Understanding Character
What’s Tested:
- A character’s thoughts, feelings, motivations
- How characters respond to events
- Inferences about personality or perspective How to Build the Skill:
- Analyze character arcs in fiction: What does a character want, and how do they change?
- Annotate passages for emotion words, internal monologue, and descriptions.
- Practice "reading between the lines": What’s implied but not said?
- Try summarizing how a character might be described in one sentence. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- Based on the passage, how does Lena feel about her brother’s decision?
- What do Tom’s actions in lines 32–44 suggest about his attitude toward the job offer?
- Which of the following best describes the narrator’s view of Aunt Carrie?
Understanding Plot and Events
What’s Tested:
- Key moments in the story (e.g., turning points, conflicts)
- Cause-and-effect relationships
- Sequence and pacing of events How to Build the Skill:
- Create a timeline of events after reading a passage: What happened first, next, and last?
- Pay attention to cause-effect cues ("because," "after," "as a result").
- Read short stories and summarize the plot in three bullet points.
- Watch for shifts in tone or action to spot major turning points. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- According to the passage, what happens immediately after the main character arrives at the house?
- What causes the narrator to reconsider their decision in paragraph 4?
- Which event marks the turning point of the story?
Recognizing Relationships Between Characters
💡 What’s Tested:
- How two (or more) characters interact
- Differences in perspective or attitude
- Emotional tension or harmony in relationships 🛠️ How to Build the Skill:
- Mark character interactions and note tone: Are they cooperative, hostile, awkward?
- Ask: What does each character want in this interaction?
- Pay attention to dialogue tags ("she said bitterly") and body language.
- Practice summarizing each character’s attitude toward the other in a sentence. 📝 Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- Which of the following best describes the relationship between the narrator and his uncle?
- How does Elise’s attitude toward her sister differ from her sister’s attitude toward her?
- What can be inferred about the interaction between John and the teacher in lines 50–60?
Interpreting Significant Details
💡 What’s Tested:
- Meaning of specific lines or descriptions
- Role of an object, phrase, or action in the story
- Symbolic or emotional weight of a moment 🛠️ How to Build the Skill:
- Slow down on vivid descriptions—they usually carry meaning.
- Ask: Why is this detail included? Does it show mood, theme, or character?
- Practice paraphrasing figurative language in plain terms.
- Keep a running list of objects or recurring phrases—they might be symbolic. 📝 Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- What is the most likely reason the author describes the setting as “oppressively silent” in line 12?
- What does the broken watch symbolize for the narrator?
- Why is the detail about the faded photograph significant?
Identifying Central Ideas or Themes
What’s Tested:
- Main point or message of the story
- The emotional or moral takeaway
- The overall purpose of the passage How to Build the Skill:
- After reading, ask: “What is this story really about?”
- Look for recurring ideas, unresolved questions, or emotional changes.
- Practice summarizing theme in one sentence: “This story shows that…”
- Avoid personal interpretations; focus on evidence from the passage. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- Which of the following best expresses the main theme of the passage?
- What is the primary conflict faced by the narrator, and how is it resolved?
- What message does the author convey through the narrator’s final reflection?