need to be able to make logical connections
between the ideas and information in your reading. This means using the
information you already know to reach a conclusion. In other words, you need
to think logically.

When doing this exercise, you need to use critical thinking; that is, you
will look for the ways that each ending may or may not make sense in the
paragraph. The best ending always follows logically from the information
in the paragraph! When doing this exercise, you need to use critical thinking;
that is, you will look for the ways that each ending may or may not make sense
in the paragraph. The best ending always follows logically from the
information in the paragraph! When doing this exercise, you need to use
critical thinking; that is, you will look for the ways that each ending may or may
not make sense in the paragraph. The best ending always follows logically
from the information in the paragraph!
Example Exercise:

1. Eileen is planning a special birthday dinner for her

husbands 35th birthday. She wants the evening to be
memorable, but her husband is a simple man who would
rather be in jeans at a baseball game than in a suit at a
fancy restaurant. Which restaurant below should Eileen
choose?
A. Alfredos offers fine Italian cuisine and an elegant Tuscan dcor. Patrons will
feel as though theyve spent the evening in a luxurious Italian villa.
B. Panchos Mexican Buffet is an all-you-can-eat family style smorgasbord with
the best tacos in town.
C. The Parisian Bistro is a four-star French restaurant where guests are treated
like royalty. Chef Dilbert Olay is famous for his beef bourguignon.
D. Martys serves delicious, hearty meals in a charming setting reminiscent of a
baseball clubhouse in honor of the owner,Marty Lester, a former major
league baseball all-star.
Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Since Eileens husband does not enjoy fancy restaurants, choices a and c
can be ruled out. Choice b, although casual, doesnt sound as though it would
be the kind of special and memorable evening that Eileen is looking for. Choice
d, which is owned by a former baseball star and is described as charming and
reminiscent of a baseball clubhouse, sounds perfect for Eileens husband, who
is described as a baseball fan and a man with simple tastes.

2. The film director wants an actress for the lead role of

Lucy who perfectly fits the description that appears in the
original screenplay. He is not willing to consider actresses
who do not resemble the character as she is described in
the screenplay, no matter how talented they are. The
screenplay describes Lucy as an average-sized, forty
something redhead, with deep brown eyes, very fair skin,
and a brilliant smile. The casting agent has four actresses
in mind.

Actress #1 is a stunning red-haired beauty who is 59 and in her midtwenties. Her eyes are brown and she has an olive complexion.
Actress #2 has red hair, big brown eyes, and a fair complexion. She is in
her mid-forties and is 55.
Actress #3 is 54" and of medium build. She has red hair, brown eyes, and
is in her early forties.
Actress #4 is a blue-eyed redhead in her early thirties. She's of very slight
build and stands at 5'.
A.
B.
C.
D.

1, 2
2, 3
1, 4
2, 4

Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Actresses #2 and #3 possess most of the required traits. They both have
red hair and brown eyes, are average-sized, and are in their forties. Actress #1
is very tall and is only in her mid-twenties. She also has an olive complexion.
Actress #4 is of very slight build and is in her early thirties. She also has blue
eyes.
Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.
Exercise:
1. The school principal has received complaints
from parents about bullying in the school yard
during recess. He wants to investigate and end
this situation as soon as possible, so he has asked

the recess aides to watch closely. Which situation should the recess aides report
to the principal?
A. A girl is sitting glumly on a bench reading a book and not interacting with
her peers.
B. Four girls are surrounding another girl and seem to have possession of her
backpack.
C. Two boys are playing a one-on-one game of basketball and are arguing over
the last basket scored.
D. Three boys are huddled over a handheld video game, which isn't supposed to
be on school grounds.
2. Mark is working with a realtor to find a location for
the toy store he plans to open in his town. He is looking
for a place that is either in, or not too far from, the center
of town and one that would attract the right kind of foot
traffic. Which of the following locations should Mark's
realtor call to his attention?
A. a storefront in a new high-rise building near the train station in the center
of town whose occupants are mainly young, childless professionals who use the
train to commute to their offices each day.
B.a little shop three blocks away from the town's main street, located across the
street from an elementary school and next door to an ice cream store
C. a stand-alone storefront on a quiet residential street ten blocks away from
the town's center
D. a storefront in a small strip mall located on the outskirts of town that is also
occupied by a pharmacy and a dry cleaner

3. Rita, an accomplished pastry chef who is well known

for her artistic and exquisite wedding cakes, opened a
bakery one year ago and is surprised that business has
been so slow. A consultant she hired to conduct market
research has reported that the local population doesn't
think of her shop as one they would visit on a daily
basis but rather a place they'd visit if they were
celebrating a special occasion. Which of the following
strategies should Rita employ to increase her daily
business?

