California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) English-Language Arts: Reading Comprehension Flashcards

24 sample cards from the English-Language Arts: Reading Comprehension deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is third-person omniscient point of view?

   A narrator outside the story who knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters, not just one. 'Limited' third person knows only one character's inner life.

2. What is 'tone' in a text?

   The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice—for example sarcastic, serious, hopeful, critical, or playful.

3. What is 'mood' in a text?

   The atmosphere or emotional feeling a text creates in the reader, such as suspenseful, gloomy, joyful, or peaceful. It is the reader's emotional response to the setting and language.

4. What is the key difference between tone and mood?

   Tone is the author's/narrator's attitude toward the subject; mood is the feeling the reader experiences. Tone belongs to the writer; mood belongs to the audience.

5. What text element most strongly creates tone?

   Diction (word choice), along with figurative language and sentence style. The specific words an author selects reveal their attitude.

6. What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?

   A fact is a statement that can be proven true or false with objective evidence; an opinion expresses a personal belief, judgment, or feeling that cannot be verified.

7. Name three signal words that often indicate an opinion.

   believe, think, feel, should, best, worst, beautiful, probably. Judgment and value words signal opinion rather than verifiable fact.

8. Can a sentence contain both a fact and an opinion? Give the idea.

   Yes. For example, 'The bridge is 2 km long (fact), making it the most impressive structure in the city (opinion).' Readers must separate the verifiable part from the judgment.

9. What does it mean to 'compare and contrast' ideas in a text?

   Comparing identifies similarities between two or more ideas/subjects; contrasting identifies their differences. Together they show how concepts relate.

10. Name signal words that indicate comparison versus contrast.

    Comparison: similarly, likewise, both, in the same way, as well as. Contrast: however, but, on the other hand, unlike, whereas, in contrast.

11. What are the major organizational (text structure) patterns in informational writing?

    Chronological/sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution, description, and order of importance.

12. What signal words indicate a cause-and-effect text structure?

    because, since, therefore, as a result, consequently, due to, so, leads to, thus. They link a cause to its effect.

13. What signal words indicate a problem-and-solution structure?

    problem, issue, challenge, solve, solution, resolve, answer, in response. The text presents a difficulty and then how it is addressed.

14. How do you identify a text's organizational pattern?

    Look for signal/transition words, examine how information is grouped, and ask how the author has arranged ideas (by time, cause, comparison, problem-solution, etc.).

15. What is the role of transitions in 'logical flow'?

    Transitions connect sentences and paragraphs, showing the relationship between ideas (addition, contrast, cause, sequence) so the reader can follow the argument smoothly.

16. What does an 'addition' transition signal, and give examples.

    It signals that another related point is being added. Examples: also, moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides, and.

17. How can transitions help you predict what comes next in a passage?

    They cue the upcoming relationship: 'however' warns of a contrast, 'therefore' signals a conclusion, 'for example' introduces an illustration, and 'first/next' announces a sequence.

18. What are 'functional documents'?

    Real-world informational texts designed to help readers do or find something—e.g., manuals, schedules, forms, recipes, maps, warranties, labels, and instructions.

19. What reading strategy is best for locating information in a functional document?

    Scanning headings, labels, bold print, numbers, and visual features (tables, bullets) to quickly find the specific item needed, rather than reading every word.

20. What features of functional documents guide readers to information quickly?

    Headings and subheadings, bullet points, numbered steps, bold or italic type, tables, captions, icons, and white space that organize content for easy navigation.

21. What are 'genre conventions'?

    The typical features, structures, and elements expected of a particular text type—e.g., stanzas and rhyme in poetry, dialogue and stage directions in drama, facts and headings in nonfiction.

22. Name a defining convention of drama versus prose fiction.

    Drama is written to be performed and uses dialogue, acts/scenes, and stage directions; prose fiction is written in paragraphs with a narrator who can describe and explain.

23. What conventions help you recognize a poem?

    Lines and stanzas instead of paragraphs, often rhythm, rhyme, condensed figurative language, and deliberate line breaks for effect.

24. How can recognizing genre conventions improve comprehension?

    Knowing a genre's typical structure lets you anticipate where key information appears and how to read it—e.g., expecting a thesis in an essay or a moral in a fable—so you read more efficiently and accurately.

What this deck covers

English-Language Arts: Reading Comprehension flashcards FAQ