Core Academic Skills: Reading Informational Texts Flashcards

A student reads an article arguing that standardized testing improves educational outcomes. The article cites only studies funded by testing companies. What reading strategy should the student apply?

Answer: Evaluate the credibility and potential bias of the sources.

Critical readers evaluate the credibility of sources and identify potential bias, especially when sources have financial conflicts of interest.

Which text structure is used in an article that explains what caused a decrease in reading scores and what resulted from it?

Answer: Cause and effect

Cause-and-effect text structure explains why something happened (cause) and what happened as a result (effect).

A teacher asks students to identify the author's purpose in a public health pamphlet urging citizens to get vaccinated. What is the most likely purpose?

Answer: To persuade readers to take a specific health action

A public health pamphlet urging a specific action (getting vaccinated) has a persuasive purpose — it wants to influence reader behavior.

What does it mean to make an inference from an informational text?

Answer: Drawing a logical conclusion based on evidence and reasoning

Inference involves reading between the lines — using stated evidence plus prior knowledge to draw conclusions not explicitly stated.

Which of the following is an example of a primary source?

Answer: A diary written by a Civil War soldier

A primary source is created by someone with firsthand experience. A soldier's diary is written by someone who directly experienced the Civil War.

An informational article contains the following: 'Studies show students learn better with access to technology.' What critical question should a careful reader ask?

Answer: Which studies? How were they conducted? Were they peer-reviewed?

Careful readers question vague claims by asking for specifics: which studies, methodology, sample size, peer review status, and potential bias.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion in informational texts?

Answer: Facts can be verified with evidence; opinions express personal judgments.

Facts can be verified through observation or evidence. Opinions are subjective judgments that reflect beliefs or values and cannot be objectively proven.

A student reads a graph showing literacy rates across several countries. The graph shows Country A with an 85% rate and Country B with a 62% rate. Which is a valid conclusion from the graph alone?

Answer: Country A has a higher reported literacy rate than Country B.

The graph only shows reported rates. Drawing conclusions about causes, quality, or effort goes beyond the data shown.

What is the purpose of a text's central idea or main idea?

Answer: To state what the text is primarily about

The central idea is the overarching point the author wants to communicate throughout the text. All supporting details relate back to it.

A history textbook includes an infographic alongside a written passage. What is the primary function of the infographic?

Answer: To provide visual representation of data that supports and extends the text

Infographics visually represent data or concepts to supplement and clarify the written text, making complex information easier to understand.

Which word best signals a compare-and-contrast text structure?

Answer: However

'However' signals contrast between two ideas, which is characteristic of compare-and-contrast text structure.

What does 'context clues' mean in the context of reading informational texts?

Answer: Using surrounding text to infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word

Context clues are hints within the surrounding text that help readers infer the meaning of unfamiliar words.

A scientific article describes a study with a sample size of 12 people. What should a critical reader note about this study?

Answer: The small sample size limits how broadly the results can be generalized.

Small sample sizes reduce statistical power and limit the generalizability of findings to broader populations.

What is the best strategy for identifying an author's perspective or point of view in an informational text?

Answer: Examining word choice, emphasis, and what information is included or excluded

Author perspective is revealed through word choice, tone, what details are emphasized, and what information is omitted.

A student summarizes an informational article. Which is the most important criterion for a good summary?

Answer: Capturing the central idea and key supporting points in the student's own words

A good summary captures the central idea and main support without copying the text or including unnecessary details.

Which of the following best describes an argumentative text?

Answer: A text that presents a claim and uses evidence to support it

An argumentative text presents a claim (thesis) and supports it with evidence, reasoning, and sometimes counterarguments.

When reading a multi-source text set, what skill is most important?

Answer: Synthesizing information by identifying agreements, contradictions, and gaps across sources

Synthesizing across multiple sources means integrating information, identifying where sources agree or conflict, and building a fuller understanding.

A passage states: 'Many experts believe that early reading instruction significantly impacts lifelong literacy.' What type of claim is this?

Answer: A qualified claim citing expert consensus

'Many experts believe' qualifies the claim, indicating it is based on expert consensus rather than a universal fact or single opinion.

What does it mean to 'analyze' an informational text?

Answer: To examine how elements of the text work together to create meaning

Analysis involves examining how components of a text — structure, language, evidence, purpose — function together to produce meaning.

Which of the following is an example of text-based evidence?

Answer: A direct quotation from the passage to support an interpretation

Text-based evidence comes directly from the text — quotations, paraphrases, or specific details — not from outside experience or opinion.