PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) Reading and Information & Ideas Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Reading and Information & Ideas deck

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

1. How do you answer a 'most logical conclusion/completion' question?

   Identify the passage's logical flow and pick the choice that follows directly from the stated information without adding unsupported ideas.

2. What role do transition words like 'therefore,' 'however,' and 'thus' play in conclusion questions?

   They signal the logical relationship (result, contrast, cause) that the correct completion must match.

3. What is the difference between an inference and an explicitly stated fact?

   An explicit fact is stated directly in the text; an inference is a logical conclusion the reader draws from clues, not stated word-for-word.

4. What is 'implied meaning' in a passage?

   Meaning suggested by the author through word choice, context, or tone rather than stated directly.

5. What is 'tone' in a reading passage?

   The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style (e.g., critical, admiring, skeptical, neutral).

6. What is the difference between tone and mood?

   Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject; mood is the emotional atmosphere or feeling the passage creates in the reader.

7. How do you identify tone in a PSAT passage?

   Examine connotations of key words (positive, negative, or neutral) and the author's stance toward the topic.

8. What is a 'words in context' / predicting-from-context question?

   A question asking which word or phrase best fits a blank or best matches the meaning intended by the surrounding sentence.

9. What is the best strategy for a words-in-context question?

   Predict your own word that fits the sentence's meaning before reading the choices, then select the choice closest to your prediction.

10. Why must you consider connotation, not just definition, in vocabulary-in-context questions?

    Two words can share a definition but differ in positive/negative shading, and the answer must match the passage's intended tone and meaning.

11. What is a primary purpose question, and how is it different from a main-idea question?

    Purpose asks why the author wrote the passage (to argue, explain, describe, etc.); main idea asks what the passage is fundamentally about.

12. What kinds of texts appear in PSAT literary-fiction passages?

    Excerpts from novels and short stories, focusing on character, narration, setting, and figurative language.

13. How should you approach a poetry passage on the PSAT?

    Read for the speaker's situation and feelings, interpret figurative language and imagery, and focus on the poem's central meaning rather than literal restatement.

14. What is figurative language, and name two common types tested on the PSAT?

    Language that means something beyond the literal; common types include metaphor (direct comparison) and simile (comparison using 'like' or 'as').

15. What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

    A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as'; a metaphor states one thing is another without those words.

16. What characterizes PSAT history and social studies passages?

    Texts on civics, economics, sociology, psychology, or historical documents, often presenting an argument, claim, or analysis of data.

17. What are 'founding documents' or 'great global conversation' texts?

    Excerpts from foundational political/social writings (e.g., constitutions, speeches, essays) addressing civic and human-rights ideas.

18. What is the focus of PSAT science passages?

    Topics from biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science, often involving experiments, hypotheses, data, and evidence-based reasoning.

19. What reading skill is most emphasized in science passages?

    Interpreting data and evidence and connecting it logically to claims or hypotheses, often with accompanying graphics.

20. What subjects fall under 'humanities' texts on the PSAT?

    Arts and culture topics such as literature, music, visual arts, dance, and architecture, often discussing an artist, work, or movement.

21. What distinguishes a humanities passage from a literary-fiction passage?

    Humanities passages are typically nonfiction discussions about the arts; literary-fiction passages are excerpts from creative narrative or poetry.

22. What does the digital PSAT's 'Information and Ideas' content domain test?

    Comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills: central ideas/details, command of evidence (textual and quantitative), and inferences.

23. What are the three main question types within the Information and Ideas domain?

    Central Ideas and Details, Command of Evidence (textual and quantitative), and Inferences.

24. What is the most important rule for choosing any Information and Ideas answer?

    The answer must be fully supported by the passage (and any graphic) itself, never by outside assumptions or partial matches.

What this deck covers

Reading and Information & Ideas flashcards FAQ