A. making coupons available that entitle the coupon holder to receive a 25%
discount on wedding, anniversary, or birthday cakes
B. exhibiting at the next Bridal Expo and having pieces of one of her wedding
cakes available for tasting
C. placing a series of ads in the local newspaper that advertise the wide array of
breads
E. moving the bakery to the other side of town

VII. Guessing Meanings from Contexts

What do you usually do when you come to a word you do not know while
reading?
Do you a) look it up in the dictionary?
b) ask your teacher?
c) ask a friend?
d) try to guess what it means?

Advantages of guessing

It is fast because you dont have to interrupt your

reading.
It helps your comprehension because you stay
focused on the general sense of what you are
reading.
It helps you remember words within their
contexts.
It allows you to enjoy your reading more because
you dont have to stop often.

When you try to guess the meaning of an unknown word, you use the
text surrounding the word the context to provide you with clues. Sometimes
you can guess the meaning of a word from other words within the sentence but
sometimes you may need to read several sentences in order to find the clues.
Guessing will help you get a rough idea about the word while you are
reading. Double check with the dictionary before you memorize the meaning
and the usage of the word!

Example Exercises:
Choose the best meaning to the word that is underlined.
1. Tommy was a real avid baseball card collector. He inherited the desire to
collect cards because his dad had a collection, too.
a. eager
b. careless
c. apart
2. Because there was so little precipitation this year, the crops dried up and
died.
a. fertilizer

b. planting
c. rain
3. His eternal light would shine on the people even after his death.
a. temporary
b. ethical
c. reformed
d. endless
Now, try to do it on your own. Read the passage and answer the questions that
follow.

Exercise:
Choose the best meaning to the word that is underlined.
1. He cut the paper precisely on the line, and it fit perfectly in the grooves of the
picture frame.
a. exactly
b. embellish
c. outer
d. advance
2. The ideas she presented to the class were clearly an untested theory because
there had never been any research done on it.
a. magic
b. brutal
c. indictment
d. belief
3. The boy tried to justify his actions to his mother by explaining the reasons
why he did what he did.
a. depend
b. prove
c. strict
d. concourse

Answer Key:
I. Scanning:
Passage - Erosion in America
1. Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water
2. More than 282 million acres of farmland
3. after 40 years
II. Skimming
Passage - Dolphin
1. C) have a reputation for being friendly to humans
2. D) does not mean that we are superior to them
3. E) dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans
III. Locating Main Idea
1. C.Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
2. A.Several events can change the Earth's surface.
3. B.Most volcanoes are part of the "Ring of Fire."
IV. Understanding References
Passage The Problem of Old Computers
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

they = refers to old computers and computer parts

These =refers to the parts of the computer
they = refers to the parts of an old personal computer
them= refers to the sorted parts of the computer

V. Making Inferences
1. C. was looking for his family
2. D. all different sizes of animals can become fossils.
3. B. what we know about the past is due to studying fossils.
VI. Thinking Logically
1. Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Seeing four girls surrounding another girl, while in possession of her backpack,

is the most suspicious of the incidents described.

2. Answer: Option B
Explanation:
This option is both near the center of town and in a location (near a school and
an ice cream store) where children and their parents are sure to be around.
This is the only option that meets both of Mark's requirements.
3. Answer: Option C
Explanation:
This is the only option that would encourage people to think of the bakery as a
shop they would visit regularly and not just on special occasions.
VII. Guessing Meaning from the Context
1. a. exactly
2. d. belief
3. b. prove

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable
confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.
-Norman Vincent Peale